CAVARA Premium Anti-Aging Rose Quartz Face Roller

We have a saying at The Amazing Blog of ‘happy skin, happy self’. A clear and healthy complexion is something that we don’t take for granted. Even though we’re very spoilt and get lots of natural lotions and potions to test, we never tired of skincare; and face rollers are an area that we’ve just started to explore. However, today’s face roller, it is not just any face roller, it’s made of rose quartz which is cool to the touch, alleviates puffiness and feels healing to the skin. Meet the Premium Anti-Aging Rose Quartz Face Roller by CAVARA.

CAVARA is a British company that offers high-quality anti-ageing skincare devices.  This Premium Anti-Aging Rose Quartz Face Roller is their first skincare device to launch. It’s a transformational beauty tool that helps to achieve a glowing and youthful complexion and is where the use of holistic crystals meets a modern-day skincare regime. The rose quartz is thought to help shrink pores because of its natural cooling properties. The question we had is why rose quartz and not jade? Rose quartz stays cooler than the commonly used jade face roller which by its adaptive nature, tends to remain warm on contact with the skin. Also, because jade is a soft stone, and might not stand up to general wear and tear whereas a rose quartz face roller is more robust. We like how the brand is passionate about their product and how they say: “We recognise your power to actualise intention and create the skin and life of your dreams. CAVARA is centred on the possibility to manifest your best self in order to live your best life.” And that’s why we couldn’t wait to try it!

Let’s talk about the actual rose quartz itself. This is a powerful crystal open to love, self-care and heart healing. It is made up of quartz and the addition of manganese and titanium which gives a pink colour. It’s one of the most well-known and popular crystals because it works with love and is strongly attached to both the heart and throat chakras. But it’s not a stone that simply rests in romance. It’s for all kinds of love from healing communication with family to developing deeper bonds with lovers and friends. It purifies and opens the heart at all levels to promote love, self-love, friendship, deep inner healing and feelings of peace. Therefore, helping to rid any negative emotional stresses that might have an impact on the skin and accelerate ageing. Calming and reassuring, it helps to comfort in times of sadness. Rose quartz has been used as far back as the ancient Greeks and Egyptians who used it as part of their routine to maintain youth and beauty believing in its potent skin benefits.

This sculptural looking Premium Anti-Aging Rose Quartz Face Roller is made up of two different sized quartz rollers on either end, all held in place with elegant brass fixtures. The small roller is intended to be used on the more sensitive areas such as under the eyes or your throat, whereas the bigger roller is for the rest of the face, neck and decolletage. We found that it was excellent for getting back the colour in our cheeks and for bringing more oxygen to the skin. It also helps to relieve tension, which can often build up in the facial muscles. Best of all, it helped to boost the skin’s elasticity, improve lymphatic drainage and stimulate cell turnover. We found our skin looked more vibrant, toned with reduced inflammation, all benefits from its cooling effect. This facial roller brought a soothing sensation and was brilliant for using first thing in the morning, banishing any puffiness prior to our skincare routine and makeup. This facial roller is often used by skincare professionals and alike, who say when refrigerated, the rollers will provide a small amount of relief from swelling in the same way that an ice cube facial would, although with less mess! We used it by without any serum or creams and started by rolling from the centre of the face in an outward direction, where the positive and uplifting effects were instantaneous. It’s easy to maintain by cleaning with warm water and gentle soap, and on our rose quartz journey, we also learned that to ‘recharge’ the powers of rose quartz, you simply leave it out under moonlight (because this crystal’s yin energy is connected to the moon). Is this spurring you on to purchase? Then see here for £49.99.

Bubu Skincare - Ultimate Sheet Mask Pack

Who doesn’t love ‘mask time’?  We love pampering ourselves and giving our skin some TLC! So, when the newest ‘it’ sheet masks arrived at The Amazing Blog, we were very eager to give them a whirl. Not only because in a world where we are constantly pressured to look our best, the philosophy of the brand is breath of fresh air, but also because their products are as effective as they are convenient and simple to use.

The founder of Bubu Skincare is Marianne Morrison, serial beauty entrepreneur, and qualified beauty therapist, so she knows what she is talking about. Right about now, you’re probably wondering why she chose this particular name for her newest brand. Bubu is short for the brand’s philosophy “Be U, Be Unique” which is the core of the brand’s DNA. For Marianne, nothing is more important than to be able to love your body and feel at home in your own skin, (especially) without make-up. The brand specialises in potent sheet skin masks, for every skin type and need. The five sheet masks #Soakmewet, #stripitoff, #feelingdirty, #t-spot, and #youpucker (don’t they sound cheeky?) and all come in five different coloured packs (with more fun descriptions). We think that these will probably become a new favourite, especially for those who want their weekly pampering routine to be simple and easy without a fuss while still being ultra-effective. Although the focus of the brand is not put on being eco-friendly or organic, the fact that they are eco-conscious with their recycled packaging and being completely vegan is a big plus for us.

Without further ado, let’s dive right in with the first sheet mask in the pack of five, called #soakmewet. This one – you guessed it – is meant to give a pure shot of deep hydration and glow to dry or dehydrated skin. It comes in a red metallic packaging that you have to open (carefully) to reveal the two-part sparkly gel mask that makes applying it easy. By the way, you don’t have to worry about the glitter’s bad impact on the environment as it is entirely bio-degradable! This sparkliness is Bubu’s innovative and patented thermogel that stays solid to keep the potent ingredients inside, right up to the moment it touches your skin and then dissolves to infuse its actives. Unlike most masks that are actually soaking wet, dripping, and frankly a mess to put on, this one is quite simple thanks to the two-part conception and solid gel. For this first mask, the hydrogel is packed with a mix of antioxidants and vitamins, as well as the renowned plumping and moisture-retaining hyaluronic acid, and liquorice roots that soothe the skin and reduce inflammation. Once on the skin, the mask stays in place, allowing you to either keep going with your day or indulge and relax while the moisture kicks in. Keep it on for about 15 minutes, then take it off and massage the leftover product to maximise the benefits. The product is quickly absorbed, leaving skin perfectly primed and radiant, ready for make-up. You can find #soakmewet individually here for the price of £7.00.

The second mask, called #stripitoff, is sensibly different, as it is the only exfoliating mask of the pack. This one comes in an orange metallic packaging and is in one piece, so you do have to be careful when pulling out and unfolding the sheet mask. What is more, the texture is different on this one. The thermo-sensitive gel is not present in this mask. Instead, the texture is a super exfoliating blend of charcoal and kaolin clay to unclog the pores and draw the toxins, and AHAs to get rid of the dead skin cells. This mask literally feels like an at-home spa treatment. Once on the face, the mask sticks well. You can also let this one sit for 15 minutes and work its way to your skin – exfoliating your face does not get easier than that. Then rinse off with warm water. The skin feels completely clean and the pores look smaller. After using, do not forget to apply an SPF if you plan on going out in the sunlight as newly-revealed skin is always more sensitive to sunlight. You can find #stripitoff here for £7.00.

The third mask of the pack is #feelingdirty. This one is another two-part mask that uses the patented hydrogel. It is to be used preferably in the morning, after cleaning your face, as it aims to protect the skin against environmental toxins and pollution, as well as dirt and free radicals, thanks to its advanced biotech complex and sage leaf infused formula. It also stays in place and primes the skin perfectly, leaving a clean and ‘tacky’ surface for make-up, absolutely perfect for the morning rush. #feelingdirty is available individually here for the price of £7.00.

If, like us, with COVID 19 your skin has reached a new level of stress and has adopted ‘maskne’, the perfect sheet mask to tackle this is #t-spot which is the fourth and final full face mask of the pack. This one is also a two-piece mask with a hydrogel that contains niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3) and allantoin, both effective to treat inflammation and soothe the skin from acne and eczema. The gel also contains pro-vitamin B5 and a secret serum which help restore the skin barrier. In this mask, the oil-control and total anti-blemish action is a however a progressive result: it will not target your acne spots like an anti-blemish balm or rebalance your skin right away, this is not its purpose – but it will make your skin better, reducing the oil production and breakouts in time, but only if used regularly! After use, we found that the skin looked clean and healthy and is also primed ready for make-up. You can purchase the #t-spot sheet mask individually here for £7.00.

Last but not least #puckerup, is not really a face mask, but a lip-mask. Perfect after a day in the sun or for a ski trip this winter, this sheet mask is a lip-shaped gel that delivers deep hydration thanks to the hyaluronic acid that locks the moisture in, and actives that plump-up the lips. Suitable for all skin types, and is even safe to use during pregnancy. This one is a little bit trickier to apply as it is slippery, so we advise you to just sit and relax while the Thermogel works its magic – which, let’s face it, is just another excuse to take some time out. You can buy #puckerup individually here for £5.00. Depending on the season, where you live, your age or even anxiety, fatigue and stress levels, your skin will continue to change. For instance, it may become dryer this time of year, due to alternating between central heating and the cold.  This is why we think it’s worth investing in the full complement of these five masks, with Bubu’s Ultimate Sheet Mask Pack, which is available here for £25.

Orange County: CBD Gummy Buttons

Don’t they look delicious? Having seen a lot of positive reviews on this CBD brand, we were excited to finally get the chance to try these goodies out. Needless to say that with the team here at The Amazing Blog, the jar did not last long! Yes, today we are reviewing Orange County CBD’s Gummy Buttons, and we are telling you all about these sweet treats!

Orange County CBD is an all-American CBD company that produces all sorts of CBD-infused goods, from E-liquids to beauty care products, along with…edibles! All of Orange County CBD’s  products are home-grown, manufactured, and tested in the U.S. The hemp is grown in controlled farms in Colorado, Kentucky, and Northern California, where the company is based, and the manufacturing occurs in a GMP certified lab. Since their beginnings, they have been aiming at producing high-standard quality products, and today they are recognised as one of the companies with the highest-quality CBD oil, which is used to infuse their products. Their distillate is indeed one of the purest on the market, thanks to their extraction method that uses supercritical CO2, a method with low environmental impact and that has been approved by the U.S. FDA. The distillate is broad-spectrum, meaning that it contains mainly CBD as well as a few other phytochemicals (CBDV, CBG, CBC) present in the hemp flower, but no THC. In other words, yes, it will relax you and soothe you, but no, you will not get high with CBD edibles, as CBD is non-intoxicating and has no psychoactive effects. What’s more, all of Orange County CBD's manufactured products are thoroughly tested in a third-party laboratory to ensure that their high standards regarding the accuracy of the cannabinoid profiles are reached. And you can check these yourself before buying (or eating if you purchase online) thanks to the embedded QR codes on each packaging, it doesn’t get any safer than that!

The product that we have received at the office is the CBD Gummy Buttons, in Small size and with 10mg per gummy – which is higher than most gummies on the market. They come in a small plastic jar and are available in three strengths: 10mg, 25mg, and 50mg per sweet, and three sizes: the small grab bag with 8 buttons containing 25mg each (approximately 200mg total), the small jar (which is the one we have) that contains approximately 20 buttons and a large-sized jar at 1250g. When we tasted these, they were not, as we suspected, too sickly sweet and we were surprised how fruity, soft and chewy they were – unlike traditional gummies which are glutinous and have a much firmer bite. No wonder they were won the ‘Best Edible’ Award at the Hemp and CBD Expo 2020, and got so many positive reviews! Usually, CBD edibles have a strong CBD oil taste which leaves a bit of an aftertaste -  not the case with these. They taste sweet and fruity, almost like traditional gummies, and each colour is a different taste. You can taste the berry, orange, lemon, and apple. Also, they have a 2-year ‘best before’ date, so if you can resist having them near you all this time you don't have to worry about a near expiration date. Although they are all vegan and GMO-free, they do contain sugar (no corn syrup or artificial sweeteners here), so if you feel a bit concerned about the presence of sugar, you may want to take them at strategic times during the day, like just after getting up, or just before/after a workout, and avoid eating these at night. If your main concern is insomnia or sleeping at night, you may want to try taking one before going to sleep to beneficiate from the relaxing effect of the hemp. As most of you know, CBD can be a great help to cope with joint, nerve and muscle pains, or anxiety. We think that edibles are perfect for a stressful period at work or to combat the winter blues! Orange County CBD recommends eating 2-4 gummies a day to get your dose of CBD in your system. The perfect dosage varies from a person to another, so we recommend that you experiment step by step, starting with small doses then increase them in case the relaxing effect is not there, especially if CBD is new to you. You can purchase the Small CBD Gummy buttons 10mg here for £16.99. Also thanks to CBD-Produce who sent us these and another CBD food product from their extensive range (visit here ) if trying CBD for the first time, or if you’re an experienced user, we think you’ll find something to tempt you at this this great one-stop shop for all things CBD.

UHURU Botanicals – Marula Lotion & Black Soap & Aloe Vera

Autumn is here and once again, we’re upping our skincare game with richer and more nourishing products. Today at The Amazing Blog, we’d like to introduce another of our #amazingfinds with a natural and organic skincare, that has adopted some of the centuries-old West African skincare traditions and made them their own. Meet the award-winning brand UHURU Botanicals. 

UHURU Botanicals was founded in 2017 by Neo Mkwebane Chatyoka, when she was searching for soothing products for her baby who had eczema and couldn’t find the right one. This spurred her on to make her own products using some of the purest and most potent ingredients from Africa, her home-continent. Since then, the brand has grown, finding markets both in South Africa and in the United Kingdom. Today, Neo’s mission is to help everyone who has a persistent skin problem, and regain what she calls “skin confidence”. This philosophy reflects in the word ‘Uhuru’ that she chose for her brand name, which means ‘Freedom’ in the Kenyan dialect Swahili. The entire skincare range is unisex, multi-use, 100% organic, natural, vegan and ethical (even the packaging is eco-friendly), and best of all, it’s ideal for hypersensitive skin.

The first product from their range that we would like to talk about is the Marula Lotion, which won Editor’s Choice in the 2020 Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards. The main key ingredient of the Marula Lotion is shea butter, which comes from the nut of karité trees that grow in the Savanah of Western Africa. Perhaps best known for its properties to soothe and heal eczema, psoriasis, cracked skin and rashes; the shea butter is mixed with baobab and marula oil from Eastern and South Africa, which help regenerate skin and heal scars. The lotion is presented in a UVA resistant brown-coloured glass bottle. Once on the skin, the lotion absorbs quickly, liberating a fresh and subtle citrusy scent from the lemon, grapefruit and sweet orange oils. These are all rich in vitamin C which helps to even out the skin tone. As it is 100% natural, organic, and free from parabens and chemical fragrance, makes it ideal to use on both body and face. This is a wonderful multitasking lotion that we just couldn’t get enough of and is one of our #amazingfinds for the autumn. The Marula Lotion with vitamin C comes in 200ml, and you can purchase it here for £11.99.

The second product is the Black Soap & Aloe Vera Cleanser which has taken its inspiration from the time-honoured traditions of the West African black soap formula. This natural blend is gentle, effective and cleanses whilst also locking in moisture. It also fights acne, evens skin tone, treats eczema, and minimises the blemishes and scars all at the same time. Thanks to the healing powers of aloe vera, shea butter, and tea tree when combined, they offer a deliver a deep hydrating cleanse. There are coconut and palm oils here, as well as the charcoal powder which acts as an antibacterial removing impurity from the skin. e,e,There is no specific fragrance; we could only detect a very pleasant neutral hint of tea tree. We massaging this cleanser straight onto dry skin in a circular motion, then we rinsed away with warm water. Our skin felt clean, soft and hydrated and it’s so gentle that we used it for both morning and night. NB: As both products a completely organic formula without preservatives, it should be stored away from direct sunlight. These have impressed us and we can’t wait to try more from Uhuru Botanicals. The Black Soap & Aloe Vera Cleanser is available in two sizes: 30ml for £4.00 or 200ml for £12.99 here. 

Aus Dem Orient: Shampoo & Night Cream

With the ever-changing regulations on self-isolation and travel, it's something we're all having to put on the back-burner. However, today at The Amazing Blog we’re going to take you on a journey where Switzerland meets Morocco, with organic skincare Aus Dem Orient.

The trip today takes us to the Deutschschweiz, the German-speaking part of Switzerland where Marie-thérèse Hainke the founder of Aus Dem Orient, always held a fascination with Morocco and decided to take a journey there to discover the different smells, colours, spices and culture. There she and her family found themselves captivated by the beauty of Moroccan and their traditions, as well as the warmth of the people. This was when the family Hainke decided to create Aus Dem Orient and bring these unique Moroccan ingredients to Switzerland, where they’ve now built a brand that offers a pure and high-quality natural skincare. Their products are also certified with an organic seal in both Morocco and Europe, but Switzerland only acknowledges these as natural. This is because a Swiss organic certification is a timely and expensive process which many of the small skincare producers cannot afford. The Aus Dem Orient range of skincare is suitable for all skin types and contains no preservatives, parabens, silicone, dyes, or synthetic ingredients. It is also proudly a cruelty-free brand.

We received two products and will begin with their hero product the Night Cream with Argan & Prickly Pear Seed Oil. Rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin E this night cream is ideal for addressing dry skin. The prickly pear seed oil is a luxurious anti-ageing oil that contains over 80 percent of unsaturated fatty acids. It supplies the skin with moisture, nourishes, regenerates and also reduces age spots. The golden argan oil here has a unique composition of essential fatty acids and a high content of vitamin E, one of the most critical antioxidants. This oil provides valuable moisture and is quickly absorbed without leaving an oily film. The antioxidant activity in argan oil helps to protect the skin from free radical damage caused by the sun with burns and hyperpigmentation. There is also the addition of shea butter, which is again is rich in fatty acids; and the beeswax which has anti-inflammatory properties and offers a barrier between the skin and environment, without clogging the pores. It’s light in texture, although it feels creamy and hydrating, with a slightly honey-ed scent. With its few organic ingredients, this night cream offers simplicity at its best.

The other product we tried is their Shampoo Argan Oil with Honey. The natural scent of the shampoo is a combination of honey and argan. This is an organic shampoo designed to protect and hydrate the hair. The argan oil here is used as a hair treatment, it is beneficial for both the hair and scalp and is used as a conditioner. Vitamin E in the argan acts as a moisturiser for the scalp and also fights dandruff and a dry scalp. The honey has unique healing abilities and has both emollient and humectant properties. Emollients smooth the hair follicles, adding shine to dull hair whereas the humectants bond with water molecules, adding moisture to any dry hair strands. By locking in the moisture the honey can help restore the natural lustre to the hair and promotes hair growth as well as acting as being a cleanser. One of the most crucial factors for us is that shampoo must be colour-safe, which this is. It cleansed our hair well, we must point out that this is not a co-wash, so a conditioner is recommended to use with this and we see they have, but we didn’t try it. You can find the 50g of Night Cream with Argan & Prickly Pear Seed Oil for CHF 37.00 and the 200ml Shampoo Argan Oil with Honey for CHF 17.00, both here.