Siam Botanicals - Wild Roots of Zingiber

Thankfully in 2019, many beauty brands are now realising the power of harnessing all-natural ingredients. If you can find all-natural skincare products that work way better than anything synthetic, why wouldn’t you use them? At the Amazing Blog, we’ve been stressing the importance of all-natural beauty for years now, with no sign of stopping anytime soon.

We’ve been lucky to find Siam Botanicals, an award-winning and cosmos certified brand whose mission aligns so well with our beliefs. Their inspiration came from a search to find natural products for their own spa in Thailand. When they couldn’t find what they wanted, they went on to create their own. Combining traditional Thai-inspired ingredients and scientific know-how; Siam Botanicals uses the purest ingredients and source responsibly only using local suppliers whenever possible. We love how all of their products are made in small batches ensuring the best quality in every pot, jar or bottle. Living in a big city, we consider having a good cleansing routine to be a vital part of our daily regime. Which is why we wanted to try both the natural Cleansing Balm and Facial Scrub from Siam Botanicals. Their latest range is the Wild Roots of Zingiber  are all formulated with premium organic seed oils and essential oils distilled from the roots of zingiber. These remarkable asian rhizomes including plai, turmeric, ginger and ginger lily have natural skin healing properties that have long been used in effective eastern skincare remedies.  

The first product for us to try was the Lime & Turmeric Cleansing Facial Balm. The balm is formulated with cold-pressed organic seed oils, zingiber roots and boswellia tree resin all of which provide a deep cleanse and hydration. Use a generous amount on your fingertips and massage into the face and neck. Remove with a damp cotton pad and see all of the dirt and makeup come right off! We love how it doesn’t strip the skin of its natural oils and left our face feeling soft and refreshed. Turmeric root is known for its antibacterial properties, calming the skin and preventing blemishes. The turmeric combines beautifully with the uplifting zing of lime to calm the skin.

For an even brighter and healthier complexion, we exfoliated twice a week with the Ginger Lily & Plai Clarifying Facial Scrub. Its fine jojoba wax beads with argan and moringa oils offer the perfect amount of exfoliation without leaving the skin irritated. The essential oils of ginger lily and plai have natural anti-inflammatory properties and our skin looked noticeably brighter after using the scrub. If you’d like to purchase the Lime & Turmeric Cleansing Facial Balm, it can be purchased here and costs £30 for 50ml. or The Ginger Lily & Plai Clarifying Facial Scrub here which can be purchased for £19 for 15ml.

Friday Favourites – Bath Salts

When it’s been a long stressful week and then it is finally Friday, what better way to relax than luxuriating in bath salts with steaming water! There is nothing we like more at The Amazing Blog than a good soak while sipping a chilled glass of something nice. This is why today we want to introduce you to some of our top-picks very special bath salts.

Let’s start with Sea Magik Turmeric Serenity Salts. If you’re a regular reader, you ‘ll have probably already read about Sea Magik when we featured their 21 Sea Magik Mist  and Sea Magik Shampoo and Scalp Mud   We really rate their brand’s values and honesty, with their added bonus of being cruelty-free, vegan and beneficial for the planet too.

With the fluctuating change of temperature this November – some of us have been nursing a chill. So, it is rather timely to give the Sea Magik Turmeric Serenity Salts a try. We can report back that after a good soak we felt our energy levels bouncing back. Could this be the healing powers of a blend of 100% natural Dead Sea and Epsom salts which are amazingly restorative? Apart from Turmeric (a.k.a. the wonder spice) which has anti-inflammatory properties, there’s bitter orange and safflower essential oils too. They relax the body while soothing, softening and conditioning your skin with the added bonus of leaving your bathroom smelling divine. Get your 1kg bag here for £8.99, just add 1 cup of salts to warm water and relax in with this home-spa experience.

Next is Björk & Berries, a Swedish brand that puts nature in a bottle. Well, with brands like Björk & Berries, the products they put on their skin encapsulate Swedish traditions, being natural and organic. In this case, the primary ingredient is Birch, the Swedish life giving tree that has endless benefits such as anti-inflammatory, curative, and hydrating properties. If you want to indulge a classic Scandinavian spa experience and prepare your skin for the winter months coming up, the Björk & Berries Birch Ritual is for you. In just ten minutes, with their three-step skincare range, you will improve your circulation, detoxify and hydrate your skin.

Our favourite product of the range is the bath salts. Start off by immersing your body in their Botanical Bath Salts, made from hand-picked flowers and herbs to relax and detox. With lavender, lemon balm and chamomile flowers combined with natural sea salts, spring clean your body by activating your lymphatic system. The gentle aroma will take you to the Swedish forests, purifying your mind and bringing harmony to your atmosphere.  Then you can follow (as we did) with their Scrub and Serum (in a later review) from the Birch range to enjoy all the effects of the integrity of their products. You can purchase your Botanical Bath Salts here for €35.00 and enjoy a Swedish like skincare routine straight from the forest to your bathtub. It is impossible not to enjoy the scent of nature!

Perhaps like us, you’ve had insomnia? Or maybe blocked sinuses? We were recommended to try Verdant Alchemy’s Breathe in Bath Salts. Verdant Alchemy was launched in 2018 by Vivien Leung who like most of us was regularly experiencing high-stress levels. She wanted to create a well-being brand for skin and body care. After exploring all sorts of natural ingredients, she came up with her Breathe in Bath Salts. These have the COSMOS natural certification from the Soil Association.

Mainly composed of Eucalyptus, Lemon and Thyme, these Breathe in Bath Salts exude this powerful combination of natural vapours which have anti-inflammatory and immune boosting qualities, perfect for helping to clear blocked sinuses. Also combined with Epsom and Dead Sea salts they are extremely rich in minerals, helping to nourish the skin and well as supporting muscles and the immune system. To buy the Verdant Alchemy Breathe in Bath Salts 100g pot for £12.00, see here. They will help to clear your mind, just inhale, relax and enjoy.

We suggest lighting a few candles and soaking in on one of these invigorating bath salts to help reset your mind and body; so you’ll be recharged and ready to start the week ahead.

Viliv - skincare range

We love skincare that helps to keep our complexions looking plumped up and lush. At The Amazing Blog we’ve been hearing lots of great things about a new Swiss brand that recently launched here in the UK.  Step forward centre-stage Viliv with their uber-stylish contemporary branding and science-driven skincare.

Dr. Felix Bertram, founder of Viliv, is a leading Swiss skin specialist who’s noted for his exceptional aesthetic and anti-ageing treatments. From teaching workshops to educating doctors and students in dermatology and laser medicine, he also has global recognition for his award-winning dermatological clinic. There is absolutely no doubt that Viliv has an impeccable pedigree with its extensive scientific research behind all of the products.

Regular readers will remember that we reviewed the Viliv e - Shape Your Eyes Rich Eye Cream and so we couldn’t wait to try four more products from the range: Foam to Face Cleanser, Vi-Lift Your Skin Serum, Brighten Your Eyes Serum, and Get a Rich Restore Ultra-Nourishing Moisturiser.

Let’s start with a morning routine cleanser Viliv Foam to Face cleansing foam, easy to use with just two pumps massaged on our face in circular motions, then quickly rinsed this off. What we particularly liked about this cleanser is its fragrance, it contains chamomile and allantoin which soothes the skin leaving a fresh and subtle floral scent.  As a foam, a little goes a long way and with typical Swiss efficiency, it was also extremely effective at removing all makeup residue leaving our city-skin feeling fresh, hydrated and clean.

Next, we have the Vi-Lift Your Skin Serum which offers 24h urban protection. Here’s a fact that you probably didn’t know, blue light and infrared radiation (i.e. from your phone) affect the skin’s defence mechanisms. These disrupt the exchange of information between cells, leading to cell damage and premature skin ageing. The irony is that modern technology is now ageing us! The Viliv Vi-Lift Serum contains an exclusive active ingredient called +VIDERMACTIVE 7 that is rich in vitamin C and protects the skin from free radicals such as pollution or the blue light and preserves mitochondrial DNA. We also like that it’s quick to apply, not at all sticky, fragrance-free and it sinks easily into the pores for protection.

The Vi-Lift partners well with Viliv Brighten Your Eyes Serum, this is serum is our favourite out of the four we tried. We often forget that the skin around the eyes area is continually moving with active facial expressions and is four times thinner than the rest of our face. Therefore it needs support as we age and Viliv addresses this with their special ingredients of tetrapeptide eyeseryl which improves circulation and firmness, as well as reducing dark circles and puffiness. Plus the liftonin xpress which gives an instant lift with its microalgae extract and natural polymers. We found this Eye Serum gave us visible and instant results, it felt very cooling when applied and really does work wonders on tired eyes.

Lastly, in this skincare routine is Viliv Get a Rich Restore Ultra-Nourishing Moisturiser.  This is a cream that keeps on working, and as they say, it’s a ‘24-hour anti-ageing expert’. Containing PerfectionPeptide P7 which activates the skin’s natural defences by stimulating the responsible enzymes and managing the impact of UV related stress to protect against moisture loss. Other ingredients are silymarin, carosin and vitamin E all to help reduce wrinkles and firm the skin.  We also mustn’t forget to mention that Viliv is 100% vegan, cruelty and gluten-free, with no parabens, mineral oils, colourants, PEG, BHT EDTA or fragrance. See the full Viliv product range here with prices starting from £29. These products get a big 10/10 from us!

Friday Favourites - Natural Products for the Face

Living in a city our faces are constantly exposed to all sorts of challenging environmental stresses, pollution, chemicals, chilling winds, harsh sunlight and so on. Today on The Amazing Blog we want to share with you some of our special natural face products and #amazingfinds for our Friday Favourites from Sea Magik, Face Halo, Inner Senses and Joji.

Let’s begin with Sea Magik, the world’s first line of mineral-infused spa skincare, which has its origins in Hungary. We recently wrote about their Pink Salt Shampoo and 3-Seaweed Scalp Mud here.

Another one of Sea Magik’s star products, is their 21 Mineral Mist, a refreshing water mist infused with 21 minerals from the Dead Sea. This Mist has 7 key minerals: Magnesium and bromide which have a calming and relaxing effect, potassium used to purify, sodium excellent hydrator, calcium which has anti-aging properties, iodine, ideal for detoxifying and sulphur used for soothing.  Quite a list! This is excellent for remineralising the skin and to awake the senses. You can use the mist over makeup for extra glow and hydration or simply spritz over the face and body as needed for soothing. On top of that, Sea Magik 21 Mineral Mist is 100% vegan, allergen and cruelty-free, free from dairy, gluten, GMOs, parabens, PEGS, petrochemicals, silicones, sulphates, and synthetic fragrance. Additionally, the packaging is recyclable, with plastic made from sugar cane and other sustainable materials.

We’ve loved using this mist during this summer and recommend storing it in the fridge for extra coolness! You’ll find it here for £8.95.

Moving on to the latest trend for reusable and recyclable make-up remover pads, we want to talk about Face Halo. We also like to recycle and reuse packaging wherever possible always in an attempt to save the planet, and so it’s great to see that the make-up industry are starting to do so too. One of the pioneering brands of this is Face Halo. Founded by Lizzy Pike in 2017, these reusable make-up remover pads make it quicker, easier and better to clean your face. Face Halo has redefined the way the world removes make-up by ticking all the boxes; effective, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient. We think these are great travel companions for girls on the go.

The pads are fibre-filled (100 times thinner than a human hair) to reach deep into your pores to remove all traces of make-up, Using water only, these pads remove makeup in half the time of any other traditional cleansing methods in just one step. Each Face Halo remover is dual-sided, and are able to be washed up to 200 times. Face Halo is a 2-in-1 problem solver; it saves the planet and quickly removes your makeup without making a mess. Wave goodbye to your environmentally unfriendly cotton wool pads and get a single reusable pad here for £7.00.

Talking of cleansing, let me introduce you to one of my favourite organic and holistic skincare brands Inner Senses. I’ve been curious to try their rather special Greenhouse Tomato and Carrot Seed Renewing Oil Cleanser. As regular readers will know we like our products to be natural with no nasties or artificial fragrances. This Renewing Oil Cleanser is all that with the added deliciousness of an aroma of ripe vine tomato, just heavenly! When I squirted a few drops in my hands, closed my eyes, inhaled and was magically transported back to my parents’ greenhouse.

Inner Senses was founded by the accomplished teacher, aromatherapist and author Lisa Basso. Lisa offers some of the finest organic botanical ingredients in her skincare and truly takes you on a journey of apothecary and tradition. As members of the Aromatherapy Council, you can also be assured of the purity of their ingredients. This Cleanser is not only 100% natural but 93% organic and packed full of lycopene (tomatoes), beta-carotene (carrots) and papaya enzyme, it is a nourishing cleanser. All you need to do is put 4-6 pumps of the oil onto your face, rubbing it in gently. Then take a warm wet face cloth and lightly wipe away your make-up and residue of the day. I’ve been using this morning and night and it has left my skin wonderfully soft, supple and clean.  To get your Tomato and Carrot seed Renewing Oil Cleanser in 100ml for £42 here. A little goes a long way, and I’m happy to report that this bottle has lasted me well over a month.

Lastly, we move on to Joji with their Hydrate Moisturiser. Joji is a small indie brand that was founded by Jo Mortensen with sustainability as her top priority. Their motto is: “We are natural without compromise.” Jo who confessed to being beauty obsessed, wanted to initiate a force for good in this sector. Therefore, all Joji products are organic, fair trade, cruelty-free with raw materials that strive for zero waste. We have featured their Frankincense and Sandalwood Oil Cleanser previously here.

Joji Hydrate Moisturiser contains only organic ingredients with patchouli, bergamot, black pepper, and lavender essential oils. The blend of these oils together with others from almonds, cocoa and thistle plants, provides your skin with a softening and rejuvenating effect. This number one selling moisturiser is ideal for all skin types and it sinks in perfectly in the skin. Do good and feel good by getting your Joji Hydrate Moisturiser here starting from £10.00.

Hopefully, these products have inspired you to not only take care of your face, but also the planet too. We think supporting brands, that support the environment should be a priority. Protect you face and wrap up warm for the weekend!

Malavara - Ultra Luxuriant Hair Elixir

Who else feels like they’re constantly stripping their hair by colouring it, curling it, straightening it or washing it? At the Amazing Blog we’re constantly looking for that ‘Holy Grail’product to reverse all of our hair damage… and we just may have found it!

Malavara Ultra Luxuriant Hair Elixir is a modern take on a 5,000 year old Ayurvedic ritual of hair oiling. By Inspired by India but made in London, the elixir utilises potent Hairy Basil Root which acts as food for hair follicles and promotes growth. With sleek packaging, easy-to-follow directions and all-natural ingredients, Malavara gives hair oiling a modern twist.

A Gold Winner at The Pure Beauty Awards 2018, Malavara’s Ultra Luxuriant Hair Elixir is meant to be applied at least 30 minutes before washing your hair. Although it’s meant as a pre-shampooing treatment, a little goes a long way and we recommend to only use enough to massage through your scalp without friction. Made with Gooseberry, Almond and Bhringraj Oil, the Hair Elixir conditions the scalp while transforming the health of your hair. We love that the Malavara Hair Elixir doesn’t leave a layer of oil on your hair that is hard to remove with just a normal amount of shampoo. The best part? It’s vegan, naturally-derived and sustainably-sourced.

Want to experience the 5,000 year old ritual of hair oiling for yourself? A 30ml bottle of the Malavara Ultra Luxuriant Hair Elixir can be purchased here for £29.