Benny Hancock For Men: Moisturising Face Perfector SPF 15

Taking care of our skin is nothing new. Each of us has, to some extent, a daily routine to try and keep skin looking at its best. However, men’s skin, and the look they want to achieve, can be quite different from that of women. We know 30% of our readership is men, which is why at The Amazing Blog we wanted to introduce this best-selling new all-in-one lightweight moisturiser and foundation Moisturising Face Perfector from Benny Hancock For Men. 

Working closely with celebrities, supermodels, and VIPs for over a decade, Benny Hancock is an influencer and a global industry pro-makeup artist who understands men’s skin and their priorities when looking for a makeup. After realising men’s increasing need for makeup, he founded Benny Hancock For Men, with a masculine-looking range of vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics, to help men build their confidence and enhancing their appearance. He believes that “makeup for men should enhance rather than conceal” and, therefore, has worked hard to design products that are feel invisible, are convenient, and long-lasting. Benny Hancock For Men is an innovative brand that combines high-tech and wearable formulations to achieve the perfect makeup look that men are seeking out.  

With the Moisturising Face Perfector what we like is that this product is a multi-tasker. It works as both as a moisturiser and foundation. While the hydrogenated coconut oil and argan oil it hydrates the skin just like a moisturiser, the fragrance-free formula provides natural yet buildable coverage that disguises uneven skin tone and imperfections without being sticky or cakey. The SPF 15, along with vitamin E, silica, and Ectoin, protects your skin from UVA/B rays and is clinically proven to create a barrier that defends against pollutants. This foundation is available in five different skin-compatible shades, and if you’re unsure of what colour suits you the best, you can use their ‘Virtual Try-On Mirror’ to find the perfect match, using the camera on your smartphone or computer. As a tip, they advise using the buffing brush to apply the foundation for best result, but it can also be applied with the fingers - if unarmed combat is more your thing! Men’s makeup, is still a relatively new concept for your average bloke. Our tester (that bloke) not one to normally wear makeup, was curious and sceptical all at the same time. We gave him the shade of NC15 fair to try. Our powers of persuasion which involved pointing him to the tutorial at Benny Hancock on ‘How to Use’ and telling him about how the SPF factor and ingredients would protect his face from the sun and city pollutants - he was off and running. Much to his (and our) surprise he was amazed at how natural it looked! He later confessed to having it as one of his ‘empties’ with a view to reordering. You can purchase this 30ml Moisturising Face Perfecter SPF 15  here  for £25.

Organic Works: Bergamot Hand Wash

Washing your hands is the best way to kill germs and prevent infectious diseases from spreading. Especially during this pandemic, we find ourselves in a constant cycle of washing our hands just to avoid getting sick, and then applying hand cream when the hard London water dries them out. We’ve been looking for the a natural and moisturising hand wash to use at The Amazing Blog  to keep our hands clean, healthy and soft. This is when we found heard about an award-winning Bergamot Hand Wash from Organic Works. 

Initially known as Organic Surge, Organic Works decided to rebrand itself as Organic Works after a fire started at a neighbouring warehouse in the winter of 2019, which destroyed all of its products and stock. Organic Works have more than 50 years experience in the world of natural, organic and clean beauty; making them trailblazer with their much-loved formulas and philosophy: ‘Organics that truly Work’. This family-run business manufactures focusing on fresh and natural ingredients with no preservatives. Everything is made in small batches, which means that rather than mass production, the products are handcrafted and made in small amounts to ensure the best quality. As a privately owned, vegan, cruelty-free, organic brand, it also values transparency and sustainability. Its products use not only sustainably sourced and traceable ingredients, but also have minimal and recyclable packaging. All of which we applaud.

Because of its clean yet effective formula, Organic Works Bergamot Hand Wash  won the Best New Natural Product in the Pure Beauty Awards London 2020. It is 100% cruelty-free and great for all skin types, especially for sensitive skin. As a clean beauty product, 98.89% of its total ingredients come from natural sources, and 96.34% of the total plant-based ingredients are from organic farming. It’s formulated with aloe extract and several coconut-derived cleansing agents, which gently wash away impurities and keeps our skin silky smooth. Enriched with sweet orange and bergamot oils, it has a distinctive soft citrus fragrance combining the tropical orange and bergamot scent. Plus, the essential oils contained in the formula provide long-lasting protection against bacteria and dryness, and the therapeutic properties here can boost mood and awaken the senses. Best of all it leaves hands fragrant and soft – we can’t wait to try more from this brand. To purchase the 300ml Organic Works Bergamot Hand Wash at £10 for 300ml, see here. And when you’ve reached the end of the bottle, they offer a BIG 1000ml refill for this too at £27!

Sweet Pink CBD: Wild Orange & Bergamot Body Buzz CBD Oil & Lemongrass & Turmeric CBD Balm

For the past year with #lockdown, self-care has been our number one priority. That's why at The Amazing Blog, we search out lots of new CBD products to include in our daily life. Today we’d like to introduce Sweet Pink CBD and their Wild Orange & Bergamot Body Buzz CBD Massage Oil   and Lemongrass & Turmeric CBD Balm as two of our latest #amazingfinds for CBD body care.

Sweet Pink CBD is a vegan CBD wellness company launched by Suffolk resident Tannine Montgomery, in support of her daughter Indie-Rose. At four months old, Indie-Rose was diagnosed with Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. For three years, Indie-Rose had seizure treatments, but they proved ineffective, and soon, she lost the ability to walk. She continued to have seizures every single day. In 2018, out of desperation, Tannine decided to turn to a doctor in Holland to prescribe Indie-Rose with a high-strength CBD oil. After starting the prescription, Indie-Rose went four days without a seizure, and was able to play with her brother for the first time! Since then, Tannine has been fighting to grant a license for Cannabidiol – cannabis-based oil prescription in the UK, which is how Sweet Pink was born, as Tannine says, "Sweet Pink would not be here without Indie-Rose." The brand works with small, artisan farms across Europe that grow their hemp organically which is then extracted with CO2 and ethanol. What makes Sweet Pink's products so unusual is their use of organic full-spectrum CBD distillates in both their oils and topicals. Full-spectrum CBD is also known as whole plant CBD. Some people prefer to use full-spectrum CBD, because of the all the cannabinoids found in a whole hemp plant are present, which leads to a more robust potency. The small amount of THC in these products will not affect the user; instead, it will help boost the CBD effects. Sweet Pink's products are thoroughly lab tested by Greenleaf Processing with and have a certification of analysis to ensure maximum health and safety.  As Sweet Pink CBD are still in the start-up phase, they looking into being 100% plastic-free soon. Tannine sources as many reusable materials as possible; for example, the only plastic really used is the inners of the lids. Next year, they will be looking into more refillable products; to cut down on the amount of packaging used.

The first product of the two we tried was the Wild Orange & Bergamot Body Buzz CBD  if like us, you are hunched at your desk all day, this is the product you need. The Body Buzz Massage Oil combines 300mg of whole plant CBD extract with carefully selected ingredients of vegan and organic base oils, and essential oils; these work together to invigorate the senses and help to get the day off, to a good start. It’s infused with citrus essentials oils from both sweet orange and bergamot, packed full of monoterpenes to stimulate your senses, relieve stress and uplift mood.  The base oils here are a combination of sweet almond, wheat germ, hemp and jojoba, all rich in antioxidants working together to boost immunity. To use this massage oil, Sweet PinkCBDUK recommends warming the oil in your hands before massaging it into the skin or adding it to a hot bath to reduce tension. The zesty fragrance was a winner with us, as it makes this Massage Oil incredibly revitalising. The oil itself has enough ‘slip’ for massage but absorbs swiftly into the skin, so that it won’t cover your clothes with a layer of grease!  This was our favourite out of the two products and we think best used after a shower in the morning, to make you feel ready to take on the day! The 100ml Wild Orange & Bergamot Body Buzz CBD Massage Oil is available for £30.00 here.

The brand also sent us their Lemongrass & Turmeric CBD Balm which has been created for muscle and joint fatigue relief in mind. If you're anything like us, you will be reaching out for this Balm to help relieve aches and pains from your home workout. Like the massage oil, this Balm also contains 300mg of CBD where it intensely nourishes and regenerates sensitive and tired skin. Together with the hemp oil, they are both high in omega 3 and 6 with non-comedogenic properties, which means they don’t block pores. The other ingredients include coconut oil which keeps skin hydrated reducing inflammation and has the added bonus of good antimicrobial properties. Candelilla wax is reputed to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and age spots. The lemongrass has antifungal, and again has antimicrobial properties. Whereas turmeric contains curcumin known to reduce the body’s response to cutaneous wounds by decreasing inflammation and oxidation. This balm is smooth to the touch and easily applied anywhere on the body. We found with its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties it relieved aching limbs and worked well targeting the joint areas like hips and knees. Unlike other CBD Balms we’re tried, the lemongrass element here, is not overpowering, making it easy and pleasant to use.  The 30ml Lemongrass & Turmeric CBD Balm is available for purchase for £36.00 to purchase see here. To get the full benefits from these unique CBD wellness products, a quick reminder to remember to store in a cool, dark place, out of direct sunlight.  BTW any first time orders over £30, we give 10% off with code FIRST10.

Regular Girl: Prebiotic Fiber & Probiotic Blend, On-the-Go

Digestion troubles with excess gas or bloating can at some time, or other, happen to us all. Here at The Amazing Blog, we’re often guilty of irregular eating habits and yoyo dieting, all of which has its consequences!  That’s why today, we wanted to introduce this supplement created by women for women with its unique patented natural formula that’s derived from the guar plant combined with the beneficial probiotic bifidobacterium lactis. Meet Regular Girl’s Prebiotic Fiber & Probiotic Blend.

Regular Girl’s healthcare products are aimed at the health-conscious woman who wants to treat or prevent digestive issues. Regular Girl’s supplements aid digestive disturbance and restores a long-term healthy balance thanks to their 100 % natural ingredients. On top of that, the brand is gluten-free, non-GMO Project Verified, certified organic, kosher and vegetarian. They are affirmed as GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) by an expert panel and are the world’s first prebiotic fibre and probiotic blend to achieve an important low-FODMAP certification, accredited by Monash University, Australia. The key ingredient here is the patented Sunfiber® a natural substance derived from the guar plant grown in western India. This is where they transform the plant’s fibre-packed bean into this acclaimed soluble fibre supplement. Also included in this formula is proven prebiotic fibre that increases the bifidobacteria lactobacillus levels; these supporting microbiomes are not only essential for the digestive system but immune health too.

As mentioned, this Prebiotic Fiber & Probiotic Blend on-the-Go is a certified Low-FODMAP product (FODMAP = Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols - a group of dietary sugars poorly absorbed in the small intestine). These are known to cause digestive problems such as gas-related pain, intestinal distention and constipation and diarrhoea in people suffering from functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This is where this Regular Girl’s supplement can offer a simple solution to maintain a healthy digestive balance. Now let's talk about how easy it is to use the product. This supplement comes in individual sachets, these you can take at any time of the day by adding it to drinks or food.  It’s colourless, odourless, tasteless, and gluten-free and dissolves quickly in liquids. Each sachet contains a well thought out amount of 6g Sunfiber® guar fibre (containing 5g soluble fibre) and 8 billion Bifidobacterium lactis. They advise taking one sachet a day - preferably in the morning to help get your digestive system on track. We sprinkled it into our cereal bowl, although you could also put it in smoothies, cold drinks or add it to a water bottle. It's really easy to use, and the benefits are huge. It's an excellent source of fibre, will improve good gut bacteria growth, and give a comfortable and full satiated feeling. To sum it up, it’ll provide you with regularity without excess gas or bloating. To try it for yourself and see all the benefits, you can purchase the Regular Girl’s Prebiotic Fiber & Probiotic Blend, On-The-Go from FODMarket here for £28.99 (30 sachets). 

Elan Skincare: Wonder Face Cleanser Melon & Cucumber Cleanse & Calm

Cleansing is the foundation of every skincare routine. By removing makeup, dirt, and other kinds of pollutants from the skin, a good cleanser keeps pores clear and maintains skin health. Today at The Amazing Blog we’d like to introduce another award-winning organic skincare brand that we’ve been keen to try,  Elan Skincare. They recently launched the Wonder Face Cleanser Melon & Cucumber Cleanse & Calm, a gentle yet effective plant-based cleanser for removing makeup and daily grime which we put to test.

When Elan Skincare was launched in 2017, it had a mission to create an honest, transparent and organic skincare that combined both science and nature. Founded by women and made for women, Elan Skincare’s primary aim is to empower women, and with Joanna Silva at the helm and her ten years of experience in the medical industry, it’s a brand you can trust, as she understands the importance of women’s health and wellbeing. Elan’s commitment is to produce natural, sustainable and organic formulas that are cruelty-free, vegan and recyclable. All products are dermatologically tested and embrace the latest green technologies for producing cold-pressed unrefined butter and oils, the purest CO2 organic plant extracts and actives, coenzyme Q10, vitamin C and E, hyaluronic acid and more... All products contain organic botanical ingredients that are Eco-cert and Soil Association certified.

The Wonder Face Cleanser Melon & Cucumber Cleanse & Calm  is a lightweight, silky-textured cleansing oil ideal for all skin types, especially those with sensitive skin. Enriched with the key ingredients of hazelnut seed oil, containing tannins which work as powerful antioxidants. The sunflower seed oil is high in omega 6 and vitamin E, whereas the caprylic/capric triglyceride (derived from coconut) works as a preservative to bind ingredients. The isoamyl laurate (derived from sugarcane) is a skin conditioning agent which resurfaces, tones and brightens the skin. The hydrogenated farnesene (plant-derived squalane) works as an emollient, and the sea buckthorn oil is full of vitamin C to nourish and moisturise skin.  The unusual addition here is bakuchiol (often referred to as the plant-based alternative to retinol) known an anti-inflammatory which helps deliver a smoother skin texture and stimulate collagen production. There is also a plethora of fruit extracts making this a potent mix, as it effectively and gently dissolves makeup (yes, even mascara!) We like how it improves skin texture and firmness while at the same time cleanses the skin. Without using artificial fragrances, alcohol or essential oils, it has a refreshing scent of cucumber and melon incorporating these fresh fruits extracts into the formula.  In the evening, we massaged in a 50p amount of the cleansing oil on to a damp skin, then rinsed it away with warm water and a washcloth. It removed daily grime and makeup with ease. Elan Skincare also recommends apply the cleanser as a mask, leaving it on for a 5-10 minutes allowing it to penetrate, feed and strengthen the skin; this felt like an early morning treat, before our shower. We love their use of organic botanical actives and the gentle performance of this cleanser. It even soothed our red and irritated #lockdown eczema! Yes, we consider this yet another of our #amazingfinds. It can be purchased here a 50ml bottle for £28.