Women of the World Festival

Here at the Amazing Blog, we love to hear about the powerful things women can do and advocate for women to become their strongest selves. Therefore we are delighted for the return of WOW - the Women of the World Festival at the Southbank Centre in London.

The festival is designed to champion gender equality, celebrating the wonderful achievements of women all over the world. The event started in 2010 and has since grown into a global gathering of people who come together to inspire women and girls everywhere. Although its base is in London, the festival will be hosting events in other locations such as Cambridge, Hong Kong, Ethiopia, Australia, Iceland, New York, Sydney, and Egypt.

Over these next few days, you will be able to hear from influential and diverse speakers, take part in mentoring and workshop sessions, and see some of the greatest female comedians, musicians, performers, and writers around.

We know that this year's WOW Festival will be fantastic, and past incarnations of the festival have included speakers such as Annie Lennox, Caitlin Moran, Vivienne Westwood, Sandi Toksvig, Grayson Perry, and Gordon Brown. There are various events that you can buy tickets for, such as 'Louder Voices', a project where women over 60 can take part in a singing course, and 'Polari', celebrating LGBT women's writing.

We are sure that you'll be able to find something special to take part in at this year's Women of the World Festival. It is taking place from the 7th - 12th of March, and you can buy day and weekend passes, as well as one-off events here.

Eye Feature - Friday Favourites

Now we don't know if eyes really are windows to the soul, but at The Amazing Blog, we do know that eyes can be very telling! Puffy eyes reveal a lack of sleep, bright eyes allude to healthiness, and panda eyes say that maybe you had a little too much fun last night! As such, we have decided to dedicate this Friday to some of our favourite products and all of them are items that we believe really help our eyes tell the story we want!

The first miracle product is Skinshop's Dry Eye Concealer. If you have any pesky little imperfections you want to hide then this is the concealer for you. While it easily conceals any dry, red and flaky areas around the eye, it also helps to treat them!

The concealer is able to treat these issues because of two key ingredients; Cardiospermum and Biolin. Cardiospermum is a natural ingredient that helps calm dry and irritated skin. Whereas Biolin, which is a skin prebiotic, helps repair damaged skin by feeding it healthy skin flora, so it injects and traps a much-needed boost of moisture to your under-eyes.

This concealer comes in a natural skin tint that will brighten the under eyes. To use this product, apply dots under the eye using either a finger or the silky brush applicator and blend to achieve the best results.

Concealer is a great trick to keep the area around your eyes looking youthful. You can purchase the Dry Eye Concealer here for £11.95.

Eye serums can give fantastic results if you incorporate them into your daily skincare routine, and we think that NCN is producing one of the best we've ever seen. Their Eye Fix is a fantastic product for producing more youthful looking skin in the surrounding areas, which helps to make your eyes seem brighter and clearer. The roller-ball serum is a combination multiple peptides and actives, full of antioxidants that help protect and repair the delicate surrounding skin. Eye-Fix contains a lot of ingredients that work to moisturise and smooth the skin without making it too heavy. The stars in this product are Regu-Age and Eyeliss, ingredients that contain an abundance of Vitamin E and antioxidants that help protect and rejuvenate the collagen in the skin and increases the oxygen levels in the eyes delicate tissues.

This product is so easy to use and will quickly become a part of your routine.To apply, simply sweep the roller-ball around the eye and lightly pat into the skin with your finger. For best results and to start feeling the benefits straight away, we suggest using this twice a day. NCN’s Eye-Fix is suitable for all skin types and ages, and we think the earlier you start looking after your skin the better the results will be as you age. So if you are looking to delay the effects of ageing, then this is the product for you. It truly is brilliant for long-lasting hydration.

You can buy NCN’s Eye-Fix here for £17.99.

Last on our list is the Prickly Pear Eye and Face Elixir from URB Apothecary. The elixir is comprised of three oils; pomegranate seed oil, rosehip oil, and cold-pressed organic prickly pear seed oil. The prickly pear seed oil is a super ingredient as it contains 150% more vitamin E than argan oil. We loved that the oil absorbs quickly, and the fatty acids and antioxidants penetrate deep into the skin.

This product is excellent at brightening dark spots, fading hyperpigmentation, and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. It can be used by people of ages, as well as to address a multitude of issues. It's excellent for problem skin especially as the rose, clary sage, geranium and helichrysum essential oils help balance the skin's natural oils while encouraging new cell growth. You only need a few drops to cover the face so the elixir lasts a long time, which is always a plus in our books! To apply simply tap the oil gently onto the skin under the eyes and use your ring finger to blend in upward strokes.

You can get the Prickly Pear Eye and Face Elixir by URB Apothecary here for £69.03.

Valentine's Day Events - Friday Favourites

Here at the Amazing Blog,

we know that the routineness of Valentine’s Day can really drain the romance from what should be an exciting and different experience. Afterall, it's a day to tell and show someone what they mean to you! So with that in mind, we gathered some of the most interesting and unusual Valentine’s Day events in London to help you create some long-lasting and treasured memories with your loved one.

First of all we have a twist on the typical, and dare we say dated, dinner date at the same old restaurant. For a truly unique evening, swimming in romance, why not try switching up the location to beautiful evening on the thames. Bateaux London Cruises are offering some remarkable dinner packages that we instantly fell in love with!

Bateaux's Valentine's Day Symphony Tower Suite  package pulls out every stop, giving you an intimate dining experience as you enjoy the London sights. Spend time with your partner in a quiet suite, where a four-course dinner is served with drinks throughout the evening. To top off your romantic meal you can go and enjoy the live band that will be playing throughout the night. The City at night is, arguably, when it’s at its most beautiful and romantic, and with this cruise you are certain to get unparalleled views, and an unparalleled experience.

Bateaux London Cruises combine high quality dining, entertainment, and the beautiful London skyline to give you a wonderful evening whether you are celebrating a special occasion or simply treating yourself. They daily offer cruises that create unforgettable experiences for their guests, so you know that their Valentine’s day will be even more spectacular than usual! So go and book your night here from £145 a person!

For a more cultural and regal Valentine's Day, visit Queen's House in Greenwich, part of the Royal Museums of Greenwich. The museum, which is an architectural masterpiece boasting 400 years of royal history, is putting on a Valentine's Day special called 'Making Love in the Queen's House.' The day will be full of talks and courses both inside the Queen's House and in it's elegant surroundings.

You and your valentine can enjoy a Prosecco afternoon tea while hearing from experts who will be discussing love stories of the royals who lived in the celebrated 'House of Delight.' Learn more about the house's beginnings as a 'pleasure palace' and gift from King James I to his wife Anne of Denmark, while soaking up the regal environment.

For a historical and romance-filled day out, visit 'Making Love in the Queens House.' You can purchase tickets for the event here for £25.00.

If you are looking for something a little different, try surprising your loved one by visiting Sea Life London Aquarium for their 'Sea Life After Dark' evening. Home to one of Europe's largest collections of global marine life, Sea Life London Aquarium has some amazing creatures to see, from rare sea turtles to penguins. After picking up your complimentary glass of prosecco, you and your valentine can experience the Shark Walk - a glass walkway with sharks and other marine life swimming just inches away from you!

This after-hours event is adult-only and allows you to explore the aquarium at your own pace, while enjoying the pop up bars scattered throughout. Guest Experience Advisors will additionally be on hand so you can learn all about the creatures and conservation work that Sea Life Aquarium does.

It's certainly not every day that you get to spend your evening with friends surrounded by marine life, so buy tickets for Sea Life After Dark here from £29.00.

Finally on our list is a twist on the classic night of drinks. The Charming Christabel's completely drew us in with their exciting and vibrant cocktail workshops. This Valentines Day, the company are hosting a Bejewelled Cocktail Masterclass. For a fun and flirty evening with your valentine, or even just a group of friends, join Christabel's to create your own cocktail creations.

The vibrant sessions will include a masterclass on mixing and shaking their classic 'Flirt' and 'Zinger' cocktails, we personally love their 'Flirt' cocktail which sends us back to those sultry summer evenings! If that doesn't sway you though, there is also a chance to get creative and transform your drinks by jazzing them up with glitter, sequins, rose petals and much more. We think it might be fun at this stage to create a drink that reflects your partner's personality! Your evening will also be accompanied by canapes that you can construct yourself. This is a really hands on DIY evening that has the potential to be wholly unique to you and your loved one, leaving you with memories of an experience that no one else will have.

The event is in a secret location in N1, so keep your eyes peeled and buy tickets here for £45 per person.

Face Masks - Friday Favourites

In the middle of our busy schedules, it is important to have some 'me-time' and finally get to pamper ourselves a little bit and what could be more perfect for the weekend ahead. Here at The Amazing Blog we've got it covered with these fabulous face masks taking their ingredients from around the world.

The first face masks we recommend are from Oh K. The brand is known for its cute and quirky packaging and this product is no exception. Their Coconut Water Face Masks take inspiration from Korean sheet masks, and provides intense hydration.

This particular mask feels really cool and soothing on the skin, and after a long week this is the perfect thing to just stop and relax. Cleanse the skin and apply the mask over the face, making sure to align the eye and mouth holes correctly. We recommend leaving the mask on for 15-20 minutes, this way you will really feel the added moisture in your skin. With any residue left on the face, simply massage into the skin until absorbed or remove with a cotton pad.

You can get three Oh K. Coconut Water Masks here for £8.00.

Acne, dryness, and dullness can all be improved with a quick intensive mask. To this end, we loved the selection from the brand Vitamasques. They have designed their face mask products to ensure they benefit and improve the skin, using their innovative Korean technology. 

In their Korean Collection we received a Hydro Face Mask that claims to give 120 hours of hydration.  It is recommended that you cleanse and tone your face before applying the mask, and leave on for 20-30 minutes. The Hydro Face mask will enhance the skin's ability to retain moisture, plus it has extracts from the rose of Jericho which will improve the clarity of the skin.

In their fruit range, each mask has a tailored purpose, and we really liked the Pomegranate face mask. The texture of the mask felt ultra soothing on the skin and felt like it was benefiting the skin. This pomegranate face mask works by firming and lifting the skin whilst adding moisture to the face. An added bonus is the triple layer-sheet technology; this will enhance the moisture and will increase the absorption rate too.

Keep your skin moisturised and soothed with the Hydro Face Mask here for £7.99 and you can get the Pomegranate Face Mask box of 4 here for £12.99.

When it comes to anti ageing, Time Less Truth Mask has the solution for “ageless beauty”. They created the award winning TT Glacial Snow Algae & Hyaluronic Acid Bio Cellulose Mask using plant extract derived from the snowy mountains of Switzerland. The Snow Algae is an anti-ageing solution that optimises the skin's collagen production to restore youthfulness to the skin cells. Apply the mask after cleansing and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. The blue serum contained in the bio cellulose cloth is absorbed easily by the skin and helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles. 

Treat your skin with TT Glacial Snow Algae & Hyaluronic Acid Bio Cellulose Mask regularly for a younger complexion here for £7.90.

Finally, we love fruity masks and their scents, they remind us of warm weather and Summers in the sun. It’s never too early to start getting ready for Spring/Summer and we did it with the British brand Ooharr.

The range includes Fruity Magic, a rejuvenating mask and Juicy Burst, a nourishing cream mask. Fruity Magic uses Pomegranate along with ingredients such as Green Tea, Aloe, Honey, Vitamin A, C and E to soothe, regenerate and detoxify your skin. Juicy Burst utilises Orange, Lime, Cucumber and Calendula to refresh, soothe and create a clear complexion. Our complexions felt soft and flawless after leaving these masks on for 10 to 15 minutes.

Give your skin an antioxidant boost with Ooharr, and try the Fruity Magic or the Juicy Burst masks for £1.20 here each.

Eyelash Feature - Friday Favourites

At the Amazing Blog, we all agree that the one makeup staple that gives us the biggest transformation is mascara. The products we can use on our lashes can make a huge difference in how our eyes and overall makeup looks. We decided to gather our favourite products that can make our eyes pop and stand out from the crowd.

First up is Foltène’s Eyelash and Eyebrow Treatment. This little wonder is a treatment which is designed to strengthen and restructure fragile and damaged lashes. Regular use of makeup, external aggressors, and stress can all contribute to a weakening of eyelashes. Foltène created this treatment using their patented active ingredient Tricossacaride, which has growth stimulating and strengthening properties that help to provide hydration and elasticity to unhappy lashes.

There are no parabens, mineral oil, silicones or paraffin wax, which is a huge bonus for us. Additionally, the Eyelash & Eyebrow Treatment is ideal for sensitive eyes and for those wearing contact lenses, as it has been ophthalmologically tested.

The product is simple to use, you need to apply the treatment to the lashes in the morning and evening at the end of your routine. Take care to use it on the thinnest and smallest lashes that are hard to reach, as these are the ones that need the most assistance. Another brilliant aspect of this product is that you can also use it on your brows, resulting in healthier and fuller eyebrows. This treatment from Foltène will leave you with longer, stronger, and more beautiful eyelashes and eyebrows.

If your eyelashes have been damaged by products in the past then this is the ideal treatment to get those beautiful fluttery lashes back. Buy Foltène’s Eyelash and Eyebrow Treatment here for £14.95.

Up next is Eye of Horus’ newest product, the Bio Lash Lifting Mascara. We were excited to try this new offering from the brand, as it boasts to be 100% vegan and 98% organic. We were initially skeptical about how effective such a natural product could be but the results are fantastic. The formula is made with botanicals such as marine algae and plant-derived collagen. The mascara also contains Omega 9, Vitamin E, and Castor Seed Oil, resulting in healthy and nourished lashes. The natural ingredients mean that this product is suitable for the most sensitive eyes and can be enjoyed by all.

This mascara from Eye of Horus has been designed to add length, volume, and nourishment to lashes – the ultimate trio for great looking lashes. The double-sided comb brush is easy to use and combs with ease through the lashes, providing lift and volume.

If you are looking for a new mascara made with organic and vegan ingredients, but won’t compromise on quality then try Eye of Horus’ Bio Mascara. You can buy it here for £19.00

False lashes taking too much time in your beauty routine? We at The Amazing Blog know the struggle, which is why we were so excited to try the Nuvega Lash Revitalisation Serum.

Eyelash revitalising serums have been around for a while, however most use controversial ingredients which are not vegan or environmentally friendly. Nuvega is a German company that uses vegan ingredients, combining the science behind lash growth with vegan and natural production, allowing the vegan market to try this new beauty revolution. 
 
The product claims to stimulate the eyelash hair follicles as well as nourishing the hair follicles at the same time. When we tried the serum we were impressed with how easy it is to apply. We used the thin wand within the package to sweep the serum over like an eyeliner. Only a thin amount is needed, and the product should be applied over all the hairs on both the top and bottom lashes. The product is easy enough to add into a daily beauty routine, and we found the price is reasonable due to its high quality and solid results. The box has clear instructions on how to use the product, making the whole process very easy and fool-proof.
 
Grow your lashes and banish the need for falsies - the Nuvega Lash Revitalising Serum can be purchased online here for £71.75.

No eyelash feature would be complete without adding some fake eyelashes. These are a sure-fire way to add some glamour and oomph to any look. We love the selection from Pinky Goat - they are a unique brand with a large range of false lashes for both makeup artists and anyone with a love for voluminous eyes. Don’t just take it from us – Pure Beauty voted them Best New Brand of the Year.

We tried many different and exciting falsies from the brand, however our favourites were from the Deluxe 3D Silk Collection. The lashes in this collection are cruelty free and light-weight, with a thin cotton band for a luxurious feel. These lashes add intense volume and lengthen the look of your eyelashes, and can last an amazing 15 uses. You can use Pinky Goat’s exclusive GLUEME Lash Adhesive and Gold Lash Applicator as well for perfect results.

This range alone has 9 styles to choose from, so there are many options for whatever look you’re going for. We loved Mayar from the collection, the lashes were voluminous but understated enough to look elegant and life-like.

To take your lashes to the next level, try Pinky Goat’s 3D Silk Collection False Lashes. You can purchase them here for £21.00.