The Bakewell Soap Co. Natural Lip Balm

With the chilly and windy days round the corner, it's time to put our summery clothes aside and stop denying that the cold and dark days are close. With the cold months coming on, it's important that we start taking special care of our skin, without forgetting our lips - finding the perfect lip balm is essential in order to avoid chapped lips, specially in winter. At The Amazing Blog we're addicted to lip balms and The Bakewell Soap Co.'s Natural Lip Balm is one that is always sitting on our desks. Regular petrolatum-based lip balms tend to dry the lips, as petrolatum jelly sits on top the skin not letting it breathe, instead of being absorbed. That's why no matter how many times you re-apply the jelly, your lips will appear to be even more chapped. At The Amazing Blog we love The Bakewell Soap Co.'s Natural Lip Balm as it is petrolatum-free, and made from beeswax and Cocoa Butter. This cutely packaged lip balms contain Sweet Almond Oil and natural Vitamin E for extra protection and suppleness. At The Amazing Blog we've tried the Moroccan Rose one and we love it. The smell is rosy and leaves the lips conditioned for hours without having to re-apply it. The Natural Lip Balm is available in two other scents: Juicy Oranges and in Peppermint & Lavender.

The owners of The Bakewell Soap Co., Dharma and Ant, make their soap on the site of an old Victorian mill, just outside Bakewell, Derbyshire; in the heart of the Peak National Park. Their products are made in an environmentally responsible way, re-aligning their production processes to gain accreditation for the Environmenal Quality Mark and have reduced wastage in their soap production by about 30% to help achieve this.

The Bakewell Soap Co.'s Natural Lip Balms can be purchased from their website and selected UK stockists. They retail at £3.95.

Douvall's

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In London's changing weather, your skin can get dried out quite quickly, so you'll need a good moisturiser to make sure your skin stays soft, supple, and ready for summer. We're sure you've heard about the benefits of Argan Oil for your hair, but Douvall's Organic Argan Oil Moisturiser is a luxurious oil for not only your hair but your body and face.

Douvall's Argan Oil delivers significant restorative and anti-aging effects - providing nourishing protection for your skin. The naturally high concentration of vitamin E, antioxidants and fatty acids increase skin radiance and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You can use Douvall's in 3 different ways: as a moisturiser for your face and body, as a hair and cuticle oil, and in the bath as a soothing and nourishing addition. We find that you only need a few drops of Douvall's to get great results, you especially don't want to over-do it when using it in your hair. Start with a small amount and use more as you need it. Argan Oil is an all natural oil, extracted from nuts from the Argan Tree, native to Morocco. The whole process of harvesting the oils is completely organic and chemical free. Douvall's works with a women's cooperative in Morocco, who harvest the oil, and are committed to bettering the community and empowering women. So not only are you getting a high quality product, but the knowledge that you're helping a community of people who produce the product. Douvall's is environmentally friendly, non-irritating, non-allergenic and certified Vegan, so it's suitable for everyone. Whenever they can, they use recycled and recyclable materials for their products.

They have a smaller travel size, perfect for frequent flyers, and a larger size great as a permanent fixture in your bathroom. Head over to their website to buy your own Douvall's Organic Argan Oil Moisturiser.

Ecobeauty by Oriflame

With just five days left of April, the gang at The Amazing Blog were certainly hoping for sunnier climes - but alas, despite the onset of British summertime, spring sunshine has been replaced by a sky full of storm clouds. And while such weather brings with it the age-old dilema of what to wear, it's also left our skin in need of some tender loving care. Happily for us however, a package from Oriflame arrived just in time to save our skin.

Oriflame is a Swedish company that was founded by two brothers in 1967 and is commited to offering products that are as kind tto your skin as they are to the environment. They recently launched a new natural, ethical and environmentally-friendly line called Ecobeauty which is the first global cosmetics range to be approved by four leading independent ethical, natural and and environmental organisations including Fairtrade and The Vegan Society. The line offers three rich and hydrating face creams bursting with natural and effective ingredients such as antioxidants and fatty acids to nourish and protect the skin. Having tried both the day and night cream I can report that my skin has never looked so radiant and healthy and it's an added bonus that Ecobeauty is as good for the planet as it is for my skin! Available here.

An Easter-Egg Bonanza!

As Easter fast approaches, the mouths of the crew at The Amazing Blog are beginning to water. Ever since Ash Wednesday, a long and laborious six weeks ago, not a sniff of chocolate has passed our lips. And so, with less than a week to go and wanting to keep our readers up-to-date in terms of the crème de la crème of chocolate indulgences this Easter, we decided to break our fast early so we could try the chocolate we've been eyeing greedily for weeks. And if, like us, you’re planning a chocolate blow out on Easter Sunday, check out the most decadent of chocolate treats below… First up is the Indian-inspired Easter Egg from the wonderful peeps at Devnaa. With sumptuous purple wrapping and a decadent gold bow, it looks every bit as good as it tastes. The chocolate shell is infused with their signature chai blend - cinnamon, cardamom, clove and ginger; an unusual combination, but one that works oh-so-well. And as well as the aromatic egg is a selection of mouth-watering white-chocolate saffron caramels, coconut and cardamom dark chocolates and chai milk chocolates, thus it’s the perfect Easter Egg for anyone wanting an exotic fusion of flavours! The egg is handmade in London and you can buy it here.

And for those who follow The Amazing Blog, you'll already know that one of our favourite chocolatiers in London is the deliciously decadent Demarquette. This Easter they've created a Marine-inspired Easter collection that includes brightly coloured seashell-encrusted giant Easter eggs and chocolate egg-filled iridescent clams. With such a fab range on offer it was no mean feat choosing our fave, but the Oceanic Reef Egg certainly deserves a mention. The Super Chocolate Easter Egg is 20cm high and entirely edible. Made using the unique Demarquette Pure Blend of single origin smooth chocolate, a colonnade of six hand painted seahorses filled with sweet caramel supports the top half of the egg. A delicate coating of coral orange coloured white chocolate velvet adds a unique, luxurious texture making this the finest of all chocolate eggs. All of Demarquette's offerings are lovingly hand-made by founder Marc and his team in London with great tasting and ethically sourced pure chocolate. Available from their fabulous Fulham Road shop or online

For anyone after an Easter treat infused with some serious fun, Artisan du Chocolat have got the perfect egg. Inspired by the 70s song 'Daddy Cool' by Boney M and the childhood classic Mr Potatohead, their Bunny Cool Eggs add a bit of humour into the Easter spirit. Filled with Artisan du Chocolat's signature salted caramel honeycomb and with edible eyes nose and trainers, it's the ideal egg for anyone wanting to add some quirkiness to their Easter Day spread. The Bunny Cool egg, along with other yummy Easter treats are available both in-store and online.

Fortnum & Mason, Picadilly's brilliantly British department store have once again come up trumps with their Easter offering. Their Decorated Milk Chocolate Egg is a classic egg made by their in-house chocolatiers, who use expertly tempered milk chocolate to ensure a flawless shine. The decorations are made and applied by hand and the egg is filled with a selection of handmade chocolate shapes. Presented in a beautiful blue box with a contrasting grey ribbon, the Fortnum & Mason egg is as elegant as the shop, available both online and in-store.

Last, but by no means least, is Sussex-based Montezuma's fabulous Organic Free-Range Eco Egg. Founded in 2000 by ex-lawyers Helen and Simon Pattison, Montezuma is a family-run business who have rapidly built a reputation for producing some of the finest and most innovative chocolate in the UK. And as well as producing the most delicous of chocolates, Montezuma have also been singled out as a shining example of environmentally friendly eggs. It came top of the list of 11 eggs for the least amount of packaging and recyclability; so if you treat yourself to one of their eggs, you can be sure you're also doing your bit for the environment! Available in dark chocolate, milk chocolate and milk chocolate and butterscotch, they're available online and from selected independent stockists.

And so, with just six days left until Easter itself, whether you're after something special for a loved one, or simply spoiling yourself - enjoy some of the finest chocolate the UK has on offer and have a very happy Easter!

C&J Candles

Here at The Amazing Blog we seem to have caught a slight bit of spring fever, which is only becoming exaggerated with the increasing temperatures outside. I often take a little longer during my morning walks just to stay outside and soak up the sunshine, or simply stop to smell the blooming flowers. I love everything about spring, from the bright colours of nature that surround me to the smells of grass and the flowers. Since I love the smell of spring so much, I always find myself searching for a scent that can accurately bring the essence of spring into my home. Luckily I recently discovered the C&J Bergamot, May Chang, and Grapefruit Candle and now when I light this candle I can finally feel that spring is present not only outside but also inside my home.

The Bergamot, May Chang, and Grapefruit scents may sound like an unorthodox combination, but trust me when I say that they  complement each other wonderfully! I was instantly captivated by the scents of this candle and pleased at how much it reminded me of the outdoors and spring time. The May Chang lets off a lemon scent which when joined with the smell of grapefruit and pepper of the Bergamot creates a refreshing springtime aroma that fills my home whenever I use it. In addition to it being a great smelling candle, it is also environmentally friendly. The wax used is made from soy beans which is an alternative to the cheaper non-renewable paraffin wax often seen in competitor’s candles. As a result of their natural materials, these candles are good for you because they do not produce any potentially dangerous soot particles. Not only is the wax made from natural ingredients, but so are the wicks and scents! The wicks are made completely from natural cotton and contain no metal. The scents included in all of C&J’s candles are formed out of precious essential oils and you are guaranteed to capture the purest scents. I have become captivated by the C&J Bergamot, May Chang, and Grapefruit candle and cannot wait to try their other scents and I promise you will feel exactly the same way. Be sure to try these candles out for yourself and purchase your own from candjhome.co.uk.