Afterglow Candles: We Create

At  The Amazing Blog  we’re huge fans of scented candles. We love the ambience they give, and when lighting a solo candle under the stars, it always adds to mystical evening glow. Now that alfresco dining has finally arrived we wanted to try this wild fig and blackcurrant candle We Create from Afterglow Candles and it didn’t disappoint.

Afterglow Candles are a UK luxury black-owned and eco-friendly home brand founded by Alex Bertie and her partner and co-founder Darrell. Alex is a doctor, and Darrell is a barber. The idea came when they were gifted a simple candle making kit and where they soon got creative. Since then, they have built up the business finally launching Afterglow in September 2020. Their mission is to provide luxury candles that are affordable and safe for the environment. Alex said: "Afterglow has been a labour of love and a steep learning curve, which has completely exceeded our expectations. We've met some great people along the way and can't wait to see what the future holds!" These artisan, hand-poured, and unisex candles are made in East London; the designs are simple, chic and minimalist made to suit every gender, age and social group. Where the stylised monochrome designs express luxury and affordability all at the same time. Afterglow candles are eco-friendly, with waxes that are 100% vegan, cruelty-free and non-toxic. The metal tin cases, that house the candles, are all made from recycled sources and can also be recycled and reused – we think it would make a great pen holder! Most of the ingredients are sourced from the UK in order to support local businesses and reduce the carbon footprint. Finally, Alex and Darrell wanted to have a charitable element in their business. So, they donate £1 from every sale to charities supporting adults and children living with sickle cell disease, as Darrell suffers from the disease. And in the forthcoming months, Afterglow Candles is also working with a charity called Crescent Kids  who provide support services to children and families impacted by Sickle Cell and Thalassemia.

We chose the 'We Create' a wild fig and blackcurrant candle from the Empowerment Collection. As mentioned above, all the candles come in a metal tin, together with unbleached cotton and linen wicks. Their range of candles are made using a blend of natural coconut and soy wax with high-quality essential oils and fragrances. Both waxes are a great alternative to paraffin as they are more sustainable and don’t have any nasty fumes or black smoke when burnt. Coconut wax is harvested from coconut crops that are sustainable and high in yield. It is also a great diffuser of scents and has a low impact on the environment, whereas the soy wax here is made from soybeans which are renewable and biodegradable, and helps to provide a clean burn. The fragrance combination in We Create has the top notes of cassis (blackcurrant), raspberry and sweet cherry. The heart notes are raspberry leaf and fig, and the base notes are sandalwood and cedarwood. This is uplifting and refreshing; we’d even go as far as to say inspirational, where it brings together all these summer fruits which, when lit, linger beautifully in the evening air… We think it’s one to burn to when you want to make the most of these balmy summer evenings. Also thanks to coconut and soy wax, the candle can burn for approximately 40 hours making it very cost-effective. Afterglow Candles offers nine different scented candles and a few accessories like bags, a wick trimmer and snuffer and even a USB lighter. By the way, for each candle you buy, you'll get a mini tin opener plus £1 will be donated to their appointed charity, You can buy the 250ml 'We Create' candle here for £22.

1CBD: CBD Infused Chocolates

Finding delicious CBD infused chocolates has had us all at The Amazing Blog on a bit of a mission. Much as we love CBD, sometimes, when it’s infused in chocolates or gummies, it can have a bit of an earthy or bitter aftertaste. This is where 1CBD have succeeded, where others have failed, as they have very shrewdly invited a master chocolatier to help them create their range of 1CBD CBD Infused Chocolates – and they are delicious!

1CBD launched in 2018 and are based in the North East of England. Started by marketeers and business partners Oman and Oliver, their journey of CBD discovery all began when they were commissioned to develop and work with another CBD brand. From here, they saw opportunities to bring their own CBD related products to market, and so, 1CBD was born. Keeping a high-quality control on the cannabidiols (CBD) that they use, is paramount for the brand, which is why they only source their broad-spectrum CBD oils from Colorado. They feel that the USA has more advanced manufacture and unique C02 extraction techniques, than that of the rest of Europe. Plus, the hemp plants are grown outside in the sunshine with no exposure to artificial UV lights, harmful chemicals or pesticides. All CBD oils are prepared in small batches, always freshly prepared, ensuring consistency, taste and potency. The broad-spectrum here means that there’s zero THC, and all raw extracts are vigorously tested and HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) analysed by independent laboratories across the USA. Products range from CBD oils, capsules, balms to edibles. However, what piqued our interest, was their handmade, ethically sourced CBD Infused Chocolates, that they commissioned with the award-winning master chocolatier Paul Williams from Chocamor of ‘fiendishly good chocolates’ fame, to create on their behalf. The brand said, “What Choc Amor offered that the other chocolatiers didn’t, was the combination of premium quality cocoa in the chocolate, multi award-winning chocolate flavours and the unavoidable fact that their chocolate really does taste amazing!” And we couldn’t wait to try… 

Who doesn’t love chocolate? And with a whopping 20-25g of broad-spectrum (THC-free) 10% phytocannabinoid pure hemp CBD oil in each piece, it made us love them even more! These CBD Infused Chocolates come in 100g bags and contain a total of 300mg of the broad-spectrum CBD. They also tick our sustainability box, with how these stylish cardboard boxes are completely compostable, together with the cellophane bags. With three mouth-watering flavours, it was hard to choose a favourite, chocolatier Paul Williams said, “We decided to launch the range with three of our best-selling flavours, Raspberry Burst, Salt Caramel and Twisted Latte. These flavours combine really well with the CBD oil so that the consumer can enjoy a chocolate sensation, one mouthful at a time.”  What makes this pairing of chocolate and CBD so interesting is they both contain cannabinoids. Together these activate the endocannabinoid receptors, which in turn boost the anandamide levels (aka ‘the chemical of happiness’), and right now, who doesn’t need that? 

All these ingredients have a health benefit. The hemp extract has antioxidants and healthy omega fatty acids, making it great for hair and skin or just stress relief. The cocoa mass not only gives it its flavour but in moderation, it can help keep the heart-healthy. Like the hemp extract, cocoa butter is high in fatty acids, which can help hydrate and nourish the skin. Soya lecithin can raise good cholesterol (HDL) while lowering bad cholesterol (LDL). Natural vanilla flavouring brings a flavour, but it’s also rich in antioxidants. Sugar gives sweetness to the chocolate, and also, according to some scientists is can be beneficial for brain health. The whole milk powder found here is a good source of minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, potassium as well vitamins A, D, E and K.

Let’s get back to these chocolates, each one has its own merits.  We loved the dark rich Raspberry Burst for its floral and fruity notes combined with the 60% cocoa solids. There is even a touch of balsamic vinegar and tiny pieces of dried raspberry in each square.  The Salt Caramel Blonde is a 50/50 unique blend of milk and white chocolate. It also has the smallest crunchy salty caramel flakes buried in the chocolate chunks, as well as rich double cream and butter; we savoured every delicious mouthful, especially as a midday pick-me-up. Last but not least, was the Milk White this is white chocolate at its very best… with the simple ingredients of single-origin cocoa butter, sugar, milk, soya lecithin and vanilla extract (and of course the CBD) it’s moreish, creamy and not too sweet. I’m not normally a fan of white chocolate, but this was my favourite. I’m ashamed to say, that keeping an eye on the CBD dosage (70g a day), went out the window, as I found myself greedily reaching for yet another square… For CBD novices and aficionados, I would heartily recommend these chocolate treats. They say, “Great for improving cognitive function, feeling energised and absorbing CBD with a fantastically moreish taste.” We say, “Please give us more…” To purchase any of the three CBD Infused Chocolates see here. They are currently on special offer for a limited time only at £9.99 

BattleGreen: Lemon & Rose Natural Deodorant Balm

Do you use a natural deodorant that is 100% recyclable, sustainable and also gives back? No? Well, read on… This is where we couldn't wait to try the Beauty Shortlist Eco Lifestyle award-winning brand Battle Green, who have impressed us at The Amazing Blog, with both their eco-credentials and the quality of their products. Let's be honest, we all need to use a daily deodorant, especially with summer fast approaching (did we hear somewhere that this will be the hottest summer on record?!) And this Lemon & Rose Natural Deodorant Balm smells divine and didn’t let us down…

Battle Green was founded in 2018, near the edge of the picturesque Welsh mountains of Snowdonia by Lucy and her partner. They created this brand in response to the negative environmental impact that we, humans, have on our planet, oceans, biodiversity and the landscape. For these founders, it became critical to provide environmentally friendly products to give people an alternative to single-use packaging. That's why every Battle Green product is plastic-free, compostable, recyclable and often recycled. We also found it interesting to learn on their Instagram page that they use paper tape made with potato-based glue, and water-based ink for their packaging. Indeed, Battle Green are well ahead of the sustainability curve with all their zero-waste products, and that's what we loved about this brand. Their ethos is focused on sourcing local ingredients and products wherever possible and environmental well-being and animal welfare. These artisan products are sustainably made, have minimal packaging, and are certified PETA, vegan and cruelty-free. Battle Green are members of Surfers Against Sewage 250 Club and monthly donates to help the association's initiatives such as organising beach clean-ups. The brand is also a partner of One Tree Planted and commits to planting a tree for every Zero Waste Starter Kit sold. And Battle Green also donates £1 from every Reusable Cotton Gift Wrap to Freshfields, a non-profit charity that cares for abandoned, abused or unwanted animals. They already offer a wide range of products as diverse as reusable menstrual pads, soaps, lip balms and reusable zero-waste household goods. We also read that they'll be getting more involved with developing some upcycled reusable products with a local charity – and we can't wait to hear more.

The Lemon & Rose Natural Deodorant Balm comes in a 50g cardboard tube, making the product plastic-free and biodegradable. The deodorant is also vegan-friendly, cruelty-free and does not contain harmful ingredients, such as aluminium, parabens, synthetic colours or fragrances. As it is a deodorant, this natural balm won't prevent sweating but will absorb moisture and will stop any bacteria that cause unpleasant odours. The key ingredients here are sodium bicarbonate, arrowroot and organic shea butter.  The sodium bicarbonate has absorbent, antifungal and anti-odour properties. Whereas arrowroot powder, a starch, absorbs the moisture and oils that get trapped on the skin. The shea butter is here for its hydrating, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Other ingredients include the hydrogenated soybean oil, which acts as a skin-conditioning agent; coconut and lemongrass are here to help to fight against bacteria and detoxify the skin thanks again to their antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial propertiest Then there’s the citronellol, an organic compound extracted from the rose geranium oil, which gives it a fresh and slightly zesty scent that mingles with the lemongrass oil to give this its soft floral/lemony fragrance. Apart from the citronellol, rose geranium also has geraniol with the added bonus of being antifungal. All these transparent and natural ingredients go to make up this gentle Battle Green Lemon & Rose Natural Deodorant, which is a naturally-scented deodorant that helps absorbs moisture. It was duly put through its paces with pilates, workouts and brisk walks. We stayed fragrant, and thankfully there was no evidence of any nasty niffs. This will definitely be one of our 'empties' and another of our #amazingfinds for the week. There are also four other scents to try: Lime & Vanilla, Grapefruit & Mint, Orange & Patchouli and Lavender & Tea Tree. It's easy to use; just push up at the base of the cardboard tube and apply the balm to your underarms. You can purchase the 50g Lemon and Rose Natural Deodorant for £6.45 here. 

MINT: 3in1 Shampoo Bar Trio

At The Amazing Blog, something we’re always search for is multitasking products; today we have a trio of 3in1 Shampoo Bars from MINT  which offer a more sustainable way of living and a good starting point, for those looking to find environmentally friendly personal products. 

MINT is a wellbeing, beauty and grooming brand founded by Dee Momi. Before starting MINT, Dee had a successful career as a chef, until she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 30. During the treatment, she found herself feeling repelled by the smell of hot food, and so she started eating more cold or raw foods and drinking lots of plant-based juices. During this time, she also lost her taste and wasn’t able even able to taste her own cooking. However, she managed to make herself feel useful by preparing much appreciated smoothies for herself and her fellow chefs. This is where it all started for MINT. “A combination of my own story and striving for better health sparked the idea for me to launch my own powders and supplements with the range being plant-based, made locally in the UK and clearly labelled with dietaries/ingredients were the top priorities.” Today, MINT offers a selection of food supplements, plant protein powders and 3in1 Shampoo Bars. All the products are vegan and 100% plant-based, they also contain no artificial sweeteners, colours or flavourings. The powders and the food supplements are also GMO and chemical-free. All packaging is recyclable and their ethos is focused on being high-quality with natural and non-harmful ingredients, which are good for the body as well as the planet. 

We tried the 3in1 Shampoo Bar Trio set, which are three different cleansing bars. Each is a multipurpose cleansing bar that can be used on hair, face and body. They are all vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, palm-oil-free, SLS/SLES free and plastic-free. Plus, these bars can last up to five times longer compared to regular shampoo or shower gel. The three main ingredients used in each bar are shea butter, almond and jojoba oil. Shea butter is a good moisturiser, and with its high level of fatty acids, it regulates skin sebum. It contains vitamins A and E for strong antioxidant action on both skin and hair. Almond and jojoba oil combined, are also powerful moisturisers, efficient emollients, which balance the absorption of moisture, stimulate collagen and are enriched with vitamin E. We found all three of these cleansing bars highly nourishing, they kept our skin hydrated and helped to reduce any scalp irritation or dryness.  

The Sea Minerals bar is for all hair and skin types. The added ingredient here is Dead Sea salt which contains several minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium and sulphur. These exfoliate the dead skin cells to leave skin smooth, hydrated and purified. It also has the added benefit for hair by preventing hair loss and dandruff - this is excellent for the scalp and hair in particular. The Coconut + Argan  is recommended for dry skin, damaged or coloured hair.  This contains coconut oil with the previously mentioned benefits and Argan oil. The Argan oil here has moisturising, nourishing, cleansing and conditioning, properties with vitamin A and E, antioxidants, omega-6 fatty acids and linoleic acid.  This was our favourite of the trio – we found it gentle and efficient for removing makeup, and left our skin feeling super-hydrated too. When used as a shampoo it cleansed the hair leaving us with little or no need for a conditioner. The Tea Tree + Lime + Mint  is more for oily or combination skin and greasy hair. The Tea Tree leaf oil, is known for its cleansing and antiseptic properties, helps to eliminate dandruff. This oil is good for oily skin, and of course, thanks to the terpenes, it deeply cleanses. Lime oil is also present here and thanks to the limonene it contains, the antioxidant effect boosts skin health to make it look brighter. This lime oil also helps to fight against dandruff, and adds a glossy sheen to the hair. The spearmint leaf oil, provides a fresh scent to this cleansing bar and is also a natural antibacterial and anti-fungal. It also stops scalp dryness boosting blood circulation for healthier hair. With #lockdown nearly at an end (we hope!), these multipurpose 3in1 Shampoo Bars will fast become your new best friends as you throw them into your rucksack, and take-off this summer for your staycation adventure . You can purchase the 3 in 1 Shampoo bar trio for £22.00 here. 

MINT have kindly given you, our readers, 50% off! Please use the promo code IAMAMAZING (valid from 1 May until 31 July 2021 at 23:59). Where you can buy one and get one free on each of the three 3-in-1 Shampoo Bars (NB this does not apply to The Trio package). You can use the code multiple times until 31 July. Finally, all orders are dispatched on the same working day when completed before 3 pm.

Skin Beautiful Organics: Intelligent Skin Recovery Hyper-Serum & Bio-Resurfacing Enzyme Cream

Today, we’re going stateside, and want to introduce a new luxury skincare that we’ve had our eye on, ever since their pre-launch on Instagram. As regular readers will know, at The Amazing Blog    we like to champion new high-performance natural skincare brands, especially those with slightly more unusual ingredients. Meet Skin Beautiful Organics, who we hope will launch here soon in the UK.

As mentioned above, Skin Beautiful Organics is a new launch of luxury botanical-based skincare from the USA, and their founder is Ethel Emmons, who is a business technologist and digital strategist and entrepreneur. The brand story began when Ethel searched in vain to find  gentle, natural and chemical-free skincare to replace her favourite face creams - which occasionally gave her hypersensitivity and led to swollen, red and itchy skin. Back as far as 2007, unable to find any suitable alternatives, Ethel experimented with creating homemade natural skincare remedies to soothe and protect her skin using a variety of ingredients from whole fruits, hydrosols and herbs to carrier and essential oils, all to help soothe and protect her skin. However, it wasn’t until 2020, after completing her studies at the UK International School of Natural Skincare and Formula Botanical, that she decided to launch her own plant-based skincare. Thus, Skin Beautiful Organics was born with 14 clean, natural and effective products, which are a wide range of cleansers, toner, essence, serums, creams, mask and scrubs. All products are made with the latest and most innovative natural science techniques to extract healthy nutrients from plants in a highly bioavailable format. These are manufactured in an FDA-registered and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) compliant facility powered by 100% renewable wind energy. To maintain the freshness of their ingredients, all products are handcrafted in small batches. Organic ingredients are used wherever possible, and Skin Beautiful Organics are proud to announce that their formulas have met or exceeded the Whole Foods Premium Standards for Personal Care Products.

We were excited to try two of their new products. The first was one of their best-seller, the Intelligent Skin Recovery Hyper-Serum  It is a hyper-serum aimed at helping ageing/mature skin, fine lines, dry and dull skin, or loss of skin elasticity and firmness. The Serum acts to strengthen the skin matrix, stimulate collagen and elastin fibroblast, and provide skin resilience and firmness through feeding the skin with its abundance of nutrition. Yes, and it is ‘abundance’ with over 40 high-performance actives in the Serum; one thing is for sure, Skin Beautiful Organics hasn’t skimped on their ingredients here. There are far too many to explain, so we’ll talk about a few key ones, which include; globularia cordifolia callus culture extract, this plant grows in the mountains of central and southern Europe, which supports cell renewal, cell longevity and eliminates damaged proteins and environmental toxins. You can also find sandalwood hydrosol from the santalum album tree – used as incense in spiritual ceremonies for centuries – It soothes irritated skin and reduces inflammation. One of our favourites is niacinamide (vitamin B3), which has many benefits supporting the skin barrier, increasing its resiliency, and improves texture by making pores look smaller.  Another essential active is the Irish moss (or red algae) with its high level of nutrients, including antioxidants and it very importantly offers protection from the visible effects of blue light exposure. Finally, the sunflower seed oil (which is in both the products) is an excellent source of vitamin E, rich in nutrients and antioxidants, effectively for combatting inflammation, eczema and general redness or skin irritation. Our experience was a positive one, the fragrance is a warm, gentle and not intrusive, it’s a mix of sandalwood and rose. It absorbed well and helped plump up the skin, and even left us with a soft sheen that really made our complexion glow… With this Serum’s plethora of ingredients, I’d even go so far as to say, that using this alone, could be enough even for those like us, with a dry or sensitive skin.  They advise using night and day before applying a day cream (for extra protection) or alone under makeup. You can purchase the 30ml Intelligent Skin Recovery Hyper-Serum for €93.00 here.

Next, we tried the Bio-Resurfacing Enzyme Cream again, this cream is more for ageing, mature or dry skin, and for those with an uneven skin tone. It has an elite collection of bio-actives and enzymes that make up the 31 high-performance Ingredients. This Bio-Resurfacing Enzyme cream is mainly for night-time use to regenerate and boost cell renewal, so as to give a brighter and smoother skin. The hero ingredients here are pomegranate, with its powerful antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals which brighten and exfoliate. The papaya extract is high in vitamin C and E, enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids. This helps to get rid of dead skin cells and unclogs pores to combat spots and acne. It also balances the elastic fibres and collagen of the dermis. Another ingredient that keeps collagen strong is the wakame seaweed bio-ferment, which delivers anti-ageing effects to minimises damage at the cellular level by detoxifying the skin thanks to vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12, and fatty acids. It also contains geranium, which also fights against ageing by minimising fine lines and improving skin elasticity and firmness. There’s also plant stem cells with daisy for cell protection, and organic dandelion, rosehip seed and sunflower seed oils, all to boost the skin with antioxidants for protection and rejuvenation. It’s wonderful to find a rich and intense cream that works, and with it’s luxurious whipped finish, it didn’t disappoint. We could identify three of our favourite essential oils with the subtle mix of geranium, neroli and bergamot in the fragrance, making it even more of a pleasure to use. For us, it was better at night as we felt it had an undisturbed time to penetrate the dermis and ‘feed’ the skin. However, we also used a small amount over the Serum during the day, as it helped to protect our skin in the inclement UK weather (it’s May and still a chilly 10 degrees!) If your skin is looking lacklustre or dry, this is the skincare for you. We’re going to keep a close eye on Skin Beautiful Organics, and can’t to try more from the range. Yes, it’s our #amazingfinds for this week’s skincare. You can buy 50ml Bio-Resurfacing Enzyme Cream for €93.00 here .