PHB Ethical Beauty's Gentle Cleanser

Anyone with sensitive, dry or eczema-prone skin will know that finding skincare is somewhat of a challenge. It is particularly difficult to find a gentle and effective cleanser; and as some of us suffer from mild eczema at The Amazing Blog, we thought it was about time to actively search for new and effective products. This is when we returned to one of our trusted favourites: PHB Ethical Beauty, a vegan, ethical and organic brand, bringing gentle skincare to the market, without an ounce of medical looking packaging. Regular readers will recognise this brand, having featured both their Skin Brighten Gel (see here) and 2-in-1 Hand and Body Moisturiser (see here). With raving reviews previously, we were excited to test whether their Gentle Cleanser would live up to expectations.

PHB Ethical Beauty is a family-run company providing a range of natural, handmade and palm oil free products. The brand is similarly alcohol-free, and halal certified - inclusive to all, no matter skin type or religion. One particularly admirable element of the brand is their charitable contribution, with 20% of net profits going directly to charities across the UK and around the world. There is a reason for the name PHB Ethical Beauty, and this brand indeed is one that favours people over profit.

We tried their Gentle Cleanser with Rosehip and Avocado, a cleanser designed for sensitive, overly dry and eczema prone skin. Thanks to the addition of vitamins A and E, this cleanser not only soothes and softens the skin, but equally reduces inflammation and redness. Rosehip is known for its antioxidant properties, which we gather is the critical ingredient for attaining that youthful glow. On the other hand, avocado (the nation's best-loved brunch ingredient) is particularly effective at moisturising the skin, protecting against unnecessary dryness. The real winner here though is the use of organic ingredients, and avoidance of essential oils and fragrance. For anyone with reactive skin, you'll know this is a make or break element of any product, and in fact, we would suggest, products with either are best to be avoided for any skin type. Additionally, the packaging also feels very premium, with a lovely glass bottle and eco-friendly box - not a single cheap plastic bottle in sight! To try this bottle of goodness for yourself, visit the PHB Ethical Beauty website here, where is it available for £17.00.

Heathcote & Ivory's Salsa Silks Collection

When you find a product that you love, there’s nothing better than discovering that there is a whole collection too. One that we are loving at the moment, is Salsa Silks by Heathcote and Ivory. We’re no strangers to this brand at The Amazing Blog, having featured their Vintage & Co. Baubles & Belles Festive Bath and Body Tin in our Gifts for Her feature in December. The Salsa Silks collection is vibrant, and contains three scented gifts (for a loved one, or yourself) encased in elegantly decorated packaging, and inspired by the colourful rhythms of salsa. Intrigued? We were too.

As a brand that embraces the world of interior design and the great British outdoors, Heathcote & Ivory are known for their mix of bright colours and floral patterns, in both vintage and modern styles. The Salsa Silks Collection is no exception, containing only the finest essential oils and actives, it is a luxury collection, without a luxury price tag.

The first product that we tried, was the Hand Wash. This vitamin E infused product helps to cleanse and purify, releasing the energising scents of lime, lotus flower and cedarwood. The uplifting essential oils of lemon and sweet orange really make it feel like a spa retreat at home, and the luxurious formula left our hands feeling soft and nourished. We were also pleased to discover that it didn’t leave our hands feeling dry, something we struggle with at this time of the year.

Secondly, we tried the Heart Soap In A Tin. This lovely triple-milled soap is presented in an embossed heart-shaped tin, and is blended with shea butter and glycerine, helping to gently cleanse and soften your skin. Additionally, and thanks to the beautiful packaging, this isn’t only a pleasure for your skin, but also gives your bathroom a touch of design sparkle. Gone are the days of a boring block of soap on the sink.

Finally, we were also pleased to discover that this collection contains a Lip Gloss. Delivered in a smaller heart-shaped tin, this moisturising peach lip gloss is made of beeswax and olive extracts, helping to keep your lips perfectly soft and, most importantly, kissable. The soft peachy smell of the pink glittery gloss is also a highlight, taking away the often chemical smell of other lip glosses on the market. It is also nourishing and less sticky than competitor glosses, something we’re thankful of!

To try this collection for yourself, check out the Heathcote & Ivory website here where you can find the Hand Wash for £9 (320ml), Heart Soap In A Tin for £6 and the Lip Gloss for £5. Perfect for a February birthday or as a treat for yourself.

Otis Skincare

It’s that time of year again, when the long storage bags come down from the loft along with the oversized holdalls containing all the accoutrements we at The Amazing Blog  need to take our place on the slopes before packing in the odd black run or two. Padded suits, skis and boots, goggles, back packs and the odd snowboard add up to a whopping amount of kit required to ensure we can enjoy a week or two of uninterrupted bliss on the mountains.  Fortunately for us, not every essential item we need requires it’s own ergonomically designed sheath to protect it from the battering it will receive between home and the chalet. Take our skincare for example- as essential as those laminated planks we intend to swish about on - indeed as essential as the aforementioned goggleswhich shield our eyes; how we protect our skin is of vital importanceespecially when we are at an altitude where the elements can be very harsh on the old epidermis.

How thankful are we then that Otis Skincare have produced a range which slips happily into our hand luggage whilst packing quite a punch on the skin nutrition and care front. Obviously up there on the slopes, as far as our skin is concerned, the key goal is to avoid dehydration of our rosy cheeks, and this is where Otis have really come into their own by formulating the relevant ingredientsto ensure effective and long-lasting moisturisation through a 1-2-3 regimewhich couldn’t be more simple.

And of course, as we all know, if it’s simple, then the chances are the results will be more effective. Otis have looked at the most efficient way of cleansing, hydrating and shaving our skin, without us having to apply an excess baggage allowance in the process. The presence of Allantoin in all three products promotes the regeneration process from the outset, allowing the skin to soften, heal and ultimately allow deeper and longer lasting absorption. Aloe Vera sits alongside the allantoinbringing elasticity and allowing collagen repair with its anti-inflammatory action. From here we find the presence of Vitamin E, Jojoba and Tea Tree Oils, Shea Butter and Black Tea Extractin one or more of the products, with D-Panthenol, Glycerin and that stalwart of the moisturising process - Hyaluronic Acid adding to the mix.

If the above ingredients are making your mind boggle with the science of it all, then rest assured, the good news is that the Otis team have done their homework, and ours too, meaning all we have to do is open the packaging to apply, and then head out to face the world … or the slopes … or indeed the commute! Each product is worthy of a shout-out in itself, as the Daily Face Wash , Hydrating Daily Moisturiser and the Protective Shave Cream stand as well apart as they do together - this really is a superb range which identifies and rectifies the potential challenges our skins are put through, especially as we get older.Of course all this magic doesn’t come cheap: the FaceWash retails at £31, the Moisturiser at £47, and the Shave Cream at £34 from the online shop  here.

Balipura's Pure Love Crystal-Infused Healing Mist

For some of us at The Amazing Blog crystals and crystal therapy have become a significant part of our lives. Therefore the discovery of Balipura's Crystal-Infused Healing Mist was a very welcome one. Promising to enhance love, compassion, understanding and harmony; it Inspires us to be more positive on days when we feel a little jaded or down. This aura style spray is certainly different from our regular ‘uplifting’ aromatherapy oils that we use (peppermint, lavender and lemon). It was a joy to discover a new natural product that adds to our wellbeing without being just another aromatherapy oil.

Balipura is an authentic Indonesian brand, bringing their healing expertise to us in the form of all-in-one healing auric spray products. This brand is an interesting one, their premise forms from knowledge of energetic, crystal and sound healing, with the belief in the transfer method. This refers to the understanding that within our cells, we are sound and vibration. When using Balipura's crystal products, we can pass crystal vibrations into our Aura, thus healing ourselves. More simply, the brand believes that we must exercise our defence systems as much as we do our bodies, using regular spray products to encourage a new state of body and mind.

With this newfound knowledge, we were keen to try their Pure Love Crystal Infused Healing Mist. Promising to open and harmonise the heart chakra, this mist is made with volcanic spring water, cleansed with energetic healing and infused with crystal energy from rose quartz, chrisoprase, jade, aventurine and amazonite. As with all products from Balipura, with direct infusion of Bali Temple flowers into the water, so it’s not just the oils but direct energy from ylang ylang and cempaka, all of which enhance love. All these ingredients are pure, and only certified organic essential oils are used. The sprays are also 100% handmade and straightforward to use; simply spray the mist above the head from 2-4 times per day and you'll feel euphoric in no time!

We think that this an uplifting handbag essential - especially for when you have those low mood days. Get spritzing to open your heart chakra, enhancing and harmonising your day with Pure Love from the Balipura website here for $25.

By Sarah London's Organic Hair Oil

We're sure we're not alone in admitting that we spend our early mornings armed with a hairdryer (and other hot hair styling tools…) Whether we're going for a straight or curly style, we're no strangers to using a little heat to tame our tresses at The Amazing Blog; and while our hair looks well groomed, we do struggle with the inevitability of dry and damaged ends. From this issue emerged a quest to bring the shine back, bringing vegan brand, By Sarah London, into the frame. They introduced their Organic Hair Oil to us, and this has been our newfound way of injecting some much need moisture, and we couldn't wait to share this with you all!

By Sarah London is a natural and organic brand, providing products that demonstrate full transparency concerning ingredient choices. From humble beginnings, this brand emerged when founders Sarah and Lauren took on the challenge of soothing Lauren's skin while recovering from leukaemia. Their plant-based goal has since developed into a full range of hair care, body care and skincare products that promote conscious living and natural wellbeing simultaneously.

We tried their Organic Hair Oil, a 98% organic and 100% natural product, without the use of artificial ingredients, essential oils or fragrance. Instead, this gem of a find contains Argan oil, sea buckthorn oil and Vitamin E, actively working to prevent thinning of your tresses, and preventing the split ends often associated with the use of heat treatment. Having used this for a few weeks, we can confirm our hair looks and feels both stronger and softer, and with a pretty and recyclable glass bottle - it looks great on any dressing table too. The oil is also unscented, and is a nice addition in the market of heavily fragrance hair oils. To use, add 1-2 drops to clean, damp hair before blow-drying - or, we were also pleased to discover, this oil can be used before air drying your hair (with no sticky residue - bonus!)

To bring the shine back to your hair, visit the By Sarah London website here, where you'll find the 20ml bottle available for £21.50, a little goes a long way!.