David Jourquin Paris: Cuir Mandarine Eau de Parfum

We think that a scent can immediately change your mood, bringing good memories back or creating new and exciting ones. Finding that one and only fragrance that encompasses your style, personality and suits each season - is a case of trial and error. This is why at The Amazing Blog we love exploring new olfactory experiences. Meet David Jourquin with and his inventive range of fragrance, today we are reviewing the delicious Cuir Mandarine.

David Jourquin created his fragrance company in 2011  after a lifetime of being surrounded by all sorts of olfactory inspiration. His mother always went to work wearing her famous leather coat and loved sprinkling tiny drops of perfume on the cushion pillows. His father smoked cigars and took David to the market in Pointe-à-Pitre,Guadeloupe, where he revelled in all the spices’ sweet, robust aromas. For David, these memories have shaped who he is today, and inspired him to recreate them in the form of his unique fragrances. Motivated by intense passion, each of his fragrances expresses a different facet of his intimate universe. Inspired by seasons and places he has created a core collection with Vendômen offering seven different Eau de Parfum where these scents are characterised by their personality and emotional impact. The Opéra collection are the refill flacons ready to be slipped into the leather coverings of the Vendôme Collection, or left bare, according to one’s desires and budget. For Jourquin, fragrances are emotional touchstones: "They speak the truth in a language that is invisible yet essential, intimate yet universal. My greatest joy is to share these fragrances with you, to create secret paths that bring us closer to ourselves so that in turn, we can get closer to others." We were excited to experience this magic.

We couldn’t wait to try one of his first launch fragrances with the much talked about  Cuir Mandarine which was a recent Gold winner with Best New Premium Fragrance at the 2020 Pure Beauty Awards.  it emits a very soft and slightly sweet unique mix of mandarin and leather. The square bottle itself is clad in hand-stitched calfskin with a solid wood grain top to accentuate its masculinity. The vibrant top notes of mandarin, pepper and lavender are very evident and immediately greet you. However, what makes this so unusual is the middle notes of leather and patchouli. The five different varieties of patchouli used originate from the mint family and are cultivated in tropical Asia. Here the patchouli has subtle musk that enhances the other fragrance notes. The base notes are the rich blond Virginian tobacco and amber which add a dimension to the sweet and earthy notes, holding everything in balance. Although Cuir Mandarin luxurious fragrance that is aimed at the male market with its timeless and classic scent and modern twist; we loved the sensual, rich, warm and sweet aroma which conjured up the change of seasons, taking us swiftly from autumn to winter.  It ‘s certainly a scent we’d recommend spritzing to uplift spirits and transport you to warmer climes even on a grey and wet English day! You can purchase Cuir Mandarin in 100 ml for €230 in 5 ml for €8.90 here. 

Waken: Spearmint Mouthwash

Brushing one’s teeth twice daily is a given. However, not many of us think about using mouthwash on a daily basis. Here at The Amazing Blog we believe in proper oral care just as much as our skincare. This is where we’d like to introduce Waken with their range of eight natural mouthwashes. We chose Spearmint to try, which unlike other mouthwash, uses natural mint and is entirely alcohol-free. 

Waken is a mouthcare company that Simon Duffy created in 2019. Duffy was the former founder of Bulldog skincare launched in 2006 which focused on sustainability and ethics. The company won many grooming awards around the world and was present in more than 30 countries. After selling Bulldog in 2016, he was inspired to use the same core principles of sustainability and ethics in dental care sector not only to improve on mouthcare the products in the market, but also to help the environment too. This led to the launch of Waken in 2019, which sells vegan mouthwash and accessories made with natural ingredients and sustainable alternatives. As you may know, regular mouthwash is usually used to kill 99% of germs in the mouth and keeps it fresh. However, many types of mouthwashes heavily rely on artificial ingredient, Waken, does not use any artificial flavours or colours. Their range of eight mouthwashes are entirely alcohol-free which rids the mouth of the burning sensation you would typically get while using regular mouthwash. Waken strives to create mouthcare products that not only care about the planet but also can be showcased as a thing of beauty in the bathroom, rather than a symbol of embarrassment! All mouthwash bottles are sustainable and certified carbon neutral where the bottles are kind to the planet, they suggest rinse, recycle and repeat in good conscience. They also offer a food-grade reusable stainless steel Mouthwash Cup that is dishwasher-friendly and will sit proudly with your chosen Waken Mouthwash.

This award-winning Spearmint Mouthwash recently won a Silver in 2020 Green Parent Natural Beauty Awards . It is a vegan-friendly blend that is kind to the teeth and gums. Some of the key ingredients here are sodium fluoride to protect against cavities. The xylitol is the sweetener, processed from trees like birch or plant fibre called xylan. It works by starving the harmful bacteria in the mouth and is known to boost dental health and prevent tooth decay and inflammatory gum diseases.  The hydrogenated castor oil is an emulsifier, it works to keep the product blended and it is also completely safe and it is an approved food-grade ingredient. What impressed us was the taste…the flavour is most definitely spearmint, and unlike other mouthwashes, this felt mild in the mouth and didn’t exude any eye-watering vapours! Waken recommends rinsing your mouth with 20ml of the Spearmint mouthwash twice a day for 30 seconds and then expel. Remember to never swallow or swig from the bottle, and do not dilute the mouthwash. This Spearmint mouthwash impressed us with its delicious flavour and the freshness it left in our mouth. However, we would like to remind our readers that using mouthwash is not a substitute for regular brushing or flossing. This will undoubtfully make an elegant statement when gracing your bathroom and you can purchase the Waken 500ml Spearmint Mouthwash for £4.50, here. Of course, we mustn’t forget about their Mouthwash Cup accessory to accompany the Spearmint Mouthwash. This will ensure you take the correct serving of your mouthwash every time,  for £3.00, you can purchase the Mouthwash Cup here.  

MAYSAMA: Green Rooibos Pressed Serum

The more unusual an ingredient, the more it piques our interest! Although we are familiar with green tea in skincare, green rooibos is certainly a first for us to review at The Amazing Blog.  We are featuring the hero product from MAYSAMA with their unique Green Rooibos Pressed Serum  which we couldn’t resist giving a try.

MAYSAMA was founded in 2018 by Beverly Sanderson. The brand is based in South Africa and produces ethical, natural, vegan and high-performance antioxidant green rooibos skincare. For years, Beverly struggled with skincare issues, including rosacea, vitiligo and photosensitivity. Desperate to improve her skin, Beverly went to a dermatologist who guided her to eat organic foods and use natural skincare products. Her interest in healthy skincare grew, which led her to discover and cultivate a passion for green rooibos tea. She began working with the Nelson Mandela Institute in South Africa to look at rooibos' cosmetic potential. The anti-inflammatory properties of rooibos improved Beverly's rosacea, which led her onto launch MAYSAMA with the brand philosophy of 'If something is worth doing, it is worth doing well'. Her launch product is the Green Rooibos Pressed Serum with the starring ingredient of green rooibos which comes from unfermented leaves that have a much higher antioxidant capacity than red rooibos because the flavonoids have not been destroyed by oxidation. Uniquely, rooibos protects and repairs the predominant cells in fat tissue, responsible for maintaining skin fullness, and its rich source of alpha-hydroxy acid and zinc fights off premature ageing. MAYSAMA's pharmaceutical-grade green rooibos has a patented extraction process that significantly enhances the aspalathin content and the main flavonoid responsible for its antioxidant activity, creating a superior cosmetic ingredient. We applaud the brand for its giving back to the rooibos community in South Africa through the Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG) in Cape Town. It is a climate change adaptation work programme that works with rooibos farming communities to develop a sustainable harvesting strategy and gain more insight into the plant's ecology and its response to climate change. MAYSAMA pledges to contribute 1% of its profits to the EMG and help research and support Rooibos' sustainable harvesting.

An award-winning product with a recent Editor’s Choice winner in the 2021 Beauty Shortlist Awards, and a Silver award winner Pure Beauty Awards 2020; the Green Rooibos Pressed Serum   formulated with green rooibos, has long been an ingredient used to relieve dryness, itchiness, and eczema by minimising oxidative stress and increasing cellular healing. This light gel-serum quickly absorbs into the skin, to help protect, hydrate, and soothe, leaving skin supple and revitalised. Other key ingredients are a blend of argan and baobab oil, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E.  There is also our old favourite cannabis sativa (hemp seed oil) which balances the skin and hydrates and regulates the skin's oil production. Gotu kola (Indian pennywort) and marigold extract which have antioxidant properties and promote collagen production. Sea Buckthorn is full of omega 6 and plus vitamin C and E and are anti-inflammatory offering protection against premature signs of ageing. Chlorella vulgaris extract  stimulates collagen production and contains a high level of carotenoids. Liquorice root extract and turmeric both work as an anti-inflammatory and help reduce age spots and hyperpigmentation. These all help to moisturise and strengthen the skin; plus, without fragrance or essential oils and with a pH of 5.0 to 5.3, this serum is ideal to use even on the most sensitive skin. We loved its soft and authentic botanical fragrance and the way this golden semi-transparent serum enhances the complexion with a warm glow. We applied one or two pumps of the serum to the face and neck and found when used alone, it enhanced our skin tone with an almost sun-kissed luminosity. Most importantly it is kind to the skin and skin microbiomes (these are skin flora, made up of trillions of good bacteria which live on the skin). We’re looking forward to when MAYSAMA develops on more products, and would certainly recommend this as another one of our #amazingfinds. You can purchase MAYASAMA's Green Rooibos Pressed Serum in 30ml for £46.00 directly off the MAYSAMA website, here.

Tuesday 2 March: The 2021 Beauty Shortlist Awards

**BIG CONGRATULATIONS 🎉 🥳 TO ALL THE WINNERS **

Today we're celebrating NATURE.

There's been a special energy around the 2021 Beauty Shortlist Awards this year, which is so cheering when we've all been wading through a heavy, "abnormal" and often difficult year.

These awards are not particularly easy to win, it's quite a wait from 1 September to Tuesday 2 March to find out if you have won.

But fortune favours the brave, Awards Day is here at last, and it's time to share the 🧡.

2021 highlights and emerging trends include:

* inclusive beauty (a priority for the industry)
* plantable packaging (you can compost at home)
* CBD edibles & delicious treats like coffee, nut butters and 70% dark chocolate
* the "almost naked" soap + solid skincare bar heroes flying the flag for "plastic-free"
* crystal beauty... moonstone-infused serums and shungite cleansers
* nootropics, gut health solutions and mood enhancers (yes please)
* buy-a-product-plant-a-tree campaigns
* recycled ocean plastic, mushroom (mycelium) boxes and a lot less plastic overall...

I hope you enjoy the awards today. Big congratulations to all the ethical, beautiful 2021 AWARDS winners - including those who've won one of the first ever Beauty Shortlist ECO LIFESTYLE AWARDS (new for 2021).

To see the gorgeous green winners go to thebeautyshortlist.com or click the bio link above. HAPPY MARCH 🐇🌷!

“We need the tonic of wildness…we can never have enough of nature”
Henry David Thoreau

Quarnero - Scent of the Mediterranean Face & Body Oils: Refresh, Relax, Sensual & Spirit

Remember those relaxing and soothing Quarnero’s Fleur de Sel Relax Bath Salts? Well, today, at The Amazing Blog we’re back with more of Quarnero’s nature-inspired skincare; but this time, it’s with their set of four Mediterranean Face & Body Oils. These are ideal for uplifting mind and body; so we thought, what could be a more appropriate time to use these now we’re still in #lockdown.

As previously mentioned, Quarnero is a family based business with mother and son team, Zorica and Rešid Seferović, in the Kvarner region of Croatia. This is where they produce natural and organic face and body care. Ingredients are mainly derived from the local region where wild plants flourish in the clean air, unpolluted Adriatic shoreline and the historical landscape. Other key organic ingredients are sourced from carefully selected organic locations – such as organic cold pressed sesame oil and some of the essentials oils. They use organic and natural biodynamic plant actives combined with their time-honoured knowledge of ancient medicinal remedies to bring these unique products to life – for them it’s taking ingredients back to basics with a ‘less is more’ philosophy. All products have the prized certification from NATRUE, International Natural and Organic Cosmetics Association , an organisation committed to promoting and protecting global natural and organic cosmetics. All Quarnero products are handmade, vegan and delivered in solid, simple apothecary-style jars with Miron violet glass. Interestingly, this violet glass is scientifically proven to maintain fresh ingredients longer than clear glass. It also acts as a barrier preventing the loss of bioenergy, enzymes, smell or colour from the product stored within, making preservatives less necessary. The brand is now available in 39 countries, with six products in total, which are within the two ranges of Face & Body Oils and Bath Salts.

Quarnero’s luxury vegan and organic unisex oils featured here today are suitable for both the face and body, making them incredible multitasking oils. We were sent the full set of Scent of Mediterranean Face & Body Oils, which are: Sensual, Relax, Spirit and Refresh. They offer all-year-round skin nourishment as each one contains a combination of pure bio-organic plant actives in the oils with a base of organic cold-pressed sesame oil. These ingredients are non-greasy, quick to absorb and designed to primarily help regenerate, soothe and protect the skin, emitting their unique Quarnero ‘Scent of the Mediterranean’ fragrance. The carrier oil in each is the cold-pressed sesame oil which is an excellent choice, as it doesn’t interfere with the essential oil’s therapeutic properties and is also full of antioxidants, vitamin E and omega fatty acids. It has a natural SPF 4 for protection and best of all, it keeps the skin gently nourished. The other ingredient common in three of the oils is lavender augustifolia (lavender oil) – see our photo above. This is one of the most versatile and popular distilled essential oils and best known to promote relaxation, treat anxiety, depression and insomnia. 

Each oil in this Scent of Mediterranean Face & Body Oil range offers specific mood enhancing property. The  Sensual emits softness and warmth with the cananga odorata (ylang-ylang) blended with delicate camellia oil, citrus essential oil; this will relax tense muscles, eliminate stress and anxiety, uplift and stimulate awakening sensuality. The Relax has an impressive combination of rosemary, lavender, geranium leaf and bergamot to relieve tired and irritated skin from negative environmental factors.It is also recommended for massaging into the body as an anti-cellulite treatment to aid with lymphatic drainage and make skin smoother. Spirit has a blend of excellent regenerative properties; these include rosemary, lavender, lemon and bergamot, which refresh the skin with a slightly zesty fragrance. This also has a stimulating effect on mood and we found it inspired in us a more optimistic outlook. Finally, the Refresh is a fusion of tangerine, lavender and mentha piperita leaf (peppermint). This mix has cooling and soothing characteristics, and when inhaled gave a feeling of elevated calm.

So, where to begin? We started by opening each of the four bottles in turn. Whichever one we instinctively felt most drawn to, we then applied. This was directly onto damp skin after an evening shower or bath. We recommend decanting the oils into a 20ml glass bottle; they work best warmed up bain-marie style, and then massaged to the skin. Left overnight the ingredients can fully absorb and work their magic. Quarnero also recommends using these oils to heal the skin after exposure to extreme cold or heat and as an added bonus, these oils are gentle enough to even be massaged into beards or the scalp. Once again, we’ve been won over by Quarnero’s skincare, where they offer their unique gifts from the earth, sun and sea and we cannot wait for to try more. To purchase Quarnero Scent of Mediterranean Face and Body oils, 100ml at €33 each, please email info@quarnero.hr for enquiries due to the online shop currently being unavailable.