Andalou Naturals – Men’s Invigoriating Body Wash, Grooming Style Balm & Herbal Deodorant

Stem Cells are grabbing our attention today - fear not, we will delicately avoid beginning a debate on ethics, but rather, let us focus on the benefits which can be had from the science employed in the extraction of the exotically named phytocannabinoids from the mature stalk of the hemp plant, fortifying us with a veritable armoury of goodies to counteract free radicals, oxidative damage and pollution. Yes, we at The Amazing Blog are talking totally natural skincare here - a revolutionary, patented liposomal technology which promotes and protects the vitality and longevity of skin stem cells, and thereby giving us enhanced skin health. All this comes to us from the incredibly popular Californian brand of Andalou Naturals whose range is as expansive as it is diverse.

Started by Stacey Kelly Egide and Mark Egide, who have a long track record of success building brands in the natural space. For over 30 years these visionary partners have been creating category-defining brands like Beauty Without Cruelty, Avalon Organics, Alba Botanica, Alba Hawaiian, Sonoma Soap Company, Un-petroleum, and The San Francisco Soap Company.  Andalou Naturals, the first non-GMO project verified beauty brand and has a comprehensive product portfolio and distribution network in North America, Europe, and Asia. Founder Stacey said “for Andalou Naturals, my goal was the create an empowerment brand with a mission to influence the industry to do better”

Of course, the full range offers up lots of benefits from all sorts of sources - the apple, grape, rose, and the organ tree kernel, all contribute their nutritious elements for our skin’s wellbeing, but for today we are highlighting three of the best in Andalou’s men’s grooming range, starting with the minty refreshing Men invigorating Body Wash  which comes in a bumper 25ml tube, giving us the 3-in1 action, for hair, body and face. It can be bought here for £10.79. This one gives great value for money, and has been formulated with cannacell antioxidants and organic hemp seed oil. There is also aloe vera in the mix to soothe, and bioavailable vegan ingredients, keeping the natural credentials high, making this suitable for all skin types.

The cannacell antioxidants are also to be found in the Men Herbal Deodorant in Mountain Sage, along with the essential hemp seed oil and vegan probiotics, which is again it’s very gentle on the skin, neutralising any odour in a mild but effective way. Sizewise, we have a stick of 75g  here for £8.55

Interestingly, Andalou gives us another 3-in-1 option when it comes to their Men Grooming Style Balm which can be used to shape and condition our hair, scalp and beard. Clearly giving a nod to the avoidance of too many bottles of potions in our grasp, here we have an easily absorbed application to create and finish off the well-groomed look we are asking for. Priced at £10.79 here for a tube of 125ml. What makes this, the deodorant and the body wash all very appealing is that they are 98% nature-derived, non-GMO project verified, and vegetarian with a large vegan offering, Plus, they're gluten-free and cruelty-free. And we love that these are quality grooming products are accessibly priced for our wallets!

Irish Black Butter

Let’s make a short hop, skip and a jump over to Ireland for this post, to highlight a small jar of pure versatility in the form of Irish Black Butter - a new concept using ancient techniques, for us all to enjoy whether we want to go down the sweet or the savoury route. The main ingredients here are the rich bramley apples from Armagh which are then blended with cider, brandy and spices, producing a mouth-watering conserve of dark velvet indulgence.

Now the obvious choice here for us at The Amazing Blog would be to try this on a slice of toast - very yum we can confirm - or perhaps a more decadent scone with some cream perhaps - completely yum - but the versatility of this ‘other black stuff’ comes when we start using in a more experimental manner for the ultimate ‘yum’. How about on our porridge? Or mixed with some thick greek yoghurt? The options for this little pot of black gold are endless, but one recipe, we would urge you to try is to slather it over a ham before cooking it - the delicious flavours from the oven will swirl around the kitchen like a warm Irish hug and tease those taste buds for what is to come. Not forgetting to mention that it is vegan, vegetarian friendly, dairy free, wheat free and comes in cute little jar. 

The Irish Black Butter Company was formed in 2017 by Alastair Bell who has a background in farming and events management. Clearly a well-founded belief in his Irish Black Butter, which has gone on to sweep boards of awards with two stars in the Great Taste Awards 2018 and Chefs Choice Award in the Irish Food Awards 2018; and of course, now securing many stockists throughout Ireland. Of course, in this day and age we don’t have to be local to the Emerald Isle to get our hands on a jar, as we can simply go to here and click on their shop to order - 125g will cost you £3.95, and the 225g jar costs £5.95. If ever there was a condiment which no self-respecting larder should be without, then surely this is it.

Sampure Minerals – Flawless on The Go Set

As our regular readers know, The Amazing Blog loves ethically-sourced makeup inclusivity in the beauty world. Sampure Minerals, formed in 2009, combine both of those topics, to create an authentic all-natural, vegetarian, and Halal certified makeup line. Sampure Minerals, is the first Halal certified make up line in Europe, founded by two sisters, one of whom, Samina Akhter, who sought to provide Halal cosmetics to Muslim women in the UK: “We believe in harmony between people, and between human beings and nature.” Well bingo, so do we! Everyone should have access to quality make up that suits their skin type and colour.

Sampure Minerals’ deluxe products range from face, eyes, lips to nails. They are also free from nasty ingredients, such as harsh chemicals, animal ingredients, mineral oil, paraben preservatives, and fillers. We tried their Flawless on The Go Set, in the fair complexion colourway, which is a perfectly sized 5-piece Mineral Starter Kit. The biggest advantage, these are small enough to pack away even in the teeniest clutch bag. The starter kit is available in three shades: Fair, Fair-Medium and Medium. The set comes with a foundation 2.5g, setting powder 1g, mineral bronzer 1g, mineral blush 1g, and mini kabuki brush. Additionally, it has natural sun protection SPF 15 and anti-inflammatory properties that do not clog pores, allowing the skin to breathe, which also makes the product ideal for acne prone and sensitive skin. 

It felt luxurious to apply the delicate powders, which set quickly and proved to be very long-lasting. Our favourite item is the blush, which we tried in the colour Blossom. Throughout the day, it gave our cheeks a wonderful, healthy glow. What we particularly liked about this set is that it is Halal, vegan and vegetarian certified, and cruelty-free. The Flawless on The Go Set should last you up to three months with regular use, a little really does goes a long way. If you would like to purchase Sampure Minerals’ Flawless on the go set for £19, click here.

Love Cocoa - Chocolate Bars

We're all chocolate lovers at The Amazing Blog, and for those of you who join us in the pursuit for delicious new treats, Love Cocoa will be a fitting choice. The problem with most chocolate brands is that they contain irritating allergens and poorly-sourced ingredients. This is where Love Cocoa differs, they are gluten and soy-free and are founded on the basis of creating ethical products.

Love Cocoa is a British brand launched in 2016 by its creator James Cadbury, who has an unsurpassed chocolate heritage. His great-great-great grandfather John Cadbury, the Quaker philanthropist, started the iconic Cadbury's chocolate brand in 1831. As such, Love Cocoa strives to not only recreate luscious chocolate classics but also aims to remain an ethically driven company. Working with British producers, Love Cocoa's products are free from refined sugars, gluten, soy, and palm oil. Producing both dark and milk chocolate, there is something for everyone. Their dark chocolate is single-origin, organic, fairly-traded from Ecuador.  Their milk chocolate is single-origin, organic, and fairly-traded from the Dominican Republic with a swirling of milk. Delicious!

We tried Love Cocoa’s Sea Salt 70% Organic Dark Chocolate bar for £3.85 and loved the burst of flavour the sea salt flakes brought into the mix from Maldon Sea Salt. Love Cocoa recommends that you pair this bar with a medium-bodied red wine to bring out its notes of fruit. Next, we broke off a piece of the Gin & Tonic 70% Organic Dark Chocolate bar at £3.85. We didn’t know what to expect from this flavour and were very pleasantly surprised by the subtle hint of juniper berries, lemon and lime. Love Cocoa have taken their inspiration of flavours from one of favourite drinks and transformed it into a delicious treat... All we needed was a crisp G&T in hand.

Moving on from the dark chocolates, we nibbled on two milk chocolate bars, the first being the Crushed Coffee 37% Milk Chocolate bar for £3.85. Why not combine your mid-morning coffee with your after dinner treat? The result is a crunchy square of heaven. Love Cocoa recommends that it is paired with a smooth stout, sweet rosé, or an energising espresso. Finally, we made room for the Honeycomb & Honey 37% Milk chocolate bar at £3.85, and it was so worth it. This sticky, sweet treat is studded with glorious crunchy pieces of honeycomb all source from Barnes & Webb, a team of beekeepers who install and maintain urban beehives around London.

So put on the kettle and let these chocolates melt in your mouth! All Love Cocoa chocolates can be purchased separately or in sets here. Prices vary, there is free shipping on orders over £20.

Vegetable Crisps by Leighton Brown

We at The Amazing Blog have something rather ground-breaking to report; we actually prefer Leighton Brown vegetable crisps to any old potato crisps! The texture is super-crunchy and the flavours are bold. Move over Walkers!

These treats for the taste buds come in three flavours; Parsnip crisps with Manuka Honey, Sweet Potato Crisps with Cheese & Jalapeno, and Beetroot Crisps with Horseradish & Dill. Leighton Brown is an artisan brand, whose products are vegetarian, gluten-free and made with only natural ingredients; but this goodness doesn’t take away from the vibrant flavours. With these crisps, they have a unique combination of tastes with their piquancy and seasoning, in our view they're pure stimulation for the taste buds. We’re obviously not the only ones to think this, as Leighton Brown crisps have won several Great Taste Awards by the Guild of Fine Food not just for one but for every single flavour!

The heat from the Jalapeno peppers pairs perfectly with the cheese, the Manuka honey brings a gorgeous sweetness, and the dill and horseradish make a delightfully tangy pairing. The echo around the office is 'please pass me another packet'. We’re now fully on board with these yummy and appetising vegetable crisps. You too can purchase Leighton Brown crisps online here for around £16 for 12 packs, or around £30 for 24 packs; or they're available individually in store nationwide at Holland & Barrett.