Friday Favourites - Sun Products with SPF

With yet another unpredictable English summer upon us, here at The Amazing Blog we were anxious to find something to protect our skin from the sun, should it choose to come out! So, we decided to give some of the newest and most exciting products with SPF on the market a test run.

 

First off was the Green People Sun Lotion. A Beauty Bible award winner for ultimate natural product, Green People never use no harsh chemicals (82% of ingredients are organic) and 10 per cent of profit is donated to the Marine Conservation Society charity, making them an ethical role model.  Although it only has a 25 SPF factor and a medium coverage rating, it is designed to be kind to sensitive skin, so could be perfect for olive skin individuals who still suffer from sensitivity from time to time, like myself. This product is an environmental triumph, as well as being good to skin. At only £18.95 from the Green People website, it’s a reasonable price compared to some alternatives and does a whole lot of good at the same time.

Another unique product we tried was The Sun Mousse. A unique brand, they have products for both adults and children. We sampled the 30 SPF, 6 hour protection, water resistant product and were amazed. I was originally apprehensive about how much to use but the mousse comes out moderately slowly so don’t panic about explosions of fast foaming mousse! It rubs in quickly and feels so light on the skin; the oily thick feel that most creams have is a thing of the past.  So the fact that The Sun Mousse, goes on quickly, easily and without fuss or frills, helps to remove all moaning from small people  desperate to get into the pool or sea. The six hour protection also means children (and adults) can run, jump and play in the sun without worry. If maximum protection is your biggest worry then this mousse is perfect. Easy application, maximum protection. It’s available here, from the Sun Mousse website for £19.99.

For some variation, we also tried the Resultime CC Cream from Collin Paris. CC creams or colour corrector creams are a relatively new concept to the make-up world. They are designed to even out skin pigmentation and leave a flawless finish. Unlike the other products we tried, this CC cream also has anti-aging elements. The vitamin E also helps to improve skin moisture and the SPF 30 rating ensures you’re protected from the sun all day long. The product is light and goes onto the skin beautifully. It comes in two skin shades, natural and golden they blend so well that they are suitable for almost any skin tone. If you’re searching for something lighter than foundation for the summer months this CC cream could be the perfect product. The Resultime CC creams are available here £35.50 each.

We also tried one of the hero products from Murad, Essential C Sun Balm is a stick application sun cream with an SPF of 35. Although this isn’t the maximum protection it still offers adequate cover, as well as hydrating the skin. The roll-on stick nature of the product is definitely its unique selling point. The quality and versatility is demonstrated by its 2013 Shape Sun Award. It makes it super easy to apply, especially to the face, with no worries of using too much or staining clothes like some liquid creams. With extracts of broccoli for UV protection and tangerine butter for moisture as well as being anti-animal testing, Murad’s Essential C Sun Balm ticks all the boxes for the perfect face and neck sun cream. The cream is available here for £19.50.

The final product in our sun feature is the Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45. This unique product comes in the form of a brush on sun protector for immediate, any time UVA/UVB sun-protection. This product is so versatile, acting as a bronzer/powder concealer as it creates the illusion of smooth radiant skin, whilst also offering a level of sun cream protection. So, if you still keep up your make-up routine on holiday, this touch up powder is perfect. It also helps prevent sunburn, skin damage, freckling and uneven discoloration, leaving you flawless but protected. The Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45 is available through Salon Skincare here in the UK for £17.60

 

Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Juice and Gel

Here at The Amazing Blog  we are very impressed with the  Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Juice and Gel. Along with their patent pending Aloesorb technology, this aloe juice packs a seriously healthy punch with some of the highest molecular weighted polysaccharides (carbohydrates), which translates to a better quality of aloe juice for your body.

Aloe Vera was known as the plant of immortality by the Egyptians over 6,000 years ago and now thanks to Lily of the Desert we are able to have top notch Aloe Vera Juice and Gel to add to our smoothies and cocktails or to have alone. The juice and the gel both have a slightly sweet taste that is lovely on its own and will blend seamlessly into any drink or cocktail you might add it to.

The Aloe Vera Juice and Gel has tons of uses and we love a product that is multipurpose and healthy at the same time. Aloe Vera Juice and Gel are good for the skin, good internally, as well as good for overall health and wellness. Check out some of the delicious drink recipes here. We particularly love the Watermelon Ginger spritzer recipe:

2 ounces Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Juice

4 cups seedless watermelon, cubed

2 inches fresh ginger, peeled

agave nectar, to taste

chilled seltzer water

Directions: (Serves 4) Blend watermelon and ginger; strain pulp out. Mix with Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera juice and pour over ice. Top with chilled seltzer water and enjoy!

 

You can purchase your own Lily of the Desert Aloe Juice 473ml for £6.99 here or go to your local independent health food store and ask for it.

Oriflame - Ecollogen Foaming Gel Wash & Skin Perfecting Toner

If paradise had a smell, it would most certainly be Oriflame Ecollagen Foaming Gel Wash and Skin Perfecting Toner. As soon as us girls at The Amazing Blog opened the bottles, it was almost a scuffle! With a light, yet stimulating floral scent, we could not wait to wash our faces with the foaming gel wash and use the skin perfecting toner.

After fighting our way to the loo, good naturedly of course, we were able to try out these great products. The foaming gel wash comes out of the conveniently locking pump in a clear gel and foams up well for the face. When washed off, it leaves your face feeling smooth and refreshed. The toner goes on with a cotton pad and leaves the face feeling further refreshed and soft as feathers. One of the greatest things about this toner was that it did not leave the face feeling dry at all. This is a well balanced skin care duo and the scent alone makes the line worth checking out.

The website for Oriflame offers many different products, but the Ecollagen line specifically can be found here. Both beauty products run for £14.95. Purchase the foaming gel wash here and the skin perfecting toner here.

PLENISH - Cleanse Juice

 

Do you ever find yourself searching for an easier alternative to fresh juice drinks? Our busy lifestyles here at The Amazing Blog  make it difficult to take the time to make our own, but we've found a solution!

PLENISH is a new organic raw cold pressed juice company designed to detoxify and energize the body with nutritious and delicious cold pressed juices. The juices are made using a “two step” method production process. The first step of the process is when the certified organic produce is cold pressed, and the second step uses a state of the art advanced process called HPP, high pressure processing  to keep the juice nutrient packed. The juice includes all of the natural enzymes, phytonutrients and vitamins necessary, and retains all of the product’s raw nutritional density. Because of this, it has an extended shelf life of up to 20 days! Also, PLENISH is free from wheat, gluten and all processed sugars and stabilizers. There are seven organic and unique flavors of juices and nut milks, depending on what function you want it to serve. The juices aim to bridge the gap between the fresh juice bar and functional drinks. Aside from drinking the juices as a stand alone beverage, PLENISH also offers 3 different levels of cleanses.

Purchase your PLENISH juices today from the low price of £5.99 here, and the cleanses starting from £80 per day here  with free delivery on all UK orders!

Laguna Star - Swim Shorts

Summer time is here, and we at the Amazing Blog are always keeping an eye out for swimwear. Laguna Star has great looking pairs of swim shorts for yourself or a man in your life, and we think every guy should have one! They are extremely light weight and have a classic look, reassuring that you’re always ‘in style’. Aside from the timeless look of the shorts, this quick-dry material is perfect for warm weather adventures. Each pair of shorts is one of a kind and hand embroidered, using only the finest materials and threads. There are also a variety of design elements, including 4 colours and 4 embroidery options, totalling 16 combinations of shorts. We love traditional items here at the Amazing Blog because there’s no need to buy the ‘new style’ each season, and the item ends up paying for itself.

Laguna Star also supports Project Seahorse, which is a Marine Life Conservation project. £3 of each purchase goes to this cause in order to make a difference in our oceans. Get your own pair of Laguna Star Swim Shorts here for £90.00.