Love Your Skin

Our skincare regime can change on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. It's totally dependent on what our skin is doing at any given time and of course the ever changeable British weather. At The Amazing Blog  we all have varying skin types and therefore very different beauty routines.  However, there is one skincare range that we all agree on and that is the Love Your Skin products. They have been a great addition to all of our skincare regimes. There are a plethora of cleansers, toners, lotions, serums, and gels, so what more could one possibly ask for?

Their facial range includes: Cleanse & Smooth Exfoliating Wash, Complete Cleansing Creme Lotion, Complete Cleansing Water, Floral Hydrating Spritzer, Intensive Hydra Gel Moisturiser, and a variety of Treatment Serums. One of my favourite products in this collection is the Floral Hydrating Spritzer, it's a great way to freshen up and give your skin a bit of a boost especially if it’s taken its toll with all the recent seasonal partying. This spritz really has helped to balance and freshen up my complexion. A delicate combination of ingredients (Rose and Aloe Vera) are used to create this spritz, including Frankincense and Myrrh (er sadly no gold!) All at a reasonable £19.99 for 100ml.  This is currently my everyday handbag staple.  The Complete Cleansing Water  is another favourite with The Amazing Blog team. It's a great way to remove  makeup without agitating your skin. It’s oil free, making it suitable for all skin types. This is also good for the other members of the team as they tend to have more oily skin types, so an oil free product for them is always a positive. There are calming anti-oxidants in the water in the form of Linden Blossom and Green Tea. The girls just added a small amount to a cotton pad and gently wiped away their foundation and eye makeup. They loved it as they were left with a moisturised and beautifully cleansed face. This is definitely a very gentle way to remove your makeup, we like the ingredients and also the price £22.99 for 200ml. The serums are worth having a look at too, as there are plenty to choose from and each one is packed with different ingredients depending on the what skin imperfections you are targeting.

The Body Skincare products for Love Your Skin comprise of two main types the Arnica and the Collagen ranges. There are the Arnica and the Collagen Body Moisturising Gels, as well as the Collagen and the Arnica Bath & Shower Gels. The Arnica Montana plant (found in the Arnica range) has been used for centuries in topical application for healing the skin, it is one of the most popular homeopathic remedies in Britain for soothing wounds and bruising. Therefore no surprise as to why Love Your Skin includes it in almost all of their bodycare products. All the gels are a very light and non-greasy and don’t have the same density as some other gels have. We like the fact that the gels get absorbed quickly, are not overpowering with their fragrance and are very easy to apply. They have excellent skin calming qualities so brilliant for any aches or pains that you might have. I found the Arnica Duo Set a great combination especially for using after a hard session at the gym.

The prices vary but you can find all them and further ingredient information here. There are so many lovely products to explore and lots of sets to make great presents, it’s only a month away until Valentines Day so maybe start scheduling in some heavy hints now…?

FOM Firming and Contouring Products

We all age, some of us more gracefully than others and although we can’t stop it, we can do our best to slow down the first physical signs of aging. The Freshness of the Morning range are natural and luxury products rich in vitamins, antioxidants, proteins, minerals, floral waters and much more. The Amazing Blog sees a lot of products claiming to be the latest anti-age miracle, but the individuality of FOM Cosmetics  and their natural ingredients are what really caught our eye. We have been trying out two of their firming and toning body products: The Firming Body Lotion and the Body Contouring Serum to help us out with much needed 'tightening up' - especially recommended after one's Christmas indulgence!

The FOM Body Contouring Serum is £26.00 and can be bought here. This serum is 100% natural and includes Omega 3, 6, and 9, as well as Vitamins A, B, C & E. The ingredients that we particularly like are the Olive Squalane - 100% pure olive squalane softens the skin, improves elasticity, reduces signs of aging, and boosts cell regeneration. As well as Spilanthes Acmella - which stimulates the fibroblasts present in the extra-cellular matrix of the skin. Fibroblasts permanently interact with collagen fibres to create a 3-dimensional network within the supporting extra cellular matrix. Spilanthes acmella contains isobutylamides of polyenic and polyenynic acids, of which spilanthol is the molecule mainly responsible for its myorelaxing activity. By stimulating the fibroblast biomechanical functions, this active ingredient helps re-organize the dermis structure and visibly smooth the skin surface.  Which is where science meets nature...! All of which sounds great to us. It’s easy to apply, you just massage it onto damp skin and into places that you feel need a little firming and toning. The dense liquid gets immediately absorbed into the surface of your skin. A gentle tightening effect starts to take place - which gave a rather pleasant sensation.

The FOM Firming Body Lotion has a lovely citrus fragrance. It’s £28.00 and found here. The pure Shea Butter and Botanical Nutrients are incorporated to firm and moisturise the skin. This lotion is very refreshing and again is absorbed easily into the skin. It’s light and non-greasy and really does feel lovely to massage into those places you want to achieve some firming. If you were a sherbet lemon devotee as a child, then this lotion will be the perfect nostalgic beauty product for you. All skin types can use this lotion making it very versatile. Of course, we know that to achieve the perfect toned skin it needs to be a combination of other things like diet and exercise. However, we think that  FOM body products offer a head start. In fact, these two body products can be used together. FOM suggest using Firming Body Lotion in the morning and the Body Contouring Serum in the evening. Or mixing two pumps of lotion with 3 drops of serum and apply evening and/or evening. We like the way that these products from FOM  offer a 'natural' way to help to slow down the aging process. To buy BOTH these products together, you'll be happy to learn that they come packaged as a pair at £45 (saving you an astonishing £9!) Check out the Freshness of the Morning website here and browse around their collection of other natural skin and haircare products.

SilDerm Scar Gel and Spray

Amongst all the fun and enjoyment that comes from Christmas and the month’s festivities, it's always likely there will be some mishaps. These may be spilled food or unhappy children when they don’t get the presents they want. The Amazing Blog have been thinking with their sensible caps on, and thought it was best to recommend a solution for something just as common, scars. With all that cooking, there is bound to be the odd burn here and there. The Silderm Scar Spray and Gel diminish scars so they don’t have to stay with you forever.

The SilDerm Scar Gel and Spray both work by bonding together the outer layers of your skin to provide a protective barrier against chemical, physical and microbial contamination of the scar site. The stress on Christmas day is magnified by the rush mid-morning to get all the meat and the vegetables in and out the oven at the right time. It’s no surprise that a lot of people burn themselves during this hasty ordeal, so why not be prepared with these great medical products. They both dry quickly and don’t leave a layer on your skin, so you immediately forget that it's there doing its healing job.

These don’t have to be used for just cooking scars. They are helpful for scars on your face possibly caused by acne, or on your chest, hands, arms and legs. We know that scars can cause insecurities, which is why these two products are so good. It doesn’t matter if you burnt yourself a minute ago, or have scars that have been around for much longer, the spray and gel will help work to repair the skin. They are very soft to apply and don’t bother or irritate the skin. They're very trustworthy products developed by skincare professionals to repair and prevent scars. You should use the scar gel or spray until you start seeing improvements, even if this takes a bit of time you have to be patient with it.

The gel can be bought for £24.99 per 15g and the spray for £32.50. You don’t need much at all, making it the sort of product the whole family can use and it will still last a long time in the first aid kit or in your bathroom essentials cupboard. They can both be bought here.

Kats Kalma Massage Bar and Facial Mist

If you have been outside in the last month or so, then you will know it’s pretty chilly out there, not forgetting to mention the constant drizzle and gale winds! This makes us just want to cocoon up inside with a hot relaxing bath and a good book. The Kats Kalma natural collection of soaps and bath goodies are just perfect for this time of the year.  After all we deserve to be able to sit back and enjoy some ‘me time’ particularly as it's now Christmas Eve. We at The Amazing Blog have selected two products from this range to help you de-stress and then freshen up so you’re ready for tomorrow’s antics. These are the De-Stressing Massage Bar, and the Manuka Honey Facial Mist. Kats Kalma work on a continuous basis. Forever testing and mixing new scents and ingredients as it is their passion to deliver products that we will love. They are all suitable for even the most sensitive skin, which is a unique quality in itself. The De Stressing Massage Bar comprises of pure Geranium and Lavender essential oils, all for calm, relax and balance you. It honestly smells like the countryside, almost as if you’ve fallen into a field of lavender. It’s lovely! As with any massage bar, I did worry that it would be sticky and leave a residue on my skin; however, it blended instantly in a moisturising fashion with absolutely no sticky residue.  The bar is 70gms £6. There are also other bars in this range which target problems other than stress such as Mayfruit Massage bar for toning, the Sunshine Massage bar for a bit of a lift!

Facial mists are the perfect addition to your day. Whether you’re prone to hot flushes, blemishes or dirty pores, the effects of this mist will do you good. If there’s one thing that we all know that is good for us its Manuka Honey. Manuka Honey has many therapeutic benefits which is why it works so well as the main ingredient of this facial mist. This water is high in amino acids and works with a calming and toning effect as well as antibacterial. I like to use it in the evening before going to bed as it keeps me feeling refreshed whilst I sleep. It’s a very clean natural product so you don’t feel like there are any chemicals working their way into your pores. The big thick glass bottle is very comfortable to hold and looks much more elegant than plastic bottles do. This is £10 and is only one of a collection of mists they have.

You can find all the products in their range on the website here. So do please have a look at the other wonderful and natural offerings that they also have.

TanOrganic Self Tanning

Winter's here and at The Amazing Blog we feel like a bit of tanning is the perfect treat to cheer us up and the TanOrganic range is ideal. It’s the first eco-certified self tanning brand made from 95% certified organic ingredients. The TanOrganic range includes the Tanning Oil, TanOrganic Original, Oil Arganic and the Tan Erase.

This TanOrganic Tanning Oil works just as well as other self tans but without the chemicals. The natural and organic formula contains no synthetic ingredients, parabens, colours or fragrances. So this tanning brand is great for mature or sensitive skin as there are no harmful chemicals. It is an excellent facial and body tan with ultra moisturising ingredients which include a unique blend of plant oils such as Borage seed oil, Argan oil and Orange peel oil. The well-known ‘fake tan’ smell is not an issue as it smells amazing, we think a bit like a chocolate orange! Also not forgetting to mention that this Tanning Oil was voted the best Facial Tan in 2013 by RSVP Magazine.

The tanning range also has the TanOrganic Original which is their other tanning product. This tans main ingredient is Aloe Vera which makes it super moisturising and easy to apply; and when it’s used frequently you can be sure that your skin will never dry out, making it a great product for winter time. What I particularly like about this product is that it delivers a great colour with a gradual fade which never leaves you patchy or blotchy, perhaps due to its 84% Aloe Vera based hydrating formula. If like me, you have more sensitive skin then either of these tanning oils are a good alternative to some other high street mousse tanning products. To me they offer two products in one - a nourishing body oil and a gentle tanning formula - what more could you ask for?

The TanOrganic Oil Arganic  is multi use Dry Oil is a completely natural moisturising oil just right for using alongside the tan to help it wear evenly and prolong the glow of the tan. The oil can help with scars and stretch marks too. It has a wonderful citrus aroma, which is far more appealing than usual natural oil fragrances. A little goes a long way and with the 100ml bottle you can make sure it lasts for the whole summer. I particularly like how it quickly absorbs and leaves the skin feeling soft. Once it has been absorbed, the fragrance is gentle and not overpowering which is always important to me as some products give me an awful headache after use because they include too many chemical ingredients. TanOrganic suggest some beauty secrets on the back of the bottle like mixing with foundation to glide smoothly on skin, pouring into your bath or ruffling into your hair for a beach-swept look.

The TanOrganic Tan Eraser is for those who forget about the importance of a good tan remover, which happens to all of us once in a while...  The exfoliating mitt is quick and easy to use for pre and post tanning and it can be used both dry and wet. The coarse texture of the mitt is not too harsh for the skin so it will comfortably give you good exfoliation. You can find all the products on the website here. The Tanning Oil is priced at £24,99, the TanOrganic Original is £19.95, and the Oil Arganic is £24.99.