CBD of London – Collagen & Retinol Anti-Ageing Cream

CBD of London is one of the UK’s first beauty and wellness brands to base their luxurious products on Cannabidiol (CBD) ingredients. For the uninitiated, Cannabidiol is found in the Cannabis and Hemp plant families and is non-psychoactive, and rich in nutrients. Follow this link to read more about CBD studies. You can imagine how excited we were at The Amazing Blog to discover these products.

CBD of London was formed by cousins who worked in the pharmaceutical industry and had the misfortune of witnessing a loved one be diagnosed with cancer. This devastating experience resulted in their research on the natural health benefits of CBD, despite the lack of accessibility in the UK. As explained by Samir Juneja, the company’s strategy director: “For too long, people have been focusing on the negative side of cannabis; but we're here to champion a natural product that not only has a health provenance dating back thousands of years but in today's labs, has proven benefits for the skin.” Samir reminds us just how historic the use of cannabis is, namely in Ancient Greece where the use of the leaves was commonplace to dress horses’ wounds.

We tried their Collagen & Retinol Anti-Ageing Cream and liked the easy, smooth and light application. We found it to be fragrance-free and neutral, the cream is also chock-a-block full of antioxidants, vitamin C, E, A, and omega 3 fatty acids, thanks to the CBD ingredient. These are the key to younger-looking skin, as they help to defend against harsh UV rays, smoke, and environmental pollutants - let the battle commence!

The Collagen & Retinol Anti-Ageing Cream’s star is vitamin A, which encourages the skin to repair itself and grow new cells. It also plays a significant role in inhibiting oil production and promoting skin cell differentiation. Their anti-ageing cream smoothes wrinkles and plumps the skin, and we certainly like that. CBD of London’s Collagen & Retinol Anti-Ageing Cream 30ml can be purchased here for £69.99.

Skin Laundry's Gentle Foaming Wash and Restoring Night Serum

The Amazing Blog is continuously updating our skincare regimen. Whether it’s with products, facial treatments, or newfound application tricks, we are always searching for ways to combat both oily and dry skin. We have found it to be quite tricky choosing products that fight oily skin, without over-drying the face. During our quest, we discovered Skin Laundry’s products, that leave our skin feeling smooth and clean. The company was founded by Yen Reis, who originally created this range of skincare to be used in conjunction with her laser and light therapy treatment. She established her first flagship in 2013 and has since expanded across the U.S., Hong Kong and London. Reis’ goal is to improve skin health and provide affordable and convenient treatments. The treatment that Skin Laundry offers, is with a combination of Yago laser and IPL which target and reduce redness, brown spots, inflammation and bacteria. Each treatment leaves the skin glowing and clean. Over time, and together with the Skin Laundry products, it improves clarity, tone and texture. If you would like to experience the laser and light therapy, combined with Skin Laundry products, then book here. Currently, these treatments are available in London, Leeds and Bristol.

The first product that we tried was Skin Laundry's Gentle Foaming Wash, which serves all skin types, especially sensitive skin. The mild foaming wash, free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates, is an everyday cleanser with a fresh scent of botanical extracts. The product contains shea butter and cucumber and chamomile extract. The shea butter fights dehydration, while the cucumber extract soothes and regulates moisture. Chamomile extract is also a soothing agent and anti-inflammatory. After massaging the wash onto damp skin for 30-60 seconds, rinse with water and pat dry. Skin Laundry recommends following the application with a toner to help seal the pores. The product works best if used mornings and evenings. The wash rids away dirt, and excess oils and impurities, without drying out or irritating the skin. You can purchase the 200ml bottle here for £20.

In addition to the  Gentle Foaming wash, we used the Restoring Night Serum and were pleased with the results. With its key ingredients, we have noticed a brighter, even complexion and overall rejuvenated skin. The primary focus of the product is on anti-ageing, with benefits that include brightening and tightening. The power of Glycolic Acid exfoliates and clears your pores of dead skin cells, reducing fine lines. Niacinamide has Vitamin B3 properties that remove blemishes and signs of ageing. A derivative of Vitamin C produces an even skin tone, battles photoaging and increases collagen synthesis. Finally, an algae extract, composed of vitamins and amino acids, stimulates the skins cell renewal. In the evening, massage 3-4 drops of the night serum onto your face and neck. Skin Laundry recommends applying the serum after your nightly cleansing and toning, and before moisturising. You can purchase the 30mL bottle here for £46.

Danai’s Beauty Box Company’s Bath, Body & Massage Oil

The best thing to do after a long and sweaty day at work, besides eating, of course, is taking a bath. If baths don’t work for you, massages are another fantastic tension reliever. It's all about finding something to help loosen shoulder tension and aid relaxation. The Amazing Blog has found a perfect all-in-one product, the Bath, Body, and Massage Oil by Danai’s Beauty Box Company.

Danai’s Beauty Box Company, a British brand with a focus on skincare, hair, body, and make-up was founded over three years ago by cousins, Mary and Bola, in London. In her youth, Mary dealt with eczema flare-ups, so she experimented with natural ingredients, resulting in the formation of the scrumptiously scented range of products. Danai’s Beauty Box Company is proud to offer organic, vegan, and cruelty-free products — yes, please! We love their mission statement: 'Use nature to heal the skin'.

The Bath, Body & Massage Oil: Chamomile Neroli scent is a soothing and tranquil blend of chamomile and neroli, with vitamin-rich sweet almond, green tea, and extra virgin oils. The list continues, with lavender oil, fir needle oil and rosemary extract. Every waft of this cocktail has you noticing the complex multitude of scents. One moment you smell the subtleness sweetness of chamomile, and the next you notice the earthy green tea oil. However, something to note is that the fragrance is not at all overpowering. Danai’s Beauty Box Company has found a unique and clever balance in this formula. A special plus to this oil is its ability to be used on normal to dry and damaged skin with a softening effect. Those of you with sensitive or dry skin, we recommend applying this as a body oil before bed, or a few drops in the bath. We found it very relaxing and hydrating. Purchase Danai's Beauty Box Company's Bath, Body & Massage Oil: Chamomile Neroli scent here for £12.00. This is one of the three different oil combinations in the range - with Grapefruit & Lime and Magnolia & Rose too.

Winky Lux Coffee Collection

We always need new make-up,  even if our make-up drawer is overflowing. Collectively we've lost count of how many mascaras we own (what an admission!) We at The Amazing Blog know how hard it is to resist new and exciting products, and recently we've fallen for some new products from Winky Lux. You may well remember their adorable Lip Pill Kit that we wrote about here. Based in New York City, Winky Lux is always up-to-date with the latest make-up trends and best of all, they make them affordable. Their newest innovation: coffee-scented make-up!

Both the Coffee Bronzer and Coffee Palette products have a slight waft of a coffee fragrance when you open the palettes.  We have to say the scent on the Bronzer is much more subtle than that of the Eyeshadows, but they're still a fun gimmick. We also like the cute packaging,  with the toffee-coloured boxes,  illustrated with flowers, and cups of coffee. The Bronzer is in an elegant gold casing compact and comes in two shades Mocha and Latte. We tried the deeper Mocha colour, which doubled as a contour powder for us. It has a buttery consistency and because it is matte, it's easy to wear and gives a soft bronzed look. It also comes with a mirror, making it easy to apply on-the-go.  

The Coffee Eyeshadow Palette is covered in wonderful colourful floral illustrations, making it a decorative addition to your dressing table. We were impressed with how authentic and pleasant the coffee scent is in the eyeshadow, but more importantly, we like the strength and the lasting quality of pigments in the powders. All nine shades have a velvety texture and blend nicely on the lid. The Coffee Eyeshadow Palette is every neutral-lovers dream, with matte, satin and shimmer finishes. The colours range from light beige tones into latte browns and finally darker espresso greys. With this variety of coffee shades, we recommend keeping this versatile eye palette as a staple in your handbag, for either a subtle day or a more enhanced glamorous night-out look.

If you want a different kind of coffee fix, the Coffee Bronzer is available to purchase here for £20 and the Coffee Eyeshadow Palette is £25 here. Winky Lux is also available on ASOS, Harvey Nichols and FeelUnique.com.

Friday Favourites - Lip Feature

With summer here, at The Amazing Blog, we're busy thinking about our 'holiday makeup' in anticipation for our long-awaited sunshine break ahead. Of course, we want to look our best to feel our best and we think that having a perfect pout and adding a pop of colour is essential to every summer or holiday look. So today we’ve got a few favourites to share with you, to help achieve full, luscious and kissable lips.

ROUGE BUNNY ROUGE

We’re turning our eyes towards a familiar brand we trust to get this started on the right foot. Rouge Bunny Rouge is a retro-inspired cosmetics brand that delivers on the long-lasting; something we can say is tried and true. While they have a wide range of products to have you looking your best, we’re putting their FOREVER YOURS… Long-lasting Lip Pencil in the spotlight. In five beautiful shades to match various lip shades, you will be sure to find one to suit your fancy. We wanted to highlight our personal favourite, Marco, because it is a stunning matte, medium cool raspberry shade that we think complements every skin tone. It is still on the natural side of the spectrum, but it really made our lips the focus of our look; day or night.

The formula of these lip pencils is fantastic. It glides on in incredibly smooth strokes and then stays put—all day. Through eating, drinking, laughing and a bit of smooching, this little one packs a punch. It is waterproof and semi-permanent so you don’t have to be on the hunt for a mirror every hour, to see if it’s in place. We love it on its own, but it also pairs well with a gloss for a little shimmer and shine. You can purchase the Rouge Bunny Rouge FOREVER YOURS…Long-lasting Lip Pencil here for €19.

PRETTY LITTLE LIPS

Next up, we wanted to share a new discovery of ours from the sweet brand Pretty Little Lips. This duo is another look we love to rock for a high shine, pretty pout. We start the lookout with their All Day Matte Lip Liner in Naked. This is the perfect nude with touches of pink and coral that make your lips pop. It lasts all day and the colour is deeply pigmented.

To complete the duo, we top the look off with their Nude Lipgloss in Bare. Not only do these glosses add some serious shine that will give you a “glass-like look,” it will keep the moisture in your lips locked in and ready for anything. This combination is truly a slice of heaven. It is subtle, yet stunning and we find ourselves constantly reaching for it. The Bare shade is a true nude that stands out on its own, but when put with Naked, it transforms into a beautiful creamsicle hue that is surely eye-catching and perfect for summer days. You can purchase the All Day Matte Lip Liner in Naked here for £6 and the Nude Lipgloss in Bare here for £12.

ELIZABETH GRANT

Last but not least, we could not resist putting in a little plumping action on this list. We turned to the creators at Elizabeth Grant and even though they're a well-known American brand for their skincare (we’ve tested out quite a few, like this one on our blog), we were excited to branch out and see how their Collagen Re-Inforce Lip  Plumper worked. It is one of their best sellers and claims to “deliver hydration and helps plump the appearance of lips for a look that lasts and lasts,” so of course that peaked our interest. It comes in two shades, Clear and Natural, and we went with Natural because it has a subtle hue and a touch of shimmer that emphasizes the plumpness of your lips. We enjoy using this one under every lip look, to really make that pout pop, or even on its own for subtle days when we still want our lips to look pouty and full, because let's be honest, when don’t we want that? It is completely painless and smells sweet as candy. You can purchase the Collagen Re-Inforce Lip Plumper here for £12.99 (currently on special offer at Ideal World with Collagen Re-Inforce 3D Lip Wrinkle and Lift Serum 15ml). 

We hope that we've inspired you to find a new favourite go-to lip combo, for showing off your perfect pout together with summer cocktails.