CeraVe - Hydrating Cleanser

Our skin goes through a lot on a daily basis. It’s exposed to the sun, cold temperatures, and pollution, and goes through the mill as a result of our stressful lifestyles. Add makeup to the mix, and it’s no wonder that we sometimes suffer from a blemish or two! To keep it looking tip top and fabulous, we are in agreement at The Amazing Blog, that you have to provide your skin with treatments that bear these variables in mind.

This is why we were more than excited to come across CeraVe, a skincare brand developed by dermatologists, using essential ceramides (lipids that help form the skin’s barrier and retain moisture) to repair and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier. Using MultiVesicular Emulsion Technology (MVE), moisturising ingredients are released over 24 hours, layer by layer, ensuring steady stream of nourishment.

Since launching with three core products in 2006, CeraVe have released 70 affordable, accessible and dermatologist-recommended solutions; to hydrate, restore and replenish your skin. It is also worth mentioning that they have received more Seal of Acceptance awards from the National Eczema Association, than any other brand before.

We tried their soap free, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, non-irritating (yes, all these already make the product sound ideal before even trying it) Hydrating Cleanser. It is suitable for normal to dry skin and cleanses as well as hydrates, without disrupting your skin’s protective barrier. Besides that, the hyaluronic acid makes sure that your skin (face as well as body) stays hydrated 24/7. It also removes your makeup, as we were thrilled to find out, with just one wash. Unlike most face washes, this gentle cleanser doesn’t leave your skin feeling tight, dry or over-stripped, but rather it feels soft and hydrated. We were also pleased to find that there are no hidden fragrances. What more could we want?

To try CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser for yourself, check out the Boots website here, where you will find the 236ml bottle for just £9.00. If you’re unsure as to whether this is the product for you, then click here to find you personal skincare solution in three step.

Heathcote & Ivory's Salsa Silks Collection

When you find a product that you love, there’s nothing better than discovering that there is a whole collection too. One that we are loving at the moment, is Salsa Silks by Heathcote and Ivory. We’re no strangers to this brand at The Amazing Blog, having featured their Vintage & Co. Baubles & Belles Festive Bath and Body Tin in our Gifts for Her feature in December. The Salsa Silks collection is vibrant, and contains three scented gifts (for a loved one, or yourself) encased in elegantly decorated packaging, and inspired by the colourful rhythms of salsa. Intrigued? We were too.

As a brand that embraces the world of interior design and the great British outdoors, Heathcote & Ivory are known for their mix of bright colours and floral patterns, in both vintage and modern styles. The Salsa Silks Collection is no exception, containing only the finest essential oils and actives, it is a luxury collection, without a luxury price tag.

The first product that we tried, was the Hand Wash. This vitamin E infused product helps to cleanse and purify, releasing the energising scents of lime, lotus flower and cedarwood. The uplifting essential oils of lemon and sweet orange really make it feel like a spa retreat at home, and the luxurious formula left our hands feeling soft and nourished. We were also pleased to discover that it didn’t leave our hands feeling dry, something we struggle with at this time of the year.

Secondly, we tried the Heart Soap In A Tin. This lovely triple-milled soap is presented in an embossed heart-shaped tin, and is blended with shea butter and glycerine, helping to gently cleanse and soften your skin. Additionally, and thanks to the beautiful packaging, this isn’t only a pleasure for your skin, but also gives your bathroom a touch of design sparkle. Gone are the days of a boring block of soap on the sink.

Finally, we were also pleased to discover that this collection contains a Lip Gloss. Delivered in a smaller heart-shaped tin, this moisturising peach lip gloss is made of beeswax and olive extracts, helping to keep your lips perfectly soft and, most importantly, kissable. The soft peachy smell of the pink glittery gloss is also a highlight, taking away the often chemical smell of other lip glosses on the market. It is also nourishing and less sticky than competitor glosses, something we’re thankful of!

To try this collection for yourself, check out the Heathcote & Ivory website here where you can find the Hand Wash for £9 (320ml), Heart Soap In A Tin for £6 and the Lip Gloss for £5. Perfect for a February birthday or as a treat for yourself.

Rosenserien's Shampoo and Body Scrub

Rosenserien is a brand that we know and love at The Amazing Blog. We have featured both their Natural Deodorant (click here) and Self Tan (click here) products as part of our Friday Favourites, and featured their Wash and Shave Gel for Men last year (click here). We were therefore thrilled when they surprised us with two new products, their Shampoo and Body Srub. Both are based on litsea cubeba, an Asian cleansing and refreshing plant, providing a detoxing effect to both your skin and hair simultaneously. They are also 100% vegan and natural, without the use of harsh chemicals or parabens.

Revealing the sweet natural scent of roses when opened, the 65% organic Shampoo immediately enticed us. With the uses of green tea and nourishing camelina oil, the ingredients work together to allow this shampoo to become an all-around package for your hair. It is suitable for all hair types and does excellent work on split ends (which is a problem we all share). Even dry and sensitive scalps will love this treatment. Fancy a little insider tip? Add some drops of jojoba oil for an extra nourishing hair mask.

Just as we uneartheated silky smooth hair, we wanted to replicate this on our bodies. That’s when the Body Scrub came into play. It smooths, softens, tightens and strengthens your skin, and with the use of organic and fair trade marked aloe vera as a base, this scrub exfoliates dead skin cells, while moisturising at the same time. The ingredients open your pores and leave your skin smooth and firm. Spreading a fresh citrus scent, this 84% organic product is your perfect companion for smooth skin, and is excellent when used before tanning, and before and after waxing.

To treat yourself to smooth hair this January, then you can purchase the Shampoo here for £17. Equally, for silky smooth skin, the Body Scrub can be purchased here for £24.

Wild Rose Bath and Shower Gel and Wild Rose Hand and Body Lotion - White Swan

At The Amazing Blog, we like nothing more than to have squeaky clean and silky soft skin. We were thrilled to be sent White Swan’s Hand & Body Lotion as well as their Bath & Shower Gel. This brand is one of our great finds all the way from the USA. 

The motto of this company is to “Remember, there is more than one way to come out smelling like a rose.” Oh yes and they are so right... Unlike other rose perfumed body products that we have recently tried, which generally had a much sweeter and more artificial scent, these products left us smelling like crushed wild rose petals all day. We are happy to report that the products are all paraben, SLS and gluten free. We've found that the White Swan products are a deliciously natural way to complete our routine of moisturising and nourishing.  So much so we certainly came out smelling of roses!

With the weather never knowing what it’s doing, going from hot to cold to rainy to muggy all in a short space of time, it can be so hard to keep that fresh and clean feeling throughout the day. However, with the help of White Swan’s Hand & Body Lotion and Bath & Shower Gel as part of your bathroom routine, that certainly won’t be the case anymore. In particular, the Hand & Body lotion left our skin feeling silky smooth and fabulous all day!

Although White Swan is based in the USA, their products start from $7.50 and you can purchase their products here via PAYPAL.

A Bit of Rough

There is nothing as satisfying after a week of hard work than a good pampering session - something that I always look forward to every Sunday. I prepare my bath with the best smelling essential oils, apply a purifying face mask, use a clarifying shampoo and a deep repairing mask, exfoliate my skin, do my nails... the usual. However, I've recently added a new product to my routine which has replaced my beloved salt and sugar body scrub - A Bit of Rough exfoliating wash cloths have helped me achieving perfectly polished skin, saving a few pennies as no exfoliating creams are needed at all. At The Amazing Blog we think these cloths should be part of every pampering session lover's routine. A Bit of Rough cloths are made of a mix of fibres that are gentle enough to use on our face and effective enough to exfoliate our whole body. These exfoliating cloths get rid of dead skin cells leaving your skin appearing brighter and feeling so much softer - just use your favourite shower cream or face cleanser of choice, and after lathering it, remove the excess product and polish the skin with A Bit of Rough.

These cloths have many uses too; if you're on holiday, use them to get rid of dry skin patches to get a perfect and even tan. And if you see that your fake tan is fading or getting patchy and want to clear it completely, pop some baby oil on the cloth and give your skin a good scrub lathering up afterwards some shower cream, and you'll be good to go. A Bit of Rough exfoliating cloths are machine washable, so pop them into the washing machine with the rest of your laundry after every use. At The Amazing Blog, we can't believe how easy these cloths are to use and to clean!

A Bit of Rough can be purchased from their website - each exfoliating wash cloth is £8.00 and will be posted first class. Postage charge is £2.00 per oder for all UK orders. Buy 3 cloths and only pay for 2, £16.00. For delivery charges outside the UK email A Bit of Rough.