Modern Botany : Natural Deodorant

As summer begins, so does our search for the perfect deodorant. And we’re happy to report that at The Amazing Blog, we’ve found the optimal match for our needs; Modern Botany's Natural Deodorant. What we love about this award-winning Irish brand Modern Botany, is that it’s inspired by the principles of botanical science, utilising the best natural product sourced from Ireland and all over the world.

In 2016, Modern Botany was developed and co-founded by John Murray CEO, and pharmacognosist Dr Simon Jackson in West Cork, Ireland. Dr Simon Jackson is the founder of several companies, including the award-winning Dr Jackson's Natural Skincare. Dr Jackson has a rich background, including 20 years of worldwide expeditions and research; fascinated by the study of ethnobotany (a cultural and regional study of people and their relationship with indigenous plants). He went on an expedition to Indonesia, where he decided to continue learning and returned to London to complete his PhD in pharmacognosy. In an interview with The Clean Beauty Edit, Dr Jackson said, "In setting up skincare brands like Modern Botany, I was able to use this as a vehicle to transfer this knowledge of the natural world, and the wealth of learning I had obtained through the years both academically and also first-hand from ethnic communities from around the world." Modern Botany started with the simple belief - it's time to do better by creating personal care products that are kind to our bodies and the planet. Sustainability and inclusivity are of paramount importance to the Modern Botany brand; Dr Jackson said, "Likewise, sustainability was always going to be a central element to the brand DNA in terms of ingredient sourcing, production, and packaging. Inclusivity is also very important to the brand as the universal flavour of our products were designed to keep the focus on skin and problem skin and not gender per see." Modern Botany focuses heavily on their ‘Power of Five’ - Flaxseed for giving, Borage for gratitude, Seaweed for loving, Calendula for nature, and Chamomile for sleep. They also believe that no more than five or six key ingredients should be used in any one formulation and that a good product should have multiple uses and be suitable for all skin types. Modern Botany’s products are made in Good Manufacturing Practice facilities, are all 100% natural and’ Cosmos Natural’ as a minimum benchmark only using botanical and mineral extracts. They were awarded 'The Best New Brand' at the 2021 CEW UK Beauty Awards. Furthermore, the Natural Deodorant won ‘Best Natural Deodorant- Spray’ at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards.

The Modern Botany Natural Deodorant is a unisex natural spray-on 100ml deodorant made with powerful plant-based active ingredients. They also offer the option of a 25ml travel-size or a 500ml refill bottle for when you run out. As members of 1% For The Planet, Modern Botany donates 1% of its revenue to environmental causes. The deodorant is made from astringent and deodorising active ingredients, which naturally counteract underarm bacteria and prevent odour. We love that it can also be used as a multipurpose product such as a body mist or perfume. The blend of 11 essential oils leaves the underarms with a clean, fresh scent, a delicate and natural fragrance. The formula is clinically and dermatologically tested, suitable for all skin types and contains no parabens, petrochemicals, or aluminium salts. With more and more health issues being linked to cosmetic ingredients, it is vital for consumers to know exactly what their products are made of, which is why Modern Botany is very transparent with its ingredients. Here these include witch hazel, water, lavender, sandalwood, eucalyptus leaf, vetivert, coriander, lemon tea tree, clove leaf cedarwood, frankincense and chamomile.

Let’s look at the ingredients in more depth: Witch hazel is derived from bark and has a fresh woody scent and has traditionally been used as a natural astringent and an anti-inflammatory for centuries. Lavender, apart from its floral signature scent, has strong germ-fighting, antibacterial and relaxing properties. Sandalwood has a sweet woody scent and is traditionally used for skin disorders and as an antimicrobial. Eucalyptus has a camphoraceous aroma and is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial. Vetivert has slightly citrusy/soapy notes and has good antiseptic properties. Coriander has a lemon/nutty/spicy scent, it can be used as a skin detoxifier and is rich in powerful antioxidants like vitamin C. The lemon tea tree has a zesty scent and is a strong skin healer helping to eliminate microbes and fungi. The frankincense has an aromatic sweet, warm woody and soft balsamic scent and is often used for wound healing as it’s cytophylactic (protects the cells of the organism). Clove leaf has a spicy/woody/warm sweet scent used for skin-calming and is anti-bacterial. Chamomile has a herbal/ floral scent and is also a soothing, hypoallergenic and anti-inflammatory agent. And finally, with its sweet wood scent cedarwood, is good for skin-calming, particularly for those with rashes or eczema.

Many antiperspirants aim to block the body from sweating and releasing toxins. The natural way, however, is with this formula which allows the body to sweat and also helps to minimise perspiration. With its key ingredient of witch hazel, it closes the pores and tightens the underarm skin, promoting the healthy function of the sweat glands and reducing perspiration. it has a fresh and subtle scent and makes a superb effective deodorant for our morning routine. Plus, because we like the fragrance, it’s another quick spritz to freshen up at midday and in the evening. It’s another one of our #amazingfinds and one we heartily recommend. To purchase the 100ml Modern Botany Natural Deodorant for £22, see here, or for the 500ml refill at £84 here. NB, apologies, we’ve just seen that due to its popularity - it seems to have sold out! So, If you would like to try the travel size at 25ml at £15 see here, where it’s currently in stock.

AnneMarie Skincare: Palo Santo Body Butter

We at The Amazing Blog know that taking care of the skin on the body is just as important as taking care of your face. Particularly in these cold winter months and for those with a propensity to dry or cracked skin. We found that looking for a rich, hydrating and natural body butter that performs can be a bit of mission. We’ve heard a lot of good things about the brand AnnMarie Skincare and their hero product Palo Santo Body Butter and could wait to put it to the test.

The story begins with AnnMarie and Kevin Gianni, who at the time in 2008 were both healthy living bloggers, set out on a trip through North and South America. They spent their journey looking for natural care products and sharing them with their viewers on their YouTube channel, The Renegade Health Show.  After multiple viewers asked Annmarie what products she used, like many people, she realised they weren’t as clean and green as she wanted. While trying to find cleaner and greener products, she found nothing that was to her standards. AnnMarie randomly found a company after visiting a small spa in Patagonia, Arizona, United States. She contacted the brand founder Bunnie a herbalist and chemist, on working together on a collaboration for a natural skincare line and sell it on a bigger scale rather than just at the spa. In 2009, AnnMarie Skincare launched in collaboration with Bunnie and the brands has gone on from strength to strength winning awards and gaining global recognition. Their artisan products are non-GMO, cruelty-free, wildcrafted and contain organic ingredients wherever possible; these all come about through their 3-step process. In their first step, they choose their organic and wildcrafted ingredients and audit them to ensure purity. Their step two is infusing herbs into aloe vera and skin-nourishing oils for up to 30 days to create a base. The third and final step is to carefully craft products using numerous other natural ingredients such as oils, plant extracts.

In these uncertain times with lockdown, we think giving skin a little self-love and care is much needed. The Palo Santo Body Butter is a truly luxurious body treatment. It is formulated specifically to get the skin hydrated and healthy. This Body Butter includes key ingredients of shea butter and fair-trade cocoa butter which are both known to give the skin great hydration. The shea butter not only hydrates but helps the fight against ageing and soothes sensitive skin. The cocoa butter includes fatty acids which help tighten the skin’s appearance, with antioxidants that protect the skin's surface from oxidative damage caused by free radicals and environmental aggressors and give this butter its subtle chocolatey aroma. There is jojoba packed with vitamins such as E and B, and ideal for sensitive skin.  Kukui nut is for soothing and softening without leaving a greasy film and is beneficial for eczema and psoriasis. Whereas the macadamia reduces the appearance of ageing and has manganese, an essential mineral required for collagen production. The four essential oils here are cardamon, palo santo, vetiver and nutmeg. The cardamon is full of vitamin C improving the tone and texture of the skin and is a great antioxidant. The palo santo, which the product is named after, is an essential oil that has calming effects for the body and soul, it is a rare oil extracted from trees in Ecuador. It has a unique fragrance and is often used in ‘smudging’ rituals to clear and calm a room. The vetiver and nutmeg warm the skin and adds to the scent. The fragrance is unusual we could pick out the cocoa butter and vetiver and nutmeg in particular, what we loved was the performance. It is rich and luxurious as it says, but also long-lasting. When applied in the morning we found it kept skin soft throughout day and night, shielding and protecting and was still evident on the skin when showering the following morning. It is expensive but as we often say, a little goes a long way and this 200ml tub will last a good month or so. The Palo Santo Body Butter was sent to us by UK online retailer Live in the Light. They believe that products you put on your body have an impact on your health. All the products that they stock are natural, organic and chemical-free, you can purchase the Palo Santo Body Butter here for £69.50.

Cochine: Vanille & Tabac Noir Reed Diffuser

Now that everyone is talking about a second lockdown, here at  The Amazing Blog we’re remembering that dreaded feeling of being house-bound, again! Somehow, we need to get our inside space to feel more like the outside, and with a few minor changes like adding a room fragrance, we find that this can help. Now with autumn here, we’ve already changed our room fragrance to something richer, earthy and more reflective of the season. Thanks to Cochine who sent us another of their delicious reed diffusers in Vanille & Tabac Noir, we can now enjoy this comforting and warming scent to uplift our spirits. This simple reed diffuser stimulates our olfactory sense and helps to make our anticipated ‘stay at home, stay safe’ more enjoyable and a whole lot less stressful.

We have previously featured their Tuberose and Wild Fig Reed Diffuser which we totally loved. Kate Crofton-Atkins founded this luxury brand in 2008, and she has been creating a unique selection of fragrances ever since.  Kate spent the first year working with essential oils and then she had the opportunity to partner up with a New York-based fragrance house to launch Cochine in Hong Kong. Since then, Cochine has produced a range of perfumes, reed diffusers, candles, and skincare products. The brand offers luxurious products that have gained them global recognition, in five-stars hotels and boutiques. They have a strong focus on design as well as a sensory focus where each of their fragrances transports you to a global destination and evokes memories and fires up the imagination.

Vanille & Tabac Noir Reed Diffuser is produced by blending several key base notes such as that of vanilla bean, patchouli and the warming sensual scent of the tobacco flower.  BTW did you know that Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco flower) has a long history of use by herbalists as a relaxant, as well as relieving nausea and travel sickness? Yes, that was news to us too! These ingredients are all enhanced with extracts of nutmeg, cardamom and basil leaves which give a warm and opulent aroma to this oil, with the added extra of a feeling of luxury and well-being. All you need to do is arrange 4 to 8 rattan reeds and let them absorb the oil inside the bottle, then by occasionally turning the reeds, it will keep the room well-fragranced. Unlike burning a candle, these can be left unattended; and because they don’t contain any alcohol, they will keep on giving out a long-lasting fragrance.  Or you can remove the reeds and put the stopper for occasional use and the number of reeds used can be adjusted to strengthen or soften the scent. You can purchase your Vanille & Tabac Noir Reed Diffuser here for £60.00. This makes the perfect background fragrance and will add elegance to any home. 

Carina Organics - Unscented Natural Body Deodorant

We at The Amazing Blog know how important it is to stay fresh while living our busy and sometimes hectic lives. Whether we are running daily errands, going to the gym, or travelling; we all want to feel protected from unpleasant odours. We also love discovering new brands that have natural or organic products that are vegan friendly, not tested on animals and free from nasty chemicals.  That’s why we tried and tested this fragrance -free natural deodorant for sensitive skin Unscented Natural Body Deodorant by Carina Organics. 

Carina Organics is based in Vancouver and aims to provide 100% natural products, completely free of synthetics, parabens, fragrances, gluten and dyes. Founded by Helmut Gollner, who migrated from Germany to Canada and whose passion for homeopathic skin and haircare led him on this journey to launch Carina Organics. Since Carina’s inception in 1972, its main focus and philosophy is to create self-care products by replacing chemical ingredients with natural and organic ones. Gollner believes that nature provides the means to keep our skin healthy and beautiful, which is why  Carina takes great pride in their formulas and the quality of the ingredients they use. All of Carina products are manufactured by hand on the North Shore of Vancouver, where they produce a wide range of hair, face, body and baby care.

We chose to review their Unscented Natural Body Deodorant, as one of our bugbears is heavily fragranced deodorants. Although we all like to smell fragrant, it can also conflict with our chosen scent of the day; i.e. a heavily scented floral deodorant clashing with a delicate fresh cologne. What we love about Carina’s Unscented Natural Body Deodorant is that it’s produced using only natural and non-staining mineral salts. It protects the skin for up to 24 hours, leaving it fresh and odour-free, making it impossible for bacteria to develop. Made of only three simple ingredients: Filtered water, potassium alum, and pine extract, this deodorant is hypoallergenic, 100% biodegradable, cruelty-free and vegan.  Applied with 5-6 pumps of the spray under each arm or on any other desired area of the body, it dries quickly and is long-lasting. The Unscented Natural Body Deodorant was sent to us via Live in the Light, a UK online store which distributes their products. With a holistic approach, Live in The Light believes that skincare products that we use in our daily regime have an impact on our health, and supplies only high quality natural and organic products, just like this Unscented Natural Body Deodorant which you can purchase here for £13.50. 

Liolà Cosmetics - Nutrient-Rich Anti-Ageing Action Face Cream

With our new stay at home culture, the new make-up is no make-up! Skincare for us, at The Amazing Blog the priority beauty buy. And it would seem that we aren’t alone, as we ride through this turbulent time of the Covid19 pandemic. Lia Neophytou, the Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, recently commented: "With fewer out-of-home occasions for consumers to attend, as well as the transition to working at home, cosmetics has taken a backseat. Even when consumers do venture outdoors, the wearing of masks is further diminishing the need for cosmetics. All sectors in the cosmetics and toiletries industry are expected to return to growth in 2021, though will not recuperate their pre-COVID-19 value.” This is why today we’re want to introduce you to another of our #amazingfinds with the luxury and award-winning natural bio-peptide skincare by Liolà  Cosmetics from Italy. 

Liolà  Cosmetics is a luxurious range of skincare mixing the best natural ingredients with state-of-the-art biotechnologies. They were founded in 2018 by a group of like-minded Italian entrepreneurs with over 35 years of beauty experience, all of whom share the philosophy of simplicity, transparency and obsession for using only the finest natural ingredients. Here less is more, where they use minimal formulations to achieve a highly effective performance. Nature and innovative biotechnologies are at the sources of their quality actives; they don’t use any synthetic surfactants, parabens, silicones or mineral oils. They have the highest standards only using quality ingredients in order to deliver the experience of an authentic, tangible and luxurious experience. They also believe in is keeping a sustainable blueprint making sure that their products cohere to a practice helping to preserve the environment, as well as giving the customer the right product/quality ratio. In less than a year, they have produced four ranges with: Time Control, Black Diamond, Sport and 360 degrees. They have recently been recognised, winning Finalist at the Pure Beauty Global Awards 2020 with their Face Cream from the Time Control collection, which we are going to talk about today. All their products are 100% Italian, clinically tested, affordable and made with clean formulas. BTW you can scan the SKU on their products on the INCI Beauty App to find out their rating and explanation of ingredients.

The Time Control line is the hero range of the brand, only launched in 2019. It has bio-peptides which are substances formed by amino acids joined by covalent bonds known as amide or peptide bonds. Peptides act as a messenger between the top-most layer of skin or epidermis. Epidermal-dermal communication is important as it naturally breaks down as we age and is one of the causes of ageing. Here these bio-peptides are programmed to train the skin to fight the first signs of ageing, by toning and helping to diminish fine lines. We tried the Nutrient-Rich Anti-Ageing Action Face Cream which has a mix of 98% natural ingredients. The fragrance is fresh, it’s fast to absorb and light in texture, ideal for counteracting skin fatigue with it’s brightening and toning. It contains anti-ageing peptide which reduces the depth of facial wrinkles caused by the contraction of facial expression muscles, especially on the forehead and around the eyes. 

One of our favourite ingredients here is hyaluronic acid which will alleviate dry skin by hydrating and plumping due to its high molecular weight, where it helps to retain moisture between the skin cells. The Anti-pollution factor here is the vegetable-based ingredients with a synergic mix of a natural oxide-reductase enzyme and carefully selected soy peptides, small protein fragments produced by fermenting soybeans that neutralise the damaging effects of free radicals, pollution and UV. There is jojoba oil that aids in diminishing dryness and has anti-inflammatory properties which will reduce redness and also ease any irritation from eczema or rosacea. It also is rich in sweet almond oil which gives an emollient power to the cream as it improves the skin complexion and tone, helping reverse sun damage and restore the firmness of the skin making it look fresh. The black currant oil also has anti-inflammatory properties which will soothe irritation, nourish and protect. There are fatty acids with omega 6 and 3 which have protective properties, elasticising the skin lessening the effects of ageing. Last but not least, is the sunflower oil, here it’s a regenerator of damaged skin cells where it’s light, non-greasy and absorbs quickly without blocking the pores.

 Liolà Cosmetics advises applying morning and evening on clean skin. We found this to be a brilliant all-in-one Face Cream – no serum needed. When we tested this we found that it was nourishing enough to use alone, even on the driest skin type. It is expensive but if you work out ‘cost per wear’ using this alone without the need for a serum – we think it’s good value!  You can feel the luxury in every single detail, from the sourcing of ingredients to the presentation and packaging. Yes, we would buy more and for us, it’s a winner! We can’t wait to try more from this brand. To purchase your Nutrient-Rich Anti-Ageing Action Face Cream for see here.