Beautanix - Beautiful Glow Clay, Day Oil and Serum 40

As regular readers will know at The Amazing Blog we like to search out new indie brands that have created something special. Therefore, it’s great to find a new natural skincare brand that specifically targets the 30+ age group. We are talking about Beautanix whose affordable products work to combat early signs of ageing by using only natural ingredients that help the regeneration skin cells, protect the skin and help to give us a more youthful appearance.

The Beautanix Founder Margaret Frixou is a reflexology and massage therapist who early in her career used essential oils and is well-versed on their wonderful healing properties. Margaret saw first-hand how natural ingredients really make a difference. Shocked by the list of harmful chemicals in her regular skincare, she decided it was time to create her own range using her knowledge and experience, thus Beautanix was born. Beautanix has seven key products that have natural ingredients that are vegan and ethically sourced. We received three products to try the Beautiful Glow clay mask and the Replenishing Light Day Oil and Serum 40 .

First, we used the refreshing Beautiful Glow clay mask, then went on to apply the Replenishing Light Day Oil to restore and protect our complexion. The Beautiful Glow is both soothing and nourishing. The product glides onto the skin flawlessly leaving a subtle floral/zesty scent. Made with fine kaolin clay, it has organic avocado and rice bran oils which help to lift dull and tired skin both hydrating and giving a healthy glow. Other key ingredients are carrot seed and sea buckthorn CO2 extracts which promote healthy skin cells. This refreshing clay mask works well on dry or sensitive skin types and is best used once a week on clean skin. We found Beautiful Glow to be a gentle product that left skin feeling soft and moisturised.  The pot contains 8-10 full face applications, and once applied, wait 30-45 minutes for it to absorb then rinse off with warm water.

Next, we used The Replenishing Day Oil which was our favourite product of the three. It has key ingredients of rice bran oil, thistle meadowfoam, rosehip. The combination of these potent raw botanicals contain antioxidants and wonderfully beneficial giving the skin a much-needed boost. This Day Oil is suitable for dry and sensitive skin and can be used daily on face and décolletage. It’s light in texture and we loved its delicious floral bouquet. We used it after the Beauty Glow clay mask, which helped to keep the skin supple and protected – we also found that a little went a long way.

The final product we used from the trio was Serum 40, which was a recent Editor’s Choice Winner in The 2020 Beauty Shortlist Awards, it’s perfect for irritated or sensitive skin. It’s a rich serum that helps to regenerate skin cells and prevent wrinkles. Vital ingredients here include sea buckthorn, eco marine extract, prickly pear seed oil with frankincense and patchouli, the latter two are the ideal essential oils for nourishing more mature skin. The serum is best used at night 2-4 times a week it immediately nourishes the skin upon touch and has a refreshing and calming aroma. The serum is the perfect way to end the day. We think these products complement each other well. You can find The Beautiful Glow clay mask in 60g for £25.99 here, the Serum 40 in 15ml for £31.00 here and the Replenishing Light Day Oil is 15ml for £24.99 here.

Vilana - Mint Hair Conditioner

One of our missions this month has been to find a completely natural hair conditioner that won’t irritate an itchy or sensitive scalp. Not an easy task!  At The Amazing Blog, we’ve searched high and low and were recommended to try a brand called Vilana Natural Beauty, who are famed for their gentle hair care products and advice on hair loss.

Founded by Vilana Bagdone, a wife and mother of three who has a light bulb moment when one day she caught sight of her ‘dull, drawn and pale skin’. Despite using countless bottles of high street creams and serum, nothing seemed to help. It was only then that she realised she needed to return back to basics to harness the true power of nature and natural products. Today Vilana Natural Beauty uses a selection of top-quality essential oils to ensure she has the best to create her effective skin and hair care solutions. We’re excited to report that the brand has recently been nominated for The Scottish Business Awards which will be held on 23 February.

We tried the Vilana Natural Beauty Mint Hair Conditioner which is their hero product from the hair care collection. Looking at the key ingredients, it’s no surprise it is a bestseller. The conditioner is enriched with apple vinegar that leaves the hair feeling soft, shiny and smooth and peppermint essential oils which help to promote hair growth. Peppermint has antimicrobial and antifungal properties which help to tackle dandruff and other scalp issues. The shea butter and honey also add moisture for more luscious and thicker-looking hair. We’ve used this several times and noticed that it helped to restore, nourish and soften the hair effortlessly. They advise that you leave the product on the scalp for up to five minutes, in order to let the conditioner soothe and sink into the scalp, then rinse away. We were left with a refreshing scent of mint and very shiny hair. The added bonus is that it can be used as a hair mask as well.  There are no sulphates or parabens, and they even offer a full ingredient list with an explanation here. This one of our #amazingfinds of the week; you too can purchase a 200ml pot of Vilana Natural Beauty Mint Hair Conditioner for £12.50 here.

ALL TIGERS - Liquid Lipstick & Nail Lacquer

Did you know that the average woman can eat up to 2kg of lipstick in her lifetime? At the Amazing Blog we love our lipstick and probably consume even more than the average woman! However, it’s scary to think what we are consuming if we use lipsticks that are made from chemicals or other unnatural ingredients. That’s where ALL TIGERS steps in.

The founder Alexis Robillard was inspired by this and a simple question was born: What if he could create the perfect lipstick that’s both eco-friendly and stylish? Unique in their approach, ALL TIGERS is a young and fun brand, they even took to their Instagram account to poll with future customers and get approval on each important decision. They support the preservation of the wild tiger and its eco-system in Asia, within the framework of the 1% FOR THE PLANET . ALL TIGERS is a fitting name because of the powerful nature of the brand, made for the queens of the modern jungle!

ALL TIGERS is the culmination of trendy and eco-friendly – the perfect merger. We tried the Natural & Vegan Liquid Lipstick in the shade 888 Pure Red ‘Call me Queen’ . We loved the timeless red shade of this lipstick, which is suitable for women of all skin tones. This shade screams ‘tigress’ as women have long worn red lipstick as a symbol of their power and femininity. The lipstick has an ‘easy-matte’ finish with a blend of botanical oils and waxes. We love that with just one swipe of ‘Call Me Queen’ across your lips and you’ll have a high-coverage red pout that lasts for hours.

Now every girl needs the perfect red nail lacquer to match her signature red lips. The ALL TIGERS Nail Lacquer in Red 298 ‘Hit It Big’ applies a pigmented colour to your claws. We love how it has bamboo, acerola, gotu kola and glycerin to improve nail strength. The generous brush applicator is the perfect size for applying the polish in one swipe. Its long-wear non chip vegan formula was made for queens of the concrete jungle. Free your claws from chemical-based nail lacquers with this vegan polish.

We love this stylish brand and their mission to empower women to be fierce and powerful while also being eco-friendly. If you want to join us in the prowl, you can purchase ALL TIGERS Liquid Lipstick here for £20.50. The Nail Lacquer can be purchased here for £11.50.

Essence of Harris – Huisinis and Losgaintir Glass Candles

One of our favourite things about the summertime at The Amazing Blog is being able to chill out under an umbrella at the coast. We love hearing the waves crash against the shore and feeling the sand between our toes. It can all feel so cosy and vibrant at the same time. Unfortunately, jetting off to our dessert island paradise for now will have to remain a bit of a dream; but, we can make our homes smell like one as Essence of Harris ’s candles offers us the perfect evocative aroma.

Essence of Harris was co-founded in 2015 by Deenie MacLeod, who was born and raised on the Isle of Harris located in the Scottish Outer Hebrides. The rugged landscape, golden beaches, and clear blue waters inspired MacLeod to partner with Jamie McGowan, a Glasgow native, to design candles and home fragrances. Their mission with Essence of Harris is so ‘everyone who visits the island can take away a small piece to cherish’.

We tried two of the five candles from the company’s Classic Collection inspired by the Isle’s beaches. The first was the Huisinis Glass Candle, which has a very evident sweet and citrusy scent. It’s bubbly, taking after notes of champagne, and has grapefruit, Brazilian orange, and pink pomelo. It also has hints of rhubarb adding to its tartness and watermelon packing freshness. We found this candle was perfect to light during the late morning and afternoon for an uplifting smell. The second one we tested was the Losgaintir Glass Candle. It has an exotic mix of fresh bergamot (green citrus fruit), orange, and amber, which give the candle tangy top notes that jump out at you. However, the scent has warmth due to its coconut, vanilla, and almond base notes. We recommend using this one in the late afternoon or during sunset to create a snug atmosphere before eating dinner.

The candles are hand poured on the island and made of 100 per cent ethically sourced soy wax and natural ingredients. While MacLeod’s hometown has enormously helped and influenced her, Essence of Harris is committed to supporting a sustainable community on the Isle. The brand is ‘consciously considering the environment, investing in the local community, and creating a prosperous local economy’. Each candle comes in a simple and sturdy yet elegant glass jar and should burn for approximately 30 hours.

When we typically think of island getaways, Scottish beaches are not at the top of our lists, but after smelling these candles, we’re ready to book a ticket on the next flight. You can bring the aroma to your own home by purchasing the Huisinis and Losgaintir Glass Candles (20cl) here, each for £12.95.

Together Health – Complexes and Boosts Food Supplements

While we at The Amazing Blog try to maintain healthy and balanced diets, London has delicious food on practically every corner. So, to fill the gaps in our diets, we often take vitamins, but many vitamins are hard to travel with and contain harsh preservatives. That’s where Together Health ’s all-natural food supplements, packaged in portable sachets, come in. 

The brand was launched in the UK by two brothers, Lee and Daniel Robertshaw, who found it difficult to sustain a healthy lifestyle amidst busy schedules and unhealthy yet conveniently located food. They partnered with health and nutrition experts to develop food supplements that ‘support as many people on their own journey to find a path to health that works for, and not against, them’. The company is 100 per cent transparent about the supplements’ ingredients that are naturally derived from the ocean and plants and contain no artificial additives or processing aids. We tried eight of the different supplements Together Health offers, four from the Boosts collection and four from the Complexes collection .

The Boost supplements are designed to give you extra vitamins and antioxidants in your diet. The four we tried were Curcumin & Turmeric Complex (helps reduce inflammation), Marine Magnesium contains five natural forms of magnesium minerals), Plant Based Coenzyme Q10 (generates energy in cells), and Vegan Vitamin D3 (helps absorption of calcium and phosphorous from food). One of our favourites from this collection was the Curcumin & Turmeric Complex, which contains organic turmeric root and 95 per cent curcumin extract. These two ingredients have been used for centuries for their natural healing properties as they are antioxidant-rich, neutralise harmful free radicals, and have anti-inflammatory properties. 

The Complex supplements target specific needs for you to live a healthier life. We tested the Joint Aid Herbal Complex (helps reduce inflammation in joints), Multibiotic Fermented Food (improves digestive and general health), Night Time Complex aids sleep onset and duration), and Stress Aid Complex (reduces stress with food-based vitamins and ocean minerals). Our favourite of this collection was the Night Time Complex. It contains five forms of ocean-sourced magnesium: oxide, hydroxide, sulfate, carbonate, and chloride. Since the magnesium is naturally derived rather than synthetically made, it allows your body to absorb it faster. The supplement also has 5-HTP from Griffonia extract to synthesise serotonin and hops extract to regulate inconsistent sleep patterns or inability to fall asleep. We found that taking two capsules 30 minutes before bed had us sleeping better throughout the night and waking up well-rested. 

Each supplement comes in a ‘vegecap’ made from Pinus Elliottii tree plant cellulose, and you can take it apart to mix into food or drink if you don’t like taking pills. There are approximately 30-60 vegecaps packed in each resealable sachet that can last for two months and is travel-friendly. Together Health has a helpful product recommender here if you aren’t sure what kind of supplement would be best for you. You can buy the supplements here starting from £6.99.