by:BW Skincare : The Cleansing Oil

What’s more important to you… A skincare regime in the morning to pep up your skin? Or perhaps in the evening, to help get rid of the daily grim? At The Amazing Blog, our good skincare routine always starts by using a gentle and effective cleanser. That’s why we want to flag up another of our #amazingfinds with facial cleanser, The Cleansing Oil by British indie skincare By:BW Skincare.

As an expert on skin health and wellness for the past 25 years, Julie Brown began curating a natural skincare brand based on her extensive knowledge of herbs, plants, and essential oils. By:BW Skincare was launched in 2020, inspired by her spa therapy company, Boutique Wellbeing. Boutique Wellbeing is a therapy practice located on a private estate in Cotswolds. Since the beginning, Julie has been interested in sourcing her ingredients sustainably. "At the beginning of my journey creating by:BW, I knew that I wanted to ensure that the practices I used and the ingredients I sourced were as eco-conscious as I could possibly make them. Here I am sourcing some lavender in the Cotswolds, being as 'green' as possible and a low carbon footprint is woven within the fabric of my business." The brand produces handmade products in small batches and promises not to use factory manufacturing. By:BW Skincare aims to use all-natural and organic ingredients, and whenever possible, they try to source their ingredients locally from farmers. Their products are free from parabens, and synthetics, 100% vegan, and cruelty-free. "I check the provenance of each base oil and essential oil I use, and my products are only tested [on] humans." The brand was featured in the August 2021 issue of Cotswold Living and more recently, has been awarded a ‘Commended’ at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards for The Cleansing Oil.

We found that The Cleansing Oil worked gently and effectively to remove the buildup that every day brings. As an oil cleanser, it targets dirt and makeup, while protecting the skin's natural barrier. We particularly like is that it shields the lipid layer without damaging the microbiota and microbiome, which keeps the skin in balance and healthy. The Cleansing Oil consists of only six natural oil: Grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, organic evening primrose oil, tocopherol, lavender oil, and organic eucalyptus oil.

Grapeseed oil is loaded with antioxidants and contains high amounts of omega fatty acids and vitamin E, which helps maintain moisture levels. This extract has many benefits, such as protecting against harmful free radicals, minimising wrinkles and uneven skin tones, with antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Sweet almond oil has high levels of vitamin E. This oil is often used to treat itchy and dry skin because of its anti-inflammatory properties and alleviates skin conditions such as eczema. Sweet almond oil is an excellent skin moisturiser because it won't clog your pores. Organic evening primrose oil (pictured above) relieves many irritable skin conditions and improves overall skin wellness. Tocopherol (vitamin E) is present in many vegetable oils from which it is naturally derived. This vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the skin from harmful UV rays and reduce UV damage. The two fragrant essentials lavender and organic eucalyptus, are best known for reducing skin inflammation and their anti-ageing benefits. To surmise, the cleanser is made up of only 100 per cent natural botanical oils.

The Cleansing Oil can be used on all skin types, including oily skin; as Julie says, "Contrary to belief, using an oil on oily skin is a good thing!" And we couldn’t agree more. An oil-based cleanser successfully removes any residue of SPF, makeup and pollutants from the day, unlike some others. To use, we applied directly onto dry skin and massaged into the face and neck. They suggest using a warm damp face cloth, leave on for 15 seconds, and allow the steam to open the pores. Then take three deep breaths to inhale the relaxing aroma of lavender and eucalyptus. After that, just wipe away the impurities or repeat for a double cleanse. We used this morning or at night for a refreshing skin boost. The blend of quality ingredients will help to keep a youthful complexion and lower the stress hormone cortisol, for positive effects on emotions and the skin. It won’t clog pores or leave your skin feeling dry and will leave a nice layer of moisture, giving a beautifully supple and glowy skin.

It comes in sustainable packaging, i.e. recyclable glass bottle, a reusable face cloth, a drawstring bag, and a biodegradable box. The Cleansing OIl, is 100ml and available here for £28. This seriously impressed us, and we hope to try more from by:BW Skincare in the future.

Made By The Beekeeper : Anywhere Anytime Balm

Who else loves a good balm? We certainly do, now we’re travelling again. Going with only hand luggage means that, at The Amazing Blog, all our skincare needs to be multipurpose. This is why the award-winning Anywhere Anytime Balm from the British indie bee brand Made By The Beekeeper, comes into its own.   

Rebecca Beveridge is the founder of Made by Beekeeper. It all began with her mother, Joyce Boulos-Hanna, who planted a vineyard 22 years ago in the paddock next to their family home in Earls Barton, Northamptonshire. This is where Rebecca began her sustainable and organic bee management, with an apiary at the vineyard. Today she splits her time between Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire, with stints to Kent and Devon, where her colony of bees travel with her. Rebecca commented, “The reward for this hard, but joyful, work, is not only knowing that I am contributing to the eco-balance in my area but knowing that my bees have done me proud and produced award-winning honey, comb, fudge and mead in four counties.” In 2019, she wanted to incorporate her bees’ productivity into wellbeing and beauty products. However, being an expert on these little creatures, she always prioritises her bees.“ My bees come first – their health and quality of life and then their productivity:  honey, wax, propolis, pollen." All of their products are 100% natural, organic, palm oil-free, nut-free, and vegetarian. Her formulas are handmade in small batches for a low waste process. Not only does she sustainably source her beeswax and honey from her hives, but she also uses sustainable packaging for her beauty products. She’s gained a wider recognition from the brand’s recent wins at 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, with ‘Best Men’s Skincare Product for their Organic Balm for Men’, and three Editor’s Choice Awards for their Nourishing Foot Balm, Elbow, Knee and Heel Balm, and Anywhere Anytime Balm. Apart from their skincare, they’ve also won a trophy for their sweet and dry meads at the National Honey Show. Made By The Beekeeper ethically sources all of its beeswax, is a strong advocate for bee wellness and a member of The British Beekeepers Association. Apart from their apiary and range of skincare products, they offer a unique one-day Beekeepers Experience here, and a Honey Tasting Experience and Lip Balm workshop, which are coming soon.

As mentioned earlier, we are always looking for multitasking skincare, and this Anywhere Anytime Balm is a very good example of what we love. it’s super hydrating, versatile, and can be used on any part of the body, or face. As Rebecca suggests, "Use to moisturise any dry patches, soothe healing patches, just to add a healthy sheen, or even to tame those eyebrows!" The balm contains a blend of only seven natural and organic ingredients: organic beeswax, organic virgin coconut oil, organic mango butter, organic camellia tea oil, organic borage oil, organic sunflower oil, and natural vitamin E.

Of course, the main ingredient is their organic beeswax. Although beeswax, is not suitable for vegans, it’s a safe natural ingredient that’s been used for centuries to treat cuts and burns. The wax comes from honeybees, who create this honeycomb made of wax, to stow away the colony's honey. In skincare, it offers many benefits, including anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, and protection from harmful free radicals. Also known to be beneficial for sensitive skins and even for conditions such as psoriasis and eczema with its excellent humectant qualities; this means the wax attracts water which keeps skin hydrated and moisturised without clogging pores. Finally, beeswax is a popular ingredient used in formulating makeup, it's a natural emulsifier, allowing the liquid and oil components to bind together, and offers a smooth application and long-lasting formulas.

All ingredients are organic - except for the natural vitamin E. The virgin coconut oil is extracted from the fat of raw coconuts. Using this oil increases skin hydration, collagen production reduces inflammation and helps with dark spots. Extracted from mango seeds, mango butter has a variety of skin benefits. Mango butter is loaded with vitamins B6, A, C, and E to help with skin nourishment. It works to give you soft skin and protects against sun damage and ageing. Camellia is a plant typically found in East Asia, and it's been used in traditional Chinese medicine for years. This plant is high in oleic acid and vitamins to help with skin hydration, inflammation, elasticity, and hyperpigmentation. The wildflower borage oil restores lost hydration in the skin and softens dry and damaged skin. Sunflower oil is high in vitamin E, it keeps skin smooth and protects skin from further sun damage, and can even heal wounds. Last but certainly not least, we have natural vitamin E, this is where ‘natural’ vitamin E is sourced from vegetable oils, primarily soybean oil, and is three times more concentrated than any synthetic vitamin E. It’s loaded with antioxidants to prevent premature ageing and keep skin supple and looking fresh.

Fragrance-free and highly concentrated, this balm works brilliantly as a moisturiser, cleanser, lip balm or for rubbing into dry cuticles - we tried it all! No nut oils make it suitable for those with any nut allergies, and a little does seem to go a long way. Our favourite spot to use it was around the eye area at night, either alone or on top of a water-based serum to seal it in. We love how this small but mighty balm comes in a handy recyclable aluminium screw-top tin, making it another of our #amazingfinds and perfect for those on the go. To purchase the 45g tine of Anywhere Anytime Balm for £12, see here.

Cotswold Remedies : Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection

With our busy schedule, we often find the best way to achieve some downtime is to take a nice long and relaxing soak. So at The Amazing Blog, we're always on the lookout for new essential oil bath remedies to try, which is why we want to introduce you to this Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection from the new brand Cotswold Remedies; with their set of three bath oils: Relax, Restore, and Revive.

Cotswold Remedies started in a small kitchen in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Founder Helen Ray got her inspiration to begin her skincare range during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 when she had time on her hands and wanted something to do. Helen said, "As a busy mum of two girls, juggling work and family life, I was always looking for the best products on the market to keep my skin looking great as I grew older. I wanted products that would keep my skin strong and supple as I entered my 40s but not blow my budget or require a complicated 10-step routine.” Once she completed her aromatherapy and organic skin formulation training, Helen rolled up her sleeves and got to work. It took her about 18 months to perfect a balanced formula for her bath oils range. The result was a range of products that delivered actual results at a fraction of the cost of similar high-end beauty products, all without compromising the quality of the ingredients. "I ended up improving them by stripping out any synthetic ingredients and adding more active ones."Cotswold Remedies officially launched in September 2021 and has been thriving ever since. The brand emphasises its use of 100% natural, organic, and ethical ingredients throughout the entire process. Cotswold Remedies products are also handmade in small batches to reduce the waste often produced by leftover products. Their range is also suitable for vegans and cruelty-free and is packaged in sustainable materials such as recyclable glass and cardboard sourced from sustainably managed forests. Since its launch, the brand has already won a few awards at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, including Best Bath Oil for their Relax Bath Oil and two Editor’s Choice Awards for the Collagen Boost Face Oil and Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection. They also won Best Aromatherapy Diffuser in Wellbeing for their Essential Oil Reed Diffuser.

What is a bath oil? Bath oils are a blend of scented oils added to water for bathing. Often used for more of a spa-like experience, if combined with aromatherapy/essential oils, they can also be very therapeutic. When oil is mixed with water, the diluted oil can penetrate deeply into the skin, providing relaxation and rejuvenation. They can also help with blood circulation and joint fatigue. Some aromatherapy oils can even help fight bacterial or viral infections. Of course, the most known benefit of bath oils is how they improve your skin leaving a long-lasting fresh scent and radiant skin.

Today we’re featuring their Editor’s Choice award-winning Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection, which includes the Relax, Restore and Revive bath oils. All three bath oils contain caprylic/capric triglyceride, AKA fractionated coconut oil. This version of coconut oil is more liquid than regular coconut oil and is deeply nourishing and easily absorbed by the skin, making it ideal to use as a carrier oil. It’s also rich in hydrating properties to keep skin moisturised and feeling smooth and silky. These three bath oils also have tocopherol; a natural vitamin E added to slow oxidation and gives the products a longer shelf life. Finally, each of the trio of bath oils contains a unique blend of essential oils combined for a purpose.

Let’s begin with the Relax Bath Oil, which contains a blend of chamomile, vetivert, lavender, patchouli, and clary sage essential oils. This specific blend helps calm your mind and body to promote restful slumber. Both chamomile and lavender have a calming effect on the mind and body, these oils are known to alleviate stress and keep the mind and body relaxed. Vetivert and clary sage work together with their calming properties to prepare the body for a good night's sleep. Patchouli is used to have a grounding and balancing effect on the mind, especially emotions. Together, these ‘relax’ both mind and body and encourage restful sleep.

The Restore Bath Oil is designed to relieve tense and aching muscles and stress. It contains a blend of pine, fir needle, black spruce, cypress, juniper berry, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender and lemon verbena essential oils. A mix of pine, fir needle, rosemary, and juniper berry can clear the head of negative thoughts and lets the mind focus. Black spruce, cypress, lemon verbena, geranium, and lavender all work together to alleviate the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Eucalyptus works to release the tension and aches of muscles. The Restore blend clears the mind, relaxes aching muscles and generally helps the body to decompress.

The third bath oil in the set is Revive Bath Oil. This unique blend of grapefruit, sweet orange, pink and black peppercorn, cajeput, lime, pine leaf, rosemary, lemongrass, juniper berry and geranium essential oils are used to stimulate your senses and energise your body to help fight fatigue. The blend of grapefruit, lemongrass, pine leaf, cajeput, and lime peel energises the body and mind and helps the body ward off tiredness. Sweet orange, juniper fruit, geranium flower, and pink and black peppercorn are all-natural mood enhancers. These oils uplift spirits and instantly bring balance to emotions. Rosemary is used here for improving your memory and concentration - which we all need!

To use these bath oils, simply add 5ml or 2-3 spoonfuls of the oil to a warm bath. Cotswold Remedies recommends mixing the bath oil in the tub before getting in to fully disperse. Then step in, lie down, take a deep breath and relax; it's time to ease away all that stress.

We loved using this trio. Our favourite was Revive; the fragrance, in particular, resonated with us. All three little bottles of blended essential oil magic have become our #amazingfinds, and for good reasons, they work! If you need more of a good therapeutic soak, then these are a bath oil set we’d recommend. To purchase the three 10ml bottles, in the Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection for £14, click here.

Wellgard : Gold Standard Vital Mushrooms Powder 100% Organic, Blend of 6 Extracts

We love trying the latest superfoods and, at The Amazing Blog, we discovered Wellgard’s  Gold Standard Vital Mushrooms Powder which has been formulated to help improve performance and cognitive resilience. It’s filled with many essential vitamins and recently came to light when it won ‘Best Health or Beauty Drink – Mix’ as a joint wellbeing award winner at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Wellgard is a wellbeing brand founded in 2016, with a variety of clinically proven supplements. All products are made in the UK, and the ingredients used in their products are simple, clean and backed by science. The company is part of the Bayagan Group, founded by Yousaf Sekander, its an organisation with a diverse group of companies in the wellbeing and beauty industry, including Swiftwhite and Procoal. The Bayagan Group has built a strong portfolio of brands and follows the emerging market trends, and taps into new opportunities. Wellgard’s philosophy is "Clinically Proven Formulas. Maximum Results.” It all started, when they noticed that some of the products in the supplement sector were either severely marked up or with exaggerated benefits. This is where they’ve strived to create beneficial supplements for their customers that are proven, and also come with prices that are not inflated, and has subsequently led to their online-only presence with a direct to customer sales model. Wellgard’s products are certified organic, pesticide-free, non-GMO and highly concentrated with many active compounds. They also ensure that every part of their packaging is 100% recyclable to ensure the smallest possible impact on the environment.

Wellgard’s latest product, the Gold Standard Vital Mushrooms Powder 100% Organic, Blend of 6 Extracts, includes the world’s six most treasured mushrooms, and as they say, this extract is to help one “feel sharper, more focused, and ready to take on the day, every day.” First and foremost, they are keen to point out it is not a ‘mushroom powder, it’s a mushroom extract powder’. Mushroom powders and mushroom extract powders are not the same thing. It’s because 100kg of harvested mushrooms yields 10kg of mushroom powder. In contrast, 100kg of harvested mushrooms produces just 1kg of mushroom extract. Therefore, this is a highly concentrated extract.

All six mushrooms used have a long history of traditional use and increasing scientific evidence on their effectiveness and benefits for overall health and wellbeing. Organic shiitake mushroom is the first ingredient listed. This type of mushroom extract is known to support the immune system, and boost white blood cells to fight off microbes plus protect against cell damage. Organic lion’s mane mushroom is known to relieve mild symptoms of depression and anxiety and help as an anti-inflammatory. Organic cordyceps mushroom boost performance and energy levels and is used in traditional Chinese medicine to soothe the lung for fatigue or any respiratory diseases. The organic chaga mushroom helps immune health and is a rich source of antioxidants. Organic maitake mushroom reduces cholesterol, maintains blood sugar, and also supports immune function. Finally, the organic reishi mushroom is the sixth mushroom, used to improving sleep, lessening fatigue, and supporting the body with physical and mental stress. With all these 6 mushroom blends, it offers over 100 biologically active compounds. It’s important to point out that this mushroom extract powder is non-GMO, gluten-free, and free from irradiation. Plus, it is free from fillers, soy, preservatives, binders, and chemicals. It’s 100% organic!

The benefits of mushrooms are countless. This mushroom extract powder supports immune health, enhances brain function, boosts energy, reduces anxiety, and even slows ageing. Wellgard claims that their Vital Mushroom Powder contains five times more active compounds than other mushroom powders and is higher in quality and richer in critical active compounds, such as polysaccharides, beta-glucans, and triterpenes. The formula is very concentrated and potent. Therefore, the daily serving is just 1 gram (recommended daily serving) and has five times the amount of active compounds containing 300mg polysaccharides; these provide dietary fibre that helps the digestive system and supports healthy gut flora. This mushroom complex is manufactured in a registered, approved, inspected state-of-the-art facility, with strict adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Each batch is 3rd Party Tested for Quality, Purity, and Potency.

What we love about this mushroom extract powder is that it’s easily dissolvable and can be added to nearly any food or drink (either cold or hot), and it’s so versatile. We’ve added mushroom extract powder to coffee, smoothies, and soups. It has a very mild and slightly umami taste (a fifth basic taste alongside sour, sweet, bitter, and salty) making it easy to add to almost any recipe. Therefore, this mushroom extract powder can be used to enhance stir-fries, stews or pasta adding a new depth of flavour without being overpowering. In fact, we’ve even experimented with using it in a batch of chocolate brownies (chocolate and mushrooms extract are an excellent combination) which were delicious!

It’s another of our #amazingfinds see here to purchase two months’ supply at 60g Wellgard’s Gold Standard Vital Mushrooms Powder for £19.99.

Kiss The Moon : Glow Night-time Body Cream

Are you having trouble sleeping? Then let us introduce you to Kiss The Moon, an award-winning brand known for its night-time aromatherapy products created to help us get better sleep. Sleep, or lack of it, is an issue for us at The Amazing Blog, so we were thrilled to try Kiss The Moon's Glow Night-time Body Cream, which won Best Night-time Body Cream at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Kiss The Moon was founded by Jo Foster, inspired by her own goal to get her sleep back on track. Jo’s lack of sleep came from the international travel, and the stress she accumulated from her previous career in advertising. This is where she discovered the connection between poor sleep and poor skin and began experimenting with different oils when she could not find a simple solution to improve her troubled sleep. In an interview with Wow Beauty, she said, "My sleep suffered, and so did my skin and mood. I searched around for a solution and that's where I started understanding the link between sleep and our sense of smell." Scents can profoundly impact sleep because the sense of smell is controlled by the same part of the brain that maintains our sleep. Certain scents promote better sleep, help you wake up in the morning, and even influence your dreams. And this is when Jo began experimenting with blending essential oils, and in 2014 went on to launch her brand Kiss The Moon. As the brand grew, in 2019, she opened the first Beauty Sleep Boutique in Richmond, Yorkshire, "Our products not only help you get to sleep but also give your skin the nourishment it needs overnight as it repairs and regenerates." Kiss The Moon offers four different ranges Love, Glow, Dream, and Calm. Each collection has a unique blend of ingredients and essential oils, offering a different solution for an individual’s sleep and skin needs. They have a ‘matchmaker’ questionnaire here to help customers choose the right products. In an interview with Welltodoglobal, Jo states that she hopes Kiss The Moon will become a leading voice inputting night-time wellness on the health agenda; "We're the only company that specialises in products that are specifically designed to help improve your night-time wellness - both in terms of sleep and skin repair." They are a multi-award-winning brand, and all products are 100% natural, cruelty-free, not tested on animals, sustainable, made in the UK and Leaping Bunny approved. They also confirm that they do not sell or export their products to China or any other market which requires animal testing by law.

The Glow Night-time Body Cream is part of Kiss The Moon's Glow Range that incorporate a brightening blend of four key ingredients: bitter orange water, rose geranium, myrrh, and litsea. Together, these ingredients work to restore the skin's natural glow. The aroma from the bitter orange water lifts the spirit and encourages healthy circulation, at the same time, rose geranium is known to balance the skin's natural oil levels and offer its sweet floral scent. Myrrh is an ingredient often used to heal, and litsea oil is a citrus scent often used in Chinese medicine to help calm the mind. The Glow Night-time Body Cream helps give a better night's sleep and leaves you to wake up feeling refreshed. We love that it has lots of moisturising ingredients that leave skin feeling smooth and soft, with all the potent aromatherapy blended oils to help nourish and revive the skin. 

Some of the other natural ingredients included here are: Rosehip oil has a host of benefits high concentrations of vitamin A, B vitamins, and vitamin E it’s also known for skin regeneration and healing. Whipped shea butter for its highly moisturising, soothing and repairing properties. Mango seed butter softens the skin. Rosehip seed oil is full of antioxidants. Sunflower seed oil, a non-fragrant oil, is used for skin calming. Sea buckthorn is rich in vitamin C, B, and E. Tocopherol, another source of vitamin E. Petitgrain leaf oil is a fragrant oil that eases feelings of tension, helps calm the nervous system, and promotes restful sleep. Finally, camellia sinensis helps boost the immune system, reduce stress and relieve depression and anxiety.

Confused about whether to choose a body cream, body lotion or body butter? Body Creams are typically thicker than body lotions, both are made up of water and oils. However, the main difference between body cream and body butter is the water to oil ratio. Body butter tends to have no water, whereas body creams are emollient based which enables them to penetrate the skin quicker. As body creams go, this Glow Night-Time Body Cream is exceptional. We found it surprisingly thick, creamy, and luxurious to the touch. Presented in a recyclable solid frosted glass jar, it’s stylish, weighty and easy to repurpose. Body creams are best applied at night, so they have time to absorb and properly hydrate the skin. We applied the cream before bed to our arms and hands, to reap the full benefits of its calming scent. Apart from helping us unwind, we found it had super-hydrating properties that helped moisturise any dry patches. It’s another of our #amazingfinds and one we’d recommend adding to your night-time routine. To purchase a 200ml jar of Kiss The Moon's Glow Night-Time Body Cream at £36 see here. They also have other UK stockists that can be found here