Toucan Eco: eSpray

Because of the pandemic, cleaning has become more important than ever. That’s why at The Amazing Blog  we were excited to discover the Toucan Eco eSpray which cleans effectively and is also very eco-friendly! What we love the most about this product is that it kills coronavirus; and no, it isn’t just a single-use plastic bottle. Keep reading on….

Toucan Eco, a British company under the Robert Scott brand, who create eco-friendly cleaning products. The company’s products use one of the safest and most effective disinfectant and cleaning solutions — with JUST water, salt, and electricity. Toucan Eco’s technology was inspired by our body’s immune system, which can produce hypochlorous acid, a potent and naturally occurring disinfectant. Following the same idea, the technology in this product recombines the naturally occurring elements of hydrogen, oxygen, and chlorine into hypochlorous acid, which makes an effective disinfectant, a sodium hypochlorite, and a mild pH level cleaning agent. Hypochlorous acid is used to disinfect ambulance cabins, clean health care workers’ clothing after testing people for COVID-19, and is used as a cleaning product in other businesses. The idea of using water, salt, and electricity has been around since 1834, and Toucan Eco is now bringing it to the home or workplace. The company’s products include the Toucan Eco eSpray, the Toucan Eco Worktop, the Toucan Eco Active, the Toucan Eco Active Plus, and the Toucan Eco Flow. Toucan Eco is the first hypochlorous disinfectant to receive double certification against viruses, including the EN 14476 and EN 16777 certifications. EN 14476 tests the solution’s efficacy, and EN 16777 tests if this efficacy can be applied to the real world of cleaning. Since Toucan Eco is the first hypochlorous disinfectant to have both these certifications, it is the most effective hypochlorous solution on the market. The EN 14476 and EN 16777 certification tests target viruses, including coronavirus, and many chemical disinfectants do not have these certifications. In addition to these certifications, the solution is EN 1276 and EN 13697 certified (which test for bacterial efficacy) and registered as an EU Biocide. The company won  the British Toilet Association 2011 Innovation Award for the Best New Product and the Innovation Award for Best Eco/Green Product at The Cleaning Show. Steve Courtney, the Business Development Manager at Toucan Eco, recently said in a conference, “This year has been a different year, and so it’s worth emphasising that this solution when it’s made is a very, very powerful sanitiser and disinfectant but totally harmless, non-hazardous, can’t harm anybody.”

The Toucan Eco eSpray lets you create a disinfectant, cleaner, and deodoriser from ONLY water, salt, and electricity. Although it may not sound like much, it kills more than 99.99% of germs, including coronavirus. The product is used to clean and disinfect any surface (kitchens, bathrooms, fabrics, glass, etc.) it’ll deodorise and kill the germs that create odours, sanitise hands, sterilise children’s toys and clothes. You can even spray fresh fruit and vegetables to remove dirt and pesticides. They also suggest using it to remove trainer odour by soaking overnight, and even spray pets’ paws and coats!. The list is endless….Making this eSpray much more versatile than any other standard chemical cleaning product. We think that this makes this eSpray the easier, greener, safer, proven and money-saving option. The product is easy, because you only have to add two ingredients, greener because it doesn’t contain chemicals, and isn’t a single-use plastic bottle. Plus it’s safe because it is hypoallergenic, 100% natural and proven because it has been tested by EU accredited independent laboratories and university research departments. It’s money-saving because it costs less than the average household spends on home cleaning products each year. This eSpray makes 350ml of disinfectant cleaner, and all you have to do is add 3g of table salt, fill with tap water, and then activate, which will take five minutes and last seven days before the solution is just salty water again. When activated the eSpray goes through a colourful array of red, blue and green light settings, and when completed the solution is ready to be sprayed onto any surface and left to dry or wiped away — you can also apply it as a mist to disinfect larger areas.  As mentioned earlier, with this eSpray, you kill 99% of bacteria and viruses and it’s not only safe but hypoallergenic and practically free to make! This is one of our most exciting #amazingfinds for 2021, and something that we wish we’d discovered sooner! We highly recommend this eSpray it comes with a one-year guarantee, and if like us, you’re interested in what this Toucan Eco eSpray has to offer, you can find it here for £59.99. 

CBD Leafline: Skin Therapy 1% Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Is there a better combination than skincare and CBD? If you ask us, here at The Amazing Blog, we’d say that the two go together perfectly. You may remember that we have previously reviewed the award-winning brand CBD Leafline's range of Skin Therapy here. And today we'd like to introduce another skincare product from the range with their 1% Hyaluronic Acid Serum. 

CBD Leafline was founded by CBD enthusiasts Paul and Sonia Shrive. It all began after a lifesaving encounter with CBD in Africa when Paul decided he wanted to create quality CBD-derived products to share the benefits with others. The couple decided to launch their brand in 2018, using Paul's experience in manufacturing, distribution, and wholesale; and Sonia's marketing and customer service expertise. The duo took their time crafting and researching to develop their first CBD-infused skincare line, Skin Therapy. Research has shown many benefits to using CBD in skincare, including reducing inflammation and regulating the sebaceous glands (which produce oil in the skin and hair). All products in the CBD Leafline range are natural and combine high-quality whole-plant hemp oil containing broad-spectrum CBD (THC-free) with cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, omega 3/6, and amino acids that interact with other vegan ingredients. Other ingredients are derived from plant and fruit extracts, such as marine collagen (always seaweed, not fish), retinol, hyaluronic acid, and pro-vitamin B5. All CBD Leafline products are independently tested (see here) and the brand is a CannaPro certified business.

The Skin Therapy 1% Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a part of the CBD skincare range and included in the Skin Therapy bundle, but it is also sold separately. This award-winning Serum aims to moisturise, revitalise, clear, and rejuvenate the skin. Its key ingredients include 100mg of CBD, 1% hyaluronic acid serum, vitamin B5, and three different fruit extracts (cranberry, raspberry, and grapefruit). The CBD is an all-natural, powerful plant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that helps to free the skin from environmental stressors that can cause fine lines and wrinkles, allowing the skin to stay youthful and smooth for longer. The CBD also regulates the oil glands, making this product ideal for acne sufferers or people with skin conditions that may cause the skin to become inflamed. Hyaluronic acid, one of our favourite skincare ingredients, is a naturally occurring moisture magnet for the body. This acid is responsible for leaving the skin hydrated, plump, and healthy. Vitamin B5 acts as a barrier around the skin to lock in moisture, improving skin softness and elasticity, and helps to regenerate the skin cells, revitalising the skin's surface and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The triple fruit extracts: cranberry, raspberry, and grapefruit assist in brightening the skin through a broad spectrum of natural antioxidants. When all of the ingredients are combined, the result is a lovely anti-ageing serum with the power to deeply replenish, clear, and moisturise the skin. 

For the best results, CBD Leafline recommends wiping the face gently with a warm damp flannel to ensure it's clean and makeup-free, then apply the Serum and blend until it's fully absorbed. Lightly tap the face with fingertips to encourage this Serum to deeply penetrate the skin. We used this morning and evening, and what we liked, is that it's versatile enough to be used with our other moisturisers and SPFs, as the fragrance doesn't conflict,. Plus, in the recent hot weather we used it solo, as it’s fast absorbing and extremely hydrating, So, if you're looking to clear acne-prone skin or to reduce the appearance of fine lines, dry or temperamental skin, this CBD serum may be your perfect match. To purchase CBD Leafline's 30ml 1% Hyaluronic Acid Serum for £39.99, click here.

Booheads: Soniboo

Today we are talking about brushing teeth, as we all do every day, if not twice a day. At The Amazing Blog we’re big fans of electronic toothbrushes but always have the dilemma regarding the plastic heads - which are not great for the planet. We don’t want to keep littering our beautiful earth with plastic toothbrush heads, and this is where we found these eco-friendly toothbrush heads, made with natural and environmentally friendly bamboo from Booheads, with their Soniboo collection. This is where brushing teeth has now got a little more earth-friendly!

Ben Caspary, the founder of Booheads, realised a gap in the dental market for a sustainable option for electric toothbrush heads. After much time, research and thought, Ben took the opportunity and launched the first electric toothbrush head made from sustainable, biodegradable, and plant-based materials. He told us, “Booheads was created out of lockdown where I was reflecting on my own consumption habits, and started the question of why we cannot make products more sustainable? After a bit of exploration, I noticed that the electric toothbrush market was not as eco-friendly as our manual equivalents, with a solution not existing. I decided to take the plunge and Booheads was born.” The bamboo is FSC certified, with their bioplastic being made from plant-based. The head is compatible with all the Sonicare range from Philips. All packaging is made from recycled kraft paper and is biodegradable too. The bioplastics can start biodegrading as soon as 90 days, depending on the conditions, and bamboo takes around three years to decompose fully; however, it is 100% organic.

Booheads  Soniboo range are a zero-waste replaceable electric toothbrush heads and a brilliant alternative to the plastic ones. This product is compatible with the full range of Sonicare, DailyClean and ProtectiveClean’s base handles – we also see that they are now producing heads for Oral B handles. As mentioned, the heads are made of plant-based materials with bamboo and bioplastics, which are FSC Certified, renewable and easily disposable. Bamboo is a natural plant grown with zero pesticides or fertilisers. It’s a biodegradable botanical, able to regenerate soil and prevent soil erosion. Bioplastic is a material made from corn starch and castor bean oil, causing it to break down into renewable resources. Cornstarch is derived from corn, which means it doesn’t contain any toxins and is easily compostable in most recycling facilities. The bristles are plant-based medium-soft bristles with 62% castor oil and Dupont nylon, whereas the fitment comprises 80% cornstarch and 10% PBAT and 10% talcum powder. If concerned about degrading of the nylon in the bristles, they can be removed with a pair of pliers before disposing of the heads. The structure of this head is designed to get into the crevasses and cavities of the teeth, leaving them sparkly and clean. Even dentists love this product because of it’s efficiency at cleaning while being a great eco alternative (a win-win). We love the array of the four snazzy colours, which not only look pretty and will stop you and your partner won’t get the heads mixed up – eww, after all, who wants to share a toothbrush?! This is another of our #amazingfinds, so If you have an electric toothbrush or thinking about buying one, pair these sustainable toothbrush heads with it, to help the world become a cleaner and greener place. We believe that this is something worth investing in, not to mention how clean your teeth look and feel.  Why not start by buying the Booheads’ Soniboo two-pack here for only £7.99. Hurry, as they are running out, and we’ll be ordering more!

Avani Skin: Hydrating & Illuminating New Skin Serum

If you are an avid reader of  The Amazing Blog, then you'll know that on super-hot days, like today, we keep our skincare to a minimum. It's always with a light hyaluronic-based serum and an SPF. This is why we are excited to introduce you to a new brand Avani Skin with their all-natural Hydrating & Illuminating New Skin Serum.

Avani Skin  is a natural British skincare brand founded in 2020 by Hannah Wilson. She began this journey by living a more natural plant-based lifestyle. Hannah realised that many of the products she used daily contained unnecessary animal-derived ingredients or harmful chemicals. It was then that Hannah decided to begin researching natural, vegan and cruelty-free ingredients to create products for herself, family and friends. After some trial and error and deciding whether to turn the hobby into a business, Avani Skin was born. The name Avani comes from the Indian origin meaning Earth, and represents what the brand revolves around - naturally sourced ingredients. They are an artisan brand committed to making vegan and cruelty-free products that are gentle yet effective on the skin. They take pride in their high-quality ingredients without the use of mineral oils, parabens or sulphates. Although they only have two products in the range, they wish to highlight their status as a sustainable and all-natural brand. As a part of their sustainability effort, Avani Skin offers a reduced price of thirty per cent off for refills using returned skincare bottles. Another aspect of their mission is to create custom-made products that suit all your needs in one bottle. They offer a personalised skincare service to add specific ingredients for an individual skin type and all of the main active ingredients found in their natural skin serum.

The Hydrating & Illuminating New Skin Serum is a gel serum that works to replenish the skin's natural glow by fading scars, boosting collagen levels, and locking in moisture. This serum is specifically designed to help rejuvenate dry, dull skin and promote skin elasticity, making it an excellent choice for individuals with sensitive, dry, or ageing skin. One of the main active ingredients in the serum is hyaluronic acid, or as Avani calls it, "The Fountain of Youth." Hyaluronic acid is one of our 'must-haves' in a serum as it seemingly slows down the ageing process by plumping and rejuvenating the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines. This ingredient also helps lock in moisture and lock out pollutants or other harmful substances that the skin can absorb. As always, what we find most astonishing about this natural ingredient is its ability to hold 1000x its own weight in water, meaning just a drop of hyaluronic acid contains an incredible amount of moisture - goodbye dry skin! Another natural ingredient that fights against wrinkles and fine lines are the lupine proteins. These proteins stimulate collagen and elastin production, which help to keep the skin smooth and youthful-looking. The serum also focuses on brightening the appearance of tired skin through its use of Chinese Wu Zhu fruit (see photo above) extract and vitamin B3. Wu Zhu extract is an all-natural ingredient derived from the evodia rutaecarpa fruit, which helps with circulation, increases elasticity, and improves skin texture. Vitamin B3 (niacin) acts as a toner by helping to reduce pigmentation and creating an illuminating glow that can only be the sign of healthy skin. All of these active ingredients together make for a quick-acting and multi-purpose skin serum. We used it during the day, first thing in the morning, on damp skin after the shower, as it helps activate the hyaluronic acid and kept skin looking dewy and refreshed. Best of all, it absorbs fast (even in the heat), which made it quick and easy to layer up and apply our SPF. It is a clear and viscous liquid (the HA) with a pleasant and subtle floral fragrance. For the best results, Avani advises applying a pea-sized amount twice daily on damp skin. They also recommend following up with a hydrating cream and nourishing oil blend to lock in the moisture of the gel-serum ). If you are experiencing dull, dry skin or looking to attain a youthful glow, this serum will make a good addition to your skincare routine. To purchase this 50ml Hydrating & Illuminating New Skin Serum for £18.99 see here.

VENIA Cosmetic: Unique for Women

As regular readers will know, at The Amazing Blog we're always on the hunt for new natural skincare products to reviews, especially when they have more unusual ingredients. Today we're featuring a brand called VENIA Cosmetic who have a range of natural skincare products infused with 24-carat gold. They kindly sent us their Unique for Women cream, which has natural plants and oils and their signature 24-carat gold flakes.

VENIA Cosmetic is a small UK family run skincare business, started by the founder Jessie Matharu, in 2016. The inspiration came from his own journey, having suffered from dehydrated skin from many years of long-haul travel, having worked in the airline industry. It took six-year in development, including two years of testing and working closely with a team of professional cosmetologists. Venia Cosmetic then launched as a premium 100% certified, natural skincare range. Matharu was recently quoted as having said, "We have meticulously sourced and tested each natural ingredient over the last six years to treat a hormonal skin problem, ageing and sensitive skin. It's lightweight, luxurious formula is packed with antioxidants and the finest plant extracts leaving the skin nourished with a sumptuous floral scent." In Latin, VENIA means "indulgence," and this is where the brand wants to offer everyone the opportunity to purchase a little piece of affordable luxury. All formulations contain 24-carat gold, herbal extracts, essential oils, plants and marine-based ingredients. All products are manufactured locally, and it’s Soil Association and halal-certified, suitable for vegans and paraben-free; plus part of the Cruelty-Free International. The brand has a wonderful giving-back policy with their charity partner the Alzheimer's Society donating 5% of all their online sales each year on World Alzheimers Day (which will be on 21st September 2021). This particular charity apart from being a great cause, has a special meaning to Jessie's family. It helps people affected by dementia and Alzheimer's by funding research to find a cure, campaign for change, and create a supportive community.  We see that the brand recently won a Gold Freefrom Award 2021 for their Signature-Men's natural 24-carat gold daily face hydration cream. As they say, their concept is simple, "Create pure, natural products made using only the finest ingredients."

Unique for Women is a natural 24-carat gold moisturiser for women. This daily moisturiser is versatile and light, making it ideal for all skin types - including sensitive skin. The idea is that it creates a radiant glow, balances skin imperfection and leaves skin rejuvenated. Let's talk about their key ingredient 24-carat gold flakes. Some of you may think this sounds like a bit of a gimmick; however, our research has shown otherwise. Gold as an ingredient has many benefits from helping to increase moisture to reducing dryness, and due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties it protects the skin against free radicals that accelerate ageing. And this soft precious metal's purity and composition allows the skin to absorb it readily. Thus, making it ideal for those experiencing sensitive, hyperpigmented, or acne-scarred skin. With regular use, many claim that a more youthful appearance can be seen from the use of gold flakes, as they help stimulate skin cells renewal and blood flow, making the skin clearer of toxins and appear dewy and firmer. But what we liked was the subtle luminous effect Unique for Women gave as the 24-carat gold flakes combined and melted with the other ingredients. And lastly, to say on 24-carat gold, it boosts natural occurring collagen in the skin, creating a plump and younger-looking skin, and who doesn't want that? 

The other main ingredients in Unique for Women are derived from natural plants and oils like shea butter, vitamin E, omega 3 & 6, and argan oil. Having high concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins, shea butter is the ideal ingredient for conditioning and toning skin. What really seals the deal for shea butter is its emollient properties. This rich tree nut oil creates a smooth barrier that locks in moisture. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from being damaged and increases blood circulation, causing the skin to become firmer. Argan oil, derived from Morocco, is a firm favourite of ours; it improves water retention and keeps skin more hydrated. With multiple healing properties, Argan oil can reduce rosacea, hyperpigmentation and acne, creating a calmer complexion. Omega 3 & 6 are types of fats found in flaxseed, nuts, and leafy vegetables, these naturally occurring fats increases the fatty acid levels, repair the skin barrier to improve moisture and elasticity and reduce UV-induced photo damage and signs of ageing.  We used Unique for Women, night and day for a week and liked its texture and performance. It seemed to be fragrance-free with a hint of natural Argan, which meant that it didn’t conflict with any of our other SPF ‘s or cosmetics used. It felt soothing, hydrating and gave our complexion a much-needed boost, and our skin felt healthy and supple. Unique for Women is packaged in a glamorous gold orb, making it an item to proudly display, and unscrews to reveal the tiny gold flakes in the rich cream. This moisturiser feels like a treat, so why not treat yourself and purchase this 50ml Unique for Women, see here for £65.