Friday Favourites - Sun Products with SPF

With yet another unpredictable English summer upon us, here at The Amazing Blog we were anxious to find something to protect our skin from the sun, should it choose to come out! So, we decided to give some of the newest and most exciting products with SPF on the market a test run.

First off was the Green People Sun Lotion. A Beauty Bible award winner for ultimate natural product, Green People never use no harsh chemicals (82% of ingredients are organic) and 10 per cent of profit is donated to the Marine Conservation Society charity, making them an ethical role model.  Although it only has a 25 SPF factor and a medium coverage rating, it is designed to be kind to sensitive skin, so could be perfect for olive skin individuals who still suffer from sensitivity from time to time, like myself. This product is an environmental triumph, as well as being good to skin. At only £18.95 from the Green People website, it’s a reasonable price compared to some alternatives and does a whole lot of good at the same time.

Another unique product we tried was The Sun Mousse. A unique brand, they have products for both adults and children. We sampled the 30 SPF, 6 hour protection, water resistant product and were amazed. I was originally apprehensive about how much to use but the mousse comes out moderately slowly so don’t panic about explosions of fast foaming mousse! It rubs in quickly and feels so light on the skin; the oily thick feel that most creams have is a thing of the past.  So the fact that The Sun Mousse, goes on quickly, easily and without fuss or frills, helps to remove all moaning from small people  desperate to get into the pool or sea. The six hour protection also means children (and adults) can run, jump and play in the sun without worry. If maximum protection is your biggest worry then this mousse is perfect. Easy application, maximum protection. It’s available here, from the Sun Mousse website for £19.99.

For some variation, we also tried the Resultime CC Cream from Collin Paris. CC creams or colour corrector creams are a relatively new concept to the make-up world. They are designed to even out skin pigmentation and leave a flawless finish. Unlike the other products we tried, this CC cream also has anti-aging elements. The vitamin E also helps to improve skin moisture and the SPF 30 rating ensures you’re protected from the sun all day long. The product is light and goes onto the skin beautifully. It comes in two skin shades, natural and golden they blend so well that they are suitable for almost any skin tone. If you’re searching for something lighter than foundation for the summer months this CC cream could be the perfect product. The Resultime CC creams are available here £35.50 each.

We also tried one of the hero products from Murad, Essential C Sun Balm is a stick application sun cream with an SPF of 35. Although this isn’t the maximum protection it still offers adequate cover, as well as hydrating the skin. The roll-on stick nature of the product is definitely its unique selling point. The quality and versatility is demonstrated by its 2013 Shape Sun Award. It makes it super easy to apply, especially to the face, with no worries of using too much or staining clothes like some liquid creams. With extracts of broccoli for UV protection and tangerine butter for moisture as well as being anti-animal testing, Murad’s Essential C Sun Balm ticks all the boxes for the perfect face and neck sun cream. The cream is available here for £19.50.

The final product in our sun feature is the Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45. This unique product comes in the form of a brush on sun protector for immediate, any time UVA/UVB sun-protection. This product is so versatile, acting as a bronzer/powder concealer as it creates the illusion of smooth radiant skin, whilst also offering a level of sun cream protection. So, if you still keep up your make-up routine on holiday, this touch up powder is perfect. It also helps prevent sunburn, skin damage, freckling and uneven discoloration, leaving you flawless but protected. The Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45 is available through Salon Skincare here in the UK for £17.60

Quest Protein - Cookies & Cream

What happens when you are supposed to be on a diet but you suddenly get a sweet tooth? Well, here at The Amazing Blog , we were desperate to find a solution, and we finally did. When we received samples of the Quest Protein Cookies & Cream bars,  they really did the trick!

The real cookie crumbles and delicious cream immediately satisfied our cravings. These delicious protein bars have 21 grams of protein (a mix of Whey Protein Isolate and Milk Protein Isolate), tons of fibre in the form of  Almonds, Cocoa Butter and plant extracts, and also no added sugar, using only Sucralose, which is an artificial sweetener. What better way to “cheat clean?” as Quest Protein would say. In addition to the company’s fueling growth from the invention of their protein bars, they focus on quality and nutritional efficacy. Because of this, Quest Nutrition has earned the recommendation of trainers, nutritionists and other health professionals that are on their own “quest” to turn the tide against obesity and all of its associated ailments - a fight that Quest Nutrition is proud to be involved in. Their customers range from everyday active, health-conscious consumers to top fitness competitors, bodybuilders, yoga enthusiasts, low carb dieters, and professional athletes.

Get your Quest Nutrition Cookies & Cream bar from their UK distributor here  for only £2.79, or a box of 12 bars here for £24.99.

The M’hencha Company - Moroccan Cake

Sometimes our body, soul and taste buds are in need of a holiday, and we here at The Amazing Blog  have found the perfect escape!  The M’hencha Company offers a range of spectacular treats, including our favourite Moroccan cake, has taken our taste buds on an exotic journey!

 With a passion for ‘awakening the senses’ through baking, The M’hencha Company founder, Sophie channelled her love for cake making into her specially designed M’hencha Cake.  Praise of her Moroccan delights from family and friends soon turned into recognition from colleagues like three-star awards at the Great Taste Awards, as well as at the Guild of Fine Foods.   Sophie and The M’hencha Company offer a variety of delicacies from bite-sized treats to celebration cakes, with both eating and serving suggestions. For the M'hencha Cake we received, it is best recommended to be eaten within five days of delivery, which we had no problem with that here in the office! This delicacy is a crunchy yet gooey coiled pastry cake made of almond frangipane, citrus zests, rosewater and perfectly topped with crumbled pistachios. Given that it was our first taste of Morroccan cake, it was a hit here in the office leaving us wanting more. After consumption however, there were a few guilty faces in the office, which I found amusing since calories are the least of my concerns. All the more to me I say!

The Moroccan cake is suitable for breakfast, lunch or dinner- personally we found the M’hencha Cake satisfied perfectly as a mid-afternoon snack. The M’hencha Company suggests pairing a slice of cake during breakfast with coffee, enjoying a piece during lunch with a Moroccan mint tea or indulging in a slice of cake for dessert following dinner.  Delight yourself with a classic 6” M’hencha cake, serving 3-4 guests, from The M’hencha Company for £16.95 here.

Vallebona – Cheese and Honey

We here at The Amazing Blog always have an appetite for exploring new gourmet foods, so when our friends at Vallebona Sardinian Gourmet  contacted us, our stomachs were rumbling!  This family owned delicatessen is a proud, leading supplier of gourmet Sardinian and Italian produce within the UK.

With history dating back to the 1890’s, this business has been providing genuine Italian foods to homes, restaurants and cafés in the UK for over a decade.  Vallebona offers Artisan Cheeses, carefully selected Italian wines, various honeys, salami and other Italian delicacies that provide healthy, modern options to British cuisine and home cooking.   The company is currently owned and operated by the Stefano Vallebona, the great grandson of the original owner and continues to maintain connections with suppliers from that date to the start of the business.  Vallebona’s dedication to its roots assures customers of its truly authentic Italian foods.

Sensing our hunger for something new, Vallebona delivered delicious Pecorino Rosso Cheese and Honey with White Truffle to our office doorstep!  Pecorino Rosso is a Sardinian pecorino cheese (from the island of Sardina) and is made primarily of local Sardinian sheep milk.  The creamy, medium texture of Percorino Rosso makes the cheese easily scoop-able and the perfect accompaniment to Honey with White Truffle.  This speciality cheese is offered in blocks of 200g and 1kg.  A 200g block of Percorino Rosso Cheese can be found here for £3.20 .  The Vallebona Sardinian Gourmet Honey with White Truffle is a light acacia honey dotted with generous pieces of truffle.  This delectable combination makes for an intensely flavoured honey; Honey with White Truffle is an ideal complement when drizzled over the Pecorino Rosso.  The honey is offered in various size containers of 45g, 120g and 250g.  A 45g jar of Vallebona’s Honey with White Truffle can be found here for £3.92 .  The Pecorino cheese and Honey with White Truffle can also be purchased as a set, along with a suggested recipe and a 50g bag of Music Paper Bread for £12 here .

 Vallebona also invites you to sample their authentic Italian goods, in-store on Saturdays while you shop at their warehouse deli in Wimbledon .  Vallebona Sardinian Gourmet Pecorino Rosso cheese, Honey with White Truffle and other gourmet items can be purchased online here  with free delivery for orders over £50.  Buon Appetito (Good eating)!

Contigo - Travel Mugs

Given that we live in a time where everything is fast and on-the-go, even the most practical items were bound to jump on board. Currently, you may not pay much attention to your coffee mug, but we at The Amazing Blog have found a company that makes simple yet elegant hassle-free mugs to keep your drinks hot or cold during the busiest days.  Contigo has taken the art of mug making and has formed it into a business, a business that is steadily booming here in the UK as well as other countries around the world. Contigo offers a wide array of products ranging from travel mugs, water bottles, kids cups and coffee mugs. We were lucky enough to try two of their travel mugs, the Morgan and their best-seller West Loop, both of which were a big-hit here in the office.

The Morgan AUTOSEAL Thermo Cup is stylish and easyt to carry throughout your busy day. The cup is made of soft-touch plastic and comes in four bright colours. Their design was praised by Red Dot, especially the AUTOSEAL feature that allows you to open the mug with the press of a button and seals upon release, making it 100% spill proof. I have been using this mug and have no problem with leaks considering I just throw it into my handbag on the way to work. I also enjoy the reservoir feature that keeps some of your drink a bit cooler for your next sip, eliminating those ever annoying scalds of the tongue. Though it helps protect you from burning your mouth, this cup keeps drinks hot for an hour and drinks cold for up to four.

If you are a bit more adventurous and need more from your thermo cup, you may need to try the West Loop. West Loop is a Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Mug which also features the AUTOSEAL making it 100% spill proof. The double insulated walls will keep your drinks hot for up to 4 hours or cold for up to 12, making it ideal for those long business trips or weekend hikes. West Loop comes available in 9 colours and is top-rack dishwasher safe (just like the Morgan), making the clean up as easy as the sip.

To get your hands on these lovely, hassle-free mugs visit the Contigo online shop here!  Next time you are trying to enjoy your drink while lugging your groceries, handbag, your child or all three at once, know that your drink is safe in your hands and only a press of a button away.