NORSE: Aftershave Balm & Hand Salve "Paw Chutney for Hard-Working Hands"

The girls at The Amazing Blog have yet again, come to my rescue and helped to put an end to my suffering… We’re talking razor burn (from recently shaving off my whiskers) and dry hands (sustained from extracurricular work as a volunteer). Meet both Aftershave Balm and Hand Salve "Paw Chutney for Hard-working Hands" from the trusty newcomer and grooming brand Norse.

As the regular readers will remember, I’ve already reviewed two of Norse’s products: the Exfoliating Face Wash Bars and the Norse Shower Bars here. I’m a fan of this new brand and I’ve just added two more of their products to my favourites list.  I also have to admit to being a ‘little obsessed’ with their Hand Salve. As I mentioned before, Norse’s products are handmade, vegan, and cruelty-free.  Iain Kerrigan, the founder of Norse, states: “All products are plastic-free, environmentally (and wallet) friendly.” Which in these challenging economic times, the latter will hold great appeal for one and all.

Let’s start with the Aftershave Balm which left my skin as soft as a baby’s bum!  As the name says, it’s a Balm, an emollient that can be used on the face or (in my case) dry elbows too. It absorbs quickly into the skin and is non-greasy formula despite being rich in key ingredients such as shea butter, jojoba, and sweet almond oil. I also loved that it had a subtle zesty finish too. Having shaved off my whiskers, my exposed skin was extremely sensitive and this Balm offered both protection and hydration. A little goes a long way and I think that this is a brilliant multitasker that’ll offer plentiful use all year round. You can purchase your Aftershave Balm here 100g for only £ 20.00.

Then we come onto my favourite the Hand Salve "Paw Chutney for hard-working hands" as someone who works with their hands;  this has been a lifesaver for me. Not only with all the hand washing but as a couturier at Simon Copeland London by day and a volunteer making PPE by night – I’ve noticed the toll it’s taken on my hands. My skin has become noticeably drier but by applying this Hand Salve last thing at night, massaging it into my palms, back of hands and cuticles, it has really helped to soothe and replenish the oils making my skin soft and supple again. Like the Aftershave Balm, it has shea butter, jojoba and sweet almond, although this has the addition of key ingredients such as beeswax which will help to protect skin and essential oils like lavender, rosemary and tea tree to rid bacteria and heal cuts. This is a must for everyone who has hard-working hands. You can purchase your 85g Hand Salve "Paw Chutney for hard-working hands" here for only £14.00. 

ULU (U Love U) - Revitalise 5% CBD Serum and Happy 1% CBD Body Oil

We like to support all things CBD and at The Amazing Blog we search out the very best that we can find. Today at The Amazing Blog we want to introduce you to ULU (U Love U), a newcomer that produces CBD oils and skincare. We like that their motto is ‘love your life’ and as we all know, the pressures of everyday life can often lead to anxiety and stress and ULU are here to help break that cycle. CBD has become more and more popular here in the UK and we’ve been featuring it here for a while now. We’re always curious as see to how products from this humble hemp plant can play a positive part in our lives. 

Founded by Paul Hembery, whose background is motorsport, where he worked in a high-pressure and stressful environment. After having discovered the merits of CBD products, he wanted to provide a solution for other people experiencing similar challenges. He believes in spreading positivity and wellbeing, “I was studying a life course in California with the Bob Proctor Institute and was struck by the need to increase positivity and confidence in people and life in general.” Paul went on to say: “Combine that with the opportunity CBD is providing and my personal mission to provide high-quality solutions, I decided to create ULU. You only get one life. So, above all, I want people to love it.” All of which proved to be his inspiration to venture into the world of CBD. ULU offers THC free full-spectrum CBD products (we recently explained THC-free full spectrum process in another CBD feature here). Their product range includes skincare, pet supplement oils,  sublingual oils, capsules, combined amino CBD and vapes.  They are made in Germany and are herbicide and pesticide-free. Today we are reviewing two of their skincare products Revitalise 5% CBD Serum 750mg and the Happy 1% CBD Body Oil 750mg.

Indeed, CBD oil has numerous ‘positive’ properties and one of the many adverse effects we’ve felt from this quarantine/pandemic has been stress, and this stress is reflected immediately on our skin; whether it’s an acne breakout, skin redness, or dehydration.  The Revitalise Serum offers the skin relief and protection against environmental pollution and free radicals. A powerful and natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, the CBD here is broad-spectrum and THC-free (confusing, I know when they tell us they’re full-spectrum, perhaps it’s only the sublingual products?) The CBD is the key ingredient in this Serum, where it helps purify the skin and offers some great anti-ageing effects too. The Serum has 5% of CBD (750ml in this 15ml bottle) making it and the Body Oil, the highest concentration of organic broad-spectrum CBD in skincare, here in the UK. However, don’t be concerned it is very gentle on the skin despite its strength, we found that it suited all our skin types and really plumped up the skin. Their organic cannabidiol here is combined with organic aloe leaf juice an antioxidant-rich in vitamins and known for its legendary heal properties. There is organic coconut oil and sunflower seed oil, which are rich in vitamins A, C, and, D. Plus the red raspberry, blueberry, and cranberry extracts that shield the skin and act as a cell regenerator, encourages cell growth and boosts the collagen levels in the skin.  We think that this Serum is ideal for dry skin with its addition of organic neem seed and rosehip seed oils which even out skin tone and rebalance any redness. This Revitalising Serum is available for here in 15ml for £41.

The second product from ULU we tried is the ULU Happy 1% CBD Body Oil is a deeply hydrating body oil which contains 1% of CBD (750mg in 15ml). What better way to leave your skin with velvety result than by using this Body Oil. It contains jojoba seed oil that will help soothe your skin and leave it glowing with the Meadowfoam seed oil which will help prevent loss of skin moisturisation. The avocado oil will make sure your skin gets all the vitamins and protein it needs to keep it healthy and protect it from UV rays damages. This Body Oil also contains sunflower seed oil, neem seed oil, and organic coconut oil and has a natural slightly zesty aroma to keep you smelling fresh and feeling energised. They recommend using this also on eczema and acne. With a name like HAPPY who could resist? Quickly added neither of these products smells even the tiniest bit ‘hemp-y’ - which we’ve heard as a common complaint with some CBD skincare. See here for the ULU Happy 1% CBD Body oil in 75ml for £44.

Cleanse & Cure - 100% Organic Gold Sea Moss

It is always hard to find the right elements to help us maintain a healthy lifestyle. Today at The Amazing Blog we’ve found something slightly different …  It’s a pure ingredient from the Irish Sea brought to us from Cleanse & Cure.  We discovered from them, that this Organic Gold Sea Moss is thought to be a bit of a natural miracle worker, which is why we wanted to try it.

Sea Moss has been played an integral and medicinal role in both the Jamaican and Irish traditions.  This type of Sea Moss can be found on the Atlantic Coastline of North America, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands. It was used by the Irish as a type of medicine in the 1800s and helped to feed the population during the potato famine. Irish Sea Moss is considered as a great digestive aid. Cleanse & Cure use a traditional recipe with wildcrafted raw sea moss, spring water and a little citrus juice to cleanse and flavour. With its gel-like texture, it makes a great agent to heal and soothe the mucus membrane in the body like the respiratory and digestive systems. It can get rid of bad gut bacteria; therefore, it has a prebiotic effect. Sea moss can improve your thyroid functions with its high concentration in iodine, an element used by your own hormones to regulate metabolism, mood, and much more.

It is a great immune booster thanks to the potassium, amino acids, vitamin C and antioxidants. We included it in our version of an alkaline Green Smoothie: with a handful of fresh parsley, 1 x juice of a lemon, 1 x small cucumber (whole), and 1 x apples (whole), ½ a tumbler of spring water and a hand full of ice cubes, all blitzed up in the blender. The one to two tablespoons of this Sea Moss is recommended to take daily. We found it to be almost tasteless and it simply vanished in this smoothie. As a superfood, it can be used as a supplement and is said to contain 92 of 102 of the body’s natural elements, 80% of which are from the important ones. Just like any other natural product, it will deteriorate over time, therefore, Cleanse & Cure advises keeping it for no more than 2-3 weeks, but you can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

With all these nutriment benefits and with it's a gel-like quality its ideal for using as a face mask particular for those with eczema, psoriasis or with skin sensitivity. It is rich in sulphur and therefore is an antibacterial, reduces the excess of sebum oil in the skin and hence less acne breakout. It has all the elements when applied topically to help keep the skin hydrated and enriched in vitamin A, potassium, calcium, sulphur, magnesium, and vitamin K. It can also be integrated into your daily diet, be it for weight loss or other reasons since it contains fibre and is low in cholesterol and fat.  It also contains Algin which is a phytonutrient that has therapeutic values such as a heavy metal detoxifying agent. Cleanse and Cure offers two kinds of Sea Moss: The Organic Gold Sea Moss available in either 750ml for £25 here or 380ml for £15 here. The Organic Purple Sea Moss available in 380ml for £20 here.

Danilo Manco - Gustoso Organic Apple Vinegar

Summer is really here (in between the rain showers!) and what better way to enjoy our new outdoor life than with a gorgeous salad (or a cocktail*) with Gustoso Organic Apple Vinegar.  At The Amazing Blog, all the girls and I love to try new products that have a twist, and we certainly haven’t tried an organic apple vinegar before… 

Sent to us by The Olive Oil Company, this organic apple vinegar is produced by Danilo Manco in Italy. The term ‘vinegar’ actually refers to the two-step process of fermentation from a carbohydrate to an alcohol and then to acetic acid. Sugar is converted into alcohol, which is then fermented into vinegar. This vinegar comes from the wonderful Modena area in the Emilia Romagna region Italy; and has been made from organically grown apples and then stored in wooden casks.  This process concentrates the flavours while allowing the microorganisms necessary to convert the apples into vinegar to enter the barrels. The longer the ageing time, the better the end product is. The mother apple vinegar (a substance composed of a form of cellulose and acetic acid bacteria that develops naturally during the fermentation process) turns the alcohol into acetic acid with the help of the oxygen present in the air. NB this is not apple ‘cider’ vinegar it is a pure apple vinegar made in the balsamic style. In order to maintain the delicious taste and natural antioxidant properties of the vinegar, it only contains the best selection of Italian organic apples. These are then turned into a concentrated apple juice and mixed with the mother organic apple vinegar.  The result is both yummy and healthy!  No wonder it received the Great Taste 3-star award in 2019.  

After all the baking and snacking we’ve been doing, a salad which only needs a dibble this apple-based balsamic vinegar is perfect for helping to shed the any extra kilos that might have crept on during our recent lockdown. You can taste the apple making it sweet, tangy and bursting with flavour. Dark brown in colour it is thicker than an ordinary vinegar and has the consistency almost of a balsamic glaze.  So a little goes a long way which is good as this is a luxury item. It combines well with scallops and prawns as well as adding it into strews.  Also, perfect drizzled on strawberries or in *cocktail such as this ‘Apple Vinegar Vodka Sipper.’  Take 30g of apple juice, 30 g of vodka and one teaspoon of GUSTOSO Organic Apple Vinegar. Add crushed ice and mix in a cocktail shaker, then serve and garnish with grapes on a cocktail stick. Delicious! So go forth and take the flavour of your next salad to a new level by buying a bottle here for £13.50 (200ml) of the Gustoso Organic Apple Vinegar. 

SPRITZ WELLNESS – Yoga Mat Sprays: Energise & Relax

Today’s #amazingfinds comes from a world where inner peace is much valued. At The Amazing Blog we’re often guilty of not focusing on the importance of a having healthy mindset and sense of calmness. As a consequence, we try regularly to practice things that can help us get there - such as yoga!  Some of us are regular ‘yogis’ and thus mindful of the importance of keeping our mats clean and in tiptop condition. We thought we’d share with you these SpritzWellness Yoga Mat Sprays, Energise and Relax which are aromatherapy based; we found these via the 2020 Beauty Shortlist Awards (as the latter was awarded Wellbeing Editors Choice). Their primary purpose is to clean the sweat away from yoga mats to restore and keep them pristine.  

Spritz Wellness is a holistic company founded by Laura Colucci in 2017, a professional yoga trainer who divides her time between the beachy shores of West Sussex and the London metropolis. The aim of the company is to help everyone find peace in the centre of their busy and chaotic worlds. They also focus on providing products that are not only made from start to finish using durable and recyclable material but also have ingredients that help to maintain a grounded and balanced mindset. The commitment to a better self is used in all aspects and it is shown even in the small detail. In fact, Spritz Wellness fights for a better future by supporting Surfers Against Sewage, who help keep the oceans clean. In fact, they not only regularly donate a part of their sales to this non-profit organisation, but also participate in beach cleaning here in the UK. 

Their award-winning product Yoga Mat Spray Relax comes in 2 sizes, the 50 ml, and the 100ml. It is made with three simple ingredients water, tea tree oil and lavender.  The lavender is taken from flowering tops of French lavender shrubs, and aids in promoting wellness and calmness by reducing stress, anxiety, and sometimes pain. It is especially good to fight insomnia and restlessness as well as headaches. Another component here is the tea tree oil, derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca tree in Australia, it is indeed the cleansing ingredient in the sprays, thanks to its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-infectious, and antioxidant characteristics. It helps fight germs and other unwanted foreign bodies, and has an immediate effect on the body, increasing the activity of the white blood cells in our system and boost immunity. This yoga mat spray is made of recyclable glass bottles that will help in enhancing grounded feelings of steadiness and relaxation after the yoga session thanks to its purifying components. To purchase see here 50ml bottle costs £12 and the 100 ml bottle costs £19.

Their other Yoga Mat Spray Energise, also comes in 2 convenient sizes, the 50ml, and 100ml bottle. This cleansing, energising, and restoring spray. It aims to energise (hence its name) the body and mind with its powerful ingredients. Often used in aromatherapy, the main ingredient here is lemongrass, which is a tall grass that grows in the tropics and Spritz Wellness harvest this precious botanical to provide energy by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Its citrusy scent helps, believe it or not, in boosting self-confidence and giving an overall happy atmosphere. When inhaling the scent, it helps the part of the brain related to emotions, behavior, and sense of smell and memory to boost it. Again it also has water, and tea tree with its antiseptic characteristics acting as antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. They suggest using before and after a session to help banish all negative thoughts with the double whammy of also cleaning your equipment!  To purchase the Energise see here for 50ml at £12 and 100 ml at £19 respectively. Both these ‘super spritz’s’ help deep clean your yoga mat while keeping everything all-natural – they certainly get the thumbs up from us.