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.

AMAZINC! Skincare - Mineral Sunscreen, Lip Balm and Mineral Shield

As regular readers will know we’re always preaching about sun awareness.  Particularly with the erosion of the ozone layer and the planet heating up… Today we’d like to talk about a mineral-based sunscreen and block. AMAZINC! Skincare is a sun care range that provides high protection and is made for those who have an active lifestyle and who want to indulge in a bit of surfing or other water-based fun.

This Czech brand AMAZINC! Skincare, launched in 2015 by Jan Kostelnik and Stepan Martinek, whose vision was to create a natural sunscreen and block that was not only functional but also kind to the environment.  What sets this apart from other suncare brands is that it has been created by a team of nature lovers who regularly hike in the mountains and surf the oceans – so they knew that there was a gap in the market and what was needed. We like that they have no nasties in their formulas, as we’ve found that many of the high street sun protection products have chemical formulations that are dangerous for marine life and corals (check out your regular sunscreen's ingredients here). These chemicals pollute playgrounds, mountains and oceans with compounds that destroy the environment. A quick run-through on the main chemical to look, oxybenzone is the one that harms marine life and is known as one of the most toxic ingredients in the cosmetic industry. This has proved to be deadly when in contact with marine life and wildlife in general, where It creates reef bleaching that causes the death of the coral. Something we didn’t know, is that non coated nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium oxide aren’t any better either! AMAZINC! ensures that these chemical compounds are not found in any of its products and helps to raise awareness around this. Their products are mainly vegan and also have plastic and chemical-free packaging (reusable aluminium bottles, tins and cardboard tubes). Also, as an environmentally aware company, they’re on a mission to help educate their customers too.

We tried the Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, which offers a high level of protection with only mineral filters and natural ingredients, making it a nature-friendly form of sun protection. The key ingredients include almond oil that protects the skin from the UV as well as reversing any damage. It also has jojoba oil a popular ingredient in natural sunscreen products with vitamin E which when combined with other antioxidants such as those found in olive oil, protects the skin from sun damage; these will stop skin dehydration or flaking. This product is also rich in zinc oxide, a topical skin product that is used as a protective coating also used for mild skin irritations or abrasions as it speeds up healing. Finally, the triticum vulgare germ oil here is to relieve dryness.  This natural mineral sunscreen has a subtle sweet almond fragrance. We used this as a one-off application, out sailing all day with hot sun and the reflections from the sea, and when we returned to land there wasn’t even the slightest bit of redness in sight! I would advise that this Is not suitable for those who are wishing to pose on the beach topping up their tan, as this Mineral Sunscreen does leave a white residue (from the zinc/titanium oxide). However, it’s perfect for the action-packed adventurer who just wants one application and to go.  This Mineral Sunscreen you can find in 150ml here for €24.95.

Next is their natural Lip Balm this is rich in natural emulsifiers which help to retain moisture, making it ideal dry or chapped lips. We found it very smooth to apply and unusually long-lasting. There’s jojoba oil, rich in vitamin B and E and essential minerals like zinc that will make your lips soft. The almond oil here will does wonders for the lips keeping them hydrated and rejuvenate. The antioxidant properties in the olive oil condition and protect lips from drying out. The texture is balm-like and waxy and the vanilla planifolia fruit extract not only adds to the fragrance and taste but has antioxidant benefits and skin-soothing agents. This Lip Balm does not contain sun protection – so please bear this in mind. It’s perfect for carrying in your pocket all year round to provide a lip pick-me-up. You can find it here in a generous 30g for €12.25.

Last but not least, is the Mineral Shield which has 17.5g of essential zinc cream that comes in four colours. This sunblock offers full UV protection and is easy to apply/remove and yet is highly water-resistant. They have perfected this formula with their Mineral Shield compound with a mix of zinc oxide, magnesium oxide and kaolin. The combination of these natural ingredients will provide nature-friendly and sustainable sun protection. They say it’s for applying to on the face and lips, we think it’s also ideal for covering up and protecting any suspicious moles or skin damage. We like that this Mineral Shield does not get washed away, it stays put until you wipe it off. The blend contains bee wax which works as a natural binder, stabiliser and skin-conditioner, and is often used as a topical, non-allergenic sunscreen ingredient to condition and repair. It also contains olive oil and lanolin (wool fat) so this product is not vegan! It’s a great little full sunblock, ideal to keep on hand in case you need some serious cover-up. You can find it here for €11.95. 

We’re impressed with this sun care range and certainly put it to full use. What would we order more of? Both the AMAZINC! Mineral Shield to dab on moles and the Lip Balm as we loved the taste and texture.

Puritx - Superior Hand Sanitisers

In this new strange world of COVID-19, none of us at TheAmazingBlog leave home without some sort of hand sanitiser tucked away in a pocket. However, knowing how we all like to use natural products, finding a hand sanitiser that has 99% natural ingredients has proved tricky to find – until now. Meet Puritx and their deliciously fragranced superior hand sanitiser.

Puritx is a brand born mid-quarantine, as their parent Canova a home fragrance company, went temporarily on hold in order to speed up the production hand sanitiser to meet the nation’s demand. Puritx’s mission is to create the most superior hand sanitiser with the finest ingredients available. Based in Herefordshire, they have produced six fragrant products that have 99% natural (29% organic) ingredients in a skin-soothing aloe vera base. All the ingredients are sourced responsibly and ethically and contain 70% ethanol alcohol from British grain. Apart from this brand being a shining light in these dark times, we love the fact that they support the local key workers by donating 20% of their production of hand sanitisers to help keep them safe.

We received two x 60ml samples to try. First the Manuka, Cedar & Grapefruit. This has a great combination of healing ingredients with the manuka honey here as the miracle worker, with its antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, studies show how it has wound-healing capabilities and tissue regeneration. Thus, it’s an effective skin barrier and helps to prevent any infection. Besides being an excellent mood lifter in aromatherapy, grapefruit essential oil also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties too. Finally, the cedarwood in this blend is an all-natural antiseptic and known to be used topically to help combat bacterial and fungal infection. The fragrance is mellow and warm with keynotes of citrus and wood. 

Then we tried the Geranium, Lime & Peppermint. This is a refreshing blend of geranium oil which works as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent and is used in natural medicine for infection and pain management. The lime oil provides both uplifting and invigorating properties together with its limonene which contributes to its cleansing ability. Then, the peppermint oil will cool, clear and refresh the surface of your skin and with its antiseptic powers help to purify your skin. The geranium is the dominant fragrance note here making it floral and revitalising. All Puritx Superior Hand Sanitisers contain aloe vera known for being a natural moisturiser helping to rehydrate dry and rough skin, as well as being a cleansing agent that will shield the skin from bacteria. Squeeze a generous amount onto dry hands, spread from fingertips over palms and back of hands. Allow it to dry for 30 seconds giving time for the aloe vera and essential oils to absorb fully.  Why not invest in these fantastically fragranced, 100% vegan and natural hand sanitisers here starting from £4.50 for 60ml.

PUCA Pure & Care -EGF Peptide Serum & Face Mist

As we now embark on a post-furlough and (hopefully) a post-COVID 19 time, ‘economy’ is the new watchword. And to this end, we’ve been being asked by our readers where can they find luxury skincare at affordable prices… Today, we’ve listened and here at The Amazing Blog we’d like to introduce you to a luxurious, innovative and affordable skincare that is also recognised as a personalised skincare and go-to brand in salons and spas, meet PUCA Pure & Care.

PUCA Pure & Care is a Danish brand founded in 2014 by Vivian Dynesen, with her goal, of paying particular attention to hydration and care for the face and body with the PUCO range (which is a portmanteau of Pure & Care).  They are members of the CTPA (Cosmetics and Hygiene industry Trade Association) and have developed and designed the brand to conform with strict regulatory and industry standards. Their products have been tested clinically, and are used by both the salon professional and consumer. They set out to provide their customers with effective and solution-based skincare, all at an affordable price. Their core brand values are beauty, freedom, innovation and surprise; and in some of the products, they also have of some more unusual ingredients such as silk extract and snail secretion filtrate. This is where nature meets science, with the natural oils, plant extracts and actives. Each of the skincare formulas are tried and tested to ensure their effectiveness on all skin types, including hypersensitive skin. This means that everyone can benefit from using PUCA – Pure & Care. 

First, we tried the EGF Peptide Serum This is one of twelve PUCA serums offered, where each one is targeted for a specific skincare solution. This peptide-based serum helps restore the natural structure of your skin; it is alcohol-free and doesn’t contain water or silicone. With regular use, we found that the skin's health was optimised, giving a smoother and more even appearance. It includes one of our favourite ingredients hyaluronic acid, which is known to have the ability to boost moisture levels, counter inflammation and retain moisture. This serum blend also includes beta-glucan, which is used here for anti-ageing to firm up and plump fine lines and wrinkles. It is similar to our immune-enhancing capabilities; the beta-glucans use these macrophages to speed up wound healing. The key ingredient of the serum is EGF, this has many benefits including hydration and hyperpigmentation prevention. The process by which EGF works is by encouraging cell growth, stimulating keratinocytes and fibroblasts, which then synthesise fibrous proteins to improve skin elasticity with collagen and elastin. The mixture is also rich in morus alba root extract (aka white mulberry root) which has antioxidant properties, and the potential to rid the skin of hyperpigmentation and unevenness with the flavonoids. This plant extract helps calm stressed skin, which in turn reduces signs of environmental damage and fosters a brighter, more radiant skin tone. The chamomilla recutita flower extract also has numerous benefits; it is commonly used as an anti-inflammatory agent and provides antioxidant protection to soothe, moisturise and inhibit the growth of bacteria. Finally, the oligopeptide-1 and 2,  can promote cell growth to improve cell activity and repair, making it ideal to use as after-sun skincare or on couperose skin. The oligopeptide 5 stimulates the metabolism of epithelial cells, improves the stratum corneum (outer skin layer), increasing the thickness. This serum is a transparent liquid that is almost fragrance-free, quick to absorb; we found it non-greasy and easy to mix n match under our regular moisturiser, SPF or night cream. Having used this night and day for the past month, I noticed some of my hyperpigmentation has faded and my skin tone is looking more even - which is a big plus! PUCA suggests using this before a Derma Roller treatment which will then help the serum to penetrate deeper. We think that long term use of this serum will boost the skin and keeping it hydrated without breaking your bank balance. You can purchase the 30ml EGF Peptide Serum here for only €10.00. 

The second product we tried was the Face Mist which is a Danish Beauty Award-Winner.  This light facial mist delivers a cooling boost of hydration. Its ingredients include green tea which provides powerful antioxidant protection, leaving the skin feeling refreshed and revitalised. The cucumber extract is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and skin-conditioning agent often used in cosmetics and personal care products. The antioxidants found in cucumber extract are ascorbic acid, beta carotene and caffeic acid. These extracts are often used as an anti-ageing ingredient where the antioxidants limit oxidative damage caused by free radicals. It contains a mint extract that delivers freshness and will soothe the skin. The aloe vera in the serum has been clinically proven to heal burns, wounds and scars. When applied, the compound aloin in aloe vera also blocks up to 30% of the UV rays and protects the skin from sun damage. The aloe vera plant contains numerous vitamins, as well as choline and folic acid. These nutrients promote skin health and protect the skin from free radicals and premature ageing. It also includes beta-glucan (see the EGF Serum above). Then there is chamomile and rose flower extracts both of which are very beneficial helping to calm irritated skin, reduce wrinkles and help heal bruising. The sodium hyaluronate is a combination of macromolecular hyaluronic acid and small molecule hyaluronic acid. Small-weight hyaluronan molecules penetrate deeper into the skin's structure, providing maximum below-the-surface hydration and in turn rehydrating skin cells over time. This Face Mist, again, is almost fragrance-free, so it won’t conflict with other skincare or cosmetics and gives makeup a wonderful dewy finish. You can spritz this on a makeup brush or sponge before blending in foundation or concealer. This product is ideal to use on the face, neck or hair as needed. Use for extra hydration before or after applying moisturiser, as a pick-me-up on the go, or after makeup. PUCA advises for an extra refreshing and cooling boost, to store the bottle in the fridge (which we did during the heatwave in August). This marvellous multi-use Facial Mist can be found here for €7.50. Why not explore more from this brand with their face creams, body oils, scalp serums and masks. We can’t wait to try more!

Azzedine: Raw Moroccan Rose Water & True Moroccan Rose Serum

Nature never ceases to amaze us. For centuries it has blessed us with its most exceptional ingredients for our body and soul, and today, at The Amazing Blog, we’re diving deep into the beauty of the rose. And what better country to talk about this majestic rose than Morocco, where they’ve been cultivating this queen of flowers for centuries. This highly-scented rose is from the Damask Rose variety and was originally grown in the Dadès Valley for dried flowers and rosewater. In the 1940s the French built distilleries in the area to produce rose oil which has been widely used in perfumery and skincare ever since. Each year during April and mid-May, the M'Goun Valley, also known as the Vallée des Roses produces between 3-4k tonnes of wild roses. This precious Moroccan rose has intoxicating rosy notes accented by spicy facets. Today, we want to introduce you to another of our #amazingfinds with the award-winning pure organic rose skincare range from the newly launched brand Azzedine.

The festival of roses is an annual three-day celebration in Morocco derived from the Berber traditions. Every year, thousands of people gather with garlands of fragrant roses, and a queen rose is elected to reign over the valleys for the year. The brand Azzedine, is a family run business and a recent start-up that brings the essence of Morocco rose right to your doorstep. When you close your eyes, and spritz their Raw Moroccan Rose Water, you can almost imagine yourself immersed in a sea of rose petals, smelling every fragrant note that it has to offer. Sourcing the roses directly from Vallée des Roses at the base of the Atlas Mountains, you can feel the love, passion and absolute devotion that has gone into their products. Where local Berber women harvest the fresh petals, which are then immediately steam distilled. During this process, purified distilled water passes through fresh rose petals, and extracts all of the soluble elements. The water then condenses and drips into a collecting vessel which is then called rose water. Azzedine recently won Editor’s choice in the prestigious 2020 Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards and we couldn’t be more delighted to share with you their two products: Raw Rose Water and True Rose Serum. They are an organic, authentic, ethical and luxurious skincare brand beautifully packaged in 100% recyclable bottles and boxes.

It’s no secret that we have a weakness for all things rose….so let’s start with Azzedine‘s Raw Moroccan Rose Water.  Rose water has been used throughout the ages not only topically but also to ingest. In fact, this majestic rose has been used for a multitude of purposes. Drinking rose water (NB this Raw Rose Water is not for consumption) is said to relieve depression, bloating and constipation. It is also a remedy for colds, flu, and sore throats and thought to help respiratory illnesses too. However, we’re concentrating on topical application. We used this 100% pure organic Raw Rose Water as a refreshing spritz spray during the hot weather, as well as a toner after cleansing.  It is also good for maintaining pH levels and controlling any excess sebum production. However, it’s the antioxidant properties that we like the best, where it protects against harmful free radicals and environmental aggressors. It is also a skin calmer, soothing eczema, dermatitis and acne inflammations. We found that with just a quick spray, it invigorated the skin and aura throughout the day, keeping us looking and feeling fresh. It is ideal for travelling, as a chemical-free perfume, on your hair, or tension-relief for tired eyes and is also gentle enough even for those with a sensitive skin. The aroma of roses is said to be a powerful mood enhancer and helps in the fight against ageing skin, keeping fine lines and wrinkles at bay. 

The next product from this Azzedine duo is their True Moroccan Rose Serum. Made primarily with raw organic Moroccan rose essential oil, all sourced from distilled pure rose petals, it smells unbelievably good and is super-soft on the skin. It’s mixed with natural texture enhancers and emollients such as cyclopentasiloxane,  dimethiconea, isopropyl myristate and finally, coco caprylate - all of which are considered true vegetable alternative for light petrochemical-based emollients.  The Serum is a great multitasker they recommend it as a mattifying primer before make-up or to applied to hair keeping it shiny and frizz-free, or even beards to keep them conditioned and smelling more fragrant!  We used it as a serum during the day under our SPF and then alone at night. We loved both the scent and texture – it left our complexions feeling like velvet. This together with a regular spritz of their Raw Rose Water made the perfect combination to keep our skin cool and hydrated during the heat of the summer months. We’re sure you’ll be just as charmed by these as we are. You can purchase this duo as a set here for £50.00