1CBD: CBD Infused Chocolates

Finding delicious CBD infused chocolates has had us all at The Amazing Blog on a bit of a mission. Much as we love CBD, sometimes, when it’s infused in chocolates or gummies, it can have a bit of an earthy or bitter aftertaste. This is where 1CBD have succeeded, where others have failed, as they have very shrewdly invited a master chocolatier to help them create their range of 1CBD CBD Infused Chocolates – and they are delicious!

1CBD launched in 2018 and are based in the North East of England. Started by marketeers and business partners Oman and Oliver, their journey of CBD discovery all began when they were commissioned to develop and work with another CBD brand. From here, they saw opportunities to bring their own CBD related products to market, and so, 1CBD was born. Keeping a high-quality control on the cannabidiols (CBD) that they use, is paramount for the brand, which is why they only source their broad-spectrum CBD oils from Colorado. They feel that the USA has more advanced manufacture and unique C02 extraction techniques, than that of the rest of Europe. Plus, the hemp plants are grown outside in the sunshine with no exposure to artificial UV lights, harmful chemicals or pesticides. All CBD oils are prepared in small batches, always freshly prepared, ensuring consistency, taste and potency. The broad-spectrum here means that there’s zero THC, and all raw extracts are vigorously tested and HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) analysed by independent laboratories across the USA. Products range from CBD oils, capsules, balms to edibles. However, what piqued our interest, was their handmade, ethically sourced CBD Infused Chocolates, that they commissioned with the award-winning master chocolatier Paul Williams from Chocamor of ‘fiendishly good chocolates’ fame, to create on their behalf. The brand said, “What Choc Amor offered that the other chocolatiers didn’t, was the combination of premium quality cocoa in the chocolate, multi award-winning chocolate flavours and the unavoidable fact that their chocolate really does taste amazing!” And we couldn’t wait to try… 

Who doesn’t love chocolate? And with a whopping 20-25g of broad-spectrum (THC-free) 10% phytocannabinoid pure hemp CBD oil in each piece, it made us love them even more! These CBD Infused Chocolates come in 100g bags and contain a total of 300mg of the broad-spectrum CBD. They also tick our sustainability box, with how these stylish cardboard boxes are completely compostable, together with the cellophane bags. With three mouth-watering flavours, it was hard to choose a favourite, chocolatier Paul Williams said, “We decided to launch the range with three of our best-selling flavours, Raspberry Burst, Salt Caramel and Twisted Latte. These flavours combine really well with the CBD oil so that the consumer can enjoy a chocolate sensation, one mouthful at a time.”  What makes this pairing of chocolate and CBD so interesting is they both contain cannabinoids. Together these activate the endocannabinoid receptors, which in turn boost the anandamide levels (aka ‘the chemical of happiness’), and right now, who doesn’t need that? 

All these ingredients have a health benefit. The hemp extract has antioxidants and healthy omega fatty acids, making it great for hair and skin or just stress relief. The cocoa mass not only gives it its flavour but in moderation, it can help keep the heart-healthy. Like the hemp extract, cocoa butter is high in fatty acids, which can help hydrate and nourish the skin. Soya lecithin can raise good cholesterol (HDL) while lowering bad cholesterol (LDL). Natural vanilla flavouring brings a flavour, but it’s also rich in antioxidants. Sugar gives sweetness to the chocolate, and also, according to some scientists is can be beneficial for brain health. The whole milk powder found here is a good source of minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, potassium as well vitamins A, D, E and K.

Let’s get back to these chocolates, each one has its own merits.  We loved the dark rich Raspberry Burst for its floral and fruity notes combined with the 60% cocoa solids. There is even a touch of balsamic vinegar and tiny pieces of dried raspberry in each square.  The Salt Caramel Blonde is a 50/50 unique blend of milk and white chocolate. It also has the smallest crunchy salty caramel flakes buried in the chocolate chunks, as well as rich double cream and butter; we savoured every delicious mouthful, especially as a midday pick-me-up. Last but not least, was the Milk White this is white chocolate at its very best… with the simple ingredients of single-origin cocoa butter, sugar, milk, soya lecithin and vanilla extract (and of course the CBD) it’s moreish, creamy and not too sweet. I’m not normally a fan of white chocolate, but this was my favourite. I’m ashamed to say, that keeping an eye on the CBD dosage (70g a day), went out the window, as I found myself greedily reaching for yet another square… For CBD novices and aficionados, I would heartily recommend these chocolate treats. They say, “Great for improving cognitive function, feeling energised and absorbing CBD with a fantastically moreish taste.” We say, “Please give us more…” To purchase any of the three CBD Infused Chocolates see here. They are currently on special offer for a limited time only at £9.99 

Skin Beautiful Organics: Intelligent Skin Recovery Hyper-Serum & Bio-Resurfacing Enzyme Cream

Today, we’re going stateside, and want to introduce a new luxury skincare that we’ve had our eye on, ever since their pre-launch on Instagram. As regular readers will know, at The Amazing Blog    we like to champion new high-performance natural skincare brands, especially those with slightly more unusual ingredients. Meet Skin Beautiful Organics, who we hope will launch here soon in the UK.

As mentioned above, Skin Beautiful Organics is a new launch of luxury botanical-based skincare from the USA, and their founder is Ethel Emmons, who is a business technologist and digital strategist and entrepreneur. The brand story began when Ethel searched in vain to find  gentle, natural and chemical-free skincare to replace her favourite face creams - which occasionally gave her hypersensitivity and led to swollen, red and itchy skin. Back as far as 2007, unable to find any suitable alternatives, Ethel experimented with creating homemade natural skincare remedies to soothe and protect her skin using a variety of ingredients from whole fruits, hydrosols and herbs to carrier and essential oils, all to help soothe and protect her skin. However, it wasn’t until 2020, after completing her studies at the UK International School of Natural Skincare and Formula Botanical, that she decided to launch her own plant-based skincare. Thus, Skin Beautiful Organics was born with 14 clean, natural and effective products, which are a wide range of cleansers, toner, essence, serums, creams, mask and scrubs. All products are made with the latest and most innovative natural science techniques to extract healthy nutrients from plants in a highly bioavailable format. These are manufactured in an FDA-registered and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) compliant facility powered by 100% renewable wind energy. To maintain the freshness of their ingredients, all products are handcrafted in small batches. Organic ingredients are used wherever possible, and Skin Beautiful Organics are proud to announce that their formulas have met or exceeded the Whole Foods Premium Standards for Personal Care Products.

We were excited to try two of their new products. The first was one of their best-seller, the Intelligent Skin Recovery Hyper-Serum  It is a hyper-serum aimed at helping ageing/mature skin, fine lines, dry and dull skin, or loss of skin elasticity and firmness. The Serum acts to strengthen the skin matrix, stimulate collagen and elastin fibroblast, and provide skin resilience and firmness through feeding the skin with its abundance of nutrition. Yes, and it is ‘abundance’ with over 40 high-performance actives in the Serum; one thing is for sure, Skin Beautiful Organics hasn’t skimped on their ingredients here. There are far too many to explain, so we’ll talk about a few key ones, which include; globularia cordifolia callus culture extract, this plant grows in the mountains of central and southern Europe, which supports cell renewal, cell longevity and eliminates damaged proteins and environmental toxins. You can also find sandalwood hydrosol from the santalum album tree – used as incense in spiritual ceremonies for centuries – It soothes irritated skin and reduces inflammation. One of our favourites is niacinamide (vitamin B3), which has many benefits supporting the skin barrier, increasing its resiliency, and improves texture by making pores look smaller.  Another essential active is the Irish moss (or red algae) with its high level of nutrients, including antioxidants and it very importantly offers protection from the visible effects of blue light exposure. Finally, the sunflower seed oil (which is in both the products) is an excellent source of vitamin E, rich in nutrients and antioxidants, effectively for combatting inflammation, eczema and general redness or skin irritation. Our experience was a positive one, the fragrance is a warm, gentle and not intrusive, it’s a mix of sandalwood and rose. It absorbed well and helped plump up the skin, and even left us with a soft sheen that really made our complexion glow… With this Serum’s plethora of ingredients, I’d even go so far as to say, that using this alone, could be enough even for those like us, with a dry or sensitive skin.  They advise using night and day before applying a day cream (for extra protection) or alone under makeup. You can purchase the 30ml Intelligent Skin Recovery Hyper-Serum for €93.00 here.

Next, we tried the Bio-Resurfacing Enzyme Cream again, this cream is more for ageing, mature or dry skin, and for those with an uneven skin tone. It has an elite collection of bio-actives and enzymes that make up the 31 high-performance Ingredients. This Bio-Resurfacing Enzyme cream is mainly for night-time use to regenerate and boost cell renewal, so as to give a brighter and smoother skin. The hero ingredients here are pomegranate, with its powerful antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals which brighten and exfoliate. The papaya extract is high in vitamin C and E, enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids. This helps to get rid of dead skin cells and unclogs pores to combat spots and acne. It also balances the elastic fibres and collagen of the dermis. Another ingredient that keeps collagen strong is the wakame seaweed bio-ferment, which delivers anti-ageing effects to minimises damage at the cellular level by detoxifying the skin thanks to vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12, and fatty acids. It also contains geranium, which also fights against ageing by minimising fine lines and improving skin elasticity and firmness. There’s also plant stem cells with daisy for cell protection, and organic dandelion, rosehip seed and sunflower seed oils, all to boost the skin with antioxidants for protection and rejuvenation. It’s wonderful to find a rich and intense cream that works, and with it’s luxurious whipped finish, it didn’t disappoint. We could identify three of our favourite essential oils with the subtle mix of geranium, neroli and bergamot in the fragrance, making it even more of a pleasure to use. For us, it was better at night as we felt it had an undisturbed time to penetrate the dermis and ‘feed’ the skin. However, we also used a small amount over the Serum during the day, as it helped to protect our skin in the inclement UK weather (it’s May and still a chilly 10 degrees!) If your skin is looking lacklustre or dry, this is the skincare for you. We’re going to keep a close eye on Skin Beautiful Organics, and can’t to try more from the range. Yes, it’s our #amazingfinds for this week’s skincare. You can buy 50ml Bio-Resurfacing Enzyme Cream for €93.00 here . 

Chic & Raw: Rose Quartz Heart Chakra Crystal Candle

Who doesn’t love to burn a beautifully fragranced candle in the evening? At The Amazing Blog, we love how with its flickering ambient light it helps make a house feel like a home. This is another of our #amazingfinds, more than just a candle; this  Rose Quartz Heart Chakra Crystal Candle from Chic & Raw  combines the positive energies of crystal healing, natural soy wax and a relaxing spa-like fragrance.

Binanti Cuzner and her husband Darren created Chic & Raw in 2019. The brand started as a creative outlet to help them get away from their busy and stressful work lives. With Binanti’s love of yoga, meditation and chakra healing (focal points in ancient meditative practices), she wanted to share her knowledge and beliefs to help others through her brand. Chic & Raw dedicates itself to providing holistic and luxury products beneficial for the mind, body and soul. These are mainly candles, "I wanted to create a sense of joy and harmony with these candles," said Binanti. She studied chakras and crystal healing, matching them for an optimum release in her candles for healing crystal vibration.  She wants to combine beauty with harmony to make every home beautiful by releasing uplifting scents and integrating this with the unique crystals. Binanti believes that a harmonised home, relates to peace of mind. Chic & Raw is committed to working with a few trusted suppliers, and wherever possible, sources local ingredients from UK businesses. The cotton wicks are organic, the soy wax is natural and the fragrances are a mix of essential oils or luxury fragrances from the French perfume house, Drom. We applaud the brand their giving-back policy where they recently partnered with Ecologi to plant a tree for every product sold on Earth Day. Their current candles are themed as Crystal, Tinned and Colour Therapy. Plus, they have other lifestyle products and a new skincare Honeyzen, which for now, has only one face oil. 

As mentioned, we tried was the Rose Quartz Heart Chakra Crystal Candle, presented in a solid luxury cardboard rose gold foiled box. The candle itself comes in an elegant electroplated rose gold and etched glass container (which we later repurposed for storage). Incorporated in this candle are two rose quartz crystals positioned at opposite edges; these are ethically sourced from Madagascar. Rose quartz is known to enhance the heart chakra, boosting feelings of peace, calm and love. It is often used during meditation to help open the mind and heal the heart. It’s also possible to remove these crystals as the wax melts, placing them in your hands, or on the heart chakra to activate the rose quartz while meditating. The candle is made with natural soy wax, a non-toxic alternative to paraffin. Indeed, soy wax is biodegradable, releases less soot while burning, more sustainable and burns 50% longer than paraffin. The organic cotton wick makes it easier to continuously relight the candle, where it can last up to approximately 40 hours. The soy wax contains white tea essential oil, which is known to promote a general sense of wellbeing and helps to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, insomnia and depression. This is a light and clean scent with subtle notes of citrus, basil, peony and amber. This mingles sensuously with the warm and spicy ginger oil, known for its stimulating and warming qualities. We lit this candle during those bleak February #lockdown days, using it to enhance our affirmations and offer thanks for keeping our loved ones safe. It's a candle we'd recommend lighting during meditation to uplift spirits and to help deal with any emotional pain. There are three other Crystal Candles in the range with Ruby, Amethyst and Aventurine, each one offering a different purpose. They also provide a fascinating insight on how to ‘active’ or ‘recharge’ your crystals here. As Binanti says: “Burning Chic & Raw Crystal Chakra Candles releases both the energy of the crystal and the soothing fragrances that relieves stress and helps to balance your mind and body.” Something we could all benefit from at this time. This luxurious Rose Quartz Heart Chakra Candle is available for £36 here.

Verolive: Firming Cellulite Cream

Here we are in mid-May with more grey days and rain… Of course, it’s great for the plants but not for our spirits!  At The Amazing Blog,  we’re still living in hope for the appearance of a gloriously hot June. Which is why this week, we’re reviewing a couple of new and natural body care products to help you get body-ready for the sunshine. Today it’s with Verolive’s award-winning Firming Cellulite Cream, and readers may remember that we recently reviewed their outstanding Revitalizing Shampoo here.

The Tzortzakakis family founded Verolive in 1975, where they’ve created this multi award-winning brand, in the heart of the Messara Valley, Crete. It is a well-known area for its endless olive groves, producing organic extra virgin olive oil, a key ingredient that can be found in each of the Verolive products. The brand has developed a unique core range of ten products, where ingredients are meticulously selected from natural and locally sourced ingredients. Their ethos is to focus on high-standard eco care and packaging, with ingredients, dermatologically tested, vegan, clean in composition and above all, high in quality. The plastics in all their containers are BioPET, which means the plastic is based on 30% renewable raw material such as starch, glucose, vegetable oils and cellulose and 70% oil-based raw material. Every product has been designed to protect both the environment and its customers’ wellbeing. To maintain their continuity and brand excellence, they only produce each item in a limited amount to ensure superior quality control. The brand also caters to spa professionals and built long term successful partnerships with some of the best-known wellness centres. 

What piqued our interest about this Firming Cellulite Cream, is that it won Best Cellulite Treatment in the 2020 Mama & Baby Awards, and we’ve wanted to try this ever since. The purpose of this formula is to reduce cellulite, which is from an accumulation of fat under the dermis that weakens the connective tissue, and generates a series of orange-peel ripples over the skin. Although it is a harmless and natural condition, for the body-conscious, trying to get rid of this dimply cellulite can sometimes be an issue. This formula has nine actives , and is 94% natural including many ingredients native to Crete. Let’s start with some of these local ingredients which include, organic shea butter, olive and sunflower oil, sweet almond oil, aloe vera, natural beeswax, which all work together to moisturise the skin, thanks to their various nutrients and fatty acids. With a more in depth look at their function we find that the organic extra virgin olive oil is for skin barrier function, making it stronger, thanks to its numerous vitamins such as vitamins D, E, K and A. The organic avocado oil is here to make skin smoother, firmer and more elastic due to its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. There’s organic bio-active aloe vera, which has skin-restorative properties, and the rosemary essential oil acts as a skin tonic and rejuvenates the skin; which is why it’s used here to fight cellulite. The natural vitamin E is here to boost your skin by moisturising it, softening it, and encouraging cell regeneration. However, it’s the active caffeine in phospholipids, in this formula that make a real difference, as they are ‘vectorised’ for quicker skin penetrate. They improve its cutaneous absorption, in order to reach lipocytes and fat cells in the adipose tissue, which specialise in storing energy as fat. The caffeine here enhances the microcirculation to actively reduce the orange-peel look. Cellulite only really becomes a concern for us as every summer approaches. Yes, it’s a vanity issue and we’re happy to admit it!  After all, who doesn’t want to look and feel their best when wearing skimpy swimwear? Verolive suggest targeting any problem areas, by applying this Firming Cellulite Cream twice a day. Rich in consistency it left our skin super-hydrated with a delicious hint of a rosemary scent. It was quick to absorb, as we massaged it into our legs, tums and bums both morning and evening. As Yannis said to us, “to maximise the results of our natural Firming Cellulite Cream, you also need to exercise and follow a specific daily diet. As it’s well-known that all these three factors are necessary, to see results when using a cellulite treatment.” This is something worth remembering, as no cream will ever work to remove cellulite on its own. We noticed that with regular use, our skin became smoother and softer, although we do need to be more disciplined on the diet and exercise front to see more dramatic results! This Cream has been dermatologically tested, is a natural body care, and is suited to all skin types. You can purchase your own 250ml Firming Cellulite Cream from Verolive for €59.90 here .

ESPÉRER Skin Care : Anti-Aging Night Repair Serum & Anti-Pollution Night Repair Serum

Here at The Amazing Blog, you may have noticed that we’ve been featuring a few different serums this month, as for us, there’s nothing better than using the clean, natural and botanically based ones. We believe that simplicity is best, which is why we were very happy to discover two night serums from the new luxury botanical brand ESPÉRER Skin Care,  who offer just that. 

ESPÉRER Skin Care was launched in December 2019 by Dina El Adlani. As is a psychologist with an MSc in psychoanalytical psychology, she also studied and researched the anatomy and physiology of the skin. This was when she became aware that many skin issues are often related to overall lack of self-esteem, confidence and even mental well-being. Dina commented, “My background in psychology and dermatology helped me create ESPÉRER Skin Care, and the ingredients that I have chosen are not only beneficial to the skin but have been proven to improve overall well-being, reducing anxiety, bringing forth a feeling of calmness and positivity.” She discovered various natural ingredients when travelling to her country of origin, Morocco, and from there also got her inspiration for the brand name of ESPÉRER which means ‘hope’ in French. For Dina, this means hope for better skin, hope for better well-being, and hope for a better future.  After discovering, from personal experience, the devastating damage that chemical-based skincare can cause, she only wanted to use entirely natural ingredients in her skincare. Therefore, the ingredients ESPÉRER uses are 100% natural, cruelty-free, vegan and free from any preservatives, synthetic fragrances, alcohols and chemical toxins.

We were also interested to learn that Dina together with some of her associates, have created the Dahlia Mental Health Foundation. It is a charitable foundation in the process of being registered here in the UK. She told us that a large part of this Foundation is built around mental health, as well as skin health, as they believe the two go hand in hand. Once the charity has been set up, they will be open to the public to take donations. In the meantime, for every ESPÉRER product sold, £1 goes towards this Foundation. They aim to build psychological/mental health and well-being centres in developing countries. Places that have experienced war and famine receive food and water supplies, but they do not have access to mental health support, which they believe is just as important. What an amazing charity!

The first product we tried was the Anti-Aging Night Repair Serum  which is part of the collection ‘Beauté de la Nuit’. This oil serum is made with ONLY two natural ingredients: The argan oil and rose absolute, both of which are sourced from the southern region of Morocco. Argan oil contains vitamin E with the fatty acids omega 3 and 6, which provide the main moisturising properties. This is where the oil molecules are so tiny that they can penetrate the deeper layers of the epidermis, improving moisture levels and reducing signs of ageing. Argan also has numerous benefits for acne and damaged skin, and reduces fine lines, irritated skin, and lessens age spots. The rose absolute is extracted from rosa damascene blossoms, a rose only native to Morocco, and has anti-ageing and rejuvenating qualities as well as being anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, and hydrating. We loved using this rich amber coloured oil serum. The fragrance is intense with the soft, sweet floral rose absolute which is so uplifting, and with thicker viscoscity of the argan oil, it only needs two or three drops to massage into the face and the neck. When applying ESPÉRER Skin Care very sensibly advises waiting 30 minutes prior to bed, for this Serum to absorb into the skin (rather than the pillow!) We found that it left our skin looking plumped up and glowy by the morning. You can purchase the 30ml Anti-Aging Night Repair Serum here for £33.

Also part of the ‘Beauté de la Nuit’ collection, but offering different benefits, is the Anti-Pollution Night Repair Serum. Again, this too has only two ingredients: French lavender and almond oil. This oil Serum has detoxifying and calming properties. Lavender is known for its antimicrobial properties, preventing bacteria from growing on the skin as well as for its detoxifying and anti-pollution effects. Not only that, lavender offers a calming effect on the nervous system. The almond oil, is rich in vitamin A and works as a powerful antioxidant, protecting and repairing skin cells. When these two ingredients are combined, they moisturise, repair and protect with the added benefit of an antibacterial effects from the lavender oil. This Night Serum is designed to calm and repair, offering skin protection from daily pollution. We found that with the almond oil as a base, it was lighter in texture than the Anti-Ageing Repair.  The lavender fragrance was also less intense than that of the rose absolute, and this time, we found that we needed more like four of five drops to massage into the face and neck. With lavender oil often hailed as a hero botanical, we understand its presence here in this Serum, where it works as a healer and antioxidant fighting free radical damage and pollution. When using this Anti-Pollution Night Repair Serum, it certainly did help to calm and balanced skin as well reducing any redness and blotchy patches. You can purchase the Anti-Pollution Night Repair Serum here for £27.

It was hard to chose a favourite between these two ESPÉRER Skin Care Serums. However, if pushed, we’d have to say the Anti-Ageing Night Repair, but only because rose absolute is, one of our very favourite essential oils to use.