The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible - Sarah Stacey & Josephine Fairley

If you’re like me, you may often find yourself lost in the array of make-up at the cosmetic counter, uncertain of what beauty products are best for you or the difference between all of the products.  Thankfully we here at The Amazing Blog  have been introduced to The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible.  This beauty encyclopaedia by Sarah Stacey and Josephine Fairly makes ‘a shortcut through the beauty jungle’ just an easy read away!

The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible includes highlights across the beauty spectrum and features sections devoted to makeup, skin, eyes, body, hands, feet, sun, hair, perfume, bed and bath.  Every section contains award-winning products from various beauty and lifestyle brands.  My favourite chapter focuses on makeup, but more specifically features award-winning lip glosses.  I often want to try a new brand or shade of lip gloss, but worry I may dislike the colour or texture of the gloss after blindly purchasing it.  Reading the product information presented by the authors, as well as reviewing the personal remarks on the products, has encouraged me to be more adventurous in my cosmetic selection.  I have especially felt compelled to explore the beauty jungle since The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible suggest that ‘lip glosses are like shoes: you can never have too many’.  Another reason I find The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible particularly innovative, versus other beauty related texts, is that the award winning products and brand suggestions are based on the opinions and experiences of real women.  Each advised product in The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible has been tested by both beauty experts and avid beauty consumers.  This certainly reassures me I will be using a quality and gorgeous beauty product! 

Though quick tips and tricks from The Ultimate Beauty Bible can be found online here, I definitely suggest purchasing a copy of this all encompassing beauty and lifestyle guide here for only £14.95, normally £19.99.

Simply Beautiful Collection – Jasmine and Evening Primrose Oil

With warm weather on our minds, we can’t help but rummage through our closets for skirts, short sleeve T-shirts and even sandals!  Though I adore the change in seasons, I despise exposing the driest areas of my skin; my knees, elbows and ankles.  After discovering The Simply Beautiful Collection, we here at The Amazing Blog are prepared to fully moisturise with the new Jasmine & Evening Primrose Oil before showing off our skin.

Naturally enriched with plant extracts, all of the Simply Beautiful Collection powerfully heal and moisturise skin with Aloe, Arnica, Olive and various other extracts.  The Jasmine & Evening Primrose Oil Body Butter specifically combines the calming Jasmine flower extract, the hormonal balancer of Evening Primrose and the hydrating Mango Seed extract to create a ‘Seriously Outstanding Skincare’ which nourishes skin.  This exotic harmonization benefits all skin types, especially excessively dry skin.

This new intensive treatment, Jasmine and Evening Primrose Oil Body Butter, by the Simply Beautiful Collection both balances and clarifies skin.  The body butter is thick yet creamy, so a bit of the butter spreads far on the skin.  This assures the 450ml tub of body butter lasts awhile. Having very dry skin myself, I have tried my fair share of body butters, lotions and moisturisers.  Jasmine and Evening Primrose Oil Body Butter stands apart from most body butters I have used, as it is instantly absorbed by my skin.  This guarantees that skin is moisturised without the look or feel of greasy skin.  I personally have found the Jasmine & Evening Primrose Oil Body Butter is the solution for the super dry spots on my body.  I find my knees, ankles and elbows to be especially dry and flaky during the chilly winter and spring months, and this body butter is an easy remedy to protect and prepare skin for spring and summer!  The Simply Beautiful Collection’s Jasmine and Evening Primrose Oil Body Butter can be found here for £25.  It is currently 25% off at the special launch price of £18.75 until the end of March!

Urbanveda – Reviving Body Scrub & Lotion

awareness for the environment, we here at The Amazing Blog enjoy using products which refresh our tired skin and sync our bodies to our natural setting.  As nature-lovers themselves, Urban Veda has developed skincare lines like The Rose & Botanics Reviving range uses the therapeutic properties of plants to harmonise and balance skin with the surrounding environment.  From the moment I saw the colourful and flower-like labels on the Urban Veda products, I could tell Urban Veda has a passion for the sustainability of the environment and certainly for skincare.

Urban Veda primarily uses Rose Otto, one of the oldest essential oils in the world, in their body products.  The Rose & Botanics Reviving range also contains Vitamin C, a key in reviving all skin types, which especially tones and pampers mature skin.  This synergy of splendid ingredients and flower waters are accommodating to all skin types.  Skin types in our office range from super dry to oily, yet each of us feel refreshed after using the Reviving Body Scrub and Lotion.  I personally enjoy the fresh cut flower scent the scrub and lotion left lingering on my skin.

Overall Urban Veda has developed four lines each with a unique objective; to purify, soothe, revive and add radiance  To assist in the restoration of our skin, Urban Veda sent us their Reviving Body Scrub and Body Lotion from the Rose and Botanics Reviving range.  As the Reviving line targets tired skin, I was not surprised by the awakening I felt in my skin after using the body scrub and applying the body lotion.  The Body Scrub exfoliates and softens skin, removing such imperfections as cellulite, while the Body Lotion protects and nourishes skin.  After a few devout uses, my skin felt softer to the touch and even appeared brighter.  With such great results from the Body Scrub and Lotion alone, it is no surprise the results yielded from the entire range are incredible for the body.  The entire Rose and Botanics Reviving range includes Body Wash, Body Scrub, Body Lotion, Hydrating Toner, Exfoliating Facial Polish, Day Cream and Renewal Night Cream.  The entire set can be found here for £55.

Yves Rocher – Youthful Glow Foundation

Honestly, if I do not have the perfect foundation I refuse to apply a base at all!  I personally dislike wearing a heavy foundation that makes my skin feel thick and clogged.   When Yves Rocher launched their Youthful Glow Foundation, they kindly allowed us girls at The Amazing Blog to give it a try.  This one-of-a-kind company cares not only for skin but for the environment as well, from the agriculture of their natural botanical ingredients to the packaging of their cosmetics.

With smoothing pearls wrapped in rose extract, the foundation is both hydrating and soothing for the skin.  Because of these calming ingredients, Yves Rocher Youthful Glow Foundation has left our faces glowing with a ‘flat satin finish’ after application.  I have especially noticed that unlike many cream foundations I have tried, the Youthful Glow Foundation does not gather in the creases or lines of my skin, making it an option for women with wrinkles as well.  Providing skin with a smooth and blended finish, the foundation stays perfectly in place providing optimal coverage throughout the day. As the foundation has a cream base, a small dot of the Youthful Glow Foundation truly goes a long way when applied to the skin.

With availability in ten shades, Yves Rocher guarantees a palette of Youthful Glow Foundation for all normal to dry skin tones.  With very fair skin myself, I was very excited to discover the youthful Glow Foundation is offered for my skin tone in Beige Very Fair.  All shades of The Yves Rocher Youthful Glow Foundation can be found here for £27, but are currently on sale for £13.50.

Mary Kay – Botanical Effects

Many facial regimes are made for specific skin types, often causing difficulties when attempting to uncover skincare for sensitive, dry or oily skin.  In our search for a multi-skin cleanser, we here at The Amazing Blog have discovered the Botanical Effects line from Mary Kay.  This skincare line breaks the stigma with hypoallergenic ingredients exclusively customisable by skin type.  This matchless formulation of Botanical Effects offers ideal benefits for various skin types.

Wanting to provide skin with ‘feel good’ softness, Botanical Effects by Mary Kay contains a four-step regime including the Cleanse, Hydrate, Freshen and Mask.  Every item in the Botanical Effects line by Mary Kay consists of the rather unusual ingredients which is what interested us the most. They are namely Silymarin (commonly known as Milk Thistle) and Luo Han Guo.  The Silymarin ingredient soothes skin while defending it against environmental damage while Luo Han Guo promotes healthy skin with its enduring antioxidants.  Combining these ingredients, the Botanical Effects range revitalises skin, leaving the body feeling nourished.

To solve a dry skin dilemma, Mary Kay suggests using Cleanse both in the morning and evening.  This hydrating cleanser nourishes skin while removing makeup and other pore-clogging items with Flaxseed and Sea Kelp extracts.  Applying the Hydrate formula after cleansing the face leaves skin calmed, supple yet durable.  For an additional botanical boost, apply the Freshen body spray for radiating skin, as well as the Botanical Effects facial Mask to remove additional impurities and replenish hydration.  It is unnecessary to do all of these steps devotedly, as Botanical Effects focuses on how the skin feels after each step.  Mary Kay suggests you ‘add the steps that make you happy.’ However, to clear oily skin and pores, the Botanical Effects process remains the same, but the benefits are altered, combining Kanuka Tree and Guava extracts to improve oily skin.  Again, they suggest using the Cleanse in both the morning and evening to control oil; this removes excess oil from the face but does not leave the skin feeling ultra dry.  Applying the Hydrate then offers moisture to the skin while still balancing facial oils.  Spraying Freshen onto the skin continues to remove oil but also decreases the appearance of pores.  The Mask, the final step in the Botanical Effects process, assists in refining and cleansing pores.  Apply the regime until skin feels satisfied, as Mary Kay finds it unnecessary to apply these products consistently.  The entire Botanical Effects  range can be found here for only £60.  Each piece of the line can also be purchased separately online from Mary Kay.