Friday Favourites - Body & Hand Care

At the Amazing Blog we have to confess to being a little obsessed with body and handcare products, particularly during these cold winter months. We don’t know about you, but our skin tends to be much drier and we find ourselves piling on layers of lotions and body butter. However, as always we’re ever mindful of ingredients and prefer to use more natural products. For today’s #amazingfinds we’re going to highlight some natural/organic body and handcare products, not just for winter, but for the whole year-round.

Avid readers of The Amazing Blog know that we have showcased many of the Lavera products, previously reviewing their products like their Firming Body Milk. Lavera, which means ‘the truth’ in Latin, is an affordable natural skincare range for people of all skin types. Containing 100% natural and organic ingredients, we love how transparent they are with their ingredients. With Lavera, we can rest assured that what we’re putting on our bodies is natural and safe.

That’s why we wanted to try the Lavera Neutral Body Lotion, which is specially formulated for sensitive and easily irritated skin. With organic evening primrose oil, it’s good at soothing itchy or flaky skin. Lavera body care in general consists of a rich emulsion with high lipid content, meaning that they nourish skin for longer than perhaps other body lotions. The organic jojoba oil and shea butter are the perfect combination to help lock in moisture, keeping the skin smooth and supple. We recommend using it daily after showering to experience the enriching benefits of their balanced pH-neutral composition which supports cell renewal. We also mustn’t forget to mention the all-important squalene, fennel, witch hazel and olive oil extracts. To feel the uplifting effects, you can buy the Lavera Neutral Body Lotion 200ml here for £14.95

Next, we have an award-winning beauty brand, Beeutiful. We discovered Beeutiful when they were crowned The Best Bee Beauty Brand at the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2019 as well as winning the Best Body Balm Category with the B-Rose Frankincense & Rose Body Balm. Beeutiful’s skincare is so natural that you could almost eat it! Made from 100% natural ingredients, the product range is created by using UK sourced ingredients and beeswax and honey from Beeutiful’s own hives. To quote Carly, the founder: “Our products are not tested on animals and we only harvest that from the bee that does not harm them; honey, wax and propolis. You will not see Royal jelly or bee venom in any of our products as dead bees are necessary for their obtainment!”

The B-Rose Frankincense & Rose Body Balm comes in a generous size glass pot that is fully recyclable. The luxurious oils feel rich and extremely hydrating on the skin, and we loved using it morning and night. The combination of jojoba, coconut and cocoa butter and beeswax glide onto the skin. The essential oils of frankincense and rose were chosen for their toning, skin-soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. Together they create a ‘beeutiful’ blend and fragrance, particularly with the rose absolute (one of our favourite scents). This Balm not only hydrates but also calms the skin making it an excellent anti-inflammatory for sensitive skins. It’s a hot favourite with our Exec Editor! Apart from producing this glorious body Balm they also donate 10p from every sale to Friends of The Honey Bee. All products are free from parabens, sulphates, preservatives, artificial or synthetic colours or fragrances, phthalates, silicone, GM ingredients and petrochemicals. See here to purchase your B-Rose Frankincense & Rose Balm it is £43 per 200ml or a smaller 120ml size for £28.

Philosophia Botanica is inspired by African beauty secrets. Surrounded by the nature of Cape Town, South Africa, founder Francesca was inspired to create a 100% natural beauty brand while supporting sustainable agricultural practices. Francesca who’s an oriental medicine, acupuncture spa consultant and formulator, took her passion for well-being, herbal remedies and anything natural and Philosophia Botanica was born.

The Philosophia Botanica Baobab Hydrating Body Oil is created with the key ingredient Baobab seed oil. Often referred to as the ‘tree of life’, the baobab tree is grown in Africa and produces a velvety-looking fruit the size of a coconut which is where the baobab seed oil goodness comes from. With a rich and recognisable scent, it packs a healthy punch for the skin with calcium, magnesium and ten times more vitamin C than in oranges! It’s filled with antioxidants, fatty acids & vitamins to replenish the skin all the way down to the cellular level. Baobab seed oil is an excellent choice for lightweight hydration for any skin type. The oil formula absorbs quickly and nicely, removing any signs of dryness and is particularly good for anti-ageing. The other key ingredients here are moringa oil, which is also famous for its anti-ageing properties, it helps to eliminate wrinkles and slow down the ageing process. Plus, the yangu oil which is full of linoleic acid, omega-6, and oleganic acid, omega-9 these essential fatty acids make it perfect for moisturising the body. This ingredient hails from seeds of the cape chestnut tree also found in Africa. Finally, there’s neroli oil, which is obtained from the bitter orange tree, it is steam-distilled from the small white waxy flowers. Apart from its gorgeous aroma, something we were intrigued to discover is that it also possesses actives that have the ability to reduce acute and chronic inflammation too. A little goes a long way and this Hydrating Oil is a great multitasking product and can be used as a massage oil and in the bath too. To experience Africa’s best-kept secret for yourself, the Philosophia Botanica Baobab Hydrating Body Oil can be purchased here £52 for 200ml.

While we’re making sure that our body is moisturised, we mustn’t forget about our hands, too! Born from a passion for nature, natural and organic products, Akamuti’s founder Lindsey was determined to create a range of products that were brimming with goodness and mindfulness. Lindsey aimed to develop products that told a story with their ingredients, and the Cuticle Moon Hand & Nail Butter certainly does just that. They have a zero-waste policy where all of their waste is recycled, whether it be plastic, aluminium, glass, printer toners, cardboard – nothing reaches the landfill. Akamuti also use a mixture of materials for their packaging. The PET containers are fully recyclable, phthalate and BPA free. NB since writing this, they seem to have swapped this container for an aluminum tin.

This hand cream is one of three in their range of handcare. Scented with lime, lemon and a dash of lavender, this Cuticle Moon Hand & Nail Butter smelt so good that we had to stop ourselves from slathering it all over our arms and torso! it smells divine and we recommend spreading a generous amount on your hands and nails, particularly after washing to replenish oils and moisture. This award-winning Cuticle Moon Butter (The Green Parents Natural Beauty Awards Best Buy 2016) is enriched beeswax and honey (from the forests of Zambia and Ethiopia), and organic cocoa butter to combat dryness. The lemon oil is a natural nail treatment to help cleanse, purify and strengthen with its natural antiseptic properties. The organic virgin cocoa butter has nutrients essential for skin repair to feed your dry hungry skin. The Akamuti Cuticle Moon Hand & Nail Butter 50ml can be purchased here for £6.95

Drasanvi - Chia Seeds and Collmar-Cao

As we make our way further into 2018, it’s easy to forget those resolutions we made back in January. No matter what your goal for the year is, it’s never too late to add a health kick to your list, as it’s usually around this time of year when we need to give our body that little boost from Mother Nature. At The Amazing Blog, our secret to maintaining our health and keeping our energy levels up is the Drasanvi Chia Seeds and the chocolate drink Collmar-Cao. Drasanvi is a Spanish brand that has been producing high-quality food supplements for over 20 years and we already know we adore their Collmar Marine Collagen line, so we can say with certainty it's a brand we trust. Their teams are made up of biologists, chemists and nutritionists constantly researching to improve the formulas of their products or to find new ways of extracting natural active ingredients from plants, fruits and minerals.

Collmar-Cao is a food supplement made with pure cacao. This drink powder is enriched with vitamins C, B2, B6, B12 as well as magnesium, calcium, iron and marine collagen. Therefore it's not just super yummy but also benefits your whole body and well-being. The Collmar-Cao is also packed with proteins and minerals, which will boost your metabolism and combat fatigue. The chocolatey flavour makes it an ideal addition to your breakfast; just add to your milk of choice, hot or cold, stir, and enjoy. 

The Chia Seeds are a must have superfood for anyone looking for a quick and easy way to get in some much needed nutrients. Chia Seeds are naturally packed with vitamins, Omega 3, 6, 9 and minerals including iron and magnesium. In addition to being a great source of fibre and protein, these seeds have a delightfully subtle nutty flavour that goes well with a wide range of recipes. Simply add them to your daily oatmeal, smoothie, and even juices or soak them and watch as they expand into a gel that is perfect for baking. The seeds are free from sugar, preservatives and colouring and have earned their superfood title for a reason.

We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day and getting it in is key to leading a healthy lifestyle, which is why we adore how easy both of these supplements make it for us to achieve our goals. You can purchase the Chia Seeds here for £9.95 and the Collmar-Cao here for £14.95.

Anti-Ageing Face Serum and Cleansing Foam - Eleni and Chris

Like many of you, the simple beauty of scandi-chic has inspired us here at The Amazing Blog, and we cannot get enough of the pure, natural and simple essence that accompanies the ethos of scandi fashion and beauty. As such, we were thrilled by the opportunity to review Eleni and Chris, a beauty empire created by a mother and daughter duo. Eleni and Chris have developed a unique cosmetic brand, free from chemicals and using only the finest and purest of Scandinavian ingredients. Inspired by their landscape, and the rare resources their homeland offers, they have created some utterly unique and exceptional products. 

We sampled two of their skincare products; the first was a powerful  Anti-Ageing Face Serum and the second, a refreshing Cleansing Foam. Both products contain cloudberry seed oil and Scandinavian glacier water, which are the real magic behind the product's success. Cloudberry is an incredibly rare berry that not only contains vitamins A, B, and E, Magnesium, and Calcium, but a single berry has four times more vitamin C than an entire orange. The glacier water is sourced directly from natural resources near the Arctic Circle. The water is crystal clear and because it's extracted near the source contains higher levels of oxygen. 

Eleni and Chris aim to create visible results, results which are effortlessly achieved with their uniquely Scandinavian ingredients. As such, they have created an Anti-Ageing Face Serum that naturally revitalises skin and enhances complexion, while smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles. As well as creating a Foam Cleanser that effectively removes impurities and makeup while keeping skin hydrated, fresh and velvety smooth. 

We loved both these of these Eleni and Chris products and cannot wait to try more in the future. If you want to try these brilliant products then you can purchase the face serum here for £95.00 and the cleanser here for £58.00

Daokrajai Lanna Fine Teas

As we’ve said many times before on The Amazing Blog, we’re lovers of a good cup of tea. The chances of reviewing tea on our beloved blog have been very few, so when we had the chance of tasting (and testing) Daokrajai Lanna Fine Teas, we were beyond excited.

Daokrajai Lanna Fine Teas are all natural, organic, full leaf teas picked, processed and packaged by hand at a single tea farm in Northern Thailand. Their range of teas is wide – any tea lover will easily find a delicious tea of their taste: Red, Green Oolong and Herbal teas.

Daokrajai Lanna’s Red tea is fully oxidised, its unique color is the result of the unique cross of different cultivars. Their (amazing) Green tea is processed in the tradicional manner, providing a gentle taste and aroma, with added Peppermint, Jasmine and Moringa. Oolong, the richest of teas is luxurious and sophisticated. Finally, their Herbal teas which are true infusions of natural herbs.

My favourite tea has to be the Moringa Green Tea. Green tea is a natural anioxidant that helps keeping your skin healthy... perfect for those days when my skin is feeling temperamental. Moringa contains more than 90 nutrients and provides more Vitamin A and C, calcium, potassium and iron  than the most popular fruits, vegetables and milk. Edwina is a known lover of Oolong teas, so let's just say that there's no Oolong tea left for the rest of the office...

The Amazing Blog has absolutely loved Daokrajai Lanna Fine Teas. Their quality is spectacular and their wide range of luxurious teas is remarkable. For a list of stockists, visit their website.