Cannabina: CBD Beard Oils Honey Oak & Cedarwood

If you’ve been reading The Amazing Blog  for a while, then you’ll know that we like to try lots of different topical and skincare products that contain CBD. Today we are looking at two grooming products, the CBD Beard Oils by Cannabina  from The Legal Hempire a brand we have previously featured here.

Cannabina is founded by Gemma McKay, and is a brand that specialises in all kinds of healing products infused with hemp-based broad-spectrum and THC-free CBD ingredients. These products have been created foreveryone to enjoy the healing and soothing benefits of CBD. Cannabina offers a variety of CBD infused items from skincare, tinctures and edibles. McKay’s passion and interest in cannabis are the motivating factors behind the brand’s mission to improve the quality of life for their consumer, through this incredible plant's relieving and healing properties. McKay commented, “It’s only relatively recently that CBD and cannabinoids have caught the public imagination, but the positive health properties of non-THC hemp have been a part of my upbringing. For me, being able to be involved in this feels totally logical and instinctive.” Cannabina is an all-natural CBD brand where the products are free from harmful chemicals, pesticides, solvent residues, chlorophyll, fats and lipids. There are no preservatives, sulphates, mineral oils, parabens, artificial colouring, flavours or perfumes. The brand’s products are also cruelty-free and are tested and certified by both US and UK laboratories. The brand’s products are also cruelty-free and are tested and certified by both US and UK laboratories. Cannabina also has a strong sustainability ethos with its recycling and asks customers to return their product empties, for which they’re rewarding with a 5% discount on further purchases. McKay also recently launched her own shop, The Legal Hempire, a specialist hemp and wellness store, which currently includes over 10 of her tried and trusted CBD brands. “I know that things can get tough, mentally, and also what it takes to find ways to heal yourself. Healing should be built into how we live much more naturally, and CBD and other plant medicines have so much to offer when it comes to both physical and psychological healing properties.” This is where Gemma wants her customers to benefit from the knowledge and insight she has gained and used in her own life.

These CBD Beard Oils are available in either 10ml Honey Oak or 30ml Cedarwood  fragrances, both are designed to help soften and men’s facial hair and beards. These Beard Oils are infused with 50mg of active CBD, which helps to soften, strengthen and promote hair growth. They are lightweight CBD Beard Oils, which contain are vegan and cruelty-free ingredients which include jojoba and argan oils, fragrance oil and cannabis sativa (CBD) extract. When combined, these offer a hydrating yet non-greasy formula, that takes care of anything from a day’s stubble to unruly wizard whiskers. We have it on good authority from our tester that when used regularly he found that his follicles grew slightly thicker and less brittle. Plus, these oils reduced his ‘bristle beard’ making it soft to the touch, and even added moisturise to his skin. The favourite here was the Honey Oak oil for its mellow and sweet fragrance. These are both available in 10ml for the price of £13.00 in Honey Oak here and 30ml Cedarwood here.

Benny Hancock For Men: Moisturising Face Perfector SPF 15

Taking care of our skin is nothing new. Each of us has, to some extent, a daily routine to try and keep skin looking at its best. However, men’s skin, and the look they want to achieve, can be quite different from that of women. We know 30% of our readership is men, which is why at The Amazing Blog we wanted to introduce this best-selling new all-in-one lightweight moisturiser and foundation Moisturising Face Perfector from Benny Hancock For Men. 

Working closely with celebrities, supermodels, and VIPs for over a decade, Benny Hancock is an influencer and a global industry pro-makeup artist who understands men’s skin and their priorities when looking for a makeup. After realising men’s increasing need for makeup, he founded Benny Hancock For Men, with a masculine-looking range of vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics, to help men build their confidence and enhancing their appearance. He believes that “makeup for men should enhance rather than conceal” and, therefore, has worked hard to design products that are feel invisible, are convenient, and long-lasting. Benny Hancock For Men is an innovative brand that combines high-tech and wearable formulations to achieve the perfect makeup look that men are seeking out.  

With the Moisturising Face Perfector what we like is that this product is a multi-tasker. It works as both as a moisturiser and foundation. While the hydrogenated coconut oil and argan oil it hydrates the skin just like a moisturiser, the fragrance-free formula provides natural yet buildable coverage that disguises uneven skin tone and imperfections without being sticky or cakey. The SPF 15, along with vitamin E, silica, and Ectoin, protects your skin from UVA/B rays and is clinically proven to create a barrier that defends against pollutants. This foundation is available in five different skin-compatible shades, and if you’re unsure of what colour suits you the best, you can use their ‘Virtual Try-On Mirror’ to find the perfect match, using the camera on your smartphone or computer. As a tip, they advise using the buffing brush to apply the foundation for best result, but it can also be applied with the fingers - if unarmed combat is more your thing! Men’s makeup, is still a relatively new concept for your average bloke. Our tester (that bloke) not one to normally wear makeup, was curious and sceptical all at the same time. We gave him the shade of NC15 fair to try. Our powers of persuasion which involved pointing him to the tutorial at Benny Hancock on ‘How to Use’ and telling him about how the SPF factor and ingredients would protect his face from the sun and city pollutants - he was off and running. Much to his (and our) surprise he was amazed at how natural it looked! He later confessed to having it as one of his ‘empties’ with a view to reordering. You can purchase this 30ml Moisturising Face Perfecter SPF 15  here  for £25.

Folli Oil - Emergency Fix

Have you ever turned down an invitation to great beach party, all because of some unsightly inflamed ingrown hairs, bumps or itchy re-growth? I’m sorry to say we at The Amazing Blog are guilty! After much discussion here, we scoured the internet and came across Folli Oil. This brand has created a very clever range of products specifically designed to tackle those nasty rashes and bumps. Today we review their rather aptly named Emergency Fix. 

Folli Oil was created by Liz Allen who previously lived in the Caribbean, where in this sunny environment showing perfect, hair-free skin, is the social norm . After years of pressure, stress and embarrassment with her sometimes sore and inflamed ingrown hairs; and frustrated at being unable to find a product that worked – she set about researching a solution to soothe and heal these breakouts. This was when Follio was born, offering a life-changing skincare solution for those who experience niggling irritation and discomfort after shaving or waxing. All products are 100% natural and free from artificial colour/fragrance, synthetic preservatives, parabens, petrochemicals and are also gluten-free and vegan. There are four products in the range a Body Scrub, Exfoliating Tonic Daily Treatment Oil and Emergency Fix (which we are reviewing below).

The Emergency Fix  not only heals but prevents inflamed bumps and itchy regrowth. It’s a two-part set in 10ml rollerball bottles, namely ‘Intensive Care’ and ‘Exfoliating Tonic’. Formulated with willow bark extract, aloe vera, tamanu, comfrey and borage seed oils. It’s a blend of essential oils that both replenishes and exfoliates the skin. These unclog, purify, nourish and heal the follicles preventing any ingrown hairs and spots. Both products are completely natural, sustainable, cruelty-free, handmade in the UK and suitable for all skin types. However, because they contain peppermint oil, they recommended not using this product during pregnancy. 

The set is small enough to pack in hand luggage and the rollerball makes it super-easy for precision application on small areas. First, apply the Exfoliating Tonic directly onto clean, dry skin to gently exfoliate and kill bacteria preventing infection. Once the skin is dry, soothe the area by applying the Intensive Care. This healing treatment will reduce inflammation and nourish the skin helping it stay smooth. Massage in Intensive Care until it’s completely absorbed and then leave. This Emergency Fix can be applied up to 3 times a day, and they say that you should feel an improvement within 30 minutes of application! I used this on my underarms – where skin was inflamed with a hair that was trying to push through. It was red, sore and extremely uncomfortable – so it offered the ideal opportunity to test this out. I was impressed with how soothing it felt, the area became less inflamed and with a few more applications, it eventually broke through the skin, where I then braved the tweezers! We think that this Emergency Fix is a bit of a game-changer and certainly deserves the title as one of our #Amazingfinds. To purchase your Emergency Fix it’s available here for £25.00 - and it’s worth every penny!

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.

West Barn Co (WBCO) - Balancing Cleanser & Brow Elixir

At The Amazing Blog, we love to make new brand discoveries, especially when they have been created for professional makeup artists. Meet West Barn Co who specialise in brow and skin preparation products, where today we review their Cleanser and Brow Elixir.

West Barn Co (WBCO) is based in the heart of Durham and created by a mother and daughter team, Donna McCann-Turner and Kim Cattin. It all began in August 2016, when Kim was working as a professional make-up artist on an editorial photoshoot. She wanted to create something entirely different for the Instagram brow trend that was buzzing at the time; Kim wanted to create a brushed up, fluffy, natural brow. Having found no product that could actually fulfil her wish, Kim used an old Hollywood trick by using soap to freeze the brow in place but was a little hesitant about using hand soap on the faces of her clients. This is when Donna and Kim locked heads and created a little tin of brow soap with a brow brush, and the legendary Soap Brows® was born. This then went on to explode on social media last year with fans such as Beyonce, Perrie Edwards and Sophie Turner. This natural and ethical brand went from being a small artisan product made in Donna's home to becoming a globally successful business, all within a year. The company now focusses on creating high-quality brow and skin preparation products for professional make-up artists. Amazed and inspired by the increasing success of the original Soap Brows® they turned their attention to other skin preparation products. Donna has gone on to formulate more skincare products that have proved just as popular with the pro make-up industry elite. Today, this successful company contains 14 staff members working in fulfilment, manufacturing and marketing. It ships internationally to 60 countries, and their mission has evolved into creating a complete range of exceptional brow and skin prep products that professional make-up artists will choose for their kit. All products are cruelty-free and vegan. 

We were sent two of their products. First, we’ll talk about the Bog Myrtle and Lime Balancing Cleanser. It's a beautifully light and creamy face cleanser that will deeply clean and tone skin in just one simple step. It is made to give an instant brightening effect and is refreshing, uplifting and balancing. This facial cleanser is ideal for including in a daily routine or a part of a self-care session. It has properties from the bog myrtle plant which are known to tightens pores and reduces spots. It is has a balancing effect on the skin and can stop breakouts thanks to its antiseptic properties. The lime oil in the blend is used to reduce pores, tones the skin and add a refreshing zesty scent to this energising lotion. Castor oil here has antioxidant properties that help keep skin detoxified; It also has excellent moisturising properties and will hold moisture. Finally, the agonis fragrans branch/leaf oil adds a citrus/spicy scent and purifies the skin with its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties. We found that this Cleanser worked best for us when used it primarily as a make-up remover, as the castor oil makes light work of gently lifting away foundation and daily grime. What's more, this Cleanser comes with a sustainably sourced organic bamboo and cotton cloth. To use it, WBCO advises to take the cloth and run under lukewarm water for a few seconds. Place it over your face to allow the warmth to open those pores and soften your skin. Two pumps of this Cleanser should be enough. Gently work the cleanser into the skin using circular motions and working up the face. Once you have thoroughly cleansed your face, use the wet cloth to remove the product, which leaves skin soft, clean and clear. It can also be used as part of a double cleanse too. To purchase this 100ml Cleanser see here for £19.00.

The second product was our favourite, the Brow Elixir which is full of brow enhancing ingredients. This brow elixir claims to boost and stimulate the healthy growth of your eyebrows. So, if your brows feeling a little lacklustre or perhaps like us you had a little too much tweezer time in the 90s, this will help to revive, nourish and promote growth. I’m always cautious when it comes to using brow serums, as I’ve got brows with permanent makeup and regular use of ‘active ingredients’ can fade the pigments. I was delighted to read on the list of ingredients here, that there are no actives! This contains key ingredients such as evodia rutaecarpa fruit extract, which has a balancing and soothing effect on skin. The camelia seed oil (aka tea seed oil) which will enrich skin feeding it with a plethora of vitamins and minerals. The blend also includes hydrolysed vegetable proteins which will give a power boost to strengthen brow hair. The cucumber extract will keep skin refreshed. The vitis vinifera seed oil is extracted from grapes and promotes healthy hair growth and acts as a natural dandruff treatment. The macadamia oil will bind to the hair shaft and infuses it with fatty acids, leaving hair follicles stronger and healthier. Finally, your eyebrows are left silky and soft thanks to the propanediol, which is plant-based glycol, that enhances the absorption of all other ingredients too. To use it, WBCO advises coating the brow hair, from root to tip. Brush through your eyebrows, using a circular motion to stimulate microcirculation and get the follicles stimulated. When this has finished, I’ll be purchasing another, despite no regrowth being evident yet, I’m hoping in another month, I’ll see some… to get your 8ml Brow Elixir, see here for £29.00.