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If there’s something I choose (and love) to spend my money on it’s skincare. Make-up is secondary for me and quite different. My colour cosmetics stash is reasonable, I wear the same look almost everyday, and to be honest I like that… even though the amount of lipsticks that I own should be banned – I tend to forget that I only have one pair of lips, not 50. However, skincare is something that I only really discovered and appreciated about a year ago since working at Amazing PR. And right now, I’d rather wear no make-up and have good skin than having average skin and wear the most amazing blue-toned red lipstick (my fave shade of lipstick). We should all take care of our skin, after all it is the largest organ of the body and we only have one face. So in my view taking care of your skin should be a priority.

Working in the Beauty PR industry has given me the chance to try many products.  Although, there are really very few that I can actually see and feel a difference on my skin. At The Amazing Blog we’ve been fortunate enough to work very closely with UK skincare brand Beetox. UMF20+ Manuka Honey and Bee Venom based – beautiful ingredients and definite winners.

Their range consists of a Moisturiser, a Mask and a Serum. The Moisturiser’s consistency is thick and smells heavenly. It’s probably one of the most luxurious moisturisers that I’ve ever used,  it’s instantly absorbed by my perpetually dehydrated skin  plumping it up and making it feel very soft.  It moisturises my skin beautifully and leaves it feeling very comfortable and ready for applying my foundation. The Serum’s consistency is somewhere between a gel and a liquid. When applied to the skin it gently tingles and I can feel my skin tighten instantly (not that I need it, I’m in my middle twenties…) don’t get me wrong this feeling is a very pleasant one indeed. And the Mask… is my favourite product of all, it  really purifies and delivers moisture back into my skin making it the perfect combination with the Serum for my particular tricky (and temperamental) skin type.

I must mention with a word of caution that  Beetox does warn all their potential customers about possible adverse reaction to their products. So do bear in mind that one of the main ingredients about this range is Bee Venom (along with their powerful UMF20+ Manuka Honey); so if you’re unluckily enough to have an allergy to bee stings please stay away from this skincare savour. None of us at the office are so we’ve all added Beetox‘s products to our regular skincare routines.

You can buy Beetox skincare from their website. Follow them on Twitter, and ‘Like’ them on Facebook.

Retail prices are: Face Mask £55, Moisturiser £39 and Serum £45. You can also buy the ‘Multi Set’, which includes three products for £139.

At The Amazing Blog we love when old and vintage products are restored and transformed into works of art. When we discovered the innovative brand White Dove and Wonder we were enthralled with their brilliant creations. White Dove and Wonder specialises in creating quirky art by taking vintage shoe lasts from the 1930’s and using them to create handmade wooden designs that are then turned into shelves, tables or bookends. These pieces are highly sophisticated and will surely attract the attention of your friends and family.

When the creator, Susan Gaston, inherited tons of vintage shoe lasts from her family business she knew she could use them to help create something unique. She’s given them a new lease on life by using them to help create her White Dove and Wonder pieces, such as the bookends seen above. Each shoe last design is hand-crafted and stained with an elegant finish. And while no two shoe lasts look identical, you can be sure that your purchase is truly one of a kind. White Dove and Wonder creations are perfect for those of you who are passionate about interiors and home stuff, especially if your taste gravitates towards the quirky side of the spectrum.

You can order your very own Susan Gaston‘s creations from the brand’s website. White Dove & Wonder prices start at £40 – even if the price tags are a bit spendy you’ll still be in awe at the gorgeous art this talented designer has created.

One of my all time favourite poems is “Eve of St. Agnes” by British poet, John Keats. The very romance of it has always appealed to me. So naturally, when a box from a brand called “Eve of St. Agnes” came through the doors of The Amazing Blog, I instantly claimed it. We received both an Organic Bath Oil as well as a Refining Bamboo Exfoliating Polish - I couldn’t wait to try them.

I started with the Organic Bath Oil. This oil contains a luxurious mix of organic avocado, hemp and coconut oils as well as orange, green mandarin, cardamom and frankincense essential oils. Once I poured two capfuls into my running bath, I was instantly hit with the strong smell of each oil’s fragrance. I must admit, it was slightly over powering at first, but once I settled in I was taken away into a warming, uplifting and decadent bath time experience. Although next time, I think I’ll stick to the recommended single capful.

After my relaxing bath, I continued my evening pamper with the Refining Bamboo Exfoliating Polish. I am always hesitant using an exfoliator because of my sensitive skin, so I approached this polish with caution.  Initially, I found the polish to be a bit rough, but after gently massaging it in I became quite fond of the texture. And after rinsing it off I was left with smooth and silky soft skin.  Not to mention the smell of orange, green mandarin and sandalwood helped me relax for the evening.

With a magnificent blend of essential oils and some inspiration from one of England’s finest poets, I think we can call this a winner.  Available on the Eve of St. Agnes Website, you can purchase the Organic Bath Oil for £16 and  Refining Bamboo Exfoliating Polish for £18 as well as a wide variety of other skincare and body products.

When it comes to buying everyday household items, we at The Amazing Blog always lean towards those that are ‘green’ and eco-friendly. So when we received several cleaning products from EcoForce, we were really chauffed.

EcoForce is a unique brand that aims to reduce their carbon footprint at every possible level of production. All of their products are made from at least 90% recycled material, which reduces landfill waste, conserves precious fossil fuels and uses 70% less energy than new plastics. And with all their designing and manufacturing taking place here in the UK, EcoForce provides a ‘greener’ and more sustainable alternative to traditional cleaning items. From the wide array of products they offer, we were fortunate enough to receive their Scourers, Sponges, Cloths and Dusters. The scourers and sponges worked great around the sink and kitchen: mopping up messes and cleaning dishes with ease. While the cloths and dusters were useful around the office: cleanin up spilled tea and wipping off dirty fingerprints. Each item was perfect for some light household cleaning.

If the environmental benefits aren’t convincing enough, the price of all these products are extremely affordable. Ranging from £1 to £5, any of these products (and more) can be purchased on their website and in most supermarkets here in the UK – including Whole Foods. EcoForce makes it easy to be green while you clean.

There is nothing worse than those synthetic shampoos and conditioners that rid your hair of natural oils and leave your locks feeling dry and coarse. That’s why we here at The Amazing Blog love natural and chemical-free hair products. So when we received samples of Gavin Taylor Hair shampoo and conditioner, we knew we would be quite interested in what they had to offer. Although the samples only gave me enough product for a weekend getaway.

Gavin Taylor sent us both the Lavender & Geranium and Camomile & Lemon Shampoo as well as the Frankincense & Sage Conditioner  - all of which are designed for naturally fine or oily hair. The Camomile & Lemon Shampoo was my favourite: combining English Camomile and Sicilian Lemon in perfect harmony. I found this remedy to rejuvenate both the balance and shine to my dull, product laden hair. And similarly, the sage in the conditioner naturally energizes dull, limp (and in my case: over worked) hair. The scent of each product was delightful and refreshing. All Gavin Taylor products are natural – free from parabens and synthetic foaming agents (SLS). Instead, their shampoo range contains Oxygenated Aloe Vera wheat proteins that gently moisturise your hair by locking in natural proteins and protecting it from external damage. While I only was only able to squeeze out a few trials, I can confirm all these attributes.

The natural elements, cosmetic benefits, and refreshing scents of these Gavin Taylor Shampoos and Conditioners are quite enticing. This brand has created a wonderful product that surely won’t damage your hair or the environment. At £14 per a bottle, the price is a bit steep but well worth it. This is definitely a product I will purchase, and you can too on their website. Recommended.