SOiL Organic Aromatherapy

Struggling to find the perfect way to unwind after a stressful day at hard work? Feel like that glass of wine or shall we say bottle just isn’t cutting it? Fear not, here at The Amazing Blog, we’ve got just what you need to help make your days more peaceful and harmonious.  SOiL Organic Aromatherapy is our new best friend and could soon be yours as well!

Born out of a family managed, organic essential oil farming operation in Zululand, South Africa, SOiLhas been expanding and distilling aromatic plants for their precious oils since 2001. As an eco-ethical range certified by ECO-Cert, SOiL was the first company in South Africa to sell a complete range of 100% certified organic essential oils, many of which they grow themselves on their organic farm in Zululand. As an ethical brand that focuses on steering away from petrochemicals, parabens and synthetic fragrances they identify with a strong sense of commitment to the planet and society. SOiL stands apart from other similar brands as they farm, process and market all their own products from start to finish. They ensure no chemicals or fertilisers are used in their farming process hence giving their customers the promise of safe, natural and sustainable products in all regards.    

Their Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser is one of our favourites. Easy to use, safe and silent enough for you to hear a needle drop. It’s a low energy product that requires water and your favourite essential oil to be added to it. Even though the diffuser itself is sweet and smallish in size, the aroma will surely spread all across the room making you feel as though you’re in a spa. You get a timer on the device so you can manage how long you’d like it on and can also adjust the mist that it releases. With the essential oils of your choice, this diffuser is a winner in our eyes.

SOiL sells its very own collection of essential oils, each of which has unique and distinct properties that result in a number of benefits. The two that we tried out are their blends with Immunity and Energy. The Immunity oil in the diffuser is a great one for the office to help ward off coughs and colds, particularly with ingredients such as lemongrass, tea tree, benzoin resin and thyme help fight bacteria inside your body and further assist in building your immunity, as they say, prevention is better than cure! The Energy essential blend, on the other hand, is metaphorically speaking rather like a quick shot of espresso. Made with clary sage, lime, cypress and black pepper this blend is really a blessing. Perfect to get you ready for the day as well as serve as a pickup and invigorating blend after a long day, the Energy essential oil has also been a great hit in the office.

All their products are available online on their official website. The Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser is priced at an affordable £39.95 here (although we see today it’s been reduced to £31.96!) and their essential oil blends are sold from £7.92 here.

Barber Pro - Foot Peel Treatment

With all the Christmas Shopping now well underway, we at The AmazingBlog are keen to look out for those special products which go to help us all in the pursuit of ticking the ‘Done’ boxes on those names on our presents lists. When we find something extra special, we end up shouting about it, and this week we have an absolute corker for you in the shape of a pair of magical booties from that inventive team over at Barber Pro, who have literally condensed the most wonderful pedicure into a handy pochette with clear instructions on how to make the most of their ingenious Foot Peel Treatment. So here we go with our festive bellow …

This is not a ‘foot mask’ but more of a peel - to be exact, with all the benefits of one of those blissfully indulgent appointments with a pedicurist who knows their stuff and take our worn-out hooves, and transform them into tingling tootsies ready for the party circuit. Now, this process is quite involved, so attention should be paid to getting it right, and then enjoying those well-earned benefits - even if that does mean another round of Christmas shopping … the beauty here is that the process works over several days and means whatever we are doing the results continue to generate.

The key ingredients in this award-winning Foot Peel Treatment, include salicylic and glycolic acids, along with the more pampering focused goodies of sage, lavender, honeysuckle, peach, rosemary, as well as lemon and lime, with a jolly good dose of vitamin E thrown in for good measure. The first candidates on that list may not immediately fill you with ideas of relaxation, but their presence is vital in the process of ridding the skin of all the detritus which can build up through lack of attention, and we all know the one area of our body which works hardest of all, and gets the least amount of attention is the feet. Having washed the feet with clean water, we literally slip them into these envelopes of heaven and allow the science to take over. Fear not, the process is a gentle one - there are no mineral oils, lanolin, petroleum or parabens here, and for 90 minutes we allow the magic to begin.

 It will take 7 days for the incredible results to bloom, and in that time do be prepared for any skin nasties to be discarded, but the wait will be worth it. Obviously there are aftercare pointers to observe - no foot creams for a minimum of 7 days also, and it is best to not be scrubbing the feet too harshly as that could undo all your preparation, but you will be left with a matching set of perfectly primed pinkies, ready to sheath in those Monster Munch socks which undoubtedly will be in our stockings ℅ Santa! Costing £7.95 from here - if you manage to find a pair, grab them as they are proving incredibly popular … and we can happily see why.

MATIS - Reponse Corps Dry Oil

As the cold weather engulfs us in the festive season, yet again at The Amazing Blog we find ourselves dreaming about taking off to warmer climes. So, we’ve been tracking down multi-tasking products to share with you, to pack away for your travels. Regular readers may remember Simon reviewing the French salon brand Matis with their Vitality Roll’on Energ Eyes and  Reponse Homme Anti-Ageing Cream. This time it’s our turn to review one of their latest products Response Corps Dry Oil, which is perfect for nourishing both hair and body during this challenging weather.

Based in Paris, Matis is an established salon brand renowned for their scientific research with both their products and treatments. The Response Corps Dry Oil has a blend of 8 ‘Matispa’ active plant oils. The key actives are inca inchi, apricot kernel, marula, macadamia, sandalwood, cranberry and pomegranate. This combination of oils helps to provide protection and nutrition for all skin types. Let’s talk about the properties of these ingredients, the cranberry seed oil offers excellent anti-oxidant protection and enhances cellular functions, while the pomegranate oil has vitamins B and C help repair the skin. For those of you who have extremely dry and sensitive skin, the macadamia oil offers omega 9 which aids epidermal regeneration. What we particularly like is the delicious slightly sandalwood and nutty fragrance from the hemp seed oil, which also helps to calm the mind.

We think that this Dry Oil will make a very good travel companion as that it works on so many levels. It’s a brilliant multi-tasker with the added bonus of being full of replenishing oils. Ideal to add shimmer to the skin in the evening, and repairing hair after showering.  We recommend applying this Dry Oil after a hot bath or shower for an optimum effect. We also like that it absorbs quickly and does not leave any oily residue when applied. The hydration factors in this Dry Oil are ideal for helping repair split ends or replenishing moisture in the skin. If you would like to treat your body and hair to some TLC, then the Response Corps Dry Oil 50ml can be purchased here from £16.38 - offering great value for a 2-in-1 product.

Friday Favourites with CBD brands

We don’t know about you, but we’re intrigued by the wave of CBD products that have suddenly appeared. This is a topic often discussed at The Amazing Blog and something that we’re just starting to bone up on and today we hope to enlighten you a little too. We have three different cannabidiol (aka CBD) brands to talk about, and review. As far as we can gather the benefits of CBD are numerous and they need to be demystified in regard to the belief that they contain psychoactive properties – they don’t! The critical thing to look for is a brand that has good manufacturing practice.

As a rule of thumb, there two major types are of CBD which are either ‘full spectrum’ and ‘broad spectrum’. The full spectrum contains a tiny quantity of tetrahydrocannabinol (aka THC) which less than 0.2%; which gives the ‘entourage effect’, (meaning the benefit you get from ingesting multiple components of the cannabis plant) which is driven by all the natural cannabinoids and terpenes. These can assist with a range of conditions such as anxiety, inflammation and sleep disorders, whereas the broad spectrum has a process that reduces the cannabinoids and eliminates the THC. This type proves a popular choice with athletes or those in the public sector who may be subject to random drug testing, and don’t want to have any ‘false positives.’  Often there is a choice of 'filtered oil’ which is softer on the palate and easier to take, or a 'raw oil' which is processed by C02 extraction (no heat). The raw oil is best used for pain relief as it has an increased ‘entourage effect’ with the increased plant nutrients such as terpenes, flavonoids and phytosterols offering more plant matter and giving it a thicker consistency. The disadvantage of this raw version is that it has a very strong flavour (slightly more bitter and earthy tasting) and this extraction method is costly for brands. 

Let’s start with Brown’s CBD; founder Laurence Brown set up the company after experiencing the holistic power of CBD for the first time at university. This inspired him to forge ahead, start his own company and to offer great pharmaceutical quality CBD products at market leading prices. Brown’s CBD has a great select of CBD oils (full and broad Spectrum, filtered and raw) and they also have ‘water-soluble’ CBD which is ideal to be mixed with food, drinks or protein shakes plus up to 4 times more effective than the oil when ingested. 

We were sent their Golden CBD Hemp Oil 1000mg 10% CBD.  This is filtered oil and full spectrum made with organic hemp cannabis sativa CBD oil which is reliably sourced from in the EU.  It contains cannabinoids such as CBDA, CBDV, CBC, CBN, CBG & THC (0.2%). Although this is a filtered oil it is actually extracted by the C02 extraction method used for raw oils but this undergoes an extra filtration process which gives it a smoother taste and more of a golden colour compared to other filtered oils.  All of their bottles come in small dark UVA proof black bottles with a pipette. We strategically took this at night time to help aid relaxation and sleep. Using the pipette, we put 3 or 4 drops for sublingual absorption (under the tongue) and held it there for up to 60 seconds before swallowing. We have to say, from our experience, this is the first 10% CBD oil that we’ve found to be palatable and quite pleasant tasting. Did it help to take the edge off our day? Yes, I can confidently say that our tester’s sleep patterns definitely improved when taking it regularly.  You too can buy Brown’s CBD  Golden CBD Hemp Oils here starting from £39.99 for 10ml.

Next brand is CBD ONE  who have been at the forefront of launching CBD here in the UK. They offer a variety of CBD products ranging from oils, topical creams, and water-soluble products. They sent us their AbsorbPure+ this is a little different from the CBD oil and is in the form of a water-soluble paste that has a  mixture curcumin, vegetable glycerine, triglycerides, terpenes and bioavailable cannabis paste. Absorb has three products in the range, all of which are water-soluble and are for single daily use only. The key ingredient here is the ‘bioavailability cannabis paste’ which refers to how much of the active ingredient your body can use – here they say 99%. This product also contains THC with levels below 0.2% with the actual CBD content at 800mg making this Pure+ a high concentration paste with over 50 servings per 10ml syringe and delivery 16mg of CBD per dose. They claim that this is 10 times more effective than an equivalent oil-based product.

We used this by mixing it with water or fruit juice and have to say that the paste was a tad spicy and earthy and perhaps not the most delicious taste, but with the curcumin, it helps add a double whammy for those looking to aid from joint and muscle pain.  They also say that you can pump one dose straight into the mouth and swallow (we weren’t that brave!) One of us dosed up on this regularly in the mornings, prior to going to the gym. They have had various ongoing joint pain and did find with taking this regularly that there was a certain amount of relief. If you’re looking for a high concentrate water-soluble CBD then this is for you see here for 10ml £69.99amd 20ml £128.78.

Finally, meet Hemptouch a Slovenian brand that we’ve had our eye on for a while having first discovered the brand when they won a prestigious Wellbeing Award from our client The Beauty Shortlist for their CBD Spray Chocolate 300mg  and CBD Oil Amber 500mg. Silvija Špehar is the co-founder biologist and herbalist who has used hemp in her formulas to enhance, balance and nourish from the inside out with both the sublingual, ingestible formulas and her skincare. Ethical practice and sustainability are at the heart of the brand where they use locally sourced butter and hemp in their ingredients.

They very kindly sent us several of their products, the first of which is their Water Soluble CBD Spray – Lift & Inspire. Ingredients here are glycerine, water, matcha extract, hemp extract (cannabis sativa L) vitamins E, D and natural orange flavour. It is free from gluten dairy or sugar and contains no THC. There are 150 sprays in the bottle and each spray contains 1.3mg of CBD. This Lift & Inspire is designed to enhance focus and sharpen the mind. The CBD here helps to lower fatigue and protect from inflammation, the matcha helps to support energy levels and vitamin D is a natural mood booster.  We could taste the orange and matcha which takes the edge of the earthy hemp. It needs to be taken orally and we had 3 or 4 sprays daily under the tongue (they say that you can also spray on the inside of the cheek) and hold for a few seconds.  When we’ve been flagging, it gave us a much-needed spurt of energy and is perfect for keeping on the desk when you’re having a bad day and are in need of raising your spirits. For £31.99 you can buy this 20ml spray bottle here.

The other two CBD products are skincare and applied topically. We loved the Intensive Lip Balm, with its ingredients of raw hempseed oil, beeswax, vitamin E and cloves. NB: This raw hempseed oil has no THC. This tastes deliciously of cloves and is silky smooth on the lips, plus when applied we found that it lasts and lasts. Perfect for these winter months to keep handy in your coat pocket to protect lips from the wind chill factor. Available here in a 4.5ml tube at £7.99. 

The Balancing Face Cream is specifically designed for rebalancing oily and blemished skin and ideal for those who have breakouts or with very sensitive skin. It’s a botanically based with key ingredients of  CBD oil, hemp hydrolate, chlorella, orange flower hydrolate. The hemp hydrolate is a precious extract from the hemp plant, is and is what makes this cream unique. It improves microcirculation and leaves the complexion smooth and supple. With 2% in 50 ml of 5% CBD this gentle formula is dermatologically tested and proven to reduce the secretion of sebum. It has a subtle fragrance and when applied absorbs quickly barely leaving a trace. Great for using on face, neck and décolleté, morning and night, to help heal, purify and tone. Available here for £32.99.

We hope to have given you a bit of a starters guide to CBD. We’re certainly still learning, and in future weeks and months will be covering more from this extraordinary hemp cannabis sativa plant.

YOPE - Green Tea & Mint TGA Soap & Hand Cream

The winters here in London are no joke, and we find ourselves in a constant cycle of washing our hands just to avoid getting sick, and then applying hand cream as the hard water dries them out. We’ve been looking for the perfect natural products to use at the Amazing Blog to keep our hands clean, healthy and soft. Enter YOPE.

YOPE was founded by Polish husband and wife team Karolina and Pawel Kosowicz after a need arose for natural personal and home care products at affordable prices. Together, they set out to create a line of products that are safe for their young children to use and accessible for families of all backgrounds to enjoy. Their mission didn’t stop there – they wanted to ensure their products were also environmentally friendly and sustainable. Over 90% of the ingredients are natural and minimally-processed, with 100% of them being safe for people and pets. All YOPE products are beautifully scented with distinctive fragrances and we loved how the scent lingered on the skin and created an uplifting feeling. Ooh and did we mention the adorable branding? Look out for the soft pastel colours and small animal illustrations covering the products. 

The YOPE Green Tea & Mint TGA Soap Formula was made to be gentler than even the most gentle hand soap on the market. TGA is a special combination of plant-based surfactants that are safe for every skin type and age. It supports the skin’s natural lipid barrier keeping our skin silky smooth all winter long! It’s formulated with pure botanical extracts, soothing allantoin and regenerating vitamin B5. This is a hand wash that we’d feel comfortable sharing with the whole family!

After lathering up with the Tea and Mint Natural Liquid Soap with TGA Formula, we recommend following up with the Tea & Mint Natural Hand Cream. This refreshingly scented hand cream contains no parabens, silicones, colour additives or mineral oils.  After applying it, our hands felt super soft with the argan, coconut and olive oils. We recommend reapplying after every hand wash to prevent dry and cracking hands. Not to mention, the green tea extract promotes the production of collagen fibres in the hand helping to keep them young-looking. Interested in purchasing YOPE soap and hand care products? The Tea &Mint Hand Cream can be purchased here for £5.99 for 100ml. The Tea and Mint Natural Liquid Soap can be purchased here for £5.99 for 500ml, both are on special offer now, saving you £3 on each product.