Cochine: Tuberose and Wild Fig Reed Diffuser

Still feeling a bit housebound? Then what a better way to enhance your mood than by an uplifting fragrant reed diffuser and we at The Amazing Blog can guarantee that you’ll love this one! We’ve been itching to try the reed diffusers from Cochine since we first discovered the brand as winners on global The Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Cochine is a luxurious and sustainable brand, launched in 2008. Its founder Kate Crofton-Atkins, took her inspiration to create her range of special fragrances from the charming hidden Saigon streets, overflowing with jasmine against the stylish backdrop of French architecture, that she encountered on her move there. The name of the brand is derived from La Cochinchine, the name given to Southern Vietnam by the French. In the beginning, Kate spent a year working with essential oils, and then partnered with a New York-based fragrance house to launch Cochine in Hong Kong. Today there is a range of over ten different fragranced perfumes, reed diffusers, candles and skincare products for bath and body. This brand has now found global recognition and is in select boutique and five-star hotels around the world. These high-end products reflect elegance from the actual scents through to the beautiful presentation and packaging.  Today we’re excited to be reviewing one of their unique reed diffusers that have been filling the office here with it’s intoxicating scent, Tuberose & Wild Fig, Kate said: “It’s inspired by my favourite time of day in Saigon -dusk - where the warm air carries the really rich and romantic scent of jasmine and tuberose, and that’s what I wanted to bottle.”

With this Tuberose and Wild Fig reed diffuser, let’s talk about the key scent notes found here. The tuberose, unlike the name suggests, is not a rose. It is, in fact, a member of the agave family (which gives us tequila!) it provides a powerful floral and heady nose with an olfactive spectrum, the smell of tuberose is like an explosive bouquet of white flowers.  Studies have shown that the tuberose scent when inhaled can help reduce stress, and help fight insomnia The inclusion of the warm night-flower jasmine is known to improve balance, restore, and revitalise energy giving an uplifting feeling of joy and relaxation. The ripe, fruity and earthy wild fig lingers here as the base note, cocooning and embracing with its softness. Finally, there also gentle burst of freshness from the citrusy bergamot.  What we love about reed diffusers is that they can be left unattended or you can remove the reeds and replace the stopper for occasional use. Also Inverting the reeds or increasing the number of reeds will strengthen the fragrance. You can find the reed diffuser here for £60.

ULU (U Love U) - Revitalise 5% CBD Serum and Happy 1% CBD Body Oil

We like to support all things CBD and at The Amazing Blog we search out the very best that we can find. Today at The Amazing Blog we want to introduce you to ULU (U Love U), a newcomer that produces CBD oils and skincare. We like that their motto is ‘love your life’ and as we all know, the pressures of everyday life can often lead to anxiety and stress and ULU are here to help break that cycle. CBD has become more and more popular here in the UK and we’ve been featuring it here for a while now. We’re always curious as see to how products from this humble hemp plant can play a positive part in our lives. 

Founded by Paul Hembery, whose background is motorsport, where he worked in a high-pressure and stressful environment. After having discovered the merits of CBD products, he wanted to provide a solution for other people experiencing similar challenges. He believes in spreading positivity and wellbeing, “I was studying a life course in California with the Bob Proctor Institute and was struck by the need to increase positivity and confidence in people and life in general.” Paul went on to say: “Combine that with the opportunity CBD is providing and my personal mission to provide high-quality solutions, I decided to create ULU. You only get one life. So, above all, I want people to love it.” All of which proved to be his inspiration to venture into the world of CBD. ULU offers THC free full-spectrum CBD products (we recently explained THC-free full spectrum process in another CBD feature here). Their product range includes skincare, pet supplement oils,  sublingual oils, capsules, combined amino CBD and vapes.  They are made in Germany and are herbicide and pesticide-free. Today we are reviewing two of their skincare products Revitalise 5% CBD Serum 750mg and the Happy 1% CBD Body Oil 750mg.

Indeed, CBD oil has numerous ‘positive’ properties and one of the many adverse effects we’ve felt from this quarantine/pandemic has been stress, and this stress is reflected immediately on our skin; whether it’s an acne breakout, skin redness, or dehydration.  The Revitalise Serum offers the skin relief and protection against environmental pollution and free radicals. A powerful and natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, the CBD here is broad-spectrum and THC-free (confusing, I know when they tell us they’re full-spectrum, perhaps it’s only the sublingual products?) The CBD is the key ingredient in this Serum, where it helps purify the skin and offers some great anti-ageing effects too. The Serum has 5% of CBD (750ml in this 15ml bottle) making it and the Body Oil, the highest concentration of organic broad-spectrum CBD in skincare, here in the UK. However, don’t be concerned it is very gentle on the skin despite its strength, we found that it suited all our skin types and really plumped up the skin. Their organic cannabidiol here is combined with organic aloe leaf juice an antioxidant-rich in vitamins and known for its legendary heal properties. There is organic coconut oil and sunflower seed oil, which are rich in vitamins A, C, and, D. Plus the red raspberry, blueberry, and cranberry extracts that shield the skin and act as a cell regenerator, encourages cell growth and boosts the collagen levels in the skin.  We think that this Serum is ideal for dry skin with its addition of organic neem seed and rosehip seed oils which even out skin tone and rebalance any redness. This Revitalising Serum is available for here in 15ml for £41.

The second product from ULU we tried is the ULU Happy 1% CBD Body Oil is a deeply hydrating body oil which contains 1% of CBD (750mg in 15ml). What better way to leave your skin with velvety result than by using this Body Oil. It contains jojoba seed oil that will help soothe your skin and leave it glowing with the Meadowfoam seed oil which will help prevent loss of skin moisturisation. The avocado oil will make sure your skin gets all the vitamins and protein it needs to keep it healthy and protect it from UV rays damages. This Body Oil also contains sunflower seed oil, neem seed oil, and organic coconut oil and has a natural slightly zesty aroma to keep you smelling fresh and feeling energised. They recommend using this also on eczema and acne. With a name like HAPPY who could resist? Quickly added neither of these products smells even the tiniest bit ‘hemp-y’ - which we’ve heard as a common complaint with some CBD skincare. See here for the ULU Happy 1% CBD Body oil in 75ml for £44.

Cleanse & Cure - 100% Organic Gold Sea Moss

It is always hard to find the right elements to help us maintain a healthy lifestyle. Today at The Amazing Blog we’ve found something slightly different …  It’s a pure ingredient from the Irish Sea brought to us from Cleanse & Cure.  We discovered from them, that this Organic Gold Sea Moss is thought to be a bit of a natural miracle worker, which is why we wanted to try it.

Sea Moss has been played an integral and medicinal role in both the Jamaican and Irish traditions.  This type of Sea Moss can be found on the Atlantic Coastline of North America, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands. It was used by the Irish as a type of medicine in the 1800s and helped to feed the population during the potato famine. Irish Sea Moss is considered as a great digestive aid. Cleanse & Cure use a traditional recipe with wildcrafted raw sea moss, spring water and a little citrus juice to cleanse and flavour. With its gel-like texture, it makes a great agent to heal and soothe the mucus membrane in the body like the respiratory and digestive systems. It can get rid of bad gut bacteria; therefore, it has a prebiotic effect. Sea moss can improve your thyroid functions with its high concentration in iodine, an element used by your own hormones to regulate metabolism, mood, and much more.

It is a great immune booster thanks to the potassium, amino acids, vitamin C and antioxidants. We included it in our version of an alkaline Green Smoothie: with a handful of fresh parsley, 1 x juice of a lemon, 1 x small cucumber (whole), and 1 x apples (whole), ½ a tumbler of spring water and a hand full of ice cubes, all blitzed up in the blender. The one to two tablespoons of this Sea Moss is recommended to take daily. We found it to be almost tasteless and it simply vanished in this smoothie. As a superfood, it can be used as a supplement and is said to contain 92 of 102 of the body’s natural elements, 80% of which are from the important ones. Just like any other natural product, it will deteriorate over time, therefore, Cleanse & Cure advises keeping it for no more than 2-3 weeks, but you can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

With all these nutriment benefits and with it's a gel-like quality its ideal for using as a face mask particular for those with eczema, psoriasis or with skin sensitivity. It is rich in sulphur and therefore is an antibacterial, reduces the excess of sebum oil in the skin and hence less acne breakout. It has all the elements when applied topically to help keep the skin hydrated and enriched in vitamin A, potassium, calcium, sulphur, magnesium, and vitamin K. It can also be integrated into your daily diet, be it for weight loss or other reasons since it contains fibre and is low in cholesterol and fat.  It also contains Algin which is a phytonutrient that has therapeutic values such as a heavy metal detoxifying agent. Cleanse and Cure offers two kinds of Sea Moss: The Organic Gold Sea Moss available in either 750ml for £25 here or 380ml for £15 here. The Organic Purple Sea Moss available in 380ml for £20 here.

Chuckling Goat Kefir Lotions

We’re fans of goat’s milk and one of us here at The Amazing Blog drinks it regularly on a daily basis. Did you know that unlike cow’s milk, the enzymes in raw goat’s milk aids the digestion process? Thus making it more tolerable for not only humans but dogs too! So, we’re pleased to introduce you to our latest #amazingfinds with Chuckling Goat and their Kefir Lotions. These are a series of four different skin lotions which are good for using on the face and body that contain the same award-winning kefir and raw goat’s milk.  

It all started when the founders Shann and Richard Jones were trying to find new ways in which to help their son Benji, who was suffering from eczema and chronic bronchial infections. This is when they discovered that by feeding him goats milk it helped his allergies, and so they went and bought their very first goat! The rest, as they say, is history and in 2014 Chuckling Goat was born. They have found themselves being hailed as gut health specialists, and now have 23 team members, 15 barn cats, 50 goats, and more than 200 000 pleased customers from 56 different countries from all around the world.  They are a UK market leader in the production of raw goat’s milk and kefir which for those of you who are new to kefir, it’s a great immune booster and contributes to functioning the nervous system. Not only that it maintains the normal function of bones and skin and also reduces fatigue and tiredness. We love that Chuckling Goat has already donated more than £100,000 worth of their products to the NHS as part of their appreciation to those on the frontline. These Chuckling Goat Kefir Lotions are all handmade, cruelty-free, and suitable for pregnant women and children over 3 years old. All products are unisex and are primarily composed of goat’s milk, kefir, Finnish oat oil, rice bran oil and olive oil, and are either pure or with a specific essential oil. They are made in small batches by hand on the farm and made from food-grade ingredients. 

First, we tried the Sensitive Kefir Lotion. Made with their raw goat’s milk, it contains valuable minerals, enzymes, and vitamins that help nourish your skin. Its key ingredients are goat milk, kefir, oat oil highly concentrated in antioxidants, and vitamin E, it softens and smoothens the skin. It also contains water and olive oil, this natural oil helps to decrease acne, hydrate, and moisturise the skin, and also contains antioxidant properties, therefore fights the bacteria along with other vitamins such as vitamin B5. This Sensitive Kefir is the only one of the lotions not to contain any essential oils (in case of skin sensitivity).

Next up, we have the Soothing Kefir Lotion this has the inclusion of a rosemary essential oil that acts as a refreshing astringent that helps the skin cells contract and also balances the skin tone. It has an antimicrobial benefit on the skin which helps prevent future breakouts, as well as vitamin B5. The smell is a very subtle rosemary.

The third product to try is the Calm-Down Kefir Lotion which is differentiated from the others because it contains lavender oil. The latter works to kill bacteria on the skin and therefore fights acne and other skin breakouts, it also is known for its ability to soothe eczema and help with dry skin conditions thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. This amazingly fragranced lotion is ideal dry skin and was our favourite with the lavender fragrance which is so calming.

Last but not least, Break-out Kefir Lotion contains the divine tea tree oil which is known for its focused anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can help to reduce swelling and aid in giving a smooth and crystal-clear skin. This fourth Kefir Lotion contains thyme essential oil, a true skin fortifier which offers itchy-skin relief. Studies have shown it to be was more effective against acne bacteria, than the chemical ingredient benzoyl peroxide. The tea tree oil is also believed to be highly antibacterial and is commonly used to treat acne, athlete's foot, lice, nail fungus and insect bites.

With all these lotions having raw goat milk and kefir, it makes them ideal for keeping the right pH balance of the skin with the added benefit of the good bacteria. Let’s not forget to mention that these are free from phthalates, petrochemicals, parabens, dyes or artificial perfumes. These four handmade all-natural Chuckling Goat Kefir Lotions, each comes in 2 different handy sizes, 50ml and 150ml, and cost £8.95 and £17.95 respectively. Or you can buy the full set of four here for £26.95.

SPRITZ WELLNESS – Yoga Mat Sprays: Energise & Relax

Today’s #amazingfinds comes from a world where inner peace is much valued. At The Amazing Blog we’re often guilty of not focusing on the importance of a having healthy mindset and sense of calmness. As a consequence, we try regularly to practice things that can help us get there - such as yoga!  Some of us are regular ‘yogis’ and thus mindful of the importance of keeping our mats clean and in tiptop condition. We thought we’d share with you these SpritzWellness Yoga Mat Sprays, Energise and Relax which are aromatherapy based; we found these via the 2020 Beauty Shortlist Awards (as the latter was awarded Wellbeing Editors Choice). Their primary purpose is to clean the sweat away from yoga mats to restore and keep them pristine.  

Spritz Wellness is a holistic company founded by Laura Colucci in 2017, a professional yoga trainer who divides her time between the beachy shores of West Sussex and the London metropolis. The aim of the company is to help everyone find peace in the centre of their busy and chaotic worlds. They also focus on providing products that are not only made from start to finish using durable and recyclable material but also have ingredients that help to maintain a grounded and balanced mindset. The commitment to a better self is used in all aspects and it is shown even in the small detail. In fact, Spritz Wellness fights for a better future by supporting Surfers Against Sewage, who help keep the oceans clean. In fact, they not only regularly donate a part of their sales to this non-profit organisation, but also participate in beach cleaning here in the UK. 

Their award-winning product Yoga Mat Spray Relax comes in 2 sizes, the 50 ml, and the 100ml. It is made with three simple ingredients water, tea tree oil and lavender.  The lavender is taken from flowering tops of French lavender shrubs, and aids in promoting wellness and calmness by reducing stress, anxiety, and sometimes pain. It is especially good to fight insomnia and restlessness as well as headaches. Another component here is the tea tree oil, derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca tree in Australia, it is indeed the cleansing ingredient in the sprays, thanks to its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-infectious, and antioxidant characteristics. It helps fight germs and other unwanted foreign bodies, and has an immediate effect on the body, increasing the activity of the white blood cells in our system and boost immunity. This yoga mat spray is made of recyclable glass bottles that will help in enhancing grounded feelings of steadiness and relaxation after the yoga session thanks to its purifying components. To purchase see here 50ml bottle costs £12 and the 100 ml bottle costs £19.

Their other Yoga Mat Spray Energise, also comes in 2 convenient sizes, the 50ml, and 100ml bottle. This cleansing, energising, and restoring spray. It aims to energise (hence its name) the body and mind with its powerful ingredients. Often used in aromatherapy, the main ingredient here is lemongrass, which is a tall grass that grows in the tropics and Spritz Wellness harvest this precious botanical to provide energy by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Its citrusy scent helps, believe it or not, in boosting self-confidence and giving an overall happy atmosphere. When inhaling the scent, it helps the part of the brain related to emotions, behavior, and sense of smell and memory to boost it. Again it also has water, and tea tree with its antiseptic characteristics acting as antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. They suggest using before and after a session to help banish all negative thoughts with the double whammy of also cleaning your equipment!  To purchase the Energise see here for 50ml at £12 and 100 ml at £19 respectively. Both these ‘super spritz’s’ help deep clean your yoga mat while keeping everything all-natural – they certainly get the thumbs up from us.