by:BW Skincare : The Cleansing Oil

What’s more important to you… A skincare regime in the morning to pep up your skin? Or perhaps in the evening, to help get rid of the daily grim? At The Amazing Blog, our good skincare routine always starts by using a gentle and effective cleanser. That’s why we want to flag up another of our #amazingfinds with facial cleanser, The Cleansing Oil by British indie skincare By:BW Skincare.

As an expert on skin health and wellness for the past 25 years, Julie Brown began curating a natural skincare brand based on her extensive knowledge of herbs, plants, and essential oils. By:BW Skincare was launched in 2020, inspired by her spa therapy company, Boutique Wellbeing. Boutique Wellbeing is a therapy practice located on a private estate in Cotswolds. Since the beginning, Julie has been interested in sourcing her ingredients sustainably. "At the beginning of my journey creating by:BW, I knew that I wanted to ensure that the practices I used and the ingredients I sourced were as eco-conscious as I could possibly make them. Here I am sourcing some lavender in the Cotswolds, being as 'green' as possible and a low carbon footprint is woven within the fabric of my business." The brand produces handmade products in small batches and promises not to use factory manufacturing. By:BW Skincare aims to use all-natural and organic ingredients, and whenever possible, they try to source their ingredients locally from farmers. Their products are free from parabens, and synthetics, 100% vegan, and cruelty-free. "I check the provenance of each base oil and essential oil I use, and my products are only tested [on] humans." The brand was featured in the August 2021 issue of Cotswold Living and more recently, has been awarded a ‘Commended’ at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards for The Cleansing Oil.

We found that The Cleansing Oil worked gently and effectively to remove the buildup that every day brings. As an oil cleanser, it targets dirt and makeup, while protecting the skin's natural barrier. We particularly like is that it shields the lipid layer without damaging the microbiota and microbiome, which keeps the skin in balance and healthy. The Cleansing Oil consists of only six natural oil: Grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, organic evening primrose oil, tocopherol, lavender oil, and organic eucalyptus oil.

Grapeseed oil is loaded with antioxidants and contains high amounts of omega fatty acids and vitamin E, which helps maintain moisture levels. This extract has many benefits, such as protecting against harmful free radicals, minimising wrinkles and uneven skin tones, with antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Sweet almond oil has high levels of vitamin E. This oil is often used to treat itchy and dry skin because of its anti-inflammatory properties and alleviates skin conditions such as eczema. Sweet almond oil is an excellent skin moisturiser because it won't clog your pores. Organic evening primrose oil (pictured above) relieves many irritable skin conditions and improves overall skin wellness. Tocopherol (vitamin E) is present in many vegetable oils from which it is naturally derived. This vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the skin from harmful UV rays and reduce UV damage. The two fragrant essentials lavender and organic eucalyptus, are best known for reducing skin inflammation and their anti-ageing benefits. To surmise, the cleanser is made up of only 100 per cent natural botanical oils.

The Cleansing Oil can be used on all skin types, including oily skin; as Julie says, "Contrary to belief, using an oil on oily skin is a good thing!" And we couldn’t agree more. An oil-based cleanser successfully removes any residue of SPF, makeup and pollutants from the day, unlike some others. To use, we applied directly onto dry skin and massaged into the face and neck. They suggest using a warm damp face cloth, leave on for 15 seconds, and allow the steam to open the pores. Then take three deep breaths to inhale the relaxing aroma of lavender and eucalyptus. After that, just wipe away the impurities or repeat for a double cleanse. We used this morning or at night for a refreshing skin boost. The blend of quality ingredients will help to keep a youthful complexion and lower the stress hormone cortisol, for positive effects on emotions and the skin. It won’t clog pores or leave your skin feeling dry and will leave a nice layer of moisture, giving a beautifully supple and glowy skin.

It comes in sustainable packaging, i.e. recyclable glass bottle, a reusable face cloth, a drawstring bag, and a biodegradable box. The Cleansing OIl, is 100ml and available here for £28. This seriously impressed us, and we hope to try more from by:BW Skincare in the future.

Cotswold Remedies : Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection

With our busy schedule, we often find the best way to achieve some downtime is to take a nice long and relaxing soak. So at The Amazing Blog, we're always on the lookout for new essential oil bath remedies to try, which is why we want to introduce you to this Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection from the new brand Cotswold Remedies; with their set of three bath oils: Relax, Restore, and Revive.

Cotswold Remedies started in a small kitchen in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Founder Helen Ray got her inspiration to begin her skincare range during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 when she had time on her hands and wanted something to do. Helen said, "As a busy mum of two girls, juggling work and family life, I was always looking for the best products on the market to keep my skin looking great as I grew older. I wanted products that would keep my skin strong and supple as I entered my 40s but not blow my budget or require a complicated 10-step routine.” Once she completed her aromatherapy and organic skin formulation training, Helen rolled up her sleeves and got to work. It took her about 18 months to perfect a balanced formula for her bath oils range. The result was a range of products that delivered actual results at a fraction of the cost of similar high-end beauty products, all without compromising the quality of the ingredients. "I ended up improving them by stripping out any synthetic ingredients and adding more active ones."Cotswold Remedies officially launched in September 2021 and has been thriving ever since. The brand emphasises its use of 100% natural, organic, and ethical ingredients throughout the entire process. Cotswold Remedies products are also handmade in small batches to reduce the waste often produced by leftover products. Their range is also suitable for vegans and cruelty-free and is packaged in sustainable materials such as recyclable glass and cardboard sourced from sustainably managed forests. Since its launch, the brand has already won a few awards at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, including Best Bath Oil for their Relax Bath Oil and two Editor’s Choice Awards for the Collagen Boost Face Oil and Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection. They also won Best Aromatherapy Diffuser in Wellbeing for their Essential Oil Reed Diffuser.

What is a bath oil? Bath oils are a blend of scented oils added to water for bathing. Often used for more of a spa-like experience, if combined with aromatherapy/essential oils, they can also be very therapeutic. When oil is mixed with water, the diluted oil can penetrate deeply into the skin, providing relaxation and rejuvenation. They can also help with blood circulation and joint fatigue. Some aromatherapy oils can even help fight bacterial or viral infections. Of course, the most known benefit of bath oils is how they improve your skin leaving a long-lasting fresh scent and radiant skin.

Today we’re featuring their Editor’s Choice award-winning Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection, which includes the Relax, Restore and Revive bath oils. All three bath oils contain caprylic/capric triglyceride, AKA fractionated coconut oil. This version of coconut oil is more liquid than regular coconut oil and is deeply nourishing and easily absorbed by the skin, making it ideal to use as a carrier oil. It’s also rich in hydrating properties to keep skin moisturised and feeling smooth and silky. These three bath oils also have tocopherol; a natural vitamin E added to slow oxidation and gives the products a longer shelf life. Finally, each of the trio of bath oils contains a unique blend of essential oils combined for a purpose.

Let’s begin with the Relax Bath Oil, which contains a blend of chamomile, vetivert, lavender, patchouli, and clary sage essential oils. This specific blend helps calm your mind and body to promote restful slumber. Both chamomile and lavender have a calming effect on the mind and body, these oils are known to alleviate stress and keep the mind and body relaxed. Vetivert and clary sage work together with their calming properties to prepare the body for a good night's sleep. Patchouli is used to have a grounding and balancing effect on the mind, especially emotions. Together, these ‘relax’ both mind and body and encourage restful sleep.

The Restore Bath Oil is designed to relieve tense and aching muscles and stress. It contains a blend of pine, fir needle, black spruce, cypress, juniper berry, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender and lemon verbena essential oils. A mix of pine, fir needle, rosemary, and juniper berry can clear the head of negative thoughts and lets the mind focus. Black spruce, cypress, lemon verbena, geranium, and lavender all work together to alleviate the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Eucalyptus works to release the tension and aches of muscles. The Restore blend clears the mind, relaxes aching muscles and generally helps the body to decompress.

The third bath oil in the set is Revive Bath Oil. This unique blend of grapefruit, sweet orange, pink and black peppercorn, cajeput, lime, pine leaf, rosemary, lemongrass, juniper berry and geranium essential oils are used to stimulate your senses and energise your body to help fight fatigue. The blend of grapefruit, lemongrass, pine leaf, cajeput, and lime peel energises the body and mind and helps the body ward off tiredness. Sweet orange, juniper fruit, geranium flower, and pink and black peppercorn are all-natural mood enhancers. These oils uplift spirits and instantly bring balance to emotions. Rosemary is used here for improving your memory and concentration - which we all need!

To use these bath oils, simply add 5ml or 2-3 spoonfuls of the oil to a warm bath. Cotswold Remedies recommends mixing the bath oil in the tub before getting in to fully disperse. Then step in, lie down, take a deep breath and relax; it's time to ease away all that stress.

We loved using this trio. Our favourite was Revive; the fragrance, in particular, resonated with us. All three little bottles of blended essential oil magic have become our #amazingfinds, and for good reasons, they work! If you need more of a good therapeutic soak, then these are a bath oil set we’d recommend. To purchase the three 10ml bottles, in the Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection for £14, click here.

Grass & Co : REST 1000mg (11%) CBD Oil Drops & 300MG CBD Body Balm

Winding down after a busy day at work should be the best part of the day, and if you’re anything like us at The Amazing Blog, you’ll know only too well how challenging it is to get both body and mind to rest. Regular readers will know that we're big fans of CBD and on our journey, have gleaned much about this miracle hemp plant. Today we’re featuring two CBD products from Grass & Co - the REST 1000mg (11%) CBD Oil Drops, which recently won ‘Best Product to Calm Anxiety Before Bed’ and Rest 300mg CBD Body Balm an’ Editor’s Choice’ at 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

When the UK and Europe legalised CBD in 2018, Toby Gordon-Smith found the opportunity to create something innovative in the health and wellness industry. He told TechRound  "Looking at the stories of how CBD has genuinely changed people's lives was all the inspiration I needed. I've been working in wellness supplements since 2009 and in consumer goods my whole career." That same year, Toby founded Grass & Co a CBD company that focuses on topicals and edibles in three ranges: Calm, Ease, and Rest. The brand's mission is simple. Grass & Co wants to help its consumers reconnect with nature. "Our mission is to help our customers reconnect with nature by launching only the highest quality CBD blended with great-tasting botanical ingredients and beneficial vitamins. Our unique product range and formulations inspire well-being and have been specially created to work with your body to deliver uplifting results." Grass & Co promises to source only the most ethical and legally grown in the EU- meaning they’re grown without using toxic chemicals or pesticides. All products are natural, sustainable, vegan and broad-spectrum and THC-free. They are best known for their unusual combination of botanicals, which in their CBD oils offers unique smooth flavours. Grass & Co also promises full transparency on the entire process with lab testing and results available here and are now widely available on Amazon and at Holland & Barrett.

The first product we're focusing on is the REST 1000mg (11%) CBD Oil Drops, which have been created to help reduce fatigue, ensure feelings of wellbeing and aid a good night's sleep. This is the most potent one in the REST range; it contains 11% broad-spectrum CBD sourced from the hemp plant, which is also blended with hemp oil, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and MCT oil. MCT oil gives a smoothness in taste and a healthy dose of essential fatty acids. It also allows for a greater concentration of CBD to be absorbed into the bloodstream, and vitamin B5 is crucial to red blood cell production and stress hormones.

What's unique about this blend is the unusual combination of the three oils primarily used for flavour: Bergamot, lavender and hops extract (part of the hemp family), and we have to say, as a combination, it’s a very palatable one. Bergamot comes from the citrus bergamia plant indigenous to the Mediterranean and has properties that can reduce feelings of depression and reduce cholesterol and joint pain. Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils and for a good reason; apart from its healing properties, it also works as a mood enhancer. This oil promotes relaxation and can treat feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. The hops extract comes from the flowering part of the hop plant, which is also used in brewing beer. Hops are primarily taken for anxiety, sleep disorders, and symptoms of menopause. To find your balance, Grass & Co recommends starting with a low dosage and then slowly building up to a higher dosage. We took it sublingually with a couple of drops under the tongue at night to help calm our busy minds. As mentioned, it has an unusual and pleasant taste that’s very smooth and mild. Although we're more advocates of full-spectrum CBD oil, we'd buy more of this, just for the flavour alone. It has approx 28 drops (or dosages) in this 10ml bottle and it comes in a recyclable cardboard box; to purchase the Rest 1000mg (11%) CBD Oil Drops for £72.50. see here.

The second product we tried was the Rest 300mg CBD Body Balm, again probably best to be used before bed. It’s designed to help with any soreness, inflammation, or just for tired limbs and contains 300mg of CBD. Our regular readers will already know the benefits of applying CBD balms for their therapeutic properties. However, for the CBD newbies, the 300mg of CBD here will relax any aching joints.

Apart from the CBD, the base (or carrier) oils are soy, grapeseed, evening primrose, passionflower and sunflower. The other healing essential oils are rose geranium, rosemary leaf, and frankincense. Rose geranium, in addition to treating conditions such as acne and dry skin, is used to reduce the symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression. Rosemary helps ease pain and increase circulation and is particularly good for reducing anxiety and stress before bed. Lastly, we have frankincense, a resin from the boswellia tree, which will alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety and is a mood enhancer.

We like this natural CBD Body Balm because it's full of relaxation-inducing ingredients and can be used even on sensitive skin. We’d recommend massaging a liberal amount into aching limbs or stiff shoulders before bed, to allow it to work its magic. Or, in our case, working it intensively in between the finger joints (stiffness from too much typing!) This rich formula nourishes the skin and performs as a mild anti-inflammatory. Plus, the floral scent will help relax your mind and boost your mood. The 60ml Rest 300mg CBD Body Balm is available here for £39.50.

If you’re new to CBD, we think these two broad-spectrum products offer a brilliant starting point, they’ll work beautifully together to help ensure your body gets a well-earned rest.

Zalina : Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam

Here at The Amazing Blog, we strive to be ahead of the curve and be one of the first to reveal an exciting new beauty launch. Today, Zalina is that brand. Edwina recently judged their products at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards - it won her (and us) over with their award-winning ‘Best Zone-Targeted Beauty Product’ Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam; it’s a great little multitasker that won’t disappoint. 

As a certified health and lifestyle coach with a background in beauty, Zalina Walchi, founded her company Zalina in 2018 in order to make a positive impact on the world of health and beauty. Although her Swiss organic skincare only launched at the end of 2021. As a beauty, health and wellness brand, Zalina prides itself on having 100% organic, waterless and preservative-free products that focus on three themes: the purest natural ingredients, gentle effectiveness, and uncompromised freshness. All ingredients are sourced from sustainable, organic farms and are free from animal testing. It all began when Zalina couldn’t find affordable skincare that had the standard of quality, purity, and efficacy that she wanted to use on her own skin. Zalina said, "I'm very passionate about skincare and beauty. I am grateful to formulate products inspired by the warmth of the Caribbean, the energy of New York and the pristine purity of my surroundings here in Switzerland." What sets the brand apart is the supercritical plant extracts used to regenerate, repair, and improve skin health. They’re also about the microbiome (AKA microbiota), an ecosystem of bacteria on the skin's surface that protects against pathogens and balances skin and the immune system. The brand has excellent eco-credentials, where they only use biodegradable containers made from molten wood and bottles from renewable sugar cane materials. Zalina has also partnered with New Zealand company CarbonClick which helps fight climate change. When a product purchase is made online, there’s an option to click a green button, which adds a small contribution. This contribution purchases carbon offsets, which reduce the environmental impact of the carbon emissions generated from the purchase. All products are formulated in Switzerland under strict quality control, certification and standards and are European and Swiss certified organic, vegan, cruelty-free and Icada Clean Beauty and (soon) Ecocert. There’s also an online immersive beauty experience called the Zalina Seamless Beauty & Green Beauty Class, with education on her natural ingredients, application techniques for her products, and personal tips for your beauty routine.

The Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam is a multitasking product created for use on both the eyes and lips. Not many solo products have this dual-purpose, offering to nourish, hydrate and energise these areas of skin. It’s made up of eight 100% organic cold-pressed oils; karité, moringa, alpine rose, jojoba, wheat germ, rosehip, kukui, and chia.

Karité, (AKA shea butter), is an oil extracted from the fruit of a karite tree, with vitamins A and E, it has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Moringa is a non-fragrant plant oil that is full of antioxidants and vitamins. The Swiss alpine rose extract strengthens the skin's barrier function and protects skin proteins from oxidative stress and environmental damage. Jojoba is rich in fatty acids and has many skin-soothing properties. Wheatgerm softens skin and provides increased suppleness and strength. Rosehip oil is rich in antioxidants and known for its cell regeneration. Kukui is a Hawaiian plant that has emollient properties like fatty acids like linoleic acid and omega-3, which help calm and reduce skin inflammation. Chia seed oil is non-fragrant, again it’s rich in omega fatty acids and antioxidants, and shown to relieve dry skin and restore the skin's moisture barrier.

The Eye & Lip Balsam is gentle and is particularly good for the delicate skin around the eye. We should mention that it’s also very hydrating for the lips. It’s one of those great little multitaskers that needs to be close to hand on a desk or in a handbag. With its hydrating qualities, It certainly protected our lips against chapping, and when applied around the eyes, it felt soothing and worked as an excellent primer for makeup. Comprised of only eight organic oils, together these rejuvenate, protect and repair, it’s simple yet effective, which is why it’s another of our #amazingfinds. These hydrating oils give skin an all-around natural glow, lips feel smoother and softer, and around the eyes, fine lines plumped up. This is our little hero product, and the Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam can be purchased for 45 Swiss Francs here.

Rossano Ferretti : 14 Velluto - Straightening Serum

As the weather begins to warm up, summer humidity beckons, and so does our dreaded hair frizz! At The Amazing Blog, we want to share our latest anti-frizz discovery with Rossano Ferretti and their 14 Velluto Straightening Serum; it’s a non-oily formula that’s helped to keep our hair texture super-smooth and glossy.

Rossano Ferretti is an Italian hair care, company founded by the hairdresser Rossano Ferretti himself in 1990 when he opened his first salon in Parma, Italy. Since opening his salon, Ferretti's goal has been to change the salon experience to a more sensory experience, with wellbeing at the forefront. Since 2008 he has been travelling globally to open new salons and developing a new concept for franchising and collaborations with some of the top hotel chains bringing his vision for the luxurious hair salon experience. A unique element of the brand is its haircutting method, which Rossano Ferretti exclusively developed with his sister. The technique is all about the hair's natural fall; it’s a customised haircut tailored to each individual and their hair type. In an interview with Vogue, Rossano Ferretti explained that the method "was a vision I had for ten years, but a technique that I developed overnight. My goal was to create a haircut without geometry, and without seeing the cut of the scissors. I just wanted to see the natural fall of the hair, so I invented the invisible haircut." Rossano Ferretti was inspired by his grandfather, a barber, and his mother and grandmother, who ran a small salon. He went to London to study hair design, enrolling at the Sasson Academy in the 1970s at just 15 years old. He said that "This particular period in my life was the incubator for my revolutionary technique, the moment where I was able to breathe life into my original vision and dream." Rossano Ferretti now has over 20 hair salons across the globe and a range of multi-award winning luxury professional haircare products, which launched in 2010. They recently won ‘Best Hair Brand ‘at the global 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards. There are now 36 products categorised within 11 collections, including ‘Dolce’ for nourishing dry hair, ‘Grandioso’ for adding volume to fine and flat hair, ‘Intenso’ for adding smoothness and hydration to ultra-thick hair and ‘Vita’ for rejuvenating thin, ageing or fragile hair. His products are made in Italy and available in his salons, select spas, and online. They cater to every type of hair issue and need with up to 99% naturally derived vegan and cruelty-free ingredients, and combine powerful natural-botanical elements with the most advanced active principles and technology. The brand has partnered with Save the Children, where they donate 5% of their net profits.

Edwina, our Executive Editor, tested out this 14 Velluto Straightening Serum as one of the judges on the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, and we can see why it won ‘Best Hair Smoother/Strengthening Treatment’. This serum works for all hair types and is comprised of over 95% naturally derived ingredients. The product not only straightens hair by detangling, and defrizzing, but it also gives it a great shine.

Looking at the key natural ingredients, they all come with numerous benefits. The Sweet almond protein is nourishing and helps smooth, soften and protect the hair. Another notable is the avocado oil, a rich source of vitamin A, D, and E and fatty acids. Together, both these have the restructuring power to repair, and strengthen hair. Sesame seed oil is another excellent source of vitamin E and B, it’s naturally moisturising and soothes the scalp. The crambe abyssinic seed oil is rich in omegas 6,9 and triglycerides, it’s light, hydrating and adds shine. 

Other additives in the serum are sulfonic acid, used to promote hair growth. There are other surfactants, emulsifiers, and solubilising agents such as polysorbate 80. Ethylhexylglycerin is a nourishing ingredient with hydrating properties. Peg-8 Dimethicone and Isohexadecane are synthetic ingredients that are used as texture enhancers. Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer are thickening agents. Sodium benzoate and phenoxyethanol are preservatives used to prevent the growth of bacteria in cosmetic products. Finally, limonene, linalool and geraniol are natural aroma compounds.

What we found with this Straightening Serum, is that it protects the hair from humidity and enhances strength to reduce damage or breakage. In an interview with Prestige, Rossano Ferretti recommended it saying, "To help hair remain smooth and supple despite the humidity, I would recommend Velluto 14, a luxurious, anti-frizz serum that makes the hair exceptionally smooth and silky while controlling static and protecting from external aggressors." We used only a couple of pumps before styling and loved how it gave our hair a wonderful sleek looking sheen - taking away any flyaway hairs or frizz. It’s opaque, light and creamy in texture, and has a delicious subtle floral fragrance - that won’t conflict with another. As one of our #amazingfinds, it’s on our must-have list for the summer. If you want to avoid unwanted frizziness, then we recommend adding this straightening serum to your hair care. Purchase the 100ml Straightening Serum here for £34.