shower & bath

Tea & Tonic : Bright Awakening Halen Môn Body Scrub

Has your year started with a stressful January? Then it’s time to treat your mind and body, as well as you treat your face. At The Amazing Blog, we have a new self-care suggestion: Tea & Tonic’s Bright Awakening Halen Môn Body Scrub. An exfoliating salt scrub rich in minerals, omega fatty acids and antioxidants awakens, brightens and revitalises the body and mind like no other. While the unique Halen Môn salt softens and tones, the nourishing plant oils hydrate and smooth skin, saving you time from further moisturising.

Having worked with luxury lifestyle spa brands for nearly 20 years and natural skincare and wellness brands for the past 12 years, spa insider Sarah Strang founder of Tea & Tonic, demonstrated a passion for inner and outer wellness. The stress in Sarah’s busy day-to-day life contributed to her wellness journey, leading her to realise that to achieve health, balance, and brightness in skin and self; we need to strengthen our resilience to everyday stress. It was when she discovered adaptogen super herbs to support her high-paced life that everything came together. In a recent interview, she said, “The approach to stress-relief felt a little bit one dimensional, like those de-stress massages and oils in spas.” She went on to say, “stress is at the heart of how we look and feel. I wanted an approach to a range of products that really focused on inner and outer wellness, through creating products with an adaptogenic complex that brings out the best, with the best of the best.” With the help of medical herbalist/aromatherapist Jane Wallwork and biologist/elite athlete Helen Hall, she created Tea & Tonic; a stunning and effective range of skincare and teas that serve as a true tonic for mind and body. In Female First Helen commented, “As an athlete, I am always looking for natural ways to aid recovery, and was already aware of adaptogens and their benefits,” she also added, “however, most products I came across containing adaptogens were in supplement form where you don’t fully know the ingredients and ultimately on discovering Tea & Tonic, what better way to get your Adaptogen fix than through the enjoyment of your favourite cup of tea?”

Tea & Tonic is part of WIld Brands Ltd, which provides holistic therapies and luxury natural skincare to various world-class spas and wellness spaces. In a nutshell, they are a British super-herb apothecary. All products are hand-blended and 100% natural, with a range of skincare, bath and body collections as well as everyday teas to encourage brighter skin and self. All products are responsibly sourced and sustainably packaged. Best of all, they are based on the millennia-old tradition of medicinal herbs; adaptogens, which are clever botanicals that adapt to our system’s needs and stresses at the time. Adaptogens improve one’s resistance to stress, support the immune system, and promote skin health and overall wellness. Tea & Tonic’s unique adaptogen complex comprises 11 adaptogens that synergistically work together for maximum benefit and resilience against daily stressors. Examples include amla, one of the richest sources of vitamin C and phytonutrients with vitamin B5, B6 and copper; gotu kola, a skin healing plant, and schisandra berry, the fruit of longevity.

The Bright Awakening Halen Môn Body Scrub is filled with hand-harvested Halen Môn Salt from Anglesey using pure charcoal-filtered seawater. The key ‘scrub’ ingredient is sea salt. We were interested to learn that the Halen Môn sea salt boasts high concentrations of potassium, magnesium and bromide, and possesses well-reputed therapeutic and skin conditioning properties. And Tea & Tonic is the first-only spa and skincare range where you can experience this exclusive Halen Môn mineral-rich salt. They also carefully trace the actual source and person who hand-harvested and packed the salt, ensuring full transparency. At the forefront of their mind are freshness, sustainability, quality, mileage, and environmental production methods. 95% of these ingredients are grown on UK farms, and refills for this mighty body scrub are also available.

We discovered this body scrub when it was entered into The Beauty Shortlist 2022 Eco Awards and won Best Zero Waste Product (Self Care). It’s a 100% natural and cruelty-free body scrub, with carrier oil ingredients that include lavender, sourced from a third-generation family farm in the beautiful Cotswold Hills. Lavender has remarkable healing and uplifting adaptogenic properties and is a good source to aid sleep and deep relaxation. The crambe abyssinica seed oil is an emollient and omega fatty acid rich for skin softness and anti-ageing. Hemp seed oil restores the skin barrier while retaining moisture; safflower seed and calendula oil are both non-comedogenic and anti-inflammatory oils. The beeswax is a humectant and natural exfoliator, and finally, the yarrow extract adds its soothing, therapeutic, antimicrobial and pain-relieving qualities.

Some of the more unusual botanicals in the body scrub are brahmi, a leaf used in Ayurvedic medicine for enhancing the complexion. A trio of ginseng, starting with red ginseng, a warm stimulant which oxygenates skin; white ginseng, that’s cool and restorative and works with red ginseng to bring balance; Siberian ginseng, a skin strengthener rich in eleutherosides and complex polysaccharides. Holy basil is a plant with anti-inflammatory, cooling and soothing properties. There are adaptogens which include gotu kola, amla and schisandra berry (mentioned above). Also, essential oils such as juniper berry, rosemary and bergamot all possess anti-bacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Red clover helps to preserve a youthful skin texture while reducing redness; sweet violet treats stress, fatigue and insomnia; and cypress restores skin’s hydration and eases dry skin. Vitamin E delivers the finishing touches by creating an antioxidant-packed natural barrier to keep moisture in your skin.

It’s a treat to use, either in the bath or shower. Begin with a generous scoop and massage in circular motions onto wet skin. We found the formula both rich and hydrating with a fragrance that enlightens the senses and calms the mind without being overpowering – thanks to its aromatherapeutic blend. Salt crystals are always our preferred base, as they detoxify the skin as they scrub, and this left skin soft and smooth, particularly our dry upper arms. It’s an unequalled adaptogenic charged scrub and is another of our #amazingfinds.

To purchase a 200g jar of Tea & Tonic’s Bright Awakening Halen Môn Body Scrub for £39, click here. Or for a 200g refill at £36, click here.

Moksa: Damask Rose & Vetiver Bath Salts

Calling all bathtime junkies - it's now the season of self-care after all those overindulgent festivities. At The Amazing Blog, we think that simple pleasures are always the best; and for us, there's nothing better than to grab a book and unwind in a steamy bath with some fragrant and relaxing bath salts. That's why we couldn't resist trying these Damask Rose & Vetiver Bath Salts from British indie skincare brand Moksa that made an excellent addition to our bathing ritual.

Moksa a Devon-based natural skincare brand which all began from the inspiration that founder Chloe Osborn's found during her travels. The unusual brand name Mokṣa is a Sanskrit word meaning liberation, bliss and inner peace; Chloe said, "The word Moksa really resonates with me in so many ways. With my travel came a great sense of freedom and a definite sense of inner peace, so it just felt so apt; with that Mokṣa was born." In an interview with The Green Parent, Chloe explained, "I spent some time in an Ashram learning all things yogic, which was a huge inspiration. The idea that I could actually create my own business filled me with anticipation and excitement. The name Moksa came to me the day we returned to the UK, it sounds silly, but it really was one of those magical lightning bolt moments." Established in 2018, Moksa has gone from strength to strength and developed products ranging from skincare to bath products, candles and even teas. Each product embodies the brand's core values as 100% natural, handcrafted, environmentally friendly, vegan, cruelty-free, and ethically sourced. They also use UK-based suppliers who farm ethically and are sustainable and fair trade, sharing similar values. These artisan products have organic ingredients and contain no parabens, petrochemical (mineral oils), sulphates, alcohol or fillers. Moksa is an award-winning brand that has received awards from the Beauty Shortlist, FreeFrom awards, and The Green Parent Natural Beauty Awards; they were also shortlisted for the International Beauty Awards in 2019.

One of the most important aspects of taking a bath is the 'feel-good factor' inspired by relaxation and the heady aromas emanating from the steamy, fragrant vapours. This is where Moksa's Damask Rose & Vetiver Himalayan Bath Salts scores a whooping 10/10, with us for its plethora of relaxing and natural ingredients.

The seven key ingredients in the bath salts are: Himalayan pink salt, Fleur de Sel de Guerande, Epsom salts, rose absolute, vetiver and geranium essential oils, and dried rose petals. The Himalayan pink salt is a detoxifier harvested from the Punjab region in Pakistan, where the rock salt gets its pinkish hue. They are anti-microbial premium grade pure, unrefined and considered the purest in the world as they contain upwards of 84 minerals and trace elements, including calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium. The Fleur de Sel de Guerande, is hand-harvested French sea salt; it works to remineralise the body, which in turn helps regulate fluid balance and blood pressure. Epsom salts (AKA magnesium sulphate) are a naturally occurring mineral known to ease pain and relieve inflammation. Magnesium plays a number of roles in the body regulating the activity of over 325 enzymes helping muscle and nerve function, together with preventing the arteries from hardening.

These bath salts get their soothing scent from a combination of essential oils. The rose absolute is derived from the damask rose and introduces a light and floral aroma; it's hydrating and ideal for dry and sensitive skin types. The vetiver essential oil promotes skin regeneration, and the geranium adds another uplifting sweet floral note to the fragrance and is also known for its anti-anxiety and depression properties. Finally, the dried rose petals, besides emitting a warm scent, detox the body and help with better sleep.

As Chloe says, "You'll feel transported to the gorgeous flower baths of Bali with this sensuous blend." With its unique scent and texture, what better way to soak away stress at the end of the week? We held a couple of scoops (bamboo scoop provided) under a warm running tap to help them dissolve, et voila, a wonderful at-home spa, which left skin feeling soft, fresh and infused with rose. Best of all, they felt like they removed built-up toxins, and cleansed and relaxed both mind and body. Tempted to try?

Moksa offers this product in three sizes: A jar of bath salts at 250g with a glass jar with a bamboo scoop and lid at for £18. Or if a refill pouch is more your style, there’s a 100g refill priced at £10, or a 400g refill at £21. The Damask Rose & Vetiver Himalayan Bath Salts can be purchased here.  

Cotswold Remedies : Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection

With our busy schedule, we often find the best way to achieve some downtime is to take a nice long and relaxing soak. So at The Amazing Blog, we're always on the lookout for new essential oil bath remedies to try, which is why we want to introduce you to this Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection from the new brand Cotswold Remedies; with their set of three bath oils: Relax, Restore, and Revive.

Cotswold Remedies started in a small kitchen in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Founder Helen Ray got her inspiration to begin her skincare range during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 when she had time on her hands and wanted something to do. Helen said, "As a busy mum of two girls, juggling work and family life, I was always looking for the best products on the market to keep my skin looking great as I grew older. I wanted products that would keep my skin strong and supple as I entered my 40s but not blow my budget or require a complicated 10-step routine.” Once she completed her aromatherapy and organic skin formulation training, Helen rolled up her sleeves and got to work. It took her about 18 months to perfect a balanced formula for her bath oils range. The result was a range of products that delivered actual results at a fraction of the cost of similar high-end beauty products, all without compromising the quality of the ingredients. "I ended up improving them by stripping out any synthetic ingredients and adding more active ones."Cotswold Remedies officially launched in September 2021 and has been thriving ever since. The brand emphasises its use of 100% natural, organic, and ethical ingredients throughout the entire process. Cotswold Remedies products are also handmade in small batches to reduce the waste often produced by leftover products. Their range is also suitable for vegans and cruelty-free and is packaged in sustainable materials such as recyclable glass and cardboard sourced from sustainably managed forests. Since its launch, the brand has already won a few awards at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, including Best Bath Oil for their Relax Bath Oil and two Editor’s Choice Awards for the Collagen Boost Face Oil and Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection. They also won Best Aromatherapy Diffuser in Wellbeing for their Essential Oil Reed Diffuser.

What is a bath oil? Bath oils are a blend of scented oils added to water for bathing. Often used for more of a spa-like experience, if combined with aromatherapy/essential oils, they can also be very therapeutic. When oil is mixed with water, the diluted oil can penetrate deeply into the skin, providing relaxation and rejuvenation. They can also help with blood circulation and joint fatigue. Some aromatherapy oils can even help fight bacterial or viral infections. Of course, the most known benefit of bath oils is how they improve your skin leaving a long-lasting fresh scent and radiant skin.

Today we’re featuring their Editor’s Choice award-winning Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection, which includes the Relax, Restore and Revive bath oils. All three bath oils contain caprylic/capric triglyceride, AKA fractionated coconut oil. This version of coconut oil is more liquid than regular coconut oil and is deeply nourishing and easily absorbed by the skin, making it ideal to use as a carrier oil. It’s also rich in hydrating properties to keep skin moisturised and feeling smooth and silky. These three bath oils also have tocopherol; a natural vitamin E added to slow oxidation and gives the products a longer shelf life. Finally, each of the trio of bath oils contains a unique blend of essential oils combined for a purpose.

Let’s begin with the Relax Bath Oil, which contains a blend of chamomile, vetivert, lavender, patchouli, and clary sage essential oils. This specific blend helps calm your mind and body to promote restful slumber. Both chamomile and lavender have a calming effect on the mind and body, these oils are known to alleviate stress and keep the mind and body relaxed. Vetivert and clary sage work together with their calming properties to prepare the body for a good night's sleep. Patchouli is used to have a grounding and balancing effect on the mind, especially emotions. Together, these ‘relax’ both mind and body and encourage restful sleep.

The Restore Bath Oil is designed to relieve tense and aching muscles and stress. It contains a blend of pine, fir needle, black spruce, cypress, juniper berry, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender and lemon verbena essential oils. A mix of pine, fir needle, rosemary, and juniper berry can clear the head of negative thoughts and lets the mind focus. Black spruce, cypress, lemon verbena, geranium, and lavender all work together to alleviate the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Eucalyptus works to release the tension and aches of muscles. The Restore blend clears the mind, relaxes aching muscles and generally helps the body to decompress.

The third bath oil in the set is Revive Bath Oil. This unique blend of grapefruit, sweet orange, pink and black peppercorn, cajeput, lime, pine leaf, rosemary, lemongrass, juniper berry and geranium essential oils are used to stimulate your senses and energise your body to help fight fatigue. The blend of grapefruit, lemongrass, pine leaf, cajeput, and lime peel energises the body and mind and helps the body ward off tiredness. Sweet orange, juniper fruit, geranium flower, and pink and black peppercorn are all-natural mood enhancers. These oils uplift spirits and instantly bring balance to emotions. Rosemary is used here for improving your memory and concentration - which we all need!

To use these bath oils, simply add 5ml or 2-3 spoonfuls of the oil to a warm bath. Cotswold Remedies recommends mixing the bath oil in the tub before getting in to fully disperse. Then step in, lie down, take a deep breath and relax; it's time to ease away all that stress.

We loved using this trio. Our favourite was Revive; the fragrance, in particular, resonated with us. All three little bottles of blended essential oil magic have become our #amazingfinds, and for good reasons, they work! If you need more of a good therapeutic soak, then these are a bath oil set we’d recommend. To purchase the three 10ml bottles, in the Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection for £14, click here.

Eloise Hall : Optimism Enriching Body Wash

With the return of finer days and summer around the corner, at The Amazing Blog, we’re featuring one of our latest bathroom #amazingfinds with Optimism Enriching Body Wash from the award-winning indie brand Eloise Hall. We love its summery zestiness, balanced with mellow notes of ylang-ylang and the warm citrus spice of coriander - all guaranteed to “refresh the body and reawaken the senses.”

Eloise Hall started her working life as a successful milliner in London. She went on to follow a childhood dream, moving to rural Somerset, surrounded by sheep, cows and an abundance of green pastures. It’s there, from the quiet sanctuary of her studio, that Eloise now crafts beautiful cards, stationery and artwork. Sustainability is at the heart of the brand, cards and envelopes are recyclable, and it’s a priority to always source materials from papermakers that use wood from responsibly managed UK forests. Due to the success of her stationery and artwork, Eloise has since ventured into producing a range of natural lifestyle and well-being products, which is where Eloise turned to the experienced perfumer Richard Howard of Arcania Apothecary. “I love creating fragrance with our master natural perfumer. He’s inspired by one of my artworks and we work closely until we create something incredible!” Together they have created core three natural fragrances ‘Contentment’ with patchouli and rose, ‘Optimism’ with grapefruit and petitgrain, and ‘Pause’ with geranium and lavender. All products are crafted in small batches, are cruelty-free, vegan and, wherever possible, 100% natural. The plastic bottles used are all made from 100% recycled plastic and are 100% recyclable, helping divert plastic from oceans and landfills. Eloise went on to say, "We have a lot of plastic in our system, so actually, the 100% recycled is using stuff that is already there… and uses less energy to make."  They are a multi-award-winning brand and recently joint winners of ‘Best Body Wash’ in 2022 The Beauty Shortlist Awards.  The brand continues to go from strength to strength and is now available in over 500 retailers worldwide. They are partnered with the Wild Life Trusts, where £1 is donated from the sale of every bottle, and the Eden Reforestation Project, with every £100 spent on wholesale orders, they plant five trees.

This refreshing and reawakening Optimism Enriching Body Wash won’t disappoint. Described as "The olfactory essence of optimism, hope and joy", it’s free from chemical and artificial ingredients and only contains natural fragrances with pure essential oils.

There are seven essentials oils, starting with grapefruit peel containing alpha-hydroxy acids, which increase the cell renewal rate, helping skin look smoother and younger. Then the ylang-ylang flower, with its sweet, calming scent and regenerative properties and high in antioxidants and sesquiterpenes (soothing properties that support the immune system). The coriander seed has an abundance of antioxidants and vitamin C and is an excellent anti-bacterial and detoxifier. The lavender flower is a mood enhancer and a potent anxiety reliever. The red mandarin peel comes from the fully ripened fruit; its circulatory qualities help to improve blood and lymph. The lemongrass leaf is a natural coolant that soothes and nourishes, relieving skin irritation or discomfort. Finally, the palmarosa leaf, high in concentration of the chemical compound geraniol valued for its scent and is also known for uplifting emotions and clearing muddled thoughts. Apart from these essential oils, there is glycerin and coconut acid to moisturise and natural-based surfactants to cleanse. Most of the surfactants are coconut-derived, and when combined with water, they produce a lather. There’s also sugar alcohol (erythritol) commonly used by soap makers to add light, bubbly suds. All of these are safe and are naturally derived.

The charming label design with its Optimism ‘life & nature’ botanical illustration is just the start of the journey… thanks to all the natural ingredients in this body wash, our skin was left soft, cleansed and uplifted. Unlike a few others we’ve tried, this didn’t leave skin feeling tight or dehydrated. It gently foams, moisturises and leaves a warm and subtle floral scent. Here’s a fun fact, according to Mumsnet, a bottle of 250ml body wash, with daily use, can last up to three months. However, for us, it’s more like a month! To purchase this 250ml Optimism Enriching Body Wash at £16, see here. Or perhaps, as a gift set, which also includes the body lotion and candle, the Optimism Body Gift set is £58, see here. As regular readers will know, we love to support British indie brands, and we can’t wait to see what Eloise Hall launches next.

Skin Creamery : Basil, Baobab, Cypress,Marjoram Shower Oil

For us, at The Amazing Blog, there’s no better way to start the day than with a powerful and refreshing shower! And this is where we’re always looking for cleansing and post-shower products that are both kind to the skin and super hydrating. Edwina was delighted to test out this South African skincare brand Skin Creamery, with their Basil Baobab Cypress Marjoram Shower Oil for the recent 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, which we’re featuring today.

Skin Creamery was founded in 2014 by Hannah Rubin in Cape Town, South Africa. Growing up in the lush green Garden Route, she developed a more natural and conscious way of life. Hannah went on to work as a practitioner in top salons and spas, where she developed a passion for natural fragrances, ingredients and sensory wellbeing. Fueled by this interest, Hannah went on to study and launch her minimalist natural and organic skincare range, Skin Creamery. She told Afrenai in a recent interview, "With all the knowledge and experience I had gathered in my line of work and my passion for all things natural and organic [having grown up on a farm] that urged me to create my own range. One that met all my needs, of being simple and easy to use, that felt good on the skin, smelt amazing and was nicely packaged," The Skin Creamery ethos is to be kind to the earth and skin by using ingredients made from 100% natural origin that are earth-friendly and certified organic. The brand is dedicated to reducing plastic use, unnecessary packaging, and decreasing its carbon footprint. They also make sure their ingredients are from fair trade outlets and try to source all raw ingredients from South Africa or within Africa. Plus, wherever possible, they are waterless, meaning no preservatives are needed. A couple of their products, including the Everyday Cream and Oil-Milk Cleanser, are available as refills, and the Deep Cleansing Powder is gentle and plastic-free. Skin Creamery strives to be sustainable, and ideal for the environment and zero-waste beauty enthusiasts. Skin Creamery products are vegan and cruelty-free. The brand has already won several awards at the 2021 Beauty Shortlist Awards, including Best Oil to Milk Cleanser for their Oil Milk Cleanser and Best Facial Toner for their Skin Tonic.

The Basil Baobab Cypress Marjoram Shower Oil is very different from your average body cleansing product, and as a shower oil, it doesn’t foam or contain any soap. While the primary purpose of a product like a shower gel is to cleanse, the main goal here for the shower oil is to moisturise. Plus, shower gel can only be used in the shower; whereas the shower oil can also be used out of the shower. Skin Creamery's  Basil Baobab Cypress Marjoram Shower Oil is super-hydrating as it locks in moisture. The base oils sunflower, jojoba, baobab and Kalahari seed oil, which all help keep the skin supple. It also has natural essential oils that soften the skin leaving a refreshing natural herbal scent with a unique combination of cypress, basil, marjoram, peppermint, lavender and bergamot.

Basil has many skin benefits the natural oils act as a natural cleanser and removes surplus oil and impurities. It also soothes and calms the skin and is packed with powerful antioxidants has antibacterial, anti-inflammation, and antiseptic properties. Made from the twigs, stems, & leaves of the cypress tree, cypress oil also has antibacterial and anti-microbial properties. It fights bacteria that often cause acne, and it helps with oily skin. Peppermint with its cooling effect leaves the skin feeling energised and promotes better circulation. Lavender has a calming effect and detoxifies to purge harmful toxins from the skin while promoting tension-release for sore muscles. Bergamot is a natural cleanser and stimulates skin cell renewal as a natural astringent. Its clarifying and oil-reducing properties make it ideal for anyone suffering from overactive sebum production. Finally, marjoram is known to restore hormonal balance, hydrate, moisturise, and purify the skin. It strengthens lipid production to nourish and repair skin, alleviate dryness, and enhance moisture.

This shower oil is exceptional and impressed us with its super hydrating properties. The fragrance is deliciously green, herbal and garden-fresh - for us, it was stimulating and reviving. Its unique scent and oily texture make it both luxurious and calming. We used this after our morning shower by putting a few drops directly onto damp skin and gently rubbing it in to let it absorb and to let the natural scent linger for longer. The brand also recommends using it directly after dry brushing the skin to get maximum benefits from the natural ingredients. Housed an elegant green-tinted glass bottle, it not only makes a glamorous addition to the bathroom but also reduces plastic waste as the brand emphasises sustainability by using little to no single-use packaging, "Skin Creamery is committed to ethical business practices and is focused on creating innovative packaging solutions that are both luxurious and sustainable. We aim to replace single-use packaging with packaging that is functional, reusable or recyclable."  Apart from being awarded an Editor’s Choice Winner in this year’s 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, it’s also another of our #amazingfinds as an excellent shower oil/ body moisturiser. If you are looking to give your skin a natural hydration boost, then this is for you. The Skin Creamery's Basil Baobab Cypress Marjoram Shower Oil is 100 ml at R299.00 (approximately £15) from the brand’s website here.