Surya Brasil Henna Cream and Restorative Colour Hair Mask

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love to experiment with our hair depending on the seasons, and this includes dying our hair regularly. However, chemical dye treatments are very damaging to the hair, and so it can often end up dry and unhealthy, which is not a good look! We have recently been using Surya Brasil’s Henna Cream to prevent further chemical damage to our locks and the Restorative Colour Hair Mask to repair the damage that has already been done.

The Surya Brasil Henna Cream hair colour treatment is semi-permanent henna based hair dye containing herbs and fruit extracts that deeply condition the hair. This dye is far less damaging than conventional chemical hair dyes, as it contains no ammonia, PPD, parabens, peroxide or artificial fragrances. We have tried the Henna Cream in the shade Burgundy which transforms dark brown hair to a rich chestnut red and blonde hair a stunning auburn shade, and we think that it is the perfect autumnal colour.

We also tried the Amazonia Preciosa Restorative Colour Hair Mask from Surya Brasil for colour damaged hair. This wonderful organic mask can be used twice weekly after washing your hair, and then left on for ten minutes, resulting in healthier, hydrated hair. The mask contains Buriti oil which is rich in vitamin A that protects the hair colour while giving extra long-lasting shine. We found the mask a real treat for damaged hair as it was incredibly moisturising and left our hair feeling salon smooth.

If you want to try out  natural hair care and colouring, visit the Surya Brasil website where you can find more information on the range of products on offer. You can purchase these treatments from Your Tonic where the Henna Cream retails at £12 and the Hair Mask is £10.35.

Friday Favourites: Think Pink for Breast Cancer Research

As you might already know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and with breast cancer being the most common form of cancer in the UK currently it has never been so important to raise awareness of the symptoms of this horrible disease. Here at The Amazing Blog, we have been collecting a range of our favourite products that are currently raising money for this wonderful cause by donating a portion of their profits to breast cancer charities. Bodhi are an eco-luxury skincare brand based on the philosophy that a good natural skincare routine will not only boost your skin, but also your wellbeing. The Bodhi products use traditional botanical remedies as the basis of their skincare range, using only 100% natural essences. To support the cause of Breast Cancer Research, Bodhi have created the Desert Rose Rejuvenating Face Oil Limited Pink Edition. This is a luxurious facial oil is based on the Bulgarian Damask Rose and features Argan Oil, which has skin renewal qualities and Rose Hip Oil which has anti-aging properties. Bodhi founder, Elijah Choo says “Our aim is to empower and inspire women to support this tremendous cause by helping to reinforce body confidence during breast cancer.” To support the work of this fantastic charity, Bodhi are donating £10 to Breast Cancer Research from every sale. You can purchase the Desert Rose Rejuvenating Face Oil for £38 from the Bodhi website.

Dell’Ugo have created a very special pasta to raise money for Breast Cancer Research this October. The new edition to their fresh pasta line is the exciting Beetroot and Goat's Cheese Fiorelli, which not only sounds delicious, but looks it too as this pasta is pink! We think that this would be a very quirky choice to serve up at a dinner party as the pasta offers up complex flavour combinations because the beetroot has been tenderly marinated in a relish consisting of pomegranate and mint. You are in safe hands with Dell’Ugo as they have been creating delicious new recipes in the UK since 1929. You can try the special pink pasta yourself as it is available now from Waitrose where it is retailing for £3.49. Dell’Ugo will be donating 10 pence from every pack that is purchased to Breast Cancer Research.

This October, OPI has launched its seventh annual Special Edition Pink of Hearts 2013 nail duo to promote breast cancer charity Look Good Feel Better. The set contains a gorgeous baby pink polish 'Pink-ing of You' and a Limited Edition glitter polish 'More than a Glimmer' that can be worn over the top of the pink shade. As an added bonus, OPI are giving away free nail decals within the set so you can add crystals and pink ribbon embellishments to complete your look. For every Limited Edition Pink of Hearts kit sold, OPI will donate £2 to Look Good Feel Better. You can purchase your own kit from the OPI website for £18.80.

 To support the work of the Pink Ribbon Foundation, haircare brand Paul Mitchell have created a limited edition collection: 'The Girls are Alright'. The collection includes the Super Skinny Serum, the Super Strong Daily Shampoo and the Super Strong Daily Conditioner, which are all presented in limited edition packaging to raise awareness of breast cancer. The range aims to improve the appearance and quality of your hair by strengthening and conditioning it. We love the colourful and fun packaging of these lovely hair goodies. You can get your hands on these special products from the Paul Mitchell website where the Super Skinny Serum is available for £17.25 for 150mls, the Super Strong Daily Shampoo is £11.50 for 300ml and the Super Strong Daily Conditioner is £14.25 for 300ml. Clinique have released a special edition Pink With a Purpose lipstick in the shade 'Pink Ribbon Honey'. The lipstick is a lovely pink colour that will give you a sheer coverage so it will enhance your natural lips without being too heavy. The lipstick also comes with a limited edition pink ribbon case which is perfect for storing makeup essentials in your handbag for reapplication on the go. We love the sleek and luxurious packaging and think it is the perfect size for girls who are always on the move. For every purchase of the Pink With a Purpose Lipstick, Clinique will be donating £2 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and you can show your support now by getting your own from the Clinique website where it retails for £16.

LaCoupe Orgnx Coconut and Macadamia Oil Collection

The weather can wreck havoc on our hair, in the Summer UV rays damage the melanin in our hair; and in the Winter, the changes between the cold, dry outside air and the warmth inside our homes and offices lifts the cuticle of our hair and the moisture is leached from it, leaving us with frizzy and unruly locks! When we girls at The Amazing Blog heard about the LaCoupe Orgnx Coconut and Macadamia Oil Collection we just had to get our hands on it!

The Coconut and Macadamia Oil Collection is a specially designed hair care range that protects the hair from the environment that can damage the hair. As Autumn is well and truly underway now we thought this would be a perfect time to test out the shampoo and conditioner.

The smell of the products is wonderful thanks to the coconut and macadamia oil, and I found that it lingered in my throughout the day. These oils are two of our favourite due to their luxurious moisturising qualities. After using the shampoo and conditioner on my dry and unruly hair, I found that it really did work to hydrate my locks, and left my hair not only smelling delightful, but also looking shinier and healthier than it has in ages. Both the shampoo and conditioner are lightweight formulas that can transform dry, frizzy and damaged hair into shiny healthy hair that is stronger and softer – and smells like a summer holiday even in the depths of winter!

If you want to get your hands on this moisturising hair collection, check out the LaCoupe website or you can purchase the Shampoo and conditioner, both £10.95 each for 300ml instore at Harvey Nichols or from the Nutri Beauty Products website.

Alassala Organic Moroccan Argan Oil for Face and Body

I’m sure, like us girls at The Amazing Blog, that many of you have used Argan Oil as a treatment on your hair, but have you ever considered using it on your face and body? Alassala,  Arabic for ‘authenticity and originality’, have produced an Organic Moroccan Argan Oil for Face and Body, a natural oil especially made for your skin.

Alassala believe that beauty products should be natural, and as such, the Argan Oil is 100% natural and so it is  free of chemical nasties that you can find in some similar products. It is rich in vitamin E, Omega acids and anti-oxidants and is unperfumed making it suitable for sensitive skin too.

Argan Oil can be used to ease numerous conditions, such as reducing the appearance of pores and wrinkles, smoothing and calming irritated skin, removing scars, stretch marks, blotches and age spots and can relieve skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. The product comes with a pump applicator so there is no spillage or waste. It can be used twice daily in your skin care routine and it is good as a base before you apply your make up. The Moroccan Argan Oil comes in a 50ml bottle costing £16.99, which can be purchased from the Alassala website.

L'Anza's KB2 Hydrate Shampoo and Detangler

Here at The Amazing Blog, hair care is a very important part of our daily routine, and we are always trying out new tips and products to keep our hair looking glossy and healthy. So when we find a product that can actually help to repair our hair from environmental damage and self-inflicted damage such as hair colouring, we get very excited about it. We have recently being trying out some products from L’Anza, a hair care brand who specialise in creating products that will keep your hair strong, smooth and healthy. So naturally we couldn’t wait to try out their KB2 Hydrate Shampoo and Detangler.

The Keratin Bond 2 Complex replenishes vital keratin proteins in the hair. It has an essential blend of vitamins and botanicals that leave the hair feeling soft and looking radiant. The shampoo has a lovely herbal scent that reminded us of Aveda products that you may be familiar with. It feels lovely in the hair because it lathers well, so it feels very cleansing. One of the truly wonderful things about this shampoo is that it has double UV protection. Many of us do not even realise that our scalp is just as sensitive to the sun as the skin on our bodies, and therefore having a shampoo with UV protection helps to protect your scalp against the harmful rays from the sun.

We also were able to sample the Hydrate Detangler from L’Anza, a lotion that helps to rid hair of tangles and knots that can damage the hair. I found this absolutely wonderful, I have very thick hair which knots easily and if I’m not careful, brushing these knots out will break and pull out my hair. Unlike the usual brush out method, this lotion works to gently remove the horrible knots, so damage to the hair is significantly reduced. Both of these products in the KB2 Hydrate range also replenish moisture if you hair is dry and damaged, which is essential to get your hair looking healthier. L’Anza has also created a wonderful oil treatment, which we tried in addition to the shampoo and detangler. You can apply this to damp or dry hair and style as normal and we found it is a perfect periodic treatment for tired locks.

If you are interested in creating a new hair care regime, look no further than L’Anza. They have specially formulated products to suit any hair type, from dry hair to flat hair that needs volume. To find out more about the KB2 range and any other L’Anza products, visit their website. You can purchase the KB2 Hydrate range from Look Fantastic where you the Hydrate Shampoo retails for £14.75 and the Hydrate Detangler is £15.75.