Friday Feature - Self-Tanners

We here at The Amazing Blog were getting sick of reading the artificial ingredients that many self-tanners contain. That's why we have gathered some of our favourite natural and organic self-tanners for you.

The first self-tan on our list is the NUXE Sun Self-Tanning Lotion. NUXE’s philosophy is to utilise the properties of plants to produce high-quality and effective beauty products, or as they put it, ‘When Nature’s brilliance meets glamour’. The company strives to promote sustainable development and create conscientious cosmetics. Lastly, but very importantly for us, all NUXE products are free from parabens, mineral oil and animal extracts. Although this self-tan is not 100% organic, Nuxe does prioritise ingredients with a natural origin.

NUXE has released a Sun range, to revive lacklustre and tired winter skin. Within the Self-Tanning range is a Lotion and a Facial Balm. We were lucky enough to test out the lotion, and it delivers an even and natural-looking tan after being left on for 1 hour. You can keep applying it daily to achieve a gradually darker tan. It not only leaves the skin sun-kissed and streak-free, but it also leaves behind an iridescent glow that even J-Lo would be jealous of.

Purhcase the NUXE Sun Self-Tanning Lotion here for £15.50.

The Invisible Tan from Eco By Sonya is award-winning for a reason. Having Won Best Fake Tan in the Natural Health International Beauty Awards 2016 and winner for Best Fake Tan at the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2017, we can see why. We all love a tan, but the fact that this one is made with entirely natural ingredients, including plant, fruit and flower extracts, is music to our ears.

This overnight 8-hour tan is easily buildable and easy to apply because it doesn't tan instantly and leave dark, unsightly streaks. Don't let that fool you though, you only need one application for a bronzed finish, but you can always apply more layers if you're after an even deeper tan. This self-tan is best suited for medium/olive skin tones, so bear that in mind! The lotion applies like a moisturiser as it is infused with aloe vera, rose geranium oil, avocado oil and chamomile that leave the skin soft and nourished, helping the tan appear smoother and more even. It is free from synthetic fragrance, artificial oranges dyes (that leave orange smudges wherever you go), parabens and GMOs, and it's cruelty-free. Eco indeed.

Purchase The Invisible Tan By Eco By Sonya here, for £28.

The next wholesome tanner that we have for you is TanOrganic's Self Tan Mousse. This is the world's first certified-organic self-tan mousse, which is a significant badge of honour. As far as TanOrganic are concerned, a bad fake tan is as indiscreet as an obvious toupee, and we couldn't agree more. The trade-off for a quick and easy self-tan in mousse form is that it is generally a little flakey and patchy. TanOrganic, however, have created the ideal formula that combines the fast application of a mousse with the nourishment of a lotion. The mousse fades gradually and evenly, so you are not left with orange patches, and doesn't have that potent and offensive fake-tan smell.

This self-tan mousse is ultra moisturising, owing to the hyaluronic acid, moisturizing ingredients and natural food colouring (artificial colourants are usually what dry out the skin). Organic Aloe Vera juice, which is extremely hydrating and calming, makes up 80% of the formula. Not only this, but the entire formula is 100% organic and natural, without any synthetic ingredients, colours, dyes, drying agents, parabens or toxins. Last, but not least, it is cruelty-free. Really, the list goes on and on.

Of course, a staple for every self-tanning addict is an application and exfoliator glove, and we love TanOrganic's. Their Luxury Application Glove is extremely soft, and therefore gentle on the skin. The soft texture and separate thumb hole (that tanning mitts don't usually have) produces an even, streak free tan. The Tan-Erase Ultimate Exfoliator Glove provides extreme exfoliation with its course texture, perfect for preparing the skin pre-tan and removing old tan. You will be left with baby-soft skin, the perfect canvas for your Self Tan Mousse!

Purchase TanOrganic's Self Tan Mousse here for £31, the Application Glove here for £8 and the Exfoliator Glove here for £15.

Our final product is a unique one. Although it isn't based around natural ingredients like the others, we just had to throw it in as it is too intriguing a product not to. Tancream™, a patent pending self-tan is a unique blend of sunscreen and sunless tanning agents. The result is a luxury face and body lotion offering SPF 50, that also provides a gradual bronze tan. It wasn't as easy as popping a sunscreen and a self-tan in a bottle and shaking it up though. Tancream is the result of two years of intensive research that has been endorsed by leading dermatologists. Your skin is definitely in safe hands, especially since the sun is no joke.

The sunscreen properties give this product Ultra UVA 5 star High Sun Protection and protects the skin against damaging and ageing UVA rays. You also don't have to worry about patchy orange skin, as the intensely hydrating lotion gives life to dry skin. Infused with instant bronzer, you achieve a healthy and lasting glow. Not only this, but the lotion also contains Tancream's unique anti-ageing formula. The formula is easy to apply, and streak- and fragrance-free.

Purchase Tancream here for £39.95.

We hope you'll join us on our venture for partly or wholly natural and organic self-tanners, as really, they don't need to contain all those nasties. Be bronzed and glowy whilst treating and protecting your skin!

Toothpastes and Express Oral Care Foam - Splat

Brushing your teeth; it's something you do every morning and evening, every day of your life. That's why Splat's unique toothpastes intrigued us; it may be fun to shake up this mundane routine. In addition, whitening toothpaste can often be damaging to tooth enamel, which is why Splat’s naturally whitening toothpastes are so tempting to us here at The Amazing Blog.

Splat delivers ethical professional oral care, focusing on natural ingredients that are still effective, all from an environmentally friendly factory. The toothpastes come in an array of exotic and unique flavours, so if you’re somewhat bored of the repetitive mint toothpastes, choose between berries, green tea, lavender and magnolia to name a few. Each flavour has specific ingredients that work to clean your teeth, for example, the Coconut Toothpaste contains coconut oil, cinnamon extract and thyme essential oil which all have antibacterial properties. Our favourites would have to be the Coconut, and the Sea Minerals, which deliver a refreshing and invigorating clean, but the Ginger or Chili ones sure are bound to wake you up in the morning! Splat’s Blackwood Charcoal Toothpaste is peculiar in that it is black in colour, but works to whiten teeth by removing any stains.

Splat also sent us the Express Oral Care Foam, an on-the-go teeth cleaning foam, and winner at the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2017. Liquorice, milk enzymes and aloe vera gel, amongst other ingredients, work to clean the enamel, prevent the formation of dental plaque and freshen your breath. It is ideal for long journeys, after a staining drink like coffee or red wine, or after sugary foods and drinks. All you do is spray the foam into your mouth, rinse your mouth with the foam briefly and spit it out. We are huge fans of this convenient little product.

Purchase the toothpastes here for prices ranging from £3-8, and the Express Oral Care Foam here for £6.

Hydra-Mattifying Cream by Karethic

Shea Butter is a hero ingredient in the eyes of The Amazing Blog, but it is also an ingredient often taken for granted and side-lined.  We bet though that if you were to look at the back of every moisturiser and hydrating or nourishing cream you own, Shea butter would be listed. We love the brand Karethic as they are a brand giving the spotlight back to this nourishing and hydrating ingredient.  Their mission as a company is to promote the Shea Butter story. For them, not only is it a miracle product but is also a symbol of African spirituality, a gift of nature that has been passed down through the generations. Our favourite product of theirs is the Hydra-Mattifying Cream, which is an excellent showcase of the power or Shea Butter.  All Karethic’s products are entirely organic and vegan so that everyone can use them!

The Hydra-Mattifying Cream is a must have product for those of you who don’t enjoy a shiny face in the summer. It left our skin looking attractively dewy as opposed to the undesirable sweaty glimmer that can happen in the more humid months. The Shea Butter helps to soothe and calm skin while nourishing it to create a healthy and natural glow. The other ingredients, such as the Roman chamomile floral water, purifies skin helping to clear it up and balance the face’s complexion while the rice powder immediately mattifies the face. The product should be applied in the morning and evening after cleansing the face. This product is amazingly natural with 99.4% of all the ingredients being from a natural origin and 57.8% from organic farming. Nothing in this product will irritate or aggravate skin, making it ideal for all skin put is particularly effective on oily to combination skin.

You can purchase the Hydra-Mattifying Cream here for around £14.00. Prices are listed in Euro’s but the product is purchasable through PayPal where you will be charged in Pounds.

Black Garlic Ketchup from Hawkshead Relish

If you are anything like us at The Amazing Blog, then you have been heading to one barbeque and garden party after another. As fun, sunny and boozy as they can be, they can also be quite repetitive. The same drinks, the same food, the same flavours. It can all get a little bit dull, and this is precisely when Hawkshead Relish steps in with their reinvigorating Black Garlic Ketchup. 

To give this condiment it’s brazen flavour, black garlic bulbs are crushed and combined with tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, spices and Anglesey Sea Salt.  This sauce is a great addition to red meats, chicken and scallops; to be honest, it goes with everything.  The flavour is rich and smooth as the balsamic sweetness cuts through the garlic, preventing it from overpowering the flavours. Hawkshead Realish hand makes the product in the Lake District using only the best ingredients. The sauce has no added colours, is Gluten Free, suitable for vegans and is GMO-free, meaning that everyone can enjoy it – that’s assuming you’ll want to share it with anybody. 

So go forth and revolutionise your next barbeque, click here to purchase a bottle of Hawkshead’s Black Garlic Ketchup for £4.99

Male Exclusive Skincare Travel Set By Regentiv

Travel kits are always handy to have in the stash, as you never know when you're going to need to take your skincare regime in transit with you. For all the men out there, don't think The Amazing Blog has forgotten about you. We fully appreciate that men need to keep their regime going, even while travelling. That's why Regentiv's Male Exclusive Travel Set is on our radar and now on yours.

Regentiv works alongside leading Harley Street Skin Specialists to combine science with nature. The result is unique formulas with highly effective and active ingredients. Their products are cruelty-free and paraben free, which is always an added plus. Regentiv has created a skincare travel set of their Male Exclusive skincare range which includes their Deep Cleansing Wash, Vitalising Freshener, Specialist Serum With Retinol and Oxygenating Moisturiser With Vitamin E. Together they tackle tired, dull and dry complexions, lines and wrinkles, blocked pores, acne, skin irritations and uneven pigmentation. This little set is perfect as a gift, to sample the range or for travel.

The Deep Cleansing Wash exfoliates and cleanses the pores with fine natural grains. This is ideal for sloughing away dead skin for fresh and smooth skin. The Vitalising Freshener further works to exfoliate the skin of impurities, while also refining open pores for clarity and tone. To help reduce the signs of ageing, such as fine lines, wrinkles, uneven pigmentation and puffiness, apply the Specialist Serum. This serum also works wonders to soothe the skin post-shave, helping to prevent shaving rashes and blocked follicles. If you suffer from acne scarring, the serum also helps to diminish old marks. Finish the regime off with the Oxygenating Moisturiser to quench the skin and give it some life, preventing any tightness that can happen after using exfoliators and toners. The moisturiser has a bonus SPF15, which is always important!

Purchase the Male Exclusive Travel Set here for £59.95.