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.

Green Chemistry: Phyto Flora,

In our never-ending search to find new and exciting skincare formulas to introduce you to; today at The Amazing Blog, we’ve found a rather special natural serum from Green Chemistry. This brand is a US-based indie skincare that has a range of wild-sourced clinical and holistic skincare, where they only use food-grade botanicals and have an emphasis on Ayurveda.

Brigitte Tolson is the founder of this brand and began her successful journey in aesthetics as a cosmetic surgery consultant and professional makeup artist in her hometown of Los Angeles. Her interest and passion for natural skincare took on a voyage of discovery with Ayurveda and holistic medicine, which has since grown fuelled by her passion for incorporating these into her own skincare and practice. Her clinical area of expertise is with treating cystic acne, nutrition, advanced peels, holistic skincare, sun damage, anti-ageing and other systemic issues of the skin. After years of research and collaboration, Tolson built Green Chemistry with a mission to provide clinically proven ingredients with a focus on the holistic.  Her mission has been to create products that complement the range of treatments that she already offers her clients and to provide unique formulations that have been lacking in the professional skincare sector. Tolson said: “What initially started as two of the most nutrient-rich serums on the market, has evolved into a line that now makes a scientifically proven toxin-free hyperpigmentation treatment, along with a mask that draws city pollutants from the skin, and a rich anti-ageing night cream that even surpasses my expectations.” Currently, with eight products in the range, they are produced in small batches, using the best local botanicals available from farms and orchards. Green Chemistry also has a ‘give back’ policy to help save the bees, where they contribute $3 from each purchase to the Los Angeles County Beekeeping Association. Tolson feels strongly about making this donation as it is these bees that are responsible for pollinating most of the ingredients that Green Chemistry source from locally. 

The product we’re featuring today is the Phyto Flora which is a serum which they say is ideal for dry, sensitive skin with acne or eczema. The key ingredient here is the hemp seed oil which balances the skin and helps to reduce acne scarring, and offers relief from acne, psoriasis, and eczema. The hemp oil also strengthens the skin and enhances its ability to resist viral, fungal, and bacterial infections and has shown to reduce pathogenic bacteria and yet is still intensely hydrating. Next is the Spanish lavender which has been specifically selected over 40 other different species of lavender. This lavender reduces sensitivity, redness and the antibacterial properties here cleanse the pores and work as an anti-inflammatory. The damask rose reduces inflammation by suppressing the growth of certain bacteria and has mild astringent properties. The star jasmine is restorative and known to detoxify the skin. The sea buckthorn oil promotes skin hydration, elasticity, cell regeneration and even helps treat and prevent acne. Sea buckthorn helps to reduce swelling and redness associated with many skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. This blend also contains sesame seed and jojoba oils which are both rich in vitamins and fatty acids which can help protect skin cells from the damage caused by environmental factors such as UV rays, pollution, and toxins. The chia seed oil here maintains moisture and reduces the appearance of fine lines relieving dryness and peeling. The camellia flower oil is an excellent emollient for keeping skin moist and supple and has properties that will prevent skin breakouts. It is rich in coenzyme Q10, which can help your body produce collagen and elastin, and is rich in cranberry which provides vitamin C. These will improve the skin’s appearance making it look softer and brighter; and then with the addition of tomato seed oil, this will even out the skin tone. Finally, this serum will deeply cleanse thanks to the daikon seed extract.  We used this for both night and day and found the serum’s scent-neutral with only the subtlest trace of jasmine where it meets the lavender. All of which means that it will happily sit under other skincare with no scent conflict. Because this serum is oil-based, a little goes a long way and we found that only a few drops were needed. None of us here have acne breakouts, but some of us do have dry and sensitive skin; and found this to be a Godsend, to protect skin against the yo-yo-ing effects of going between central heating and the chilly outdoors. To purchase the 30ml bottle for $70.00 see  here.

Cochine: Vanille & Tabac Noir Reed Diffuser

Now that everyone is talking about a second lockdown, here at  The Amazing Blog we’re remembering that dreaded feeling of being house-bound, again! Somehow, we need to get our inside space to feel more like the outside, and with a few minor changes like adding a room fragrance, we find that this can help. Now with autumn here, we’ve already changed our room fragrance to something richer, earthy and more reflective of the season. Thanks to Cochine who sent us another of their delicious reed diffusers in Vanille & Tabac Noir, we can now enjoy this comforting and warming scent to uplift our spirits. This simple reed diffuser stimulates our olfactory sense and helps to make our anticipated ‘stay at home, stay safe’ more enjoyable and a whole lot less stressful.

We have previously featured their Tuberose and Wild Fig Reed Diffuser which we totally loved. Kate Crofton-Atkins founded this luxury brand in 2008, and she has been creating a unique selection of fragrances ever since.  Kate spent the first year working with essential oils and then she had the opportunity to partner up with a New York-based fragrance house to launch Cochine in Hong Kong. Since then, Cochine has produced a range of perfumes, reed diffusers, candles, and skincare products. The brand offers luxurious products that have gained them global recognition, in five-stars hotels and boutiques. They have a strong focus on design as well as a sensory focus where each of their fragrances transports you to a global destination and evokes memories and fires up the imagination.

Vanille & Tabac Noir Reed Diffuser is produced by blending several key base notes such as that of vanilla bean, patchouli and the warming sensual scent of the tobacco flower.  BTW did you know that Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco flower) has a long history of use by herbalists as a relaxant, as well as relieving nausea and travel sickness? Yes, that was news to us too! These ingredients are all enhanced with extracts of nutmeg, cardamom and basil leaves which give a warm and opulent aroma to this oil, with the added extra of a feeling of luxury and well-being. All you need to do is arrange 4 to 8 rattan reeds and let them absorb the oil inside the bottle, then by occasionally turning the reeds, it will keep the room well-fragranced. Unlike burning a candle, these can be left unattended; and because they don’t contain any alcohol, they will keep on giving out a long-lasting fragrance.  Or you can remove the reeds and put the stopper for occasional use and the number of reeds used can be adjusted to strengthen or soften the scent. You can purchase your Vanille & Tabac Noir Reed Diffuser here for £60.00. This makes the perfect background fragrance and will add elegance to any home.