Geosticks by Geobar

We love snacking at The Amazing Blog. It is our biggest vice, and although swimsuit season is a long way off, it’s all too easy to use layers to hide as our bodies turn into bears. While this may be cosier and on the whole a more enjoyable experience, it is, firstly, fooling no one and secondly makes swimsuit season all the more stressful as we battle against the results of our bad choices. To entirely avoid this we have decided to change our ways and make healthier snack choices. In our research, we found the delicious Rice, Lentil and Quinoa Geosticks from one of our favourite brands Geobar. The crisps come in three moreish flavours Sweet Chilli, Herby and Peppery. 

Each pack is gluten and dairy-free and contain Fairtrade rice from Thailand and Fairtrade quinoa from Peru.  No matter which flavour you choose the packet won’t exceed 91 calories. Making these not just an ethically right choice, but an excellent choice for your waist. We partularly loved the Sweet Chilli which had a subtle chilli/tomato/spice sauce flavour which came through on these delicious crunchy sticks. All three flavours are utterly addictive, and with their low-calorie content, you don’t have to feel guilty next snack time! 

You can purchase a Geosticks multi pack from Traidcraft here for £21.60. This will include 8 packets of each flavour which will certainly be enough to see you through the next month or two!
 

Friday Favourite - Deodorants

This Friday The Amazing Blog is featuring some of our favourite new deodorants. We know that this is not a particularly 'glamorous' subject; however, we certainly regard it as an essential one. We invest hundreds, if not thousands of pounds a year on creams, perfumes and cosmetics, but most of us still buy the same brand of deodorant that we’ve been using for years! Think about it this way, you’re not still using the same mascara brand that you were at 14, so why are you using the same deodorant? We've compiled this post to show you some new options. Whatever you are looking for in a deodorant, we think that have found the perfect product for you.

The first on our list is a deodorant for men. 31st State is an amazing brand based in California (hence the name). Their products are inspired by the diverse Californian landscape, such as beaches, forests and mountains, where things seem a little less complex. As such they have created products to help make life as clean and effortless as possible. All of their products are designed for sensitive skin with no stinging or irritation. They are full of active ingredients, inspired by nature, designed to fight bacteria and soothe, with their well thought out ingredients.

Their roll-on deodorant is aluminium free and uses two strong anti-bacterial ingredients. The first is zinc which fights unwanted odours, together with silver, to combat microbes. Silver also acts as an effective anti-inflammatory and natural disinfectant. The product has a delicate masculine musk that is incredibly refreshing and promises not to overpower you like some other brands do. This is the perfect deodorant for the guy on the go and will keep you smelling good all day. Purchase it here for £5.99.

Next we have a spray deodorant specifically for women; The Damascene Rose Deodorant from the very special Spanish organic brand, Irati Organic.  Their ingredients are gathered from the farm of their parent company Josenea, a non-profit organisation who produce organic food and plants for all their healthcare and cosmetics brands. Key organic ingredients include rosa damascena flower water, pelargonium graveolens flower oil, rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil and salvia lavandulifolia leaf oil.

This deodorant is 100% free of aluminium, parabens, preservatives, dyes and synthetic perfumes making it ideal for those with sensitive underarms. The product uses essential oils to help neutralise any bad odours. It is extremely effective, with a gentle rose fragrance that isn't in the least bit overwhelming (unlike many others...) and scored as a big hit with our Exec Editor. It comes in an elegant glass bottle which merits display on any perfume shelf or vanity table. Simply spray under your arms and have a beautiful floral and fresh scent all day. You can purchase this deodorant here for roughly 11,95 €, (it is worth noting that while the prices are in Euros, the site uses PayPal).

For those of you who want to use an organic and natural roll-on deodorant, you have to try Deo Sensitiv from Giilnea Bio Organic. It is an innovative unisex product with powerful deodorising and anti-bacterial action. The product is alcohol-free and aluminium free using zinc, as well as rosemary-leaf extract and other active natural ingredients. The product is kind to the skin and will leave you feeling and smelling fresh all day long. It has a light, crisp and floral scent that reminds us of summer breezes. It does have a thicker consistency than you may be used to, but because it is a roll on, it is easily distributed across your skin. Purchase it here for £9.70.

Next on our list is the Deo Roll-on from Benecos which is another natural deodorant. We tried the Apricot and Elderflower fragrance which is very different to any other deodorant scent we have tried. Usually, deodorants are either fragrance-free or have a floral bouquet but they very rarely incorporate fruity scents like this one. What we love about this product is that the bottle is clear so you can see exactly how much is left. We think this would be a great product for a young adult new to the world of deodorant. The product is gentle and lets you perspire naturally while caring for the skin. You can purchase it here for £4.95.  

We hope that we have provided with some 'fragrant inspiration' and helped to save you from ruining any more of your beautiful dresses or shirts!

XO Balm

As you know we at The Amazing Blog love to have a go-to beauty staple and for us not many beat XO Balm which is a latest multipurpose balm. The product is perfect for those with eczema, boyfriends with beards or sensitive skin in need or some TLC. The balm is effective in soothing and relieving dryness, sensitive and irritated skin. What’s more, the product is multi functional and can be used on the face, body and hair. 

The balm is 100% natural and has a simple four-ingredient formula that offers a natural alternative to prescription products for those suffering from eczema and dermatitis. The effective combination of beeswax, coconut oil, olive oil and chia seed oil locks in essential nutrients and soothes, restores and strengthens everything it is applied to. The balm won’t clog your skin and is fragrance-free. It contains no synthetics and leaves a long-lasting protective barrier with a matte finish. Within days one of us with eczema found that this balm not only stopped them itching but also took down their redness - we're impressed! We think that this little balm is a handy travelling companion as the tin packaging means that it fits in any bag, pocket or hand making it perfect for those on the go. 

You can purchase the balm here for £12.50.

Shea Butter haircare range from Maui Moisture

At The Amazing Blog, we were happy to be receive the latest Maui Moisture haircare range. Created with handcrafted ingredients the Maui Moisture products provide treatment and care for all individual hair types. Maui Moisture has five different ranges, and we tried out the Heal & Hydrate+ Shea Butter and Revive & Hydrate +Shea Butter products which are for dry and damaged hair. These three different products are all formulated primarily  with aloe vera,  coconut oil, Shea butter and coconut water. What makes the brand stand out is their unique use of 100% pure aloe vera water instead of deionized water making them a pioneer in the haircare industry.

The Heal and Hydrate +Shea Butter Shampoo is formulated to nourish and quench dry hair. The unique blend of pure aloe vera water with coconut oil and water create a most hydrating haircare product that works for healthier and smoother hair. Enriched with macadamia oil and shea butter this shampoo heals and repairs damaged hair while giving it a natural, healthy-looking sheen. As well as smelling wonderful, the shampoo is easily applied and blends seamlessly into each strand of hair.

After shampooing, we suggest treating your hair with the Heal and Hydrate +Shea Butter Conditioner. This creamy conditioner is infused with all the Maui Moisture (unique ingredients including coconut water and macadamia oil). Apply it for 3-5 minutes after shampooing and watch the almost immediate effects it has on dry hair. This conditioner intensely hydrates hair and enhances the condition while making it stronger, smoother and tangle-free.  

The Revive and Hydrate + Shea Butter Mask is the ultimate haircare treatment particularly for anyone looking for sleek and shinier hair. Packed with all their finest and purest ingredients but also including rich macadamia oil, castor oil, tapioca starch and soybean oil. This mask works to provide extra hydration to dry hair; as well as being an efficient and deeply quenching hair mask this product can also be used as a leave-in treatment. 

All Maui Moisture products are free from mineral oil, silicones, gluten, synthetic dyes, parabens, SLS, sulfates, and are Vegan and Eco-Friendly. If you want to purchase the Maui Moisture shampoo it is available here for £8.99, the conditioner can be purchased here for £8.99 and the hair mask is available here for £8.99.

GelTouch Mini Starter Kit

Calling all aspiring nail aficionados; here at The Amazing Blog we think that we've found you the ultimate talon-transforming product. GelTouch has now released a Mini Starter Kit, which claims to transform any nail polish into a high-shine glossy gel finish, just perfect for nail novices. We love the idea of salon-quality nails from home, and all in mere minutes!

The Starter Kit comes with a mini LED lamp that transforms each nail in seconds, a GelTouch Top Coat and Cleansing Wipes. They recommend that you allow your regular nail polish at least 20-30 minutes to dry on your nails. Then once the polish is completely dry, apply a thin coat of GelTouch Top Coat; cure your nails under their LED Lamp for 60 seconds. Finally, wipe the sticky residue from each nail using a Gel Cleansing Wipe. Do not fear; the nail polish won't be impossible to remove at home. They say: 'When you’re ready to remove, simply peel GelTouch off of your nails' (which we don't recommend!) We say lightly soak them in acetone.

The lamp comes with a USB power cable, so all you need to do is plug it into a laptop for example. The kit is so ‘mini’, that the lamp fits just the tips of your fingers on one hand and is genuinely portable. Why not take it away with you on holiday? We think that it's just perfect for manicures on the go!

Don’t let the size fool you though, it may be mini, but the staying power the combined effect of the GelTouch Top Coat and LED lamp gives your regular nail polish is mighty. The final bonus is it only takes 60 seconds to transform nails, into a chip-resistant, shiny result that can last up to ten days. vailable to purchase from ublondon.com for £24.99.