Sun Screen Velvet Body/ Face lotion SPF 50+ by Frezyderm

It’s December; it’s snowy and freezing outside and we at The Amazing Blog just like you love the Christmas holidays with all the festive spirit.  However, we also can’t help thinking about jumping on a plane and getting away from it all. Whether you're off skiing on ice-capped mountains or sunbathing in warmer climes, those of you who are lucky enough are no doubt going to be upping your tan game.  Today is one of our #amazingfinds which we think you're really going to thank us for. See the below, with two of our must-have SPF skincare products from Frezyderm.

If you're going to a beach this Christmas, then Frezyderm’s Sun Screen Velvet Body Lotion SPF 50+ is the one for you, allowing you to tan without damage. This sun screen is an innovative product that provides very high protection, this is formulated with a new velvet technology that dries matte and leaves skin velvety soft and non-oily. Enriched with botanical ingredients, including rosemary leaf extract and sunflower oil, the sunscreen protects skin from UV damage and prevents skin from photo ageing. They claim that their sunscreen is protective enough for even the most sun-sensitive of skins. Application should be 20-30 mins before sun exposure and then reapplied again every 2 hours, or immediately after swimming. 

The brand has also developed a specific sun protection for the face, Sun Screen Velvet Face SPF 50+ with the innovative second skin technology giving the skin a comfortable matte texture with protection for up to 6 hours. Not only does this sun screen act as a sun protection product, but it also absorbs sebum and smoothes the appearance of lines and wrinkles. We think it's pretty amazing, as it glides on smoothly, is invisible and water resistant; making it in our view perfect for a beach day or a pool party. Best of all is that it works as a brilliant primer under tinted foundation or make up. We are not the only ones loving this product. It was awarded the Best Beauty Breakthrough Award by Amazing PR's client The Beauty Shortlist Awards in 2017. Both products are parabens free and you can purchase the body sun screen here for £20.50 and the face sunscreen here for £18.99.

Epara-Cleansing Lotion and Brightening Night Balm

At The Amazing Blog, beauty is our common passion. We love discovering new beauty products made for different skin types and age. We were delighted when we received EPARA’s Cleansing Lotion and Brightening Night Balm.

EPARA is an organic and natural skincare brand specialising in Afro-Carribean beauty. After years of suffering from dry and uneven complexion, the founder Ozohu Adoh struggled to find any effective and natural skincare products. So as the story goes, she took a chance and decided to create a brand that would answer the needs of women of colour. In the Nigerian dialect, Ebira, EPARA means “to cocoon oneself” which is the core aim of this brand.

EPARA combined the best of natural African ingredients to create unique and highly nourishing skincare range. The Cleansing Lotion cleanses and gently moisturises and is very efficient in removing all traces of make up and impurities. The lotion is enriched with moringa seed extracts, marula oil, plankton extract, Cananga flower oil and frankincense oil. Together these ingredients work as natural skin brighteners, helping to reduce the imperfections and give a more even skin tone. The oils infused in this formula make the cleanser highly hydrating and perfect for dry or sensitive skin types.

The Brightening Night Balm has won a particular place in our hearts. This balm is infused with the finest ingredients including plankton extracts, allantoin, and hyaluronic acid. Combined, these ingredients replenish the skin with goodness at night, and help reduce age spots and hyperpigmentation. Allantoin and Hyaluronic Acid with their anti-ageing and cell regenerating properties contribute to a softer, clearer and healthier skin tone. The complexion looks instantly rejuvenated and moisturised with the cream absorbing quickly leaving the skin velvety soft. Purchase the Cleansing Lotion here for £40 and the Brightening Night balm here for £100.

Vegetable Crisps by Leighton Brown

We at The Amazing Blog have something rather ground-breaking to report; we actually prefer Leighton Brown vegetable crisps to any old potato crisps! The texture is super-crunchy and the flavours are bold. Move over Walkers!

These treats for the taste buds come in three flavours; Parsnip crisps with Manuka Honey, Sweet Potato Crisps with Cheese & Jalapeno, and Beetroot Crisps with Horseradish & Dill. Leighton Brown is an artisan brand, whose products are vegetarian, gluten-free and made with only natural ingredients; but this goodness doesn’t take away from the vibrant flavours. With these crisps, they have a unique combination of tastes with their piquancy and seasoning, in our view they're pure stimulation for the taste buds. We’re obviously not the only ones to think this, as Leighton Brown crisps have won several Great Taste Awards by the Guild of Fine Food not just for one but for every single flavour!

The heat from the Jalapeno peppers pairs perfectly with the cheese, the Manuka honey brings a gorgeous sweetness, and the dill and horseradish make a delightfully tangy pairing. The echo around the office is 'please pass me another packet'. We’re now fully on board with these yummy and appetising vegetable crisps. You too can purchase Leighton Brown crisps online here for around £16 for 12 packs, or around £30 for 24 packs; or they're available individually in store nationwide at Holland & Barrett.

Christmas Stockings Fillers

For the last post of our Special Christmas Week, we are going to talk about stocking fillers. No matter our age, we're always so excited to find out what Father Christmas put in our beautiful stockings. While we love those little, fun and cute gifts, it can sometimes be difficult to find great stockings ideas for less than £15. We at The Amazing Blog have racked our brains and looked for the best stockings fillers at a reasonable price.

Let’s start with Heathcote and Ivory Gardeners Tree Tidings; this little gift set contains two hand creams and a Relax bath tablet. The shea butter hand cream as its name suggests made with shea butter(obviously) but also with other essential oils including lemon, orange and peppermint. This beautiful mix makes a highly nourishing hand cream. While the shea butter cream has a zesty and fresh scent, the Hedgerow hand cream has more of a fruity smell thanks to the blend of rhubarb, blackberry and elderflower extracts included in the formula. Together these ingredients intensely hydrate hands leaving them softer and smoother. Enriched with chamomile, lavender, eucalyptus and rosemary the bath tablets is the ideal product to help you relax while bathing. All made without Parabens and Sulphates. You can purchase the Gardeners Tree Tidings here for £6.00.

The festive period is the opportunity for us all to look at our best. With Christmas dinners and New Year events, we all like to shine bright and to have our party looks on point. And what better way to complement a look than a beautiful nail polish. A lovely and shiny nail polish is the little detail that instantly completes a look. Le Mini Macaron’s Mini Petit Bouquets nail polish set with their pretty pastel shades might just be the perfect trio for nail polishes lovers. The set contains three nail polishes including lavender; a pale purple, Rose pale; a pastel pink and wildflower a grey nail lacquer with blue hues. These nude and pastel shades will bring a modern and elegant touch to your look. Le Mini Bouquets nail polish set is available here for £24.99.

Christmas is the time to be merry, eat great food and drink delicious tipples. However, as years pass by, we start getting bored of the usual tastes and flavours. For those who like us want to add a little twist to their tipples, Popaball has created the Popaball Bursting Juice bubbles for Gin, Prosecco and Vodka. The Blueberry and Lemon Bursting Juice Bubbles for Gin, with its sweet and zesty taste instantly add a burst of sweetness and juiciness to your drink. The Apple & Cherry Bubbles for Vodka, (our favourite) taste delightfully good; the sensation of the Popaballs bursting in the mouth is just incredible; it brings drinking Vodka to a whole new level. The Shimmer Blueberry Bubbles for Prosecco is ideal to add a little touch of glam in your prosecco. Just add the blueberry bubbles and the shimmering liquid, watch the sparkle forms and enjoy the fruity taste.  The bubbles are suitable for vegetarians. You can purchase all the Popaballs from Cotswold Trading. See here for the bubbles for Gin £3.79, the bubbles for Vodka here for £3.79 and the shimmer bubbles for prosecco here for £4.49. Guaranteed to add a bit of an extra 'fizz' to your Christmas tipple!

We at The Amazing Blog appreciate a warm and relaxing bath once in a while. And when we do so, we love using the most calming and beautifully scented bath products. Sloane Home excel in the art of making stunning bath salts. Our preferred ones remain the Lady Grey, bath salts with a zesty and fresh perfume, the Topiary Garden, is a more floral and classic scent and the Rose Garden has a sensual and luxurious fragrance. All bath salts are made with Dead Sea salts well known for its therapeutic properties. The bath salts help you relax by easing muscles and uplifting the spirit. There are nothing more agreeable than soaking in a warm and welcoming bath after a long day and these fantastic bath salts from Sloane home are just what you need. Purchase the bath salts here for £16.50 each.

Hang on a minute you really thought that we would give you some stockings fillers tips without including one treat? Come on you should know better, we here at The Amazing Blog can’t resist the temptation of delicious and savoury candies. Our addiction of this season is The Fudge Kitchen award-winning sliders; the brand specialised in making gourmet handmade fudges, its sliders include six fudges with three different flavours. The Gin Selection pack include two Bitter Orange and Cubeb Gin, two Juniper and Kaffir Lime Dry Gin and two Sloe Gin fudge. This box with its popping and rich flavours will ravish your delicate palate. The Salted Selection include Isle of Sky Salted caramel fudges, Cornish Smoked salted Maple fudges, and Maldon Sea Salted Chocolate fudges. These fudges are at the same time creamy, sweet and smooth. The sea salts included in the recipes add a little touch of zest and crunch that balances perfectly well with the sweetness of the other ingredients. You can purchase Fudge Kitchen's Salted fudges and Gin fudges here for £8.00 each.

The Perfect Christmas Decorations

At The Amazing Blog, we don’t start getting into the Christmas spirit until the decorations up! We think that it’s practically impossible to picture yourself doing something Christmassy, without some twinkly fairy lights or a wreath perched on the mantle. Today we have put together a collection of exciting, fun and different Christmas decorations that we have found. We hope it helps to inspire and get you into the Christmas mood. 

First on our list is something a little special and very different from Melody Maison. They have launched a stunning gold antler wreath, which is perfect for anyone seeking to create a sophisticated Christmas theme. Not only does this gold wreath work as a great statement accessory, it is fabulously versatile and will look stunning on a front door or will add a certain je ne sais quoi as a table centrepiece. The wreath is made from resin sculpted to look like stag antlers it is available in silver. This is one decoration that is certain to wow your guests. Purchase it here for £39.95

If you are a planning a more fun and quirky Christmas, then we recommend Gillian Kyle’s new Christmas coasters, which are more than effective in bringing a bit of cheer and merriness to the dining table. Gillian Kyle has created two new and limited edition coasters that are bound to jazz up any table they sit on. The first collection features a fun, beautiful and whimsical Tunnocks Christmas Pudding.  For this range, she combined her two favourite treats, Tunnocks Teacakes and Christmas pudding to create the ultimate Christmas treat as well as a delightful design that will remind your guests to save room for dessert.  The second collection,  titled the Scandi Stag, features a noble stag with intricate baubles decorating his antlers. Both collections contain four coasters, and there are also matching placemats which are sold separately. You can purchase the Tunnocks Christmas Pudding Coasters here for £12.95 and the Scandi Stag Coasters here for £12.95

What would Christmas be without Christmas crackers? A travesty - we say! Christmas is incomplete without a table strewn with crackers. And yet how often are they a disappointment, featuring the same ‘presents,’ bad jokes, with a fizzled pop noise instead of a bang!  Of course, it is all a part of the charm, but it doesn’t exactly scream sophistication. If you feel this way too, but don’t want to ditch the tradition then why not try Yately Papers who offer a the game changer.  Yateley Papers are a brand that loves all things that look and feel luxurious. As such they've channeled this passion into their new crackers which are generous in every way.  The crackers come in an oversized barrel with hand tied bows on each end, as well as hand lined contrasting cuffs and extravagant contents. Each cracker is filled with a luxury chocolate, and every one contains a different flavour which has been carefully selected. This is of course alongside the hat, fortune fish and Christmas joke. Their crackers will elevate any Christmas gathering while retaining the fun and charm that we hold in our hearts. They can be purchased as a set of 6 here for £125. 

Last but by no means least, we present to you Lime Lace and their fabulous Christmas card holder. Each year we receive a whole host of Christmas cards from family and friends, and while we want to display them all so we can be surrounded by happy sentiments, we don’t always have space. In fact, traditionally cards are meant to be kept on the mantelpiece, but given modern living and renovations, not everyone has this feature in their homes. If these are also your issues then you are bound to love the Lime Lace card holder. The holder is a chic geometric reindeer. Just clip the cards you receive on the bar, and have a truly unique accessory. The frame is 78cm tall and is incredibly cute which means even if you don’t receive many cards you still have a stunning feature.  NB: Due to popularity, they may have already sold out if this is so, please log on and see their other Christmas accessories here.