Rosenserien - Rose Anti-Wrinkle Cream

If you’re a regular reader of The Amazing Blog, then you will know that we're big fans of natural and organic products. Today we’re returning back to an old favourite: Rosenserien. We have previously featured their Wash and Shave Gel for Men, as well as their Self Tan, so were excited to give their Rose Anti-Wrinkle Cream a whirl. Quickly added please don’t be put off by the words ‘anti-wrinkle' this is a great all-round cream for dry skin, whatever your age might be.

Rosenserien is a Swedish organic skincare brand for the whole family. Their products are free from animal testing, and synthetic ingredients, and are also free from parabens, alcohol and mineral oils. The products are also 100% from natural origin. What else could we wish for? The Rose Cream Anti-Wrinkle Cream is 100 % natural, vegan and 81 % of ingredients are certified organic certified. It helps to maintain the skin's pH balance, controlling excess oil, and reducing the redness of irritated skin. This includes acne, dermatitis and eczema prone skin, proving the effectiveness of the natural ingredients. This product contains essential rose oil and a base of certified and fair-trade aloe vera gel. It also contains Chinese green tea which aids to rid of impurities, and the creamy formula is ideal for moisturising and softening the skin. Yes, rose oil is known for its anti-ageing properties, helping to prevent line formation in the skin. However, this rich formula also contains antioxidants and fatty acids, which also help to protect, moisturise and help to slow down the ageing process. Overall, apart from the delicious fragrance, we found that this face cream really does help to promote a glowing (yet non-greasy) complexion.

They recommend applying this cream to cleansed skin, dampened in rose water, morning and evening to both the face and neck. If you’re wondering, do I have to travel all the way to Sweden to get this product? No, you can get it from their online website, just click here to purchase this 50 ml of Rose Anti-Wrinkle Cream at €43, your skin will thank you for it.

Hair and Body Care By Oway

Oway, short for The Organic Way, is an Italian brand that focuses on the beauty of nature, maintaining an ethical and sustainable approach. This ethos is something we here at The Amazing Blog strongly support; ‘Perhaps we cannot change the world but we can certainly improve it!’. We were lucky enough to try out the Frequent Use Hair & Scalp Bath, the Moisturising Hair Mask, the Glossy Nectar and the Fabulous Body Oil.

Oway takes their biodynamic approach seriously. All of their products come in 100% recyclable glass bottles or aluminium tubes, and they never use toxic substances in the harvesting of their products. Oway only uses fairtrade purchase and they are supporting over 800 local communities. This brand is not only kind to the environment, but it’s kind to skin too. The natural botanical ingredients render the use of artificial perfumes unnecessary.

The products do not contain harmful or useless ‘filler’ products, such as parabens, artificial colourants and synthetic fragrance. Quite the contrary. In fact, the Frequent Use Hair & Scalp Bath contains three simple ingredients; lemon, aniseed and white tea. They work together to detoxify the scalp and hair, leaving it clean yet moisturised. If you have very dry and damaged hair, follow this with the Moisturising Hair Mask for intense hydration and repair. Basil, iris, teak and mahogany protect and add moisture and shine to the hair. The Glossy Nectar, a rebuilding oil for your hair, nourishes and strengthens your hair with marrubium, black quinoa, amla and marula, whilst boosting natural defences against UV radiation and heat sources. The Fabulous Body Oil boasts ingredients such as biodynamic blood orange, organic tamanu, vitamin C and patauá. The star ingredient is Inca inchi oil which has a high content of unsaturated acids and vitamins, repairing and improving the elasticity of the skin.

Purchase the Frequent Use Hair & Scalp Bath here for £5-£55, the Moisturising Hair Mask here for £9.50-£45, the Glossy Nectar here for £13-£18 and the Fabulous Body Oil here for £14-£39.

Ogario

I first met Norris and Rachel Ogario in 2010 when they had just launched their very new natural hair care brand. Then they were still deliberating over the packaging and design and very kindly gave me some samples to try. They smelt so uplifting, fresh and aromatic and not like any other shampoo and conditioner that I’d ever tried. Here they are two years on having honed and perfected their products, and The Amazing Blog has all the details on the new range. Each product in the range contains unique ‘hero’ ingredients; these include the more unusual Moringa Seed, Tamarind, Nettle and Marshmallow extract. The Ogario London range has been developed using only natural and plant derived materials, preferably from within the UK. Ogario have used their years of experience to create the best products for your locks. They have had to source ingredients from further afield to ensure that they are Fairtrade and if possible come from women’s co-ops. So you can rest assured that what you’re putting in your hair are the best possible products for you and the environment.

With all the straightening, curling, dyeing and blow drying we put our hair through, these luscious products will restore the natural shine and bounce of your hair. Whether you take great care of your tresses or they need a bit more looking after, your hair will love these products packed with plant extracts and essential oils.

So next time you’re tempted to grab the cheapest shampoo and conditioner you can find at the supermarkets, treat your hair to one of the divine products from Ogario.

Ecobeauty by Oriflame

With just five days left of April, the gang at The Amazing Blog were certainly hoping for sunnier climes - but alas, despite the onset of British summertime, spring sunshine has been replaced by a sky full of storm clouds. And while such weather brings with it the age-old dilema of what to wear, it's also left our skin in need of some tender loving care. Happily for us however, a package from Oriflame arrived just in time to save our skin.

Oriflame is a Swedish company that was founded by two brothers in 1967 and is commited to offering products that are as kind tto your skin as they are to the environment. They recently launched a new natural, ethical and environmentally-friendly line called Ecobeauty which is the first global cosmetics range to be approved by four leading independent ethical, natural and and environmental organisations including Fairtrade and The Vegan Society. The line offers three rich and hydrating face creams bursting with natural and effective ingredients such as antioxidants and fatty acids to nourish and protect the skin. Having tried both the day and night cream I can report that my skin has never looked so radiant and healthy and it's an added bonus that Ecobeauty is as good for the planet as it is for my skin! Available here.

Oh What a Bean Feast!

  Now the clocks have gone back and the evenings are drawing in, winter is officially upon us. And if you’re anything like me the dark nights and dismal days leave me craving all things cosy; endless mugs of tea, buttery toast, open fires and copious amounts of comfort food. Thus the season of over-indulging in stodge is here, leaving our waist-lines with little choice but to expand. While balmy summer days leave me wanting salads and great hunks of fruit, winter is most definitely a time for real, hearty, satisfying foods.

Thankfully, help is at hand from the lovely people at Easy Bean – creators of the delicious and healthy One-Pot Bean Meals. Inspired by authentic recipes from around the world, many of which use beans as the foundation, Easy Bean are committed to providing healthy, nutritious and filling meals that can be enjoyed alone or as a filling to a fluffy jacket potato or a spicy tortilla wrap. Combining a range pulses with a whole host of natural and wholesome ingredients, each pot is high in fibre, low in fat and both gluten and dairy free – so perfect for anyone with food intolerances. In addition each meal will count as at least two portions of veg and have no hidden nasties – so absolutely no artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives.

And as a socially responsible business, you can enjoy the One-Pot Bean Meals, knowing that Easy Bean endeavour to use local suppliers and continually work with the Fairtrade Foundation.

Each pot is infused with exotic ingredients and there are both meat and vegetarian varieties. The Moroccan Tagine is a delicious option for herbivores – with chickpea, aubergine and butternut squash, slow cooked with apricot and aromatic spices, there’s a real taste of Moroccan Medina’s in every pot. But my personal favourite is The African Pavlava – a tasty combination of Fairtrade brown bean with free range chicken, sweet potato and spinach in a spicy peanut sauce. So if you’re stuck for dinner ideas, and want something both hearty and healthy, look no further than Easy Bean One- Pot Meals.

Available from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and a number of independent retailers.