Dr.Vegan: Vitamin D3

Does anyone get enough sunlight these days? Having been stuck inside for months, for us at The Amazing Blog, we certainly don’t! So, we were itching to try Dr.Vegan’s Vitamin D3, especially as it’s 100% plant-based and with the added bonus of multiple health benefits. We also like that their slogan says, Dr.Vegan products make a “Better Me. Better Planet.” 

Dr.Vegan  is for every kind of diet, all products are vegan or vegetarian, non-GMO and free of lactose, gluten, dairy, allergens, starch, and sugar. The company was founded in summer 2020 with the mission “to bring clarity, simplicity and ethics to your nutrition and supplements.” Dr.Vegan supplements are formulated by expert nutritionists and made in the UK. Their products are shipped worldwide and delivered for free in the UK. Dr.Vegan is all about protecting the planet, so their naturally sourced, plant-based supplements come in a refillable pill tin and are shipped in biodegradable and recyclable packaging. Since their ingredients are in a more bioavailable form, they are more absorbable and effective. And since their supplements come as capsules instead of tablets, they are free of binders and additives. Gordon Lott, the co-founder of Dr. Vegan, has been in e-commerce for 20 years and “is passionate about using technology to simplify the world of nutrition and supplements, empowering customers with easily accessible information to improve their understanding and control over their daily wellbeing.” On Dr.Vegan’s website, you can create a diet profile that shows you what nutrients your diet is missing and what supplements their nutritionists recommend for you. This was impressive, and creating a diet profile took us around five minutes, and all of the supplements they recommended made complete sense. 

Dr.Vegan’s Vitamin D3 is good for your bones, muscles, and immunity. Vitamin D also helps your body absorb calcium, keeping your bones and teeth healthy. It is good for your muscles, and specifically your heart, because it supports healthy muscle function. Did you know that low levels of vitamin D can cause heart disease? And lastly, vitamin D is good for your immune system because and keeps it in balance, so it’s not over or under-functioning. We get this vitamin from the sun, but most of us (especially in the UK) don’t get enough sunlight to be vitamin D sufficient, and that’s where this vitamin D3 supplement comes in. Being plant-based, Dr.Vegan’s Vitamin D3 is primarily sourced from the cholecalciferol in Lichen, which is a green algae.The only other ingredients this supplement contains besides vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol from lichen) are brown rice flour and capsule shell (HPMC, vegetable cellulose). Dr.Vegan’s Vitamin D3 comes with 30 capsules, where they advise to take one a day with food. Each capsule contains 2500IU, which is the ideal support for any diet. Public Health England recommends all adults take vitamin D supplements, specifically during the autumn and winter. And during the pandemic, many experts have recommended taking this D supplement to help protect themselves against COVID-19. Our conclusion is that vitamin D is always beneficial, especially right now — and Dr. Vegan has now made it easy for us all to access, with this their ethically sourced vitamin D3 supplements. If you’re lacking sunlight or looking to protect your health, you can buy Dr.Vegan’s Vitamin D3 here for 30 capsules it is £6.75 for a one-off or you can subscribe monthly, saving 15% and pay £5.74. 

Raven Botanicals: Solstice Rejuvenating Facial Oil

If you're familiar with The Amazing Blog, then you’ll know how much we love our skincare! We think finding the right product always starts with understanding the ingredients used. With the longest day fast approaching, we thought it'd be rather appropriate to feature this Solstice Rejuvenating Facial Oil from Raven Botanicals. A new natural skincare brand who offer full transparency on all their ingredients.

Raven Botanicals was founded in July 2020 by two sisters, Arabella and Charlotte Harvey. Growing up surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Scotland, they began to experiment with the natural ingredients that surrounded them. "From the only CO₂extracted sea buckthorn oil in the country, hand-picked on the ancient East Lothian coastline, to lavender oil from Fife, our range of serums, facial oils, masks, balms and cleansers pay tribute to the power of nature's finest ingredients." Choosing high-quality and locally sourced ingredients is a priority for Raven Botanicals. A cruelty-free brand, most of their ingredients are organic and either vegetarian or vegan; where these handcrafted products are created in small batches without preservatives. In addition to the ethical practices in the formulation of their products, the packaging is ‘deliberately simple’ with biodegradable and compostable labels. Their labels are made from sugar cane, hemp and linen to replace wood-based paper, and they strive to deliver their products without unnecessary shipping materials. Their products also come in widely recycled materials like glass and aluminium, with reusable components like pumps and droppers. Raven Botanicals also believe in the transformative power of self-care, and have a giving-back policy with regular product donations to the charity Womens' Aid. By joining their 'Love Raven Rewards' community, purchasers can use these points towards a discount on their next order or go to support Women's Aid. Although the brand is less than a year old, six out of the nine products have already been recognised as award winners!

The Solstice Rejuvenating Facial Oil has plant-based ingredients like sweet almond, rosehip, sunflower, pumpkin and evening primrose oils. It effectively addresses dry skin and the appearance of fine lines in mature skin types. Other natural plant derivatives like jojoba and camellia seeds oils are also used to help hydrate, moisturise and restore a healthy and youthful complexion. The combination of these oils stimulating collagen and elastin production, repairing and healing blemishes.

The 'Solstice' element of this Facial Oil gets its name from drawing on a rich heritage of ceremonial and symbolic ritual ingredients like myrrh and Damask rose in this skincare. . One of these time-honoured ingredients Myrrh, is resin obtained from a wound that penetrates through the bark and into the sapwood, where the tree secretes a Myrrh gum. This has been used as a perfume and for medicinal purposes for centuries. The Ancient Egyptians so highly prized Myrrh that they purchased entire boatloads, using it in incense and salves to heal wounds and sores. There is also rosa damascena (damask rose); this highly-scented rose was originally grown in Central Asia and Damascus, but then it was brought to Morocco in the Middle Ages. Now its mainly grown in the Dadès Valley for dried flowers, oils and rosewater. It’s said that the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to have rowed along a canal filled with rose petals with the Empress consort Mumtaz Mahal. In the intense heat of the sun, the scent was intoxicating: so much so, that the surface of the water was skimmed to capture the beautiful perfume and her luxurious residence furnished with opulent rose water fountains. In the 1940s, the French built distilleries 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 rosa damascena has intoxicating rosy notes accented by spicy facets, which are evident here in the Solstice Rejuvenating Facial Oil.

To get the best results, they suggest massaging 2-6 drops on your face and neck with your fingertips for a healthy, radiant glow. We used this for a morning and evening skin routine either by itself or under makeup. This Facial Oil helps lock in the moisture and delivers a soft and smooth complexion whilst also targeting and restoring problem areas such as dry or dehydrated skin. We can’t think of a better Facial Oil to use to celebrate the growth of life, and to see the shifting of the seasons with the sun rising on Monday June 21st , the first morning of summer!. They describe it as "lightly spiced, naturally, floral aroma is uplifting and soothing,” and we couldn't agree more. Available in 30ml here for £26 with free shipping on orders over £45. 

Mal & Mod: Active Hydration Tonic

As our summer kicks in and our complexions suffer from the humidity and heat, as always at The Amazing Blog we need to find a solution. This is where we turn to a hydrating facial mist which is cooling and uplifting. However, in a recent search, we’ve found that too many high street face mists are ineffective, watery or filled with chemicals. So, today we’re happy to introduce another one of our #amazingfinds with the natural multipurpose Active Hydration Tonic from Mal & Mod to revitalise, hydrate and even brighten the skin.

Mal & Mod is a British brand founded by husband and wife team Louise and Dan Malcolmson. Together they studied at Formula Botanic just for fun, to learn how to make products for themselves. However, in 2016 while creating products, they realised a niche in the market, “We became increasingly conscious of what we were exposing our skin to every day and so was inspired to create something we could both use to simplify our skincare routine. So, Mal & Mod Mal & Mod was born, based on a shared desire for a stripped-back skincare approach for both genders.” Mal & Mod is a gender-free natural skincare brand that keeps skincare simple, with only four core products in the range, they contain only bioactive and plant-based ingredients. In their view, although women and men have different skin types, they don’t necessarily need separate products. Their ethos is strongly focused on sustainability by offering fewer products for a skincare routine that everyone can use, which in turn means fewer bottles in the bathroom. The brand uses Miron glass, which is 100% recyclable, together with its tissue paper and packaging. They also source their ingredients as locally as possible, working with manufacturers who are also committed to limiting their carbon footprint using sustainable and cruelty-free ingredients.  

The product we tried is their Active Hydration Tonic which was shortlisted in the 2020 Pure Beauty Awards. Thanks to its plethora of 32 ingredients, this Tonic is energising, refreshing and super-cooling on the complexion. There are five key elements; the most unusual is glasswort. This helps protect the skin from environmental stress; with betaine, amino acids, and minerals, this extract can strengthen the skin barrier, increase skin recovery and evens skin tone. Hyaluronic Acid here is a moisturising boost that hydrates the dermis and reduces signs of fatigue. The plant extract selaginella pulvinate also hydrates skin, whilst also strengthening the skin’s protective barrier function. Kumquat extract contains vitamin C, antioxidants and calcium to repair and increase skin vitality. Finally, Aloe vera is there to soothe, hydrate and repair. Together with the other ingredients, this Tonic gives the skin a dewy, brighter and more lifted appearance.The Tonic has fine particles, which evenly distribute the mist onto the face The fragrance is garden-fresh with a light combination of citrus, spearmint and lavender (all in the formula). We used it after cleansing, to tone the skin; on top of makeup, to set it; and intermittently during the day, to fresh up in the heat. We think this is a great little multitasker to keep close at hand to cleanse, hydrate, cool and tone the skin. To purchase your own 100ml Active Hydration Tonic, see here for £32.

MIDNATTASOL: Lingonberry Seed Oil Capsules

Typically, when we think of skincare, it’s as a topical treatment. However, today we are going to be talking about a product that seeks to improve your skin from the inside out. MIDNATTSOL’s Lingonberry Seed Oil Capsules have been created to help improve smoothness and elasticity from within, rather than just on the surface, and here at The Amazing Blog we’re looking at its benefits.

MIDNATTSOL is a Swedish brand co-founded by Erik Sundquist in 2018. MIDNATTSOL is owned by Cynocare Ltd, a medical device company focused on bringing unique and scientifically proven innovation to the aesthetic and medical field. With offices in Hong Kong and Sweden, Cynocare Ltd has a reputation based on 20 successful years in the life science business. The brand MIDNATTSOL works with a focus on innovative yet natural health and beauty solutions. As a brand and company, they pride themselves on their Swedish heritage, and with this focus, MIDNATTSOL only chooses active ingredients with scientific support for their products. The name of the company derives from the unique Nordic midnight sun. The extended amount of sunlight creates unique growing conditions, which results in some of the nutrient-rich ingredients used in MIDNATTSOL. These ingredients, such as the lingonberry, are used in a variety of their skincare products. MIDNATTSOL also uses a unique patented TYMEDIKER™ process which focuses on reducing pigmentation in the skin. This four-step process focusing on creating effective yet gentle solutions to suit even the most sensitive of skin types.

MIDNATTSOL’s Lingonberry Seed Oil capsules are naturally enriched with fatty acids and vitamins that work together to provide natural barriers to protect the skin. Lingonberries are considered a superfood. The raw seed oil that derives from these wild, Arctic lingonberries is rich in essential fatty acids, plant sterols and antioxidants. The lingonberry is the distant cousin of the well-known cranberry and contains more flavonoids than cranberries or any other wild berry. Due to their high nutritional profile, these small, red berries help heart health, control weight and blood sugar, and promote healthy gut bacteria. More research is needed on the benefits of this superfruit, but studies have already shown that these berries are packed with vitamins, calcium, potassium and other enriching elements. Lingonberry seed oil is naturally rich in vitamin E, which has strong antioxidant properties. The fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, giving natural barriers to help retain moisture in the skin and protect the skin from outside pollution penetrating the skin.

In a clinical trial over a 12 week period with Dr Moon Seok Shin, women between the ages of 35 to 65, who regular took the lingonberry seed oil capsules, saw significant improvement their skin’s ‘hydration, elasticity and density’, which in turn reduced the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 93% of participants found the treatment either good or very good, 90% felt that it was effective in improving skin smoothness, and 86% found the treatment to be effective in making the skin more elastic. See here to learn more.

Something we also know, is that lingonberry seed oil act as antioxidants, blocking free radicals that can damage skin and is rich in plant compounds, including anthocyanins and flavonoids. The red colour of lingonberry comes from anthocyanins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefit. These luminous little red capsules are so easy to take, two in the morning and two a night. Although we haven’t quite finished the 12 week’s course, with about another month or two to go, the one thing we have noticed is a definite improvement in gut health and our general wellbeing. We think that this humble lingonberry is a very underrated superfood that offers so much not only for skin but for wellbeing too. They describe it as ‘Nordic beauty from within’ and we couldn’t agree more. We’ll keep you posted as to our progress. MIDNATTSOL Lingonberry Seed Oil Capsules are available in a pack of 60 capsules (one month’s supply) and you can purchase here for $41.80.

Hempura: Hemp Tea in Natural Raspberry

As regular readers will know, at The Amazing Blog, we’re big fans of CBD (see here) mainly because of the numerous benefits it provides, especially the calming effect, which is much needed during these uncertain times. We always try to seek out new and more unusual CBD products to introduce you to, and today we’re featuring another CBD infused tea, but this time it’s Hempura’s Hemp Tea in Natural Raspberry, which has no THC and a more summery and fruitier flavour. 

Hempura is a British brand launched in 2016 by Lewis Hadaway.  Passionate about CBD, he quit his job in nuclear project management to set up this CBD brand, Hempura, where even today, he is still very much hands-on. In this over-crowded and confusing world of CBD, Lewis wants to help inform and educate the consumer, providing us with high-quality authentic hemp extract CBD products, which are 100% traceable from seed to shelf. Hempura imports their raw cannabidiol from organic farms in Eastern Europe, where they use an advanced ethanol extraction method, for Hempura, they feel that this ensures the preservation of the naturally occurring terpenes, flavonoids, cannabinoids, nutrients and minerals present. Every batch produced is automatically sent to an approved third-party laboratory for complete analysis. Lewis recently commented, “We build relationships with our customers because CBD is a lifelong product.” He went on to say, “We empower our customers to make informed decisions. This reduces concerns and fears, especially for seniors.” The Hempura range consists of vapes, topicals, edibles and CBD Oils. The Original (full-spectrum) and the Refined (broad-spectrum) CBD oils contain the same amount of CBD. However, the Original contains all the natural hemp components (including the accepted amount of less than 0.05% THC) without the refinement of the broad-spectrum. There 10ml CBD Oil bottles with approximately 200 drops in each, and a strength starting from 250ml (2.5%) cannabidiol up to 1000mg (10%). The brand has been members of the Vegan Society since July 2019 (except the chocolates due to dairy) and all products are GMO free.

We originally wanted to try their CBD infused chocolate but, alas, these were out of stock. So, as it’s now summer, we thought trying this Hemp Tea in Natural Raspberry instead. Although THC-free, it’s still rich in natural terpenes and all-natural ingredients found in hemp and has 5% or 5mg of CBD (we think…from lab report) per tea bag. Let’s look at the ingredients. This has 100% organically grown hemp made with hemp leaves with no herbicides or pesticides. They say it’s free of additives (or not as the case may be!) We couldn’t quite understand why there is a ‘trace of propylene glycol’ here?! There are also dried raspberries with the addition of natural raspberry flavouring. Raspberries, themselves provide vitamin C with a small amount of vitamin A, thiamine (B1) and riboflavin (B2). Moving onto the potent terpenes found in this hemp CBD tea. With limonene, A-pinene, B-pinene and citral these have a hugely beneficial effect on the gut, intestine and also help to regulate blood pressure, see here. These combined are also known to help sleep and inflammation and studies have also shown that these terpenes can produce an antidepressant-like effect. We prepared the tea using one tea bag in the cup, and let it steep for about 5 minutes, until the tea was a glorious berry colour (see above photo). What we liked was that this had a robust and fruity taste, a far more complex and in-depth flavour than that of a regular fruit tea or plain hemp CBD tea. We think it’s ideal for the caffeine sensitive, or for those wanting a warming and fruity drink at night to help them relax and sleep. With 20 tea bags, weighing in at 11g, you can purchase the Hempura Hemp Tea in Natural Raspberry here for £9.99.