Kalahari – Mafura Body Balm & Manipedi Hand & Body Moisturiser

The changes of seasons and central heating always makes our skin dry, flaky and dehydrated. As the skin is the largest organ of the body, it’s probably the one that is most forgotten about, hidden under layers of clothing during these cold months.  At The Amazing Blog we take winter skincare very seriously, which is why today we wanted to bring you our latest #amazingfinds with the South African based salon brand Kalahari Lifestyle We initially met Kalahari Lifestyle at a London trade show and found ourselves intrigued by their products. They very kindly gave us the Kalahari’s Mafura Body Balm and Manipedi Hand & Body Moisturiser to review.

Carina Franck, Founder and Director of Kalahari Lifestyle had always shown an interest in nature and through exploring ancient formulas and secrets for natural health from the Kalahari Desert, she built up a strong connection with the local Khoi San families. Their lifestyle and secret remedies inspired her to create a range of natural skincare and body products that would encapsulate the African itself with harvested authentic botanical ingredients. These are plant oils and extracts, from reputable Phytotrade organisations and certified sustainable resources, with stringent eco-awareness protocols ensure the safety of the vulnerable African ecosystems.

Let’s start with Kalahari’s Mafura Body Balm which is an ultra-moisturising balm with mafura seed butter, shea butter and baobab seed oil. These exclusive blends of African key ingredients help to reduce signs of premature ageing as they contain an enzyme that exfoliates, and a complex of vitamins A, D, E, F and other multiple antioxidants to deeply nourish the body. These natural ingredients will make your skin look much brighter leaving you with a delicious subtle sweet and fruity fragrance. Kalahari Lifestyle suggests applying it after using your shower gel paying extra attention to those drier areas like elbow and knees. We found that this Body Balm to be very long-lasting (all day!) effective and intensely replenishing. We’ll be buying more!

Now let’s talk about their Manipedi Hand & Body Moisturiser, this comes in a smaller tube making it ideal to carry with you and applying on the go. This moisturiser contains grapeseed oil, which is high in Omega-6 and linoleic acid that helps to unclog pores and has both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Also containing guna beans and ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, these seeds contain between 40% and 60% oil that is rich in triglycerides mainly ricinolein acid; the combination of which makes it an excellent skin hydrator. We enjoyed using the Hand & Body Moisturiser with its gentle illuminating shimmer (from the mica and titanium dioxide) on our décolleté and shoulders which gave us an even more of a radiant glow.

If you too want to give your body a little love this winter, get your Kalahari Lifestyle products in select salons. Or purchase the 200ml Mafura Body Balm for €43 here and the 50 ml Manipedi Hand & Body Moisturiser for €19.90 here .

Nairian - Micellar Rose Water and Cleanser

As fellow skincare fans will know, we’re always on the hunt for new cleansers and micellar waters to help maintain a clear skin. This is something we’ve all struggled with for a long time, because most products either provoke dryness or produce oils in excess, leaving our skin sticky or worse, clogging our pores. Finding products that are powerful and effective but also soft and kind to our skin is a challenge. At The Amazing Blog, we have discovered a new brand Nairian who we’ve heard lots of good things about. What’s more they produce an effective Micellar Rose Water and Cleanser which we couldn’t be more excited about.

Nairian is an Armenian family-based business that always has two priorities: Your skin and the planet. Armenia is a small country in Eastern Europe where the soil mainly comes from volcanoes, therefore it is incredibly rich in nutrients. Nairian sustainably harvest their ingredients in these local lands, on the slope of Mount Ara. They use principles of aromatherapy to make all their products which are cruelty, paraben, sulphates, synthetic fragrances and chemical-free. Nairian puts quality and sustainability at the core of the business and by growing all their products organically, where they are handcrafted and plant-based. They also monitor the production process from seed to bottle, in order to deliver the very best in top-quality products.

Let’s start with the Nairian Cleanser which is a delicately fragranced, gentle soap-free formula made with calendula flower and essential oils. It cleanses, calms and brightens both the skin and mind, as you inhale its flowery and zesty fragrance. Containing sunflower seed oil, citrus peel and rose geranium all of which have antibacterial properties among others, it soothes our redness and inflammation whilst maintaining our skin’s natural moisture.  The Nairian Cleanser is suitable for all skin types and is highly recommended to use on acne-prone, dry or mature skin. To make the most of it, use only two pumps and gently massage your face. To remove it, use a damp cloth and repeat the process morning and night. Ideally, follow it with your toner (i.e. Nairian Micella Water for optimal results) and a moisturiser of your own preference.

For us finding micellar waters and cleansers that do not irritate the skin has been a bit of a mission. Nairian Micellar Rose Water is gentle but also capable of deeply removing pollution and grime. Mainly composed with rose water, this micellar will not only cleanses but it also soothes and calms any inflammation. It also contains a hint of rose essential oil which spreads antioxidants throughout the skin, protecting it from day-to-day pollutants as well as preventing ageing. The Nairian Micellar Rose Water is suitable for all skins and its dash of glycerine, finds the perfect balance between oily and dry, giving you a soft and hydrated face. Wet a cotton pad and apply it onto your skin in an upward motion to fully activate all the ingredients.

We’ve added these two Nairian cleansers to our must-have list, we think once tried, you will too. With countless benefits, the Micellar Rose Water and their Cleanser leave your skin like never before. If this sounds like something you need, you can get your 200ml Micellar Rose Water for £28 here and the 100ml Cleanser for £28 here .

Repêchage – Triple Action Peptide Serum

The Amazing Blog brings you once again, another pearl from the sea, with the brand Repêchage. We’ve written about quite a few of their products from Repêchage serums to moisturisers. However, today we want to talk about their new launch, the Triple Action Peptide Serum which promises to help give us a brighter, firmer and more hydrated complexion.

Repêchage was founded in 1980 by Lydia Sarfat, a renowned aesthetician, who created this salon brand out of her passion for skincare. All Repêchage products are made with sustainably harvested seaweed from Maine, USA. This is then processed through an extraction that retains at least 12 vitamins, 18 amino acids, 42 trace elements/minerals, and phlorotannins; all perfect ingredients for deep surface hydration and balance.

Their new Triple Action Peptide Serum is made with powerful peptides and marine seaweed extracts. The palmitoyl tripeptide 1, 5 and 7, in this serum, will help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by firming and smoothing it.  That’s not only it, but other ingredients found in this serum are acetyl hexapeptide-8 which has a water-binding function that aids the reduction of wrinkles. It also has Laminaria digitate (seaweed), aloe vera, sweet almond, chrysin and mirabilis Jalapa extract. These ingredients are rich in vitamin B12, C, E, K, beta carotene, amino acids, minerals and enzymes which smooth out our skin by providing elasticity, removing imperfections like dark circles, dry skin and again, by hydrating your skin, it will feel firmer, brighter and more youthful. Suitable for the face, neck and décolleté just massage eight or so drops twice a day into these areas. Let it settle for about ten minutes and then you can keep applying your creams or make up etc. We found that this serum layered easily with our other skincare, it didn’t feel greasy and absorbed well. So, if you’re looking for a serum that has advanced skincare science with natural ingredients, then this potent seaweed and peptide-based serum is for you. Make this Triple Action Peptide Serum from Repêchage part of your daily skin routine by getting it here for £75.00.

Argan & Orange Blossom Elixir by SoapNSkin

At The Amazing Blog, we think that everyone needs a go-to product. For us, our number one go-to beauty product is the handmade Argan and Orange Blossom Elixir from SoapNSkin, which is as versatile as it is effective. We cannot live without this product, it is 100% natural, effective on all skin types and can be used on your face, body and hair. Before we discuss the many ways you can use this product and the reasons behind its versatility, we have to tell you a little about SoapNSkin, which is one of our favourite brands. Founded by two mothers, SoapNSkin aims to empower women in any way they can, so not only is their Argan Oil Soil Association Certified, but it is also sourced from a supplier that is dedicated to looking after 600 Berber women that it has employed at its mill. This supplier only employs women and pays them a fair wage as they are often the sole supporters of their families, as well as providing free crèche facilities and education programmes.

Made with ethically sourced organic Argan Oil and Orange Blossom Oil, this beautifully fragranced elixir has a multitude of uses. This is because the Argan Oil moisturises, heals and renews lost vitality in skin and hair, while the Orange Blossom Oil helps to create an enviable glow. The ingredients are packed full of Vitamins A and E, Omega Fatty Acids and anti-oxidants which mean that your skin doesn’t just look better but is actually healthier on a cellular level.

To use this on your face, we would recommend gently massaging a few drops into freshly cleansed skin. The Argan oil is non-comedogenic which means it won’t clog up pores but will leave skin looking more radiant than ever. If you want to heal dry or damaged skin on your body – which can especially occur in the winter months – then we suggest applying the elixir directly to areas of concern and watch skin heal within days. Otherwise merely apply after showering for softer skin. Our favourite use for the elixir has to be when it’s used on hair.  If applied like a serum it will help to control frizz and leave hair glossy, but it also will soften hair and treat an unruly scalp if used as a leave-in conditioning treatment before showering.

We love this product and brand and hope you do too. The product only costs £42.00 and can be purchased here. All profits made from selling the elixir are given back to the communities who help mill the Argan Oil. 
 

24/7 Balm by Face Matters

A beautiful face balm is a big weakness of ours at The Amazing Blog, and in our expert opinion Face Matters make one of the best anti-ageing and restorative balms on the market. The Face Matters 24/7 Balm is an award-winning multi-functioning balm that won an editor’s choice award at the 2017 Beauty Shortlist Awards. 

The 24/7 Balm uses the same base ingredient, pure organic silicon, as all of Face Matters other products. This ingredient helps to stimulate the natural production of collagen and elastin, which is an essential part of the formation of connective tissue and helps hair, skin and nails grow and appear youthful. Collagen is effectively the glue that holds us together and keeps us looking, healthier, younger and beautiful.

The balm itself is nourishing and luxurious when applied, acting as a super restorative treatment or an exfoliator. The solid balm melts effortlessly between your fingers into a rich and buttery feel that soaks into the skin. The quickest way to use the product is to massage it into skin before removing the excess product with a muslin cloth.  Our favourite way to use it, however, is to apply it as an overnight treatment.  Simply massage it into skin before bed and wake up to younger, more hydrated and glowing skin. The balm doesn’t sit on the face and is slowly absorbed as your skin regenerates itself overnight, so you don't have to worry about it rubbing off on to your pillow. This is an excellent way to keep skin looking healthy as we approach the colder winter months, especially if your skin dries out in the cold weather like ours does. 

This is a beautiful product that leaves you feeling pampered all day long. You can purchase the 24/7 balm here for £55.00