Universal Soul Company - Positive Energy STILL Candle

Right now at The Amazing Blog, we think it's essential to take time out each day for meditation and relaxation removing ourselves from the worries of this global pandemic! Put on a little relaxing music and take advantage of a mindful moment. For our regular readers, you’ll probably remember reading about our suggestions of the Aromatherapy Eye Pillow from Sanda and the De-Stress Drop from Absolute Health. To complement all of these, today we want to introduce you to one of our other #amazingfinds the Positive Energy Candle STILL from Universal Soul Company.

Actress and wellness expert Sara Griffiths recently founded this luxury lifestyle brand. Her wish is to create products that are both aesthetically pleasing and provide wellbeing. All her products are vegan, chemical-free, environmentally friendly and even have Braille writing on the packaging to make them accessible to everyone. The Universal Soul Company specialises in candles and mists. Again, dear readers may remember reading about their award-winning 3-in-1 Still Soul Mist here. This recently won Best Aromatherapy Self Care Mood Enhancing Products in the 2020 Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards. Well, we were ‘won over’ then (excuse the pun) and even more so now with their candle. The company focuses on ‘profit for purpose’ and donates a portion of its revenue to different charitable causes - which we love.

At this moment of uncertainty, this wellbeing candle could not be more appropriate. The Positive Energy Candle STILL does what it says – it’s gloriously uplifting and grounding. It offers you calm and tranquillity with its delicious combination of patchouli and lavender scents that will help to transport you into a harmonious state.  Made from a soy-based wax, it’s a vegan candle that burns clean (no black smoke) with a long-lasting burn time of approximately 50 hours. We will admit to lighting this candle numerous times particularly during moments of anxiety – even in the middle of the night! It truly does soothe and helped us to focus on a more positive mindset. Oh and we nearly forgot to mention that this candle is also an Editor’s Choice winner in the 2020 Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards too. This is wonderful for you or makes the perfect gift to help bring positivity to others. You can purchase your 210g Positive Energy Candle STILL here for £30.

DRINQI- Hyaluronic Acid Serum (Highest Percentage) by Therin

We love products with hyaluronic acid, they work wonders for the complexion and have many benefits including smoothing, plumping and tightening the skin. As time-poor individuals here at The Amazing Blog we’re always looking for products that do the most but require the least amount of effort. Today we’ve found that very thing, and we’re thrilled to be the very first to review a new Australian natural skincare DRINQI Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

Therin G is the founder of DRINQI, she’s originally from the UK but now embraces the ocean breeze and beach life in coastal Australia. With her extensive experience in the skincare industry, her beauty credentials are nothing short of impeccable. Not only is she an Industry Expert Advisor to Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (organic skincare), a private label formulator, a spa menu and treatment adviser but also a qualified holistic practitioner (in all spheres) - the list here is endless! Therin cleverly spotted a gap in the market and decided to focus her efforts on aligning quality with affordability, producing a trio of vegan performance-based serums that offer the very highest percentage of pure hyaluronic acid. There are no fillers, only a few simple ingredients other than the hyaluronic acid (think water and a natural food-based preservative). She is truly a skincare genius, and we couldn’t wait to see the results from her serum. Therin explained: “There are very few really powerful skincare ingredients that can be used and rightfully claim to be a youth elixir or a product that truly produces visible results, achieving the results they purport to be able to do.”  She went on to say “I am only interested in producing or supporting the very best ingredients and products. DRINQI Hyaluronic Acid is one of those rare products.” And so, Therin has created this extraordinary trio of powerhouse serums that offer the highest percentage of hyaluronic acid to be found in the beauty sector today. Something else that we applaud DRINQI for is their ethos supporting and giving back to the Aboriginal communities as well as pet and wildlife rescue see here.

As an ingredient hyaluronic acid (let’s call it HA), is a humectant that attracts water and is critical for maintaining skin hydration.  Not only does it hydrate, but as a molecule it can hold 1,000 x its weight in water. It’s natural and produced by the body and can be used as an injection, supplement, or in this case a serum. Many skincare products contain this ingredient but not in the same way as DRINQI. Competitive brands offer between 0.02% - 2% HA, yet DRINQI has produced a range of three serums from 3%, 10% to an astonishing 13%! How do you know which one to use? Well, it’s probably best to start with the 3% and see how you progress. The performance of the serum depends on the individual, i.e. someone 20+ may feel 3% is a  perfect starting point, whereas someone 50+ may want a higher strength with the potent 13% to achieve more significant results. As mentioned, the serums are vegan with the HA sourced from the fermentation of nutritious vegetables - nothing else. We also like that it’s safe to use even during pregnancy. This DRINQI serum fits into any skincare regime, no matter what other moisturiser or SPF you’re using. It’s also suitable for all skin types – even sensitive ones and is safe to use from ages 16-18 upwards. 

Before using they recommend doing a skin patch test (see their FAQ here ) as we do with any new skincare, simply apply a few drops to the inside of your arm and leave for 24 hours. Three of us used the 3% 10% and 13% serums twice a day morning and night with no issues. However, on a single occasion, one of us did get a little flushing (hormones?) otherwise it sank into our complexions without a trace. It’s so easy to incorporate into your skincare, just a few drops of the clear gel-like liquid on the fingertips and gently smooth into the face/neck and décolletage.  Our verdict? Skin looked dewier, plumper and after only a few days, we also noticed a difference in texture, fine lines and firmness. Will we be buying more? That’s a resounding yes from us all! The bottom line? DRINQI offers you the highest strength of one of the most effective natural ingredients, all at a very affordable price point. To purchase your 30ml bottle with pipette, the DRINQI 3% at £14, DRINQI 10% at £21.05 or DRINQI 13% at £26 here, with shipping at an approximate $10 AU to the UK. 

Gaia Skincare - The Facial Range Trio

If like us here at The Amazing Blog you’re still being a homeworker in lockdown,  then you too will be missing your regular beauty appointments or your days of relaxation at the spa. Well, today we have a treat for you, with the natural spa skincare brand Gaia Skincare. If you can't get to the spa, then let us bring it to you! Some of you may remember that we’ve previously reviewed some of their body care products here. However, today we’re going to talk about their trio set of facial skincare. 

This award-winning brand Gaia Skincare was founded by Diane Nettleton whose background was in hotel ownership. In 2016, she opened Gaia Spa at Boringdon Hall, which has subsequently led onto the development of treatments and her Gaia Skincare range. As recent a Winner of the prestigious 2020 Beauty Shortlist Awards with their Awaken Body Cream, they also swept the board as Finalists for The Cleansing Balm (which we are featuring below), Body Butter and Awakening Bath Oil. The Gaia Skincare range features three collections: Awakening, Balancing and Calming, each of these collections contains the unique the Gaia Elixir (a crystal infusion with citrine, a crystal primarily used to treat the solar plexus chakra) this gives vibrational and healing benefits and aids emotional balance. All products are made locally and by hand with no parabens, synthetic colours or fragrances. They are natural, containing mainly organic ingredients that are cruelty-free, vegan and very eco-friendly with their fully recyclable packaging.

Indeed, this British spa brand invites you to moments of relaxation and helps you to reconnect with your inner self. We tried The Facial Range Trio which has a Cleansing Balm, an Exfoliator and a Moisturiser for a three-step skincare regime. Let’s start with The Cleansing Balm The first step is deep cleansing, and nothing beats a good facial cleanser for removing all impurities and excess of sebum. This Cleansing Balm has a creamy texture making it easy to apply and remove makeup. Key ingredients include sunflower oil which has a softening and nourishing benefit, arnica montana extract to reduce redness and protect the skin from ageing, and rosemary to prevent blemishes and help regulate excess of sebum. It leaves the skin feeling fresh and glowy. In addition to its gentle fragrance, it has left us with soft and moisturised skin all ready for our next step. Next we have The Face Exfoliator for us for nothing beats a good exfoliator and this one here keeps skin moisturised while also removing all residue of makeup offering a deeper clean. It leaves the skin looking more supple and youthful, thanks to mandarin oil which softens the skin, the extracts of calendula which make the skin and more elastic and the petitgrain which has healing and regenerating properties. Combine these with the exfoliating sugar grains and we noticed how gentle and yet effective these were particularly with those of us with sensitive or problematic skin. Final step: Pamper your skin, we finished with The Facial Moisturiser  Its creamy texture left the skin feeling hydrated and fresh. It also has properties to help the renewal of the cells with coconut oil to nourish and moisturise the skin, apricot kernel oil for a healthy glow and anti-ageing and soothing sweet almond oil to calm and relieve any irritation. We used this cream morning and evening which gave us excellent results. 

Tempted to give you skin a special treat? Then you can buy The Facial Range Trio set here for £85 (which is valued at £123 if you bought each product separately). Or you can buy each product separately with The Cleansing Balm here at £38, The Face Exfoliator here at £35  The  Facial Moisturiser here at £50.

Baie Botanique - Rose Renew Regenerating Face Wash and Renew Regenerating Anti-Ageing Serum

The rose has been coined ‘the queen of flowers’ for its natural beauty and properties that protect the skin from ageing, fine lines and wrinkles; it’s also been used in beauty routines for thousands of years from Cleopatra to the Duchess of Cambridge. At The Amazing Blog, it’s no secret that we have a penchant for all things rose. So, we’re excited to share with you another one of our #amazingfinds  Rose Renew Regenerating Anti-Ageing Serum and Rose Renew Regenerating Face Wash by the organic skincare Baie Botanique. We first spotted this brand as one of the award winners at The 2019 Beauty Shortlist Awards and have been itching to try their products ever since!

When launched in 2014, Baie Botanique’s mission was to create a powerful botanical skincare range with pure and natural ingredients and high organic content. The founder, Sophie Oliver has over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry as a makeup artist. During this time she transitioned to a plant-based lifestyle where she fused her twin passions to form this unique skincare range. Now a multi-award-winning brand, this innovative rose-based botanical range contains plant stem cells that combine ‘wisdom of our ancestors with the power of modern skincare technology.’ Impressively, this brand also has all its products certified cruelty-free and vegan by PETA .

We find it’s best to start with a cleanser, so here’s The Rose Renew Regenerating Face Wash. With ingredients such as rose water, rose absolute and rosehip oil combined together with orange flower water, olive oil and green tea, it’s soothing and cleansing. Plus with the vitamin C here, it’s got added protection for the skin against UV sun damage. We like that it’s easy to use, and gently removed our everyday makeup (and city pollution!) Simply apply to wet hands and massage onto the face and neck. Rinse with warm water to leave skin looking clean, healthy, refreshed and of course rose-radiant. The formula boosts being 70% organic and with 98% naturally derived botanicals and can be purchased here at £19 for 125ml.

The Rose Renew Regenerating Anti Ageing Serum has enriched Ingredients which include bio-actives such as 15% Hyaluronic acid (plant-based), MSM and Glycolic Acid (AHA); these aid cellar renewal, firming and improve the appearance of any fine lines and wrinkles. Apart from the bio-actives, the main ingredients in this award-winner serum are rose water, witch hazel and aloe which together with the other selected botanicals leaves the skin with a brighter, softer, and healthier appearance.  It is light in texture, cooling to the touch and truly smells divine! We also liked that this serum has 80% organic and 98% naturally derived botanicals, it’s quick to absorb and versatile enough to be used both morning and evening, at £34 for 30ml it can be purchased here. This light-weight, gel formula is perfect for applying after the use of Baie Botanique’s Rose Renew Face Wash, and you can buy the two in a duo Cleanse & Hydrate Bundle for £47 here. We hear that they’ll be launching lip balms sometime this year - and we can’t wait to try them and more from the range!  

Douvall’s - Skin-High: Organic Hemp & Argan Oil and Cannabis & Argan Oil

We don’t know about you, but recently we seem to be plagued by dry skin. Maybe it’s caused by #stayhome #staysafe stress or perhaps the constantly fluctuating change in temperature. In our search for a solution, we’ve returned to one of our favourite and trusted brands Douvall’s, who recently launched two skincare products in their Skin High collection. In the past, some of you will have seen that we’ve written about one of their hero products the Organic Argan Oil Moisturiser here.  At The Amazing Blog what we like about argan oil is that it’s a one-stop ingredient for skin, hair and nails. Today we are exploring their products that combine their hero cold-pressed organic argan oil with both organic hemp and cannabidiol.

Douvalls are best known as a trailblazer with their cold-pressed organic argan oil skincare. Created by mother and daughter Alicia and Georgia Douvall, it’s an award-winning range that harnesses the benefits of organic argan oil either using it pure and combining with other ingredients for their skincare, makeup and more recently hair care too. This is a responsible and eco-conscious company that gives back to the planet. They are also natural, cruelty-free, vegan and contains no chemicals, toxins, artificial fragrance, sulphates, parabens or alcohol. They work closely with The Breast Cancer Haven charity and partner with women’s cooperatives in Morocco where their argan oil is sustainably harvested.

Let’s start with Skin-High Organic Hemp & Argan Oil but don’t get confused with this and their Skin-High Cannabis & Argan Oil. The difference between these two is the ingredients of either hemp or cannabidiol (CBD etc).  The hemp oil is made from seeds of the hemp plant whereas cannabidiol is made from leaves, flowers and stalks of the hemp plant. Both offer their own potent health benefits. Hemp oil is simply obtained by a basic cold pressing extraction; whereas cannabidiol (CBD etc) has to go through a complex and expensive extraction method (known as supercritical CO2 extraction). All ingredients for the Organic Hemp & Argan oil are 100% eco-certified and contain simply 50/50 of each and only that! This rich and powerful oil glides effortlessly onto the skin, rich in linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) and vitamin E. The combination of organic pressed argan and hemp oils here have many extra health-enhancing minerals, such as phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, sulphur, calcium, iron and zinc. Rich and nutritious, a little goes a long way; it’s great to use by itself or a few drops mixed with your regular moisturiser for added benefit. And in case you are wondering, it’s CBD and THC free and only has the faintest natural hemp oil scent. This comes in two sizes 50ml at £48 see  here or 15ml at £18 see here.

Next is the Skin-High Cannabis & Argan Oil made from cannabidiol and cold-pressed organic argan oil; the argan here contains a high concentration of antioxidants (including oleic acid and linoleic acid) which helps to fight ageing by neutralising free radicals which damage cells. Whereas the 200 milligrams of full-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD,CBDA,CBDV,CBC and CBG) offers this and so much more.  As cannabidiol is produced using the whole plant, it naturally contains very high levels of CBD as well as other organic compounds, known as phytocannabinoids and terpenes. It protects against oxidation and reduces sebum due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It nourishes and hydrates helping the skin to absorb vital nutrients with its high concentration in vitamins A, D and E together with a balance of essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6 and 9 in the same proportions). The cannabidiols also treat skin disorders like dry skin, psoriasis, and eczema. They say it is THC free but the packaging states that it’s full spectrum too (?) Douvall’s, we’re a little confused here… However, we loved the texture and were surprised by its divine delicate and slightly grape-like fragrance. I think out of the two ‘Skin-High’ products this was our favourite. We recommend this as a night oil, as it left skin feeling soft, boosted and revitalised in the morning. This also comes in two sizes, where you can purchase 50ml for £58 here or 15ml for £20 here.