TheAmazingBlog

Neighbourhood Botanicals – Facial Oil and Lip Balm

Mainstream skin and body care products can be costly, and we at The Amazing Blog never want to forfeit the quality of the regular skincare that we use, just for cheaper products that don't use the same top ingredients. Micaela Nisbet, the founder of Neighbourhood Botanicals, agrees with us here too. After moving from Australia to London to pursue a music career, Micaela found herself spending a large chunk of her paycheck on such products. This inspired Micaela to follow her love for the magic of natural oils and blend her own skincare. The result was the formation of Neighbourhood Botanicals, a reliable natural oil-based skin care line made in the UK.

We were happy to try out the Neighbourhood Botanicals’ Dream Dream Dream Facial Oil. This facial oil is a blend of Moringa seed oil, rosehip fruit oil, apricot kernel oil, geranium oil, ylang-ylang flower oil, vitamin E, blackcurrant seed oil, lavender oil, and is wonderful for all complexions. Since its non-irritant, all natural, and hypoallergenic it is suited to everyone's skin type. In the morning, our skin felt soft and replenished. The contents of the Dream Dream Dream Facial Oil contain essential fatty acids and vitamins, to renew the skin while we sleep. Plus, we reaped the benefits from the phytosterols and vitamin C, which stimulate skin elasticity and collagen regeneration. The floral fragrance left us feeling calm and pampered for bedtime. This 100% cruelty-free and vegan facial oil can also be used during the day on top of a moisturiser, or with foundation. Neighbourhood Botanicals’ Dream Dream Dream Facial Oil 30ml can be purchased here for £28.00.

We also mustn't forget to mention their cute ‘Mon Amour’ by Rejjie Snow lip balm, which is in collaboration with Neighbourhood Botanicals. This wonderful tiny pocket-sized lip balm is also made in the UK. ‘Mon Amour’ lip balm is 100% natural (yay) and applies easily, keeping our lips well-conditioned. It is made from sweet almond oil, shea butter, beeswax, cocoa, white clay to cut the shine, vegetable glycerin, organic honey and vanilla flavours. Our favourite part of this lip balm is its cocoa scent! You can purchase the Mon Amour’ by Rejjie Snow lip balm here for £5.00.

Celtic Herbal - Balms and Candles

We at The Amazing Blog tend to opt for peaceful scents that lift our mood, and Celtic Herbal certainly does just the trick. Celtic Herbal is a Welsh artisan company, who incorporate both their love for natural ingredients, and the surrounding Welsh landscape, the one in which they source some of their key ingredients. What makes each product all the more special, is the fact that they are handmade, and not tested on animals.

We tried four products from their range: two balms and two candles. The handy-sized balms offer a simple solution for dry and cracked skin and fit perfectly into our handbags to use on the go. Celtic Herbal’s Peppermint Lip Balm is made from 100% natural beeswax and has a cooling effect. It’s made up of lovely ingredients, like peppermint oil, sweet almond oil, castor seed oil, sunflower seed oil, and calendula officinalis flower extract. We loved the piquant of the mint which gave a teeny bit of a tingle, and we found that this balm kept our lips moist and supple throughout the day.

With the Celtic Herbal Sleep Balm with Mandarin & Ylang Ylang, we found that when applied to the pulse points it helped to relax our mind. This Sleep Balm is made with warming mandarin oil to ease pressure and Ylang Ylang for calmness. It’s 100% natural and contains mandarin orange peel oil, beeswax, sweet almond oil, castor seed oil, and cananga odorata flower oil. Good to apply at the end of a busy day to bring peace and harmony.

Aromatherapy harnesses the power of botanicals and essential oils, and there are so many different ways to utilise it. Celtic Herbal has created candles from ethically sourced soy wax which are made in small batches to ensure the highest quality. Their Natural Rose Geranium & Grapefruit Travel Soy Candle comes from the Refresh range, emitting a sweet and floral scent that is connected to the balance of the nervous system. It’s said to help lift depression and relieve anxiety - we found it very mood enhancing.

The final product that we tried was their Natural Mandarin, Lime & Basil Travel Soy Candle. This comes from the Purify range. Its warm and uplifting scent intends to bring clarity and fresh perspectives. Perfect to help you unwind after a long journey. The 30g travel candles have a clean burning time of four hours, and the 105g candles can last up to twenty-five hours. Time to breathe in and relax! Purchase the Celtic Herbal Peppermint Lip Balm 15g here for £4.00Sleep Balm with Mandarin & Ylang Ylang 25g here for £5.50Natural Rose Geranium & Grapefruit Travel Soy Candle 30g here for £5.50Natural Mandarin, Lime & Basil Travel Soy Candle 30g here for £5.50.

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!

 

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.

 

AN79 – Tattoo Aftercare

Those of you with tattoos will be aware of the inevitable fading and blurring of inks. Tattoos are bound to shift with our ever-changing dermis (skin layers). They can always be touched up, but that is a hassle and additional expense. So why not give your tattoo the best care from the get-go? There are so many different products and methods of preserving tattoos, that it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. For all the tattoo-lovers out there, The Amazing Blog is excited to share a 100% natural and vegan product, with no artificial preservatives.

An79 is a product created by Alice Nicholls, who is an established and trailblazing British tattooist. She saw the need for a natural Tattoo Aftercare Balm and thus went about creating her own. An79 is made from an abundance of natural ingredients, to keep tattooed skin looking hydrated. One of its key ingredients is apricot kernels, which help to keep the inks both hydrated and sharp. Another is sunflower seeds, which are used to provide moisture, yet also possess anti-ageing qualities and even act as a slight pain reliever. Additionally, raspberry seeds prevent premature fading, and the use of lavender oil provides the balm with its fragrance, together with anti-inflammatory/anti-bacterial properties.

We recommend this product to keep your tattoo(s) looking sharp, fresh and protected from fading. Purchase the An79 Tattoo Aftercare Balm here for £20.00.