Liolà Cosmetics - Nutrient-Rich Anti-Ageing Action Face Cream

With our new stay at home culture, the new make-up is no make-up! Skincare for us, at The Amazing Blog the priority beauty buy. And it would seem that we aren’t alone, as we ride through this turbulent time of the Covid19 pandemic. Lia Neophytou, the Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, recently commented: "With fewer out-of-home occasions for consumers to attend, as well as the transition to working at home, cosmetics has taken a backseat. Even when consumers do venture outdoors, the wearing of masks is further diminishing the need for cosmetics. All sectors in the cosmetics and toiletries industry are expected to return to growth in 2021, though will not recuperate their pre-COVID-19 value.” This is why today we’re want to introduce you to another of our #amazingfinds with the luxury and award-winning natural bio-peptide skincare by Liolà  Cosmetics from Italy. 

Liolà  Cosmetics is a luxurious range of skincare mixing the best natural ingredients with state-of-the-art biotechnologies. They were founded in 2018 by a group of like-minded Italian entrepreneurs with over 35 years of beauty experience, all of whom share the philosophy of simplicity, transparency and obsession for using only the finest natural ingredients. Here less is more, where they use minimal formulations to achieve a highly effective performance. Nature and innovative biotechnologies are at the sources of their quality actives; they don’t use any synthetic surfactants, parabens, silicones or mineral oils. They have the highest standards only using quality ingredients in order to deliver the experience of an authentic, tangible and luxurious experience. They also believe in is keeping a sustainable blueprint making sure that their products cohere to a practice helping to preserve the environment, as well as giving the customer the right product/quality ratio. In less than a year, they have produced four ranges with: Time Control, Black Diamond, Sport and 360 degrees. They have recently been recognised, winning Finalist at the Pure Beauty Global Awards 2020 with their Face Cream from the Time Control collection, which we are going to talk about today. All their products are 100% Italian, clinically tested, affordable and made with clean formulas. BTW you can scan the SKU on their products on the INCI Beauty App to find out their rating and explanation of ingredients.

The Time Control line is the hero range of the brand, only launched in 2019. It has bio-peptides which are substances formed by amino acids joined by covalent bonds known as amide or peptide bonds. Peptides act as a messenger between the top-most layer of skin or epidermis. Epidermal-dermal communication is important as it naturally breaks down as we age and is one of the causes of ageing. Here these bio-peptides are programmed to train the skin to fight the first signs of ageing, by toning and helping to diminish fine lines. We tried the Nutrient-Rich Anti-Ageing Action Face Cream which has a mix of 98% natural ingredients. The fragrance is fresh, it’s fast to absorb and light in texture, ideal for counteracting skin fatigue with it’s brightening and toning. It contains anti-ageing peptide which reduces the depth of facial wrinkles caused by the contraction of facial expression muscles, especially on the forehead and around the eyes. 

One of our favourite ingredients here is hyaluronic acid which will alleviate dry skin by hydrating and plumping due to its high molecular weight, where it helps to retain moisture between the skin cells. The Anti-pollution factor here is the vegetable-based ingredients with a synergic mix of a natural oxide-reductase enzyme and carefully selected soy peptides, small protein fragments produced by fermenting soybeans that neutralise the damaging effects of free radicals, pollution and UV. There is jojoba oil that aids in diminishing dryness and has anti-inflammatory properties which will reduce redness and also ease any irritation from eczema or rosacea. It also is rich in sweet almond oil which gives an emollient power to the cream as it improves the skin complexion and tone, helping reverse sun damage and restore the firmness of the skin making it look fresh. The black currant oil also has anti-inflammatory properties which will soothe irritation, nourish and protect. There are fatty acids with omega 6 and 3 which have protective properties, elasticising the skin lessening the effects of ageing. Last but not least, is the sunflower oil, here it’s a regenerator of damaged skin cells where it’s light, non-greasy and absorbs quickly without blocking the pores.

 Liolà Cosmetics advises applying morning and evening on clean skin. We found this to be a brilliant all-in-one Face Cream – no serum needed. When we tested this we found that it was nourishing enough to use alone, even on the driest skin type. It is expensive but if you work out ‘cost per wear’ using this alone without the need for a serum – we think it’s good value!  You can feel the luxury in every single detail, from the sourcing of ingredients to the presentation and packaging. Yes, we would buy more and for us, it’s a winner! We can’t wait to try more from this brand. To purchase your Nutrient-Rich Anti-Ageing Action Face Cream for see here.

Concrete & Wax - The Modular Collection: Tealight Trio in All Sage

It’s nearing to the end of August and we can feel that slight autumnal bite in the air. Shorter days and longer nights are not far away and the candle season is almost upon us. This is why at The Amazing Blog we thought we’d introduce you to one of our first #amazingfinds for the autumn. Meet the contemporary styled and hand-poured candle company Concrete & Wax with their versatile Tealight Trio in All Sage from The Modular Collection which are stackable tea lights where you can build them vertically or burn each one independently. 

They were founded in 2018 by Alex Sommer and Laura Keller (AKA Mr. Concrete and Mrs. Wax) who among many other things, are also expert trend forecasters in the fashion industry. They came up with this conceptual brand, which offers the consumer a variety of design choices with mix and match concrete modular and interchangeable candleholders, together with uniquely fragranced soy wax candles. The holders are available in six plain colours and three unique camouflage designs. They’re cleverly adaptable and fit into almost any interior style whether it’s a minimalist contemporary penthouse or rambling country cottage. At each stage of brand development Concrete & Wax, wanted to make sure that they kept their sourcing of materials and suppliers as sustainable as possible. And as a true testament to artisan craftsmanship, they produce all products in their Suffolk workshop where everything is hand-poured, finished and packaged. They say: “When it comes to the finishing touches, we scour the local market to source as much as we possibly can - our aim is to support local business and to keep our footprint as small as possible.” The general perception of concrete is a rough, heavy industrial material; however, here we see it being used as a smooth material taking on streamline and stylishly statuesque shapes. They produce a selection of reed diffusers, in black bottles with concrete tops that double up as a tealight holder. Also not forgetting the recent addition of coasters in all the different colourways including a new splatter design.

Concrete & Wax very kindly sent us the Tealight Trio in Sage these are three hand-poured sage green concrete tealight holders in varying heights. As mentioned, they can burn independently or be stacked to make one tall tower. Each of these concrete holders has natural cork feet making them appear as if they’re slightly floating, plus the cork offers protection for heat-sensitive or polished surfaces.  We preferred to arrange these all nestling together for an extra twinkly effect. All candles (including tealights) are made of 100% vegan blended soy wax with a choice of fragrance. We’re fans of soy wax as it’s clean-burning and tends to hold scent longer than other varieties of wax due to the slow burn which releases the scented oils gradually.

There are four candle fragrances. The Lime, Basil & Mandarin is a citrusy fragrance that is relaxing and energising all at once. Lime is known to help clear the mind, the basil is thought to boost mood, and the mandarin soothes tensions. Secondly, we have Tobacco & Oak, this is considered as a very earthy aroma with smoky tobacco and dark oak mixed with leather, spice and musk. It’s very masculine, but not overpowering. This autumnal scent makes you want to hunker down and snuggle up in the warmth. The musk here will also help elevate your mood and give a general feeling of wellbeing. Thirdly, Sandalwood & Black Pepper, which according to Concrete & Wax, this scented candle is the most luxurious in the collection. Sandalwood is believed to be beneficial in treating anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia and the warming scent of black pepper will help relieve stress. Last but not least, Amber Noir, is the latest addition to the collection and is warming, intoxicating and mysterious. Tropical and exotic, burning this candle will spirit you off to far and distant climes … Top tip: These tealight candles will also fit into the Slim Holders. We love the pick ‘n ‘mix and the interchangeable aspect, which allows us to swap fragrance, colour or style of container all on a whim to fit our mood!  To see the full range from Concrete & Wax see here starting from £22.

Inspira Cosmetics: Mykonos Blue Collection

Were you thinking about planning a summer trip to the beautiful Greek islands? But then cancelled as you realised with a heavy heart, that there’ll probably be the UK quarantining as a consequence… Well, at The Amazing Blog we’ve found for you the Mykonos Blue Collection of skincare as a consolation!  This is a new launch from one of our favourite skincare companies Inspira Cosmetics whose other products you may remember we recently reviewed here.

Inspira Cosmetics is based in Aachen, Germany, and is known for its solution-based skincare. Their motto is ‘maximum effect, but as natural as possible’ where they have cutting edge technology, combined with natural and active ingredients. We think that they’re a true leader in their field, and this brand never ceases to amaze us with their latest products.

The first product we want to talk about is the Mykonos Blue Aqua Hydro Gel Cream. This gel-cream will leave the face with a hit of a fresh wave and will deeply moisturise the complexion. The algae extract will hydrate with its powerhouse of nutrients, minerals and will extract the toxins to purify and heal thanks to their therapeutic benefits. This refreshing gel-cream will alleviate dry skin since it also contains hyaluronic acid to rejuvenate and help with the disappearance of any wrinkles and reduces fine lines. It also contains pentavitin®  made from plant extracts and known as a great protector preventing dehydration and sensitivity. This 100% natural ingredient will also act as a shield with powerful hydration lasting up to 72 hours. The caffeine here ensures a fresh complexion and works as a natural 3D lifting polymer that will intensively tighten the skin.  All of these ingredients make it ideal for applying after a long day battling the elements, as it will cool and soothe. however, more importantly, this Aqua Hydro Gel Cream containing pentavitin® which will keep the skin moisturised for a good period of time. The Mykonos Blue Aqua Hydro Gel Cream 50ml at €39.50 here.  

Moving on with this exclusive collection, the next product that we tried was the Blue Intensive Moisture Mask. This is the perfect product to apply when you’ve returned back from the beach with drying winds and sea. It also contains the intensely hydrating ingredients of algae extract and the humectant of hyaluronic acid both of which hold moisture in the skin, plumping up and revitalise It. This Intensive Moisture Mask is also a combination of hydrator and cleanser, where the charcoal powder here removes dead skin cells and control oil production. The sea salt cleanses the pores and balances oil helping avoid breakouts for those prone to acne. The glyceryl caprylate will restore oil in the skin and regulate the moisture. They advise applying it generously to a cleansed face, leaving it on for 10-15 minutes, then wash off the rest or massage into the skin with their Blue Cooling Massage Tools. the Blue Intensive Moisture Mask 50ml at €37.50 here.

The third product in this collection is the Mykonos Blue Cooling Massage Tools. These massage tools are made of glass and filled with a sea-blue cooling liquid which will chill quickly when kept in the fridge.  These are cooling and refreshing tools to use in circular movements either alone or in conjunction with the Intensive Moisture Mask to invigorate and aid faster penetration of ingredients. What better way to leave your skin refreshed and soft than by combining these two elements. These Blue Cooling Massage Tools can also be used on both the face and body. The Mykonos Blue collection also contains a fourth product, Mykonos Blue Eau de Toilette 100ml, which we will be featuring soon. It’s a beautifully presented collection which is evocative of summer Greek holidays; to see the full collection click here.

LENGLING Parfum Munich - No 9 Wunderwind Extrait de Parfum

A scent can immediately change your mood, bringing good memories back or creating new and exciting ones. Finding that one and only fragrance that encompasses your style, personality and suits each season - is a case of trial and error. This is why we at The Amazing Blog love exploring new fragrances. It’s always so interesting to see how each person’s skin interacts, together with the different perceptions we have of the same fragrance. For these reasons, we were thrilled to receive the deliciously summery No 9 Wunderwind Extrait de Parfum from LENGLING MUNICH. 

LENGLING Parfum Munich was founded by partners Ursula and Christian Lengling in Germany in 2014, launching with their first collection a series of seven scents ‘Extraits de Sentiment’. They use only the finest ingredients inspired by the purest forms of nature, all of which are hand-poured into each bottle. They combine elegance with sustainability by making sure that their formulations are vegan. The silver Isar pebble design found on their hand-polished perfume stopper is the heart of their inspiration, this pebble originates from Isartal (south of Munich) where many people use it as a lucky charm or for meditation. Their fragrances are based on two ingredients that contrast (i.e. are opposites) but also complement each other. They like to call these their ‘LENG’ and ‘LING’ notes. As they say, opposites attract, and with combinations like raw cedar and soft vanilla or dark leather notes mixed with candyfloss, the fragrances used in each bottle are a juxtapose designed to stimulate the senses.  As Ursula Lengling says, “…they will touch you in the place where memories reside and feelings collide. In your heart." The collections are ‘Extrait de Parfum’ not to be confused with ‘Eau de Parfum’.  The fundamental difference between the two is that the Extrait has the highest concentration of fragrance compounds, lasting the longest and with the strongest sillage (lingering in the air). Whereas, the Eau de Parfum has the second-highest concentration and is the one most commonly used by fragrance houses. The Extrait de Parfum will offer a closer-to-the-skin performance, becoming a more intimate scent offering a rate of concentration sometimes lasting up to 24 hours or longer.

No 9 - Wunderwind Extrait de Parfum is a bold and sensational scent launched by LENGLING in 2018. This fragrance won a Dufstars Award for 2018, (the German Oscars of perfumes). Their award was for Best Artistic Independent German Perfume. Which when we learned this, it gave us even more of a curiosity to try this exceptional unisex fragrance. The LENG notes here mirror a ‘shady pine tree grove’ with pine needles absolute, honey, rosemary, thyme absolute and resiny incense. Whereas the LING notes here are a ‘sunny sea’ with sea breeze tones, floral ozone notes, lemon, musk and watermelon. When we closed our eyes and spritzed, it transported us back to summer holidays, Greek islands, wandering through the pine and lemon groves to the beach where it meets the warm salty foaming sea. This for us, was deliciously citrus fresh with a hint of spice. Thyme and rosemary are the Mediterranean herbs that gently waft together with the honey and soft musk as the base notes. They say that it is to: “Let it all go and fly free. Wunderwind.” Wunderwind loosely translated means ‘wonderful wind’ and we think that this will truly awaken the senses and evoke treasured memories of Mediterranean holidays...if you are looking for an extraordinary, fresh and individual new summer fragrance, this is the one to buy. To purchase see here, 50ml for £180.85 

Masktini Spritz & Masks

At The Amazing Blog, we think that climate change, sun exposure, pollution and the change of seasons all contribute negatively to the changes in our complexion.  With the current lockdown on salons, we’ve been searching out ways to give ourselves a spa-like facial at home. We were recommended to try products from Masktini, a skincare brand where nature meets science. Today we’re featuring the Woke Bae - Whenever Moisture Spritz and their full collection of face masks. 

Masktini is a US skincare brand founded by Olga Parno. Having struggled with sensitive skin and breakouts, with no skincare solutions in sight, she decided it was time to step down from working in a successful career on Wall Street and create her very own skincare range. With her team of skincare experts, Parno created four gentle, and more importantly, results-oriented products, which are designed to help even the most delicate of complexion achieve a better quality of skin. The charming portmanteau Masktini, was inspired by combining her passion for face masks and one of her simple pleasures, the end of the day cocktails with her girlfriends. The branding is strong and luxurious, offering the consumer innovative skincare and at-home salon experience. Plus, with the product sizes at only 50ml, it makes them very user-friendly and easy to pop into an overnight travel bag. 

The first product in the range we tried was the Woke Bae - Whenever Moisture Spritz. This has been created to hydrate the skin by misting. Let’s talk about some of the key ingredients here, the Spritz is made up of apple extract, rich in antioxidants that help with the skins’ elasticity ridding it of free radicals to give a more youthful and firmer complexion. The watermelon extract renews skin cells and protects against UV damages and hyperpigmentation. Rich in grapefruit/orange peel oil, makes it an excellent antioxidant, full of vitamin C which blends well with the hyaluronic acid and collagen-boosting marine algae polymers. Used morning and night this vitamin-enriched Spritz gives a double whammy of refreshing and helping to plump away any fine lines.  We used this deliciously subtly fruity/vanilla fragranced mist daily for a week or so and noticed how it kept our faces moist and hydrated. It also worked well spritzing after using any of the masks too. To purchase you can find the Woke Bae - Whenever Moisture Mist here for £55.

The second product we tried was the Metal Head - Gold Brightening Mask which left us with an instant radiance! This Gold Brightening Mask contains mineral micro-pigments that leaves the skin with a golden glow. We think that this mask makes it a brilliant skin ‘pick me up’ post-party. Some of the key ingredients here are vitamin C to boost collagen levels giving skin back its elasticity; the pomegranate stem cells, which act as a skin brightener and with its antioxidants neutralises damage and protects against inflammation. The sunflower oil provides smoothness, rich in vitamin E it soothes acne and aids against other skin imperfections. We applied a generous layer onto a dry skin from chin to forehead (avoiding the eyes), using gentle upward strokes (as suggested). Leaving it on for 15–20 minutes then rinse away with warm water. It left our complexions with a glorious luminosity for the entire day. The Metal Head Gold Brightening Mask is available here for £65.  

Next, we have the Night Ranger – Overnight Renewal Mask; which for us was a ‘sleep therapy’ as a leave-on treatment, working overnight with its feather-light magic to improve the complexion. Made up of natural lime pearl acids, these act as an exfoliant for a smoother skin texture, whereas the papaya enzymes will clean clogged pores and help rid the skin of dead cells and soothing any redness or sensitivity. Finally, the hyaluronic acid plumps away fine lines and the anti-ageing retinol encourages healthy cellular renewal. Masktini advises applying a thin layer of this clear gel over the entire face (avoiding the eyes), stroking it upwards, leaving it on overnight then rinsing the skin with water to awaken a more luminous complexion. To purchase the Night Ranger - Overnight Renewal Mask for £65 see here.

Last but not least, the fourth product we used was the Twilight Zone - Tahitian Detox Mask.  They describe this as a ‘reset button’; ingredients include vitamin C from the Grapefruit /Orange Peel (see above with Woke Bae) and bamboo charcoal powder known for its ability to remove dirt and toxins from the skin. It also has the more unusual Tahitian black pearl powder which when massaged in, very gently resurfaces the skin giving it an immediate radiance. This black pearl powder will also help to undo sun damage and hyperpigmentation. This dark creamy mask warms up when applied, and with its botanical blends, it hydrates and restores the moisture balance, giving the complexion-boosting brilliance, while also deeply cleansing. Apply a thin layer of this foaming mask, then massage in for 1-2 minutes to let the black pearl powder activate. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse it with warm water. To purchase the Twilight Zone - Tahitian Detox Mask for £55 see here.

Which was our favourite? After much consideration, we’d have to say the Twilight Zone, as living in a polluted city, we found that this mask really did help to unclog our skin, leaving it hydrated and super-squeaky clean!