Je Joue and Whistle & Hum

This Wednesday we have something rather special for our female readers to enjoy.  It’s something a little different to our usual beauty based posts but just as exciting… It's the small,  sensual but surprisingly powerful MiMi by Je Joue (French for 'I play') and... well we're all a bit coy here, so I'll just call it an external massager for now. It is perfect to enjoy with a partner or solo. Admittedly The Amazing Blog girls have for now, only been using it in the office on our arms and hands; particularly when our muscles get a bit tense from too much typing. But there again, this just means it has multiple purposes - which is more power to this clever little MiMi! We must mention that we got sent this by the rather nice company called Whistle & Hum  together with a selection of their aromatherapy massage and body oils  a brilliant accompaniment. Whistle & Hum promise to offer women a fun and informative experience when logging on in search of a vibrator - oh there I said it! What we like is the way that they say: "Think of us as your favourite everyday cookbook.....We only use the very best ingredients and don’t assume you have done an advanced cookery course." Nice analogy guys.

So let's tell you some more. The first thing we noticed about this vibrator is how soft it is. Je Joue really take the pebble concept to the next level pairing the pebble/egg shape with the smoothest silicone coating. There are a choice of four colours to chose from, some more feminine than others. You can find pink, purple, black and a lilac shade. Obviously purple is our corporate colour, but we think the black one would also make a perfect present for a male partner. The MiMi has its obviously use with lots of positive reviews from women about how effective the MiMi is but we think that it has the added benefit of making a great massager for all parts of your body. It’s small but surprisingly powerful… It feels great on the face, and for those of you who worry about double chins, then shoot this up to top speed and pulse and feel it exercise that extra flesh! However, where this device really exceeds expectations is when it's put to use for 'intimate stimulation'. It has 5 power levels with 6 different pulse settings to choose from, so plenty of variety depending on your mood. Because of its size it’s also perfect for both storing by your bed at home and for taking when you travel, without the risk of that awkward ‘what’s this?’ moment when someone’s borrowing something from your suitcase.

Valentines Day is a month away, so why not treat yourself and your partner to the MiMi and try something new and exciting in the bedroom! Don’t be coy, you know you want to. I’m sure your partner won’t be disappointed either. It’s easy to charge so once it’s out of use, just connect the magnetic strips on the device with those on the charger and plug it into the wall. 2 hours of charge will give you two hours of pleasure. Another benefit of the MiMi vibrator is that it's bath friendly, so if the bedroom isn’t exciting enough for you then this is fine to use in water. You can purchase this from their website here for £70.  

We also want to tell you more about the aromatherapy massage and body oils by Whistle & Hum we like them all and can't pick a favourite. There are three oils Shine, Love and Desire; each blended with different intentions of arousing different responses. The Desire oil contains ylang ylang which is a rich perfume oil from the flowers of the Cananga tree. Ylang Ylang is a popular addition to products like these as its calming properties has proved effective over the years. Oh, and did we mention Ylang Ylang is an aphrodisiac? How fitting for this post…. The Shine oil contains juniper which is a cleansing and detoxifying plant, and also contains rosemary which acts as a stimulant and tonic. This oil should be your choice if you are looking for something invigorating and revitalising. Finally, we are also really enjoying Love and the beautiful fragrance it releases. This particular oil is an emotion enhancer, with rose absolute and melissa which are traditionally used to help in times of grief or loss. It’s a comforting oil to warm your body and mind and put you into a relaxed state. You can purchase a 30ml bottle for £9 or a 100ml bottle for £16 from Whistle & Hum.

Borealis Sandalwood Moisturiser for Men

We recently featured a post on Borealis, regarding a collection of their wonderful products for women, which you can read about here.  It’s now only fair to tailor a post to our male readers, so they too can learn about some skincare products that will protect their faces out in this cold weather. As The Amazing Blog’s resident male, I've been lucky enough to try out their rather nice Borealis Sandalwood Active Daily Defence Moisturiser for men.

This product fits into the 'natural' ethos of the brand as much as any other of their skincare range. It’s quite a rich cream, so may not be suited to everyone's tastes, as you can definitely feel it on your skin for a while. However, I really like how moisturising this cream is and how it keeps my skin hydrated throughout the day which is especially good whilst it is this cold. The ingredients include a blend of organic starflower, rosehip, coconut, aloe vera and sunflower oils. There is also organic cocoa and shea butter, which help to enhance the blend, creating a cream that is rich yet soft and light. Although I don’t have any wrinkles (yet!) to test results on, the moisturiser has the added bonus of helping to minimise wrinkles, crows feet and fine lines, making it the perfect product for men of all ages.

The pump system makes it really easy to apply and store, which, in my opinion, is well suited to some of us lazy males! Thus there’s no fiddling to get the product out and no chance of spilling it.  The smell is very mellow, which is great because some products claim to be unisex but still have a flowery essence which I don't find too appealing. The woody notes of sandalwood, rosewood, clove and orange help to create a good balance, making it smell pleasant without being too overpowering. An important note to remember with this product is that you should keep it in a cool place, so the essential oils aren’t affected. This moisturiser has been really helpful in revitalising my skin and I would definitely recommend it as it lasts and lasts... You can purchase a 50ml bottle of this moisturiser on the website here for £18.75.

Carrot Banana Peach

This Friday, The Amazing Blog has something a little more unusual to share with you, our lovely readers. Ever heard of food in clothing before? No, not food on your clothing, but actually in it. We think that this might be the start of a new textile trend for 2014. Carrot Banana Peach adds an interesting combination of milk and soybean fibres into the contents of their clothing collection. For this Vegetable Cashmere to be produced, the drained oils are converted to a fibre through a detailed and careful process, which keeps the inherent proteins and nutrients intact. Keeping all the essential nutrients in the fabric means that it is gentle and soft on the skin and there isn’t the chance of irritation like some people may find in other materials. This process creates a wonderfully smooth and breathable piece of clothing, which is lighter and even better than cotton and cashmere and a has the added bonus of being completely machine washable. The actual clothing is stylish and comfortable and makes a perfect yoga or Pilates wear. Carrot Banana Peach offers a unique MILKDAL fabric which incorporates Cleopatra’s bathing ritual's main ingredient, milk. Its restorative properties and the inclusion of modal to the mixture, makes MILKDAL a perfect match for those sensitive to synthetic fabrics.

The fashionable collection ranges across yoga, fitness, rhythmic and dance gear. These garments are made from banana, aloe vera, bamboo, milk and soybean. These plant fibres are all specifically chosen for their properties that create comfortable, natural and soft clothing which has flexibility,  thus ideal for stretching movements. We really like the style of the clothes and would happily use them for casual wear as well as for their sporty purpose. We like the idea of slipping these on and head straight to the sofa for some ultimate relaxation time.  Plus these natural foodie clothes offer the possibility of encouraging us to do exercise because they are so comfy and flexible! You can visit the website here to have a look at their range and everything they have to offer. Search for colours and sizes that suit you and then get your yoga cap on. Prices from £28.50.

Arabelle Skin Sense

During these unusually wet winter months we at The Amazing Blog are always on the lookout for the next moisturising product to add into our skincare routine. In October last year at The Supply & Buy Show we have found a brand that seems to have ticked all our boxes - it is the rather fabulous Arabelle Skin Sense. Our two favourite products from this range are the Cardamom Noir Body Crème and the Blissfully Sensual Body Oil.  These both smell divine and we particularly like the way they are easily absorbed and make our skin stay hydrated for hours. They’re made from all natural ingredients and also come in two different sizes, a 300ml and a 20ml, so if you get addicted to using them (like we have) then they are the perfect sizes to keep one at home and one in the handbag. What more could you want?

The Blissfully Sensual Body Oil can be thought of as liquid silk; as it hydrates, moisturises and leaves skin feeling dewy and pampered. It has a great texture and can even be described as therapeutic when applying, especially after a hot bath or before bed. Applying before bed also ensures that you can wake up with silky smooth replenished skin. This is a big plus in our book, as during these cold winter months skin can often be quite dry and problematic. The essential oil blends in this oil are Sandalwood, Patchouli, Ylang ylang and many more. This combination will help to relieve tired skin and also promoting feelings of euphoria. The rich texture and smell are just so a perfect to help aid relaxation and really spoil your skin.

Like the oil, the Cardamom Noir Body Crème is a luxurious whipped product that leaves skin feeling pampered and silky smooth. It moisturises and hydrates without being greasy. Again it's great product to massage into the skin when wanting to unwind and relax those tense muscles. With all natural ingredients, including cocoa butter and shea butter which are both renowned for their moisturising and healing properties.  The other interesting ingredient is cinnamic acid, which can help protect the skin from UV rays. In addition, the Cardamom Noir Body Crème contains a number of essential oils, so provides the skin with a number of vitamins while also providing a protective layer, helping to retain moisture. If this doesn’t sound good enough, the hard coconut butter is not only excellent for dry and flaky skin, but also good for wrinkled, sagging & aging skin due to its emollient and powerful antioxidant properties. We particularly love the smell of it's spicy, sexy and woody fragrance - it's warming, comforting and deliciously aromatic.

Both the Blissfully Sensual Body Oil and the Cardamom Noir Body Crème come in glass tubs, meaning they look elegant and sophisticated and complement any glamorous bathroom. The oil is priced at £18.50 for 200ml and £5.95 for 30ml, while the crème is £22.50 for 200ml and £6.95 for 30ml, but you definitely get what you pay for. These products really are the epitome of pampering for your skin and can be purchased here.

Borealis Organic Skincare

  With the core principle of letting ‘nature nurture your skin’, the Borealis Organic Skincare range is a popular choice for The Amazing Blog girls. Originating in the Isle of Skye over 20 years ago, the brand has journeyed a long way and now offer plenty of lovely and natural skincare products. We have been trying out the Palmarosa Exfoliating Facial Scrub, Wild Rose Night Cream and the Cranberry & Q10 Eye Repair Cream.

The Palmarosa Exfoliating Facial Scrub is suitable for both men and women which will make a great addition to the bathroom for all to enjoy. Borealis enjoy every part of making their products and create them in small batches to ensure the best possible care goes into their manufacturing. Everything they make is hand blended, including this Beauty Award winning Scrub. In 2012 it was winner of the Green Parent Natural Beauty Awards. At £18.50 I also think its really great value for money because it's suitable for all skin types so can be shared in the family bathroom to help cleanse and revitalise everyone's skin. There is Safflower Oil and Omega 6 & 3 to provide nourishment and protection for even the most delicate of skin. This unique inclusion of softening ingredients mean the scrub can be used be those of us with sensitive skin, which I have. I often avoid scrubs because they will leave me with blemishes and irritated skin because of the harsh texture. This scrub was far less aggravating but still felt like it was clearing my pores and removing any dead skin cells. The Ylang Ylang adds an exotic fragrance making the scrub pleasant to experience even after you have washed it off. You can purchase it here.

The Wild Rose Night Cream is another organic addition to the collection which has multiple benefits for the skin, working through the night to clear up imperfections and any damaged patches. The Organic Rose Water can help to reduce inflammation, redness or itching. This is a really great calming product for anyone who has sensitive skin that can become inflamed after washing. The ingredients also mean it's effective in treating thread veins and wrinkled skin.  The infusion of Rose Maroc adds a wonderful protective element to the cream so you’re in good hands all night. It also smells lovely. This cream is £16.50 and can be found here. We have also been trying out the Cranberry & Q10 Eye Repair Cream. This luxury eye cream is beautifully light and easy to blend into your skin. It’s filled with anti-oxidants and Q10 to minimise the effect of aging which can start to show around the eyes. The ingredients are all soft, as with the scrub, so it won’t irritate the sensitive skin we all have around our eyes. This is a comforting, hand blended cream with effective and fast results. The Vitamin E and Q10 in the formula help to minimise fine lines and keep you looking young and fresh! It’s not a heavy cream so it doesn’t sit with a dewy texture on top of your skin. It is £25.00 and can be found on their website.