A.T. Antao - Aqua Fresh Cleanser

We’ve featured this international skincare brand A.T Antao a few times before here on The Amazing Blog. They very kindly sent us more of their products, two of which were nominated at the CEW Beauty Awards 2019, the first of which we’re reviewing today with their Aqua Fresh Cleanser.

A.T. Antao was founded in 2014 by successful entrepreneur and skincare expert Teniya Tao who has made it her mission, to share the power of her Chinese ancestral ingredients, with women across the globe. Teniya also wants to empower women, “to realise their own potential. Self-belief, confidence, competence, and independence are achievable and realistic goals for all, under the dynamic leadership of Teniya and in partnership with her brand A.T.“ She actively encourages women to be in charge of their own destiny, which in Chinese, translates rather charmingly as: "Be your own Queen’.

The Aqua Fresh Cleanser is a light and non-greasy cleanser (good for combination or oily skins) it acts as a 2-in-1, as it not only cleanses but also hydrates. It feels smooth and balm-like when applied to the face. However, when it makes contact with water, the balm transforms into creamy lotion, melting away any stubborn makeup residue. Thanks to its numerous oils, like olive, rose, grape seed and sea buckthorn; it leaves the pores free from impurities and daily grime, with skin velvet-soft to the touch fragranced with rose. As a formula, they have created this to work in tandem with the pH balance of the skin. It efficiently cleanses without drying, making it ideal for winter. It comes in a stylish pearlised pink tub with the palest pink translucent balm, that when you open the jar, you’re greeted with a delicate aroma that is unmistakably rose.  Much as we loved the texture, fragrance and performance of this cleanser, there were a few things on the ingredients list that we must point out. It was disappointing to see a few of our no-nos here with their use of the preservative methylparaben. Sadly, as we read further down the list, we realised that this is not a natural formula, as it also contains microcrystalline wax, ethylhexyl palmitate, polyethylene, cocopoly-7, cocoyl and aminopropyl betaine. Our hope is that the brand might one day think about reformulating this with more natural ingredients for the future? To use, apply to the face with the provided spatula, add water, and massage in gently. Finally, rinse off and gently dry your skin.  You can purchase this rose-scented Aqua Fresh cleanser for £18.90 here.

Black Ink - CBD Infused Coffee

We’ve previously introduced CBD oil, skincare and a few edibles; today we’d like to talk about another way of getting your daily dose of CBD, that we’ve been experiencing at The Amazing Blog. It’s one that’s perfect for the coffee enthusiast, or for those who want to try CBD, but dislike the earthy taste of hemp. Welcome Black Ink CBD Coffee.

Black Ink CBD Coffee is founded by Irish entrepreneur Gavin RC Moore and is now one of the leading CBD coffee brands here in the UK and Ireland. It owes its reputation to its premium-quality organically certified Arabica coffee beans, and its full-spectrum infused European CBD. The coffee beans are grown on the Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, which is what gives the beans their world-renowned flavour. You’re probably wondering what purpose there is to mix CBD and coffee. Well, CBD and caffeine each have similar beneficial properties, some of which include mood-lifting and antioxidant effects. Because of these shared properties, caffeine and CBD enhance each other. As most of our regular readers will know, the real benefit of taking CBD is to calm anxiety and nerves and help soothe pain, as it has a ‘relaxing’ effect. As surprising as it may be, this is where the CBD comes into play; its relaxing effect balances the stimulant of the caffeine, helping to eliminate the jitters and anxiety. Now, you might be wondering how you are going to get your usual morning pick-me-up if there is CBD inside. Rest assured, the CBD will not completely overpower the caffeine, so you will still be able to get that alertness from your morning coffee, the caffeine’s ‘drawbacks’ are simply balanced. The result is a pretty good feeling of being energised but relaxed all at the same time, a sort of ‘serene concentration’.

The girls at the office have been having this as their morning coffee, and say that the coffee tastes rich and smooth with a touch of very well-rounded nuttiness and subtle berry flavours. However, interestingly not with a trace of hempiness! It’s an almost identical match to pure Arabica coffee, with no bitter aftertaste. On the safety and ethical sides, you’ll be pleased to know that this product is third-party lab tested, that the grains and hemp used for the blends are organic and that their packaging is entirely recyclable. Each pack has 200g of CBD-infused ground coffee beans and should make about 20 cups. A cup of coffee includes approximately 10mg of CBD which provides you with your morning wellness nutrients (it takes about 20 minutes for these to spread through the body).  We used our trusty Aeropress for single cups. They suggest brewing your coffee in a cafetiere, by adding about 10-15g of Black Ink CBD Infused Coffee per person, pour near-boiling water, stir, and cover. Wait about 3-4 minutes, then push the strainer down. Your CBD-infused cup of coffee is now ready! Even though this is the traditional way to make it, you can also drink it as a cold brew. Like any other coffee, it should be kept in a sealed container in a cool, dry place and away from direct sunlight to last. Remember, it needs to be consumed with three weeks from opening to get the full benefits from the fresh ingredients. If you want to make BLACK INK CBD Infused Coffee part of your morning routine, you can purchase the pack of 200g for £30 here. You can also turn it into a monthly subscription and save up to 10%.

THE PASTRY CHEF’S GUIDE by Ravneet Gill

Here at The Amazing Blog we not only enjoy eating delicious food but also finding new ways to simplify and cook it ourselves.  We’ve been making sure that we have got a supply of flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda so we can enjoy the current baking craze whilst staying at home.  Talking of which, today we’re featuring  The Pastry Chef’s Guide which will help ‘to up your game’ and get you onto another level in the world of baking. It also helped satisfy a sweet tooth! 

The Pastry Chef’s Guide is written by the inspirational Ravneet Gill for both chefs and home bakers, it’s a reference book that should be on everyone’s cookbook shelf.  Don’t be ‘afraid’ of baking is the message!  Gill writes about her love of baking and pastry which shines through, it’s easy and fun to read. It shows how to go back to basics and explains the use of each ingredient in detail like butter, gluten, gelatine; so you know how to get it right every time. Having started her love of sweets with chocolate covered raisins and Cadbury’s Fruit & Nut;  Gill studied at Le Cordon Bleu before taking over the pastry sections at St John, Llewelyn’s and Wild by Tart. Now a freelance chef, during 2018  she set up an industry networking forum called Countertalk, it’s a job service and community that advises on healthy work environments in the food industry. She has since successfully hosted events that encourage chefs to expand their knowledge outside of their stations by learning directly from other chefs.

The book is a joy to read as well as being straightforward in telling you how to line your tins, boiling points and what equipment you really need.  This book is all about the ingredients and taste-making sure it is seasonal whilst producing impressive puddings and pastries, Gill says she learned a lot of that from Fergus Henderson who writes the introduction to the book.  The Cherry and Custard Pie that she created here, is still on the menu at St John’s Restaurant.  The recipes are seriously good having been organised into sections of Sugar, Custards, Chocolate, Pastry, Biscuits, Cakes and Puddings.  There are step-by-step recipes to help you master custard, nail crème patisserie, or bake the ultimate gluten-free chocolate cake.  So whether you want to make a fluffy birthday cake, smooth and rich ice creams macarons, or meringues, Gill gives great advice to make it all seem easy, a good pastry chef is all about balance.  There are also great tips to help avoid the pitfalls, i.e. for meringues use a clean dry glass, ceramic, or metal bowl to avoid the egg absorbing any smell, colour, grease from a plastic bowl. French, Italian even Swiss meringues are all clearly explained; as are all the uses for custard from ice cream to doughnut filling, delicious. You can buy the book here at the price of £18.99, we think it’s a must for any cook!  

For those who want an online course, you can join Ravneet Gill at the Puff Bakery School for pastry online, where there are some great reviews on their courses.

Oh My Garden - Balancing Facial Oil

Although we think that ageing gracefully is a beautiful thing, we always use a daily skincare to enhance and protect our complexions at The Amazing Blog. As this is our favourite time of year to use face oils, today we are featuring a new brand Oh My Garden with their natural Balancing Facial Oil.

Oh My Garden is a Canadian natural beauty brand. The story began when after spending almost, a year following a 10-step skincare routine, the founder Togzhan Jumagulova was astonished to learn how much plastic was used in these products. As a researcher with a PhD, her curiosity led her on to research further the effect not only on the beauty industry but on the environment. She was horrified to learn about the microplastics and silicone build-up, plus the toxicity levels of some synthetic compounds, and the unsustainable practices within the beauty industry. She wanted to make a difference, which is when in 2019 Jumagulova created this skincare line of Oh My Garden. The brand’s goal is to provide environmentally conscious and scientific-based ingredients for the consumer that are natural, vegan and cruelty-free. As Jumagulova says, “Beauty is more than maintaining good looks. It’s about self-care, it’s a ritual of self-love. It’s about staying healthy and saying “thank you” to our bodies. Textures, subtle natural aromas, colours, and packaging - everything we create we design to add vibrancy and excitement to your everyday life.”  Oh My Garden believes that skincare should be an expression of self-love and the Balancing Facial Oil here is one of four products in their collection.

This Balancing Facial Oil can be used by all skin types; however, it is formulated for combination and oily skin. The golden oil used just by itself gives the skin a glorious glow. The main use of this oil is to balance sebum production in the skin. The skin’s response to dry skin is to produce more oil for the moisture lost, which then results in oiler skin, leading on to more problems. Jumagulova explained the benefits of using this Facial Oil: “This might sound counterintuitive, but the great solution for this issue is rightly chosen facial oil. The plant oils form a breathable occlusive layer that stops water from evaporating and also gradually restore the skin barrier and calm irritations. As a result, the skin stops losing the moisture and the sebum production naturally regulates back to normal.” Let’s look at the key ingredients starting with the Abyssinian oil which is rich in an array of vitamins such as B1, B2, A, B6, E and C. It is considered one of the best moisturisers because it locks in hydration and eliminates dead skin giving a youthful look. The argan oil contains antioxidants such as polyphenols and vitamin E, which help brighten the skin and protect the skin from sun damage (although you still need to use sunscreen). Meadowfoam seed oil’s most significant benefit is to bring balance to the skin (our photo above is with the Meadowfoam flower). Squalane can help with hydration, boosts collagen giving the skin a firmer feel, and contains anti-inflammatory properties that reduce redness and swelling. The raspberry seed oil helps control oil production, fights against wrinkles and acne. Sea buckthorn oil helps skin elasticity and regenerating cells. The prickly pear seed oil contains high amounts of antioxidants which can help prevent skin damage, ageing and breakouts. Tocopherol (AKA vitamin E) has properties that defend the skin from pollution and environmental stressors. Ylang-ylang here is considered an essential oil and in skincare, it regulates oil production while soothing irritation and inflammation. Similarly, tea tree oil soothes redness and is also an antimicrobial. This Balancing Facial Oil is lightweight and absorbs quickly, the fragrance is neutral, if anything we detected a slight delicious nuttiness. We applied a few drops directly to the face, which we then massaged gently in. It didn’t feel ‘oily’ at all, in fact, now the sun strength has gone and we’re moving towards winter, we’d be happy to use this alone (or under SPF), it also makes an excellent primer for makeup. To purchase a 30ml bottle Oh My Garden Balancing Facial Oil for $45 see here.

Naturopathica CBD+ Turmeric Capsules

We’re back again on the CBD trail, this time at The Amazing Blog it’s with a range of capsules that have just launched. However, these are not just any capsules they are CBD+ Turmeric combined from Naturopathica.

In a partnership between CBD brand Elixinol and supplement brand Pharmacare, they created  Naturopathica with a range of CBD+ capsules. These are a selection of six different CBD + products, each one has a different health benefit and also addresses a specific issue, i.e. they’re appropriately named Digestion, Mind, Night, Wellbeing, Turmeric and Unwind. With 5mg of CBD per capsule, they say that these are ‘super-concentrated’ with full-spectrum CBD that’s sourced here in the UK. It’s worth remembering that the optimal dose of CBD to take will always depend on a range of factors: Bodyweight, the condition being treated and the individual’s body chemistry.

We chose the Naturopathica CBD+ Turmeric which focuses on healthy joint and cartilage function. Both turmeric and CBD come from plants with a long list of impressive qualities.  Taking this supplement is a must for anyone who has an active lifestyle or suffers from arthritis. Other than the CBD, the two main ingredients are curcumin and vitamin C. Curcumin is found in turmeric which contains over 100 different chemical compounds. However, one that stands out is the curcumin, it’s proven to alleviate both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and has both antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties. The vitamin C here is one of the most important vitamins for helping maintain a healthy body function. It has numerous benefits including boosting the immune system, lowering blood pressure, collagen formation and reducing fatigue. Naturopathic even have a lab report that you can read on these ingredients here. Probably the best-known beneficial effect of the combination of this 5mg CBD and 265mg of turmeric is their mutual ability to quell inflammation. We have only taken this supplement for 30 days and can’t honestly say that we’ve noticed any difference, we think that it needs at least 60-90 days to be able to monitor properly any changes in the body. The capsules are easy to take, and as a regular curcumin capsule-popper, I might be persuaded to swap my daily 500mg with this; however, I might have to double the dose!  If you’d like to try these, then see here to buy the CBD+ Turmeric Capsules at £39.99 for 30 capsules.