Madame La La Tan

The tanning industry is an incredibly popular one, especially at the moment because none of us are going to get a tan in this frosty weather. At The Amazing Blog we would rather our bronzed glow come from tanning creams and sprays than exposing our skin to UV rays on a sun bed. In the run up to the Christmas party season we have been trying out self tanning products to make sure we are fearless when it comes to revealing a little flesh in our Christmas dresses. One product we all agree on is the Madame La La Tan, in fact, we love this tan so much, that our Executive Editor will be taking it away on holiday with her!

Madame La La Tan is a self-tanning DD mousse (Dynamic Do-all); it is lightweight and gently tinted to leave you with a natural looking glow without the risk of looking orange. It is perfect for any fake tan first timers out there as the mousse leaves a guide colour on the skin during application so you know exactly what you have covered which means you have even and streak free coverage. This guide colour also means that you are instantly tanned, which is perfect if you are in a rush. The tan will then take approximately 4 hours to develop into a sun kissed golden glow which lasts for up to 10 days, and it even fades naturally just like a real sun tan.

To use the Madame La La Tan, we recommend exfoliating your entire body before moisturising drier areas such as knees, elbows and ankles. Then pump the mousse directly onto a tanning mitt and smooth over the skin, taking care to ensure you have covered everything, then leave to dry for 5 minutes before dressing.

There is a delicious tropical coconut fragrance upon application so you are not left with a horrid biscuity smell that might giveaway your tan as fake. Unlike other tanning products we’ve used, it is not at all drying on the skin. The mousse contains Coco Water which is hydrating and smoothes the skin while preventing streaks. It also boasts anti-aging Aloe Vera and green tea leaf extracts which are also hydrating and repairing. 

The Madame La La Tan is now available in the UK and you can get your from their website where a 200ml bottle is £36.

Friday Favourites: Think Pink for Breast Cancer Research

As you might already know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and with breast cancer being the most common form of cancer in the UK currently it has never been so important to raise awareness of the symptoms of this horrible disease. Here at The Amazing Blog, we have been collecting a range of our favourite products that are currently raising money for this wonderful cause by donating a portion of their profits to breast cancer charities. Bodhi are an eco-luxury skincare brand based on the philosophy that a good natural skincare routine will not only boost your skin, but also your wellbeing. The Bodhi products use traditional botanical remedies as the basis of their skincare range, using only 100% natural essences. To support the cause of Breast Cancer Research, Bodhi have created the Desert Rose Rejuvenating Face Oil Limited Pink Edition. This is a luxurious facial oil is based on the Bulgarian Damask Rose and features Argan Oil, which has skin renewal qualities and Rose Hip Oil which has anti-aging properties. Bodhi founder, Elijah Choo says “Our aim is to empower and inspire women to support this tremendous cause by helping to reinforce body confidence during breast cancer.” To support the work of this fantastic charity, Bodhi are donating £10 to Breast Cancer Research from every sale. You can purchase the Desert Rose Rejuvenating Face Oil for £38 from the Bodhi website.

Dell’Ugo have created a very special pasta to raise money for Breast Cancer Research this October. The new edition to their fresh pasta line is the exciting Beetroot and Goat's Cheese Fiorelli, which not only sounds delicious, but looks it too as this pasta is pink! We think that this would be a very quirky choice to serve up at a dinner party as the pasta offers up complex flavour combinations because the beetroot has been tenderly marinated in a relish consisting of pomegranate and mint. You are in safe hands with Dell’Ugo as they have been creating delicious new recipes in the UK since 1929. You can try the special pink pasta yourself as it is available now from Waitrose where it is retailing for £3.49. Dell’Ugo will be donating 10 pence from every pack that is purchased to Breast Cancer Research.

This October, OPI has launched its seventh annual Special Edition Pink of Hearts 2013 nail duo to promote breast cancer charity Look Good Feel Better. The set contains a gorgeous baby pink polish 'Pink-ing of You' and a Limited Edition glitter polish 'More than a Glimmer' that can be worn over the top of the pink shade. As an added bonus, OPI are giving away free nail decals within the set so you can add crystals and pink ribbon embellishments to complete your look. For every Limited Edition Pink of Hearts kit sold, OPI will donate £2 to Look Good Feel Better. You can purchase your own kit from the OPI website for £18.80.

 To support the work of the Pink Ribbon Foundation, haircare brand Paul Mitchell have created a limited edition collection: 'The Girls are Alright'. The collection includes the Super Skinny Serum, the Super Strong Daily Shampoo and the Super Strong Daily Conditioner, which are all presented in limited edition packaging to raise awareness of breast cancer. The range aims to improve the appearance and quality of your hair by strengthening and conditioning it. We love the colourful and fun packaging of these lovely hair goodies. You can get your hands on these special products from the Paul Mitchell website where the Super Skinny Serum is available for £17.25 for 150mls, the Super Strong Daily Shampoo is £11.50 for 300ml and the Super Strong Daily Conditioner is £14.25 for 300ml. Clinique have released a special edition Pink With a Purpose lipstick in the shade 'Pink Ribbon Honey'. The lipstick is a lovely pink colour that will give you a sheer coverage so it will enhance your natural lips without being too heavy. The lipstick also comes with a limited edition pink ribbon case which is perfect for storing makeup essentials in your handbag for reapplication on the go. We love the sleek and luxurious packaging and think it is the perfect size for girls who are always on the move. For every purchase of the Pink With a Purpose Lipstick, Clinique will be donating £2 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and you can show your support now by getting your own from the Clinique website where it retails for £16.

LaCoupe Orgnx Coconut and Macadamia Oil Collection

The weather can wreck havoc on our hair, in the Summer UV rays damage the melanin in our hair; and in the Winter, the changes between the cold, dry outside air and the warmth inside our homes and offices lifts the cuticle of our hair and the moisture is leached from it, leaving us with frizzy and unruly locks! When we girls at The Amazing Blog heard about the LaCoupe Orgnx Coconut and Macadamia Oil Collection we just had to get our hands on it!

The Coconut and Macadamia Oil Collection is a specially designed hair care range that protects the hair from the environment that can damage the hair. As Autumn is well and truly underway now we thought this would be a perfect time to test out the shampoo and conditioner.

The smell of the products is wonderful thanks to the coconut and macadamia oil, and I found that it lingered in my throughout the day. These oils are two of our favourite due to their luxurious moisturising qualities. After using the shampoo and conditioner on my dry and unruly hair, I found that it really did work to hydrate my locks, and left my hair not only smelling delightful, but also looking shinier and healthier than it has in ages. Both the shampoo and conditioner are lightweight formulas that can transform dry, frizzy and damaged hair into shiny healthy hair that is stronger and softer – and smells like a summer holiday even in the depths of winter!

If you want to get your hands on this moisturising hair collection, check out the LaCoupe website or you can purchase the Shampoo and conditioner, both £10.95 each for 300ml instore at Harvey Nichols or from the Nutri Beauty Products website.

The Bluebeard's Revenge Aftershave Cologne

For us men, shaving is possibly one of our least favourite tasks, so we are always on the lookout for new male grooming products to spice up this dull ritual. When we heard about The Bluebeard’s Revenge Aftershave Cologne here at The Amazing Blog, needless to say we jumped at the chance to try it. The Bluebeard’s Revenge is a gentleman’s grooming company inspired by the manliest of all men: pirates! Their slogan boldly declares that their products are for ‘Real Men Only’, and they take great care in making sure that their products have the best ingredients for your skin.

The aftershave cologne has really cool packaging that definitely bought out the inner child in us. It is a glass bottle emblazoned with The Bluebeard’s Revenge logo which is of course, a skull and crossbones, so you really are applying a special pirate formula, OOOH ARRGHH!

The cologne itself is a brilliant blue, which reminds us of refreshing Caribbean waters. The scent starts off very crisp, which is perfect for post shaving. Bergamot and Basil are the highlights, then it moves into a very classic fragrance; Black Tea and Watermint. Last, but not least, you get a hint of Vanilla and Sandalwood, perfect for keeping things spicy throughout the day. All in all, it is a very classic and masculine scent, perfect for the modern man. It feels wonderful as an aftershave as well, and is very soothing, which is a plus since you will be splashing it on those tender areas. We loved that the bottle has an authentic splash on applicator because it is very different from the sprays you see nowadays.

Beyond the aftershave, The Bluebeard’s Revenge has created a wonderful range of shaving and grooming products perfect for any modern man. Some of their products are paraben free as well, which is something we lookout for.

If you are interested in purchasing The Bluebeard’s Revenge Aftershave Cologne, it retails for £19.99 on their website. What’s more, The Bluebeard’s Revenge are offering you our readers a very special  20% exclusive discount until 31st October  2013 please quote AMAZING20 at the check out on The Bluebeard’s Revenge Online Store.

ManCave Moisturiser

Since I work with a bunch of girls, I often get forced to try different kinds of skincare products for men. Well, I guess I shouldn’t say “forced”, since I will admit,  I have started to take a slight interest in my own skincare routine. All I hear day in and day out are beauty tips, so I’m guessing some of them are beginning to sink in. The one tip that has always been stressed is the importance of a good moisturiser. I just can’t seem to get that tip out of my head, so when ManCave Moisturiser arrived at The Amazing Blog office, I was eager to try it out.

I decided to use ManCave in the morning during usual skincare routine. After shaving and washing my face I used a small amount of the moisturiser on both my face and neck. The texture was nice and did not feel too heavy on my skin, which is one that thing that I absolutely hate. This moisturiser is designed to hydrate your skin, protect you from harmful UV rays and stimulate your skin with the help of caffeine. Although I did not notice the effects of the caffeine, the hydrating qualities were like nothing I had experienced. I found that this moisturiser not only made my skin feel great but it was so different from all the other beauty products that come through our office - I couldn’t help but fall in love with it. From its sports inspired packaging, witty product description as well as the results I received from it, the ManCave Moisturiser is definitely something I will continue to use.

If you are interested in getting your own ManCave Moisturiser, it's avaible on their website as well as your local Sainsbury’s for £9.50. And for all the ladies out there, this is a great gift for the men in your life. You may have to convince him to use it at first but once you do, he won't be able to stop.