Neighbourhood Botanicals – Facial Oil and Lip Balm

Mainstream skin and body care products can be costly, and we at The Amazing Blog never want to forfeit the quality of the regular skincare that we use, just for cheaper products that don't use the same top ingredients. Micaela Nisbet, the founder of Neighbourhood Botanicals, agrees with us here too. After moving from Australia to London to pursue a music career, Micaela found herself spending a large chunk of her paycheck on such products. This inspired Micaela to follow her love for the magic of natural oils and blend her own skincare. The result was the formation of Neighbourhood Botanicals, a reliable natural oil-based skin care line made in the UK.

We were happy to try out the Neighbourhood Botanicals’ Dream Dream Dream Facial Oil. This facial oil is a blend of Moringa seed oil, rosehip fruit oil, apricot kernel oil, geranium oil, ylang-ylang flower oil, vitamin E, blackcurrant seed oil, lavender oil, and is wonderful for all complexions. Since its non-irritant, all natural, and hypoallergenic it is suited to everyone's skin type. In the morning, our skin felt soft and replenished. The contents of the Dream Dream Dream Facial Oil contain essential fatty acids and vitamins, to renew the skin while we sleep. Plus, we reaped the benefits from the phytosterols and vitamin C, which stimulate skin elasticity and collagen regeneration. The floral fragrance left us feeling calm and pampered for bedtime. This 100% cruelty-free and vegan facial oil can also be used during the day on top of a moisturiser, or with foundation. Neighbourhood Botanicals’ Dream Dream Dream Facial Oil 30ml can be purchased here for £28.00.

We also mustn't forget to mention their cute ‘Mon Amour’ by Rejjie Snow lip balm, which is in collaboration with Neighbourhood Botanicals. This wonderful tiny pocket-sized lip balm is also made in the UK. ‘Mon Amour’ lip balm is 100% natural (yay) and applies easily, keeping our lips well-conditioned. It is made from sweet almond oil, shea butter, beeswax, cocoa, white clay to cut the shine, vegetable glycerin, organic honey and vanilla flavours. Our favourite part of this lip balm is its cocoa scent! You can purchase the Mon Amour’ by Rejjie Snow lip balm here for £5.00.

PH7 Skincare Collection

As the autumnal equinox approaches, we at The Amazing Blog are starting to think about implementing a new season skincare regimen. We wanted to find a simple trio that would take us through the forthcoming transitory months with ease, and the natural skincare from pH 7’s Skincare Collection: Natural.Clean.Skin offered us just that. Our morning routine has now started with their thoughtfully formulated skincare products, their signature: Foaming Cleanser, Toner and Moisturiser. pH 7 Natural.Clean.Skin is formulated by US toxicologist Dr. Erika Weaver, PhD, who is committed to designing natural and toxin-free skin care products. During her schooling, Weaver learned about the effects of chemicals and the impact it has on our lifestyle and the environment, and wanted to make a change... 

Our favourite of the trio is their Foaming Cleanser. It nourishes and restores all skin types, it made our skin feel 'squeaky clean' without leaving a hint of tightness. Key ingredients are rose water, witch hazel, honeysuckle, apricot kernel, rosehip, frankincense and sandalwood oils. So easy to apply, simply splash warm water onto the face, then pump 2-3 pumps and massage it in using circular motions. After rinsing thoroughly, and patting dry with a linen face cloth - you'll feel fresh awakened! Next, we used their Toner as a refreshing elixir to hydrate the skin. Key ingredients here include kombucha tea, aloe vera gel, vitamins E and C. Before applying, shake the bottle well and blot it onto a cotton ball. Remember to store this product at room temperature. As you let the skin absorb the toner, apply a small amount of Moisturizer,  which has some of our favourite ingredients such as coconut, sandalwood, frankincense and almond oils, all of which offer a great way to maintain hydration and protection.  You can buy each of the these separately, the Foaming Cleanser here for $14, or the Toner here for $10 and the Moisturizer here for $14. However, this trio can also be bought together here for $36.00.

Friday Favourites: Organic Tanning Products

As our regular readers will know at The Amazing Blog, we're big fans of natural and organic products, and today we are talking about sun care. We've included a couple of new brands that have just launched in the UK, as well as a favourite, trusted British brand. These will all help you to enhance your colour and protect your skin naturally. So be sure to take note, and make your friends envious of your effortless glow and sun-kissed complexion. 

There are few things in life that can make us feel better than sporting a healthy and glowing tan. It gives us newfound confidence and a revitalisation. And what could be better than if it can all be done in a safe and controlled manner? We turn first to Rosenserien, an award-winning brand, to help us achieve a safe natural tan. This isn’t the first time we’ve reviewed Rosenserien, and certainly won't be the last. We have rather a soft spot for this established Swedish organic skincare company. Rosenserien only ever uses natural ingredients, of which over 75% are actually organic. The formula in the Self Tan consists of mainly sugar beet extract for long-lasting results and natural colour. NB: It’s recommended to exfoliate and moisturise the skin before using the self-tanner in order to get an even colour. Depending on your preference, apply up to two layers of the lotion for a deeper tan. Within 4-10 hours of application, your skin will be the perfect shade of tan for 3-5 days. We tried this on the face and loved it, very good results with no blotchiness. The product comes in a 100ml tube and can be purchased here for £22.00.

Sun protection should always be an essential part of your daily routine. Although you may not always be lying out on a beach, your skin still comes into daily contact with the damaging UVA/UVB rays even during your daily commute. A fabulous addition to our sun care collection is Eco Cosmetics' Sun Milk with SPF50. The lotion is moisturising, and allows for full coverage – it must be said that a little does go a long way with this product. It is comprised of certified natural ingredients most of which are sourced from organic farming in Germany. This German sun care line is water resistant, vegan, cruelty-free and coral reef friendly. Due to the formulated titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, the sunscreen protects instantly. Supplemental benefits of the product include improved hydration levels, elasticity and suppleness. If you still want a tan naturally and soak up the sun without harming your skin, then we recommend this 75ml product found here for £22.95.

Our third choice this summer is The Organic Pharmacy’s Self-Tan product.  Margo Marrone, a leading pharmacist and homoeopath, founded the company in 2002 and has been working ever since to improve skincare through the combination of nature and science. Each product is formulated naturally without toxins and is created to meet the highest standards. Similar to Rosenserien’s product, The Organic Pharmacy’s self-tan derives from sugar beet. The British made lotion is light and soft, and best for sensitive skin. First, exfoliate your body before slathering on the lotion. While applying, make sure to cover every crevice and to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. We preferred using this on our bodies rather than our the faces - it was lighter and more absorbent. Your tan will develop after three hours when you will notice a uniformed tan, free of streaks. Enjoy your natural glow by purchasing the 100ml bottle here for £38.00. As they say, don't forget to: 'Slip, slap, slop', and we've certainly you covered for the Bank Holiday weekend, enjoy the sunshine.

Ludlow Food Centre Blood Orange & Gin Marmalade

If the caffeine hit of an espresso doesn’t quite hit the spot, then perhaps a layer of Ludlow’s Blood Orange & Gin Marmalade spread over a chunky slice of granary toast may do the trick! This delicious pairing is sure to become a staple ingredient to The Amazing Blog’s breakfast table, giving us the juicy sweetness of blood oranges, alongside the tangy decadence of an innocent morning tot of gin! 

This Award winning Blood Orange & Gin Marmalade was created by Darren Marsh and Tess Slater, a pair who have been perfecting marmalades, pickles, jams and preserves together since 2008. The team at The Ludlow Food Centre are justly proud of their new product, which won the top slot in the Best Sweet Preserve/Sauce Category at The Great British Food Awards. These awards celebrate the very best in British Farm Produce and are judged by a panel of celebrity and culinary head honchos with a particular focus on the provenance of each individual ingredient. The Ludlow Food Centre squeeze the blood oranges and grapefruit by hand and produce the marmalade only when the fruit is in season. Chase GB Gin, sourced from a local supplier, is added, and the marmalade is produced in small batches of approximately 30 jars. The marmalade works well in sponge puddings, and also works well to form a syrup for cocktails – Marmalade Martini’s anyone?
 
At £3.99 a jar, this isn’t the least expensive pot on the market, but it is certainly one of the tastiest, and can be ordered from Ludlow Food Centre’s Online Shop. They offer a delivery service Monday through Thursday, or of course, you can collect from their store. All details can be found on their website here.

Celtic Herbal - Balms and Candles

We at The Amazing Blog tend to opt for peaceful scents that lift our mood, and Celtic Herbal certainly does just the trick. Celtic Herbal is a Welsh artisan company, who incorporate both their love for natural ingredients, and the surrounding Welsh landscape, the one in which they source some of their key ingredients. What makes each product all the more special, is the fact that they are handmade, and not tested on animals.

We tried four products from their range: two balms and two candles. The handy-sized balms offer a simple solution for dry and cracked skin and fit perfectly into our handbags to use on the go. Celtic Herbal’s Peppermint Lip Balm is made from 100% natural beeswax and has a cooling effect. It’s made up of lovely ingredients, like peppermint oil, sweet almond oil, castor seed oil, sunflower seed oil, and calendula officinalis flower extract. We loved the piquant of the mint which gave a teeny bit of a tingle, and we found that this balm kept our lips moist and supple throughout the day.

With the Celtic Herbal Sleep Balm with Mandarin & Ylang Ylang, we found that when applied to the pulse points it helped to relax our mind. This Sleep Balm is made with warming mandarin oil to ease pressure and Ylang Ylang for calmness. It’s 100% natural and contains mandarin orange peel oil, beeswax, sweet almond oil, castor seed oil, and cananga odorata flower oil. Good to apply at the end of a busy day to bring peace and harmony.

Aromatherapy harnesses the power of botanicals and essential oils, and there are so many different ways to utilise it. Celtic Herbal has created candles from ethically sourced soy wax which are made in small batches to ensure the highest quality. Their Natural Rose Geranium & Grapefruit Travel Soy Candle comes from the Refresh range, emitting a sweet and floral scent that is connected to the balance of the nervous system. It’s said to help lift depression and relieve anxiety - we found it very mood enhancing.

The final product that we tried was their Natural Mandarin, Lime & Basil Travel Soy Candle. This comes from the Purify range. Its warm and uplifting scent intends to bring clarity and fresh perspectives. Perfect to help you unwind after a long journey. The 30g travel candles have a clean burning time of four hours, and the 105g candles can last up to twenty-five hours. Time to breathe in and relax! Purchase the Celtic Herbal Peppermint Lip Balm 15g here for £4.00; Sleep Balm with Mandarin & Ylang Ylang 25g here for £5.50; Natural Rose Geranium & Grapefruit Travel Soy Candle 30g here for £5.50; Natural Mandarin, Lime & Basil Travel Soy Candle 30g here for £5.50.