Friday Favourites: Organic Tanning Products

As our regular readers will know at The Amazing Blog, we're big fans of natural and organic products, and today we are talking about sun care. We've included a couple of new brands that have just launched in the UK, as well as a favourite, trusted British brand. These will all help you to enhance your colour and protect your skin naturally. So be sure to take note, and make your friends envious of your effortless glow and sun-kissed complexion. 

There are few things in life that can make us feel better than sporting a healthy and glowing tan. It gives us newfound confidence and a revitalisation. And what could be better than if it can all be done in a safe and controlled manner? We turn first to Rosenserien, an award-winning brand, to help us achieve a safe natural tan. This isn’t the first time we’ve reviewed Rosenserien, and certainly won't be the last. We have rather a soft spot for this established Swedish organic skincare company. Rosenserien only ever uses natural ingredients, of which over 75% are actually organic. The formula in the Self Tan consists of mainly sugar beet extract for long-lasting results and natural colour. NB: It’s recommended to exfoliate and moisturise the skin before using the self-tanner in order to get an even colour. Depending on your preference, apply up to two layers of the lotion for a deeper tan. Within 4-10 hours of application, your skin will be the perfect shade of tan for 3-5 days. We tried this on the face and loved it, very good results with no blotchiness. The product comes in a 100ml tube and can be purchased here for £22.00.

Sun protection should always be an essential part of your daily routine. Although you may not always be lying out on a beach, your skin still comes into daily contact with the damaging UVA/UVB rays even during your daily commute. A fabulous addition to our sun care collection is Eco Cosmetics' Sun Milk with SPF50. The lotion is moisturising, and allows for full coverage – it must be said that a little does go a long way with this product. It is comprised of certified natural ingredients most of which are sourced from organic farming in Germany. This German sun care line is water resistant, vegan, cruelty-free and coral reef friendly. Due to the formulated titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, the sunscreen protects instantly. Supplemental benefits of the product include improved hydration levels, elasticity and suppleness. If you still want a tan naturally and soak up the sun without harming your skin, then we recommend this 75ml product found here for £22.95.

Our third choice this summer is The Organic Pharmacy’s Self-Tan product.  Margo Marrone, a leading pharmacist and homoeopath, founded the company in 2002 and has been working ever since to improve skincare through the combination of nature and science. Each product is formulated naturally without toxins and is created to meet the highest standards. Similar to Rosenserien’s product, The Organic Pharmacy’s self-tan derives from sugar beet. The British made lotion is light and soft, and best for sensitive skin. First, exfoliate your body before slathering on the lotion. While applying, make sure to cover every crevice and to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. We preferred using this on our bodies rather than our the faces - it was lighter and more absorbent. Your tan will develop after three hours when you will notice a uniformed tan, free of streaks. Enjoy your natural glow by purchasing the 100ml bottle here for £38.00. As they say, don't forget to: 'Slip, slap, slop', and we've certainly you covered for the Bank Holiday weekend, enjoy the sunshine.

Underbelly Festival

Every city welcomes the unique, eccentric and unconventional. London is especially no stranger to this. The Amazing Blog appreciates the unusual and fun events that the city puts on, and this programme is no exception. Over the past decade, the Southbank has hosted the Underbelly Festival, and it’s back this summer for another wild experience. Until the end of September, you can purchase tickets to attend live circus, comedy, cabaret and family entertainment. 

Join the live entertainment this month, accompanied by international food and drink, right on the banks of the Thames. Prepare to have your mind blown, according to Time Out, with the showgirls of the House of Burlesque. The provocative performance will have you singing and dancing along with their soundtrack and sing-alongs. Come and celebrate their 7th year performing on the Southbank!  On until 27th September, you can purchase a ticket here for £21.00. The show lasts about 80 minutes.

After you’ve witnessed the revolutionary movement of the House of Burlesque, attend Europe’s most prestigious Burlesque competition, Burlesque Idol 2018. In its 9th year, the competition has produced starlets from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Paris and America. At the event, guests will be greeted by showgirls and given a ballot to vote on their favourite contestant. Help the judges pick the next Burlesque Idol by purchasing tickets here for £21.00.

Next up on the lineup, is cabaret with The Raspberry Cannoli Cabaret and Marcel Lucont’s Cabaret Fantastique. For one night only, on the 19th September, the talented group, Raspberry Cannoli Cabaret will be performing. Tickets can be purchased here from £21.00. Don’t miss out on headliners such as Ray Gelato and the Giants who have played for H.M. Queen, Sir Paul McCartney and Richard Branson. If you can’t make it on the 19th, don’t fret! Marcel Lucont’s Cabaret Fantastique will have shows this month. You can purchase tickets here from £17.00.

Most shows range from £21.00 or less! Find out about the other exciting events happening at the Underbelly Festival. There is something for everyone!

O.Moi – All-In-One Multi-Purpose Balm (Fragrance Free)

Why use several products when you could use one? O.Moi is back with their All-In-One Multi-Purpose Balm Fragrance Free. The Amazing Blog are big fans of o.Moi Skincare; in fact, we like the brand so much, that we’ve recently written about o.Moi Skincare’s Botanical Cream Deodorant here and have a few more products to come...

The All-In-One Multi-Purpose Balm Fragrance Free was launched in 2017, as a derived version of the original All-In-One Multi-Purpose Balm. It was formulated without any essential oils, and has a higher content of vitamin E, in comparison with the original balm. It is thus fragrance-free and allergy certified. As winners for two years running in the international 2017 & 2018 Beauty Shortlist Awards, this balm is perfect to heal dry, itchy and irritated skin on the face and body. What sets this natural balm apart from the others on the market, is its ability to heal psoriasis, burns and wounds and we think that this balm's qualities are second to none. It can also be used on the hair to repair, nourish, reduce, and prevent split ends. The balm doesn’t leave the hair greasy, but hydrated and soft. When o.Moi says 'multi-purpose' they truly mean it!

The All-In-One Multi-Purpose Balm Fragrance Free contains only four simple ingredients: Certified organic shea butter, coconut oil, peach kernel oil and vitamin E. NB: In the heat of the summer, we recommend keeping this balm in the fridge so that it doesn't liquefy. For us, this is our number one SOS go-to balm, and we cannot recommend it highly enough. You too can purchase O.Moi’s All-In-One Multi-Purpose Balm - Fragrance-Free 50ml for £48.00 here.

Predator Adventures with the Seabreacher Experience

We at the Amazing Blog sent Simon to explore...

So here’s a question - do you ever watch David Attenborough’s latest watery adventure, and from the relative safety of the living room sectional, thinking ‘hell yeah, I wish I could dive like that?’ Now is your chance, thanks to last year's launch of Predator Adventures and the Seabreacher. The Amazing Blog just loves the fact that you can literally become an 18-foot long killer whale - or perhaps a dolphin in our case, gliding majestically along the River Thames. It is undoubtedly one of the most innovative and exciting options for the metropolitan adrenaline junkie. 

To see for yourself how fun this adventure can be, check out this video. Who doesn't want to give this one a go? Whilst protected by the elements with the F-16 Fighter Grade glass cockpit, you get to live out that Top Gun fantasy. With speeds up to 60 mph above the water, or 40mph below the surface, you will also get to jump 18-feet or dive to 6-feet, it’s one hell of a way to get your heartbeat racing.

Tickets cost from £89.00 (book here) for 20 minutes or £104 for 30 minutes. They also currently have an offer of two people for £189, for 30 minutes.  You can choose your preferred level of adventure: Dare To Conquer, Weekday Blast, or The Ultimate Thrill. However, children have to be over the age of 8-years-old. The demand for a fantastic way to spend 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the level, is going to be huge. So get in there fast and be ready to experience something unique. If you see a BBC camera crew jostling for a picture on the embankment - SMILE! You could be fronting Blue Planet’s opening titles on the new series!

For more information about Predator Adventures and the Seabreacher experiences they’re going to be offering in 2018, or for any other information, please visit here or email info@predatoradventures.com.

She LDN Candle

Rain or shine, all of us at The Amazing Blog are continually burning candles in the evenings. There is something simple and calming about watching the flickering flame and being surrounded by its seductive fragrance. This is why we're always on the hunt for our next one! Recently, we discovered SHE LDN, an up-and-coming British home fragrance brand. The company is known for their handmade soy-based candles, which are inspired by the modern streets of London. SHE LDN produces all their handmade candles in their London studio. This week we're burning their NO. 1 Tropical Candle, which we think is evocative of forthcoming summer festivals (especially our fav, the Notting Hill Carnival) with its exotic fragrance. Bring on the sunshine, even if it's raining! We just can’t get enough of this uplifting fragrance!

The NO. 1 Tropical Candle also reminds us of Piña Coladas on a warm, sunny beach. The tropical blend of pineapple, banana, and mango is made from high-quality soy-wax and essential and fragrance oils. One of our favourite things about this candle, apart from its fragrance, is the stylish design and packaging. This funky candle comes in a sleek cardboard box and glass container, all printed with a contemporary colourful design of flamingos and palm trees.

The candle has up to a 50 hour burn time, so it'll give you a week or so of summer evening pleasure, even if it is (like now) grey, rainy and miserable! To achieve best results, SHE LDN suggests burning the candle for at maximum 4 hours at a time. They also recommend trimming the wick 1/8 – ¼ of an inch before each use.

You can purchase the NO. 1 Tropical Candle from SHE LDN here for £20.00.