By Sarah London- Bath Salts

With the weather getting warmer, taking baths shouldn’t just be reserved for the colder months. Certainly a more cooling soak in the summer months never hurt. There is nothing more we like at The Amazing Blog than to have a relaxing soak after a session in the gym or an evening run. While we all love a good bath bomb or a therapeutic essential oil, some of us with more sensitive skin prefer something a little less harsh for our skin to completely relax. UK based skincare brand BY SARAH LONDON has developed their Bath Salts with completely natural and hypoallergenic ingredients, which is a winner for us! We recently reviewed their Organic Hair Oil here which we loved.

The multi-award winning BY SARAH LONDON was launched in 2017 by two sisters Sarah and Lauren after the latter was suffering from dry, sensitive skin during her recovery from leukaemia. After searching for skincare that was both effective yet non-irritating, Sarah then sought out to start her brand that was transparent, authentic and empowering. The sisters wanted to push this transparency and authenticity by pushing for the use of ethically-sourced, plant-based ingredients  in their products.  To take this one step beyond, BY SARAH LONDON is the only UK skincare brand that lists all ingredients on the front label of all their products including their Bath Salts. While BY SARAH London products are great for people with sensitive skin and eczema, they also recommend their products to people with all skin types especially those who are conscious about what they put on their skin.

Besides having no essential oils or fragrances, BY SARAH LONDON’s Bath Salts contains only three ingredients, making sure that sensitive skin is not irritated.  The hand-blended Himalayan Pink Salts, Dead Sea Salts and French Pink Clay all combine in an eco-friendly glass jar to calm and cleanse the body. To start soaking in the minerals, add a handful of the bath salt to your warm bath and enjoy for a minimum of 15 minutes. A 280-gram jar (£20) of the Bath Salts or a 50-gram pouch (£5) of the Bath Salts are currently available to purchase on the BY SARAH LONDON website here.

You Create Beauty - DIY Beauty Recipe Box

With DIY skincare and beauty subscription boxes becoming increasingly popular, it’s not a surprise that The Amazing Blog has joined the craze and indulged in this trend by trying You-create-Beauty’s double treat - the DIY Beauty Recipe Box.

Launched in September of last year, the DIY Beauty Recipe Box is completely organic and is entirely curated for you, by you. The simple and transparent nature of the brand, is inspired by Ayurveda; which is an ancient Indian practise, that emphasises harmony and balance in all aspects of your life - including beauty - to treat your skin holistically. In true Ayurveda nature, the first step to create your own DIY Beauty Recipe Box is to take an energy test which describes your body, skin, temperament and hair type. From that, you are able to gauge which energy or “Dosha” you are, so your beauty recipes are specific to you.

Then, you select two beauty recipes from three choices of a face scrub, face mist and face oil to have in your box. Each energy- Kapha, Pitta, Vata - each is designated a My Blemish Resolution, My Calmness and My Iridescence but the ingredients used in them are selected specifically for each different energy. Ancient Indian oils, herbs and spices are used in all of You-Create-Beauty’s products such as Saffron Strands, Triphala, Organic Ground Tulsi, Vetiver and Organic Ground Bitter Melon. Other staple ingredients like Natural Vitamin E Oil, Red Rose Petals and even apricot to name a few, are incorporated into the recipes as well. If you’re not sure what some of the ingredients are, You-create-Beauty emphasises transparency by disclosing what the ingredients are and how they extracted them on their website. So, as you follow the recipes in your beauty recipe box, you can rest assured that you will know you are creating products that you can trust. To try this new holistic and creative way of skincare, subscribe to a two-month box for £20 here.

Nunaïa's Nourishing Radiance Serum

Spring has sprung, and the year seems to be flying by! This provoked a question in the office, how often do we take the time to switch off completely? It seems we do so very infrequently at The Amazing Blog, a revelation that has pushed us to think more consciously about including wellbeing rituals into our daily routines. When Nunaïa introduced their brand to us, we quickly realised it was the perfect way to do so with our skincare. Sharing our concerns for living in the fast lane, founder Nicola Connolly has created a brand focused on ritual, wellbeing and health – so you can imagine that we were eager to try their philosophy for ourselves. Not only that, but this seedling company are truly a great discovery, as they were recently awarded ‘winners’ in the category of The Best Facial Oil for Dry Skin in the prestigious 2019 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Nicola believes that there are means and ways of bringing greater meaning and balance. Through travels to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuadorian Amazon and Andes Mountains of Peru, she discovered a unique and balanced way of life; one in which nature, wisdom of the land and oneself could live harmoniously. More simply, she realised that her work/life balance was somewhat out of sync, driving her goal to create a skincare brand that would bring intention and meaning into people’s lives (and glowing skin as a result of this). This is where Nunaïa was born – providing raw, living and superfood products from ‘Soil to Skin’.

We couldn’t wait to try their star product: Nourishing Radiance Serum; a vegan, cruelty-free and dermatologically tested serum, containing top-notch ingredients. These include sacha inchi, maracuja, chia and avocado – rich in essential plant actives and sourced uniquely from both the Peruvian Rainforest and Andes Mountains. We particularly love the texture of this oil; it has a perfect juxtaposition of a rich oil with a non-greasy finish, helping to soothe redness and inflammation simultaneously. Thanks to the use of vitamins A, B, C and E, our skin felt smoother and nourished after use, and if that’s not enough, the concoction of ingredients also protects against pollution, and both UV and blue lights. The packaging is also eye-catching, the serum itself is in a delicate glass bottle, encased in a mint green box. Nicole has thought of everything!

To use this oil, we recommend using every night after cleansing. If you have dry skin (or are taking the time to pamper yourself one weekend morning) then it is also a treat for a dehydrated complexion. You can purchase Nunaïa's bottle of goodness for 79 Euros Here. Enjoy!

Friday Favourites - Massage Oils

As much as we love our work here at The Amazing Blog, we often can’t wait for a super relaxing weekend. We believe that the key to tranquility is in a really fantastic massage, so we’ve compiled a list of our favourite massage oils, for those of you who are feeling a little tense.

First on our list is Absolute Aromas’ Mobility Massage Oil. Made with 100% natural ingredients, everything from their range is developed by a team of dedicated experts, so you know you’re in good hands.  As the name suggests, the oil is great for relieving aches and pains in joints and muscles, making it the perfect choice for those that suffer with mobility issues. This oil glides easily on the skin, whilst using a combination of essential oils to promote health and wellbeing naturally. You can purchase it oil here, for just £8.26. This relaxation remedy is a bargain.

Another of our firm favourites is the Rituals Body Oil. Not only do we love the design and the convenience of the packaging, but also how soft and smooth our skin feels after use. This super nourishing oil is ideal for dry skin, as it absorbs so easily, leaving flaky patches feeling soft, supple and hydrated. Enjoy a moment of relaxation here for £13.50.

Mashooq Massage Oils are also a wonderful treat for those of us feeling stressed. Aptly named Relax and Calm, these two oils have such a calming fragrance of Frankincense, Lavender and Neroli which, when combined with the Sweet Almond Oil, also leave your skin feeling smooth and smelling fresh for the entire day. Apart from smelling incredible, and giving us that dose of relaxation that we oh so crave, the oils are super affordable at just £4.30, so you don’t have to stress about the price either. You can purchase them here.

If you aren’t relaxed enough already, Balance Me offer an award-winning Super Toning Body Oil. As well as hydrating, the oil improves circulation with a unique blend of active ingredients such as Juniper, Bergamot, Geranium and Lavender. This oil allows you to smooth away any imperfections, giving your skin an even and flawless finish. The oil sinks into the skin very quickly and doesn't leave any residue and it smells wonderful! Treat yourself to the Balance Me Oil here for £20. It's well worth it as it will last you forever!

With all of these amazing oils to choose from, you can finally combat that stress. So sit back, relax, and enjoy a massage or two this weekend with the help of these gems.

Happy Mother's Day!

With Mother's Day on Sunday comes the ideal opportunity to spoil the woman who deserves it most. And while there are many people who have already bought the perfect present and organised the most decadent of treats, there remain many mere mortals among us (myself included!) who are yet to spare a moment of thought towards what to buy their mum this Mothering Sunday. And as always, help is hand as The Amazing Blog has sourced some of the very best pressies for mum's nationwide.  

If you're after something longer lasting than chocolates or an elaborate bouquet of flowers, Senti, a Wimbledon-based shop from whom you can order online, is the home of all things fragrant. Truly beleieveing in the evocative power of smell, Senti are experts at creating moods and memories through their hand-picked range of products. From scented candles, perfumes and diffusers, there's a wide variety of fragrant products on offer, any of which would make a fabulous present. Our favourite is the Rose Fragrance Reed Diffuser from Dr Vranjes, a unique take on room fragrance that makes the perfect gift for Mother's Day.

If, however, your mum would appreciate a bit of pampering, why not treat her to a manicure in the comfort of her own home? Deborah Lippmann's range of nail polishes are hugely popular and having tested them out ourselves we can see why. They use no animal testing and their products contain no toluene, formaldehyde or DBP and with such a wide range on offer, you're sure to find the perfect shade for your mum.

If nail polish isn't her thing, why not buy her a Lip Gloss from Cargo? Their unique formula plumps and hydrates lips, filling fine lines and leaving a brilliant shine. Perfect pay off, great wear and high-shine without being sticky, this gloss is packed with a lip-nourishing botanical cocktail. Shades include a sparkling nude plum, powder pink, tropical melon, iridescent coral-pink and a dazzling nude beige.

Rituals is another brand we've come across that's perfect for Mother's Day. Founded in 2000 they're pioneers in the combination of luxury home and body cosmetics. Rituals develop high quality products to enrich body and soul: luxury goods ranging from body and facial care, to organic cotton ware, scented candles, perfumes, gemstone make-up and tea. The Rituals philosophy is simple: happiness can be found in the smallest of things. We tried the Hammam Delight Foaming Shower Gel in fresh eucalyptus and rosemary and loved it. This unique foaming shower gel gently cleanses your skin and leaves it silky soft & smooth, and is certainly a womderful treat for Mother's Day.

Finally, if you fancy treating your mum to a unique twist on the traditional afternoon tea. Niko B's East London workspace, Chocolate Lab, is offering the perfect present for any chocolate-loving Mums this Sunday. Bringing together an adventurous collection of desserts created with seasonal ingredients and exotic flavour combinations, Chocolate Tea is a fresh take on afternoon tea and includes playful chocolate interpretations of classic international cakes and desserts, handmade ice cream and fresh chocolates created by an Award winning chocolatier, Anthony Ferguson, on site at the Chocolate Lab. Chocolate Tea is served with tasty cups of Niko B's hot chocolates, fresh chocolates, deserts, cakes, baked bread and champagne. The perfect feast for a special mum!