Micheline Arcier : Harmonie Aromatherapie Body Oil

When feeling tired or listless, at The Amazing Blog, it’s always aromatherapy that we turn to first. We believe there is no better way to relax and unwind, than by using the healing powers of botanicals. Did you know that the term ‘aromatherapy’ was first coined by a French perfumer and chemist, René-Maurice Gattefossé, in his book published in 1937? Today we want to talk about one of our favourite ‘go-to’ aromatherapy brands, the award-winning Micheline Arcier and their Harmonie Aromatherapie Body Oil which won Best Body Oil - Relaxing at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Micheline Arcier was one of the first British aromatherapy brands to launch in the UK. As an early advocate of holistic wellbeing, Micheline Arcier developed exclusive products and signature massage techniques. In the early 1960s. She had a highly successful and well-regarded private practice and clinic in Knightsbridge, London. While her practice has since closed, the brand lives on through the Micheline Arcier products. She was trained by Madame Maury, an Austrian biochemist who believed in the use of essential oils to promote wellbeing. Micheline Arcier also worked closely with Dr Jean Valnet, one of the first doctors to use essential oils to treat medical conditions, and when she first opened her Knightsbridge clinic, few people knew what aromatherapy was. Over six decades, the Aromatherapie range has evolved and even offers training to ensure that the official Micheline Arcier practices are carefully maintained. While Micheline Arcier passed away in 2006, Germaine Riche and Catherine Milne have since taken ownership of the brand. Germaine Riche was trained by Micheline Arcier herself and became qualified as an aromatherapist in 1968. Today Germaine also teaches courses on aromatherapy in both the UK and Japan. Catherine Milne works as both an aromatherapist and sports massage practitioner and founded Aromasporttherapy. Today Micheline Arcier Aromatherapie is now under the umbrella of Aromasporttherapy Limited, which is also the parent company of Pepperfit. All essential oils used in Micheline Arcier products are genuine and pure oils sourced from suppliers that support organic production. Products all have naturally sourced ingredients, are vegan friendly and are not tested on animals. These active plant-based essential oils are so powerful that they must be blended with vegetable carrier oils. This gives the oils added benefits by offering vitamins and antioxidants and helps stimulate the production of healthy skin cells, neutralise free radicals that age the skin, and protect the skin against pollutants.

The Harmonie Aromatherapie Body Oil has been created to help promote deep relaxation and a restful night’s sleep, working on both the body and mind. What we love about this oil is that it nourishes the skin, and relieves tension, while offering a wonderful sense of calm with its subtle, yet moreish scent. Incorporating healing essential oils, it’s best used after a bath, while the skin is warm and clean for the oil to absorb fully. The carrier oil is apricot kernel; it’s a nonfragrant oil with skin-soothing and antioxidant properties. It’s combined here with the essential oils of linaloe wood, petitgrain, sage, chamomile flower and ylang-ylang.

Linaloe wood oil is native to Mexico; it’s known for its rejuvenating properties, which stimulate tissue regeneration and help prevent skin ageing. It calms and clears the mind, has been used in perfumes, incense, and oils for centuries, and is also said to be an aphrodisiac! Petitgrain originates from Paraguay and is sourced from the leaves and twigs from the Seville bitter orange tree. It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory soothing and refreshing it’s best known as a tension-relieving oil. The sage oil is reputed to eliminate toxins and ease any muscular or joint pain. Camomile is a gentle yet potent botanical that aids sleep. Finally, the Ylang-yang adds an exotic note to boost mood and alleviate anxiety.

Other ingredients, besides essential oils, are farnesol which is present in many essential oils and is used to emphasise a sweet, floral scent. Linalool is naturally occurring, found in the essential oils, and is floral and spicy terpene alcohol. It’s found in over 200 plants acting as an anti-stress and soothing ingredient. Geraniol, when used topically, is an anti-inflammatory with antibacterial properties to purify and soothe. Eugenol is naturally occurs in botanicals like cloves, basil, and bay leaves and is used as a natural fragrance. Benzyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate, benzyl alcohol citronellol and limonene are all naturally occurring in botanicals and act as a fragrance or preservatives in cosmetic products. 

This is another of our #amazingfinds and one that we can’t get enough of to massage into tired limbs. Step up your relaxation by adding this 100ml Harmonie Aromatherapie Body Oil to your night routine. See here to purchase for £40.

Hello Day : Immunity Support

Who else needs an immunity boost? It’s something at The Amazing Blog we all need. And what better way than by taking a daily supplement filled with essential probiotics and vitamins. We recommend Hello Day’s Immunity Support which offers many benefits, including vitamin D3 and gut support with microbiota and was recently named an Editor’s Choice at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards.

Hello Day is an innovative health and wellness company that provides a collection of natural supplements. They specialise in seasonal wellness boxes for spring, summer, autumn and winter. These contain four products specifically designed to help anticipate and support the body, preventing it from any symptoms associated with the season. In an interview with one of their stockists, John Bell & Croyden, the brand said, “We are the first brand to create an innovative response to seasonal changes with our All Season Boxes…Our boxes are a generalist approach, meaning they have been designed as a universal response to seasonality, tackling issues we all face.” The company also offers additional products which are sold individually. Sébastien Rumpler founded the company intending to help people achieve their health and wellness goals by reconnecting with nature. By combining his pharmaceutical experience with insights from both Swiss and French health experts and micronutrition and phytotherapy doctors, Sébastien was able to launch Hello Day. All humans directly connect with the environment, whether through their moods or energy levels. However, Sébastien believes people have lost touch with this connection. Hello Day helps prepare people to live in harmony with nature and the season’s changes. With a strong background in pharmaceuticals, Sébastien has combined the best pharmaceutical production practices with clinically supported science and high-quality ingredients to create the highest quality products. All products have natural flavours and colours, are vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, GMO-free, TI02 free, preservative-free, and with no nanoparticles. They are manufactured in pharma-grade facilities, using Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), guaranteeing a high level of control from acquiring the ingredients to the final product, and always ensuring zero cross-contamination between products. Additionally, each batch is bacteriology tested, and batches are tracked for customer safety. Hello Day also has a strong community of ‘Wellbeing Mentors’ who help build a community around helping people achieve their health and wellness goals. Sustainability has always been an essential consideration at Hello Day, with manufacturing done in the UK and France to avoid long-distance sourcing. They package their products with FSC paper from sustainably maintained forests and aim to use recycled and resource-efficient packaging.

Hello Day’s Immunity Support is a dietary supplement designed to help strengthen the immune system. They also have two other immunity supplement products in this range: Immunity Defence, and Immunity Shield. The Immunity Support combines well-selected probiotics and vegan vitamin D3, which are for gut health and overall wellbeing, and it’s recommended to take one capsule daily before breakfast. It’s a supplement that helps improve gut health, and as we all know, the gut has a significant impact on the immune system with nearly 70% of the immune cells being stored in the gut. Now we are, hopefully, post-pandemic, a healthy gut is critical to helping keep a robust immune system. This supplement helps support the microbiota, combined with the daily dose of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D3 mainly comes from animal sources such as fish oil, fatty fish, liver, and egg yolks. However, here it‘s sustainably sourced from algae. When skin is exposed to sunlight, it produces vitamin D3, sometimes referred to as the sunshine vitamin. Its strength is also measured in international units. Many people here in the UK are deficient in vitamin D, which is a significant problem because vitamin D helps support the normal functioning of the immune system and supports bone, tooth, and muscle health. It’s critical for calcium metabolism in our bodies, encouraging calcium absorption. Vitamin D and calcium are also preventative treatments against osteoporosis.

The first thing to mention is that all ingredients here are 100% natural. There is corn starch which is a binder and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, a stabiliser in the capsules. Lactobacillus acidophilus is commonly found in yoghurt and other fermented foods and balances harmful bacteria in the gut. The lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is a widely used probiotic strain, often included in supplements for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal infections. Bifidobacterium animalis lactis is an important component of the healthy gut flora, promotes gastrointestinal health and helps fight infection. Bifidobacterium bifidum are probiotics that live in the intestines and help break down food, absorb nutrients, fight off harmful organisms, and suppress any gut Inflammation. The magnesium salts of fatty acids are used as an anti-caking and anti-foaming agent. Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) is a vitamin that helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus. Having enough vitamin D is critical for maintaining strong bone health and a healthy immune system.

Improving gut health seems to be very topical, and we all need extra support for our immune system. This supplement is another of our #amazingfinds and one we wouldn’t be without! The Hello Day Immunity Support can be found here one month’s supply (30 vegan capsules) at £24, or sign up for a monthly subscription at £21.60 pounds/ month.

by:BW Skincare : The Cleansing Oil

What’s more important to you… A skincare regime in the morning to pep up your skin? Or perhaps in the evening, to help get rid of the daily grim? At The Amazing Blog, our good skincare routine always starts by using a gentle and effective cleanser. That’s why we want to flag up another of our #amazingfinds with facial cleanser, The Cleansing Oil by British indie skincare By:BW Skincare.

As an expert on skin health and wellness for the past 25 years, Julie Brown began curating a natural skincare brand based on her extensive knowledge of herbs, plants, and essential oils. By:BW Skincare was launched in 2020, inspired by her spa therapy company, Boutique Wellbeing. Boutique Wellbeing is a therapy practice located on a private estate in Cotswolds. Since the beginning, Julie has been interested in sourcing her ingredients sustainably. "At the beginning of my journey creating by:BW, I knew that I wanted to ensure that the practices I used and the ingredients I sourced were as eco-conscious as I could possibly make them. Here I am sourcing some lavender in the Cotswolds, being as 'green' as possible and a low carbon footprint is woven within the fabric of my business." The brand produces handmade products in small batches and promises not to use factory manufacturing. By:BW Skincare aims to use all-natural and organic ingredients, and whenever possible, they try to source their ingredients locally from farmers. Their products are free from parabens, and synthetics, 100% vegan, and cruelty-free. "I check the provenance of each base oil and essential oil I use, and my products are only tested [on] humans." The brand was featured in the August 2021 issue of Cotswold Living and more recently, has been awarded a ‘Commended’ at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards for The Cleansing Oil.

We found that The Cleansing Oil worked gently and effectively to remove the buildup that every day brings. As an oil cleanser, it targets dirt and makeup, while protecting the skin's natural barrier. We particularly like is that it shields the lipid layer without damaging the microbiota and microbiome, which keeps the skin in balance and healthy. The Cleansing Oil consists of only six natural oil: Grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, organic evening primrose oil, tocopherol, lavender oil, and organic eucalyptus oil.

Grapeseed oil is loaded with antioxidants and contains high amounts of omega fatty acids and vitamin E, which helps maintain moisture levels. This extract has many benefits, such as protecting against harmful free radicals, minimising wrinkles and uneven skin tones, with antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Sweet almond oil has high levels of vitamin E. This oil is often used to treat itchy and dry skin because of its anti-inflammatory properties and alleviates skin conditions such as eczema. Sweet almond oil is an excellent skin moisturiser because it won't clog your pores. Organic evening primrose oil (pictured above) relieves many irritable skin conditions and improves overall skin wellness. Tocopherol (vitamin E) is present in many vegetable oils from which it is naturally derived. This vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the skin from harmful UV rays and reduce UV damage. The two fragrant essentials lavender and organic eucalyptus, are best known for reducing skin inflammation and their anti-ageing benefits. To surmise, the cleanser is made up of only 100 per cent natural botanical oils.

The Cleansing Oil can be used on all skin types, including oily skin; as Julie says, "Contrary to belief, using an oil on oily skin is a good thing!" And we couldn’t agree more. An oil-based cleanser successfully removes any residue of SPF, makeup and pollutants from the day, unlike some others. To use, we applied directly onto dry skin and massaged into the face and neck. They suggest using a warm damp face cloth, leave on for 15 seconds, and allow the steam to open the pores. Then take three deep breaths to inhale the relaxing aroma of lavender and eucalyptus. After that, just wipe away the impurities or repeat for a double cleanse. We used this morning or at night for a refreshing skin boost. The blend of quality ingredients will help to keep a youthful complexion and lower the stress hormone cortisol, for positive effects on emotions and the skin. It won’t clog pores or leave your skin feeling dry and will leave a nice layer of moisture, giving a beautifully supple and glowy skin.

It comes in sustainable packaging, i.e. recyclable glass bottle, a reusable face cloth, a drawstring bag, and a biodegradable box. The Cleansing OIl, is 100ml and available here for £28. This seriously impressed us, and we hope to try more from by:BW Skincare in the future.

Made By The Beekeeper : Anywhere Anytime Balm

Who else loves a good balm? We certainly do, now we’re travelling again. Going with only hand luggage means that, at The Amazing Blog, all our skincare needs to be multipurpose. This is why the award-winning Anywhere Anytime Balm from the British indie bee brand Made By The Beekeeper, comes into its own.   

Rebecca Beveridge is the founder of Made by Beekeeper. It all began with her mother, Joyce Boulos-Hanna, who planted a vineyard 22 years ago in the paddock next to their family home in Earls Barton, Northamptonshire. This is where Rebecca began her sustainable and organic bee management, with an apiary at the vineyard. Today she splits her time between Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire, with stints to Kent and Devon, where her colony of bees travel with her. Rebecca commented, “The reward for this hard, but joyful, work, is not only knowing that I am contributing to the eco-balance in my area but knowing that my bees have done me proud and produced award-winning honey, comb, fudge and mead in four counties.” In 2019, she wanted to incorporate her bees’ productivity into wellbeing and beauty products. However, being an expert on these little creatures, she always prioritises her bees.“ My bees come first – their health and quality of life and then their productivity:  honey, wax, propolis, pollen." All of their products are 100% natural, organic, palm oil-free, nut-free, and vegetarian. Her formulas are handmade in small batches for a low waste process. Not only does she sustainably source her beeswax and honey from her hives, but she also uses sustainable packaging for her beauty products. She’s gained a wider recognition from the brand’s recent wins at 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, with ‘Best Men’s Skincare Product for their Organic Balm for Men’, and three Editor’s Choice Awards for their Nourishing Foot Balm, Elbow, Knee and Heel Balm, and Anywhere Anytime Balm. Apart from their skincare, they’ve also won a trophy for their sweet and dry meads at the National Honey Show. Made By The Beekeeper ethically sources all of its beeswax, is a strong advocate for bee wellness and a member of The British Beekeepers Association. Apart from their apiary and range of skincare products, they offer a unique one-day Beekeepers Experience here, and a Honey Tasting Experience and Lip Balm workshop, which are coming soon.

As mentioned earlier, we are always looking for multitasking skincare, and this Anywhere Anytime Balm is a very good example of what we love. it’s super hydrating, versatile, and can be used on any part of the body, or face. As Rebecca suggests, "Use to moisturise any dry patches, soothe healing patches, just to add a healthy sheen, or even to tame those eyebrows!" The balm contains a blend of only seven natural and organic ingredients: organic beeswax, organic virgin coconut oil, organic mango butter, organic camellia tea oil, organic borage oil, organic sunflower oil, and natural vitamin E.

Of course, the main ingredient is their organic beeswax. Although beeswax, is not suitable for vegans, it’s a safe natural ingredient that’s been used for centuries to treat cuts and burns. The wax comes from honeybees, who create this honeycomb made of wax, to stow away the colony's honey. In skincare, it offers many benefits, including anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, and protection from harmful free radicals. Also known to be beneficial for sensitive skins and even for conditions such as psoriasis and eczema with its excellent humectant qualities; this means the wax attracts water which keeps skin hydrated and moisturised without clogging pores. Finally, beeswax is a popular ingredient used in formulating makeup, it's a natural emulsifier, allowing the liquid and oil components to bind together, and offers a smooth application and long-lasting formulas.

All ingredients are organic - except for the natural vitamin E. The virgin coconut oil is extracted from the fat of raw coconuts. Using this oil increases skin hydration, collagen production reduces inflammation and helps with dark spots. Extracted from mango seeds, mango butter has a variety of skin benefits. Mango butter is loaded with vitamins B6, A, C, and E to help with skin nourishment. It works to give you soft skin and protects against sun damage and ageing. Camellia is a plant typically found in East Asia, and it's been used in traditional Chinese medicine for years. This plant is high in oleic acid and vitamins to help with skin hydration, inflammation, elasticity, and hyperpigmentation. The wildflower borage oil restores lost hydration in the skin and softens dry and damaged skin. Sunflower oil is high in vitamin E, it keeps skin smooth and protects skin from further sun damage, and can even heal wounds. Last but certainly not least, we have natural vitamin E, this is where ‘natural’ vitamin E is sourced from vegetable oils, primarily soybean oil, and is three times more concentrated than any synthetic vitamin E. It’s loaded with antioxidants to prevent premature ageing and keep skin supple and looking fresh.

Fragrance-free and highly concentrated, this balm works brilliantly as a moisturiser, cleanser, lip balm or for rubbing into dry cuticles - we tried it all! No nut oils make it suitable for those with any nut allergies, and a little does seem to go a long way. Our favourite spot to use it was around the eye area at night, either alone or on top of a water-based serum to seal it in. We love how this small but mighty balm comes in a handy recyclable aluminium screw-top tin, making it another of our #amazingfinds and perfect for those on the go. To purchase the 45g tine of Anywhere Anytime Balm for £12, see here.

Cotswold Remedies : Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection

With our busy schedule, we often find the best way to achieve some downtime is to take a nice long and relaxing soak. So at The Amazing Blog, we're always on the lookout for new essential oil bath remedies to try, which is why we want to introduce you to this Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection from the new brand Cotswold Remedies; with their set of three bath oils: Relax, Restore, and Revive.

Cotswold Remedies started in a small kitchen in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Founder Helen Ray got her inspiration to begin her skincare range during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 when she had time on her hands and wanted something to do. Helen said, "As a busy mum of two girls, juggling work and family life, I was always looking for the best products on the market to keep my skin looking great as I grew older. I wanted products that would keep my skin strong and supple as I entered my 40s but not blow my budget or require a complicated 10-step routine.” Once she completed her aromatherapy and organic skin formulation training, Helen rolled up her sleeves and got to work. It took her about 18 months to perfect a balanced formula for her bath oils range. The result was a range of products that delivered actual results at a fraction of the cost of similar high-end beauty products, all without compromising the quality of the ingredients. "I ended up improving them by stripping out any synthetic ingredients and adding more active ones."Cotswold Remedies officially launched in September 2021 and has been thriving ever since. The brand emphasises its use of 100% natural, organic, and ethical ingredients throughout the entire process. Cotswold Remedies products are also handmade in small batches to reduce the waste often produced by leftover products. Their range is also suitable for vegans and cruelty-free and is packaged in sustainable materials such as recyclable glass and cardboard sourced from sustainably managed forests. Since its launch, the brand has already won a few awards at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, including Best Bath Oil for their Relax Bath Oil and two Editor’s Choice Awards for the Collagen Boost Face Oil and Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection. They also won Best Aromatherapy Diffuser in Wellbeing for their Essential Oil Reed Diffuser.

What is a bath oil? Bath oils are a blend of scented oils added to water for bathing. Often used for more of a spa-like experience, if combined with aromatherapy/essential oils, they can also be very therapeutic. When oil is mixed with water, the diluted oil can penetrate deeply into the skin, providing relaxation and rejuvenation. They can also help with blood circulation and joint fatigue. Some aromatherapy oils can even help fight bacterial or viral infections. Of course, the most known benefit of bath oils is how they improve your skin leaving a long-lasting fresh scent and radiant skin.

Today we’re featuring their Editor’s Choice award-winning Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection, which includes the Relax, Restore and Revive bath oils. All three bath oils contain caprylic/capric triglyceride, AKA fractionated coconut oil. This version of coconut oil is more liquid than regular coconut oil and is deeply nourishing and easily absorbed by the skin, making it ideal to use as a carrier oil. It’s also rich in hydrating properties to keep skin moisturised and feeling smooth and silky. These three bath oils also have tocopherol; a natural vitamin E added to slow oxidation and gives the products a longer shelf life. Finally, each of the trio of bath oils contains a unique blend of essential oils combined for a purpose.

Let’s begin with the Relax Bath Oil, which contains a blend of chamomile, vetivert, lavender, patchouli, and clary sage essential oils. This specific blend helps calm your mind and body to promote restful slumber. Both chamomile and lavender have a calming effect on the mind and body, these oils are known to alleviate stress and keep the mind and body relaxed. Vetivert and clary sage work together with their calming properties to prepare the body for a good night's sleep. Patchouli is used to have a grounding and balancing effect on the mind, especially emotions. Together, these ‘relax’ both mind and body and encourage restful sleep.

The Restore Bath Oil is designed to relieve tense and aching muscles and stress. It contains a blend of pine, fir needle, black spruce, cypress, juniper berry, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender and lemon verbena essential oils. A mix of pine, fir needle, rosemary, and juniper berry can clear the head of negative thoughts and lets the mind focus. Black spruce, cypress, lemon verbena, geranium, and lavender all work together to alleviate the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Eucalyptus works to release the tension and aches of muscles. The Restore blend clears the mind, relaxes aching muscles and generally helps the body to decompress.

The third bath oil in the set is Revive Bath Oil. This unique blend of grapefruit, sweet orange, pink and black peppercorn, cajeput, lime, pine leaf, rosemary, lemongrass, juniper berry and geranium essential oils are used to stimulate your senses and energise your body to help fight fatigue. The blend of grapefruit, lemongrass, pine leaf, cajeput, and lime peel energises the body and mind and helps the body ward off tiredness. Sweet orange, juniper fruit, geranium flower, and pink and black peppercorn are all-natural mood enhancers. These oils uplift spirits and instantly bring balance to emotions. Rosemary is used here for improving your memory and concentration - which we all need!

To use these bath oils, simply add 5ml or 2-3 spoonfuls of the oil to a warm bath. Cotswold Remedies recommends mixing the bath oil in the tub before getting in to fully disperse. Then step in, lie down, take a deep breath and relax; it's time to ease away all that stress.

We loved using this trio. Our favourite was Revive; the fragrance, in particular, resonated with us. All three little bottles of blended essential oil magic have become our #amazingfinds, and for good reasons, they work! If you need more of a good therapeutic soak, then these are a bath oil set we’d recommend. To purchase the three 10ml bottles, in the Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection for £14, click here.