Protein Bites By Nibble

Unfortunately, a lot of so-called ‘healthy’ snacks are full of sugar, and Nibble just couldn’t stomach this anymore (pardon the pun). When Nibble created their Protein Bites, which are delicious, healthy and high in protein, our appetites here at The Amazing Blog were wetted.

Protein Bites are high in protein (obviously), a great source of fibre, low GI and low in sugar. In layman terms, this all means that you stay fuller for longer, so you won’t be tempted to snack on empty-nutritious foods, and you also won’t get that dreaded sugar crash later. In fact, Nibble are lower in sugar than almost all other brands, and by a lot. For those with dietary restrictions, they are also dairy free, gluten free, date free, and vegan – hoorah!

You might think this all sounds a bit, well, bland. Think again! Protein Bites are packed with flavour, and come in some very tempting flavours, including Sour Cherry, Choc Chip Cookie, Lemon with Coconut, and Mocha. These are simply the perfect healthy snacks for on-the-go, a little energy boost when you’re feeling low or can’t quite get through the seemingly endless gap between lunch and dinner. The bites are made of antioxidant-rich dried plum puree, instead of the over-used and strange-tasting dates, and a blend of toasted pumpkin/sunflower seeds (for nutty flavour and texture) and pea protein (for that much-needed high protein content).

Purchase the pack of 8 Protein Bites  here for £18.00, Nibble Protein Bites are also available at Ocado for £2.39 each.

Nail Polish By Maggie Anne

Nail polish is the perfect accessory to transport your look from season to season, and so we, at The Amazing Blog, have hand-picked some gorgeous autumnal shades from Maggie Anne’s extensive colour choice, for you to sport as summer melds into winter. Not only this, but it is vegan, 6-free and the formula is a winner.

We were lucky enough to receive the colours Olive, Sapphire, Nancy and Jasper. Olive, a muted sage green with creamy and grey undertones is ideal for the cooler months. Sapphire, like that of its name, is a rich blue, but still with those grey undertones to give it that autumnal vibe. We had to include a nude, as it is a staple in any girl’s collection, and Jasper is our new favourite. A best-seller for Maggie Anne, Jasper is the perfect pinky-beige that will complement any skin tone. For those who like a little pizzazz in their nail polishes, Nancy delivers a gorgeous deep purple with a shimmery shift.

Many people still remain unaware that regular nail polishes are not vegan; they contain ingredients derived from animals, such as crushed up beetles, fish scales and oyster shells. It is these ingredients that lend nail polishes their shine. However Maggie Anne has not compromised on the quality of their polishes, and they’ve achieved both a cruelty-free product and a fabulous formula. They have been given the stamps of approval from Peta and Beauty Without Bunnies. It is even ideal for pregnant women, as it is free from harmful chemicals. They are  6-free, meaning these formulas do not contain six harsh chemicals that many nail polishes contain, such as formaldehyde, toluene and camphor. The result is a gel-like finish without the use of a UV lamp or soaking your nails in toxic acetone. We’re not the only ones who champion Maggie Anne nail polishes. They won ‘Best Nail Brand’ at the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2017 and ‘Best Nail Polish’ at the Natural Health International Awards.

Purchase Olive here, Jasper here, Nancy here, and Sapphire here for £10.50 each, or sample the whole range here.

Organic and Fair Trade Wholefood Snack Bars by Geobar.

The Amazing Blog are big believers in supporting fair trade farmers and we all jump at any opportunity to try a new fair trade snack whenever we can. So discovering Geobars fair trade wholefood snack bars has made our week. Their bars are filled with organic ingredients farmed from all over the world including Cocoa from Ghana, Raisins from South Africa, Cashews from India and Walnuts from Pakistan. The Amazing Blog tried the Carrot and Ginger, Apple and Kale and Cocoa and Beetroot bars.

These delicious fruit, oat and nut bars use ingredients from trusted suppliers to ensure they stay fair trade, they're also high in fibre and contain no added sugar. The Carrot and Ginger bar is made mainly from oats, raisins and dates, with the flavours of carrot and ginger to add a hint of spice. The Apple and Kale bar contains dried apple, dates and cashew nuts, with the kale balancing out the zesty apple flavour. The Cocoa and Beetroot bar is made with a similar combination of oats, raisins and dates, but includes both cocoa powder and nibs. We think these bars make for a delicious snack choice while maintaining a healthy diet and supporting fair trade. All the bars are suitable for vegan diets.

They are available to purchase from Ethicalsuperstore.com and Traidcraft for £1.40 per bar (40g) or £26 for a pack of 20.

Shiny Lips Lip balm, Shea Butter Filtered Through Volcanic Rock and a Nourishing Beauty Mask from Manna

The Amazing Blog is a huge fan of the Manna brand, not only do they have excellent values but their products are always perfect. As the weather is beginning to change, it’s time to start switching up our skincare routine and products, and it seems only natural to incorporate Manna into this change. We have decided to include three of Manna’s products to help protect our skin from the ill effects of a dropping temperature and central heating. We sampled the Shiny Lips Lip Balm, the Shea butter Filtered through Volcanic Rock with Roman Chamomile and their Mattifying and Nourishing mask with blue clay. 

If you are anything like us then chapped lips go hand in hand with cold weather. It’s unfortunate but true and cold winds have a nasty habit of ruining our lips. As such we are never far from a lip balm, and Manna’s Shiny Lips Lip Balm is the perfect way to keep lips perfectly hydrated and shiny all through the bitter months. Made with natural ingredients, the balm contains Sesame Oil, which helps with hydration and elasticity, Castor Oil which nourishes the lips and Cocoa Butter which will hydrate and protect the skin from various impacts. The product also smells amazing thanks to the orange and lemon essential oils in the product, which give it a great citrus scent.  If you lips dry out then so too will your skin, so it is imperative to apply a nourishing cream or butter to it at least once a day. We love the fragrant Shea Butter Filtered through Volcanic Rock that Manna produces. It is deeply nourishing and acts as an excellent base for makeup. This is because Shea Butter filtered through volcanic rock differs from the usual kind as it tends to be creamier and gives a more even texture and coverage. Manna filters their shea butter through the rocks (perlite) without using any chemicals in the process. 

Although winter can be drying, that doesn’t mean you can get away with not properly looking after your t-zone. So if you are someone with naturally oily skin, you are still going to have to take care of your complexion. We would recommend the Mattifying and Nourishing Mask for this as it purifies skin in a gentle, natural and efficient way. Despite what people may think, oily skin is actually the most vulnerable as it dehydrates quickly, this mask will help keep skin looking great, healthy and hydrated all day long.

You can purchase the Shiny Lips Lip Balm here for £5.30, the Shea butter Filtered through Volcanic Rock with Roman Chamomile can be bought here for £14.80 and the Mattifying Mask here for £9.20

Ylang Ylang, Argan & Rosemary Shampoo and Conditioner by AA Skincare from Amphora Aromatics

It is no secret that The Amazing Blog holds natural beauty products above all others. Amphora Aromatic's natural skincare range, AA Skincare, has come out with new plant inspired natural shampoos, which have obviously caught our eye. With six new shampoo and conditioner sets to chose from we decided to put their Ylang Ylang, Argan & Rosemary Conditioning shampoo and conditioner to the test. It's worth noting that the conditioner is vegan, however the shampoo contains honey so is only suitable for vegetarians.

The first thing to say is that this product smells utterly amazing. The delicate but fragrant notes of the Ylang Ylang are the first thing to wash over you and instantly made us feel like we were at the spa. Asides from it's delightful scent, the Ylang Ylang essential oil in the product helps to promote a healthy scalp by nourishing and repairing brittle hair. The cucumber extract soothes the scalp and leaves hair feeling silky and soft. Yet, it is the rosemary extract that is the hero ingredient as it actually encourages hair growth and adds volume. The reviving conditioner is the perfect way to finish your hair wash as it is filled with argan oil, promising to leave your hair looking shiny and healthy.

That's why the Ylang Ylang, Argan & Rosemary range is ideal for dry hair, as the ingredients are moisturising and nourishing. If your hair concerns are elsewhere, their Amla & Clary Sage range soothes scalp irritations, the Cedarwood & Peppermint is deep cleansing for oily hair, the Peony, Bay & Brahmi is nourishing and soothing, the Rose & Pomegranate range is 'ultra-gentle', and the Rosemary, Sage & Burdock repairs damaged hair.

The shampoo is available here and the conditioner here, both for £5.94 each.