Zuii Organic – Certified Organic Flora Gradual Tan Body Lotion and Self Tanning Foam

In the summer, at The Amazing Blog we not only like to sport a healthy tan that looks like we’ve just returned from some exotic clime, but we also don’t want to spend hours roasting in the sun risking getting skin cancer! We’re big fans of self tan products particularly if they are certified organic. Enter the 2019 Beauty Shortlist award winning Australian brand Zuii Organic’s  with their Certified Organic Flora Gradual Tan Body Lotion and Self Tanning Foam (in both Dark and Medium). Both products offer a great way to get a sunless tan, plus their organic ingredients give you a fabulous golden and glowing skin.

The Australian brand was founded in the 90s by beautician Rose Bessey, who wanted to create “organic products that have you looking incredible, while your skin benefits from wearing them”. This mission led her to create products that are all vegan and cruelty-free and have certified organic ingredients. The company’s tagline ‘wear flowers on your face’ stems from Zuii Organic using real flowers like roses, sunflowers, and jasmine in its products, which have lots of skin benefits and of course smell delicious.

The first product we tried was the Gradual Tan Body Lotion. Infused with organic bamboo juice, raw cacao, shea butter, and sunflower oil; the lotion hydrates and softens the skin so much so that you can use it alone as a body moisturiser. However, be advised that it does not contain sunscreen if you go out during the day. These nourishing ingredients leave your skin glowy while the product creates a gradual tan on your skin. We were very impressed with the colour that it gave, as it was extremely natural looking and is customisable by you. After using the product 1-2 times per day (morning and evening in our case) the gradual colour begins to emerge on your skin, and what we liked was that you can build the product up, until you achieve your desired tan. Have no fear, this lotion will not leave your bed sheets an ugly colour the next day and has a light citrus scent. Also it was long lasting and faded evenly.

The second product we tried was the Certified Organic FloraSelf Tanning Foam which they very kindly sent us both their Dark and Medium versions, but it also comes in four shades: Light, Medium, Dark and Ultra Dark. Having had basal carcinomas, I’m a regular all year around self-tanner, so my choice was the Dark version. I was impressed with the ease of application and performance.. I am extremely fussy about my tanning products and this truly gave me just the darker sun-kissed colour that I like! Unlike the lotion, this foam has a colour guide, so as you apply you have an instant tan that when dry will last for a week or more. The unique foam texture is lightweight and dries quickly. However, make sure you apply this product on evenly with a mitt to avoid streaks. The formula has bamboo juice, raw cacao, and grape skin, and doesn’t leave you feeling sticky. With its smooth application and rich colour, we can see why it is a winner achieving awards from Pure Beauty Global Awards Finalist too. It is perfect for achieving an optimal tan, with minimal effort. Exfoliate your skin before applying the lotion or foam. You can purchase the Gradual Tan Body Lotion (250ml) here for £31.50 and Self Tanning Foam (200ml) here for £36. Certainly one of my #amazingfinds for this summer and I can’t wait to try more from Zuii Organics

The One Skin Range

If you are a skincare aficionado like us at The Amazing Blog , this newly launched skincare brand One Skin has a range of products that are just for you! One Skin prides itself on creating skincare made for specific lifestyles, focusing on long-term skin health rather than short-term results. If you live in a heavily polluted area or if you regularly exercise (yes, this can also affect your skin), then One Skin offers products to target all your specific concerns.

In 2005, British skin expert Noele Hammett, officially launched her exclusive skincare range One Skin to her salon clients. Moving forward to 2018, she finally unveiled her full collection of tried and tested, gentle but efficient, cosmeceutical skincare range to the public. What makes this range special is that contains only the finest results driven bioactive ingredients. All these products are free from sulphates, parabens, fragrances and colours, making the line perefect for everyday use.

I met Noele at a trade beauty event in London, where we engaged in conversation about my skincare needs and she very kindly gave me three of her products to try.

Let start with the cleanser PH Cleansing Wash. Like in any good skincare routine, the first step is always to prepare the skin in order for serums and moisturisers to perform their job correctly. One Skin’s sulphate-free pH Cleansing Wash removed grime, oil and make-up while still hydrating and soothing my skin in the process. One of the key ingredients is Lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes, which helps to protect against any damage or build up, without irritating the skin. Other surfactants in the wash like the sunflower and coconut oils gently yet deeply cleanse while still leaving skin soft and not feeling uncomfortably tight. I noticed that this cleanser left my skin feeling soft, not taut as some other cleanser have done. I used a small amount of the wash mixed with water to lather and cleanse both in the morning and evening. The pH cleansing wash is available here for £17.60 for the 50ml bottle and £32.00 for the 100ml bottle.

The next step is to repair any damage which skin the has received from living a fast-pace, polluted life in the city (i.e. me in London!) One Skin’s City Repair Serum does just that by stimulating collagen synthesis, protecting your skin in the process. The serum ‘s key repair ingredients are built around a soothing seaweed extract containing minerals such as sulphur, iodine, calcium, magnesium and selenium to maintain collagen generation. Not forgetting the major ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerine, which further condition and protect the skin. After cleansing, I applied 1-2 pumps of the serum morning and night and allowed for a few minutes to get complete absorption. To purchase the 30ml serum for £60 click here. If you aren’t living the city life like me, don’t worry One Skin has five serums targeting different lifestyles like the Stress Repair Serum, Holiday Repair Serum and even a Party Repair Serum. Check the full Repair line here.

Finally, after the City Repair Serum, I then applied my last skincare step with Noele’s amazing Wonder Age Cream. This rich moisturiser helps to lock-in the serum’s skin protective properties. The Wonder Age Cream is just one of the five moisturisers offered in the range. The Wonder Age Cream is the anti-ageing cream in this range and I noticed that combining this with the City Repair Serum that it not only hydrated and nourished my skin, but also it brightened my complexion. The Wonder Cream is made with resveratrol, hyaluronic acid and a variety of muscle-relaxing peptides, these ingredients work together to improve the complexion and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. For best results I applied two pumps morning and night, and then in the morning went ahead and applied my foundation and make up. To purchase the 30ml bottle of Wonder Age Cream for £74 click here.

All of these products and the rest of the One Skin line are available at their Skin Clinic located in Essex or online on their website here. Not sure where to start? There is a skin consultation questionnaire on their blog here that will help you to choice the right products for you and to understand your skin better. Finally to say, that we were THRILLED to see that our new discovery, One Skin, has won 3 x Editors Choice Awards in the prestigious 2019 Beauty Shortlist Awards for their Wonder Age Cream, Eye Repair Serum and The Cosmeceutical Apothecary Set. We say don’t miss out on trying this new result driven skincare!

Cura Oil – Infinatura

Here at The Amazing Blog, we recognize true luxury when we see it. When we opened a box and saw the stunning iridescent packaging of the Infinatura Cura Oil, we knew we were in for a treat.

This product relies on nature’s own ability to heal the skin, hair, and nails. A fusion of 8 natural oils, the Cura Oil is the perfect way to pamper yourself after a stressful day. The hand-selected blend of Sunflower, Bergamot, Geranium, Red Mandarin, Vitamin E, Camellia, Argan, Soya Wax, and Crambe abyssinica oils works to prevent aging, relieve common skin conditions, and nourish the skin, hair, and nails. The multi-purpose product is a great addition to any beauty cabinet, and will improve your sense of wellbeing.

Purchase it in select salons nationwide or here for £35. 

Skin Soul Drops - Rouge Bunny Rouge

Here at The Amazing Blog, we’re always on the hunt for new and innovative products. Lately we’ve been eyeing the craze over customisable foundations because they’re perfect for those of us who can’t find our exact shade or preferred coverage. Luckily, we've found that Rouge Bunny Rouge has recently launched a product called the Foundation Essence Skin Soul Drops.

This Foundation Essence has the texture of a serum but contains approximately 36% pigments so you can mix it with any moisturising or priming products to make a personalised foundation. This super-blendable fluid has a pore-minimising demi-matte finish that lasts all day! Rouge Bunny Rouge suggests mixing one drop with any base for a tinted moisturiser-like finish, and five drops for a concealer-like finish. We prefer using around 3-4 drops for a natural every day look. No matter how many drops you add, it still has a natural appearance due to the Jojoba, Mimosa, and Sunflower waxes that mimic skin texture. So far only three shades are available, but mixing them with coloured bases makes them easily adjustable to suit your skin tone. These drops are also perfect for lightening or darkening a foundation that you already have!

Try out the latest in personalised makeup here.

The Groovy Food Company's Omega High Five Cooking Oil

At The Amazing Blog we love cooking  and everyday we gather around the dining table to have lunch, and we can't help but to try each other's food and judge our colleagues' cooking skills. In my attempt to eat healthily, I realized that not only the ingredients of the final dish should be of a good quality, but the base ingredients aswell. Using the right oil or butter is essential, not only for the taste but for your own health too. When I came across with The Groove Food Company's Omega High Five Cooking Oil, I felt that my mission of leading a healthy lifestyle was being accomplished little by little.

Tagged as a "nutritious oil", the Omega High Five Cooking Oil is the perfect blend of five virgin fruit and seed oils rich in omega acids 3, 6 and 9 and vitamin E: camelina, avocado, virgin olive, oleic sunflower and toasted sesame seeds oil. The final result is a luxurious cooking oil that keeps its flavour and goodness even at high temperatures. We've tried the Omega High Five Cooking Oil with nearly everything: pasta, rice, salads, fries, meat dishes... and even though its taste isn't the one you'd expect from a cooking oil (you can definitely tell it contains sesame seed oil even though the taste is subtle), the final dish is tasty and contains no processed or bad quality added oils.

The Groovy Food Company's Omega High Five Cooking Oil is suitable for everyone but it does however, contain sesame seeds. This fabulous and nutritious cooking oil is widely available at Tesco, Sainsbury's and at select healthfood retailers for £6.99 the 500 ml bottle.