Africology - The Rose Body Balm

Culture is an integral part of the journey for the beauty industry and its products. It is where both ancient and new ideas come together, transforming knowledge into something special. The Amazing Blog always gravitates toward beauty products that have adopted innovative ideas, especially ones that use culture as the foundation of practice. Africology is one such company, who celebrate Africa’s heritage and plant life, subsequently capturing the flora and fauna of Africa in their skincare products. I first came across Africology when I had a friend from South Africa to stay. Buried deep in her hand luggage was their serum, a product she eulogised for hours about. It was a piece of 'home' that she prized more than anything else that had travelled 8k miles to get here! Then Africology popped up again, as winners at 2018 The BeautyShortlist and that's when I knew that I had to try it. 

The Rose Body Balm was the first product we requested to try.  Infused with shea butter, marula oil, rosehip seed oil and unrefined beeswax. Its texture is light and soft and glides across the skin during application. While massaging the product into the skin’s surface, the balm becomes a medium for increasing lymph flow and circulation. As it becomes a source of nourishment, the balm also alleviates muscle pain. The purpose of the balm extends far beyond hydrating dry areas and cracked heals. Rose, a foundational component of the product, is a mild anti-depressant and balances emotions and hormones. The floral aroma is subtle and calming. For use, warm a tiny amount in your hands and apply to the affected areas. The product can be used during a bath or shower, as part of a message, or melted in an aromatherapy burner. However, Africology recommends applying it to damp skin after a warm bath.

Interested in learning more about the key ingredients’ perks? Keep on reading...Shea butter: The fatty acids contained in shea oil are a source of vitamins A, E and F. Shea oil is an anti-inflammatory, and helps to retain moisture, relieve itchiness and soothe sunburnt skin. Marula seed oil: The oil extracted from the kernel of the marula fruit, the seed oil is rich in antioxidants and stimulates collagen and elastin production. Due to its light consistency, the oil doesn’t clog pores and treats acne with its antimicrobial and non-comedogenic properties. Beeswax: Beeswax is thick in nature, and acts as a protective barrier for the skin. As the foundation of the balm, it also prevents the separation of oil and liquid components. Rosehip seed oil: This oil contains vitamin A and C, which exfoliates and moisturises the skin while boosting skin regeneration and elasticity. Green rooibos (leaf powder): With its natural compounds, leaf powder is an excellent aid for eczema, nappy rash and acne. The alpha-hydroxy acid found in leaf powder also maintains healthy skin. African potato (root powder):  Root powder contains sterols and sterolins that are helpful in acne, eczema and psoriasis treatment.  It also boosts the immune system.

This product did the rounds at The Amazing Blog, we dabbed it onto our pulse points (gorgeous rose aroma) and also put a 1/2 teaspoon of the balm into our aromatherapy burner, which melted to give the office a sense of calm. A little does go a long way (hence the 125ml jar), you can purchase yours for £21 here.

Orphica Timeless

At The Amazing Blog we like to search out new brands for you our loyal readers, where we constantly strive to find natural and science-based products that actually perform. Orphica is one of these. This is a new European brand, that we've recently locked on to. Not too long ago we featured their Pure Advanced Eye Serum and Up Mascara here. Today we're one of the first reviewers to feature their latest TIMELESS anti-ageing skincare range.

The TIMELESS Anti-Ageing Face Mask is the first of the three products from this range. It is made with a unique Deep-Restore Complex™ formula that helps the mask to be both nourishing and hydrating. The combination of active ingredients such as Iris, Gingko, Kudzu, Sage extracts as well as Aloe Vera pulp, Caviar extracts and Vitamin A promote a younger looking and healthier complexion. Vitamin A, Iris and Gingko and Caviar extract fight against signs of ageing by stimulating collagen production, accelerating cell regeneration and improving skin microcirculation. After a few applications of this mask (combined with a regime using the Day and Night Creams) our skin looked plumped up and replenished.

An effective anti-ageing moisturiser is always tough to find, so we were very eager to try their new The TIMELESS Anti-Ageing Day Cream. This moisturiser is enriched with the brand's unique Pro-Lift Complex™ and has been created to help tackle the first signs of ageing. More than just a moisturiser the cream boosts skin elasticity, collagen production and works to help create a more even complexion. This anti-ageing cream effectively plumps up the skin, reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles and we also noticed that it helped to fade away hyperpigmentation, giving a brighter skin. Another great plus point is that this moisturiser also works as a great 'primer' as we found that our foundation just glided on leaving a dewy finish.

Last but certainly not least, is our little favourite from the range: The TIMELESS Anti-Ageing Night Cream. Applied before bedtime, the innovative Cell-Fortifying Complex™  works as a hydrating, firming, and replenishing ingredient that promotes a smoother and fresher look. In addition to this key component, other active ingredients have been added to help boost collagen production, smooth lines and quench skin with deep hydration. It has a very subtle fragrance making it also a big hit with our partners (who continuously complain about strong fragranced skincare at night time!) In the morning we looked rested and our skin felt almost satin-like to the touch. 

We would certainly recommend these products to anyone looking to try a new anti-ageing skincare. They say a change is as good as a rest... and our complexions generally benefit from a change in our regular regime. If you are looking for a more youthful and smoother complexion, then this science-based TIMELESS skincare range will be for you. To purchase the set of four Face Masks for £60, see here; the Day Cream for £45 here and the Night Cream for £55 here 

Inlight for Men - Face Oil

There is always a plethora of women’s moisturising products available which makes it easy to forget that our chaps need to moisturise too. At The Amazing Blog, we understand that men get dry skin as well, and since men have facial hair, their skin often needs extra help in the moisturising department. We've been trying out Inlight for Men, Face Oil. This hydrating Face Oil won the Best Men’s Serum/Face Oil in The Beauty Shortlist Award in 2018  and is definitely a winner in our books too. We have previously tried out and loved the women's  Inlight’s Line Softener, so we are delighted to share another incredible Inlight product with you now.

When applied to the skin, Inlight for Men Face Oil has a citrus and musky scent thanks to the aromatic infusion of patchouli and orange. The Oil also has apricot kernel, borage oil, rose extract, and calendula extract which work to both smooth and moisturise skin. Each bottle of Face Oil comes with a glass dropper, so using ­­this product is simple. All you have to do is massage 2-5 drops of the oil onto your face in the morning and you will notice that it helps your skin to be significantly hydrated and softer than before.  

All Inlight products are developed by Doctor Mariano Spiezia, who has been working for over 30 years using science to create the most effective organic products. Each Inlight product contains a ‘Bio Lipophilic Matrix’. This Matrix has been the result of years of Dr Spiezia’s research. The Matrix combines science and alchemy using pure organic/cold pressed plant oils for impressive results. Along with all of Inlight’s products, this Face Oil is 100% natural. This product is also suitable for vegans. You can purchase a 30ml bottle of Inlight Beauty’s Face Oil for Men here for £36.  

Leaf & Stem Scent-Free Body Collection by Green People

With spring just around the corner and winter finally behind us, it’s time to start indulging our bodies with some natural botanical products. At The Amazing Blog, we are excited to share one of our latest amazing finds from Green People: They have created a Modern Botanical range with five different gift sets. Today we are reviewing the Leaf and Stem Scent-Free Body Collection which includes a Shower Gel and Body Lotion. Green People have over 20 years' experience and are pioneers of the clean beauty movement. They are a natural and organic skincare brand that prides themselves on making high-quality products with the finest ingredients. As always, we at The Amazing Blog like to be first in the line to try out any natural products!

The Leaf and Stem Scent-Free Shower Gel and Body Lotion are both designed to suit sensitive skin and provide the body with the moisture it requires. In addition, both products are scent-free, which we really like, as one of our team members suffers from eczema.  An added bonus to these products is that they both come in 100ml tubes, making them the perfect size to pop into hand luggage. 

The Shower Gel is 83% organic and is made with a unique combination of botanical ingredients. The ingredients involved include aloe vera juice, marshmallow extract, yucca extract, and sea salt. It’s the mix of these ingredients that give the Shower Gel its hydrating, soothing and skin protecting properties. While the Shower Gel gently cleanses the body, the Body Lotion is formulated to provide sensitive and dry skin with extra hydration. The Body Lotion is 91% organic and is enriched with shea butter, sunflower oil, olive oil, perilla oil, jojoba oil as well as rosemary extract, chamomile extract and aloe vera juice. With all of these wonderful ingredients, this Body Lotion intensely moisturises skin and leaves it feeling soft and smooth. 

Both these two products offer the skin an ideal start and end to the day; and there is no better way to welcome in the spring, than pampering our bodies with these natural products. After using these products, our skin was left nourished, rejuvenated and satin smooth. The delicate light formula of the body lotion melted into our skin and was absorbed quickly. Added to all these benefits, the Shower Gel and Body Lotion are also suitable for children which makes them ideal for the family bathroom. We must also mention that all Green People products are vegan, cruelty-free and free from parabens. What we particularly like is that a donation from the sale of each of the Modern Botanicals Gifts goes to Plantlife a British conservation charity that works to save threatened wild flowers, plants and fungi. You can purchase the Leaf and Stem Scent-Free Body Collection here for £18.40.

All That Jazz: Cuticle Oil, Cuticle Balm & Bee Bar Lotion

This past January we raved about All That Jazz’s hand and foot care products in one of our blog posts. We know that their products are amazing, and now we are excited to announce that the brand has finally received the recognition that we think it deserves. At the prestigious 2018 Beauty Shortlist Awards, All That Jazz was awarded the Winner of the Best Nail Brand category, meaning that out of all the brands entered in the competition, they have the best nail care products. In addition, All That Jazz was ranked as a Finalist in the Best Nail Product category for their Cuticle Balm. They also won Editor’s Choice Awards for their Bee Bar Lotion, Baseline Base Coat and Top Note Top Coat. Talk about sweeping the board and taking home the gold!

We at The Amazing Blog know how day-to-day tasks can take their toll on our hands, especially in this wintery weather. So we wanted to feature some of our favourite hand care products from the brand with their Cuticle Oil and Cuticle Balm, and the incredible Bee Bar Lotion! 

All That Jazz’s Cuticle Oil has a coconut oil base which helps to deeply moisturise the dead skin on nails. By using this product twice daily, you reap the benefits of vitamins A, C and D and carotenoids that are in this oil and create a protective barrier on the skin. We used the oil in the Apple Cucumber scent, a fresh, crisp and invigorating fragrance which left our fingertips feeling revitalised. This oil also comes in the other fragrances, Captivate, Chocolate Orange and Maple Spice. We hear X Factor Judges Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger are also big fans of Maple Spice!

All That Jazz’s Cuticle Balm also comes in the same 4 scents; we used the balm in Captivate. Captivate has a soothing aroma of lightly perfumed musk and coconut oil, a refreshing and relaxing fragrance. The special ingredients in the balm include beeswax and cocoa butter that naturally lock in moisture as they are natural emollients and humectant. We found that the balm works amazingly alongside the cuticle oil, our nails have never looked better!

The Bee Bar Lotion is one of our favourite multi-taskers. It is our go-to product as it's incredibly moisturising and nourishing with a little going a long way. It is filled with shea butter, golden jojoba and natural antioxidants; it is ideal for any dry or damaged hands offering fast hydration and protection. The lotion comes in 7 different scents, we received ‘Hawaiian’ which has a deliciously fresh and tropical aroma. Used sparingly this lotion can last up to 6 months and doesn’t dry up or lose its fragrance. However, if you like it as much as we do then we doubt you’ll manage to keep yours that long!

All That Jazz is an award-winning nail care brand with high-quality products that have fast become our special must-have products. You too can purchase the All That Jazz Cuticle Oil here for £7.99, Cuticle Balm here for £8.99 and Bee Bar Lotion here for £7.99