Skincare

Vital C Hydrating Facial Oil - Image Skincare

For a clear and bright complexion to be achieved, it is necessary to feed your skin the nutrients and vitamins needed for it to remain healthy and nourished. So when The Amazing Blog had the chance to sample Image Skincare’s wonderful Vital C Hydrating Facial Oil we were thrilled,  as it’s the perfect product to revitalise skin and feed it those all-important necessities.

We personally think that this oil is one of the best we have tried. Containing Moringa, Sea Buckthorn and Grapeseed oil along with a trove of antioxidants, this oil instantly perks skin up, brightening and refreshing it. The ingredients work together to rejuvenate ageing skin and work as an anti-inflammatory keeping puffiness under control. What’s more, the oil is also paraben and mineral oil free, so you know that while what your putting on your skin is powerful it will do no damage. This is the perfect oil for those with dry, dehydrated and sensitive skins as the oil is rich but gentle.

Purchase the oil here for £65.00

Victor Rejuvenating Serum - Walker Johnston

Any skincare routine worth its salt will contain at least one product to protect skin against premature ageing. It’s imperative to protect skin from free radicals and UV rays if we want to remain looking youthful and not let our skin betray our years, or worse make us look older than we are. As such, all of us here at The Amazing Blog have a product that we swear by – in fact it has often led to disagreements over which moisturiser, serum or essence is superior, but we can all agree that Victor Rejuvenating Serum can do no wrong for male skin. With no harsh smells, chemicals or animal testing, Walker Johnston has created a male skincare line that matches the standards of women’s products while meeting the specific needs and concerns that male skin has. 

The serum we used is a multi-tasking proprietary complex designed for intense epidermal rejuvenation and reducing visible signs of ageing. By preventing free radical damage, the serum helped guard skin against the development of fine lines, contributed to retaining skin’s firmness and elasticity and left skin looking plumper and feeling firmer.  

Walker Johnston is a British company that makes their products in New Zealand, using the best ingredients that nature of the region offers. With 74% of the serum being made from organic ingredients, including Black Fern ‘Mamaku’ from New Zealand and Hydrolyzed Keratin, the product is full of natural goodies to help skin look and feel its best. 

As Father's day approaches, this serum makes an excellent gift and is one guaranteed to help keep you father's looking his best for as long as possible.  You can purchase the serum here for £44.95

Anti-Ageing Face Serum and Cleansing Foam - Eleni and Chris

Like many of you, the simple beauty of scandi-chic has inspired us here at The Amazing Blog, and we cannot get enough of the pure, natural and simple essence that accompanies the ethos of scandi fashion and beauty. As such, we were thrilled by the opportunity to review Eleni and Chris, a beauty empire created by a mother and daughter duo. Eleni and Chris have developed a unique cosmetic brand, free from chemicals and using only the finest and purest of Scandinavian ingredients. Inspired by their landscape, and the rare resources their homeland offers, they have created some utterly unique and exceptional products. 

We sampled two of their skincare products; the first was a powerful  Anti-Ageing Face Serum and the second, a refreshing Cleansing Foam. Both products contain cloudberry seed oil and Scandinavian glacier water, which are the real magic behind the product's success. Cloudberry is an incredibly rare berry that not only contains vitamins A, B, and E, Magnesium, and Calcium, but a single berry has four times more vitamin C than an entire orange. The glacier water is sourced directly from natural resources near the Arctic Circle. The water is crystal clear and because it's extracted near the source contains higher levels of oxygen. 

Eleni and Chris aim to create visible results, results which are effortlessly achieved with their uniquely Scandinavian ingredients. As such, they have created an Anti-Ageing Face Serum that naturally revitalises skin and enhances complexion, while smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles. As well as creating a Foam Cleanser that effectively removes impurities and makeup while keeping skin hydrated, fresh and velvety smooth. 

We loved both these of these Eleni and Chris products and cannot wait to try more in the future. If you want to try these brilliant products then you can purchase the face serum here for £95.00 and the cleanser here for £58.00

Swissdermyl - professional skincare

As you all know, we love brands that create products that are designed to target specific skin concerns. So when all of us at The Amazing Blog discovered the brand Swissdermyl we were more than just a little excited to sample the different ranges they have available. With over 30 years of experience and good old-fashioned research, Swissdermyl has discovered unique formulas and some of the best ingredients to create an advanced professional skincare. With a combination of plant extracts, essential oils and Swiss scientific technology, it is no surprise that Swissdermyl is known as a high-performance skincare brand. 

The first two products we sampled were Swissdermyl's Skin Renewal Cream and the Skin Renewal Serum which have been crafted to alleviate and lift dry and dull skin. Both of these products use AHA as a key ingredient. This is fantastic news for anyone with blemishes from having been a spotty adolescent. AHA acts as an exfoliant to lift and remove scars helping lead to clearer and brighter skin. The unique formulas create long-term results, in part due to the Glycerol acid giving the products a deeper range of actions, in particular regulating and increasing cell growth for firmer, stronger skin. We suggest using the serum before bed allowing the gel-like formula to soak in, then use the cream in the morning to refresh your skin for the day. Alongside these two products, we tried the Firming Serum and Firming Moisturiser. A similar idea to the skin renewal cream, using one before bed and the other in the morning to firm the skin by tightening, smoothing and restoring elasticity.

The second range we tried was the Swissdermyl’s Day Range which includes Radiance Day ProtectionIntense Day Protection, and 1st Wrinkle Day Protection. The Radiance Day Protection effortlessly absorbed into our skin and brought a youthful radiance and glow back that is often lost through ageing. The Intense Day Protection, with a very light texture, is a multifunctional cream which supports and protects the skin’s hydration levels and should be used daily to garner the best results. Due to its particular formula the 1st Wrinkle Day Cream has potent anti-oxidant properties that shields skin from free radical damage. Thankfully this is suitable for all skin types and what we love it for is its instant smoothing effect. Last but not least, we tried the Multi-Vitamin Serum, which is a mix of powerful ingredients. The Vitamin C acts as an anti-oxidant to aid in neutralising free radical damage, while Vitamins A and F hydrate the epidermis and Vitamins B5 and B6 support cellular metabolism. This Multi-Vitamin Serum is great for brightening the skin, and penetrates the skin’s dermis quickly.

There is a different skincare regime to match every skin type or issue.  We suggest that you contact your nearest salon, which stocks this professional skincare range of Swissdermyl to have the experience and find out which are the best products for your complexion.  To search for your nearest salon click here.

Summer Manicure - Friday Favourites

Woo hoo summer's on its way! However, our hands and feet are truly screaming out for a good mani-pedi. It feels like a long recovery time from the chapped and dry skin on our hands and feet, that the past winter month have so cruelly inflicted upon them.  So we've been searching for some quick fixes and hottest new products, to give them that little boost to help them on their way. As some of us (no names mentioned) at The Amazing Blog  have a slight nail polish addiction, we pooled our knowledge and came up with a list of the latest 'at home' mani-pedi products to give you that professional manicurist finish.

First on our list is FLASH Manicure, we tried both their Original and Lotus scented FLASH Instant Manicure. They left our hands feeling pampered within minutes. FLASH Instant Manicure is effectively a complete treatment in one; it moisturises and exfoliates the hands while also aiding dry and damaged cuticles and nails. It works to brighten and soften hands by using a combination of sea salt and essential oils such as lavender oil, citrus oil and avocado oil. They recommend using the product once a week. This product is so easy to use, you just have to shake the bottle to make sure that the salts are properly dispersed into the oils, then pour an amount about the size of a one pound coin into clean palms and carefully scrub the product into the hands. This product is very effective on damaged cuticles so make sure not to skip the nails. Once you’ve rubbed the product into your hands sufficiently, rinse them with tepid water and dry with a clean towel. The plain FLASH Instant Manicure leaves a lovely aroma of lavender that will leave you coming back for more, while the lotus scented product has an even more tantalisingly floral aroma. NB Great for hands and feet.

Both versions are available here from £10.35 and come in a variety of options for you to choose from. These products left our skin looking clean, smelling fabulous and feeling smooth – what more could you want?

The next products we found are a selection of unique and summery nail polishes from Margaret Dabbs. After her award-winning collection of hand and foot care ranges, Margaret has recently unveiled a stunning and much-anticipated range of treatment-enriched and cutting edge nail polishes.

We tried three colours: Snap Dragon, Poppy and Saffron, opting for richer pinks and reds - which we hope will complement and enrich our newly acquired sun kissed tans. There is a vast array of colours within the collection ranging from the most delicate on-trend nudes and pastels to the most vivid blues. Each of the 72 shades takes its inspiration from the wonder of nature as each polish follows a floral theme.  We applied two coats with a base and top coat and our finger nails remained chip free for up to four days.

These polishes are also made with the highest quality lacquer combining beneficial ingredients that help to make them last longer than your regular nail polish. All free from Formaldehyde, Toluene or DPB which will ensure that the nails remain healthy even after removing the varnish. These unique formulas have been designed to promote nail health and vitality. The Vitamin E in the product helps to strengthen and protect the nail, while the Rose Botanical Extract revitalises, prevents infection and leaves an aroma of wild roses.

You can explore the range and purchase these amazing nail polishes here!

Finally, if you want to spice things up a bit, then you might be interested in Semilac and their product Semi-Flash which allows you to join in with one of the hottest nail trends without the salon price! However, it must be noted that you will need a LED lamp in order to cure and use this powder. It is also recommended to purchase their Top No Wipe with Semi-Flash to ensure a quality and professional manicure and will also need an applicator.  NB please see here for instructions.

Semi-Flash is a special powder used for creating the latest designer nail effect of mirrored chrome. This product will give you glamorous and unique nails that all your friends will be talking about for weeks to come. This uber cool effect when cured will last up to an astonishing 3 weeks as the powder doesn’t smudge or chip. Its superior performance and the fact that the product is so easy to apply that make this a summer must have!

You can purchase your own Semi-Flash powder here for £9.99.

Remember anyone can wear a great outfit but it's your nails that will make the statement!