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Jane Scrivner : Peace, and Revive Blends - Life Essentials Pure Essential Oils

We all know the importance of being mindful, whether focusing on health or taking an hour out to compose oneself during a stressful day. Today on The Amazing Blog we want to talk about a new range of essential oil blends that have helped us to get a feeling of balance and calm. We were delighted to test out these two unique natural aromatherapy blends, Peace and Revive in the Life Essentials Pure Essential Oils collection, from one of our favourite holistic and natural skincare brands Jane Scrivner. Some of our loyal readers may well remember that we wrote about the brand back in 2013 and 2014.

Jane Scriver created her skincare range in 2013. With over thirty years of experience in skincare working as a therapist and an international skincare trainer to top global spas, she discovered local and indigenous raw oils, which inspired her to create her very own range of skincare products. "I then came home to practise in London and used these same oils in my treatments, unblended and pure, and I saw how my clients' skin turned from pale and pasty to nourished and alive."  In addition to her well-known skincare, Jane has now added a home and lifestyle product range of emotion and mood-enhancing diffusers and blended essential oils. The brand commits to sourcing everything ethically by using carefully assessed suppliers for traceability and sustainability. All products are paraben and SLS free; they are also cruelty-free and 100% natural and use certified organic ingredients wherever possible. The ranges are handmade in small batches in the UK, where they are mindful of waste and only use FSC approved packaging. The brand is no stranger to beauty awards as they have already won several Beauty Shortlist Awards and Beauty Bible Awards for their skincare range.

Recently, they received an award at the Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards 2022  for their Peace and Revive  Blend Pure Essential Oils. As we were privileged to be amongst the judges this year, we thought we’d feature these two blends which really impressed us. We used these in a candle diffuser (pictured here) which uses accelerated evaporation by heat with the drops mixed in with water; and in an ultrasonic diffuser with its waves transforming the essential oil mixed with water into a vapour. We also like the suggestion that Jane gives here, “My favourite ways to use these is to either drizzle just a few drops into a bowl of pinecones collected on a walk and to let the aroma gently perfume the room or for my office, if I have a busy 'thinking' day, I drop Blend #29 into an electronic diffuser to stay inspired and creative!" 

The Peace Blend Pure Essential Oil, we found enhanced a sense of calmness. It contains nine soothing ingredients: Bay, benzoin, chamomile Maroc, eucalyptus, frankincense, lavender, myrrh, sweet orange, and petitgrain. Bay is woody and spicy scented yet fresh, it’s indigenous to Europe and the Middle East and can grow up to six metres. Bay in aromatherapy practices is used to increase mindfulness and promote focus. Benzoin is sap from Styrax trees, and the extract has a warm scent to it. This blend is used to regulate the nervous system and reduce stress. Chamomile Maroc plant from North-West Africa and South Spain. Traditionally, this extract has been used as a muscle relaxant and for anxiety relief helping to relax the mind. Eucalyptus is native to Australia. Although this oil has many external benefits, such as relieving respiratory conditions, eucalyptus oil also eases tension and helps bring a wave of positivity. Frankincense comes from the trunk of a Boswellia tree. Frankincense is one of our favourite oils; it’s used for grounding and connectedness and is one of the key essentials we use for meditation. Lavender is one of the most frequently used plants in essential oils, and for good reasons. Lavender provides a clear and focused mind, emotional stability, and inspiration. Interesting fact, the Egyptians used myrrh for embalming as It slowed the decaying process and left a pleasant scent. In this blend, myrrh is used to uplift moods by removing any negative feelings and keeping minds grounded. When it comes to sweet orange extract, there are many benefits to this citrus ingredient, the extract can help reduce symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety. Lastly, petitgrain oil comes from a bitter orange tree native to southern China. The word petitgrain is French, meaning "little grains". Petitgrain oil has many uses; it soothes nerves protecting the mind from anxiety, shock, and fear. We think this blend is perfect for people who need to take a step back from their stressful lives, for much-needed relaxation. 

The Revive Blend Pure Essential Oil blend is made from seven unique energy-boosting ingredients: Basil, clary sage, geranium, grapefruit, lime, patchouli, and peppermint. Basil extract is proven to have many health benefits, including stabilising the nervous system, it’s known to help decrease tension and anxiety. Clary sage is another plant with many physical and mental benefits and significantly helps to reduce stress as it has antidepressant properties. Geranium oil comes from the leaves of a plant called pelargonium graveolens, indigenous to South Africa. Geranium oil is used to treat signs of stress, anxiety, and depression and helps restores confidence. The grapefruit inspires an uplifting and positive mindset needed for motivation in this blend. Lime is also used to uplift one's mood and energy, purify the air, and even help with relaxation after a long day. Patchouli is sweet, spicy, and woody, and in this blend; it helps aid symptoms of depression and stress as it induces a sense of wellbeing. The final ingredient is peppermint, known to help relieve sorrow, or feelings of restlessness and offer a sense of calm. We think that the Revive Blend is best used when you first wake up giving a much-needed burst of energy, it’s also a brilliant blend to help give focus.

We’ve always been big fans of aromatherapy essentials oils ,and these blends are another of our #amazingfinds. Not only do they smell gorgeous, but they’ll make a great addition to anyone's aromatherapy collection. Both blends come in small 10ml glass bottles, and the brand advises adding 2-3 drops of these essential oil blends to any room fragrance device or getting creative and using what you have. Also, to note, depending on the base ingredients, these essential oil blends can smell very different when used in their product than in pure form ‘on the nose’. To purchase the Peace Blend Pure Essential Oil Blend see here for £18 or Revive Blend Pure Essential Oil Blend to Refresh & Awaken here for £16.  Or to purchase the full range of the four Life Essentials Pure Essential oils here for £85.

Dr Jackson's : 05 Face & Eye Essence

Following on with more of our Beauty Shortlist Winners, here is a brand that has won no less than six awards this year, with some of the highest accolades given which include ‘Best Blue Beauty Brand” and “Best Vegan Skincare UK”. We are talking about Dr Jackson's a British beauty and well-being brand that prides itself on being clean, organic, gender-neutral and fragrance-free. Today we are featuring one of our favourites, which was awarded “Best Product of Tired Eyes/Signs of Fatigue” their 05 Face & Eye Essence.

Dr Jackson's was founded in 2008 by the PhD pharmacy in pharmacognosy Simon Jackson. However, the history of the company dates back a few decades. Even as a child, Simon was always intrigued by the power of nature and took an interest in native plants used by indigenous tribes in Amazon, Indonesia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Simon relates how a particular fruit drew his fascination and how it was sparked an idea to create his skincare. It was the Kigelia or "sausage-tree", traditionally, this fruit is used topically for its anti-microbial properties, which help reduce symptoms associated with eczema and skin irritation. Dr Jackson related in a past interview that, "95% of the world's population use natural products or plants as a primary healthcare, so for me, it is a real inspiration as to why people use natural products as a medicine." With his extensive botanical knowledge, a range of incredible plant-powered, vegan, sustainable skincare, and organic herbal teas, were born. Dr Simon Jackson is currently the CSO and co-founder of Modern Botany skincare.

Today the company is led by Kristijana Durakic, a scientific officer. She is a biological sciences, pharmacy, and biomedicine professional who oversees a team of scientists and formulation experts. Under her leadership, Dr Jackson's stays true to its roots and offers clinically tested and sustainable products with reduced waste that minimises its carbon footprint where it is “led by science, inspired by nature.” The packaging of the products is always eco, simple plastic-free, and in recyclable 100% compostable cardboard boxes. Additionally, Dr Jackson's is a member of 1% for the Planet, a non-profit organisation whose purpose is to ensure that the earth and future generations thrive. One of the key ingredients that the brand uses is Baobab. They now have an alliance with the Baobab Foundation to support their educational programmes and Baobab Wilding Campaign, planting young Baobab trees and protecting them from external threats. The brand considers itself gender-neutral and inclusive, as its products are designed for everyone regardless of their age, gender, or skin type. 

The 05 Face & Eye Essence is a firm favourite with us as a hydrating and toning gel, particularly for the contour area of the eyes. The four key ingredients are damask rose flower water, bitter orange flower water, chamomile flower oil and baobab seed oil.

The damask rose flower water restores, tones and calms leaving a soft mood-boosting fragrance. The bitter orange flower water is excellent for relieving stress and boosting energy, and is full of vitamin A and phosphorus, known to tighten large pores and even out skin tone - it leaves skin clear and radiant. The chamomile flower oil is ideal for sensitive skin as an antipruritic and anti-inflammatory it neutralises any irritation. The baobab seed oil strengthens and moisturises thanks to its vitamins C, B, potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium; and as the brand says, “The fruit has six times as much vitamin C as an orange, is a plentiful source of antioxidants and it combats skin ageing by improving skin firmness and strength by boosting the elastic quality of the skin and encouraging cell regeneration”. 

There’s aloe leaf juice which hydrates and soothes and is enriched in vitamins and antioxidants, to help prevent premature signs of ageing. Finally, the marula seed oil is a nod to the brand's origins and is one of the most popular skincare oils in sub-Saharan Africa, Packed with vitamins C and E, as well as a lesser-known antioxidant phytochemical epicatechin which helps to stave off the free radicals caused by exposure to UV rays or pollution.

This Face & Eye Essence is dermatologically tested and suitable for sensitive or eczema-prone skins. It is a multi-purpose product that can be used to reduce puffiness or applied as a primer. It’s a little gem that will be your new best ally for soothing tired eyes after a bad night's sleep or for cooling the skin after sunburn. It comes in a glass jar that can be recycled or reused and has a small spatula for application to avoid any contamination. Apply night and day and gently tap the gel around the eye area. A little goes a long way, as it’s highly concentrated in actives, let the skin absorb the gel for a few minutes, before applying makeup. Our top tip is to store it in the fridge before using it - as cool, it’s absolute heaven on tired eyes! This is another of our #amazingfinds, one we repeated buy, and can’t live without. See here to purchase the 50ml 05 Face & Eye Essence for £60.

Honey Heaven : Green Therapy - Firming Anti-Cellulite Body Butter

Our latest CBD discovery at The Amazing Blog is the British brand Honey Heaven's Green Therapy CBD skincare - we tested this Editor’s Choice award-winning Firming Anti-Cellulite Body Butter which we judged on The 2022 Beauty Shortlist’s Wellbeing Awards.

Honey Heaven was founded in 2015 by siblings Silvia and Robert Mocsari. Inspired by their childhood in Hungary, they were keen to share the benefits of local premium organic and unpasteurised honey from their homeland. This is where they have combined their knowledge of medicinal botanicals to produce a range of honey, honey wines and teas with unique recipes passed down through the generations. They have since expanded their range to include CBD products, sourcing their full-spectrum organic CBD virgin hemp supercritical C02 extract from Switzerland, boosted with pure CBD distillate. Honey Heaven's edible products are ethically sourced, 100% natural and organic and made in the UK and do not contain any artificial colours, preservatives, flavourings, sweeteners. The company's motto is, "Nature's choice for a healthier life!"

The Green Therapy CBD Cosmetics range was developed by Silvia in 2020, “I developed our Green Therapy CBD cosmetic range because for a long time I had been searching for a natural anti-ageing product that contained different botanical oils and hyaluronic acid, that could prevent the signs of ageing but moisturise as well. I couldn’t find one and so decided to make my own.” Silvia quickly pointed out that this natural skincare range doesn’t contain their signature organic honey. However, it’s vegan with the exception of the CBD balm, which has beeswax, to thicken the balm and enhance the CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects. It also ensures a non-greasy consistency. Suitable for all skin types, Green Therapy uses a unique blend of herbal oils and CBD to nourish and hydrate the skin.

The Firming Anti-Cellulite Body Butter is one of Honey Heaven's most popular CBD body care products. As a body butter, it’s designed to protect the skin and restore freshness and elasticity. It also has the added benefit of helping to diminish the appearance of cellulite. We particularly liked how it super-hydrated our skin, leaving it soft and supple, and has ingredients that are designed to work together to keep skin looking smooth.

One of the product's key ingredients is Cannabidiol (CBD oil), which as we all know, has numerous health benefits for the skin as it is rich in antioxidants and has many anti-inflammatory properties. Here there is 750mg full-spectrum distillate. CBD oil is believed to help prevent skin ageing because it contains fatty acids, minerals and is full of rich nutrients that all have strong moisturising abilities to pump up the skin. Plus, there is hemp seed oil (which doesn’t contain any CBD), which is rich in nutrients, fatty acids, and valuable bioactive compounds that keep the skin moisturised.

There is shea butter and caprylic/ capric triglyceride, all high in fatty acid content making them an excellent natural emollient and humectant, to lock in moisture. There’s also sunflower seed, and coconut oil, full of skin-calming antioxidants to soften and soothe skin. Cocoa butter is rich in antioxidant polyphenols which aid blood flow to the skin and slow skin ageing by protecting against damage from the sun's harmful UV rays.

Silvia told us, “With this body butter, I was amazed at the results. I loved not only the texture and feel of the product but also the light natural fragrance and colour thanks to the tamanu, sea buckthorn, moringa and the CBD oil we use. I knew I had created something special.” Apart from the fragrance, the tamanu seed oil, sea buckthorn and moringa all have lots of other benefits. The tamanu seed oil helps with the production of collagen and has wound-healing abilities, that can help reduce any scarring. Tamanu oil is also often used to heal sunburns and minor burns. The sea buckthorn helps revive skin cells and smooth any bumpy appearance on the skin and is known as a high-powered anti-ageing defence ingredient. And the Moringa seed oil has vitamin A and C, these compounds have powerful anti-ageing and inflammatory effects, and work to protect skin cells from environmental stresses, such as UV radiation.

Finally, the other two actives here are aloe vera for cooling and soothing and rosehip oil full of emollient properties. Rosehip, like moringa, is full of vitamins A and C to reduce inflammation and irritation in the skin, and also protects it against sun and pollution-induced oxidative stress.

We found that this body butter had exceptional long-lasting and super-hydrating qualities, it kept our skin moisturised and soft - even during the harsh winter months. However, to see the effects of reduced cellulite, we think this need to be used in conjunction with a regular exercise routine. This is something worth remembering, as no cream will ever work to remove cellulite on its own. Cellulite is a build-up of fat under the dermis combined with the weakening of the connective tissue, which in turn creates an orange peel ripple look on the body. It is a harmless and natural condition that affects about 9 out of 10 women - and believe it or not, even some men. And if you’re like us, you’ll probably need to be more disciplined on the diet and exercise front together with using this body butter in order to see any results. Cellulite aside, It’s a wonderful body butter and one we’d order more of, making it another of our #amazingfinds. To purchase Honey Heaven's 150ml Green Therapy Firming Anti-Cellulite Body Butter for £28, see here.

Aura Organics : Mini Microdermabrasion Tropical Honey Exfoliating Face Mask

Let’s talk face masks; it’s something that we love at The Amazing Blog, and consider an essential part of our regular skincare routine. We were lucky enough to test out The Mini Microdermabrasion Tropical Honey Exfoliating Face Mask from Aura Organics, which won Best Exfoliating Product at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Aura Organics was founded in 2015 and is a small family run business by Danielle Andrean. It is a London based spa and beauty brand focusing on both beauty and wellbeing. Their motto is "Pura Vida", which translates to "pure life" and ties into their mission statement as a natural, organic and holistic brand. As they proudly state, "Our company policy is to always be environmentally friendly, always keep up to date on the most interesting new remedies from around the world. We are organic. We are natural." The brand was also awarded the "Silver Award" at the 2018 Free From Skincare Awards and was nominated again the following year too. Aura Organics has a physical space in London where they offer spa and yoga services. "We welcome you to Aura Spa. Our sacred space is where you can indulge in guilt-free beauty and wellbeing. We pride ourselves in high-quality service with our friendly all-female team." Their treatments range from facials and pedicures to massages and CBD tanning. Their yoga and wellness studio provides a variety of physical classes. You can pick between a relaxing yoga class or a high-intensity pilates class. Got a little one? You're in luck because Aura Organics also offers baby yoga. In addition to this, their wellness studio provides more spiritual workshops such as angel readings and meditation. The skincare range from Aura Organics is cruelty-free, as well as paraben and sulphate free. The brand is also free from harsh chemicals as they have an extensive knowledge of healing plants. They even use natural preservatives such as fermented radish and coconut (see below). Most importantly, the brand strictly highlights being an all-natural and organic range of skincare. Danielle said, "My experience in working within the mainstream skincare industry revealed many problematic, unnatural and cheap ingredients in a lot of products that lack nutritional value and cause skin irritation. This initiated the beginning of a mission to apply the knowledge I had learnt, alongside studying organic cosmetic chemistry to create wholesome and organic products." Aura Organics also uses special coloured glass bottles to help protect the product from harmful UV rays and keeps products free from contamination by plastics. Overall the brand offers a wide range of both skincare and services to help keep the skin glowing, the mind healthy, and the body active. 

What we loved was the Mini Microdermabrasion Tropical Honey Exfoliating Face Mask, which is said to help reduce clogged pores and leave the skin firmer, moisturised and radiant, The star ingredient here is honey. The brand specifically uses acacia mangium honey, which some have compared to manuka honey, but this is far more sustainable. The honey is imported from the Borneo rainforest, with the bees pollinate the abundance of acacia mangium trees. This honey (like most) is rich in nutrients and minerals like iron, zinc potassium calcium and copper, vitamin C and other antioxidants. However, acacia mangium honey, like manuka, it’s thought to help improve the healing time of wounds; making it a great choice to use if you have scarring or any common skin conditions like acne. Aura Organics says that they chose this honey as it's completely free from pollutants and supports the delicate ecological balance in its surroundings.

The Exfoliating Face Mask has a base of kaolin clay which is purifying and detoxifying, it gently cleanses the skin to remove dirt, grime, and general pollutants. It’s also infused with organic sweet orange oil and beta carotene-rich organic mango butter and extract. These both moisturise, are rich in antioxidants, stop dryness and help soothe any skin irritation.

For the exfoliant, the organic pineapple powder complements the bamboo extract, for a natural and gentle way to remove dead cells from the skin’s surface. Not only is bamboo high in antioxidants, but it contains large amounts of natural silica which strengthen and tighten the skin, that naturally retains moisture keeping the skin hydrated. It also naturally absorbs dirt and bacteria to keep pores clean, exfoliating the skin for better absorption of serums or moisturisers, in order to give a healthier-looking complexion. Finally, the fermented radish root and coconut are here as pure and natural preservatives - giving the product a safe and longer shelf life.

Packaged in a small metallic rose gold jar, we can only describe this mask as uplifting with its fruity and zesty scent. It smells almost good enough to eat! Whipped into a creamy paste, the kaolin clay combined with all the ingredients gives it a good thick texture, making it easy to spread generously and evenly on the face, neck and décolletage. We applied it as a mask and kept it on for about 10-15 minutes to hydrate and moisturise. Then gently massaged it in, using slow circular motions to exfoliate and eliminate all the dead skin, before rinsing off and patting dry. We love the natural and organic ingredients, and also how it leaves the skin super-soft and looking refreshed. Aura Organics recommends using this once or twice a week, followed by a soothing moisturiser. For us, it’s a keeper and another of our #amazingfinds. You can purchase the 100g Mini Microdermabrasion Tropical Honey Exfoliating Face Mask here for £12. 

Canax : Mellow Meno CBD & Vitamin Capsules

It is no surprise with all its many natural benefits, that we’re big fans of CBD products at The Amazing Blog, and we wanted to share a new CBD discovery with Mellow Meno CBD & Vitamin Capsules by Canax. It’s a product that has been primarily created to help ease some of the symptoms for women in perimenopause or menopause As well as being a Wellbeing Editor’s Choice winner at this year’s Beauty Shortlist Awards, they are also one of our #amazingfinds.

Canax was founded in 2020, based in Nottingham it’s the product of co-founders and best friends Jess Cohen and Sophie Garner, a paediatric nurse. They initially met through their husbands, who were football players for Nottingham Forest. The idea of creating premium CBD products started when Jess' mum was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (rare cancer that targets the plasma cells). Sophie said, "We came across CBD a few years ago, Jess's mum was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and she has found that CBD along with medical treatment has helped ease her daily anxieties and encourages sound sleep which is vital in any type of healing and recovery." As a nurse, Sophie had a first-hand account of how CBD helps her patients, and as mums, they know how overwhelming life can get. That's when Jess and Sophie realised they wanted to help others. They created Canax with a motto: less of the stress. "That's why our Mummy Gummies CBD range has been designed to fit perfectly around your own busy life, helping you take the edge off whenever you feel the need.” They are dedicated to providing only the highest quality organic THC-free CBD which is derived from a farm in Oregon, USA. Their products also offer a simple buying process with a rolling subscription service. All their ranges are organic, palm oil-free, and plant-based, meaning that Canax is suitable for vegans and vegetarians alike. Their best-known product, Mummy Gummies, has highly rated reviews and has been featured in major magazine publications. 

As mentioned earlier Mellow Meno CBD & Vitamin Capsules has been created to aid the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Like all their other edibles, they contain absolutely no THC and are in a concentrated form of CBD Isolate only. Which is a purified crystalline form, and it is completely tasteless and odourless, which makes it the ideal candidate for use in edibles. It has soothing properties to help sleep, mood, and anxiety. In menopause, CBD is known to alleviate hot flushes and improve bone density by stabilising the hormone changes often caused by the menopause. CBD also has anti-inflammation properties that help cure acne for clear skin and ease rosacea.

The capsules are also made up of six other natural ingredients: Zinc, B12, B6, magnesium, vitamin C, and sage. Zinc is an essential element used for cell growth, hormone release, immune response and replication. Vitamin B6 and B12 have many advantages, and these two convert food into energy that helps create the organic chemicals serotonin and dopamine. Ultimately it helps with focusing, energy levels, and mood. Magnesium, another vital element, is crucial in producing energy, forming proteins, maintaining genes, and regulating the nervous system. Vitamin C, as you may know, is high in antioxidants. It helps protect the body's tissues from harmful free radicals and stabilises the linings of blood vessels. It can help soothe menopause symptoms such as varicose veins, cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. Vitamin C also helps reduce the risk of severe medical conditions like heart attacks, blood clots, and strokes. Lastly, native to the Mediterranean region, sage can relieve symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats. It has been used as a natural remedy for menopause for hundreds of years, and fun fact, sage is actually part of the mint family.

What we like about Canax is that they’re very transparent about what's in each product, and their website provides an ingredient list of each product and what they do. The recyclable pink and yellow hue pack contains 30 CBD capsules with 20 mg of CBD in each. They recommend taking one capsule daily as they are, or emptying into a glass of water. Regardless of whether you are menopausal or not, we think these capsules are a great way to get daily 20mg of CBD (and all the vitamins) particularly if you don’t like the hempy taste of the oils. The brand also recommends taking these capsules continuously to reap the benefits, "You need to give Mellow Meno 7-10 days to kick in and really see the wonderful effects it will have." To get full use of the product, it's best to store it in a cool and dry place. For us as regular CBD takers, this is a low dosage, however, we think they offer a great introduction to those who are newbies to CBD. You can make a one-time purchase of 30 capsules or buy a monthly subscription here for £39.99 or £31.99.