Fushi – BioVedic Skincare Range

With the heatwave today, no one can deny that here in the UK it’s summertime. Much as we all enjoy having sun-kissed skin, and while the sun (in moderation) has multiple benefits, please stay in the shade to avoid the midday sun and dangerous UVA/UVB rays - we hope not to see lots of sunburnt faces on our commute tomorrow. Anyway, as The Amazing Blog regular readers will know, we like to champion indie brands which include all sorts of natural, organic, ethical and vegan products. Today, we bring you the wonderful BioVedic Skincare Range by Fushi, which is a natural and organic skin food.

Fushi meaning ‘eternal life’ in Japanese, was created through the heritage of Ayurvedic recipes. Ria Pattni the co-founder explained: “In Ayurveda, nothing is more powerful than botanicals when used in their purest form, which is why I love oils and herbs for their natural protective properties and their active ingredients for natural skin rejuvenation.” The formulations have been passed down through the generations to the now founders by their grandparents. The production of the products still remains the same which is by hand blending the oils and herbs creating organic, ethical, and pure skincare remedies. In alignment with their products is their ethos: Transparency, honesty and caring for the planet; these are the core values of the brand. Fushi also supports Fair Trade, ensuring the wellbeing of all workers and suppliers, as well as being a member of the Ethical Company Organisation and the Good Shopping Guide. We particularly like that they act responsibly reducing their impact on the people and planet by staying as green as possible.

The BioVedic Skincare Range is comprised of 3 products. The first of which is the BioVedic Enzyme Face Wash. This wash is mainly composed by vanshlochan herbs which deeply cleanse the skin and Rice Bran oils – packed with vitamin E - to moisturise the skin, giving it a long-lasting glow and helping blood circulation. The second is the BioVedic Radiance Face Oil which is a combination of 5 nutrient packed oils: raspberry seed (rich in vitamin A, E, and fatty acids), kalahari melon seed, rice bran, and moringa as key ingredients. This facial oil is light and fast-absorbing, It will act as a protective barrier against harmful chemicals throughout the day as well as working in tandem with the instant hydration cream to give your skin a radiant look. Lastly, the BioVedic Radiance Face Cream made from manjistha and saffron infused in kalahari melon seed oil (rich in omega), boosts your complexion, hydrates and repairs any imperfections. We applied it immediately after the Radiance Face Oil and loved how it nourished and protected the skin. Our favourite was the Radiance Face Oil using it either alone at night to feed our complexion, or by adding a few drops mixed in with the Face Cream, if our skin was feeling a little dry thus adding extra nourishment. All three skincare products should ideally to used together as part of your daily skincare routine to achieve ultimate results. Get the Fushi BioVedic Skincare Range here, the BioVedic Enzyme Face Wash  for £15.00, the BioVedic Radiance Face Cream for £20.00, and the BioVedic Radiance Face Oil for £22.00. Oh and if you have overdone it with the sun today, this skincare range will certainly help to repair the damage!

Be Spunki – REBOOT

Okay boys - so who is in need of a bit of a boost? Perhaps your energy levels need something of a top up, or maybe the concentration is slightly off? Well, let us delve into a box of ‘REBOOT’ from  the Be Spunki team, to pep ourselves up so that we can return to operating at full capacity, whether that be at work, in the gym, or if the testimonials are anything to go by, the bedroom! The knowledge that as the years go by our hormones start playing snakes and ladders is of course nothing new, but our attitudes to how we deal with this reality, most certainly are, and Be Spunki are forging ahead with in-depth research as to how best address these issues, in a healthier and sustainable way. Of course, there have been synthetic options available for many years, but with increased and more targeted data now at our fingertips, it is now clear just how much potential damage these synthetic forms of testosterone and anabolic hormone supplementation can do.

Be Spunki was co-founded by entrepreneur Shaun Sargent, who said “Whilst looking for a solution personally, it was a huge shock for me to find that nothing on the market really catered for what most men require at this time.” He went on to say, “There is not much information about the issues we face as men, nor the tips to take charge and change this for ourselves. Not the multi vitamins, not the well-man products, not the gym fixers, the steroid replacements - nothing. It’s a taboo subject for most guys, hence the alarming rise in male suicides.”  The REBOOT capsules from Be Spunki offer a completely natural alternative supporting whole body health, longevity and vitality. With a suggested dosage of two capsules to be taken twice a day with meals, such a complementary addition to our daily intake is a welcome and relatively simple option. Specifically aimed at the male market, these capsules are clinically proven, vegan friendly with no fillers, binders or plastic capsules, and contain powerful tried and tested traditional herbs as their key ingredients. With extract from seeds (fenugreek), roots (ashwagandha and ginseng) and herbs (tribulus terrestris, rosemary and cinnamon) as well as zinc and selenium, the main goal of balancing hormone levels is supported, especially where testosterone is concerned. The importance of keeping our glucose metabolism in check, as well as our cardiovascular function are clear, but alongside all of this come many health benefits such as improved immune system and enhanced physical and cognitive performance. Stamina, energy and endurance can also be improved, and stress, anxiety and irritability, relieved. Do see their fascinating scientific proof on REBOOT here I’ve only taken this for one month so I can’t report in any major changes, although I have found it’s made me sleep better.

Coming to us hotfoot from Australia, this range of supplements is currently only available online, but it is gaining a strong and formidable team of fans. Check out here for the full range, testimonials and details of delivery - one month’s supply of the REBOOT capsules (120 capsules) costs $120 (they do convert currency at the daily rate, and shipping to the UK is reasonable) However, I have to tell you that they also offer The Ultimate Thrival Kit, here which contains the month’s supply of REBOOT as well as a 370g satchel of RECOVER which has been specifically formulated to support recovery post-workout. As they say, this is REBOOT-ing your system in a very easy scientifically proven way.

Friday Favourites - Summer Alcohol

Are you ready to try a new summer tipple? Then read on as at The Amazing Blog we’d like to give you a global tour of some very special alcohol brands stretching all the way from Japan to Switzerland, Iceland and then returning back to the UK. We guarantee it’ll liven up the tastebuds and add something extra to your regular sun-downer drinking. It’s always fun to experiment with new and different alcohols and today we’re happy to move on from our ubiquitous G & T.  While gin in known as the archetypal British go-to drink; whisky and vodka keep a steady visibility and are currently climbing in popularity. We hope these featured whiskies and vodkas will encourage you to explore new textures, experiences and flavours.

So, let our journey begin. First stop is Japan, specifically in the temples of Nara, which is considered to be ancient land and one of the epicentres of spiritual belief, with temples that date back to the 8th century, and was once the capital of the country. Omiwa Shrine lies at the bottom of the Mount Miwa in Nara and is the centre of the Japanese alcohol producers, giving life to this Kamiki Whisky.  This whisky is one of the alcohols often served as a blessing at the Shinto temples. Kamiki Whisky is a remembrance of Japanese culture and tradition as well as nature and artisanship, and its name derives from the mount; ‘Kami’ meaning ‘God’ and ‘Iki’ meaning ‘Breath’.

Kamiki Whisky combines the west and eastern cultures. Using the purest spring water from Japan and the Yoshino Sugi – aka Japanese cedar – the whisky’s aroma and smooth texture that introduces us to mindfulness, giving peace to both mind and body. Kamiki is the world’s first whisky to finish its maturation with Japanese cedar cask. Kamiki whisky is also blended with the finest malt whiskies from around the globe, making it a unique and flavourful drink. Kamiki is mainly composed by heather honey, sweet caramel, Japanese plum, oak, peat and toffee with a touch of sandalwood and green tea. All these ingredients are carefully selected and blended incorporating the perfect percentage to achieve the finest flavour. This whisky is non chill-filtered at 48% volume in order to maintain balance and maximum taste. It also ensures that the oils do not become viscous at colder ambient temperatures or become cloudy in the bottle. You can purchase the 50cl of Kamiki Whisky at the Masters of Malt for £59.99.

Next stop is Switzerland for a taste of the three Gold Winner of the Wizards of World Whisky Awards, for their Classic Langatun Whisky. Originating from a family owned brewery in 1860 created by Jakob Baumberger, which progressed into a distillery in 1907 by son Hans Baumberger the 1st. Handed down through the next generation and in 2007 they continued their grandfathers vision creating this hand-crafted Swiss Whisky "Langatun“ single malt. So, what is so special about Langatun? Let’s talk about its timing and barrel composition: Malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation, cut, maturation and bottling. The fermentation is much longer compared to other whiskies and during the first distillation, the alcohol is given a cut at 26% and in the second distillation that it is upped to over 80% where it really packs a punch. The whole production process is carefully monitored to ensure optimum results.

We tried the Langatun Old Bear Cask Proof Smoky Whisky which is from the range of their five Classic whiskies . This single malt is matured in oak barrels using Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine casks and bottled at cask strength. It a peated malt that is laborious and painstaking made by a double distillation process with roasted malted barley added, hence the epithet ‘smoky’. The peating process goes through a smoking process similar to that for meat or fish. The distillation date on the bottle is October 2012, the bottling is March 2017 and it even has a lot number on the bottle! Master whisky drinkers say that it has a smoky fresh nose with a hint of red fruits and orange while the flavour is said to be of juicy grapes, toffee and wood smoke, leaving a long dark chocolaty finish. The distillery is open to the public for in-house events, such as brunch, a tour or whisky and dinner gatherings.

We have had a taste (of course, who could resist!) and found it remarkable toasty and smooth with a deliciously rich aromatic flavour. This is a perfect for rounding off the evening as a night cap. Get your Langatun Old Bear Cask Proof Smoky Whisky 50cl (62.4%) at the Gauntleys of Nottingham  for £64.78 or at Master of Malt, Nickolls and Perks, Shop4Whisky or The Whisky Exchange.

Next, we travel all the way to Iceland where we meet the Icelandic Mountain Spirit. Based in Reykjavik in 2016, the founders created a range of four alcoholic formulations; Eagle Spirit, made with Gin; Mountain Spirit, based on Vodka; Dragon Spirit, made for shots; and Taurus Spirit, made with Rum. FUN FACT ALERT! The Mountain Spirit might be familiar to you if you’re a Game of Thrones fan, if not let us explain: ‘The Mountain’ is Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, (actor in Game of Thrones) he is also The World’s Strongest Man and one of the founders of this Icelandic Mountain Spirit.

What makes this vodka stand out (besides the Game of Thrones fact) is that is it made with Icelandic water, known as the purest water in the world. This vodka, gluten-free and is distilled seven times which makes it incredibly smooth, soft, and quaffable! They recommend drinking it on its own but for those who are not so keen on shots, combining it with a simple tonic seemed the way to go for us. Each Mountain Vodka bottle is printed with ‘The Mountain’ on the reverse of the bottle, making it an ideal gift for all those GoT fans. It is 40% ABV and more importantly, was a Gold Medal Award Winner at Tastings.com; proving its quality, sourcing of ingredients and time spent perfecting this vodka. Based on the Tastings jury review: “…Creamy, with confected aromas and flavours of spumoni, peach jam, and pistachio paste and a lychee and mint cream finish” this clearly makes it a winner. We love the heritage (as G of T fans) and because of its smooth and creamy qualities we also enjoyed it in a chilled Kamikaze cocktail: 1 part vodka, 1 part triple sec, 1 part fresh lime juice; which is a bit of twist on the popular Margarita.

To get your very own star-studded vodka, go to Icelandic Mountain Spirits website here for £25 including delivery (any mainland UK address). Although the spirits are distilled in Iceland, they are shipped directly to Northumberland for distribution.

Last stop, we’re coming home. UK based vodka RK Vodka is considered to be an ultra-premium brand and is only available in selected stores. Featured in GQ and Tatler, RK Vodka aims to combine old with new, past with future, traditional with modern. RK Vodka combines the high-quality, authentic, hereditary vodka with forward-thinking and modern techniques.

RK Vodka is different, it is bold. Distilled only once and being non-filtered, the drink is full of character. Making it enjoyable on its own as well as mixed (we suggest a zesty mixer). RK Vodka contains English sugar beet which adds a sweetness, replicating the flavour of vanilla. Going back to the production process, traditionally it is suggested that multiple filtering makes for a higher quality and smoother vodka. However, RK Vodka defies that. The founders say that the more you filter it; the more the natural flavours and power of the drink will disappear. This is why RK Vodka is not filtered to preserve its characteristics and minerals, rather than just water and alcohol. This vodka is only distilled once which all takes place in a copper pot to reduce the tannin (what makes vodka poor and rough) and also gives it the smooth finish, whilst being both gluten and sulphate free. Apart from its stylish and elegant black and white bottle, these alternative production methods are what make RK Vodka stand out. They have managed to create a high-quality and a dedicated drink for a modern and cosmopolitan market. We added only lemon zest to the very chilled RK Vodka and loved it! Get your RK Vodka here for £38.00 (70cl, 40%).

Essence of Harris – Huisinis and Losgaintir Glass Candles

One of our favourite things about the summertime at The Amazing Blog is being able to chill out under an umbrella at the coast. We love hearing the waves crash against the shore and feeling the sand between our toes. It can all feel so cosy and vibrant at the same time. Unfortunately, jetting off to our dessert island paradise for now will have to remain a bit of a dream; but, we can make our homes smell like one as Essence of Harris ’s candles offers us the perfect evocative aroma.

Essence of Harris was co-founded in 2015 by Deenie MacLeod, who was born and raised on the Isle of Harris located in the Scottish Outer Hebrides. The rugged landscape, golden beaches, and clear blue waters inspired MacLeod to partner with Jamie McGowan, a Glasgow native, to design candles and home fragrances. Their mission with Essence of Harris is so ‘everyone who visits the island can take away a small piece to cherish’.

We tried two of the five candles from the company’s Classic Collection inspired by the Isle’s beaches. The first was the Huisinis Glass Candle, which has a very evident sweet and citrusy scent. It’s bubbly, taking after notes of champagne, and has grapefruit, Brazilian orange, and pink pomelo. It also has hints of rhubarb adding to its tartness and watermelon packing freshness. We found this candle was perfect to light during the late morning and afternoon for an uplifting smell. The second one we tested was the Losgaintir Glass Candle. It has an exotic mix of fresh bergamot (green citrus fruit), orange, and amber, which give the candle tangy top notes that jump out at you. However, the scent has warmth due to its coconut, vanilla, and almond base notes. We recommend using this one in the late afternoon or during sunset to create a snug atmosphere before eating dinner.

The candles are hand poured on the island and made of 100 per cent ethically sourced soy wax and natural ingredients. While MacLeod’s hometown has enormously helped and influenced her, Essence of Harris is committed to supporting a sustainable community on the Isle. The brand is ‘consciously considering the environment, investing in the local community, and creating a prosperous local economy’. Each candle comes in a simple and sturdy yet elegant glass jar and should burn for approximately 30 hours.

When we typically think of island getaways, Scottish beaches are not at the top of our lists, but after smelling these candles, we’re ready to book a ticket on the next flight. You can bring the aroma to your own home by purchasing the Huisinis and Losgaintir Glass Candles (20cl) here, each for £12.95.

SLIXIR - Hand & Polish Cream

We love treating ourselves to an hour of timeout at the nail bar or just putting on the radio and doing a quick home mani pedi. At The Amazing Blog our biggest gripe with regular nail polish is that it always seems to chip after only a few days of wear. That’s why we were thrilled to try the Hand & Polish Cream from SLIXIR that we heard makes nail polish last longer, nourishes cuticles, and acts as an anti-ageing hand cream.

Helen Gilmore founded the British brand after having worked in the nail industry since 2002. She was previously the UK and ROI Head of Marketing for CND (Creative Nail Design, Inc), the company that made the popular gel manicure CND Shellac. Having had experience with consumers all over the world in nails and nail care, Gilmore found that the general feedback and biggest moan was about wanting a long-lasting nail polish. Having seen a niche in the market, she began her journey in creating a unique hand and nail product, Helen commented:  “Each day I focus on creating effective and luxurious ways to make this happen; solutions that fit easily into women’s lives and make great hands and nails a readily understood science.”

What stood out to us about SLIXIR is that it eliminates the need for both a hand cream and a cuticle oil with its unique blend of natural plant oils while improving the appearance of your nails and nail polish. We love multi-taskers! It doesn’t make your hands feel greasy and leaves them feeling heavenly soft. Honestly? Our hands felt smooth and hydrated, almost as though we ‘d put a primer on. For this kind of hydration, the formula includes avocado oil and jojoba oil as well as copper active, which specifically soothes and targets the nail beds. Colloidal oats further protects your hands from dryness and environmental stresses.

We cannot emphasise enough about the importance of giving your hands extra care. This is because the dermal layers are thinner, more exposed to the elements, which in turn reveals ageing faster than the face. SLIXIR is one step ahead and equipped with anti-ageing ingredients. This cream is packed full of  antioxidants and multivitamins which neutralise free radicals, helping to hold back visible age-related changes on your hands such as wrinkles and lack of elasticity. We also like that this cream doesn’t have any parabens, mineral oils, or animal cruelty. You can use it on all skin types and nail polishes and they recommend applying it twice a day, paying careful attention to nails. SLIXIR Hand & Polish Cream (75ml) is available here for £21.95 and offers free shipping within the UK. This all-in-one cream now has pride of place by our desks!