Friday Favourites - Organic Skincare

Here at The Amazing Blog we are all about natural beauty and we strive to find the best products to keep our skin youthful and healthy all year round.  It’s important to find the right beauty product for your skin whilst avoiding those packed full of nasty chemicals. So, we’ve done the legwork and collated a list of some of our favourite organic beauty products.

You may recognise London Ethnic as a London-based fashion label.  However, we were excited to discover that they recently launched their debut beauty range.  The products are made using nourishing organic ingredients and pure botanical actives, and the best thing about them is that they’re free from parabens and artificial preservatives.  We particularly love their Warming Bath Oil.  It has a delicate, relaxing scent and leaves our skin feeling soft, refreshed and revitalised. If you like the sound of this you can pick up your own online here for £32, as well as checking out the rest of their range.

Another fabulous brand, Unica, pride themselves on being 100% organic and natural.  Sonia, the brand’s founder, is passionate about the healing power of herbs and oils after suffering with skin issues herself.  Through making her own products, she gradually began to heal and wanted to share her fantastic products with the world. Our stand-out product was the Kiss It Better Moisturiser which is suitable for even the most sensitive skin.  The formula includes Nilotica Shea Butter to keep skin moisturised, Rosehip Oil and Calendula, all of which reduce itching, promote healing and relieve the symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, and inflamed skin.  Get it here for £12.95.

Terre Verdi proudly produce ethically-sourced products made from natural ingredients and endeavor to use as many organic ingredients as they can.  Honouring founder, Alessandra de Gregorio’s Sicilian roots, the brand have a stunning range of products for both face and body. Our favourites are the Aloe Toner and Moisturiser.  The toner is great at removing any residual make-up and dirt left after cleansing, and has a powerful combination of Aloe Vera and gentle Rose Water to help heal, protect and fight signs of ageing.  Their Face Moisturiser also combines the properties of soothing Aloe Vera with those of pro-youth Apricot Kernel Oil, perfect for hydrating the skin. And it’s not just for women - it’s fantastic as an after-shave too!  Treat yourself to the Terre Verdi Toner and Moisturiser here for £14 and £15 respectively.

Not far from Sicily, Mille Ulivi is the love child of a team of Italian biologists and cosmetologists. The 100% natural and innovative formulas combine the antioxidant power of Extra Virgin Olive Oil with active ingredients derived from the olive tree, to prevent skin aging. We fell in love with their Nourishing Day Cream. The beautiful recycled wooden packaging immediately sets this apart from other products in its category, but the real beauty is inside.  It’s rich in natural antioxidants and highly concentrated SWISS Gardenia Stem Cells, which are your best ally against the signs of ageing. What’s more, the light, non-greasy formula, makes it an ideal base for make-up too. You can buy it for £46.05 from their online site here.

Another of our favourite natural brands is Nadeballa. The brand makes products based on the philosophy that your skin needs the right ingredients to keep it looking its best. This is a sentiment that we can wholly get on board with, so when they sent over their Night Replenishing Cream, we were over the moon.  With a plethora of nourishing ingredients, including Almond Oil and Apricot Kernel Oil, it’s packed with the essential vitamins your skin needs. It’s great for delivering an extra boost of hydration whilst your body rests and your skin regenerates. We woke up looking younger, with a plumper, smoother looking complexion. It certainly is a great aid for our beloved beauty sleep. You can buy it on Nadeballa’s website for £39.

Friday Favourites - Massage Oils

As much as we love our work here at The Amazing Blog, we often can’t wait for a super relaxing weekend. We believe that the key to tranquility is in a really fantastic massage, so we’ve compiled a list of our favourite massage oils, for those of you who are feeling a little tense.

First on our list is Absolute Aromas’ Mobility Massage Oil. Made with 100% natural ingredients, everything from their range is developed by a team of dedicated experts, so you know you’re in good hands.  As the name suggests, the oil is great for relieving aches and pains in joints and muscles, making it the perfect choice for those that suffer with mobility issues. This oil glides easily on the skin, whilst using a combination of essential oils to promote health and wellbeing naturally. You can purchase it oil here, for just £8.26. This relaxation remedy is a bargain.

Another of our firm favourites is the Rituals Body Oil. Not only do we love the design and the convenience of the packaging, but also how soft and smooth our skin feels after use. This super nourishing oil is ideal for dry skin, as it absorbs so easily, leaving flaky patches feeling soft, supple and hydrated. Enjoy a moment of relaxation here for £13.50.

Mashooq Massage Oils are also a wonderful treat for those of us feeling stressed. Aptly named Relax and Calm, these two oils have such a calming fragrance of Frankincense, Lavender and Neroli which, when combined with the Sweet Almond Oil, also leave your skin feeling smooth and smelling fresh for the entire day. Apart from smelling incredible, and giving us that dose of relaxation that we oh so crave, the oils are super affordable at just £4.30, so you don’t have to stress about the price either. You can purchase them here.

If you aren’t relaxed enough already, Balance Me offer an award-winning Super Toning Body Oil. As well as hydrating, the oil improves circulation with a unique blend of active ingredients such as Juniper, Bergamot, Geranium and Lavender. This oil allows you to smooth away any imperfections, giving your skin an even and flawless finish. The oil sinks into the skin very quickly and doesn't leave any residue and it smells wonderful! Treat yourself to the Balance Me Oil here for £20. It's well worth it as it will last you forever!

With all of these amazing oils to choose from, you can finally combat that stress. So sit back, relax, and enjoy a massage or two this weekend with the help of these gems.

Friday Favourites - Gluten-Free Snacks Feature

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love enjoying delicious snacks throughout the day to keep us focused and energised. For our readers with dietary restrictions, we understand that quality gluten-free snacks are not always easy to find. To solve this problem, we made it our mission to search for gluten-free products that taste great and won’t harm your body. Here are our top four favourites out of the products we discovered. 

All of the snacks from The Foods of Athenry ere a big hit here at the office, especially the cookie shots! They make a variety of delicious treats, many of which are gluten-free, so your whole family can enjoy their yummy snacks. The Foods of Athenry is a family-run business based in West Ireland. Their gluten-free snacks include a variety of different breakfast cereals, cookies, crackers, flapjacks, grab & go bars, biscuits, cakes and scones. Their gluten-free products are certified by the Coeliac Society, since all of the snacks have the crossed grain symbol on the box. Since some of their products do contain gluten, they avoid cross-contamination by using two separate bakeries. You can shop all of their gluten-free snacks here, where you’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of products. 

Perhaps the most nutritious item on our list, we loved the healthy olives from Urbangrains. The two varieties we sampled were the Black Kalamon Olives and the Green Olives. Both olive flavours are organic and are marinated in olive oil and oregano. Since they’re harvested by hand and are delicately prepared without being processed, the quality is top-notch. We could tell the difference in taste between these olives and other types of olives you might find while at the grocery store. They were a satisfying snack on their own, although they would complement a plate of cheese and crackers if you’re in need of a larger snack. Head here to get a few packs of these Greek olives for £3.

Everyone at the office agrees that a yummy chocolate spread is the perfect finish touch on top of a biscuit or piece of toast. Our new favourite chocolate spreads are from Jim Jam’s, a family-owned business that strives to eliminate all of the hidden sugars found in many common spreads. All of the spreads made by Jim Jam’s are gluten-free and contain no added sugar, so you can rest assured knowing you’re providing your family with the highest quality available. The side of each jar contains an easy “choccie milk” recipe, so you can enjoy the spread in more than one way. At the office, we tried the Milk Chocolate spread and the Hazelnut Chocolate spread, and we highly recommend them both. Find out which retailer nearest you sells the Jim Jam’s spreads here. A few popular places from their list are The Co-Operative food and TK Maxx.

Last but certainly not least, we enjoyed the double chocolate gluten-free cookies from Angelic Gluten Free. Each one contains less than 75 calories, have around 30% less fat in comparison to other gluten free cookies and are made with dairy-free chocolate chips. Plus, they have the same amount of taste and flavour you’d expect from cookies with gluten. We loved how perfectly portioned each cookie was; they weren’t too big or too small. They came in a package that made them easy to serve and share with others, or you can keep them to yourself if you’d rather. Head to the Angelic’s website and use their store locator to find the shop nearest you where you can purchase the cookies.

Friday Favourites - Nail Polishes

Here at The Amazing Blog, we take great pleasure in testing out new nail colours. The change of seasons means we can say goodbye to our dark fall and winter hues, and hello to pretty brights and pastels for the spring and summer.

First up, we’re loving the Spring/Summer 2015 nail colour collection from CHEEKY Cosmetics. Inspired by three luxurious holiday destinations – Ibiza, Miami and St. Tropez – the collection has some fantastic shades designed with the culture of these destinations in mind. So if your wallet won’t allow you to schedule an exotic holiday this summer, you’ll still be able to bring a taste of the ocean and nightlife right to your fingertips.

The Ibiza polishes are inspired by the island’s dance scene and come in four metallic colours ranging from gold to blue. The Miami colours are bold and vibrant to show off the fun and energetic culture of the city, so a few statement blues and a fuchsia pink are included in the mix. Finally, the St. Tropez collection is classic and posh for ladies who want a touch of French sophistication, with three nudes and two red-toned hues. One of our favourites is Make It Rain from the Ibiza Collection. A beautiful lilac metallic, it's the perfect summer shade - subtle enough for daytime wear, but exotic enough to catch a few eyes on a summer night out.

Shop here to get the new colours for £7 each.

Although we love a good nail colour, removing it can sometimes be a hassle and can do damage to your nails than good. Little Ondine is a nail polish brand that is revolutionising nail colour. Their varnishes are chemical free, odour free and are made only of natural ingredients. Composed of 80% water, 15% resine and 5% pigment, the polishes allow you to peel off your colour in one go without any hassle or chemical removers. The brand is perfect for those of us who like to change our nails as often as our outfits.

Since the formula is water-based, it dries quickly, making it perfect for on-the-go! With over 80 colours to choose from, there is certainly a polish to suit everyone’s taste. You can find them here, with prices ranging from £7-£9 each or £12 for a fun twin pack.

Speaking of innovative formulas, Micro Cell has come up with a great formula for nail colour. The Micro Cell 2000 Colour Repair collection is a range of quick-drying varnishes that offer brilliant colour pay-off while working to strengthen your nails. The collection fortifies nails, protects them against drying out and encourages natural growth. Besides these benefits, the shades have excellent coverage and prevent premature flaking. It's comforting to know that your nails are feeling good whilst your manicure is lasting.

You can purchase your own Micro Cell 2000 Colour Repair nail varnishes here for £14.95 each and see their strengthening results in 2 – 3 weeks.

For a more sophisticated nail colour, reach for the elegant T. LeClerc nail enamel bottles. The colours are hypoallergenic and are free from a huge variety of chemicals.

We tried three different polishes – a bright pink, a bold red and a luxurious purple – and we love how long the colours last, despite the daily toll our we take on our nails. They dry quickly and have a lovely flat brush for a smooth application. To top it off, the finish is classic, ultra-shiny and opaque. Safe to say, our nails looked as chic and sophisticated as the packaging.

Check out the full range of T. LeClerc nail polishes here, which cost £12 each.

Another wonderful range of polishes with a shade for any occasion is Nella Milano. The brand's packaging and feel reflect perfectly the Italian roots of muse, Nella, and are perfect for anyone looking for an elegant, sophisticated manicure (and who isn't?).

Of the shades we tried, our favourite was Mulberry Wood. A deep berry colour which wouldn't be out of place in an Autumn/Winter collection, this colour oozes glamour, looking both rich on darker skin tones, and striking on paler tones. Of course, if darker hues aren't to your taste, the brand has over 80 other vivid shades to choose from, all of which apply beautifully and have great staying power. All 3-free formulas, the colours are great for showcasing your inner fashionista. We'll certainly be taking a page out of Nella's book this summer and using our nails as the ultimate fashion accessory.

To spice up your wardrobe, you can shop the stunning collection on the brand's website for £8.95 each.

Bedtime Stories: Gothic Fairytales

Do you fancy ghost stories? Are you looking for something different to do with your Wednesday evening? Well, we here at The Amazing Blog have a suggestion. Bedtime Stories: Gothic Fairytales is coming up in a couple of weeks on May 20 at the 40 Winks Hotel.

Gothic Fairytales will take its audience into a dark world of gods, beasts and handsome devil lovers. The show titled, ‘Love in the Shadows’ was created by Sally Pomme Clayton. This shadow puppet performance will send shivers down your spine.

David Carter, owner of the 40 Winks, has been putting on these unique story nights since 2009. In addition to raving reviews from national newspapers and magazines, Bedtime Story Nights, it has made the Saturday Times list of the '60 Best Things To Do In Britain' and the Sunday Times Travel Magazine hot list of the ‘14 Most Amazing Things To Do In The World.’

Although the events are called, “Bedtime Stories,” this isn’t your typical pyjama party. The attire is elegant pyjamas that impress and seduce. There are even prizes for the best pyjamas!

The price is £30 per person including cocktails and snacks. Shoot an email to reservations@40winks.org to reserve your spot ASAP as they fill quickly! While you’re waiting for the spooky evening to come, you can check out the venue on the 40 Winks website.