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 .

Stellar Décolletage – Elixir Extraordinaire Dry Oil Mist

We’re going to try not to mention ‘anti-ageing’ here at The Amazing Blog, let’s talk ‘age-inclusive’ products aimed at a less than youthful skin – particularly as there is an age variant here in the office! As time goes by, our skin can’t hide the sun damage, a bad diet or any environmental stress that we sustain; and let’s be honest, none of us ever gave ageing a second thought in our 30’s. Well, here we are today, wondering if there is help at hand. Happily we return to a brand that has already left a deep impression on us, Stellar Décolletage. We recently wrote about their Velvet Restore Sleep Complex which is the second step of their trio of products that have been designed to replenish, restore and rejuvenate the décolletage.

We bring you their third step in the trio, with this exceptional award-winning product the Elixir Extraordinaire Dry Oil Mist. Rich in vitamins and designed to target the much-forgotten areas of the delicate neck, breast and décolletage. With its unique blend of six oils, it is light, absorbs quickly and leaves you with a wonderful powdery and floral bouquet. Key active ingredients are the Inca inchi oil, which contains vitamin A, E and amino acids, all of which have antioxidant properties, reducing lines and boosting the anti-ageing factors. There is also macadamia oil, rich in omega 6 and 7 which support skin restoration and act as an antimicrobial (which are mainly found in younger skins). And finally, shea butter that hydrates skin sweet almond, jojoba and borage oils all of which rejuvenate, soothing and help to relieve breast tenderness.

To use the product, apply it daily (morning and evening) on cleansed skin by spritzing it over your breasts and décolletage. Using your hands massage it moving upwards towards the neck and upper arms, allowing it to smooth into your skin. Hydrate and protect your skin with this lightweight oil that comes as a spray, not only does it feel good but we love all the antioxidants that it has too. Get your Stellar Décolletage Elixir Extraordinaire Dry Oil Mist 100ml bottle for £68.00.

Fushi - Sea Buckthorn Oil

We love oils, whether they are for the face, body or taken orally. We don’t leave home without incorporating at least one into our daily routine. At The Amazing Blog, today we are featuring one of our preferred brands Fushi - an ethically sourced health and beauty brand. Previously, we’ve featured their Bio Vedic Skincare range and Fushi Pomegranate Oil, here we’d like to introduce you to one of their latest products, the Sea Buckthorn Oil.

Fushi’s Sea Buckthorn Oil has marvellous benefits and is 100% pure, virgin, organic and cold-pressed; it’s composed primarily of rich berries sourced in Germany. One of the things that we liked the most is that it is food grade. Its bright orange colour tells us how rich it is in lycopene and carotenoid.  Sea buckthorn oil is also incredibly rich in Omega-3, 6, 7 and 9 fatty acids and vitamins B, C and E. These ingredients help to heal, form collagen, nourish and act as anti-ageing factors for your skin (i.e. with sunburn it immediately helps with skin repair). Another little-known fact about this oil is also very beneficial for your nails, hair and scalp. Mainly because it is so rich in antioxidants, it strengthen your nails by stimulating the production of collagen and nourishing the cuticles. It will also hydrate your hair making it grow faster and healthier combating breakage. Even more surprising, is that it is much richer in vitamins than most fruits (such as oranges), it has omega 7 which contains vitamin A and contributes to enhancing eyesight, maintaining good skin. And let’s not forget the blood, brain and even supports the digestive system! This really is a super food.

In fact, this is a powerhouse amongst all oils with its endless benefits. To take it, just ingest 1 or 2 teaspoons on a daily basis with your meals or directly massage it onto your skin. This is definitely a gold mine for a radiant skin and body. As the saying goes, you are what we eat, so don’t miss out and get your 50ml Fushi Sea Buckthorn Oil here for £25.

The Groovy Food Company's Omega High Five Cooking Oil

At The Amazing Blog we love cooking  and everyday we gather around the dining table to have lunch, and we can't help but to try each other's food and judge our colleagues' cooking skills. In my attempt to eat healthily, I realized that not only the ingredients of the final dish should be of a good quality, but the base ingredients aswell. Using the right oil or butter is essential, not only for the taste but for your own health too. When I came across with The Groove Food Company's Omega High Five Cooking Oil, I felt that my mission of leading a healthy lifestyle was being accomplished little by little.

Tagged as a "nutritious oil", the Omega High Five Cooking Oil is the perfect blend of five virgin fruit and seed oils rich in omega acids 3, 6 and 9 and vitamin E: camelina, avocado, virgin olive, oleic sunflower and toasted sesame seeds oil. The final result is a luxurious cooking oil that keeps its flavour and goodness even at high temperatures. We've tried the Omega High Five Cooking Oil with nearly everything: pasta, rice, salads, fries, meat dishes... and even though its taste isn't the one you'd expect from a cooking oil (you can definitely tell it contains sesame seed oil even though the taste is subtle), the final dish is tasty and contains no processed or bad quality added oils.

The Groovy Food Company's Omega High Five Cooking Oil is suitable for everyone but it does however, contain sesame seeds. This fabulous and nutritious cooking oil is widely available at Tesco, Sainsbury's and at select healthfood retailers for £6.99 the 500 ml bottle.