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When you hear about Tuscany, you immediately imagine an oasis of tranquillity and picturesque landscape. This is home to the flagship Seed to Skin Spa where all luxury treatments and beauty products are developed and tested. While I can’t wait to visit one day, in the meantime I got to try out some of their beautiful products formulated with natural ingredients backed by advanced science.
What’s Seed to Skin story?
Seed to Skin is created by Jeanette and her husband Claus Thottrup who moved into the Borgo Santo Pietro resort in 2001, undertaking a large renovation project to transform the Tuscan estate into a boutique hotel. Instead of getting a third-party brand for the hotel’s spa, they created their own line – with a strong focus on combining all-natural ingredients with advanced science. At Borgo Santo Pietro’s onsite laboratory, they developed an advanced molecular delivery system, so every product is designed to work on multiple layers of the skin using the most potent natural ingredients and molecular science to penetrate even the deepest layers.
To ensure uncompromised quality control, the entire production process runs in house/ onsite, Thottrup has full oversight on every step, all of their products are individually handmade onsite and assigned their batch numbers, guaranteeing the utmost transparency, traceability and integrity. Their skincare ingredients come directly from their organic farm in Tuscany, or are ethically sourced or wild-foraged from land and sea, and their entire line is cruelty-free. They don’t use any synthetic fillers or preservatives in our products, nor do they contain artificial colours or fragrances, parabens or GMOs.
What about packaging?
Most Seed to Skin products come in an opulent apothecary-style green glass jar/bottle that’s pretty weighty and a metal lid. The eco-conscious packaging can be recycled or reused to minimise environmental impact. The dark colour glass helps to protect the products from light exposure which is always a bonus when it comes to prolonging the life span of a product.
The Black Magic Mask
This Black Magic Detoxifying Oxygen Therapy mask is a hybrid between a resurfacing and detoxifying and firming treatment as well as a real oxygen boost, the triple action promises to deliver functions from deep cleanses, promotes natural collagen production and smooth skin’s surface. Formulated with:
- Oxygen complex: Penetrates to deeper levels and supplies vital molecular oxygen to skin cells to energise and support natural collagen production, cell regeneration and turnover.
- Activated charcoal and volcanic clay: Together, they deeply detoxify, unclog pores, address environmental toxins, combats excess sebum production. Perfect for acne-prone or oily skin type.
- Grapefruit seed extract: Disinfectant, antiviral and antiseptic properties that promote health and healing by regulating sebum production and unclogging pores.
- Salicylic acid, Hibiscus flower acid and Mandelic acid: Work together to purify, minimise pores and resurface. Regulate cell turnover and exfoliation on the surface as well as deeper skin level.
Ingredients:
Aqua [Water], Kaolin, Glycerin, Olea europaea (Olive) leaf extract, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil, Charcoal powder, Cetearyl alcohol, Isoamyl laurate, Mandelic acid, Oryza sativa (Rice) starch, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Sweet almond) oil, Glyceryl stearate citrate, Alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, Melia azadirachta seed oil, Salicylic acid, Panthenyl triacetate, Perfluorodecalin, Naringenin, Lactobacillus, Juniperus communis (Juniper) fruit extract, Serenoa serrulata fruit extract, Sodium caproyl/lauroyl lactylate, Polymnia sonchifolia root juice, Hibiscus sabdariffa flower extract, Biotin, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl acetate, Glycosphingolipids, Maltodextrin, Polyglyceryl-10 laurate, Sucrose palmitate, Xanthan gum, Glyceryl caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium sorbate, Sodium benzoate, Benzyl alcohol.
Verdict
Let’s call this ‘facial in a jar’! When I first used this, I immediately was blown away by it, seriously, I thought to myself, ‘what’s this black magic?’ First of all, this mask is blacker than black, it glides onto the skin like a very nourishing gel paste, with a very unique texture. You can easily adjust how thin/thick layer you prefer. There’s a hint of a soft woody fresh scent that’s so calming and rejuvenating at the same time. You apply with it the brush supplied which by the way, it’s one of the loveliest mask brushes I’ve used, soft but not flimsy. Then wait for 20 mins or so to remove it, I tend to leave it on far longer than that because it feels so nice on the skin, doesn’t dry tight or uncomfortable. You’d even forget this is a charcoal and clay mask, feels more like a nourishing rehydrating mask on the skin. Now, here’s the fun part: I tried removing it just by my hands because I wanted to see how it would react and feel the texture. I’d rub it off effortlessly and it’d crumble like a peeling mask. It wouldn’t be completely clean though, still require dampening the black mitt (included) and remove the mask completely. Of course, the quickest way is just to remove with the damped black mitt. By the way, I’m so glad the black mitt was included because the mask is definitely going to stain other lighter colour washcloths. Once it’s removed, skin is softer, smoother and deeply moisturised with an even tone and texture, with an overall refreshed and radiant look. When I have a blemish or redness leftover from a blemish, this mask has helped to calm things down, the redness is reduced and the blemish would reduce in size. They’re not wrong when they described this mask as a hybrid. It’s so multitasking and giving the kind of skin you’d only get when you have a luxury facial.
Available: £119/50ml
The Divine Cleanse Dual Detox Marine Clay Cleansing Gel
This Dual Detox Marine Clay emulsifying oil-gel is gentle yet deeply detoxifying and boosts collagen production as well as moisture retention. A unique double cleansing emulsifying gel, The Divine Cleanse contains detoxifying green clay from quarries of ancient marine beds, which gently but effectively deep cleans and draws out impurities. The marine plankton boosts the skin’s collagen production and increases elasticity, leaving a clear and luminous complexion.
- Green clay: Rich in minerals such as Silica, Magnesium, Manganese, Copper and Zinc, with its detoxifying properties, it controls inflammation, firms the skin and regenerates the cells.
- Marine plankton: High in essential fatty acids boosts the skin’s collagen production and increases elasticity, and also helps with moisture retention.
- Sweet Almond oil: Nourishes the skin,
- Melissa Extract: Calms and firms.
Ingredients
Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil, Glycerin, Illite, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Sweet almond) oil, Sucrose laurate, Plankton extract, Citrus aurantium dulcis (Orange) fruit water, Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit) peel oil, Citrus aurantium bergamia (Bergamot) fruit oil, Melissa officinalis leaf oil, Tocopherol, Sucrose stearate, Aqua [Water], Benzyl alcohol, Linalool, Ethylhexylglycerin, Geraniol, Citral, Limonene.
Verdict
I’ve used a lot of cleansers, from balms, gels to oils. You name it, I’ve tried it. OMG! This one surprised me the most, in a ‘divinely’ good way. The texture is quite gloopy but in the most luxurious, decadent way, it’s something between a half-melted balm to a gel. You can then add lukewarm water to your hands and continue massaging until the gel transforms into creamy milk which can be rinsed off or removed with a warm washcloth easily. I love massaging this on my skin, the perfect amount of ’slip’ without the grease like most cleansing balms. The fact that this rinses clean, makes it perfect for first cleanse, second cleanse or both. Once it’s removed, my skin is so soft and nourished. I can take my time with my skincare routine without having to rush for the hydration step because my skin never experienced any dryness from this cleanser. The scent is gorgeous as well, I can almost imagine myself having a spa treatment in Tuscany. It’s green and fresh but not overpowering, almost like an aroma from a gentle walk in Tuscany. If there’s one cleanser that I actually don’t want to remove, it’s this one. Sensorial experience and efficacity don’t always go together but The Divine Cleanse has achieved just that.
Available: £78/100ml
The Peace The Peace Probiotic Pink Clay Soothing Mask
This pink clay powder mask is a deeply soothing treatment to calm and soothe the skin, improve texture and promote moisture retention. Ideal for irritated, dry skin as well as those who suffer from acne, eczema and stressed skin.
- Pink Mineral Clay: Very soothing and reduce irritations in dry, sensitive, inflamed and stressed skin. Rich in silica which helps to replenish and retain moisture.
- Allantoin: Improves moisture retention for the skin and provide a smoothening effect.
- Yacon Root: Helps to reduce swelling and redness on the skin.
- Herbal Extract Blend: (Capers Extract, Olive Leaf Extract and Prickly Pear Extract) With its strong antioxidant properties, it protects against sun damage and brighten skin tone, soothes skin inflammation.
Ingredients
Kaolin, Oryza sativa starch, Maltodextrin, Capparis spinosa fruit extract, Lactobacillus, Olea europaea leaf extract, Alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, Opuntia ficus-indica stem extract, Polymnia sonchifolia root juice, Allantoin
Verdict
While this mask might not be as singing and dancing as the Black Magic, it’s functional and it works! It’s a powder mask which I enjoy a lot because you only need to activate the amount you need when you need it, in theory, that means it can be stored a bit longer. Blend two scoops of The Peace with a little water and apply this mask over the entire face. Let the mask dry for 10 minutes then rinse off with water. or remove with a damp face cloth. This does dry completely but doesn’t feel tight or uncomfortable. It’s good for days when my skin feels a bit sensitive and tight. My skin feels calmer, soothed afterwards, and still looking radiant.
Available: £75/50ml
Final thoughts
These products get big thumbs up from me. I want to command their clever naming of the products. They are ingenious in describing their products and their experience. Also, I love that their ingredients are either grown organically on their farm or ethically sourced locally from Tuscany and formulated using advanced molecular science. So, they are not just some organic products that make you feel good, they are serious about efficacious formulations. I’m very curious about their other products and can’t wait to try them.