Friday Favourites - Tanning Feature

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love to have a sun kissed glow all year round. We also know it’s important for it not to look like it’s come out of a bottle. Sunless tanning has come a long way over the last few years, but it’s not just about the tanning product. The preparation and maintenance is key to achieving a good look. We’ve selected a few of our favourite tanning products that will give you a sun-kissed glow without the tell-tale signs.

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The perfect pre-tan exfoliator is Cocoa Brown’s Tough Stuff. This award-winning exfoliator is a bit thicker than other brands, making it really effective on the problem areas: elbows, knees and hands. You can even use the formula on dry skin if you need a deeper exfoliation. Skin is left silky smooth and tan ready.  Cocoa Brown has another fabulous product called Chocolate Whip. It's oil free, it smells lovely and leaves skin really soft without stripping your tan. The products just start at £2.50 and you can find them all here.

One of our favourite self-tanning mousses is the Rapid Mousse from Sunkissed Bronzing. This lightweight formula is easy to apply and smells OK too. We recommend applying the product with a tanning mitt for an even finish. Make sure you give the bottle a shake before you apply so it’s mixed properly. It dries almost immediately, while key ingredients such as Aloe Vera and Vitamin E work to moisturise your skin. Your tan will be completely set and ready to rock in 60 minutes. The best part is that it retails for only £4.99 and you can find it here.

A common issue with a DIY tan is its tendency to ruin your clothes and those nice Egyptian cotton sheets.  Fear no more, the clever team at Tan Guard have created The Original Tansie. The bright pink onesie is made with a unique material that allows skin to breathe while your tan sets, so you won’t sweat which prevents streaks and stains. We found it to be lightweight and very comfortable, so we felt safe and free to relax while our tan set. The tansie is a disposable product, so use it once or a few times before purchasing a new one, no washing required.  You can buy it online here for just £5.

Our final favourite is the West Coast Bronzing Face Serum from Madame LA LA.  We are already huge fans of their self-tan, but this latest addition is our new obsession.  It gives you a beautiful, instant glow while a gorgeous tan develops underneath. The formula has plenty of skin-loving ingredients – coconut water, aloe, green tea and Vitamin E – which will keep your skin hydrated. Dewy, fresh-faced skin was all over the SS15 catwalks and West Coast’s finish is absolutely on-trend. It’s so good, I don't even wear foundation on top.  Madame LA LA is sold in Urban Outfitters and Fenwicks across the UK, but you can also pick it up online here.

Friday Favourites - Healthy Living Cookbooks

Here at The Amazing Blog, we do our best to live the healthiest lifestyles possible. Since a large part of doing so involves our eating habits, it’s important to fuel your body with nutritious foods. We have chosen our favourite healthy eating cookbooks from Ryland Peters & Small so you can join us on the journey of healthy eating.

When you eat fermented foods, you help to increase the health of your digestive and immune systems. With the help of the Fermented Foods for Vitality and Health cookbook by Dunja Gulin, you can learn how to incorporate more of these types of foods into your daily diet to benefit your body from the inside out. These types of food contain healthy probiotics, boost your energy and improve the natural radiance of your complexion. You most likely have enjoyed a few fermented foods in your lifetime, such as pickled cucumbers or sauerkraut. The book is divided into various sections so you can make foods according to the meal you’re preparing, such as breakfast, lunch and dinner, side salads and snacks, breads, sweets and drinks. Each recipe includes beautiful food photographs taken by Toby Scott, all of the proper ingredients and a small introduction of the recipe with its health benefits included. Our favourite recipes from the book are the Beet and Quinoa bowl, Vegan Greek Salad with Tofu Feta and the Probiotic Pumpkin Popsicles. Pick up your own copy here for £14.99.

Models and celebrities alike have been seen professing their love for kale and healthy eating on social media recently, so it’s no surprise that green drinks have been all the rage as part of this movement. With so many different bases to choose from – spinach, kale, basil, parsley and mint to name a few – there are endless possibilities for juice and smoothie creations. To get us started on our own green drinks, we got the Green Drinks recipe book by Nicola Graimes for inspiration and ideas for our juicing adventures. The book features smoothies, juices, shakes and lemonades including the benefits of greens, plus additional fruits and vegetables for extra flavour and taste. The beginning section even includes information about green superfood powders which can be added to smoothies and juices for added nutrients, including spirulina, chlorella and wheatgrass. The rest of the book is divided into sections of smoothie and juice recipes based on your health concerns or needs, such as detoxifiers, weight loss aiders, energisers and beauty boosters. A few of our favourite drink recipes from the book were the Super Green Detox, Mint Lemonade, Skin Detox, Green Goddess and Basil Limeade. We’ve never been so happy to have our greens! Pick up the book here for £9.99.

Paleo is the newest fad in healthful dieting, and a great way to get started is with Plant-Based Paleo by Jenna Zoe. She is the founder of Foods to Love, an online health food supplier specializing in products free from wheat, gluten, refined sugar, dairy and eggs. She believes that fresh plant foods – fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds – are the optimal health foods. This book is a must-read for those who want to understand the paleo approach to living and eating healthy. The book is full of great recipes featuring vibrant and colourful photos by Clare Winfield. The beginning of the book features an incredibly helpful list of essential ingredients, including chia seeds, spirulina, and coconut oil. The book features recipes for every meal, and with so many pages of recipes, you won’t know where to start. We loved trying the Green-A-Colada recipe, since it was healthy and yummy. Check out the book for yourself here and get it for £14.99.

We all love our sweet treats, but many people have been concerned about the health hazards of white sugar. Thankfully, there are many natural alternatives to sugar that are much better for our bodies. Sugar-Free Snacks & Treats by Ryland Peters & Small is full of recipes you can enjoy without worrying about the negative health effects associated with white sugar. The natural alternatives to sugar the book recommends include agave syrup, xylitol, coconut palm sugar, dark chocolate, brown rice syrup and honey. Even though alternative sweeteners have been criticized for not being as healthy as they claim, when eaten in moderation they are far better for your health than traditional sugar. It’s important to remember that a treat is a treat! The book offers loads of recipes, including everything from salsa to mini doughnuts. Everyone is sure to find something delightful to suit their taste. We can’t wait to try these sweet and savoury recipes! Pick up your own copy here for £14.99.

Friday Favourites - Perfume Feature

Here at The Amazing Blog, we know how important a signature fragrance can be to your personal beauty routine. After you've fixed up your hair and applied your makeup, applying a bit of fragrance can be the perfect final touch to your ensemble. We all have a favourite fragrance that won't let us down, but sometimes we want to switch it up, and we're sure you do too. To give you a few suggestions for your next fragrance purchase, we've compiled our four newest discoveries that will please and entice your senses.

The new Heritage Collection perfumes from Crabtree & Evelyn are abolutely fabulous. In particular, our favourite scent was Parisian Millefleurs, which is inspired by floral scents of 18th century France. These include narcissus, rose, tuberose and violet. It comes in a simple glass bottle inside of an elegant baby blue box, which is delicately painted with fresh flowers. This fragrance is a must-have since spring is on the way. We found that it was a bit too strong to wear to the office, but loved wearing it out on dates and out with friends. It costs £31.50 and can be bought on the Crabtree and Evelyn website here.

The perfumes from Rouge Bunny Rouge smell simply amazing, plus they are vegan, phthalate-free and paraben-free. We got a chance to test out two of their lovely fragrances from the Fragrant Confections Collection. Lilt by Rouge Bunny Rouge incorporates the scents of nature, including fig leaves, peach, coconut and violet. It is the perfect balance between fruity and musky. The scent is perfect for any occasion and everyday wear. Incantation by Rouge Bunny Rouge has more of a woody scent with a hint of fruit. The smells of black fruits, fig leaves, mint and rose are infused to create a fragrance that is exquisite. You can purchase Lilt and Incantation on the Rouge Bunny Rouge website for £72 per bottle.

The Organic Glam fragrance collection from The Organic Pharmacy has created yet another enticing fragrance we couldn’t wait to get our hands on. The new scent, called Rose Oud, stands out with top notes of lemon, bergamot and lavender. Of course, notes of rose and oud are included in the mix, as well as jasmine and sandalwood. All of the scents combine beautifully to create a warm and sensual floral amber. The simple design of the bottle is classic, sophisticated and timeless, so it will look elegant atop your vanity. Add this scent to your collection and start your own fragrance love story. Pick up your own bottle here for £139, and feel the romance with every inhale of this glorious blend.

Let the As Sawira fragrance from Penhaligion take you on holiday with one simple spritz of fragrance. An exotic and sensual blend of carefully selected ingredients make this aroma a worthy scent for your vanity. The Moroccan-inspired top notes blend of bergamot, davana, saffron and absinthe had us longing for the beach. The bitter herbal notes combined with the radiant and gentle notes make for a perfectly balanced fragrance combination. With heart notes of rose and jasmine and base notes of sandalwood, myrrh and cedarwood, among others, it brings variety and offers a unique fragrance experience. Every detail of the perfume, from the scent to the vintage-style bottle, is well-thought and beautifully designed. You can get your own bottle here for £150.

Sam Ubhi Workshop - Learn to Make Jewellery

“A girl can never have too many jewels” as the old adage goes... Beauty products aside, there’s nothing more The Amazing Blog team loves, than a chic accessory and we absolutely love the idea of designing our own. so why not take the opportunity to go to the jewellery workshop headed up by the international jewellery designer Sam Ubhi.

Some happy people here designing their own jewellery at Sam's Workshop day

Sam is one of our favourite designers. We’ve been obsessed with her breath-taking jewellery since she launched her legendary first collection. Her gorgeous designs combine vintage, tribal decoration with a modern twist using eco-friendly and fair trade materials.

                                  A quick example of something you could create!

This month you can join Sam at her stylish Balham store, where she’ll share some of her incredible knowledge. At the one day beginner’s course (£100), you will learn the basic techniques in jewellery design using metals, leather and glass beads. The two-day course (£175) is for those who are feeling especially creative. You’ll be able to make your own enchanting pieces using sterling silver and semi-precious metals. Show your creative side and get the right side of your brain working making something stunning in the process.

Classes are on 9th-11th April and 15th-17th April and will be in groups of 6-10. To reserve your place or for any queries about the courses, please give them a call at 0208 673 4558 or email their team at shop@samubhi.com.

Friday Favourites - Easter Treats and Events

Easter is one of our favourite times of year here at The Amazing Blog. It symbolises the start of spring, when we can shed our winter coats and make the most of sunnier weather. Not to mention all of the chocolate and cute paraphernalia that comes our way! This year, we’ve put together a list of our favourite things to eat and do in the capital, in the hope that we can inspire you all to have a fabulous Easter weekend.

We all know that Easter wouldn’t be complete with a tasty treat or two, and for us, there’s nothing more indulgent than the delectable chocolates from Demarquette. Artisan UK chocolatier Marc Demarquette loves to experiment with flavours, but is a traditionalist at heart, and that is reflected in everything he makes. Among his delicious Easter sweets are beautifully crafted chocolate quails eggs in the style of hot cross buns. These Easter delights come in three delectable flavours - Strawberry, Passion fruit and Salted Caramel - and they’re the perfect decadent treat if you’re looking to spoil someone this Easter. Shop all of their Easter chocolates here, or get the hot cross bun inspired chocolates pictured here for £12.

Speaking of sweet treats, there’s nothing like having chocolate for breakfast, an activity that’s only really acceptable on national holidays. Choc on Choc have thought of the perfect way to disguise your chocolate brekkie with their Chocolate Egg On Toast - a delicious white chocolate egg nestled on top of a milk chocolate slice of toast. A perfect treat for children and adults alike, you can even have a nibble on the cutlery when you’re done! Grab your most important meal of the day here for £12. They did always say that brown bread was the healthiest kind…

If you’re looking for a way to work off the Easter weight, the London Dungeons have put together an event that will scare the calories off. Their ‘Bad Eggs’ trail will run from the 5th to the 27th April, and will have visitors hunt for bad eggs, hidden in the shadows of the dungeons, before meeting the ‘Eggsecutioner’ for a lesson in torture. If that wasn’t enough for a creepy Easter, there’s also Death by Chocolate – a Victorian sweet shop in the bowels of the dungeon, where the confectioner is a notorious poisoner. With flavours like mustard and chilli to risk, you’ll never look at chocolate in the same way again. Book your tickets online for a guaranteed spot and savings, with tickets starting at £20.50 for adults and £16.50 for children.

Just a bunny hop away in High Street Kensington, you can celebrate Easter the way it’s supposed to be with a good old fashioned Easter Egg Hunt. The luxurious Roof Gardens is owned by Virgin mogul Richard Branson, who will be hosting an exciting hunt for kids to take part in. One lucky attendee will win a deluxe egg courtesy of ChoccyWoccyDoodah. An event for children and adults alike, they will also offer an Easter tipple or two so that parents can relax while the kids play. The festivities kick off at 11:45am on Sunday 5th April, so head on down for an egg-stra special Easter.