Jane Scrivner - Balance Skin Elixir

At The Amazing Blog we're true lovers of a good oil - we're just obsessed with hair oils, body oils and face oils. One of our early discoveries this year has been Jane Scrivner's Balance Skin Elixir. It claims to balance every skin type - from dry, to oily and dehydrated. Since December I've been using a face oil every evening, and ever since the texture and the appearance of my dry (now normal-ish) skin has dramatically changed for the good. When Jane Scrivner's Balancing Skin Elixir arrived to The Amazing Blog's HQ, I was running out of my regular serum of choice and I decided to give it a go - and I'm completely taken with it.

Jane Scrivner's Balance Skin Elixir's main ingredient is Jojoba - perfect for dry, dehydrated and oily skin alike... contradictory in terms, but it actually makes sense. Jojoba penetrates deep and merges with the skin's natural oils, tricking the skin to reduce or increase - in order to regulate - the production of sebum, transforming your skin to a balanced canvas.

My skin absorbes this fantastic oil almost instantly, leaving it soft, supple and healthy-looking and feeling. I just squeeze one pump onto my fingers, warm it rubbing my fingers and patting it onto my skin (not rubbing it). It is perfect either by itself or under your regular moisuriser.

As I said, I've been using face oils for a couple of weeks now, and the overall appearance of my skin has changed for the better. My skin is no longer dry  (it's much less dehydrated now) and I've found that oils have helped me a  fading scars (I have a small electrolysis scar just above my lip). At The Amazing Blog we can't recommend using face oils/serums enough and Jane Scrivner's has quickly become one of our favourites.  A little goes a long way and this 30ml bottle is still going strong - so a good price at £29 - which will probably last anything between - 30 to 60 days. We will also be writing about her Nourishing Cleanser which has been a real hit with Lara - but you'll just have to wait until February to read her review :o)

Honestly Healthy

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to have a healthier lifestyle? You can start by cooking and even eating healthier. We at The Amazing Blog came across a cookbook that would be perfect for you. Honestly Healthy: Eat With Your Body In Mind, The Alkaline Way by Natasha Corrett and Vicki Edgson gives a clear explanation of alkalizing foods and their healing and preventative properties by a gourmet chef and nutritional therapist. It is the best of both worlds, combining the advice of both a chef and nutritionist. The book features 100 delicious and easy-to-prepare recipes that help you rebalance and rejuvenate from breakfast to dinner. The book not only has great recipes, but also fantastic photographs of some of the finished meals to go along with them.

This book is filled with interesting facts and advice such as how to enjoy a glass of hot water and lemon in place of coffee in the morning. The book is divided into two sections. The first section deals with the basics, such as the principles of healthy eating and information on the different food groups. The second section features mouth-watering recipes from smoothies in the morning through to delicious pizzas and desserts. There is a variety of foods to choose from that will satisfy anyone’s daily cravings. Each recipe in this section takes you step-by-step through how to prepare one of these delicious meals that will leave you feeling ‘honestly healthy.’

Honestly Healthy is a refreshing cookbook and lifestyle guide promoting balanced and healthy living. The book retails for £20 and can be bought on their website here. This book will literally change your life, not just your eating habits, but your mindset about living a healthy lifestyle. Honestly Healthy also has a detox program called Cleanse. These ‘fridge fills’ are delicious energy-boosting alkaline vegetarian foods that are delivered to your home weekly. Cleanse will help you naturally get rid of toxins leaving you in a balanced state to lose weight in a healthy way. There are two levels of intensity: Cleanse and Cleanse Lifestyle. Both levels include tasty dishes, snacks, and drinks that will leave you feeling good all day! For more information about this phenomenal detox program visit their website here. These Honestly Healthy products are by far some of The Amazing Blog’s favourite finds!

The Groovy Food Company's Omega High Five Cooking Oil

At The Amazing Blog we love cooking  and everyday we gather around the dining table to have lunch, and we can't help but to try each other's food and judge our colleagues' cooking skills. In my attempt to eat healthily, I realized that not only the ingredients of the final dish should be of a good quality, but the base ingredients aswell. Using the right oil or butter is essential, not only for the taste but for your own health too. When I came across with The Groove Food Company's Omega High Five Cooking Oil, I felt that my mission of leading a healthy lifestyle was being accomplished little by little.

Tagged as a "nutritious oil", the Omega High Five Cooking Oil is the perfect blend of five virgin fruit and seed oils rich in omega acids 3, 6 and 9 and vitamin E: camelina, avocado, virgin olive, oleic sunflower and toasted sesame seeds oil. The final result is a luxurious cooking oil that keeps its flavour and goodness even at high temperatures. We've tried the Omega High Five Cooking Oil with nearly everything: pasta, rice, salads, fries, meat dishes... and even though its taste isn't the one you'd expect from a cooking oil (you can definitely tell it contains sesame seed oil even though the taste is subtle), the final dish is tasty and contains no processed or bad quality added oils.

The Groovy Food Company's Omega High Five Cooking Oil is suitable for everyone but it does however, contain sesame seeds. This fabulous and nutritious cooking oil is widely available at Tesco, Sainsbury's and at select healthfood retailers for £6.99 the 500 ml bottle.

Aqualibria

Both in the lead up to and in the midst of the Olympics, London has been enthralled by fitness fever hitting the capital. It's fair to say my gym has never been so packed, and there are certainly more runners on Clapham Common than ever before. Even we at The Amazing Blog, whose afternoon snacks usually consist of Haribo and Diet Coke, have been opting for healthier alternatives that give optimum energy until home-time. And with all the sinewy limbs, wash-board stomachs and athletic prowess dominating every platform available, there's never been a more inspiring time to look after ourselves.

With fitness boot-camps and juice cleanses-a-plenty, there are answers to all our fitness dilemmas everywhere we look. But sometimes, fad diets and early morning military training can leave us more tired and lethargic than a sleepless weekend, and this is where the experts at Aqualibria can help. With a new and totally fresh approach to the ancient practise of colon hydrotherapy, they offer a natural, cleansing detox using the most advanced technology.

As the office guinea pig, I volunteered to go along to Aqualibria's HQ on London's Harley Street and, not knowing entirely what to expect, was pleased to find a very holistic, serene practise. I was greeted by founder and clinical director of Aqualibria, Velile Ndebele who immediately put me at ease as she lead me into her office for my initial consultation. Having already completed a questionnaire prior to my visit, we went through my diet and lifestyle as Velile gently pointed out various changes I could make in order to benefit my digestion and consequentially my health and fitness.

Following the consultation I was shown to the treatment room where the colonic hydrotherapy is carried out. Aqualibria is the first centre in the UK to use the Libbe Colon Hydrotherapy Open System which differs from the traditional system in that it offers a greater degree of comfort and dignity, often with more effective results. Natural mood enhancing scents, an electronic massager and theraputic music make the treatment, while not quite as pleasurable as my post-race massage, certainly a lot more relaxing that I had initially anticipated.

I left with a print out of guidelines to follow and nutritional advice that would aid me in my quest for a greater level of well-being and certainly felt a lot 'cleaner' on the inside. Colonic Hydrotherapy is a brilliant alternative therapy that is perfect for anyone suffering from IBS or constipation, but it is equally great for those who want a thorough detox and a kick start on their way to a healthier way of life. And with an ambient interior and a reassuring and experienced team of staff, Aqualibria certainly get my vote!

Cocofina

We girls at The Amazing Blog know the importance of staying hydrated. But whether you're a self-confessed gym bunny, are keeping cool during the (occasional) spells of sunshine or simply sipping fluids on a day-to-day basis, sometimes water just doesn't cut it. Yes, it's good for you; but while it might flushes out toxins and keep skin glowing, it tastes kind of bland right?

Thankfully, we recently came across Cocofina Coconut Juice, whose special properties put H20 to shame. Cocofina Coconut Juice or Coconut Water is the clear liquid found within young green coconuts. As the name suggest its made from the finest small coconuts at their water ready peak hence the name 'Cocofina'. What is special about these coconut water drinks is their infusions. We loved all the different flavour combinations of  Cocofina Coconut Juice with Pineapple and Lime (very zesty and refreshing), the Cocofina Coconut with Apple and Blueberry (deliciously fruity) and their Cocofina Coconut with Tea and Passionfruit (aromatic and sweet).

Many people don't realise that coconut juice is one of nature's superfluids, and with such an acolade comes a huge amount of health benefits. Cocofina is naturally isotonic, meaning that it rehydrates faster than water and is naturally low in both fat and cholesterol, with no added sugar. In addition it's a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B2, Potassium, Iron, Calcium and Magnesium.

With a refreshing, fruity taste and so packed with goodness, Cocofina has become The Amazing Blog's favourite new drink and it's no surprise that it won Gold in the Soft Drink category at the Excellence In Food And Drink Awards! Oh, and finally - it's brilliant for hangovers having been tried and tested by staff at The Amazing Blog - so certainly a must have in this office!