Friday Feature: Bodycare

We at The Amazing Blog are here to bring you some body products that incorporate the best that nature has to offer. Whether you fancy some donkey’s milk, some aloe vera, nut oils or shea butter, we have something for you. You only get given one body in your life, so treat it with care!

The first treat for your skin is Mathilde B’s Donkey’s Milk Shower Gel. Mathilde B is a cosmetics company with a unique star ingredient; donkey’s milk. With products ranging from shampoos, face creams, hand and feet creams and body lotion, your entire body can be pampered with some donkey’s milk. We were lucky enough to receive the shower gel.

Mrs Léon was inspired by Cleopatra’s beauty rituals, in which the notorious queen famously bathed in donkey’s milk. Bringing this historical trend back, Mathilde B’s Donkey Milk range is soothing and softening on the skin. Donkey milk is famous for its regenerative powers, and is extremely gentle on the skin, even for those with particularly sensitive skin. This is because donkey’s milk is close to breast milk and is therefore tolerated by sensitive skins. This star ingredient is packed with vitamins, including A, B1, B2, B6, C, D and E. Vitamin A and C both help to nourish the skin and prevent wrinkles, vitamin B softens the skin while D is extremely effective against eczema and dry skin and vitamin E protects the skin from harmful external factors.

What is especially impressive to us, is that the milk comes from Mathilde B’s local production, and is therefore guaranteed to be pure and of high quality. The products are not tested on animals, and are free-from parabens and GMOs. Mathilde B, a French brand, based near the Pays Basque renowned for their unique black cherries incorporates this ingredient into all of Mathilde B’s products for a fruity and sensual scent.

Mathilde B only sells via their French website, but you can order the Shower Gel (Gel Douche) here for around £7.

If you are concerned about a spot of cellulite here and there, we’ve got you. GÍÍLinea-Bio’s Cellulite Creme tackles this issue but in an organic way. GÍÍLinea-Bio takes the utmost pride and care in the sourcing of their ingredients, using only active ingredients, such as 100% pure Aloe Vera Gel, which is hand-harvested and processed immediately afterwards. It is these preserved vitamins and minerals that have such an impact on your skin, making it appear vibrant and healthy.

Their Cellulite Creme harnesses a host of active ingredients to improve the appearance of skin, helping to make it smooth. The product only contains natural active ingredients including Aloe Vera, Ant Tree peel extract, Tiger Weed extract, Buckeye Extract, Common Ivy, Algae Extract, and Peppermint. Although it has simple ingredients, when combined they create a miracle-formula to eliminate the appearance of skin imperfections.

Purchase the Cellulite Creme here for £27

We love a multi-use oil here, as nothing is more convenient. What’s perfect, is that Tan Organic’s Moisturising Multi-Use Dry Oil is vegan, contains 100% plant and nut oil, has a fresh citrus scent, and has an incredibly weightless formula. It combats surface hydration while locking in moisture. The oil has many uses – it could be used for intense hydration, as an after-sun, a non-greasy cuticle oil, a hair treatment oil or to give a glowy and dewy finish to your foundation. It also prolongs a tan, whether real or fake!

Tan Organic is a cruelty-free brand, and their products are made with high-quality ingredients. As Noelle O’Connor, Tan Organic creator puts it; ‘I only want to use the highest quality, natural and organic ingredients'. Tan Organic has been officially certified by EcoCert, The Ethical Company Organisation and PETA.

Purchase the Multi-Use Dry Oil here for £26.20.

If you suffer from chronically dry skin, a rich cream is what you’re after. Lavera’s Basis All Round Cream is a rich moisturising cream in a handy little (recyclable) tin, ideal for on-the-go. This cream is perfect for particularly dry areas of the body such as cracked heels, elbows and knees, but can be used all over the body if you so wish! The organic shea butter and almond leave skin intensely nourished and protected. This multi-use product can be used on all skin types and for the whole family, including those with especially sensitive skin. Although it is ultra-moisturising, it is easily absorbed into the skin, which is a bonus for us as we're not fond of that slippery feeling when your moisturiser just won't sink in. Creamy but non-greasy is the ultimate pairing.

This cream is vegan and is not tested on animals.

Purchase the All Round Cream here for £5.90.

This great range of bodycare products will allow you to pamper your skin in the most effective way. After all, isn't applying natural and beautifully scented moisturiser the simplest way to take care of your skin.

Friday Feature - Self-Tanners

We here at The Amazing Blog were getting sick of reading the artificial ingredients that many self-tanners contain. That's why we have gathered some of our favourite natural and organic self-tanners for you.

The first self-tan on our list is the NUXE Sun Self-Tanning Lotion. NUXE’s philosophy is to utilise the properties of plants to produce high-quality and effective beauty products, or as they put it, ‘When Nature’s brilliance meets glamour’. The company strives to promote sustainable development and create conscientious cosmetics. Lastly, but very importantly for us, all NUXE products are free from parabens, mineral oil and animal extracts. Although this self-tan is not 100% organic, Nuxe does prioritise ingredients with a natural origin.

NUXE has released a Sun range, to revive lacklustre and tired winter skin. Within the Self-Tanning range is a Lotion and a Facial Balm. We were lucky enough to test out the lotion, and it delivers an even and natural-looking tan after being left on for 1 hour. You can keep applying it daily to achieve a gradually darker tan. It not only leaves the skin sun-kissed and streak-free, but it also leaves behind an iridescent glow that even J-Lo would be jealous of.

Purhcase the NUXE Sun Self-Tanning Lotion here for £15.50.

The Invisible Tan from Eco By Sonya is award-winning for a reason. Having Won Best Fake Tan in the Natural Health International Beauty Awards 2016 and winner for Best Fake Tan at the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2017, we can see why. We all love a tan, but the fact that this one is made with entirely natural ingredients, including plant, fruit and flower extracts, is music to our ears.

This overnight 8-hour tan is easily buildable and easy to apply because it doesn't tan instantly and leave dark, unsightly streaks. Don't let that fool you though, you only need one application for a bronzed finish, but you can always apply more layers if you're after an even deeper tan. This self-tan is best suited for medium/olive skin tones, so bear that in mind! The lotion applies like a moisturiser as it is infused with aloe vera, rose geranium oil, avocado oil and chamomile that leave the skin soft and nourished, helping the tan appear smoother and more even. It is free from synthetic fragrance, artificial oranges dyes (that leave orange smudges wherever you go), parabens and GMOs, and it's cruelty-free. Eco indeed.

Purchase The Invisible Tan By Eco By Sonya here, for £28.

The next wholesome tanner that we have for you is TanOrganic's Self Tan Mousse. This is the world's first certified-organic self-tan mousse, which is a significant badge of honour. As far as TanOrganic are concerned, a bad fake tan is as indiscreet as an obvious toupee, and we couldn't agree more. The trade-off for a quick and easy self-tan in mousse form is that it is generally a little flakey and patchy. TanOrganic, however, have created the ideal formula that combines the fast application of a mousse with the nourishment of a lotion. The mousse fades gradually and evenly, so you are not left with orange patches, and doesn't have that potent and offensive fake-tan smell.

This self-tan mousse is ultra moisturising, owing to the hyaluronic acid, moisturizing ingredients and natural food colouring (artificial colourants are usually what dry out the skin). Organic Aloe Vera juice, which is extremely hydrating and calming, makes up 80% of the formula. Not only this, but the entire formula is 100% organic and natural, without any synthetic ingredients, colours, dyes, drying agents, parabens or toxins. Last, but not least, it is cruelty-free. Really, the list goes on and on.

Of course, a staple for every self-tanning addict is an application and exfoliator glove, and we love TanOrganic's. Their Luxury Application Glove is extremely soft, and therefore gentle on the skin. The soft texture and separate thumb hole (that tanning mitts don't usually have) produces an even, streak free tan. The Tan-Erase Ultimate Exfoliator Glove provides extreme exfoliation with its course texture, perfect for preparing the skin pre-tan and removing old tan. You will be left with baby-soft skin, the perfect canvas for your Self Tan Mousse!

Purchase TanOrganic's Self Tan Mousse here for £31, the Application Glove here for £8 and the Exfoliator Glove here for £15.

Our final product is a unique one. Although it isn't based around natural ingredients like the others, we just had to throw it in as it is too intriguing a product not to. Tancream™, a patent pending self-tan is a unique blend of sunscreen and sunless tanning agents. The result is a luxury face and body lotion offering SPF 50, that also provides a gradual bronze tan. It wasn't as easy as popping a sunscreen and a self-tan in a bottle and shaking it up though. Tancream is the result of two years of intensive research that has been endorsed by leading dermatologists. Your skin is definitely in safe hands, especially since the sun is no joke.

The sunscreen properties give this product Ultra UVA 5 star High Sun Protection and protects the skin against damaging and ageing UVA rays. You also don't have to worry about patchy orange skin, as the intensely hydrating lotion gives life to dry skin. Infused with instant bronzer, you achieve a healthy and lasting glow. Not only this, but the lotion also contains Tancream's unique anti-ageing formula. The formula is easy to apply, and streak- and fragrance-free.

Purchase Tancream here for £39.95.

We hope you'll join us on our venture for partly or wholly natural and organic self-tanners, as really, they don't need to contain all those nasties. Be bronzed and glowy whilst treating and protecting your skin!

Toothpastes and Express Oral Care Foam - Splat

Brushing your teeth; it's something you do every morning and evening, every day of your life. That's why Splat's unique toothpastes intrigued us; it may be fun to shake up this mundane routine. In addition, whitening toothpaste can often be damaging to tooth enamel, which is why Splat’s naturally whitening toothpastes are so tempting to us here at The Amazing Blog.

Splat delivers ethical professional oral care, focusing on natural ingredients that are still effective, all from an environmentally friendly factory. The toothpastes come in an array of exotic and unique flavours, so if you’re somewhat bored of the repetitive mint toothpastes, choose between berries, green tea, lavender and magnolia to name a few. Each flavour has specific ingredients that work to clean your teeth, for example, the Coconut Toothpaste contains coconut oil, cinnamon extract and thyme essential oil which all have antibacterial properties. Our favourites would have to be the Coconut, and the Sea Minerals, which deliver a refreshing and invigorating clean, but the Ginger or Chili ones sure are bound to wake you up in the morning! Splat’s Blackwood Charcoal Toothpaste is peculiar in that it is black in colour, but works to whiten teeth by removing any stains.

Splat also sent us the Express Oral Care Foam, an on-the-go teeth cleaning foam, and winner at the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2017. Liquorice, milk enzymes and aloe vera gel, amongst other ingredients, work to clean the enamel, prevent the formation of dental plaque and freshen your breath. It is ideal for long journeys, after a staining drink like coffee or red wine, or after sugary foods and drinks. All you do is spray the foam into your mouth, rinse your mouth with the foam briefly and spit it out. We are huge fans of this convenient little product.

Purchase the toothpastes here for prices ranging from £3-8, and the Express Oral Care Foam here for £6.

Anti-Ageing Supplements - Lumity

At The Amazing Blog, we are firm believers that the prevention of signs of ageing goes beyond miracle creams - although they certainly help. To truly stay looking as youthful as you can it's important to take care of yourself from the inside out. As the people at Lumity put it, the body is an ‘infinitely intelligent network of interdependent processes’, and therefore anti-ageing should be tackled in a multi-faceted approach. We couldn't agree more about these Anti-Ageing Supplements. These supplements are the first food supplement to address all nine causes of ageing  (most skin care and supplements target only 1 or 2 areas).

Lumity was created, after years of research, to create a more target approach to anti-ageing and produce supplements to help you maintain health, energy and radiance as you grow older. The supplements provide nutrition to benefit skin, hair and nails, the brain, bones, joints, muscles and teeth, the immune system and the metabolism. With one tablet in the morning for a ‘rich day’ and one in the evening for a ‘restful night’, you are receiving targeted nutrition that supports the entire body. Noticeable benefits include firmer and more radiant skin, deeper sleep, improved hormonal balance, higher energy levels and immune resilience. The supplement contains a clever and all-natural combination of targeted and high-quality nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids, all suspended in flaxseed oil. These work to give you health, vitality and beauty, inside and out.

Unsurprisingly we are not the only fans of Lumity, and it has just been named as one of the top 3 anti-ageing supplements by The Times. It has been named as the 'Editors Choice' by The Beauty Shortlist Awards 2017, and if that's not enough of a commendation; then the fact that Harrods have selected it as one of only four wellness brands to go on their dedicated well-being stand in their Beauty Apothecary certainly is.

Purchase a month's supply of Lumity for £90 or subscribe to their newsletter and an automatic monthly supply, then you can get 15% off and free shipping = £76.50 a month here.  You can find your nearest UK stockist here. 

Shea Butter Body Conditioner – Peini

Peini is where science meets African cultural traditions. Peini is the result of a British skin care brand collaborating with a West African Farmer’s Cooperation. It is an organic and natural skin care range that focuses on incorporating naturally-occurring beauty enhancing ingredients into their beauty products. “PEINI” means gift in Dagbani, and we here at The Amazing Blog were very excited to receive the Shea Butter Body Conditioner.

This brand was created and introduced to the UK market by Sarah Nicholas-Kyei after many visits to her husband, Kwaku Kyei’s, homeland. Peini uses sustainable farming for their ingredients, hiring Ghanaian widows, orphans, women farmers to bring ancient skin care practices to the UK. The products are all toxic free, green and use naturally-sourced shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, palm kernel oil, sunflower seed oil that are indigenous to Ghana. These nourishing ingredients deliver natural, edible vitamins E, A, F and K. The results are beautiful products that are Paraben-free, SLS-free and are cruelty-free, which means that these products can be used on even the most sensitive of skins, including newborn babies.

The Shea Butter Body Conditioner is rich and thick, providing you with a deep and long-lasting moisture. However, we are pleased to report that the skin is not left sticky and coated. The body conditioner is absorbed almost instantly, so after applying you can almost immediately get dressed and begin your day. The conditioner improves skin texture and tone, boosts collagen production and the abundance of vitamins recover and defend the skin.

You can purchase this wonderful body conditioner for £8.50 from the Peini website here, or from Amazon UK here and trust us, this a gift you won't regret buying for yourself.