Utopia Skincare

As our readers of The Amazing Blog will know we're always striving for perfection - well, perhaps only in our dreams! So when we heard about ‘Utopia Skincare’ we wanted to see if the products really lived up to their name... Made in the UK, Utopia Skincare was created by Chris Smith, an award-winning skincare formulation scientist who invented the patented anti-ageing antioxidant complex used in the renowned Boots’ No7 Protect and Perfect Serum. It has been specifically designed for women with mature skin, to help prevent signs of premature ageing before, during and after menopause. What make this range unique is cutting edge 'Adaptive Skincare Technology' which uses ingredients that literally adapt to the skin’s particular needs. The range also contain a pollution defence formula which claims to protect the skin from 'harmful environmental aggressors' that speed up the ageing process.  What makes Utopia’s product line stand out for us, is their Derma Complex which is a combination of eight ingredients that work together to create a more youthful looking complexion. This complex is able to penetrate down to the lower levels of the dermis and restore collagen and elastin fibres, thus reducing and preventing the appearance of wrinkles. All of Utopia’s products are collagen boosting, pore refining, paraben free, and silicone free. They are also suitable for vegans and vegetarians. 

The first of the three products that we were sent was their Hydrating Day Cream. This advanced formula  contains retinol, SPF 30 and UVA protection to help prevent sun damage and other pollutants. Our skin definitely felt more hydrated throughout the day, but what really appealed to us was that it contains a lot of ceramides, sterols and other skin lipids; also the SPF in the cream which gives extra protection under make-up. It is easy to use, simply apply a pea-sized amount to your face and neck each morning. It also works well as a primer and lets the foundation just glide smoothly on.

The second product was their Nourishing Night Cream; this cream works to restore the skin to its optimum hydration level overnight and also removes dead skin cells. When applied to the face, the cream is instantly soothing, giving improve firmness and elasticity, we also liked the texture and smell. It works deep down at the dermal-epidermal and has three star ingredients; these are exopolysaccharide, vitamin E and ceramide-rich oat oil. Exopolysaccharide helps to rebuild skin, vitamin E absorbs toxic free radicals, and ceramide-rich oil brings hydrates the skin.

The final one of our trio is the Instant Firming Eye Serum it treats the under eye area, which is probably one of the most challenging areas of the face to repair. Utopia Skincare has formulated this Serum to help reduce dark circles, crows feet and puffiness. It contains pepha-tight to immediately reduce under eye bags, neodermyl which combined offers the best of the latest anti-ageing technologies. Utopia claims that when used over the course of two weeks, it has the same wrinkle reducing effect as that of a collagen injection! We can't vouch for this, but it did leave the eye area of our Exec Ed's plumped up and smoother.

You can purchase a 50ml tub of Utopia’s Hydrating Day Cream here for £34. A 50 ml tub of Utopia’s Nourishing Night Cream here for £34, and a 15 ml tube of Utopi­­­a’s Inst­­­­ant Firming Eye Serum here for £27.

AT Beauty’s Snail Extract Intelligent Mask

Although we believe that beauty is ageless, The Amazing Blog understands that preventing wrinkles is a priority for some – and we have just the product for you.  After featuring A.T Antao’s Oh My Glide Eyeliner, it is no surprise that we would be covering the company again.  A.T launched its Intelligent Sleep Mask that improves elasticity and softness.  Its secret ingredient? Snail extract. Yes, you read that correctly.

As a luxury cosmetics brand, it’s only fitting the company prides itself on their useful and high-quality products. Teniya Tao, founder of A.T, uses hidden beauty secrets from China. The mask contains snail helix dispersa muller – an ingredient frequently used in ancient China. The ingredient’s properties are known for its remedial benefits which are both hydrating and soothing. In addition to elasticity improvement, the mask balances oil levels and minimises pores.

To use this product, gently massage the mask in upward strokes, apply lightly at night to the face, neck and décolletage; it is perfect for waking up with a  soft, silky nourished complexion. While we questioned the snail extract at first, we actually regret not trying this product sooner. It comes in a very stylish red pot with a spatula for application. And just in case you are wondering, the mask is odourless in an opaque gel.  You can purchase an 80g tub of AT’s Snail Extract Intelligent Mask here for £22.80.

Myrto Argan Bio Body Wash

Cold weather and dry skin go hand-in-hand, so it has been our mission here at The Amazing Blog to stop the cycle. It’s hard to resist a long hot shower or a bath when the weather is so currently dreary, Summer? What summer! So instead we have made it a point to find a bodycare regime that keeps our skin seriously hydrated. We were sent the Argan Bio Body Wash in Cassis Schizandra from Myrto  This is one of our favourite and most recent organic brands #amazingfinds  and our skin has never felt or looked better!

Most shower gels contain harsh ingredients that focus on cleansing, which often leaves our skin even drier than before.  We used the Argan Bio Body Wash because it uses mild amino acids that cleanse the skin, and are gentle enough to preserve and protect the skin lipid barrier without any use of irritating alcohols, preservatives, or emulsifiers. Instead, Myrto uses skin-loving ingredients like hand-pressed organic Argan oil, which instantly nourishes the skin. This is so gentle with a pH value of 5,0 to 5,5 that you can use it as a 2-in-1 product for both body and hair!

There are three different body washes that will cater to your specific skin needs. Both the Pomegranate and Cassis Schizandra Body Wash have been formulated to suit sensitive skin types. The Myrtle Tea Tree is perfect for sensitive skin that is prone to impurities, while still maintaining the skin’s moisture. Myrto also recommends this one to men with very short hair who want an all in one product.

All three of the Myrto Argan Body Washes are organic, vegan and come in two sizes: A 100ml size for £10.50 and a 500ml for £43.40 and you can purchase them both here.

Friday Favourites: Eye Feature

The full-on lash craze is still with us, from mascara to falsies or even eyelash extensions; and we here at The Amazing Blog don’t see it slowing down any time soon. Today, we thought we would share some of our favourite and effective lash products with all of you. The eyes are our favourite feature to play up. There are a mountain of products on the market, it can be both time consuming and costly to find those holy grail items, so here we thought we’d do the work for you. From mascara and eyeliner to removing it all after a long day, we have got your eyes covered!

This dynamic duo from CODE Beautiful is first on our list. The combination of their CODE FFL Forget Fake Lashes with the CODE VLM Volumising Lengthening Mascara is simply a gift from heaven. CODE FFL is a pre-mascara lash plumper that will take your lashes to the next level, giving you that false lash look without the hassle. It’s a fibre based, light brown mascara that latches onto every individual lash for ultimate volume and length with conditioning agents so you can avoid flaky mascara throughout the day. Once you’ve got your first coat on, next up is the CODE VLM. This intensely black mascara adds serious shine to your lashes, but is also buildable so that you can go from day to night—natural to full glam without clumping or flaking. Added bonus? It’s tear-proof for any rough patches in the day.

Both of these mascaras from CODE are fortified with vitamins and waxes to nourish your lashes with each wear and are paraben free and never tested on animals. It’s everything we love all rolled into a tube.

Purchase the CODE FFL here for and the CODE VLM here for £19.95.

The next mascara on our list is a little something for the bold and adventurous souls who love to add an unexpected pop of colour to their look. From the incredible Rouge Bunny Rouge, we have the WITCHERY Modelling Mascara in Red Nightfall. This deep wine shade (yes, really it's a red!)  is sure to catch eyes in the best way possible. We loved using it for a night out to switch up our looks, but we have to say that it's just about subtle enough to wear throughout the day. If red still isn’t quite your colour, the WITCHERY line offers the mascara in both black and brown. The rubber brush perfectly separates the lashes, leaving clumps behind and long, defined lashes centre stage. And our favourite part is that you can skip the eyelash curler because this mascara perfectly curls and holds your lashes all day long.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can purchase the WITCHERY Modelling Mascara in Red Nightfall here for £29.00.

Once you've found the perfect mascara for luscious lashes, the best way to tie it all together is with a sleek sweep of highly pigmented eyeliner. Keep reading, as today we’ve found two eyeliners to offer you different looks. The first is the luxurious Oh My Glide Eyeliner from A.T Antao. The golden design of the pen really does just 'glide' it looks and feels lavish, the intensely pigmented black colour will not smudge or fade for over 12 hours of wear and is waterproof to keep you prepared for whatever comes your way. The second is the OMG Precise Eyeliner which is perfect for achieving that fine sharp wing, it has an easy reach from the root of lashes and corner of eyes as the incredibly soft and thin tip is made of PBT hair (in fact, both eyeliners have this), which is a synthetic animal hair substitute.  The PBT absorbs little liquid allowing both the applicators to hold its stiffness for even application every single time. For beginners, we recommend the OMG Smooth Eyeliner because the soft and thicker tip allows for easy application to create sweeping lines in an instant.

Purchase both the Oh My Glide Eyeliners for £9.90 each here for a perfect line every time.

Our last stop on the list is for eye makeup removers. After a long day, the last thing we want to do is take off our makeup, but the number one rule in our books is to never sleep in our makeup!  The Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover from Nouveau Lashes makes it so quick, easy and leaves our eye area so hydrated, that we actually look forward to it now before heading off to bed. This “gentle, vitamin and anti-oxidant enriched” formula is perfect for those sporting lash extensions, as it doesn’t strip the adhesive bond, ensuring you get the longest wear out of them. The blend of watercress, pomegranate and mango really work to nourish the lashes and skin, with the calming properties of chamomile to soothe as your makeup melts away. We apply the formula onto a cotton pad and then gently wipe away all of our make up; no rinsing required. Added bonus? It’s vegan-friendly.Purchase the Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover here for £14.99.

We hope we’ve helped you narrow down your search or introduced you to some hidden gems. Here’s to flirty, full lashes and keeping our eyes centre stage.

Orphica Timeless

At The Amazing Blog we like to search out new brands for you our loyal readers, where we constantly strive to find natural and science-based products that actually perform. Orphica is one of these. This is a new European brand, that we've recently locked on to. Not too long ago we featured their Pure Advanced Eye Serum and Up Mascara here. Today we're one of the first reviewers to feature their latest TIMELESS anti-ageing skincare range.

The TIMELESS Anti-Ageing Face Mask is the first of the three products from this range. It is made with a unique Deep-Restore Complex™ formula that helps the mask to be both nourishing and hydrating. The combination of active ingredients such as Iris, Gingko, Kudzu, Sage extracts as well as Aloe Vera pulp, Caviar extracts and Vitamin A promote a younger looking and healthier complexion. Vitamin A, Iris and Gingko and Caviar extract fight against signs of ageing by stimulating collagen production, accelerating cell regeneration and improving skin microcirculation. After a few applications of this mask (combined with a regime using the Day and Night Creams) our skin looked plumped up and replenished.

An effective anti-ageing moisturiser is always tough to find, so we were very eager to try their new The TIMELESS Anti-Ageing Day Cream. This moisturiser is enriched with the brand's unique Pro-Lift Complex™ and has been created to help tackle the first signs of ageing. More than just a moisturiser the cream boosts skin elasticity, collagen production and works to help create a more even complexion. This anti-ageing cream effectively plumps up the skin, reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles and we also noticed that it helped to fade away hyperpigmentation, giving a brighter skin. Another great plus point is that this moisturiser also works as a great 'primer' as we found that our foundation just glided on leaving a dewy finish.

Last but certainly not least, is our little favourite from the range: The TIMELESS Anti-Ageing Night Cream. Applied before bedtime, the innovative Cell-Fortifying Complex™  works as a hydrating, firming, and replenishing ingredient that promotes a smoother and fresher look. In addition to this key component, other active ingredients have been added to help boost collagen production, smooth lines and quench skin with deep hydration. It has a very subtle fragrance making it also a big hit with our partners (who continuously complain about strong fragranced skincare at night time!) In the morning we looked rested and our skin felt almost satin-like to the touch. 

We would certainly recommend these products to anyone looking to try a new anti-ageing skincare. They say a change is as good as a rest... and our complexions generally benefit from a change in our regular regime. If you are looking for a more youthful and smoother complexion, then this science-based TIMELESS skincare range will be for you. To purchase the set of four Face Masks for £60, see here; the Day Cream for £45 here and the Night Cream for £55 here