Raised Spirit: Organic CBD Cacao

I think we can all agree that sitting around at home during lockdown can be a bore. But we’ve learnt some new and fun ways to pass the time by experimenting with our baking. Today, The Amazing Blog  would like to introduce a tasty new healthy treat from Raised Spirit with their delicious Organic CBD Cacao use it in baking, spread it on a toasted bun, or just spooned straight from the jar!

Raised Spirit was launched in 2013 by health coach Nick Osipczak. As a former professional athlete, Nick had the opportunity to travel worldwide and learn about health and nutrition from various experts and discovered the hemp plants benefits. He always dreamt of releasing an organic, plant-based product, and in 2017, they launched with CBD Coconut Oil Pro, as their first hemp-infused product. Raised Spirit creates a variety of organically certified CBD edible and topical products, that have the versatility to be used to enrich a diet or applied to the skin.  What sets the brand apart from its competitors, is that they are the first UK brand to produce CBD infused organic coconut oil, which is a superfood in its own right. Their vision for the future is to increase their hemp-based offerings, expanding into clothing, building materials and biofuel.

We couldn’t resist trying the Organic CBD Cacao which is a delicious and divine nutrient-dense superfood. We like that it is  made using only four simple ingredients: Organic CBD coconut oil GOLD, raw cacao powder, coconut blossom syrup and sunflower lecithin.  In this 200m jar is their exclusive ingredient of Organic CDB Coconut oil GOLD, which contains 500mg of full-spectrum (with 0.2% THC), which offers the maximum ‘entourage effect’ meaning that the whole hemp plant is used rather than a single aspect. This offers significant benefits with all the compounds working together boosting the health, and the overall therapeutic effect of the cannabinoids. Plus, there’s vitamins A, D, K and E, as well as 400+ offer compounds found in the hemp plant. This is combined with organic coconut oil made of 100% medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) with a shorter chemical structure than other fats. In simple terms, the fats are quickly absorbed, promoting satiety and preventing fat storage. The lauric acid in the oil destroys bacteria that can lead to stomach ulcers and food poisoning, and converts to monolaurin, for a protective immune function. It also has the advantage of being a stable oil without spoiling when used at high temperatures making it an excellent substitute for any kind of butters or vegetable oils.

The addition of the raw cacao here is another superfood, made from raw fermented unroasted cocoa beans. This organic cacao powder has 40 times the number of antioxidants of blueberries, is full of anti-inflammatory flavanols, and is packed with mood-enhancing compounds that release endorphins making it so compatible with the full-spectrum CBD here. The other two ingredients are coconut blossom syrup, a nectar collected from the sap of coconut blossoms, a healthy sweetening alternative to sugar and contains iron, magnesium and zinc. And finally, the sunflower lecithin, is the vegan alternative to the lecithin typically sourced from egg yolks, it has antioxidant properties and helps contribute to brain, heart and liver health.

This Organic CBD Cacao has a semi-sweet coconut-chocolatey taste that offers a variety of uses, and is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. Whether you’re in the mood for baking chocolate brownies, or quickly adding some to a smoothie, this won’t disappoint! So, If you’re planning to make changes for a healthier diet, or just looking to experiment with something new, this will make for a tasty substitute. It is very rich, so if you get tempted to spoon it from the jar (like us!), you’ll find that 2 teaspoons will quickly satisfy that chocolate craving. Dare we compare this to a well-known high street hazelnut spread? Yes, we will as we think this is much nicer!  We used it (as suggested) combining two tablespoons of CBD Cacao with 1 cup of oat milk on low heat, whisking it and blending thoroughly - yum.  We also got creative and used this in a recipe "Cacao & Almond Date Energy Balls" on Raised Spirit’s Facebook page here;  which we found to be a good sweet energy pick-me-up ideal for those afternoon slump moments. Or you could try experimenting with your favourite chocolate brownie recipe by substituting butter and cocoa with this healthier (and tastier) alternative. Curious to try?  Then see here where you can purchase this 200ml jar of Raised Spirits Organic CBD Cacao for £39.99.

GoBo: Deodorising Fluid

Who doesn’t go through that uncomfortable feeling of sticky armpits or the occasional ingrown hair? Today at The Amazing Blog we’d like to share another of our #amazingfinds with this new Deodorising Fluid that keeps them smelling fresh and feeling pampered. This is GoBo the first AHA Deodorant to launch here in the UK.

GoBo are part of a British parent company Lamonts & Co, which manufacture consumer health and wellbeing products. GoBo‘s creator Laura Lamont said, “Underarms are meant to sweat naturally, but that doesn't mean you have to smell by the end of the day.” This is where she saw a gap in the UK market for a new type of deodorant containing powerful ingredients, such as AHA's, to detox and deodorise underarms as well as nourish the skin. The AHA here stands for alpha-hydroxy acid, consisting of mandelic, malic, lactic and glycolic acids derived from nuts, fruits, milk or sugar cane.  AHA’s are well-known for their exfoliating, smoothing and depigmenting and firming properties – which GoBo boosts here. The brand promises a natural product that is cruelty-free, and free from alcohol, essential oils, aluminium and parabens. Apart from the underarm area, this gentle formula can be used in between skin folds or under the breast area to help prevent or neutralise body odours. GoBo promises an astonishing 24 - 48 hour protection with a choice of four Deodorising Fluids Original Unfragranced, Jasmin, Orange Blossom and Rose.  

So how does GoBo work? When you switch to a natural deodorant after using one with chemical ingredients, the glycolic acid will eliminate the accumulated grime, sweat, and dead cells build-up. The other key ingredients here are arrowroot which acts as a moisture absorbent keeping the skin dry. In contrast, the vegetable glycerine takes on the role of moisturising agent, resulting in a well-hydrated skin area. Whereas the Guar Gum here is a natural food-grade thickener working as a prebiotic. What’s unique about this GoBo’s formula, is that it won’t prevent you from sweating; instead, it’ll let your body perspire naturally.  As mentioned earlier, the product reduces pigmentation and prevents ingrown hairs caused by depilation; what more can one ask for? The brand kindly sent us two products from the range with the Original Unfragranced and Orange Blossom. The Deodorising Fluid comes in a small glass bottle with a roll-on for easy application. The serum-like texture dries quickly, leaving no residues, making it quick and practical, especially when you’re dressing in a hurry. The Original Unfragranced is unscented, while the Orange Blossom is fragranced by only using natural floral water and has a mild scent that didn’t conflict with any other fragrances we used. After giving these a try, we can safely say that they keep their promise of providing fresh and smooth underarms. Would we buy more? Absolutely! As we get into spring, why not make the switch to these fresh AHA Deodorising Fluids for your new natural deodorant. You can purchase any of the four 100ml GoBo AHA Deodorants here. for £9.99.

CUBID CBD: Re:Vive Stay Active Gel

We don’t know about you, but here at The Amazing Blog time seems to have flown by - can you believe that it’s almost March? Whether like us, you’ve been keeping up with your New Year fitness goals, or just began your activities; certainly one or other of us here has already experienced some kind of soreness, joint pain or both! Most probably because in lockdown we’ve pushed ourselves even harder with a new home workout or perhaps walked too many extra steps. If this is you, don’t fret, as today we talking about the very soothing Re:Vive Stay Active Gel by CUBID CBD. 

CUBID CBD is a brand specialising in CBD, hemp-derived cannabidiol topicals and oils. Based in Derby CUBID CBD was founded by Paul Caplin in 2019, they produce high quality, award-winning CBD products with a reassuring tagline, “Choose a Better Day, Everyday.” Danielle Nodwell, CUBID CBD’s brand director, commented that the brand was created to “become an influencer, lead CBD revolution, and deliver a range of products that answered the specific needs of our customer.” Because the demand for CBD has been growing in the UK, CUBID CBD has made their products THC free, vegan and cruelty-free; using only broad-spectrum hemp oil in each of their topical products. Combining agricultural and scientific expertise, CUBID CBD's hemp is grown on a farm in Colorado where they to use an ethanol extraction method which is classified as GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) by the FDA. The CBD here has natural cannabinoids, proteins and fats, plus it is free from pesticides, solvents and parabens. CUBID CBD has a carefully curated self-care skin and body care regime, known as ‘the seven R’s’: Re:juvenate; Re:fresh; Re:lax; Re:scue; Re:new; Re:set and Re:Vive (which we review below).

CUBID CBD Re:Vive Stay Active Gel was a recent winner of Highly Commended in the Pure Beauty Awards London 2020; this is a botanical anti-inflammatory gel, which is light, cooling and designed to aid aching muscle issues. This has 500mg of CBD in the 100ml, where the 66% CBD combined with the other botanicals soothes any inflammation and finds a way to mend it. It’s blended with botanicals such as wintergreen leaf oil known to help ease stiff muscles, grapeseed oil to improve blood flow and rosemary oil with its anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. Also enriched with eucalyptus leaf this helps with arthritis and has the added plus of its scent which helps to ignite an inner calm for a clear mind. Whereas the fruit extracts such as blackcurrant containing gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) that's been said to help ease inflammation, and the strawberry extract with ellagic acid is also another effective anti-inflammatory. The black pepper seed oil offers relief from spasms and cramps; and finally the cinnamon leaf oil stimulates circulation reduces muscle stress and relieves pain. It had a silky-smooth texture which melts seamlessly into the skin offering comfort to exhausted and tender muscles. With its soft fragrance, we could only detect a very pleasant and subtle eucalyptus and rosemary scent on the skin. As someone who has arthritis, I found that this offered some gentle relief. I also found it good for overworked hands, as well as shoulder and neck stiffness. Apply this Gel directly onto the skin and massage in circular motions to target the sore areas. You can use it daily at any time, or  before bed for a night of enhanced restful sleep. The Re:Vive Stay Active Gel can also be paired up with the oil drops by CUBID CBD for additional benefits. By the way, if you purchase the Re:Vive Stay Active Gel along with their Re:Set Oil Drops  you can save £20. The Re:Vive Stay Active Gel is here 100ml for £30. 

Rebel Wine Ltd: CBD Infused Wine

Are you taking part in the new lockdown trend of the ‘virtual happy hour’? We at The Amazing Blog think it’s a brilliant way to say ‘cheers’ and stay in touch with our family and friends. As regular readers will know, we’re always looking to introduce new kinds of tipples, and today its Rebel Wine with their trio of CBD-infused wines. Yes, our beloved CBD in a very different guise!

Rebel Wine Ltd is a British company founded by Rupert St Aubyn, a wine connoisseur and merchant. After two years of experimentation, they created the perfect formula for CBD-infused wine, commissioning the award-winning South African winemaker Matthew Copeland from Vondeling Estates, to blend and create. St Aubyn had this idea to combine CBD and wine, and when asked why, he said, “CBD is usually served as an oil and can be taken in its natural form using a dropper. However, it has a bitter taste, so is much nicer when combined with food or drink. Blending our wine with CBD worked better than we could have dreamed of. It combines all the goodness of CBD with the highest quality wines imported from South Africa, to make a fabulous drink.”  Rebel Wine’s ethos is: “If you follow all the rules, you miss all the fun” this tongue-in-cheek attitude is reflected in their hip branding and kitsch 50’s vibe.  What makes this trio of wines unique, is that they’re the first CBD-infused wine produced here in the UK.  Each of the three wine varieties is combined with the highest-quality organically grown hemp from Colorado, where all the extraction is done using only the supercritical C02 method. It’s 100% vegan and each can contains 10mg of broad-spectrum CBD with no THC, guaranteeing a safe and completely legal drinking experience. Available in 200ml cans, makes these ideal for picnics or outdoor events. Not only do these cans lower the carbon footprint, but they’re more convenient for a quick glass, portable, fast chilling and easily recyclable. After only three months from their launch, the brand won their first Bronze award in the Beverages category of the Canex 2020 awards.   With a lower alcohol content of around 12.5% ABV, they currently offer a Rose, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot which are sold at an affordable price of £4.25 each, and for this price you simply can’t go wrong.  

We were sent the Three Can Gift set bundle to try: Merlot, Rose, and Sauvignon Blanc.  Given the option, we prefer to drink our wine from a glass, rather than straight from the can. Something to quickly mention, is that when poured all three of these grape varieties had a noticeably cloudy hue. This is absolutely no reflection on the wine quality, and it’s to do with the CBD infusion. First, let’s talk about our favourite the Merlot, this is a smooth and fruity red wine that is great for everyday drinking. It contains 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% ABV. This original Merlot from Vondeling is currently featured in the renowned Platter's Wine Guide in 2020 with 3.5 stars. Rebel Wine recommends drinking this in combination with eggs and bacon butty while listening to (of course) Rebel, Rebel by Bowie! We’d say, with its red fruits, easy tannins and soft finish we prefer to pair it with dark chocolate (yum!) Next, the Rose, this is a refreshingly fruity with a crisp finish and needs to be served chilled. It is a pale blush pink in colour and we think great as a light refreshment and aperitif, as its easily quaffable with or without food. Also made from the Merlot grape, this original Rose wine from Vondeling recently won a Gold at The Annual Rose Rocks Awards in 2020. Finally, the Sauvignon Blanc, is a zesty, light-bodied gooseberry-ish white. It contains 100% Sauvignon Blanc and 12.5% ABV. Again, served chilled, we think this is an everyday drinking wine that marries well with anything from seafood, soft cheeses to a naughty fried chicken takeaway!  All without that taste of hempyness, we applaud Rebel Wine for creating this exceptional trio and can’t wait to try more - perhaps a CBD sparkling wine next? To purchase the Three Can Gift Pack at £14 (3 x 200ml cans), click here.

Yatlina Mask Drops & Simon Copeland Face Masks

When stepping outside our front door, wearing a mask has now become a necessity to keep our loved ones safe.  Today at The Amazing Blog  we’d like to introduce Yatlina’s Mask Drops who offer an ingenious solution, helping to keep our masks smelling fresh!

Yatlina was launched last year by Yasmine EIGhamrawy, a registered and certified aromatherapist, who’s created a range of aromatherapy-based products. EIGhamrawy worked in the fast-paced world of film visual effects for 20 years before switching to become an aromatherapist. This experience has helped her gain a better understanding of how to deal with stress, which is where she wants to impart this knowledge and passion to others. The brand's ethos is to create products with the highest quality ingredients using three core principles, the chemistry with potency, traditions with usage, and scent profiling. With these Yatlina Mask Drops delivers maximum effectiveness for everyday use, with ingredients that are 100% natural and cruelty-free. What makes Yatlina unique, is that they're the only brand to creates aromatherapy drops specifically designed for use with a face mask. These are a mix of pure essential oils and flower water hydrosols; which are safe to use close to the face, and can easily be washed off any fabric masks. Yatlina currently sells two Mask Drop products: Calm Blend and Power Up Blend in 10ml or 5 ml bottles.

We received both the Yatlina Mask Drops with The Calm Blend, and Power Up Blends. Both help lift the discomfort associated with wearing a mask by producing calming and energising aromas. When inhaled, these essential oils disrupt the central nervous systems stress signals and help the muscles relax, which activates the parasympathetic response that supports the immune system. Key ingredients used in both the Yatlina Mask Drop blends include caprylyl/capryl glucoside, flower water hydrosols and three main chemical constituents: linalyl acetate, linalool, and B-caryophyllene, which offer uplifting health benefits and make the formula safe to use on masks. Capryl glucoside is a natural low foam base and mild cleanser used in cosmetic products for sensitive skin individuals. It is plant-derived, biodegradable, and gentle on the skin. It creates fine and stable foam and is a good solubiliser for essential oils. Flower water hydrosols are produced by filtering fresh leaves, fruits, flowers, and other plants. These waters are less concentrated than pure essential oils, making their aromas soft and subtle. The blend includes three chemical compounds: 24-36% of linalyl acetate, 24 - 33.34% of linalool, and 0.6- 2.5% of B-caryophyllene. Linalyl acetate reduces skin inflammation, heals rashes and reduces blood pressure. Linalool, which produces a pleasant floral aroma, is a common constituent in a wide variety of skincare products. It is anti-inflammatory and has sedative and stress-relieving effects through oil inhalation. B-caryophyllene is a primary contributor to black peppers spiciness and is a significant constituent in cloves, rosemary and cannabis. It is directly beneficial to colitis, osteoarthritis, anxiety, depression, liver fibrosis, and Alzheimer's type diseases. 

In the Calm Blend ingredients include soothing neroli, calming lavender and uplifting bergamot mint, which help promote calm and wellness and reduce depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, nausea, and stress. These inspire a feeling of being 'centred' and we found that there’s something very comforting and reassuring about this blend. In the Power Up Blend, rosemary, cooling peppermint, earthy clary sage and coriander combined help improve memory and concentration as well as reduce pain, stress, and anxiety. This aroma is bright, fresh and floral, and brings a creative clarity. It can be used when out and about or when needed for a good brain boost during the day. To use these Mask Drops: (1) Apply one drop to each side of the mask before wearing (2) Reapply if needed throughout the day. (3) If using a reusable cloth mask, wash it after every use and air dry to keep fresh and clean. They advise that these Mask drops can also be added to tissue or cotton wool to use as a light personal inhaler. We’ve loved using these drops and cannot recommend them highly enough. To purchase Yatlina's Mask Drops, see here where you can buy in full-size 10ml for £18.99 or in travel size 5ml for £10.99. 

You will also see  Simon Copeland's Technicolour Marilyn Mask pictured above. As a couturier and designer Simon Copeland's face masks highlight his creativity and sophistication with these fashionable designs. Customers can order personalised and unique masks - we highly recommend exploring more here. These masks are interlined with washable cotton jersey and lined with silk satin to be soft against the skin and could be worn daily in combination with Yatlina's Mask Drops. All profits from these face masks will be donated to NHS Charities. To purchase the Technicolour Marilyn (above) for £29.99, click here; ** 10% off discount code to use anytime until the end of March 2021 (code amzpr10).**