Opatra Dermisonic

Here at The Amazing Blog, proper skincare treatments are highly valued. We generally stick with our standard cleanse, tone and moisturise routine daily, but sometimes we need something more advanced, similar to treatments we might receive from a beautician. Professional skincare device brand Opatra has the solution for a more advanced skincare regime that has professional results, but done in the comfort of your own home. It is with their revolutionary DERMISONIC skincare set.

The DERMISONIC combines five key elements into one multi-tasking device. These include: Ultrasonic therapy to increase the production of collagen, vibration massage to accelerate blood circulation, Ion+ electrical charges to remove impurities and dead cells, Ion- electrical charges to allow skincare products to penetrate into the skin more effectively and LED light therapy for anti-ageing benefits. When I tried it I was particularly impressed with how easy it was to use, plus how quickly I felt it working on my skin.

Before using this device, you'll need to cleanse your skin thoroughly and apply the appropriate cream or serum. The three different light options – red, green and blue – all offer a different benefit. The red light brings anti-ageing technology, the green light assists with providing anti-pigmentation benefits and the blue light helps acne suffers with its anti-bacteria wavelengths.

The main feature of this clever kit is their DERMISONIC device, with four buttons to operate the system according to your skin, along with a charger and cord. It also contains protective eye-wear, cotton squares for cleaning the device as needed and a serum (mine was the Dermiserum AntiAging). What we like that it offers a  'salon treatment at home' option and we'd certainly suggest it as a must for anyone who has regular salon facial - just think how much money you'll save!

Pick up your own DERMISONIC device here for £295.

Contour Cosmetics - Contour Kit

Here at The Amazing Blog, we are obsessed with new makeup innovations. One of the latest trends in makeup artistry is contouring, which allows you to define certain facial features, like your cheekbones. For a long time, contouring has been a tricky mystery, but thanks to Contour Cosmetics, anyone can master the technique.

The kit includes six easy-to-blend shades designed to complement every skin tone, from fair to dark. Every set includes a portable instruction booklet to show you exactly how to apply the formulas correctly to achieve a flawless finish. Contouring allows you to highlight, illuminate and enhance your natural features, and this set is the perfect way to achieve your desired results with ease.

Along with the contour kit itself, Contour Cosmetics makes their specialty sculpting and blending brushes designed for use with the contouring makeup. The flat-topped, circular blending brush helps to give you smooth, even coverage, while the sculpting brush offers extra precision and definition to your look.

At the office, we adored the simple packaging of the kit, as well as how creamy and smooth the formulas are. It was easy to apply the makeup properly, so we finally learned how to master contouring. Each shade applied smoothly and without hassle, so we looked fabulous all day long.

Pick up your own Contour Cosmetic kit on the brand’s website for £42. The sculpting brush (£14) and blending brush (£21) are also available for purchase on their website.

Heathcote & Ivory - Lily of the Valley Collection

Our team here at The Amazing Blog love a good British brand, and Heathcote & Ivory is one of our favourites. They produce quintessentially British toiletries and are renowned for their fine fragrances and design.

 The Lily of the Valley collection is one of their latest releases. The invigorating scent instantly transports you to a fresh spring day in a field of white, dewy flowers. The floral scent is fresh, green and delicate with woody undertones.

 Another great thing about Heathcote and Ivory products are the beautiful, modern designs. This collection utilizes white and green shades, as well as adorable photos of lilies, on the packaging of the products. The pretty and feminine design make the collection a very welcome addition to your bathroom or vanity. The products offer a luxurious scent, but are still affordable compared to their competition.

 To get your hands on some of these floral treats, head here to purchase whichever products from the collection you desire. Our top picks are the Luxury Hand & Nail Cream (£5) and the Eau de Toilette (£8).

ESTHECHOC Beauty Chocolates

Our team here at The Amazing Blog will never turn down some delicious chocolate and other yummy sweets. In our search for the next innovative treat, we came across ESTHECHOC from Cambridge Beauty Chocolate and knew we had found our newest chocolate obsession. We nearly fell off our chairs when we heard that the clever team at Cambridge Beauty Chocolate created a chocolate designed to make skin look younger.

ESTHECHOC chocolates are the result of 10 years of research related to how cocoa can be used to fight free radical damage to skin. The formula contains 70% cocoa dark chocolate and represents a combination of two of the most powerful antioxidants with pleotropic anti-ageing properties: cocoa flavanols and marine carotenoid astaxanthin.

The delicious treat contains only 38 calories per square, and it tastes as delicious as your favourite dark chocolate treat. It has a distinctly intense, rich flavour that simply melts in your mouth.

Head here to get your own supply of ESTHECHOC so you can look great while enjoying some delicious dark chocolate. Eat one chocolate every day for three weeks for best results.

Friday Favourites - Nail Polishes

Here at The Amazing Blog, we take great pleasure in testing out new nail colours. The change of seasons means we can say goodbye to our dark fall and winter hues, and hello to pretty brights and pastels for the spring and summer.

First up, we’re loving the Spring/Summer 2015 nail colour collection from CHEEKY Cosmetics. Inspired by three luxurious holiday destinations – Ibiza, Miami and St. Tropez – the collection has some fantastic shades designed with the culture of these destinations in mind. So if your wallet won’t allow you to schedule an exotic holiday this summer, you’ll still be able to bring a taste of the ocean and nightlife right to your fingertips.

The Ibiza polishes are inspired by the island’s dance scene and come in four metallic colours ranging from gold to blue. The Miami colours are bold and vibrant to show off the fun and energetic culture of the city, so a few statement blues and a fuchsia pink are included in the mix. Finally, the St. Tropez collection is classic and posh for ladies who want a touch of French sophistication, with three nudes and two red-toned hues. One of our favourites is Make It Rain from the Ibiza Collection. A beautiful lilac metallic, it's the perfect summer shade - subtle enough for daytime wear, but exotic enough to catch a few eyes on a summer night out.

Shop here to get the new colours for £7 each.

Although we love a good nail colour, removing it can sometimes be a hassle and can do damage to your nails than good. Little Ondine is a nail polish brand that is revolutionising nail colour. Their varnishes are chemical free, odour free and are made only of natural ingredients. Composed of 80% water, 15% resine and 5% pigment, the polishes allow you to peel off your colour in one go without any hassle or chemical removers. The brand is perfect for those of us who like to change our nails as often as our outfits.

Since the formula is water-based, it dries quickly, making it perfect for on-the-go! With over 80 colours to choose from, there is certainly a polish to suit everyone’s taste. You can find them here, with prices ranging from £7-£9 each or £12 for a fun twin pack.

Speaking of innovative formulas, Micro Cell has come up with a great formula for nail colour. The Micro Cell 2000 Colour Repair collection is a range of quick-drying varnishes that offer brilliant colour pay-off while working to strengthen your nails. The collection fortifies nails, protects them against drying out and encourages natural growth. Besides these benefits, the shades have excellent coverage and prevent premature flaking. It's comforting to know that your nails are feeling good whilst your manicure is lasting.

You can purchase your own Micro Cell 2000 Colour Repair nail varnishes here for £14.95 each and see their strengthening results in 2 – 3 weeks.

For a more sophisticated nail colour, reach for the elegant T. LeClerc nail enamel bottles. The colours are hypoallergenic and are free from a huge variety of chemicals.

We tried three different polishes – a bright pink, a bold red and a luxurious purple – and we love how long the colours last, despite the daily toll our we take on our nails. They dry quickly and have a lovely flat brush for a smooth application. To top it off, the finish is classic, ultra-shiny and opaque. Safe to say, our nails looked as chic and sophisticated as the packaging.

Check out the full range of T. LeClerc nail polishes here, which cost £12 each.

Another wonderful range of polishes with a shade for any occasion is Nella Milano. The brand's packaging and feel reflect perfectly the Italian roots of muse, Nella, and are perfect for anyone looking for an elegant, sophisticated manicure (and who isn't?).

Of the shades we tried, our favourite was Mulberry Wood. A deep berry colour which wouldn't be out of place in an Autumn/Winter collection, this colour oozes glamour, looking both rich on darker skin tones, and striking on paler tones. Of course, if darker hues aren't to your taste, the brand has over 80 other vivid shades to choose from, all of which apply beautifully and have great staying power. All 3-free formulas, the colours are great for showcasing your inner fashionista. We'll certainly be taking a page out of Nella's book this summer and using our nails as the ultimate fashion accessory.

To spice up your wardrobe, you can shop the stunning collection on the brand's website for £8.95 each.