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.

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…?

Bochery Nature Lotion and Soap

This weather is ridiculous and most perplexing. We in the UK are currently experiencing some of the wettest Winter months on record. One thing that springs (ah yes Spring - we're ever hopeful!) to mind when thinking about this weather is what it does to our lovely skin. The Amazing Blog has been using the new Bochery Nature range as they have some deliciously re hydrating properties that will help to put back a peachy glow into our rather sallow complexions. What makes them a little different, is that not only are their products based on natural and active ingredients, but they also use special Nano-technology & Biotechnology so that the final result is gentle and won't damage the all important Melanin deposit in the lower skin layer; thus all their products can be safely used on both the body AND the face. We were particularly interested in trying out two of their cleansing skincare products the Bochery Nature Tonic & Oxgyenating Lotion and the Bouchery Aromatic Soap.

The Bochery Nature Tonic & Oxgyenating Lotion has a plentiful number of benefits for the skin. These include toning, cell oxygenation and energising qualities. Let’s not forget to mention the addictive, fruity smell that comes with the product. The packaging and product colour does slightly resemble the look of nail polish remover, but that shouldn’t put you off as the lotion itself is a really great way to revive and refresh the skin. It’s £17.50 and as a toner we think its good value, as a little really does go a long way - especially when applying after either a cream cleanser or wash-off make up remover. Their nano-technology is all about stimulation of cells to encourage ultimate revitalisation of the skin, it also offers protection against UV rays. There are natural moisturising factors to help replenish skin cells, making it a great pick-me-up product if you feel your skin is looking a bit tired and dull. I really recommend this if you live in London, or any busy city, as it’s a great way to cleanse your skin but not stripping it as it actually adds wonderful skin enhancers.

The Bochery Aromatic Soap, is a handmade delight which looks and smells wonderful. I have been trying the Aloe Body and Face Soap, and this specific one is for normal, dry and sensitive skin. Oh, and it also has anti-wrinkle benefits… so a bonus! There is Organic Glycerin in the ingredients to help make all this happen. I really love using natural soaps for my face but only when they are moisturising and natural as I can't bear that skin-tightening effect that you get with some others. This one is not only packed full of goodness but also has lovely shades of green in different densities making it a great addition as a bath time essentials. This soap is specially formulated not to react with your skin or cause spots, which many other soaps I have used have been prone to do. This is definitely worth a purchase, it can also be a great little gift for someone. It is only £4.45 and lasts and lasts... and can be found here.

The Bochery products and soaps are all dermatological tested, fragrance,  paraben, allergens and alcohol free. NO animal derivatives are used and NO hydroquinone is used. They are indeed just reliable products that get the job done.

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.