Shake CBD: Moisturising CBD Epsom Salts - Twinset

Now we’re all at working from home; there is nothing better than taking time out to reflect on our day with a relaxing bath before bed. At The Amazing Blog we’re back with some new CBD bath-time gems to soak away the day with Shake CBD  and their Moisturising CBD Epsom Salts.

Shake CBD founder Leighton was always a fan of all things CBD, especially when he witnessed the difference it’s made to the lives of friends and family. Many people are sceptical of CBD, its effects, and what it does, which is one of the main reasons Leighton started Shake CBD, as he wants to encourage more people to experience the benefits it offers. The CBD industry is beginning to become quite saturated here in the UK, which is why Shake CBD wants to provide cost-effective natural CBD infused products.  The brand is proving to be very popular with the body-building fraternity; and now has a brand ambassador with Will McKeown, the athlete and bodybuilder. McKeown recently commented on using these CBD Epsom Salts: “ With sleep being of critical importance for muscle repair and cognition, I was surprised by just how relaxed I felt after using some of Shake’s CBD infused Epsom Salts. After a tough day of work and training, I was instantly put in a more relaxed state which allowed me to settle down for the evening and get the most out of my night’s rest. I firmly believe using CBD products had a drastic and positive effect on my training.”  Currently, Shake CBD have three CBD products in their range with 1000mg Full Spectrum CBD oil, 1200mg CBD Muscle Rub and their 100mg Moisturising CBD Epsom Salts. They try to keep a low carbon footprint with their CBD which is sourced and manufactured here in the UK.

These handmade artisanal Moisturising CBD Epsom Salts  are a twin set and come in 200mg recyclable and reusable clear glass bottles with metal screw tops. There are only four natural ingredients used which are a combination of Epsom salts, sweet almond oil, 100% pure essential oils and 100 mg of CBD. The sweet almond oil hydrates and nourishes the skin and the type of CBD used in these Bath Salts is a mix of isolate and full-spectrum oil. The orange label bottle has the botanicals of lavender, bergamot and sweet orange essential oils. Lavender can help ease anxiety and also fights insomnia by helping you get a better night sleep. Bergamot is a stress reducer, lessens feelings of fatigue, and helps alleviate inflammation and sweet orangel is also anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. The blue label bottle contains a combination of lavender, jasmine and thyme essential oils. Here the jasmine oil can be a form of anti-depressant and helps release stress whereas the thyme oil is stimulating and anti-bacterial. Apart from the CBD, the other main ingredient in both is the Epsom salts which are not ‘salts’ but are made up of therapeutic magnesium, sulphates and oxygen. They provide the body with magnesium (did you know that most people don’t consume enough magnesium in their daily diet?) Having an appropriate amount of magnesium helps boost sleep and ease stress by regulating over 325 enzymes, reducing inflammation and aids muscle and nerve function. The sulphates improve the absorption of nutrients, flush out toxins and soothes headaches.  It was hard to choose a favourite between the two, if pushed, we’d say the orange label as the fragrance we found to be slightly more uplifting.  To purchase these Moisturising CBD Epsom Salts see here for £19.99.

Zaza & Cruz - Glacial Mineral Detox Mask

Let’s talk natural face masks, after all, now we have more time on our hands between zoom calls and bedtime, there’s now no excuse for not finding a moment to pamper ourselves! At The Amazing Blog, we’ve covered quite a few face sheets, mud and liquid masks but none so unique as today’s powdered Glacial Mineral Detox Mask from Zaza & Cruz.

After spending time working as a makeup artist and beauty expert, Rebecca Hastings founded Zaza & Cruz in 2013. It all began when she started to question all the chemical ingredients in both her skincare and that of her clients. With her background in makeup and beauty, this already gave her knowledge and an added advantage; thus in 2011, she began research on natural ingredients to create her own skincare line that would not only look and feel good, but have health benefits. Based in Scotland, Hastings has developed this range into a unisex and eco-aware brand to provide products that offers protection against pollution, cellular and environmental damage. Hastings commented: “At Zazu & Cruz, we’re proud to work alongside businesses that provide sustainability, are environmentally friendly and produce a low carbon footprint with their products.”

Recently a silver medal winner at 2020 Pure Beauty, Global Green Beauty Awards, this Glacial Mineral Detox Mask is specifically formulated to give skin a boost and is one of the first companies to utilise pure Canadian Glacial Clay as its key ingredient. Found only in British Columbia, the resident indigenous people here have been using this Clay for centuries.  This Clay comes from underneath a live and active glacier that emerges with Canadian Pacific waters, where it is ethically sourced and hand-harvested. Every jar is made with over 80% pure organic glacial clay, that is enriched with more than 30 natural minerals which are rich in marine phytoplankton and healing micronutrients. It’s designed to be used on the face and body to draw out impurities, hydrate, plump and tighten the skin.  Ground into a powder form, it only needs a small amount of water to activate it into a creamy consistency ready to apply.  It forms a green paste, no distinctive fragrance, only a neutral and pleasant mineral/flinty scent.  We used this at night and found that the Clay dried quickly and left it on for 15 minutes. Then we gently wiped away the residue with a warm wet flannel; it left skin feeling cleansed, firmer and velvety to the touch. To follow, we suggest using a face oil to seal in the goodness (Zaza & Cruz have one here ) A weekly face mask for us is a must and what makes this so special, is that it feels pure and unadulterated, and contains only the simplest three ingredients with sea salt, Canadian glacial marine clay and kaolin. We applaud Zaza & Cruz for creating such a unique beauty find! To purchase the 30g pot of Glacial Mineral Detox Mask for £22 see here.

Ann & Eli Apothecary- Happy Period Tea

We knows how many women dread that ‘time of the month’ and at The Amazing Blog we like to find new ways to help ease period pains. Welcome Ann & Eli Apothecary who have created a solution with their Happy Period Tea.

Founder Andrea Bomo is a holistic wellness coach based in Montreal with a background in journalism. After her own rocky path in life, and after hearing others stories, this propelled her on to the natural health and wellness path. She spent her early twenties not paying much mind to her diet or mental health and suffered from chronic illness and depression. She was later diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome; which is when she decided to prioritise her health. Bomo is a great believer that there is a connection between our emotional and physical health. Thus her drive and inspiration behind creating Ann & Eli Apothecary is to help other women in need of support and guidance, especially to “ live naturally healthy lives and take care of their little ones.” Ann & Eli Apothecary specialise in a wide range of healing organic herbal teas and tinctures.

 The Happy Period Tea comes as a loose tea in a 57g bag with twenty five servings/portions. This tea is labelled as a menstrual cramps relief tea, but it can also help PMS and to help regulate the menstrual cycle. We recommend you use this tea if you have period pains before or during menstruation, experience PMS, have irregular periods, heavy bleeding, or have missing periods (amenorrhea). NB: They say please do not use this tea if you are pregnant. The suggested intake is to drink one to three cups a day, starting three days before the first day that your period is due. Scoop around one teaspoon of the tea into a cup or tea infuser before adding in boiling water, then allow the leaves to steep in the water for up to 15 minutes. After steeping, strain the leaves out and enjoy. Red raspberry leaf helps support healthy menstruation, toning the uterus, lessens cramps, and helps to regulate mood and hormones. Yarrow is used to relaxing the muscle in both the intestine and uterus. Sage is another ingredient that helps regulate the menstrual cycle in amenorrhea. Lemon balm also helps to relieve menstrual cramps and premenstrual syndrome. Mugwort, sounds worse than it is (!) and increases circulation to warm up the uterus, and also regulates hormone levels. The zingibain enzyme found in the ginger helps your body fight against inflammation. As mentioned, Ann & Eli Apothecary have a range of other herbal teas. These range from those for nursing mothers, pregnant women, and some are for the everyday person for everyday use, such as Cleanse Organic Liver-Detox tea and Morning Boost, to even Beauty Sleep and an immuniTea – something we all need now that we’re in #lockdown! To take period pains away try Happy Period Tea here 57g for £12.70.

Relaxayvoo - Protect & Renew Face Oils

We think simplicity is best, and if you are looking for pure and organic ingredients that work, then look no further than this artisan skincare brand Relaxayvoo with their two facial oils. At The Amazing Blog we like to focus on skincare products that provide the best ingredients for the best results and with both of these face oils, you can’t go wrong.

Relaxayvoo was founded a couple of years ago, by two young entrepreneurial Parisian mothers based in London, Constance Laperche and Rebecca Libchaber; both of whom had successful careers in France in advertising and marketing. Finding themselves in London, bringing up young families, they decide to collaborate creating something they both loved – organic skincare. What started as sharing beauty and skincare tips progressed into a business and a passion, where they developed their ideas and ingredients with a team of beauty experts. In an article in London.French Morning.com Libchaber said: "We shared our grandmother's tips for taking care of oneself without relying on beauty/nail salons, or commercial cosmetics. Also, I want to raise my children without the obsession with brands. For example, teaching them to pay attention to the product and design, its merits and benefits rather than just the label.”  At the moment, they have only have two products in the range; these are suitable for all skin types, and are made in small batches with fresh organic ingredients; as the brand is conscious of maintaining its eco and sustainability credentials.

They kindly sent us both their face oils to try, theses come in 20ml dark glass bottles with pipette tops. The Protect Day Oil is specifically formulated to hydrate and protect the skin. The camellia and evening primrose oil are excellent sources of antioxidants and vitamins such as A, B, D, E. These help with skin elasticity, nourishing the skin, and preventing fine lines. The argania spinosa kernel oil which is more commonly referred to as argan oil is anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory and moisturising. Helianthus anuus seed oil, aka sunflower oil, helps strengthen and soothe the skin. Plukenetia volubilis seed oil is rich in fatty acids that help nourish and moisturise the skin. Calendula officinalis flower extract is anti-inflammatory, moisturising, and skin firming. The tocopherol is rich in vitamin E and can help prevent sun damage. Pelargonium graveolens flower oil or rose geranium flower oil, can reduce wrinkles, and soothes irritated skin. Sandalwood and rose otto rejuvenate and energise the skin. Anthemis nobilis flower oil, aka roman chamomile, (pictured here) contains azulene that helps calm and refreshing skin. Rosa damascene flower oil hydrates skin and reduces signs of ageing. They recommended applying 3-5 drops onto your palm and massage onto clean skin in the morning. We found this was all we needed. It couldn’t be more perfect for this time in #lockdown, when our skin is make up-free and the goodness from the organic oils can absorb deep into the dermis throughout the day. This Protect Day Oil smells divine – as the fragrance from the sandalwood, rose otto and rose geranium mingle, it’s quite intoxicating and mood-boosting!

The Renew Night Face Oil is formulated to help skin repair and renew through the night. It helps fight signs of ageing with rosa rubiginosa seed oil, more commonly referred to as rosehip oil, together with evening primrose oil they help to speed up cellar renewal and plump out wrinkles. Opuntia ficus-indica seed oil, prickly pear oil is a rare and precious oil, rich in vitamin E smoothing texture and overall toning the skin. Argan oil is not only anti-ageing but also moisturises the skin. Prunus amygdalus dulcis seed oil, sweet almond oil, contains vitamin E and B, which soothes and softens the skin. Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, aka jojoba oil, is intensely moisturising and the anthemis nobilis flower oil, roman chamomile is calming (as mentioned above) and ideal for those with sensitive skin. Rosewood helps balance dry, oily, and combination skin by rejuvenating skin cells. Again, they recommend applying 3-5 drops onto your palm and massage onto clean skin during your night-time skincare routine. As we said at the start, simplicity is best, and this has a gentle, comforting fragrance of rosewood and sweet almond oil. We found it easy to apply and it left our skin soft and dewy in the morning. To purchase Relaxayvoo skincare, see here for The Protect Day Oil at £55 and the Renew Night Face Oil here for £60.

Jillian Dempsey: Cheek Tint ' Rosy'

Now we’re back again in #lockdown holed up in our homes, at The Amazing Blog we need to find something to bring back that healthy glow to our cheeks.  For us, blush and cheek tints are the way forward, and today we are reviewing Jillian Dempsey’s easy to use and blendable cream Cheek Tint, which gives just the right amount of subtle radiance. 

Founder Jillian Dempsey is a professional makeup artist from Los Angeles. Her star-studded clients range from Kristen Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Winslet, Emilia Clarke, and so many more. If it’s good enough for them, then it’s certainly good enough for us!  Her work has been featured in editorials such as Vogue, ELLE, Vanity Fair, and Dazed, and photographed by famous fashion photographers like Mario Testino and Annie Leibowitz. Having an artistic eye, she’s always able to find fresh and new ways to give her clients’ skin a radiant glow. So, the natural progression was for her to create her product range with exciting textures and colour palettes. In February 2016, Dempsey started her self-titled line releasing her Waterproof Khôl Eyeliner and Lid Tints. A little over two years late in the summer of 2018, she released her Cheek Tint cream blushes. All products are formulated without parabens, sulphates, phthalates, petrochemicals, GMOs, synthetic fragrances or dyes. They are also classified vegan and are therefore cruelty-free.

The Cheek Tints  come in a variety of six shades and we received ‘Rosy’, which a vibrant medium pink. All the Cheek Tints have a velvety texture making them effortlessly glide onto the skin; plus they’re smooth and easy to blend. Not only that, this is also preservative-free and made with natural and organic plant extracts and waxes such as those from the Chinese lacquer and Indian shala trees. The organic sunflower seed wax acts as a thickener and provides a non-sticky feel, while both the organic shea butter and the bamboo stem extract help to nourish and hydrate the skin. The organic coconut oil provides a protective barrier giving the Cheek Tint smoother appearance when applied. Dempsey said: “Blush is one of my favourites. It’s transformative because depending on where you apply it, you can change the shape of your face. My Cheek Tint has an unbelievably smooth texture, so blending is fast and finger-friendly.”  And we think this Rosy hue complements a wide range of skin tones, it certainly gave us a warm pinky glow to our very dull city pallor. Purchase the Jillian Dempsey Cheek Tint in Rosy for £24.50 here.