La Chiva Snacks

Do you find yourself feeling guilty for all of the mindless snacking that you do? I know that here at The Amazing Blog we graze at our desks far too often. Hence, we’re on a neverending mission to find healthier alternatives to our usual choices. Enter La Chiva.

La Chiva was created by Ruth Willis who was born in Colombia and always missed her native fresh fruit and vegetables. Inspired by the flavours of her Colombia, she decided to create a healthy snack with light and crispy pieces of freeze-dried Colombian fruit. That’s it. No other ingredients are used to make La Chiva, where we breathed a sigh of relief, after reading this on the packaging. There’s no need to feel guilty about eating these either as each pack is gluten-free, virtually fat-free, vegan, no added sugars and best of all less than 40 calories! By freeze-drying the fruit at its ripest, La Chiva is able to deliver all the deliciousness of Colombian fruit with nothing added or taken away.

The brand’s name comes from the La Chiva buses, which is the only way to travel in the Colombian countryside. Since the brand is dependent on these buses to take their workers to the farms and their fresh fruit to market, they decided to name the brand after them. We tried all three varieties of La Chiva snacks – Strawberry, Pineapple and Mango. Our favourite was the Pineapple flavour, which was a winner of the Great Taste Awards in 2017. While you can eat these alone, the other possibilities are endless, we added them to cereal and also sprinkled them on top of Greek yogurt. Each pack can count as one of the five daily servings of fruit. Plus, their vibrant packaging brings a little ray of sunshine into our UK grey and rainy days.

Want to taste the goodness of Colombian grown fruit for yourself? The La Chiva Freeze Dried snacks can be purchased here. A box of 12 bags retails for £9.00 (7g bags for the strawberry and 10g bags for pineapple and mango) while an individual bag retails for £0.89.

Viliv - skincare range

We love skincare that helps to keep our complexions looking plumped up and lush. At The Amazing Blog we’ve been hearing lots of great things about a new Swiss brand that recently launched here in the UK.  Step forward centre-stage Viliv with their uber-stylish contemporary branding and science-driven skincare.

Dr. Felix Bertram, founder of Viliv, is a leading Swiss skin specialist who’s noted for his exceptional aesthetic and anti-ageing treatments. From teaching workshops to educating doctors and students in dermatology and laser medicine, he also has global recognition for his award-winning dermatological clinic. There is absolutely no doubt that Viliv has an impeccable pedigree with its extensive scientific research behind all of the products.

Regular readers will remember that we reviewed the Viliv e - Shape Your Eyes Rich Eye Cream and so we couldn’t wait to try four more products from the range: Foam to Face Cleanser, Vi-Lift Your Skin Serum, Brighten Your Eyes Serum, and Get a Rich Restore Ultra-Nourishing Moisturiser.

Let’s start with a morning routine cleanser Viliv Foam to Face cleansing foam, easy to use with just two pumps massaged on our face in circular motions, then quickly rinsed this off. What we particularly liked about this cleanser is its fragrance, it contains chamomile and allantoin which soothes the skin leaving a fresh and subtle floral scent.  As a foam, a little goes a long way and with typical Swiss efficiency, it was also extremely effective at removing all makeup residue leaving our city-skin feeling fresh, hydrated and clean.

Next, we have the Vi-Lift Your Skin Serum which offers 24h urban protection. Here’s a fact that you probably didn’t know, blue light and infrared radiation (i.e. from your phone) affect the skin’s defence mechanisms. These disrupt the exchange of information between cells, leading to cell damage and premature skin ageing. The irony is that modern technology is now ageing us! The Viliv Vi-Lift Serum contains an exclusive active ingredient called +VIDERMACTIVE 7 that is rich in vitamin C and protects the skin from free radicals such as pollution or the blue light and preserves mitochondrial DNA. We also like that it’s quick to apply, not at all sticky, fragrance-free and it sinks easily into the pores for protection.

The Vi-Lift partners well with Viliv Brighten Your Eyes Serum, this is serum is our favourite out of the four we tried. We often forget that the skin around the eyes area is continually moving with active facial expressions and is four times thinner than the rest of our face. Therefore it needs support as we age and Viliv addresses this with their special ingredients of tetrapeptide eyeseryl which improves circulation and firmness, as well as reducing dark circles and puffiness. Plus the liftonin xpress which gives an instant lift with its microalgae extract and natural polymers. We found this Eye Serum gave us visible and instant results, it felt very cooling when applied and really does work wonders on tired eyes.

Lastly, in this skincare routine is Viliv Get a Rich Restore Ultra-Nourishing Moisturiser.  This is a cream that keeps on working, and as they say, it’s a ‘24-hour anti-ageing expert’. Containing PerfectionPeptide P7 which activates the skin’s natural defences by stimulating the responsible enzymes and managing the impact of UV related stress to protect against moisture loss. Other ingredients are silymarin, carosin and vitamin E all to help reduce wrinkles and firm the skin.  We also mustn’t forget to mention that Viliv is 100% vegan, cruelty and gluten-free, with no parabens, mineral oils, colourants, PEG, BHT EDTA or fragrance. See the full Viliv product range here with prices starting from £29. These products get a big 10/10 from us!

Morgan's Pomade Beard Wash

With all of us making the most of the current trend of beard celebration, it is becoming increasingly important to give some notable attention to the maintenance of our facial creations. The last time this trend was so hot of course, there were weekly visits to the barber’s to allow a gentleman some professional tweaking to keep everything in order. And of course that option is still very much alive and thriving on our high streets, but for those of us who want to have a go-to option in our own bathroom cabinet, we have found a glorious range to highlight in the shape of a company called Morgan’s Pomade who have the perfect product for us to keep our beards in tiptop shape, and much more to enjoy besides

However, for this post, we at The Amazing Blog are bringing you the lowdown, but in an unashamedly highbrow way of the aluminum bottle of wonder that is Morgan’s Pomade Beard Wash. It’s all very well growing the follicles, but unless tended with due care, the growth can quite quickly become bedraggled and out of control, which of course in our appearance driven times is a total no-no. Morgan’s themselves are one of the oldest independent manufacturers of hair products in England, and with such a heritage, we are most definitely onto a winner here.

The beauty of this delicious syrup is that not only does it thoroughly cleanse the hair, but it also conditions it, which ultimately leads to greater control of the finished product once waxed and if necessary, styled. The current look to wear our beard is very much tailored and bespoke to the individual shape of face - and the kind of growth that we can achieve - we are after all unique, and this trend reflects that. 

 Morgan’s Pomade Beard Wash comes with Morgan’s signature fragrance of bergamot, lime, green tea, musk and sandalwood, but also contains the essential Argan oil, giving us that moisturising hit. Not only does it clean and moisturise, but exfoliates too when massaged deeply down to the roots, thus removing any dead skin cells. If you are anything like us, you will try it for a few days, and then quickly be searching out Morgan’s Moustache and Beard Cream or their Luxury Beard Cream to enhance the whole experience - and a tip for the girls here too, there is a phenomenal range for you too to explore! The Beard Wash costs just £8.50 for a 100 ml bottle here.

Friday Favourites - Natural Products for the Face

Living in a city our faces are constantly exposed to all sorts of challenging environmental stresses, pollution, chemicals, chilling winds, harsh sunlight and so on. Today on The Amazing Blog we want to share with you some of our special natural face products and #amazingfinds for our Friday Favourites from Sea Magik, Face Halo, Inner Senses and Joji.

Let’s begin with Sea Magik, the world’s first line of mineral-infused spa skincare, which has its origins in Hungary. We recently wrote about their Pink Salt Shampoo and 3-Seaweed Scalp Mud here.

Another one of Sea Magik’s star products, is their 21 Mineral Mist, a refreshing water mist infused with 21 minerals from the Dead Sea. This Mist has 7 key minerals: Magnesium and bromide which have a calming and relaxing effect, potassium used to purify, sodium excellent hydrator, calcium which has anti-aging properties, iodine, ideal for detoxifying and sulphur used for soothing.  Quite a list! This is excellent for remineralising the skin and to awake the senses. You can use the mist over makeup for extra glow and hydration or simply spritz over the face and body as needed for soothing. On top of that, Sea Magik 21 Mineral Mist is 100% vegan, allergen and cruelty-free, free from dairy, gluten, GMOs, parabens, PEGS, petrochemicals, silicones, sulphates, and synthetic fragrance. Additionally, the packaging is recyclable, with plastic made from sugar cane and other sustainable materials.

We’ve loved using this mist during this summer and recommend storing it in the fridge for extra coolness! You’ll find it here for £8.95.

Moving on to the latest trend for reusable and recyclable make-up remover pads, we want to talk about Face Halo. We also like to recycle and reuse packaging wherever possible always in an attempt to save the planet, and so it’s great to see that the make-up industry are starting to do so too. One of the pioneering brands of this is Face Halo. Founded by Lizzy Pike in 2017, these reusable make-up remover pads make it quicker, easier and better to clean your face. Face Halo has redefined the way the world removes make-up by ticking all the boxes; effective, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient. We think these are great travel companions for girls on the go.

The pads are fibre-filled (100 times thinner than a human hair) to reach deep into your pores to remove all traces of make-up, Using water only, these pads remove makeup in half the time of any other traditional cleansing methods in just one step. Each Face Halo remover is dual-sided, and are able to be washed up to 200 times. Face Halo is a 2-in-1 problem solver; it saves the planet and quickly removes your makeup without making a mess. Wave goodbye to your environmentally unfriendly cotton wool pads and get a single reusable pad here for £7.00.

Talking of cleansing, let me introduce you to one of my favourite organic and holistic skincare brands Inner Senses. I’ve been curious to try their rather special Greenhouse Tomato and Carrot Seed Renewing Oil Cleanser. As regular readers will know we like our products to be natural with no nasties or artificial fragrances. This Renewing Oil Cleanser is all that with the added deliciousness of an aroma of ripe vine tomato, just heavenly! When I squirted a few drops in my hands, closed my eyes, inhaled and was magically transported back to my parents’ greenhouse.

Inner Senses was founded by the accomplished teacher, aromatherapist and author Lisa Basso. Lisa offers some of the finest organic botanical ingredients in her skincare and truly takes you on a journey of apothecary and tradition. As members of the Aromatherapy Council, you can also be assured of the purity of their ingredients. This Cleanser is not only 100% natural but 93% organic and packed full of lycopene (tomatoes), beta-carotene (carrots) and papaya enzyme, it is a nourishing cleanser. All you need to do is put 4-6 pumps of the oil onto your face, rubbing it in gently. Then take a warm wet face cloth and lightly wipe away your make-up and residue of the day. I’ve been using this morning and night and it has left my skin wonderfully soft, supple and clean.  To get your Tomato and Carrot seed Renewing Oil Cleanser in 100ml for £42 here. A little goes a long way, and I’m happy to report that this bottle has lasted me well over a month.

Lastly, we move on to Joji with their Hydrate Moisturiser. Joji is a small indie brand that was founded by Jo Mortensen with sustainability as her top priority. Their motto is: “We are natural without compromise.” Jo who confessed to being beauty obsessed, wanted to initiate a force for good in this sector. Therefore, all Joji products are organic, fair trade, cruelty-free with raw materials that strive for zero waste. We have featured their Frankincense and Sandalwood Oil Cleanser previously here.

Joji Hydrate Moisturiser contains only organic ingredients with patchouli, bergamot, black pepper, and lavender essential oils. The blend of these oils together with others from almonds, cocoa and thistle plants, provides your skin with a softening and rejuvenating effect. This number one selling moisturiser is ideal for all skin types and it sinks in perfectly in the skin. Do good and feel good by getting your Joji Hydrate Moisturiser here starting from £10.00.

Hopefully, these products have inspired you to not only take care of your face, but also the planet too. We think supporting brands, that support the environment should be a priority. Protect you face and wrap up warm for the weekend!

κέᾰρ (Kear Life) Balms

We love multi-tasking products, particularly as we at The Amazing Blog have learned to our cost, that shopping for all our different skincare products can certainly add up! So when we heard about the new brand called κέᾰρ (Kear Life) with their easy to use/multi-tasking face and body balms – we just couldn’t resist.

Recently launched in the UK, this natural Greek skincare brand is really rather special.  κέᾰρ is the ancient Greek word for ‘heart’ and pronounced ‘care’. All their balms are 100% natural and manufactured in a certified laboratory in Greece. They use only botanically-sourced ingredients that are then processed in a particular way to preserve their healing properties. They have no petroleum compounds, are free from synthetic fragrances, artificial colours, sulphates, parabens and mineral oils.  No products are tested on animals, but unfortunately for our vegan readers, they do include beeswax which is an animal derivative. Natural beeswax is their main product base, they add extra virgin Greek olive oil and then use a blend of powerful herbs.

Let’s start with their Antioxidant Face Balm with its key ingredients of beeswax, Greek olive oil and vitamin E, these antioxidants replenishing lipids and protect against pollution and ageing. Did you know that beeswax is full of vitamin A? It also has over 300 special nutrients many of which have been used since ancient times for healing. The sea buckthorn oil here is packed full of vitamin C and E which helps to boost circulation and stop wrinkles. There’s also propolis (a compound from bees), orange peel oil and Linalool (a colourless liquid with a soft, sweet odour which occurs naturally in many essential oils). It felt very light on the skin and applies easily, we also liked the subtle citrus scent/taste (we used it as a lip balm too!)

Then we have the Plant Heroes Body Balm, again the key ingredients are similar to the Face Balm with Greek virgin olive oil and beeswax. However, this has five active ingredients that include caprylic/capric triglycerides which are naturally derived from coconut oil and glycerine to help moisturise the skin. Camomile and calendula extract which stimulates collagen production with vitamins B and E.  And last but not least, St John’s Wort for antibacterial, antioxidant and antiviral properties to help transform stressed skin with either pigmentation, spots, cracked skin or stretch marks. This Body Balm absorbs quickly into the skin and certainly uplifts the spirits. We particularly liked the chamomile scent which smells incredible!

Something else to mention is that κέᾰρ is a member of The Cosmetics Products Notification Portal (CPNP) which is an online notification system for submitting certain technical compliance-related information about cosmetic products. To buy your 50ml pot of Antioxidant Face Balm for €46 see here or the 50ml pot of Plant Heroes Body Balm for see €43 here. Plus they’ve even created a line of cool motto t-shirts to celebrate the ancient Greek philosophers with messages like ‘Nothing in Excess’ or ‘All in Moderation’. We think what echoes this brand’s ethos the best is ‘Quality over Quantity’ and this Greek beauty brand is now one of our favourite #amazingfinds!