Herbal Earth - No 42 Antioxidant Facial Oil

At The Amazing Blog we like to give our readers the ‘heads-up’ when we find a new natural skincare brand with eco ingredients and biodegradable and recyclable packaging. That’s why today we want to talk about Herbal Earth’s No. 42 Antioxidant Facial Oil.

Based in Ireland, Herbal Earth was founded in 2017 by Nancy O’Reilly to “provide natural solutions to common problems.” A year into this business, Nancy graduated with a diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation from Formula Botanica, where the knowledge and education she received have helped her create a range of skincare that is honest, natural, and gentle. The ingredients are simple yet effective, with no cheap fillers or exaggerated claims, and are “rich in high-performance components carefully selected for their skin benefits.”  Nancy believes that creating clean skincare is crucial, but knows that sustainability goes beyond just the ingredients. Inspired by the trailblazing Jo Chidley from Beauty Kitchen, Nancy has adopted a similar “return, refill and repeat scheme” for her products. With this process, once you finish your favourite Herbal Earth product, you simply return the bottles to Herbal Earth, where they will clean and sanitise the glass jar to be used again. This process allows everyone to feel good about their choices in a world that is consumed by increasing waste and overconsumption. Beyond this approach, Herbal Earth uses biodegradable packaging to help reduce its impact on our planet and are looking to install wind and solar technologies to power production and run the office. Plus, they have partnered with Mossy Earth a global organisation that helps rewild the planet. Herbal Earth’s goal is to “combine the best of nature and science to create natural skincare for sensitive skin.” 

What we like about Herbal Earth’s No. 42 Antioxidant Facial Oil is that it protects the skin from harmful effects of pollution, UVA, UVB and blue light (HEV) damage; while also nourishing and repairing the skin and its natural barrier. Launched in June last year, this award-winning facial oil is packed with natural antioxidants and botanicals with scientifically proven benefits. Let’s talk about the ingredients; each has its own unique benefit and is delivered in a concentrated oil form. Passion fruit seed is high in vitamin C, which promotes collagen formation and reduces redness; it also has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. Marula seed is high in antioxidants and fatty acids and so it helps improve the skin’s ability to hold moisture. Watermelon seeds are full of vitamin C and magnesium, which enhances the complexions overall appearance. Grapeseed is high in vitamin E and other vitamins and minerals; these strengthen collagen and maintain elastin. It is also known to be “exceptionally high in the omega-6 fatty acid”, leaving a lightweight feel while penetrating the many layers of skin. The next ingredient in this facial oil is meadowfoam seed, an oil pulled from the seeds of the meadowfoam flower; it delivers nutrients deep into the skin while also locking in moisture. Astaxanthin, here, is one the most potent antioxidant that can be found, belonging to the carotenoid group. Carotenoids are the most widespread group of pigments that are found in nature, visibly seen in algae, lobster, salmon, and prawns. This is where astaxanthin improves the appearance of fine lines and protects the skin against UVA, UVB and blue light damage. Last but not least, are frankincense and myrrh. These two ingredients are both derived from tree sap and are best known for their fragrance in incense. Frankincense is known for being antifungal and for rejuvenating damaged skin. Myrrh is an ancient ingredient that dates back to Ancient Egypt when used for face masks and other cosmetic purposes. This extract has rejuvenating properties, where it evens skin tone giving a more youthful-looking appearance.

This facial oil is a glorious rich russet colour, probably from carotenoid in the astaxanthin, and has a subtle warm and slightly wood scent, all of which help the skin “recapture its radiant glow.” Best of all, for those with sensitive skin, this No. 42 Antioxidant Facial Oil doesn’t contain any essential oils or nut oils. To use simply apply 1 or 2 pumps day and night to damp skin, and then gently massage in an upward and outward movement. According to Herbal Earth, an impressive 86.7% of users tested said their skin was smoother and more moisturised. Made in small batches with only natural ingredients, Herbal Earth pays particular attention to the little details that make this facial oil stand out. If you live in Ireland, this facial oil is included in Herbal Earth’s sustainability initiatives by offering a refill purchase option. If you choose just to refill your facial oil, you will receive a bottle with a cap (you need to hang onto your pump insert for reuse) and this option is sent without a product box, reducing paper waste. The No. 42 Antioxidant Facial Oil is available in a 30 ml jar for €54.95 or a mini, 3ml jar for €7.50 here.

Founder's Formula : Post-Workout Australian Clay Detox Mask

At The Amazing Blog, we’re always on a quest to find new natural products with unique plant-based formulas. And in our search, we discovered the Australian botanical skincare brand Founder’s Formula. Regular readers will remember that we recently reviewed their Phyto-A+ Australian Native Tobacco Serum here. Today we’re featuring their equally intriguing face mask, but this is not just any face mask… It’s a Post-workout Australian Clay Detox Mask, see below to learn more.

Founder’s Formula was launched by anthropologist Dr. Annie Holden in 2021, but the brand’s story starts three years earlier. After visiting Cosmoprof, the world’s biggest beauty trade show in Italy, Annie realised that there were plenty of beauty products from around the globe, but none with Australian botanicals. This inspired her to go back to Australia and conduct research on Australian botanicals and how to include them in modern-day skincare. Dr. Holden immersed herself in the research, as she had done previously when spending 35 years of her professional life working with indigenous peoples in remote parts of Australia. During this time she built her lab where she experimented with gentle formulas rich in wild-harvested and organic ingredients. Australia’s geographic location makes its plants extremely unique, in fact, 85% of its plants grow only in Australia. Also, did you know Australia has 23,000 known species? However, those that have been properly studied, are less than 1,000! These botanicals have adapted to the harsh Australian climate and have developed ways to store large quantities of phyto-compounds (chemicals believed to have medicinal properties) to survive in this environment. As a skincare enthusiast, Dr. Holden was eager to create her own skincare range using these potent plant-based ingredients. Once she shared her newly created products, she received overwhelmingly positive feedback and Founder's Formula was born. The brand was created to be the “best possible in uncompromising, potent, effective skincare using Australian Botanicals.” By working with one of Australia’s leading formulation chemists and applying research from Australia's leading 5-Star Plant Science universities, the company has created a range of skincare to target hydration, anti-inflammation, depigmentation, and pro-ageing. Specifically, the 13 products within the range are crafted to bring hydration back into the skin, fight and prevent inflammation and combat hyperpigmentation which can be a result of sun damage, helping to revitalise the skin bringing it back to optimum health. Dr. Holden purposely avoids the use of essential oils and fragrances, formulas are developed using only the most simple and natural ingredients to be kind to both the skin and planet. These evidence-based formulas are clinically clean, and the ingredients are sourced from certified organic suppliers, making the brand CertClean certified. Founder’s Formula shows their commitment to harvesting organic ingredients, and they also meet the Australian Certified Organic Standard (ACO). The products are all manufactured in Australia, are toxin-free and are developed without animal testing.  

We received the Post-Workout Australian Clay Detox Mask designed to cleanse and soothe the skin. This mask won the Best Natural Skin Mask (Bronze Winner) at the 2021 Global Clean and Green Beauty Awards. With the mask’s exceptional blend of natural Australian botanicals, let’s just say, we weren't surprised it was award-winning. Clay masks are known to help skin heal, brighten the complexion, improve blood circulation beneath the skin and promote collagen production. The Founder’s Formula mask here aims to draw out toxins, deeply cleanse, maintain clean skin health, and soothe the skin. This product combines key ingredients like Australian clay, Tasmanian mountain pepperberry, babassu seed oil, and squalane to nourish and respect your skin's natural balance. Australian clay works to draw out toxins from your skin, which can strengthen the skin barrier and improve skin elasticity. The Tasmanian mountain pepperberry (pictured above), comes from a shrub found in south-eastern Australia. It’s used in skincare to reduce inflammation redness and sensitivity. This pepperberry consists of the powerful active polygodial, which has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It’s also a bushfood condiment added to curries and alcoholic drinks and even export to Japan to flavour wasabi!  As for the certified organic babassu seed oil, this extract is packed with lipids and restorative essential oils to moisturise the skin, and it is highly recommended for people with eczema or dry skin. Plus, we found that this babassu seed oil doesn't clog pores as many other oils do! Another ingredient to highlight is the plant-based squalane, a hydrocarbon and natural emollient, which means it helps your skin deeply retain moisture. Squalane has a long shelf life and is a common ingredient in skincare, as it prevents dry patches and is highly effective at leaving your skin feeling smooth and hydrated. A few other elements worth mentioning are the peptides (tyrosine and arginine based molecules) that are included in the mask. These peptides work with skin nerve cells to trigger met-enkephalin, an opioid peptide, to help calm the skin and prevent inflammation at the source. In a sea of face masks, this one stands out. It leaves skin feeling cleansed and refreshed, plus we were impressed with this mask’s ability to promote longer hydration in the skin. The clay mask is easy to use, fragrance-free, cruelty-free, and suitable for vegans. It is packaged in an aluminium tube, as aluminium is a highly recycled and circular economy material; but there’s a plastic cap, so please recycle this too! The mask also comes with a complimentary muslin cleansing cloth to help with removal. Founder’s Formula suggests using the mask after a workout, a run, or any time after your skin is exposed to an unclean environment, this is when the clay mask is at its most effective as it binds oils and draws out the residue of sunblock and other toxins. We thoroughly enjoyed taking 15 minutes of relaxation time to use the clay mask, and applied a light layer directly onto our post-workout skin and left it on for 10 minutes - for optimum performance - then rinsed away in lukewarm water. By the way, the brand says to get the best results, please refrain from cleansing your face prior to mask application. The results were noticeable, skin felt was hydrated, and our complexion softer. The mask can be applied daily, and with the results we received, it seems like we have a new product to add to our post-workout skincare routine. We are looking forward to featuring more from Founder's Formula, to share with you its array of magical antipodean botanicals. You can purchase the 75ml Post-Workout Australian Clay Detox Mask here for $68.00AUD.  AND to get a 10% discount please click here expiring 30 June 2022, Adding code AMAZING at check out, valid one per customer.

The Clean Beauty Club : Wonder Balm & Serums

At The Amazing Blog we love to have a go-to beauty staple or two, and for us, not many beat The Clean Beauty Club's trio of Wonder Balm, Wonder Morning Serum and Wonder Evening Serum with their brand transparency and simple ingredients.

The Clean Beauty Club is a Scottish brand that started small and simple and has now grown into the 'wonder – ful' company that it is today. Originally called 'A Pony Called Steve,' The Clean Beauty Club went through a name change so that the branding matched the high-quality products they were producing. Owners Emma Campbell and Aminah Morgan have been working closely together since they met at school. Their friendship made it easy to make this necessary branding change. They said it best, "So it's time for us to rethink what we're saying to the world. We want everyone to know how incredible this balm is, because it really is changing skin for the better." The name change came with a change in products and how they sold their products. Prior to the change, A Pony Called Steve only sold to independent shops and had an extensive collection of products. When The Clean Beauty Club came to life, their focus was to produce and perfect their Wonder Balm, which was a balm they had personally been using for over ten years. The new branding aligned with this great product using only the best, natural ingredients and recyclable packaging to embrace the idea of 'clean beauty.' An important component to their brand is that their decisions are "based on love and joy, not success." Emma and Aminah want their customers to be happy with their products and love them as much as they do.

Their Wonder Balm is one of their hero products. They have been making different variations of the balm for about ten years. Over the years, they have worked tirelessly to create the best version of the Wonder Balm that they could, and they researched until they were "100% sure that they had the best ingredients they could possibly use."  With a list of powerful antioxidant and vitamin-rich ingredients with anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-ageing properties, the Wonder Balm will have your skin feeling cleansed nourished and moisturised all in one - it’s a multi-balm. The lemon seed oil helps soothe inflammation and moisturise the skin helping maintain the skin's health, appearance, and texture. While the moringa oil is used to moisturise and cleanse the skin. And the pomegranate seed oil supports the skin's hydration. We love how this Wonder Balm can be used as a ‘one and done’ skincare routine - great for keeping to hand for when you’re on the go. It can be used to remove makeup, even tough products like waterproof mascara, while cleansing and moisturising skin. The Wonder Balm has been nicknamed 'facial in a tin' by users of the product it's easy to use and available for a one-time purchase for £12.00 here or a subscription option with your choice of delivery every month, two months or even three months for £9.60 – a savings of 20%! 

Next, we tried the two Wonder Serums – both share hero ingredients similar to the Balm, including lemon seed oil and pomegranate seed oil (see above). Plus, the moringa oil is a key ingredient that is extremely lightweight in texture but full of vitamins, A.C and E. It also has cytcytokinins, which promote cellular growth to support and nourish cell tissue and fatty acids, which are high content of mono-saturated oleic acid (omega 9) to help improve the skin's natural protective barrier that keeps skin looking hydrated and plumper. These are the Wonder Serum - Morning and the Wonder Serum - Evening.

Let's talk about the Wonder Serum -  Morning first; this is an oil-based serum used following a morning cleansing routine. This product gets to bear the Wonder name due to similar, powerful ingredients like the Wonder Balm. It was a finalist in the Clean Beauty Awards 2021, and with good reason, this serum has high levels of moringa oil, which, as discussed, is known for its moisturising and healing properties. Another one of the active ingredients here derives from a microalgae, which reduces the damage usually caused by adrenaline when we are stressed. The results speak for themselves as it leaves skin glowing. It’s easy to use in the morning after cleansing and super gentle and with little or no fragrance - so it won’t clash with any other skincare used. Just use a few drops and pat gently into the skin on your face and neck. The Wonder Serum - Morning is available in a 10ml bottle for £12.00 here. 

To round out the Wonder products, let finish with the Wonder Serum - Evening which packs a powerful punch. This serum uses the same natural yet effective ingredients as the Wonder Balm and Morning Serum, just at a higher concentration. Pomegranate seed oil nourishes our skin due to the high concentrations of vitamin C, which offers regenerative, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to give skin that glowing appearance. Just like the morning serum, the Wonder Evening Serum should be used after cleansing by just using a few drops, then patting it gently into the skin. The Wonder Evening Serum is available for £10.00 for a 10ml bottle from their website here.  Our favourite? We’re suckers for multi-use products so it’d have to be the Wonder Balm - and in this cold weather, it’s also great protection against chapped lips!

All three of these Wonder products are available for purchase through The Clean Beauty Club's website here.

Little Green's CBD : Unwind Candle

As we kick off the new year, finding new ways to improve our hectic lifestyle and reduce stress, we're making a priority. Here at The Amazing Blog, it is no secret that we are huge fans of CBD, as it helps relax our minds and improve our focus. Regular readers will know we’re also big fans of scented candles, so when we received the UNWIND Candle by CBD wellness brand Little Green's CBD, we knew we were in for a treat.  

Little Green's CBD was founded by former personal trainer and model, Sasha Green. Having worked for over ten years in these professions, he noticed the stressful impact they were having on both his body and mind. Sasha started using CBD products on his journey to find a holistic way to help deal with stress, sleep, and recovery, but his experience was not exactly what he was hoping for. With his research and difficulty to find top-quality CBD products that also offered full transparency, it inspired him into creating his own brand, Little Green's CBD. Sasha explained, "Little Green's CBD was created with the main focus on being high quality, and where each product had a specific purpose." The brand has a range of CBD products that include candles, oils and a balm, where each is aimed at targeting a specific need. The candles have been developed to promote a sense of calm and help de-stress, the oils, one for the day to combat stress and anxiety, and the other to be taken at night to improve sleep patterns, and the balm to relieve pain and revitalise overworked bodies. Both the candles and oils are made from the broad-spectrum distillate, which is THC-free and uses the whole plant to retain the full-plant synergy. Sasha himself has benefited from using the products and commented, "These CBD products have helped me immensely and have become an integral part of my self-care routine." The emphasis here is on the importance of full transparency, as they work with a certified government supplier, and all their products are developed and tested in the UK. The brand also conducts thorough in-house testing at its factory and sends all products to a third-party lab for further testing. They also work closely with hemp plant farmers who avoid using pesticides, which means the CBD will be additive-free, with a more natural and sustainable growing approach. The company works towards safeguarding the environment by using a more eco-friendly extraction method, and through their partnership with One Tree Planted This charity aims to help with global reforestation, they plant a tree for each product sold. We were also happy to hear all their products are made from natural ingredients and are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.  

The UNWIND Candle is made from 100% eco soy wax and is infused with CBD to soothe the mind and body. Soy wax, derived from soybeans, known to be an excellent carrier oil. As a natural and renewable resource, soy wax is biodegradable and has a lower melting point than other waxes commonly used for candle-making. This difference means that soy wax candles will burn cleaner and longer, and emit less black soot than other candle composites. This candle uses a natural hand-made cotton wick, which also means it burns longer and emits less smoke. The infusion of 1500mg of broad-spectrum distillate allows the candle to harness the soothing and healing plant powers of CBD. When this candle is lit, and the fragrance fills its surroundings, the CBD here offers benefits such as boosting mood and promoting a sense of relaxation and relieving insomnia. The candle also includes a blend of essential oils with holistic and aromatherapeutic properties combining tobacco absolute, lemon, mint and jasmine – which create a warm and comforting oaky scent. The tobacco fosters an enriching and energising aroma which has been proven effective in relieving symptoms such as mild depression. The zesty lemon oil fights fatigue and listlessness, and the refreshing peppermint has uplifting qualities with compounds that promote muscles relaxation. As for jasmine essential oil, it's believed to relax the nervous system while also improving mood and wellbeing. For those looking for new ways to integrate CBD into their lives, this candle is perfect, as the CBD is not ingested, so the effects are more gradual as the candle disperses its scent into the atmosphere. Let us explain; as this CBD infused candle burns, the uplifting aroma from the CBD and essential oils stimulates the cell receptors, transmitting tranquil messages throughout the nervous and limbic system (the part of the brain that regulates emotion). Burning a candle is a great way to unwind and promote a feeling of calm and serenity, so adding CBD into the mix only further enhances these positive effects.

By lighting a candle, it offers a soothing and intimate ambience, which is precisely what we all need to start this New Year by feeling calmer and stronger. This CBD infused candle's burn time is around 30-35 hours, but we suggest trimming the candle wick around ¼ of an inch to make it last longer. Remember that you should only snip the wick when it is completely cool and always clean off any smut or remnants. This hand-poured 20cl UNWIND Candle (with 1500mg CBD) is available for purchase directly from Little Green's CBD website here are now on offer at £29.  

H Drop CBD : Sixty Moments

As the festive season gets underway, are you getting enough sleep? Perhaps you’re burning the candle at both ends.  Or maybe you’re lying awake feeling anxious about the spread of the new Covid variant. Well, at The Amazing Blog, we’d like to make a suggestion, to try these rather aptly named ‘Sixty Moments’ from one of our favourite and trusted CBD supplement brands, H DROP.

H Drop is a Dutch family business whose story began in the 19th-century when their great-grandfather Rochus Sliupas started his medical practice fighting cholera and tuberculosis outbreaks. Today, his great-grandson, also named Rochus, continues the family tradition of working in the wellbeing sector. Only this time, it’s with hemp-based full-spectrum THC-free CBD supplements. H Drop’s range currently comprises four CBD oils and two CBD capsules, and they conveniently have a CBD dosage calculator if you’re unsure of the amount to take. H Drop uses only 100% organic hemp, sourced from European fields and extracted in German/UK labs, with an ISO 9001 certification and manufactured under the HACCP  guidelines. This means that they comply with the strictest standards of processing raw materials, quality control, packaging and distribution of the products. Where they have perfected one of the most advanced extraction methods with CO2 chromatography technology. The CO2 extraction means that the CBD is a raw oil and not extracted at high temperatures, ensuring that the enhancing properties of the plant are not damaged. This method also allows them to detect and carefully remove 99.9% of THC molecules from the naturally extracted full-spectrum oil. The H Drop extract still contains all the beneficial cannabinoids (CBN, CBV, CBG, CBC), myrcene, limonene, pinene, humulene, flavonoids (apigenin, quercetin, cannaflavins) and other terpenes which are found in hemp leaves, except for the intoxicating THC. You can also see their laboratory results here. The range is deemed suitable for everyone (although not vegans/vegetarians, as the capsules are made from bovine gelatine!) The packaging is simple and made of recycled cardboard and filled with hemp fibre. There’s also a nice touch with Braille on the sides, translating their motto of Hemp (fully organic), Help (GMP certified) and Health (CO2 extracted).

Sixty Moments’ capsules are a little stronger at 25mg of full-spectrum CBD than the other 10mg Sixty Breath which we reviewed a while back.  Although with the same ingredients, these have been specifically “created for those seeking precise and stronger dosage.” We took these to help improve our sleep patterns – anything to stop those 4 am brain scrambles that poke us awake. These, of course, are made worse at this time of year, with the series of late nights, followed by super-early mornings at our desks. Striving for better quality sleep and balance, these offer a potential solution done by taking some ‘Sixty Moments’ - and mindful moments - stop, breathe and clear the mind. CBD interacts with the serotonin receptors (these play a role in regulating our mood) and is thought to help promote a more positive mental state and a healthy functioning nervous system. The organic hemp oil in each capsule has the bonus of omega 3, 6 and vitamin E. The hemp oil contains cannabinoids that ease anxiety and help to reduce the symptoms of depression. The essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, are also known to improve memory and work to protect the brain and the nervous system and can work as an immune-enhancing supplement if taken regularly. Therefore helping to improve mood and enhance sleep quality

They suggest dividing the dosage evenly with 1, 2 or even 3 times a day. Swallow don’t chew and gradually increase the dose if needed but never exceed 200mg of CBD per day. The bottle contains 60 capsules (1,500mg) which offer approximately a 30 days supply. As they say, the amount of CBD you take will depend on several factors such as body weight and chemistry, the condition you’re treating and the concentration of CBD. For us, it was trying to regulate our sleep patterns, so we took two capsules at night and two during the day (total of 100mg). As we’re old hands, it only took a few days to kick in. It gave us a sense of calm, and so far, to quote H Drop, “no more anxious days and restless nights.” They are a little pricey, but worth it for the quality of the ingredients. To purchase H Drop: Sixty Moments 60 capsules for €89, see here.