Williams Handmade - Leatherwork Clutch Bag/iPad Case Course

We like to shake it up a bit on our activity weekends. After all, we can’t let those precious free days go to waste. This is when The Amazing Blog discovered Williams Handmade, a company who specialises in craft leather goods.  They offer several leather-working workshops, like the Half Day Clutch Bag/iPad Case Course.

Designer Sarah Williams founded Williams Handmade in 2010. As award winners of the Accessories Collection of the Year Award at ITS#NINE, The Accessory Award from Absolut Vodka, and taking part of the “Power of Craft” exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Williams Handmade truly deserves the description of high-quality craftsmanship. The company has also been shortlisted for the Ketel One Modern Craftsman Award and was nominated by Selfridges as one of their Bright Young Things.

From glasses cases to bags, Sarah Williams creates each of these items herself in the Williams Handmade Workshop in Bircher, Leominster which is located on the Hereford/Shropshire borders. If you love to support local artisans as we do, you should also know that the products are made from English Bridle leather coming from Northamptonshire.

We’re particularly excited about their Half Day Clutch Bag/iPad Case Course. By the end of the day, you’ll have your own clutch bag or iPad case to bring home and put to use.  Our team members have never worked with leather before, but luckily there’s no need for prior experience to take this course. The day entails learning the basics of leatherwork (i.e. how to cut and prepare leather), the traditional saddle stitch, and learning how to finish the edges. You also get to choose your preferred colour and pattern combination, so your lovely bag or case is just to your liking!

The Williams Handmade Half Day Clutch Bag/iPad Case Course runs from 9am-1pm on the 20th of October for £65. Tea, coffee, and cake are included. If you’d like to spice up your Saturday with this fabulous course, click here. If you’re interested in finding out about their other classes, click here.

Neighbourhood Botanicals – Facial Oil and Lip Balm

Mainstream skin and body care products can be costly, and we at The Amazing Blog never want to forfeit the quality of the regular skincare that we use, just for cheaper products that don't use the same top ingredients. Micaela Nisbet, the founder of Neighbourhood Botanicals, agrees with us here too. After moving from Australia to London to pursue a music career, Micaela found herself spending a large chunk of her paycheck on such products. This inspired Micaela to follow her love for the magic of natural oils and blend her own skincare. The result was the formation of Neighbourhood Botanicals, a reliable natural oil-based skin care line made in the UK.

We were happy to try out the Neighbourhood Botanicals’ Dream Dream Dream Facial Oil. This facial oil is a blend of Moringa seed oil, rosehip fruit oil, apricot kernel oil, geranium oil, ylang-ylang flower oil, vitamin E, blackcurrant seed oil, lavender oil, and is wonderful for all complexions. Since its non-irritant, all natural, and hypoallergenic it is suited to everyone's skin type. In the morning, our skin felt soft and replenished. The contents of the Dream Dream Dream Facial Oil contain essential fatty acids and vitamins, to renew the skin while we sleep. Plus, we reaped the benefits from the phytosterols and vitamin C, which stimulate skin elasticity and collagen regeneration. The floral fragrance left us feeling calm and pampered for bedtime. This 100% cruelty-free and vegan facial oil can also be used during the day on top of a moisturiser, or with foundation. Neighbourhood Botanicals’ Dream Dream Dream Facial Oil 30ml can be purchased here for £28.00.

We also mustn't forget to mention their cute ‘Mon Amour’ by Rejjie Snow lip balm, which is in collaboration with Neighbourhood Botanicals. This wonderful tiny pocket-sized lip balm is also made in the UK. ‘Mon Amour’ lip balm is 100% natural (yay) and applies easily, keeping our lips well-conditioned. It is made from sweet almond oil, shea butter, beeswax, cocoa, white clay to cut the shine, vegetable glycerin, organic honey and vanilla flavours. Our favourite part of this lip balm is its cocoa scent! You can purchase the Mon Amour’ by Rejjie Snow lip balm here for £5.00.

Purepotions Skin Salvation Intensive Moisturising Ointment and Daily Moisturising Cream

Here, at The Amazing Blog, we know the crucial part of anyone’s daily skincare routine is moisturising. Regardless of your skin type, your choice of moisturiser can either make or break your skin. Because of this The Amazing Blog has found the holy grail for sensitive skin with Purepotions’ Skin Salvation Intensive Moisturising Ointment and Daily Moisturising cream.

Purepotions is still using the same high-quality formulas containing only 100% natural ingredients as before. Their dedication to producing only organic, cruelty-free skincare has always been strong. Their Intensive Moisturising Ointment is a naturally formulated salve that leaves your skin feeling nourished, hydrated and soft. It builds a barrier on your skin, protecting it against external pollutants.  It is naturally rich in EFAs, Chamomilla Flower Extract, Beeswax, Olea European Olive Fruit Oil and Urtica Dioica Nettle Extract. With these natural and preservative-free ingredients, it is suitable for any skin type. It is particularly suitable for people who may be prone to eczema, dermatitis, or any other skin conditions. This product can be applied to any part of the body on an everyday basis.

The Daily Moisturising Cream like the moisturising ointment contains the same nourishing benefits but in a softer creamy formula and is ideal for dry or ageing skin types.  Its vegan-friendly base combined with all the rich oils keeps the skin in an impeccable condition. When applying to the skin, make sure to follow the hair follicles direction to avoid any skin irritation. Other than that, this cream works efficiently for all ages and is gentle enough even for babies. Your skin will thank you for using the award-winning Purepotions.  Purchase the Skin Salvation Intensive Moisturising Ointment here from £7.99 for 30ml and Daily Moisturising cream here for 100ml at £13.99 

Lip Balm & Cleaning Wipes - Benecos

Here at The Amazing Blog, we know how important it is to keep our faces fresh and our lips moisturized, and that the best way to do this is to use natural products. So we were ecstatic when the brand Benecos sent us their Natural Care Happy Cleansing Wipes and their Natural Lip Balm.

It is important to cleanse your skin daily as after a long, hard, and tiresome day not only is our skin left looking dull and greasy, it is also covered in unwanted bacteria from pollution, our hands, and sweat. So having Beneco’s Happy Cleansing Wipes in your bag is the best way to cleanse on the go and throughout the day.The pleasant mix of mango, orange and aloe vera leaves your face feeling refreshed and clean. The cleansing wipes are gentle and soft but are sure to remove all makeup and bacteria on the face effectively. Don't worry if you have sensitive skin either; these wipes are pH-neutral and free of alcohol, oil derivatives, and fragrance. 

We found that the natural lip balm was the perfect solution to dry and cracked lips. The all-natural and fragrance-free balm soothes the lips using organic olive oil and organic cocoa butter. The balm comes in three different flavours: raspberry, orange, and mint.

You can purchase the cleaning wipes here for £3.46 and the natural lip balm here for £2.45.

Charcoal Exfoliating Wash, Original Moisturiser - Restoria

As you all know, here at the Amazing Blog we are always on the hunt for new grooming products, so we were very pleased when the brand Restoria sent us their new skincare range for men. We received two of their products including their Charcoal Exfoliating Wash and Original Moisturiser.

Exfoliating is an important asset to your skincare regime. The Restoria's Charcoal Exfoliating Wash can be used every day as it gently exfoliates your skin without rubbing it raw. It will help clear pores by removing impurities, plus any dead skin cells will be sloughed away. This skincare range has lovely natural ingredients such as charcoal and natural micro-beads that will help improve your complexion if you suffer from acne. It is recommended to wet your face with warm water and then massage the product around your face in a circular motion before rinsing and drying your face.

After exfoliating you should always moisturise the face, their Original Moisturiser has a lightweight formula that absorbs quickly, leaving your skin smooth without any oil or greasy residue. This product will improve your skin condition, as it will hydrate and energise whilst replenishing the nutrients that your skin might be lacking. It is suitable for all skin types and you can use this product as a day or night cream after cleansing.

Keep your skin glowing and healthy with these affordable products. You can purchase the wash here for £2.99 and you can grab the moisturiser here for £2.99.