The Make-Up Manual By Lisa Potter-Dixon

Whether you’re a makeup novice or a regularly wearer looking to learn a trick or two or shake things up a bit, Lisa Potter-Dixon’s Make-Up Manual has some pearls of wisdom for you. Lisa is Head Makeup Artist and Brow Expert for Benefit Cosmetics, so she knows what she’s talking about. This book breaks down makeup to the basics, to show you step-by-step how-to’s. It presents the do’s and don’ts in a completely fool-proof way. Here at The Amazing Blog, we devoured the book within minutes and were amazed at how uncomplicated Lisa makes makeup.

Lisa covers a whole range of topics, such as how to apply blush for your face shape, what colours are best suited for your eyes, how to achieve the much-coveted Feather Brow and how to perfect the feline-flick. Each chapter focuses on a different facial feature, starting with taking care of your skin (combination, dry, normal and oily), to covering imperfections, to brows and the various forms they can take, to cheeks and bone structure (blush, highlighter, bronzer and contour), how to navigate different eye shapes and colours, and finally to the lips (covering nudes, to glosses, to mattes). Importantly, Lisa addresses those of all ages, skin tones and complexions.

What you take away from this book is that makeup doesn’t have to be complicated, even the looks that seem to be more complex. Anyone can achieve a plump pout or a colourful smoky eye.

Purchase The Make-Up Manual here for £10.49.

Shampoo Bars by AA Skincare from Amphora Aromatics

At The Amazing Blog we like to take great care of our hair as such, we love discovering new products designed to help us have healthy, shiny and flawless hair. AA skincare a body and hair care brand recently launched their shampoo bars for all types of hair. Some of the products from the range include an almond shampoo bar, an intense coconut bar and the twilight shampoo bar. At The Amazing Blog, we were lucky enough to try the Zing Fresh and the Botanical Boost Shampoo bars.

The Botanical Boost shampoo is made to suit all hair types and provide them with the care they need. Formulated with various essential oils and natural ingredients this shampoo hydrates hair and gently cleanses the scalp. The Shampoo bar is enriched with frankincense oil and avocado oil, and together they act as hair growth stimulator while calming scalp irritation. In addition to the frankincense and avocado oils, the Botanical Boost is infused with argan oil, rose oil, rose geranium oil, coconut oil and sweet almond oil making it a highly nourishing shampoo that protects hair and gives them a new life and radiance.

If you enjoy a little dose of freshness, the Zing Fresh Shampoo bar is just what you need.  Essentially formulated for oily, dry or damaged hair this shampoo enriched with peppermint essential oil and coconut oil rejuvenates hair and leaves them moisturised and silky smooth. While coconut oil deeply nourishes hair peppermint on the other side deeply cleanses the scalp, refreshes hair and helps control oil excess. The fresh and minty scent of the product is both pleasant and invigorating.     

Both bars are paraben free and are easily portable and travel-friendly.

You can purchase the Botanical Boost here for £5.94 and the Zing Fresh here for £5.94.

Topp Box - A Monthly Subscription For Men

We are huge fans of the monthly subscription boxes at The Amazing Blog, but we know it can be hard to find the right one for you as the internet is awash with potential options. As great as it would be to subscribe to them all unless you have a bottomless pit of funds it’s a little fiscally unfeasible.  However, having spent a long time scouring the internet, we think we have found the Holy Grail for male subscription boxes, Topp Box. It’s the perfect blend of premium male beauty products and cosy accessories that will leave you feeling pampered and prepared. 

Each month Topp Box will send you an assorted box with 4-5 products selected to suit you and your needs. The boxes are filled with premium grooming and lifestyle products from top brands. The box we received contained a talc-free men’s body powder from Fromonda, an S5 Skincare Resilience Mask, a Henri Lloyd ocean Mineral Spray Sun Defence Cream, a Pits and Bits Rinse Free Body Wash, and a pair of delightful socks from TOPPSOCKS. It’s hard to choose a favourite item from the box, but we are especially fond of the sun cream which had an amazing scent. For only £16 a month it is a steal as the retail value of the box would come to over £40.00; four out of the five products were full size. 

This is the perfect way to treat yourself, it also makes a great gift, and with Christmas around the corner, it’s a fabulous present that keeps on giving. Click here to sign up to the subscription box of your dreams. 

Sunflower Body Lotion - My Trusty

Moisturising is something that we should all be doing at least a day. As such it is imperative that we have an effective lotion. At The Amazing Blog, we have found that My Trusty Sunflower Body Lotion works wonders on all skin, but especially if you are prone to particularly dry skin. My Trusty is uniquely owned by Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust and will not only give you gorgeous skin, but all the profits go back to the NHS.

My Trusty Sunflower Body Lotion has been tested by dermatologists, it is lightweight and full of anti-oxidants. The key ingredient in the product is the sunflower oil, which is a natural way to keep your skin soft and smooth making it perfect for people with overly sensitive skin. What's more the lotion is also full of Vitamin E which is a staple skincare anti-oxidant for better looking and healthier skin, and is particularly effective on dry skin.

My Trusty understands that different people like to moisturise in different ways. There is a no fragrance option, a body butter or oil, and different sizes to suit your hydration needs.

With the winter months closing in you will want to have this handy little product in your bathroom, so try our favourite scent, Lavender, here for just £6.

Banana-Banana Conditioner by Tina Cassaday

We here at The Amazing Blog were delighted to receive Tina Cassaday’s Banana-Banana Conditioner.  We had heard of the many benefits banana had on health, skin and hair so we couldn’t be happier to experience this hair conditioner that promised amazing results. We must say that we haven’t been disappointed.

The Banana-Banana Conditioner was created by Tina Cassaday, a celebrity hair stylist that used her experience and knowledge to create a most hydrating and moisturising hair product. Tina Cassaday is a firm believer in the benefits of natural hair care products. Thus, she decided to make Banana Pulp the star ingredient of her conditioner. Banana pulp is a rich conditioning ingredient that deeply nourishes hair leaving them soft and shiny. The product is enriched with potassium, vitamins and Alpha Fruit Complex derived from sugar cane, citrus fruits and apples.

Formulated to provide deep hydration to the hair, the Banana-Banana conditioner repairs, protects and enhances hair appearance. It is particularly efficient for hair that has been chemically processed and that needs extra-moisture and care. The conditioner can be applied for five to forty minutes. The blend of banana pulp and liquid fruit extracts allows this conditioner to deliver the ultimate nourishment hair needs. After application hair feels softer, stronger, more manageable and has a lovely fruity smell.The product is vegan and not tested on animals.                  

Purchase a pack of 6 Banana-Banana Conditioner sachets here for £25.