Mangle and Wringer Kitchen Cleanser - Cottage in the Hills

Here at The Amazing Blog we love all things natural, from beauty to food and beyond. We’ve found Mangle & Wringer, an all-natural home cleaning products company and we received their kitchen cleanser to enjoy. 

Mangle & Wringer’s founder Vanessa Wilde wanted to create traditional, non-toxic remedies that are effective yet safe to use. The Kitchen Cleanser comes in a tin and the grey and white label has an old-school feel. The cream is thick and you have to work it with a damp cloth. However, once on the cloth, it glides over work top surfaces, microwaves, oven hobs and the fridge. The formula’s main ingredient is sodium bicarbonate, a great natural cleaner which you can use all over the house. It’s mixed with calcium carbonate, coconut oil soap, glycerine and sodium carbonate to form a multi-purpose, antibacterial cream. We love the idea that these are normal ingredients that you can find in an everyday kitchen. The good thing about using a cream over a typical spray is that it isn’t wasted by going anywhere you don’t want it to; you can simply spread on and wipe off. 

We acquired this all natural kitchen cleanser from the wonderful Cottage in the Hills, and it’s unsurprising that they would sell Mangle and Wringer products as they fit in perfectly with the company’s eco ethos. Cottage in the Hills is a homewares website and company that aims to help you to create your ideal, stress-free home and sanctuary. Situated in the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire, Cottage in the Hills are dedicated to helping you create a stylish, practical and eco-friendly home. It’s definitely worth having a scroll through their website, as we thoroughly enjoyed browsing the hundreds of charming, organic and natural homeware products that they supply; ranging from organic soaps to organic fabrics and even organic pet beds! We’ve definitely found a new website to use to furnish our homes.

To purchase Mangle and Wringer's kitchen cleanser for £5.80 click here

Hot Drinks Feature - Friday Favourites

Struggling to make it through this winter? Here at the Amazing Blog we have been trying to combat the gloominess with some warming hot drinks. We are sure you'll agree that when it's as wet and grey outside as it is today, there is nothing better than curling up with a tasty and comforting hot drink. So, we thought we would round up some fun and unusual winter warmers, that are guaranteed to make you feel cozy and comfortable.

Akesson’s is a brand that passionate about cacao. Today Akesson’s has grown from a single plantation to haveing buisness with plantations based in Madagascar, Brazil, and Indonesia. The company produces undoubtedly one of the finest forms of cocoa, which they supply globally to famous chocolatiers and chefs.

We loved trying Akesson’s exclusive line of chocolate and we particularly enjoyed the Choco-Tea Cacao Infusion. The tea is a natural product made from cacao nibs and their shells, producing a rich and warm flavour that lifted our spirits after exposure to the damp weather. The cacao in this comes from the Sambirano Valley, in the North-West of Madagascar, and has a wonderfully expressive chocolate aroma, with subtle fruit and citrus notes. The tea is organic and rich in polyphenols, antioxidants, iron, magnesium and Vitamin D, making it a very healthy and natural drink.

We infused half of one large teaspoon for five minutes in hot water. We liked the fact the tea is not overly sweet, but of course, if you like your tea sweeter adding a teaspoon of honey or sugar can help round out the flavour to match your cravings.

Try Akesson’s sumptuous Choco-Tea here for £6.95.

Pure Chimp’s Super Tea specialises in matcha green tea, a nutritional powerhouse produced in Japan. This tea is different to regular green tea, as it's partially grown under cover helping to fill it with extra goodness. Equally, matcha tea also differs from normal green tea as it has higher levels of theanine and chlorophyll. Theanine offers a wonderful energy boost without the crash that usually follows after a cup of regular caffeinated tea. The higher chlorophyll gives this tea a lovely soft and smooth flavour that we can’t get enough of. 

We love the versatility of this product. You can add it to hot water, juice, smoothies and even bake with it. Our favourite combination was to simply add hot milk and drink it as a matcha latte! The product is also suitable for vegans so everyone can enjoy the health benefits of Pure Chimp Super Tea.

Try Pure Chimp’s Super Tea here for £4.95.

Next is PHROOTI, a UK based brand which has created the perfect product for those of us who don't like tea but still enjoy the tradition and comfort that a good hot drink can give. The founders of PHROOTI were frustrated with conventional flavoured teas that smell incredibly fruity but lack any real and discernable flavour. The brand thus decided to reinvent fruit tea to give the people what they want, and we can't thank them enough as the result is delicious. PHROOTI consists of 95-97% natural and dried fruit powder and contains no traces of tea. This gives the product an intense fruity flavour that is guaranteed to tantalise your taste buds!

The faux-tea is caffeine-free, low calorie, and free from added sugar, making it a delicious and guilt-free treat. PHROOTI currently comes in three fabulous flavours, including Sour Cherry and Cranberry, Blackcurrant, Blackberry and Blueberry. Our favourite was Raspberry and Strawberry. This is the perfect option for those who don’t enjoy tea but love fruity flavour infusions.

Try PHROOTI here, you can buy 6 packs for £17.70.

We thought we would end today’s feature on a more traditional and classic note, simply, tea. Here at The Amazing Blog, we love tea and love to try out new and exciting flavours. Tea Shirt is a new UK brand founded by a tea-obsessed couple with a passion for discovering high-quality teas and unearthing original flavours.

After the endless office tea runs we've all done, you know how hard it is to find two people who enjoy their tea the same way. Whether it's an argument over when the milk goes in or type of tea, it can be a nightmare filling out those tea orders! But this isn't a problem with Tea Shirts, as not only are all their teas delicious but they have an extensive selection to choose from; ranging from the typical ‘Irish Breakfast’ to unusual flavours such as ‘Barbados Rum’ and ‘Marshmallow’ there is definitely a flavour for everyone. We personally loved the ‘Apple and Grapefruit’ tea blended with its fresh and citrus flavours, we felt completely revitalised and refreshed after a cup.

The teas are packaged in “Tea Shirts” - labels which mimic traditional textiles and embroidery from the areas where they originated. We think Tea Shirts makes a perfect gift for tea lovers or just a winter warmer by the fire.

You can buy Tea Shirts here from £1.79.

Vata Hydrating Cleanser - SAMAYA

At the Amazing Blog, we believe in the long-term benefits of using all natural products rather than those laden with chemicals and so love testing new products that use simple, natural ingredients and we have found a brilliant product in SAMAYA’s Vata Hydrating Cleanser.

SAMAYA is founded on Ayurvedic principles with a holistic approach, aiming to provide their customers with ‘perfect balance' by using simple and effective ingredients. SAMAYA has three distinct ranges each tailored for different needs – Pitta, Vata, and Kapha. As everyone's skin is different, the variety in SAMAYA care is marvellous because it means you can find the product that is right for you. With each range containing a blend of botanical ingredients, free from parabens and synthetics, you can't go wrong.

The SAMAYA product we tried was the Vata Hydrating Cleanser. The cleanser was creamy and rubs in like an oil, making it extremely hydrating without being too cloying. We adored the subtle and natural fragrance of the product. When applied it felt luxurious and holistic. The ingredients in the cleanser are splendid, with Ayurvedic botanicals such as Rose, Turmeric, Tulsi, Gotu Kola, and Ashwagandha. This particular blend of high-quality ingredients has a powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antioxidant effects, making it a great cleanser for skin prone to acne and redness.

Great at removing makeup and impurities without drying out the skin, it left our skin feeling softer and more balanced.

We enjoyed SAMAYA’s Ayurvedic approach to skin care as the product offers a relaxing and indulgent cleansing experience that has great results. To achieve the perfect balance, you can purchase the Vata Hydrating Cleanser here for £69.00.

PM - Zero Cream - Aqua+ Skincare

Here at The Amazing Blog, we always appreciate using products that protect and pamper our skin. So naturally, we were excited to review Aqua+ Skincare's new product PM- Zero Cream, a moisturiser that's not only revolutionary but also works wonders.

From day one this regime will have your skin thanking you! The moisturiser is the world's first all natural anti-pollution moisturiser and the unique formula instantly begins to work in firming up your skin and counteracting the effects of pollution. The100% natural product contains aloe vera and antioxidants from olive leaves that help skin to appear brighter and clearer. The moisturiser has marvellous anti-ageing benefits, in part due to the fact that it helps protect the skin from harmful UV rays.

Suitable for all skin types, this product is designed to continuously feed your skin the nutrients it needs to be healthy. To apply simply massage into the skin after cleansing and toning twice a day. Your skin will immediately be able to feel softer, smoother and hydrated.

You can purchase this product here for £45.30.

Stem Cell Exfoliating Skin Polish - Rock & Honey

At The Amazing Blog we like to follow the latest trends and keep updated on what’s new in skincare. Rock and Honey, a London based brand uses innovative ingredients to make its products exceptional: Stem Cell Active Ingredients.

Rock & Honey created a range of polishes and creams made with these plant extract, certified organics. We were lucky enough to try the Stem Cell Exfoliating Skin Polish. The luxurious polish has a creamy white texture, almost liquid with crushed walnut and micro volcanic rock added to it to exfoliate. It contains ingredients such as organic Apricot Kernel, Coconut and Avocado oil, Rice Bran oil, essential fruits extracts with Vitamin C and E. All together they give a gorgeous natural floral scent to the polish. More than a great smell, this polish has incredible hydrating properties. In fact, Stem Cell Active ingredients are known for firming, plumping and hydrating the skin. It creates a radiant complexion and makes you feel so much better after use as your skin is soft, exfoliated and cleansed. We suggest using the Stem Cell Exfoliating Skin Polish on a daily use basis by applying a small amount of cream. Gently massage it to fully exfoliate the face and cleanse on all skin types.

Organic ingredients will always be the best way to treat your skin so get yourself the Stem Cell Exfoliating Skin Polish from Rock & Honey here for £25.