Mokhado Oils - Starter Pack

Our team here at The Amazing Blog is passionate about healthy eating and cooking our own meals. We recently found out about Mokhado cooking oils from South Africa, and suddenly our cooking experience has transformed for the better.

The range of oils includes three different varieties – Apricot, Avocado and Macadamia – which each contain their own unique flavour and taste. All three oils are cold-pressed, extra virgin, pure, heart-healthy and suitable for vegans. With monounsaturated fats and natural vitamins, they provide your body with healthy fats and antioxidants. The bottles are even coloured-coded and feature a simple and beautiful design.

The founder of the oils, Chrisjan Van den Berg, is proud to showcase the oils his family has known and loved for years. All of the ingredients used to make the oils are never wasted either, since the remaining pits are used as animal feed or compost.

We loved adding the oils to vegetable stir-fry and when baking meat and fish. The macadamia oil, in particular, tasted wonderful when added to something as simple as plain rice. It was so easy to enjoy the oils when we remembered how healthy they are, in addition to their flavourful taste. If you're feeling a little more adventurous, then Mokhado have a range of delicious recipe ideas to choose from, including a fantastic guacamole.

To try the full range of Mokhado oils, head here and get your own set of three for £20. You can also purchase individual bottles of whichever oil you choose for £6.99 each. 

Environ Body Pamper Packs

Here at The Amazing Blog, we understand how important it is to relax and de-stress after a long day at work. With the new Body Pamper Packs from Environ, we can kick back and treat ourselves with ease. Each pamper pack comes with the Environ Hydrating Lotion and Body Oil, designed to moisturise and nourish skin in need of a little TLC.

The AVST Body Oil contains firming and antioxidant properties designed to keep your skin looking fabulous. With high doses of Vitamins A, C and E, you’ll be able to fight sun damage and anti-ageing. It even works to heal stretch marks and scars with natural ingredients that target dry and sun-damaged skin. At the office, we appreciated how the oil made our skin feel luxurious and nourished instantly. It works best when applied after showering and when used in combination with the AVST Body Lotion.

While the body oil works to nourish all areas of skin, the AVST Body Lotion works to target rougher areas of skin such as elbows, feet and knees in need of a little extra moisture. Its ingredients are gentle, non-toxic and safe for use on sensitive skin. It gives skin a smooth surface, which can keep your tan looking even and fresh as the summer approaches. When you combine the lotion with the body oil, the two products will work together to treat skin affected by sun damage. We loved the lightweight feel of the lotion and the subtle scent.

Full-sized versions of both products (£39 each) are available from select beauty salons and aesthetics clinics nationwide, as well as at Harvey Nichols.

**GIVEAWAY** We have TEN Pamper Packs, filled with a trial-sized version of the oil and lotion to give to you. Please enter our giveaway by emailing us with your name and address here at Info@theamazingblog.co.uk *Giveaway is one pack per entry and the offer is open until 21st May 2015. Good Luck!

Tabitha James Kraan Hair Products

We here at the Amazing Blog  are obsessed with hair care products and treatments so when we received Tabitha James Kraan dry shampoo and hair oil we couldn’t get enough if it. Dry shampoo is a busy girl’s miracle product giving her time to get on with the day whilst creating plenty of volume.

Let’s face it ladies not all of us have the time to wash our hair every day, washing, drying and styling can often be an arduous process. So here is the answer to your prayers, Tabitha Dry Shampoo takes the grease from the roots whilst leaving your feeling silky smooth and not dry like the majority of dry shampoos. The great thing about this product is that it is not aerosol which can be toxic when inhaled and irritating to skin. This dry shampoo is a powder but it is NOT a white powder so it does not leave your hair looking grey or dull, you can put it directly onto your scalp and rub it in with your fingers. Some dry shampoos can leave feeling dirty and sticky however this will leave your hair soft and clean and smelling luxurious almost as if you have actually had a shower!

We also received hair oil which comprises of certified organic ingredients including sea buckthorn, argan oil, safflower, rosehip and goji berry, making it packed full of essential proteins, omegas and vitamins to keep your hair beautiful both inside and out.  The oil is an impressive 99.5% certified organic and 100% natural making it the most opulent oil your hair could dream of.

I put in my hair 30 minutes before I had a shower for a deep treatment. My hair is quite fine and the oil actually gave my hair volume and left it looking soft, smooth and silky, it’s well worth a try my hair felt stronger and more protected. 

We now addicted to these products and will be buying our dry shampoo here  for £28.95 and the hair oil here  for £38.00.

Acqua di Parma - Italian Resort Collection

Here at The Amazing Blog, we're huge fans of Acqua di Parma. Steeped in Italian-style glamour, we can't get enough of the classy brand. True to their Italian nature, they have unmistakeable sophistication, exquisite craftsmanship and high quality ingredients. Needless to say, we were delighted to receive samples from their new line, The Italian Resort Collection.

Housed in their iconic blue bottles, the new range is every bit as chic as the brand's previous releases, and uses an age-defying Mediterranean Re-Activating Complex from the Sicilian Maritime Pine in its formula to revitalise skin and leave it feeling youthful and radiant. The range provides the perfect tool for prepping our skin for summer, and, true to form, it all smells divine.

The range consists of two sections, a Face and a Body Skincare Routine. Of the Face Skincare Routine, we had the chance to sample the Revitalising Eye Cream. A rich, unscented cream, it's the perfect for perking up your peepers, helping to reduce signs of aging, and brighten up the eye area. Of course, your face isn’t the only thing that feels the effects of ageing, and our favourite product from the Body Skincare Routine is most certainly the Toning Body Oil. A deliciously scented, nourishing oil, it helps to smooth and soften your skin, whilst giving it the most beautiful sheen, worthy of any Mediterranean holiday.

Pick up the Revitalising Eye Cream here, and the Toning Body Oil here for £51 and £45 respectively. You can also head over to Acqua di Parma’s website for more information about the collection and to sign up for their club to make a purchase.

Friday Favourites - Tanning Feature

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love to have a sun kissed glow all year round. We also know it’s important for it not to look like it’s come out of a bottle. Sunless tanning has come a long way over the last few years, but it’s not just about the tanning product. The preparation and maintenance is key to achieving a good look. We’ve selected a few of our favourite tanning products that will give you a sun-kissed glow without the tell-tale signs.

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The perfect pre-tan exfoliator is Cocoa Brown’s Tough Stuff. This award-winning exfoliator is a bit thicker than other brands, making it really effective on the problem areas: elbows, knees and hands. You can even use the formula on dry skin if you need a deeper exfoliation. Skin is left silky smooth and tan ready.  Cocoa Brown has another fabulous product called Chocolate Whip. It's oil free, it smells lovely and leaves skin really soft without stripping your tan. The products just start at £2.50 and you can find them all here.

One of our favourite self-tanning mousses is the Rapid Mousse from Sunkissed Bronzing. This lightweight formula is easy to apply and smells OK too. We recommend applying the product with a tanning mitt for an even finish. Make sure you give the bottle a shake before you apply so it’s mixed properly. It dries almost immediately, while key ingredients such as Aloe Vera and Vitamin E work to moisturise your skin. Your tan will be completely set and ready to rock in 60 minutes. The best part is that it retails for only £4.99 and you can find it here.

A common issue with a DIY tan is its tendency to ruin your clothes and those nice Egyptian cotton sheets.  Fear no more, the clever team at Tan Guard have created The Original Tansie. The bright pink onesie is made with a unique material that allows skin to breathe while your tan sets, so you won’t sweat which prevents streaks and stains. We found it to be lightweight and very comfortable, so we felt safe and free to relax while our tan set. The tansie is a disposable product, so use it once or a few times before purchasing a new one, no washing required.  You can buy it online here for just £5.

Our final favourite is the West Coast Bronzing Face Serum from Madame LA LA.  We are already huge fans of their self-tan, but this latest addition is our new obsession.  It gives you a beautiful, instant glow while a gorgeous tan develops underneath. The formula has plenty of skin-loving ingredients – coconut water, aloe, green tea and Vitamin E – which will keep your skin hydrated. Dewy, fresh-faced skin was all over the SS15 catwalks and West Coast’s finish is absolutely on-trend. It’s so good, I don't even wear foundation on top.  Madame LA LA is sold in Urban Outfitters and Fenwicks across the UK, but you can also pick it up online here.