Laundry Special – Dryerballs, Senses, Fairliving

Here at The Amazing Blog we love finding totally natural, organic and environmentally-friendly beauty products, whether that’s skincare, makeup or body care. We’re now taking this level of care to our wardrobe, clothes are worn every day and spend hours in contact with our skin, we have picked our favourite laundry products that cater to different needs.

As winter comes closer, the outdoor washing line is swapped for the tumble dryer. Dryerballs can rid you of the additional task of ironing and give you back an evening of relaxation.

These products are all natural softeners made only from wool. The Dryerballs negate the use of chemical softeners, reduce drying time, reduce creasing and reduce static. We found them so easy to use, simply put both balls in the tumble dryer along with your clothes and start the machine on the usual settings. What’s more, if you want to add a natural fragrance to your laundry, simply add a few drops of essential oils to the Dryerballs and run for a further 10 minutes on no heat. They are reusable and will undoubtedly save you both time and money by reducing drying time. Get yours here for £8.25.

For those of you who would rather stick to a classic softener, we have found one that can be used even by those with the most sensitive skin. Senses have created a new hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested fabric conditioner that rivals brand leaders on performance and price.

The fabric softener uses microcapsule fragrance technology; it’s available in three scents, Blue Breeze, Orange Zest and Tropical Burst, each scent is rich, fresh and long lasting. The ingredients are all naturally sourced, allowing the product to be hypoallergenic as well as intensely fragrant. We found the conditioner of excellent quality and highly effective, our clothed felt soft but our pockets didn’t feel empty. Get yours here for only £1.00.

Lastly we have found a stain remover for today’s conscious consumer. Fairliving has created a Planet Pure Organic Stain Remover Spray with the power to eliminate stubborn stains cause by red wine, fruit, jam and even grease.

We were lucky enough to try this and loved the zesty orange fragrance. It came to the rescue of a white dress from an attack of red wine, while also giving it a fresh, crisp scent. The spray is versatile and extremely useful as it can be used on any type of fabric and surface. This is a product that everybody needs in their laundry kit and thankfully won’t break the budget. Make sure you get your hands on one here for £2.99.
And if a spray remover is not enough and your laundry definitely needs something stronger, which can go deep in the stains, Fairliving also offers a wide range of Laundry Liquids and Softners. 

All the scents are very pleasant and natural, with Lavender, Orange, Chamomile and Rose and there is a product specific for every fabric.
The entire range is available here starting from £1.99.

Friday Favourites - Face Masks

Facials are a great way to relax at the end of a long week; here at The Amazing Blog, we are firm believers in taking the time out to pamper ourselves. Stress and fatigue have a profound effect on the condition of our skin, so we have found the perfect range of masks for every purpose and skin type.

Firstly we have Earth Kiss Face Masks that come in both Mud Mask and Bamboo Sheet form, each catering to a different skin problem. This is perfect for those who want to try out ‘multi-masking’, a new beauty craze that is taking over beauty blogs and vlogs.

The mud masks are ideal for those with oily/acne prone skin, while the sheets are designed for those with dull/dry skin. We mix and match our masks depending on what our skin is craving. Earth Kiss products are 100% natural and energised with Himalayan Shalijit, a rare form of powerful mineralised organic matter that contains 85 different plant micronutrients - plently for keeping your skin in tip top condition. If you want to release your inner beauty naturally, then purchase your own mask here for only £1.99 each.

It isn’t often you can find a mask with anti-ageing technology, but Timeless Truth have created BEE Bio Cellulose Bee Venom and Royal Jelly Miracle Mask.

The combination of the Bee Venom and “elixir of youth” Royal Jelly is nature’s alternative to Botox. These active ingredients work by stimulating collagen production to tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. If that isn’t enough, the bee venom contains Melittin, a compound with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, which gives the mask all of the great qualities of an anti-ageing serum. If you want great results in the most relaxing way possible, get your BEE mask here for £7.90 each or £38.50 for 5.

If you are looking for a mask that smells and looks good enough to eat, Christopher Courtney’s Anti-Oxidant Chocolate Facial Therapy mask is a must have.

The mask is packed with anti-oxidant rich Cocoa, Peptides, Vitamins, Plant Cell Extracts, Bio-Botanicals and Pure Essentials. But it has the added indulgence of real chocolate truffles for all the chocolate lovers out there. The treatment is designed to stimulate cell renewal, smooth the skin and boost moisture levels for healthy and radiant skin. It is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin, as the product avoids harsh chemicals, synthetic colours/flavours, and mineral oils. We love this mask as it not only feels luxurious but has the most incredible scent of rich melted chocolate. Get your own decadent chocolate mask here for £43.95.

Last, but certainly not least, Beaut Boutique have brought us a Black Clay and Licorice Mask.

Too many clay masks leave our skin feeling dry and sensitive, whereas this one blends natural organic Australian Clay with Licorice Root Extract. These ingredients first detox, then brighten and tone the skin leaving it feeling clean and looking radiant. We loved the rich and creamy consistency of the mask, it glides effortlessly onto the skin like a thick moisturiser. After an evening relaxing with this soothing mask on you feel revitalised and your skin looks radiant, if you want to try it out yourself order it here for £18.

Festival of Heat

Here at The Amazing Blog, we have come across an event to spice up your weekend. The Festival of Heat is London’s leading Chilli Festival for the past 3 years, the work of Mercadito Productions. Heat-seekers everywhere join to celebrate various cultural uses for chilli, including the different eating, growing and cooking methods.

The Festival is attracting both aspiring and established talent; there will be producers, market traders and chefs from all over the UK. A few names you may recognise are hot pepper sauce brand Encona, Mushemi Fire, Zambian Chilli Products and Grim Reaper Foods Ltd. Encona will be this year’s sole sponsor of The Festival Kitchen, a fun and educational area with cooking demonstrations, food workshops and tasting activities for the whole family to enjoy. Whether its sweet and mild you’re after, or hot and fiery, Encona will have the sauce for you. They will also offer a range of delicious marinades to put life back into dull meal times; these are available in Korean BBQ, Jamaican Jerk BBQ and Moroccan Harissa. The exotic names are enough to make the mouth water.

Flavour Gurus from The World of Zing and Made in Hackney share their tips in master classes, workshops and demonstrations in the Festival Kitchen. In which you can learn ‘How to make a good curry’ and ‘Cooking with chilli to achieve the perfect heat’. For budding spice sellers, you can even pick up top tips on marketing your own hot sauce.

The Festival Kitchen Debate will hold several special guests, whom are to be announced. This is a hub of discussion around issues that affect us as consumers. You can have your own say on why we should buy from local producers and ask where it is our food comes from. If you want a break from all of this information, there will be DJs and bands providing music from across the world. There will surely be something to suit everyone as the music follows the multi-cultural theme, expect anything from live folk music to Bangladeshi dancing. In an ever growing multi-ethnic community it’s important to learn about different cultures, food and music are the social centres for most, making it the perfect place to start.

If you want a fun-filled and informative day out, make sure you attend the Festival of Heat  for just £7.50 per person, children under 16 go free if accompanied by an adult. The festival takes place on the 27th September 2015 in Red Market, London.​ 

Thame Food Festival

Here at The Amazing Blog, we have found a fantastic foodie’s day out! The eighth annual Thames Food Festival takes place in a beautiful historic market town in Oxfordshire on the 26th September, bringing you a host of celebrity chefs and of course superb food and drink. There is even the chance to show off your baking skills in The Big Thame Bake competition that will be judged by a few celebrity bakers. These are certainly ingredients for a brilliant day out.

Raymond Blanc OBE will be making the short journey from Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons to cook live for us in the cookery theatre. Watching him is a joy as his talent and passion for cooking could inspire anyone to get in the kitchen. He will be joined by Sophie Grigson, for those of you who are unfamiliar; she has opened Sophie’s Kitchen at the Story Museum in Oxford. Here, she offers various homemade food dishes for all to enjoy, as well as offering a children’s class to educate and inspire a love of cooking from a young age. I’m sure many of us would’ve appreciated this knowledge when learning to cook for ourselves. Sophie will also incorporate some of her favourite dishes from the café in her session.

The festival isn’t for adult enjoyment only, they have organised the first ever cooking demo catering specifically for children, taught by MasterChef winner Natalie Coleman. Children will have the opportunity to learn the basics on how to cook and try new exciting foods, a perfect way to keep the kids proactive in the kitchen. Adults will be able to see an interview with Natalie and purchase signed copies of her new book Winning Recipes for Every Day.

If baking is more your forte, Richard Bertinet will share the secrets behind his sell-out bread making classes. This is a fantastic way to learn a few tips and tricks if you missed out on the classes available at The Bertinet Cookery School. The baker will even be signing copies of his many baking books in the pop-up book shop. Be sure to clear some space on the kitchen shelves, this book shop is a space in which visitors will have the chance to meet an array of celebrity chefs and build up their cookery book collection.

Arguably, the most exciting part of the day is the festival’s very own baking competition. The Big Thame Bake gives visitors the opportunity to rise to the occasion and show off their own baked goods. The winners will be awarded their prizes by none other than Frances Quinn, the Great British Bake Off Winner in 2013. Along with other Bake Off contestants, Luis Troyano, Miranda Browne, and Howard Middleton, Frances will then be interviewed by Lotte Duncan.

Give you and your family a fun, food-filled day out by checking it out here. The Thame Food Festival takes place from 9am to 5pm on Saturday 26th September 2015 in the heart of Thame town centre. If you are interested in participating in the Big Thame Bake, sign up here for only £5, of which is donated to a local cause. 

Friday Favourites - Hair Care

Today, there is such a wide range of Branded Hair Care Products that it can become confusing as to which are the best. Here at The Amazing Blog we want to narrow it down for you; we know the importance of great hair care and have tried our share of different brands. We love products that are pleasing on the eye and nose, but ultimately we are most concerned about effective results. We hope you love our choices as much as we did.

I think most would agree that the toughest forecast for hair is humidity. OGX have created a Kukui Oil Haircare range, hallelujah. They promise to hydrate and waterproof hair to leave curls beautifully defined with luminous shine and most importantly, frizz free. The Kukui Oil, an ancient Hawaiian secret, is of course the star of the show. It is a totally natural ingredient found in the nuts of the Kukui tree, or ‘the tree of light’, well it certainly brightens up our day. The oil contains essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants, all of which help our hair to repel humidity whilst sealing in the moisture. These are the kind of results we have all been waiting for, and to think all of this is achievable through a hair wash. The Kukui Oil Shampoo and Conditioner are perfectly paired with an anti-frizz hydrating oil, with these in your haircare collection say goodbye to frizz for good. Get your hands on them here for £6.99 each.

If you are looking for a natural remedy to dry, lifeless or even oily hair then NOAH is the brand for you. The ingredients used in each product contain concentrations of pure essential oils; these are extracted from plants and flowers in the most traditional way possible. Finally, we can be certain that we are avoiding harmful chemicals that are found in most shampoos and conditioners. NOAH products are tailored to each problem area; our favourites are the Regenerating Shampoo with Argan Oil and Nourishing Conditioner with Mango and Rice Proteins. The regenerating shampoo is designed to relieve dry, overworked and treated hair, while the nourishing conditioner detangles and moisturises every hair type. Our hair can not only breathe a sigh of relief, but also smells incredible due to the plant and flower extracts. A must have in our opinion, if you think so too get them here for £9.90 and £13.50.

On those days in which our hair needs some extra TLC, we reach for the new Label M Honey and Oat Mask to both hydrate and strengthen our hair in one. Label M is an award-winning professional haircare brand that even caters for London Fashion Week. The Honey and Oat Treatment has an exclusive Hydra-5 moisture-regulating complex means it prevents damage, moisturises and strengthens. Key ingredients within the mask include two types of high-grade honey, Plum Kernal, African Myrrh, and Baobab Oil to give intense moisture and truly long lasting results. It is to be used around once a week in addition to conditioner, leave it in towel dried hair for 1-5 minutes and rinse with cool water. Whether in need of a pampering session or quick fix in the shower this mask is perfect for you. It feels light but luxurious and indulgent, while the use of honey leaves your hair with a divine scent. If you want silky smooth hair that smells so good you could eat it, order yours here for only £15.75

Now that we have kept our hair healthy, we want a great styling product to show it off, this is where Affinage comes in. Affinage is a professional hair care brand with unique, technology-driven products guaranteed to give effective results; our favourite styling product is without a doubt their award-winning Air Loader Ultra strong Hairspray. Not only is the packaging exciting and edgy, but it’s designed with a micro-atomizer to give a super fine spray with incredible hold and volume. Like any other hairspray, hold the Air Loader at arm’s length and apply on dry hair as needed, however unlike any other hairspray your hair will keep its shine and hold throughout the whole day. If you want extra volume you can reapply the spray as much as you want, the quick-dry, lightweight formula doesn’t weigh hair down. Remarkably, at the end of the day it brushes out easily and the product doesn’t feel as if it has drenched your hair in product. If you want to stay on the cutting edge of hair styling, pick yours up here for only £5.40.