Macadamia Natural Oil - Volumising Dry Shampoo

Finding the perfect dry shampoo has become a true mission for me. I have tried almost every single one that the high-street has to offer and they have all delivered extra dry locks, a powdery finish and the terrible white cast that only a proper detoxifying shampoo can get rid of.

Having tried and reviewed Macadamia Natural Oil’s products before on The Amazing Blog, my hopes on their offering were high… and they certainly didn’t disappoint. The brand’s Volumising Dry Shampoo is a nice hybrid between a regular dry shampoo and a hairspray; you get the best of both worlds: the cleansing and the setting. This particular ‘2 in 1’ side of the product made me fall in love with it.

Although my hair is quite voluminous and has texture, I am still a sucker for texturising products. I was incredibly pleased to find that this product works as a superb ‘undressing’ spray that adds that bedhead look that I escort every day… without leaving the dreaded white powdery finish.

If you’re looking for an effective and fool proof dry shampoo that adds that extra ‘omph’ to your hair look no further and check Macadamia Natural Oil’s offering. You can find their wide selection of products to purchase on their website and BeautyBay. Macadamia Natural Oil’s Volumising Dry Shampoo retails at £19.50.

Borealis Sandalwood Moisturiser for Men

We recently featured a post on Borealis, regarding a collection of their wonderful products for women, which you can read about here.  It’s now only fair to tailor a post to our male readers, so they too can learn about some skincare products that will protect their faces out in this cold weather. As The Amazing Blog’s resident male, I've been lucky enough to try out their rather nice Borealis Sandalwood Active Daily Defence Moisturiser for men.

This product fits into the 'natural' ethos of the brand as much as any other of their skincare range. It’s quite a rich cream, so may not be suited to everyone's tastes, as you can definitely feel it on your skin for a while. However, I really like how moisturising this cream is and how it keeps my skin hydrated throughout the day which is especially good whilst it is this cold. The ingredients include a blend of organic starflower, rosehip, coconut, aloe vera and sunflower oils. There is also organic cocoa and shea butter, which help to enhance the blend, creating a cream that is rich yet soft and light. Although I don’t have any wrinkles (yet!) to test results on, the moisturiser has the added bonus of helping to minimise wrinkles, crows feet and fine lines, making it the perfect product for men of all ages.

The pump system makes it really easy to apply and store, which, in my opinion, is well suited to some of us lazy males! Thus there’s no fiddling to get the product out and no chance of spilling it.  The smell is very mellow, which is great because some products claim to be unisex but still have a flowery essence which I don't find too appealing. The woody notes of sandalwood, rosewood, clove and orange help to create a good balance, making it smell pleasant without being too overpowering. An important note to remember with this product is that you should keep it in a cool place, so the essential oils aren’t affected. This moisturiser has been really helpful in revitalising my skin and I would definitely recommend it as it lasts and lasts... You can purchase a 50ml bottle of this moisturiser on the website here for £18.75.

Arabelle Skin Sense

During these unusually wet winter months we at The Amazing Blog are always on the lookout for the next moisturising product to add into our skincare routine. In October last year at The Supply & Buy Show we have found a brand that seems to have ticked all our boxes - it is the rather fabulous Arabelle Skin Sense. Our two favourite products from this range are the Cardamom Noir Body Crème and the Blissfully Sensual Body Oil.  These both smell divine and we particularly like the way they are easily absorbed and make our skin stay hydrated for hours. They’re made from all natural ingredients and also come in two different sizes, a 300ml and a 20ml, so if you get addicted to using them (like we have) then they are the perfect sizes to keep one at home and one in the handbag. What more could you want?

The Blissfully Sensual Body Oil can be thought of as liquid silk; as it hydrates, moisturises and leaves skin feeling dewy and pampered. It has a great texture and can even be described as therapeutic when applying, especially after a hot bath or before bed. Applying before bed also ensures that you can wake up with silky smooth replenished skin. This is a big plus in our book, as during these cold winter months skin can often be quite dry and problematic. The essential oil blends in this oil are Sandalwood, Patchouli, Ylang ylang and many more. This combination will help to relieve tired skin and also promoting feelings of euphoria. The rich texture and smell are just so a perfect to help aid relaxation and really spoil your skin.

Like the oil, the Cardamom Noir Body Crème is a luxurious whipped product that leaves skin feeling pampered and silky smooth. It moisturises and hydrates without being greasy. Again it's great product to massage into the skin when wanting to unwind and relax those tense muscles. With all natural ingredients, including cocoa butter and shea butter which are both renowned for their moisturising and healing properties.  The other interesting ingredient is cinnamic acid, which can help protect the skin from UV rays. In addition, the Cardamom Noir Body Crème contains a number of essential oils, so provides the skin with a number of vitamins while also providing a protective layer, helping to retain moisture. If this doesn’t sound good enough, the hard coconut butter is not only excellent for dry and flaky skin, but also good for wrinkled, sagging & aging skin due to its emollient and powerful antioxidant properties. We particularly love the smell of it's spicy, sexy and woody fragrance - it's warming, comforting and deliciously aromatic.

Both the Blissfully Sensual Body Oil and the Cardamom Noir Body Crème come in glass tubs, meaning they look elegant and sophisticated and complement any glamorous bathroom. The oil is priced at £18.50 for 200ml and £5.95 for 30ml, while the crème is £22.50 for 200ml and £6.95 for 30ml, but you definitely get what you pay for. These products really are the epitome of pampering for your skin and can be purchased here.

TanOrganic Self Tanning

Winter's here and at The Amazing Blog we feel like a bit of tanning is the perfect treat to cheer us up and the TanOrganic range is ideal. It’s the first eco-certified self tanning brand made from 95% certified organic ingredients. The TanOrganic range includes the Tanning Oil, TanOrganic Original, Oil Arganic and the Tan Erase.

This TanOrganic Tanning Oil works just as well as other self tans but without the chemicals. The natural and organic formula contains no synthetic ingredients, parabens, colours or fragrances. So this tanning brand is great for mature or sensitive skin as there are no harmful chemicals. It is an excellent facial and body tan with ultra moisturising ingredients which include a unique blend of plant oils such as Borage seed oil, Argan oil and Orange peel oil. The well-known ‘fake tan’ smell is not an issue as it smells amazing, we think a bit like a chocolate orange! Also not forgetting to mention that this Tanning Oil was voted the best Facial Tan in 2013 by RSVP Magazine.

The tanning range also has the TanOrganic Original which is their other tanning product. This tans main ingredient is Aloe Vera which makes it super moisturising and easy to apply; and when it’s used frequently you can be sure that your skin will never dry out, making it a great product for winter time. What I particularly like about this product is that it delivers a great colour with a gradual fade which never leaves you patchy or blotchy, perhaps due to its 84% Aloe Vera based hydrating formula. If like me, you have more sensitive skin then either of these tanning oils are a good alternative to some other high street mousse tanning products. To me they offer two products in one - a nourishing body oil and a gentle tanning formula - what more could you ask for?

The TanOrganic Oil Arganic  is multi use Dry Oil is a completely natural moisturising oil just right for using alongside the tan to help it wear evenly and prolong the glow of the tan. The oil can help with scars and stretch marks too. It has a wonderful citrus aroma, which is far more appealing than usual natural oil fragrances. A little goes a long way and with the 100ml bottle you can make sure it lasts for the whole summer. I particularly like how it quickly absorbs and leaves the skin feeling soft. Once it has been absorbed, the fragrance is gentle and not overpowering which is always important to me as some products give me an awful headache after use because they include too many chemical ingredients. TanOrganic suggest some beauty secrets on the back of the bottle like mixing with foundation to glide smoothly on skin, pouring into your bath or ruffling into your hair for a beach-swept look.

The TanOrganic Tan Eraser is for those who forget about the importance of a good tan remover, which happens to all of us once in a while...  The exfoliating mitt is quick and easy to use for pre and post tanning and it can be used both dry and wet. The coarse texture of the mitt is not too harsh for the skin so it will comfortably give you good exfoliation. You can find all the products on the website here. The Tanning Oil is priced at £24,99, the TanOrganic Original is £19.95, and the Oil Arganic is £24.99.

Friday Favourites- Skincare

During December, the cold weather tends to bring lots of unwanted insecurities like dry and chapped skin or blemishes. The Amazing Blog has been testing some products to help better the condition of our skin a little. We looked at Anne De Jeunesse, Senzimi, Pure Chimp, Amie and Spa Fabulous.

If you’re a loyal follower of this blog then you will probably know that we like to products with ‘multifunctional’ claims to see if there really is anything that can do everything. The Anne De Jeunesse Multifunction Facial Cream claims to reverse the signs of aging with 11 exclusive properties. At £26 it would be a miracle if we could turn back our image clock and look a bit younger. The smell and texture of the cream are definitely great features of this cream. It glides onto the skin lightly and with ease and doesn’t leave an unwanted layer sitting there. You can feel that it really is a good product for sensitive skin, there are no rough qualities to cause irritation and the application is very moisturising and gentle . I did find it very calming for the areas I usually suffer from blemishes so would recommend it for that. You can find the cream on gorgeous shop, or their website here.

Everyone loves a cleanser as it’s an essential part of our cleaning routine on a daily basis. There are however, plenty of them out there which can make it hard to tell which really the best is for you. Senzimi have the Sensitive Cleanser for irritated, dry skin. It’s made with natural ingredients tailored to tackle problems which arise when you’re more reactive to products. The smell is not too dissimilar to clay, which to me is a good thing because clay has a good reputation in the beauty industry. The compact formula makes it look more like a moisturiser as it’s thick and builds a layer that sits on your skin. Although this may not sound like what you want from a cleanser, it does work the same way and leaves you with hydrated skin throughout the day, even after applying your make-up. It’s £13.99 and can be found here.

 

Pure Chimp Natural Super Cream is the number one cream in world containing hemp seed wax and blends omega 3 & 6 to nourish and repair your skin. A team member at The Amazing Blog applied the cream to some dry skin she had on her hand as soon as it arrived in the office, after using it a couple of times saw the patch disappear. It may not work as well for everyone but it was a definite success this time. Being able to use a product on all parts of your body including your face is always an attractive selling point for creams, and often means it’s good with sensitive skin. The smell is natural and not overpowering, and the ingredients leave a subtle shine, which shows us that it’s working on those dry patches. It is £10 for a 60ml pot and £15 for a 120ml pot, and you can get it from here.

Keeping moisturised is very important throughout the year, but especially so in these icier months as we become a bit chapped in places. The Amie Mattifying Moisturiser is oil free which means no extra build up if you have already oily skin. You only need a small amount as it's quite hydrating, this also means the bottle will last you a good amount of time. This moisturiser also helps make-up sit better throughout the day which is a pleasant little bonus. The Amie Purifying Facial Wash has a creamy consistency and is soap free. We hear a lot about soap being quite irritable for your skin so if you’re worried about that then this facial wash is worth trying out. I found my skin cleared up quite well after using the wash, I would also recommend it for teenagers if you are suffering from outbreaks and want something gentle to calm it down. The Moisturiser is £5.95 and the Facial Wash is £4.95 and found on their website.

The Spa Fabulous Little Pot of Heaven name gives it a lot to live up to. This is a gorgeous smelling blend of organic ingredients which has natural sunscreen protectors against UV rays. It’s good for keeping in your bag for moisturising emergencies. I sometimes get dry skin patches on my forehead so carry this around to make them vanish as soon as I notice them. The cream was a recent runner up in the Beauty Shortlist Awards and received a special mention. Its benefits include Q10 to combat wrinkles, Pure Rose to moisturise, Rosehip Oil to heal imperfections, and Liquorice to balance pigmentation. There are also many other ingredients in the formula to help target specific skin issues. You can buy a 50ml pot for £55.00 here.