Amoorra - Bath Bombs for the Shower

We find that there’s a 50/50 split at The Amazing Blog as to whether we’re a shower or bath person. Today we’ve found some rather innovative Bath Bombs for the Shower by Amoorra perfect for perking you up in the morning or winding down at night. We love to try anything new that’ll give us that home-spa experience.

Amoorra is formerly known as SHOBU and is a brand founded by two busy mums who wanted to create a home-spa experience, without all the cleaning up afterwards! Being time-poor, luxuriating in a bath was a complete no-no, hence they came up with the concept of this ‘shower bomb’. These Amoorra Bath Bombs for the Shower tablets are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, natural and all ingredients are ethically and sustainably sourced. They are designed to melt away without any no residue, oils or colour in the shower, while leaving a relaxing aroma that fills the bathroom. It works with the steam to create a home spa experience, meaning that you enjoy eight to ten minutes of steam to help you to relax, refresh and renew. Also, with the added advantage of no fear of slipping on any oily residues. There is a range of six different shower bomb experiences and aromas: Breathe, Refresh, Calm, Peace, Sleep, Awake. There are a range of Mood Booster sprays and oils, which we’ll be covering another time.

We received three of these Bath Bombs for the Shower. The first to talk about is  Peace,  it’s a pale pink speckled tablet with a floral blend of rose and jasmine, inspiring a sense of calm. The rose oil here reduces stress and anxiety;  it stimulates the release of the chemical dopamine, leaving you with a happier mood. The jasmine oil is an anti-depressant, where inhaling the vapours will help to increase positive feelings and uplift energy levels. This shower bomb could be used on either side of the day to inspire and motivate or to give an overall sense of inner peace and calm. The second we tried is Calm,  if you’re looking to indulge yourself with this rich mix of chamomile, clove and cardamom that brings that luxurious spa into the home, then this is for you! In a white tablet form with amber coloured flecks; the chamomile ingredient is famous for its calming properties and is probably best known for being consumed in tea for a good night’s sleep. Therefore, no surprises to find it here.  An anxiety reliever it helps promote sleep can help to soothe irritability, we found that this little tablet created a serene bubble of steam in the shower. It blends well with the clove with its warming aroma which is known to help enrich the mind. Finally, the cardamom has antibacterial properties that help heal breakouts acting as a skin purifier by clearing pores, plus here it works to soothing the respiratory system. This tablet is warming, relaxing and gives a feeling of tranquillity. Last but not least, Sleep, just like its name suggests, this delicate mixture of lavender, bergamot and vetiver is for relaxing the mind and body before a good night’s rest. If you require a little extra help to drift off, then this is for you. The fragrance of the lavender helps in promoting a feeling of wellness and reduced stress. It enhances the healing properties of the bergamot, which reduces nervous tensions and elevates mood. Finally, this blend also contains vetiver, ideal for reducing tensions and anxiety and giving an overall feeling of relaxation, helping you to dive deep into the world of sleep. Something to quickly mention is that these are NOT to be used as bath bombs they’re specifically designed for the shower use only.  Our favourite? It has to be Peace, we’re always won over by the scent of roses and jasmine. Amoora also offers you an extra 20% using the coupon Gift2020 when purchasing here.

Friday Favourites – Cleansers

As we all know the key essential to any good skin care routine is to use a gentle and effective cleanser, not only to remove the daily grime but the residue of our makeup. However, during our research for this feature, we at The Amazing Blog found that there were quite a few readily available high street brands, but they were mainly water-based with chemicals. This combination strips your skin of its natural oils, leaving your face feeling tight and dry rather than supple and refreshed. That is why we wanted to share some of our Friday Favourites which are the latest #amazingfinds for oil-based cleansers and cleansing balms. We know what you’re probably thinking: ‘Oil? Won’t that clog up my skin?’ Rest assured we’ve tried and tested our choices. We all have very different skin types here at The Amazing Blog ranging from very dry to extremely oily and none of these cleansers clogged our pores.

The first #amazingfind, we found was the Jane Apothecary Soothing Cleansing Balm. This Spanish-based company was founded by Elena Padilla, a biologist and cosmetics expert, after she began breaking out when she turned 30 years old. Jane Apothecary is an award winning brand (see 2019 Beauty Shortlist here) that we have fallen in love with, and recently wrote about their Restoring Eye &  Lip Serum . Elena soon discovered the benefits of vegetable oils and plants to soothe skin as well as other women who were in a similar situation as herself. This led her to create all-natural products that ‘care for and calm the skin of women over 30 years’ while providing hydration and preventing ageing.

The Cleansing Balm’s oil and vegetable wax base gives the product a thick texture and melts in your hands to create a cleansing oil. It has marigold extract, chamomile, and aloe vera to soothe and soften your skin along with bio shea butter to help protect your skin’s natural oils. After using this product, your skin won’t feel greasy, but perfectly moisturised and clean. What made this cleansing balm worthy of a lot of love at the Beauty Shortlist Awards is that it has been specially formulated for sensitive skin as well as redness- and rosacea-prone skin while smelling fresh. Many products that treat skin conditions often smell like a hospital or have no scent. Jane Apothecary uses a mix of lemongrass, orange, and lavender essential oils to give the balm a signature strong lemongrass scent that has aromatherapeutic properties to help you relax while cleansing your face.

If you want extra soft skin, you can leave a small layer of the cleansing balm on for 20 minutes before removing it with warm water and the organic cotton wipe provided. Only a small dollop of this product is needed each time you cleanse your face, so we can safely say the price is worth what you get. You can purchase the Soothing Cleansing Balm (60ml) here for 35.54€. 

The next cleansing balm we have for you is the Nourish Cleanse Melt: Rose & Camellia. This product may look or sound familiar because we reviewed the Botanicals Nourishing Face Balm in the same beautiful scent. We’ve found and fallen in love with many products from Botanicals (check out our brand directory here) and the Nourishing Face Balm falls into the same pattern.

The company is rooted in the ‘fundamental belief that nature knows best’ and this cleansing balm has 100 per cent natural ingredients. It is also cruelty-free, vegan, and certified organic. The cleanser contains absolutely no water and is oil-based, which helps retain and maintain your skin’s natural oils rather than dry out your face. It can be used on all skin types, but the natural oils are especially useful for hydrating and healing normal-to-dry mature skin. The formula combines the oils with shea butter and green tea extract to dissolve even stubborn waterproof mascara after a long day and leave your skin feeling soft like a baby’s the next morning. What makes this balm different is that Botanicals’ cleansing balms work deep into your pores to remove any impurities, which balance and brighten your skin. While many oil-based products scare people away, this cleansing balm leaves you feeling moisturised but not greasy.

See for yourself why this cleansing balm won for Best Organic Facial Skincare at the Natural and Organic Awards. You can purchase it here (60g) for £26.  

The final product we have for you this Friday is the Joji Natural Frankincense and Sandalwood Oil Cleanser. We discovered this indie beauty brands earlier this year at a trade beauty show. The motto of Joji Natural is ‘Natural without compromise’. The company was founded in 2010 and is dedicated to creating handmade organic products that are effective, sustainable, cruelty-free, and fair trade.

 The oil cleanser is made of 100 per cent plant-based materials and is marketed as ‘a meditation in a bottle’. After using it, we can see why. As the name says, the product has frankincense and sandalwood. These are both natural oils that have immense therapeutic effects, leaving you less stressed and creating positive well-being. The formula also has a unique mix of jojoba, sweet almond, and apricot kernel oils, which soothe and moisturise skin without clogging your pores. This oil cleanser is essential in scrubbing away makeup and pollutants from the day, unlike regular cleansers. Many of the ingredients also have natural properties to fight bacteria, leaving your skin extra clean.

You can remove all of the cleanser with a warm cloth or leave some excess for your skin to soak up the all-natural oils, as recommended by Joji Natural. You can purchase the Frankincense and Sandalwood Oil Cleanser (50ml) here for £16.

Whether or not you have already made the switch to oil cleansers, please keep these products in mind not just for the summer but all year round. As mentioned earlier, they will not clog your pores or leave your skin feeling dry. However, what we like is that they all leave a nice layer of moisture giving you a glowy and goddess-like skin. Go try!

Pretty Athletic – Cool Down: Purifying Gel Cleanser

Daily workouts are a must for all of us at The Amazing Blog. Whether it be a quick jog in the morning or a Pilates session, we’re all for the energy and health-boosting effects exercising give us. However, we’re less of a fan of the red, sweaty look and breakouts that come with it. In this day and age do we really have to choose between having amazing skin or an amazing bod? We want work out friendly skincare to target our exercise-related skincare needs. That’s where Pretty Athletic’s Cool Down: Purifying Gel Cleanser completely changed our skincare game.

While there are many sunscreens and moisturisers that market themselves as a ‘sport’ product, U.K. based skincare brand Pretty Athletic has been one of the first beauty companies to formulate specific products for the modern, active woman. Besides targeting exercise-specific skincare needs, all Pretty Athletic products are almost 100 % natural and vegan. After trying their Cool Down: Purifying Gel Cleanser, we can honestly say that we have seen a difference in our skin after a workout.

Unlike many other facial cleansers, Pretty Athletic’s Cool Down: Purifying Gel Cleanser doesn’t leave skin feeling dry and stripped. The gel cleanser was not only formulated to target ‘exercise-related breakouts’ but also to nourish your skin in the process. Infused natural ingredients like aloe vera, cucumber and chamomile, ensure red, sweaty skin is soothed and void of any oil and dirt that can clog pores during a heavy workout session. Added hyaluronic acid also helps decrease oiliness while hydrating skin. After a workout, directly apply a penny-sized amount of the cleanser to dry skin. Then after thirty seconds of massaging, rinse off for a clean, hydrated complexion. For £18 you can purchase a bottle of the 100 ml bottle on the Pretty Athletic website here.

Potion London - The Beauty Formula

While we’ve been succeeding in maintaining our healthy lifestyles at The Amazing Blog, some of us felt that there was still something missing from our diet. Eating the recommended amounts of fruit and vegetables can only do so much for your body so that’s where incorporating food supplements like The Beauty Formula from Potion London into your diet can make a difference.

Health and wellness brand Potion London have sought out to make a “healthy lifestyle that little bit easier”  with their range of health and beauty supplements that targets your specific health goals from within. We‘re already fan of this brand and have written about their Hyaluronic Complex here Their supplement lines address anything from gut and immune system health. After trying two Potion London products (the aforementioned Hyaluronic Complex) we conclude that Potion London has made it very easy to choose which supplements to complement any diet and lifestyle.

This we think is perfect for anyone with weak or brittle nails and with it’s combination of  19 different vitamins and minerals. The Beauty Formula is specifically aimed to support strong and healthy hair, skin and nails with the Zinc, Biotin, Vitamin C and Vitamin E enriched in the formula. All of which contributes, supports and maintains your cells’ optimal maintenance and formation.  These along with the other vital ingredients in this supplement will help to leave your nails healthy, complexion radiant and hair luscious. If you want a supplement that targets all three of these areas, then one capsule of The Beauty Formula taken daily with food will be the one for you. To purchase 60 capsules or a two month’s supply of The Beauty Formula for £25 click here. Also available is a subscription service to get the supplement delivered every one or two months for an added 20% discount. I’m a particular fan of addressing any hair, nail and skin issues by starting from within and Potion London nail it!

You Create Beauty - DIY Beauty Recipe Box

With DIY skincare and beauty subscription boxes becoming increasingly popular, it’s not a surprise that The Amazing Blog has joined the craze and indulged in this trend by trying You-create-Beauty’s double treat - the DIY Beauty Recipe Box.

Launched in September of last year, the DIY Beauty Recipe Box is completely organic and is entirely curated for you, by you. The simple and transparent nature of the brand, is inspired by Ayurveda; which is an ancient Indian practise, that emphasises harmony and balance in all aspects of your life - including beauty - to treat your skin holistically. In true Ayurveda nature, the first step to create your own DIY Beauty Recipe Box is to take an energy test which describes your body, skin, temperament and hair type. From that, you are able to gauge which energy or “Dosha” you are, so your beauty recipes are specific to you.

Then, you select two beauty recipes from three choices of a face scrub, face mist and face oil to have in your box. Each energy- Kapha, Pitta, Vata - each is designated a My Blemish Resolution, My Calmness and My Iridescence but the ingredients used in them are selected specifically for each different energy. Ancient Indian oils, herbs and spices are used in all of You-Create-Beauty’s products such as Saffron Strands, Triphala, Organic Ground Tulsi, Vetiver and Organic Ground Bitter Melon. Other staple ingredients like Natural Vitamin E Oil, Red Rose Petals and even apricot to name a few, are incorporated into the recipes as well. If you’re not sure what some of the ingredients are, You-create-Beauty emphasises transparency by disclosing what the ingredients are and how they extracted them on their website. So, as you follow the recipes in your beauty recipe box, you can rest assured that you will know you are creating products that you can trust. To try this new holistic and creative way of skincare, subscribe to a two-month box for £20 here.