Ylang-Ylang

Friday Favourites: Body Care Products

When The Amazing Blog did a quick beauty poll amongst some friends, it seems that body care products are something frequently overlooked. We all take great care to moisturise our faces, but what about our poor hard-working bodies? Today we have reviewed some of our #amazingfinds for the body, which we hope will tempt even the most sceptical or lackadaisical among you.

Let’s begin with Lavera, a brand that we know and love (see here for more). Lavera never fails to live up to our expectations with their 100% certified organic ingredients, all of which are dermatologically proven, vegan and with all the free-froms. We like a good multi-tasker and with their Firming Body Milk we have found just that. Not only does it help to moisturise, but it also works to firm up the skin too. Lavera claims that when used every day, there will be a noticeable difference in your skin texture within two weeks – quite a claim, but one we can justify! Gently fragranced, the use of key ingredients, organic green coffee bean and green tea, help to stimulate the skin, for a soft and smooth finish. On the other hand, the use of rosemary and grape help to leave skin feeling silky-soft. It is lightweight to use and absorbs quickly, thankfully leaving no sticky residue. They suggest exfoliating first (Lavera has a rather lovely Smoothing Body Scrub) and applying daily. Whether you’re looking for body firming or not, we really liked the fragrance, feel and texture. Sensibly priced at £10.95 for a 200ml tube , it is available here.

Next, we have CeraVe’s Moisturising Cream, an impressive hyaluronic acid and ceramide based barrier cream, suitable for use on both the body and face, and gentle enough for eczema-prone skin. What are ceramides, I hear you ask; they are lipids that not only help to form the skin’s barrier and retain moisture but also protect against environmental pollution. This body moisturiser is particularly suitable for anyone with dry or very dry sensitive skin. CeraVe is a US brand developed in tandem with dermatologists, they have over 70 products to offer and what makes their product unique is their revolutionary delivery system: MultiVesicular Emulsion Technology (MVE). This technology releases moisturising ingredients over a 24 hour period, layer by layer, to help keep skin soft all day long. Ingredients are not natural, but they are fragrance free, non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic. CeraVe are also quick to point out that they have received more Seal of Acceptance awards from the National Eczema Association than any other brand, which makes them a very tried and tested brand. Available from Boots or Superdrug, this is an economical product, £8.50 for 177ml.

Our third body moisturiser is from the award-winning British brand PHB (Pure Handmade British) Ethical Beauty which is stuffed to the gunnels with delicious superfoods. This 2-in-1 Hand & Body Moisturiser has had us all cooing and oohing. We’ve been long-standing fans of PHB Ethical Beauty and have reviewed several of their products (and we hope many more) - see here. So when given the opportunity to try their new Hand & Body Moisturiser – we leapt at the chance! This brand is very special with 20% of their profits going to The OneLove Foundation (founded by PHB Ethical Beauty in 2015). All their products are made with ethically harvested and responsibly sourced ingredients that are 100% natural, vegan, cruelty-free and alcohol-free (Halal certified). They call this a “no-nonsense moisturiser” and we couldn’t agree more. It absorbs quickly and comes with a list of simple, natural and certified organic ingredients that perform; it feeds the skin with a pure and powerful blend of mango, shea butter, apricot and pumpkin seeds – we love both the fragrance and simplicity. It is available on the PHB website here for £16.60, in a 150ml recyclable tube.


Our final discovery are Liquid Body Washes from Fil Blanc (meaning “white thread” in French), perhaps best known for their high-quality Hammam Turkish cotton towelling (we have our eye on their multi-coloured hand woven bath robe). The brand’s inspiration is taken from Mediterranean luxury living, with a touch of bohemia thrown in. Fil Blanc is based in historical St. Nicholas Market at the Exchange Hall, Bristol where they started three years ago. All products are sourced or designed by the founder Gulsum Gok. She very kindly sent us two of their body washes Relaxing and Orange & Jasmine. All body washes are 99% natural with a 81.98 % organic base, also vegan, cruelty and paraben free. Again they come with a very simple list of ingredients: Relaxing is made with essential oils of geranium, lavender, orange and ylang-ylang; whereas Orange & Jasmine has only these. Both contain honey and aloe vera with an Argan oil base. At a reasonably priced £12 for 259ml you can purchase both here, or alternatively make a visit to their Bristol HQ.

Now there is no excuse not to implement a little body pampering!

Captain Fawcett - Triumphant Moustache Wax

“Here today, up and off to somewhere else tomorrow! Travel, change, interest, excitement! The whole world before you, and a horizon that's always changing!” - the wise words of Mr Toad in the Wind and the Willows. Played by Rufus Hound, his thespian talents are not his only distinguishing feature - thanks to his extraordinarily well-manicured facial fuzz. He has since teamed up with Captain Fawcett, a brand providing top quality shaving and grooming products since 2011. Thanks to the highly successful vibe they have created, it is fair to say that the range has now snowballed in both form and profits. Their website even transports you to a bygone world of Dickensian charm, but with an up to the minute interface, encouraging us chaps to lavish some attention on our personal grooming regimes. Having previously tried their Million Dollar Beard Oil (see here), and from reading up on some of Captain Fawcett’s newest adventures, we at The Amazing Blog HQ found ourselves researching for 3-piece tweeds, pipes and baccy…and none of us smoke!

Back to the point, and more importantly, the product which our friend Rufus Hound has collaborated with Captain Fawcett on: ‘Rufus Hound’s TRIUMPHANT Moustache Wax’. Part of the Signature Series, where ‘The Captain’ has teamed up with a string of perfectly coiffed hirsute faces (literally), we were keen to see what Mr Hound’s tin would provide.

Fragrance-wise we have a delicious recipe on offer - there’s bergamot, lime and ylang ylang, with blackcurrant, clove and galbanum. If that’s not enough, then this wax also has earthy notes of sandalwood, ambergris and musk, producing a richl and indulgent pong that sits well on the top lip area. The 15ml tin may be small, but a little goes a long way If you too believe a ‘tache should be primped ’n perky, £12 is a small price to pay. Be warned though, appropriate application is definitely required for the perfect result - use just the flicker of a fingernail amount and ensure it is warmed thoroughly to achieve an even spread throughout. The hold is firm, and once you have styled your moustache, you can be sure that your creation will stay in place for the day.

Available through the Captain Fawcett website for £12 (15ml), you’ll also find a plethora of other goodies to investigate, including information, advice, and updates on The Captain’s latest adventures!

Eve of St.Agnes Facial Silk

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Hyaluronic Acid is cropping up in more products on the market every day, and here at The Amazing Blog, we are incredibly pleased about this. Hyaluronic Acid is an anti-aging ingredient that can provoke wonderful results when used regularly because it helps to plump the skin and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Eve of St. Agnes is a skincare brand that we know very well, and they have recently created their ‘Revive and Renew’ range that includes a face moisturiser called Hydrating Face Silk. We were able to sample this product here at the office and in unison decided it is absolutely a must-have.

The Eve of St. Agnes Hydrating Facial Silk is really a cornucopia of fabulous ingredients that, when working together, create a hardworking anti-aging cream. Hyaluronic Acid is really the ‘hero’ ingredient of this product, working to plump the skin and smooth fine lines. Panax Ginseng, which is also present, works to stimulate collagen reproduction in the skin, and Vitamin A, B, E, and K work to restructure skin. Olive Leaf Extract is in the formula and works by smoothing the overall skin appearance. The scent is fabulous, as it’s a mixture of essential oils like Frangipani, Champaca, Blood Orange, and Ylang-Ylang. It feels wonderful on the skin as well, very cool and moisturising. The Hydrating Facial Silk is suitable for all skin types, even very sensitive skin, so it’s a universally friendly product. You will want to apply this in the morning and night, and it works best in conjunction with the other products in the ‘Revive and Renew’ range from Eve of St. Agnes.

If you are searching for a new anti-aging hero cream, Eve of St. Agnes ‘Hydrating Facial Silk’ is sure to please. To find out more about the Hydrating Facial Silk, which retails at £28 for a full size jar, visit the Eve of St. Agnes website.

Bodhi-liscious

Here at Amazing PR we are well known for supporting natural, organic and environmentally responsible brands. With a beauty market saturated by products loaded with harsh synthetic ingredients, often unpronounceable, it is no surprise that on our skin, body and hair eventually suffer and are left needing a boost of TLC. So when we find a range of products that not only delivers on performance but also has the natural credentials to match we feel it is our duty to let everyone know about it.

Enter Bodhi. Inspired by Botanical Therapies and traditional remedies gathered from around the world, Bodhi’s eclectic range of bath and body products only use plant-based and naturally-derived ingredients that are ethically sourced from sustainable origins. They are then blended with essential oils and perfumery-grade absolutes at high ratios to give products that are both potent and effective without the need for harsh synthetic nasties. Our favourites are the Ylang-Ylang Incensa Sensual Body Moisturiser and Bath & Shower Therapy which was shortlisted for best new luxury bodycare product last year at The UK Beauty Awards. The strong oriental scent of Ylang-Ylang (which is supposed to have powerful anti-depressant, euphoric and aphrodiasiac properties) and Patchouli in both products is spiked with Honeysuckle, Neroli and Pink Peppercorn to give a luxurious and indulgent fragrance. The Bath & Shower Therapy left our skin soft, supple and spelling divine and the Body Moisturiser left our skin glowing and intensely hydrated thanks to the organic Shea Butter, Kukui Nut and Coconut Oils. Unlike most perfumed products they are suitable for all skin types and didn’t irritate our dry skin. Each botanical combination in the range is designed to reflect a different mood and include Jasmine Falls to Relax, Galangal Spice to Vitalise and Pep Noir to Energise. All the products in the Bodhi range are naturally free from petrochemicals, sulphates and parabens and they do not use synthetic colours, fragrances or animal ingredients. In addition, Bodhi do not test on animals and do not use any palm oil or palm oil derived ingredients due to the well documented devastating effects that palm oil plantations have on tropical rainforests and their ecology. Now that is what we call Bodhi-liscious!