NORSE: Aftershave Balm & Hand Salve "Paw Chutney for Hard-Working Hands"

The girls at The Amazing Blog have yet again, come to my rescue and helped to put an end to my suffering… We’re talking razor burn (from recently shaving off my whiskers) and dry hands (sustained from extracurricular work as a volunteer). Meet both Aftershave Balm and Hand Salve "Paw Chutney for Hard-working Hands" from the trusty newcomer and grooming brand Norse.

As the regular readers will remember, I’ve already reviewed two of Norse’s products: the Exfoliating Face Wash Bars and the Norse Shower Bars here. I’m a fan of this new brand and I’ve just added two more of their products to my favourites list.  I also have to admit to being a ‘little obsessed’ with their Hand Salve. As I mentioned before, Norse’s products are handmade, vegan, and cruelty-free.  Iain Kerrigan, the founder of Norse, states: “All products are plastic-free, environmentally (and wallet) friendly.” Which in these challenging economic times, the latter will hold great appeal for one and all.

Let’s start with the Aftershave Balm which left my skin as soft as a baby’s bum!  As the name says, it’s a Balm, an emollient that can be used on the face or (in my case) dry elbows too. It absorbs quickly into the skin and is non-greasy formula despite being rich in key ingredients such as shea butter, jojoba, and sweet almond oil. I also loved that it had a subtle zesty finish too. Having shaved off my whiskers, my exposed skin was extremely sensitive and this Balm offered both protection and hydration. A little goes a long way and I think that this is a brilliant multitasker that’ll offer plentiful use all year round. You can purchase your Aftershave Balm here 100g for only £ 20.00.

Then we come onto my favourite the Hand Salve "Paw Chutney for hard-working hands" as someone who works with their hands;  this has been a lifesaver for me. Not only with all the hand washing but as a couturier at Simon Copeland London by day and a volunteer making PPE by night – I’ve noticed the toll it’s taken on my hands. My skin has become noticeably drier but by applying this Hand Salve last thing at night, massaging it into my palms, back of hands and cuticles, it has really helped to soothe and replenish the oils making my skin soft and supple again. Like the Aftershave Balm, it has shea butter, jojoba and sweet almond, although this has the addition of key ingredients such as beeswax which will help to protect skin and essential oils like lavender, rosemary and tea tree to rid bacteria and heal cuts. This is a must for everyone who has hard-working hands. You can purchase your 85g Hand Salve "Paw Chutney for hard-working hands" here for only £14.00. 

ULU (U Love U) - Revitalise 5% CBD Serum and Happy 1% CBD Body Oil

We like to support all things CBD and at The Amazing Blog we search out the very best that we can find. Today at The Amazing Blog we want to introduce you to ULU (U Love U), a newcomer that produces CBD oils and skincare. We like that their motto is ‘love your life’ and as we all know, the pressures of everyday life can often lead to anxiety and stress and ULU are here to help break that cycle. CBD has become more and more popular here in the UK and we’ve been featuring it here for a while now. We’re always curious as see to how products from this humble hemp plant can play a positive part in our lives. 

Founded by Paul Hembery, whose background is motorsport, where he worked in a high-pressure and stressful environment. After having discovered the merits of CBD products, he wanted to provide a solution for other people experiencing similar challenges. He believes in spreading positivity and wellbeing, “I was studying a life course in California with the Bob Proctor Institute and was struck by the need to increase positivity and confidence in people and life in general.” Paul went on to say: “Combine that with the opportunity CBD is providing and my personal mission to provide high-quality solutions, I decided to create ULU. You only get one life. So, above all, I want people to love it.” All of which proved to be his inspiration to venture into the world of CBD. ULU offers THC free full-spectrum CBD products (we recently explained THC-free full spectrum process in another CBD feature here). Their product range includes skincare, pet supplement oils,  sublingual oils, capsules, combined amino CBD and vapes.  They are made in Germany and are herbicide and pesticide-free. Today we are reviewing two of their skincare products Revitalise 5% CBD Serum 750mg and the Happy 1% CBD Body Oil 750mg.

Indeed, CBD oil has numerous ‘positive’ properties and one of the many adverse effects we’ve felt from this quarantine/pandemic has been stress, and this stress is reflected immediately on our skin; whether it’s an acne breakout, skin redness, or dehydration.  The Revitalise Serum offers the skin relief and protection against environmental pollution and free radicals. A powerful and natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, the CBD here is broad-spectrum and THC-free (confusing, I know when they tell us they’re full-spectrum, perhaps it’s only the sublingual products?) The CBD is the key ingredient in this Serum, where it helps purify the skin and offers some great anti-ageing effects too. The Serum has 5% of CBD (750ml in this 15ml bottle) making it and the Body Oil, the highest concentration of organic broad-spectrum CBD in skincare, here in the UK. However, don’t be concerned it is very gentle on the skin despite its strength, we found that it suited all our skin types and really plumped up the skin. Their organic cannabidiol here is combined with organic aloe leaf juice an antioxidant-rich in vitamins and known for its legendary heal properties. There is organic coconut oil and sunflower seed oil, which are rich in vitamins A, C, and, D. Plus the red raspberry, blueberry, and cranberry extracts that shield the skin and act as a cell regenerator, encourages cell growth and boosts the collagen levels in the skin.  We think that this Serum is ideal for dry skin with its addition of organic neem seed and rosehip seed oils which even out skin tone and rebalance any redness. This Revitalising Serum is available for here in 15ml for £41.

The second product from ULU we tried is the ULU Happy 1% CBD Body Oil is a deeply hydrating body oil which contains 1% of CBD (750mg in 15ml). What better way to leave your skin with velvety result than by using this Body Oil. It contains jojoba seed oil that will help soothe your skin and leave it glowing with the Meadowfoam seed oil which will help prevent loss of skin moisturisation. The avocado oil will make sure your skin gets all the vitamins and protein it needs to keep it healthy and protect it from UV rays damages. This Body Oil also contains sunflower seed oil, neem seed oil, and organic coconut oil and has a natural slightly zesty aroma to keep you smelling fresh and feeling energised. They recommend using this also on eczema and acne. With a name like HAPPY who could resist? Quickly added neither of these products smells even the tiniest bit ‘hemp-y’ - which we’ve heard as a common complaint with some CBD skincare. See here for the ULU Happy 1% CBD Body oil in 75ml for £44.

Chuckling Goat Kefir Lotions

We’re fans of goat’s milk and one of us here at The Amazing Blog drinks it regularly on a daily basis. Did you know that unlike cow’s milk, the enzymes in raw goat’s milk aids the digestion process? Thus making it more tolerable for not only humans but dogs too! So, we’re pleased to introduce you to our latest #amazingfinds with Chuckling Goat and their Kefir Lotions. These are a series of four different skin lotions which are good for using on the face and body that contain the same award-winning kefir and raw goat’s milk.  

It all started when the founders Shann and Richard Jones were trying to find new ways in which to help their son Benji, who was suffering from eczema and chronic bronchial infections. This is when they discovered that by feeding him goats milk it helped his allergies, and so they went and bought their very first goat! The rest, as they say, is history and in 2014 Chuckling Goat was born. They have found themselves being hailed as gut health specialists, and now have 23 team members, 15 barn cats, 50 goats, and more than 200 000 pleased customers from 56 different countries from all around the world.  They are a UK market leader in the production of raw goat’s milk and kefir which for those of you who are new to kefir, it’s a great immune booster and contributes to functioning the nervous system. Not only that it maintains the normal function of bones and skin and also reduces fatigue and tiredness. We love that Chuckling Goat has already donated more than £100,000 worth of their products to the NHS as part of their appreciation to those on the frontline. These Chuckling Goat Kefir Lotions are all handmade, cruelty-free, and suitable for pregnant women and children over 3 years old. All products are unisex and are primarily composed of goat’s milk, kefir, Finnish oat oil, rice bran oil and olive oil, and are either pure or with a specific essential oil. They are made in small batches by hand on the farm and made from food-grade ingredients. 

First, we tried the Sensitive Kefir Lotion. Made with their raw goat’s milk, it contains valuable minerals, enzymes, and vitamins that help nourish your skin. Its key ingredients are goat milk, kefir, oat oil highly concentrated in antioxidants, and vitamin E, it softens and smoothens the skin. It also contains water and olive oil, this natural oil helps to decrease acne, hydrate, and moisturise the skin, and also contains antioxidant properties, therefore fights the bacteria along with other vitamins such as vitamin B5. This Sensitive Kefir is the only one of the lotions not to contain any essential oils (in case of skin sensitivity).

Next up, we have the Soothing Kefir Lotion this has the inclusion of a rosemary essential oil that acts as a refreshing astringent that helps the skin cells contract and also balances the skin tone. It has an antimicrobial benefit on the skin which helps prevent future breakouts, as well as vitamin B5. The smell is a very subtle rosemary.

The third product to try is the Calm-Down Kefir Lotion which is differentiated from the others because it contains lavender oil. The latter works to kill bacteria on the skin and therefore fights acne and other skin breakouts, it also is known for its ability to soothe eczema and help with dry skin conditions thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. This amazingly fragranced lotion is ideal dry skin and was our favourite with the lavender fragrance which is so calming.

Last but not least, Break-out Kefir Lotion contains the divine tea tree oil which is known for its focused anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can help to reduce swelling and aid in giving a smooth and crystal-clear skin. This fourth Kefir Lotion contains thyme essential oil, a true skin fortifier which offers itchy-skin relief. Studies have shown it to be was more effective against acne bacteria, than the chemical ingredient benzoyl peroxide. The tea tree oil is also believed to be highly antibacterial and is commonly used to treat acne, athlete's foot, lice, nail fungus and insect bites.

With all these lotions having raw goat milk and kefir, it makes them ideal for keeping the right pH balance of the skin with the added benefit of the good bacteria. Let’s not forget to mention that these are free from phthalates, petrochemicals, parabens, dyes or artificial perfumes. These four handmade all-natural Chuckling Goat Kefir Lotions, each comes in 2 different handy sizes, 50ml and 150ml, and cost £8.95 and £17.95 respectively. Or you can buy the full set of four here for £26.95.

Barker & Sloane - Daily Defender Protecting Moisturiser

When it comes to daily skin routine, you’ve often told us that you get more than a little overwhelmed by the large number of skincare brands to choose from… Today at The Amazing Blog we’d like to introduce you to a British newcomer Barker and Sloane with their Daily Defender Protecting Moisturiser. What attracted us to this brand is that they are a natural skincare from the heart of the English countryside using quintessentially British ingredients.

Barker and Sloane was founded by Claire Barker, who is passionate about the rural environment and is also a professional beekeeper. She left the corporate life to launch this successful skincare business which also integrates their honey-based elements into these products. Claire loves nothing better than to spend most of her time outside with nature, be It participating in all the different country pursuits or taking part in her local shoot. Therefore, when it comes to being exposed to the sun on a daily basis or having skin dehydration, no one understands your needs here better than her! With all the above being said, and in case you needed more reasons to try Barker and Sloane, they recently won an award in the 2020 Beauty Shortlist (Editor’s Choice) for their Overnight Recovery Repairing Night Cream. They certainly get our vote for being 100% natural which means no parabens, no mineral oils, no SLS’s, no phthalates, no lanolin, no artificial fragrances.

As mentioned, the product we’re focusing on today is their Daily Defender, Protecting Moisturiser. This perfect skin protector has the key ingredient of marine algae, a seaweed with abundant vitamins, minerals, antioxidants here to help nourish and fight skin issues. There are also plant actives which include fruit, plant, and flower-based ingredients that act like miracle workers. They’re often used to get rid of acne, smooth wrinkles, hydrate, repair and rejuvenate the skin cells.  These plant actives here are the white poppy seed oil, which is an emollient ingredient that contains vitamin E to feed the skin and has a high concentration of linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) making it an excellent choice as a barrier for damaged and sensitive skin. It also rebalances the sebum production of the skin and helps to relax a tired face. The jojoba oil too is known for helping the skin to produce its natural oil and works as a deep hydrator. Whereas the Raspberry seed and avocado oils serve as great boosters for skin repair. This moisturiser also contains wonderful fatty acids that aid in building a good and healthy skin membrane, the natural skin oil layer that helps keep your skin hydrated and younger-looking. Just like its name says, the Daily Defender has antioxidants that will help your skin fight against the UV rays (however this doesn’t contain any SPF!) As you all know, long term exposure to UV hastens premature ageing, making this little gem a no brainer for those who are in the countryside, or spending most of their time outdoors. It’s so important to shield our skin, after all, who wants wrinkles, sunburns, age spots, and discoloration? This Daily Defender with all its actives will act as a great first layer to your skin’s defensive strategy and will guarantee a much brighter and smoother skin, boosting elasticity and stopping trans-epidermal water loss which causes dehydration of the skin. Charmed by this little Daily Defender? Then you too can purchase their 10ml bottle costs £12 and the 50ml bottle £55 here.  

Terre de Mars - 010 Irrévérence Nourishing Shampoo

The shampoo is an essential part of a good hair care routine to keep beautiful and healthy-looking hair. However, the most crucial step is to choose the right one from the huge array that is available. At The Amazing Blog, we found a shampoo to suit almost every hair type, in fact, it’s so nourishing that you don’t really need a conditioner - making it almost a co-wash. It’s another one of our #amazingfinds, meet the 010 Irreverent Nourishing Shampoo from Terre de Mars. As regular readers may remember, our wonderful reviewer Simon already tried their amazing Resonance Body and Hair Oil.

The French brand was founded by three friends: Alexandre, Poulad and Salem all of whom have parallel careers with the company, one works in fashion design, another in consulting and the last one in new technologies. These three serial entrepreneurs have created a 100% natural, coffee-based, vegan and cruelty-free unisex skin and hair care brand. All their products are made and packaged in France and are COSMOS, COSMEBIO, vegan and cruelty-free certified, and gender fluid. They have designed all their formulas to comply with ECOCERT Standards.

The initial thing that attracted us to this brand is the design. We love their packaging it’s stylish enough to adorn any bathroom. The shampoo is made from coffee extract, aloe vera, almond protein and rosemary leaves and a lemony fragrance, which gives it a delicious and subtle smell. At first, we were a little afraid that the coffee element might be too overpowering and strong, but there’s not even the slightest whiff of coffee here! It only has the mildest touch of citrus. The hydrating elements are the wheat and sweet almond proteins, helping to make hair shiny and supple, and the result after two rinses with this shampoo was very good. Furthermore, it is unisex, which means that everyone can use it. You can now say goodbye to the nightmare of finding the right shampoos for each of the family, because this will make the whole household happy. Best of all it’s organic, vegan, chemical-free and silicone-free; this product is quite simply a must-have. Furthermore, for those who are familiar with the Yuka App, this shampoo is very well rated! To purchase the 500ml 010 Irrévérence Nourishing Shampoo see here for £33.