Zglow Blueberry Antioxidant Mask

Today, The Amazing Blog has quite the treat for you all. This intensely hydrating Blueberry Antioxidant Mask from zglow is so deliciously scented that we’re almost tempted to take a taste! Instead, we let our skin drink up this treat made of 100% organic ingredients. Zglow is a US skincare brand that cares about what ingredients are absorbed into the skin, the environment, and our animal friends. This is something that always sparks our interest, particularly since they proudly boast to be organic, paraben, chemical and BPA free, vegan, non-toxic, and never tested on animals.

This creamy face mask is filled to the brim with ripened blueberries and white tea, which do wonders for cell rejuvenation and the removal of dead skin cells. Blueberries are little antioxidant powerhouses and this face mask is full of all of their skin-loving vitamins. It is highly recommended for dry to normal, sensitive or mature skin types. Our favourite way to use it is as a base for our makeup, especially those of us who struggle with pesky dry patches that can cause your makeup to appear flaky. We simply apply a pea size amount all over the skin, let it soak in for a few minutes, and continue on with our make-up routine.

This mask glides on and over dry patches to make our skin brighter, while helping to reduce redness. When we really need to pack in a punch of serious hydration, we exfoliate the skin in the shower and then apply a generous amount over the face and neck.  Relax for 10-15 minutes, as the mask works its magic. Then simply rinse and follow with your regular moisturiser. We also used the Blueberry Antioxidant Mask overnight. Just remember to always wipe away any excess before hitting the pillow. Of course, our favourite part is the fact that it smells just like blueberry pie. The Blueberry Antioxidant Mask is available for purchase here on the US website for $27 plus international postal shipping charges of $14.

Mark. Epic Lipstick by AVON

We love to wear brightly coloured lipsticks in the summer and find that just a pop of colour to the lips can not only make us feel good but really makes us stand out amongst the crowd. At The Amazing Blog we have very high standards when it comes to finding lipsticks that we trust. Lipstick must be long-lasting, moisturising, easy to apply and have a smooth airbrushed finish. On that note, we are happy to share that mark. Epic Lipstick by AVON has certainly fulfilled some of our requirements!

Besides their bold colours, these mark. Epic lipsticks stand out to us for a variety of reasons. The first being that they have a built-in primer. This built-in primer offers three main benefits: Long-lasting colour, an airbrushed finish, and moisturised lips. In fact, with just one quick application these lipsticks lock in 36% more moisturise than by having bare lips. Instead of leaving lips feeling cakey, these lipsticks left our lips with a soft and balm-like feel. Their ‘precision tip bullet’ gave a simple clean application to the lips, and the  SPF 15 protection is for us a real bonus.

We were sent six different shades to try, although these mark. Epic Lipsticks are also available in 22 different shades. So no matter what kind of look you are going for, be it casual or for a night out, there is a shade for every occasion. All the classic reds and pinks are available but there are also some more unique colours such as blue, turquoise, grey and purple.  We fell for the shade ‘blue suede’ which is this bold slate blue shade (not for the faint-hearted) perfect with denim or just for taking selfies on Instagram. You can check out the 22 different shades of mark. Epic Lipstick by AVON online, including their two online exclusive lipsticks; ‘Wave Runner’ and ‘Grey Matters’ here each selling for £8.00.

Utopia Skincare

As our readers of The Amazing Blog will know we're always striving for perfection - well, perhaps only in our dreams! So when we heard about ‘Utopia Skincare’ we wanted to see if the products really lived up to their name... Made in the UK, Utopia Skincare was created by Chris Smith, an award-winning skincare formulation scientist who invented the patented anti-ageing antioxidant complex used in the renowned Boots’ No7 Protect and Perfect Serum. It has been specifically designed for women with mature skin, to help prevent signs of premature ageing before, during and after menopause. What make this range unique is cutting edge 'Adaptive Skincare Technology' which uses ingredients that literally adapt to the skin’s particular needs. The range also contain a pollution defence formula which claims to protect the skin from 'harmful environmental aggressors' that speed up the ageing process.  What makes Utopia’s product line stand out for us, is their Derma Complex which is a combination of eight ingredients that work together to create a more youthful looking complexion. This complex is able to penetrate down to the lower levels of the dermis and restore collagen and elastin fibres, thus reducing and preventing the appearance of wrinkles. All of Utopia’s products are collagen boosting, pore refining, paraben free, and silicone free. They are also suitable for vegans and vegetarians. 

The first of the three products that we were sent was their Hydrating Day Cream. This advanced formula  contains retinol, SPF 30 and UVA protection to help prevent sun damage and other pollutants. Our skin definitely felt more hydrated throughout the day, but what really appealed to us was that it contains a lot of ceramides, sterols and other skin lipids; also the SPF in the cream which gives extra protection under make-up. It is easy to use, simply apply a pea-sized amount to your face and neck each morning. It also works well as a primer and lets the foundation just glide smoothly on.

The second product was their Nourishing Night Cream; this cream works to restore the skin to its optimum hydration level overnight and also removes dead skin cells. When applied to the face, the cream is instantly soothing, giving improve firmness and elasticity, we also liked the texture and smell. It works deep down at the dermal-epidermal and has three star ingredients; these are exopolysaccharide, vitamin E and ceramide-rich oat oil. Exopolysaccharide helps to rebuild skin, vitamin E absorbs toxic free radicals, and ceramide-rich oil brings hydrates the skin.

The final one of our trio is the Instant Firming Eye Serum it treats the under eye area, which is probably one of the most challenging areas of the face to repair. Utopia Skincare has formulated this Serum to help reduce dark circles, crows feet and puffiness. It contains pepha-tight to immediately reduce under eye bags, neodermyl which combined offers the best of the latest anti-ageing technologies. Utopia claims that when used over the course of two weeks, it has the same wrinkle reducing effect as that of a collagen injection! We can't vouch for this, but it did leave the eye area of our Exec Ed's plumped up and smoother.

You can purchase a 50ml tub of Utopia’s Hydrating Day Cream here for £34. A 50 ml tub of Utopia’s Nourishing Night Cream here for £34, and a 15 ml tube of Utopi­­­a’s Inst­­­­ant Firming Eye Serum here for £27.

AT Beauty’s Snail Extract Intelligent Mask

Although we believe that beauty is ageless, The Amazing Blog understands that preventing wrinkles is a priority for some – and we have just the product for you.  After featuring A.T Antao’s Oh My Glide Eyeliner, it is no surprise that we would be covering the company again.  A.T launched its Intelligent Sleep Mask that improves elasticity and softness.  Its secret ingredient? Snail extract. Yes, you read that correctly.

As a luxury cosmetics brand, it’s only fitting the company prides itself on their useful and high-quality products. Teniya Tao, founder of A.T, uses hidden beauty secrets from China. The mask contains snail helix dispersa muller – an ingredient frequently used in ancient China. The ingredient’s properties are known for its remedial benefits which are both hydrating and soothing. In addition to elasticity improvement, the mask balances oil levels and minimises pores.

To use this product, gently massage the mask in upward strokes, apply lightly at night to the face, neck and décolletage; it is perfect for waking up with a  soft, silky nourished complexion. While we questioned the snail extract at first, we actually regret not trying this product sooner. It comes in a very stylish red pot with a spatula for application. And just in case you are wondering, the mask is odourless in an opaque gel.  You can purchase an 80g tub of AT’s Snail Extract Intelligent Mask here for £22.80.

Anima Mundi Apothacary

Here at The Amazing Blog, we have tried everything from juice cleanses to vitamins to keep our bodies in tip-top shape. however, sometimes we forget about certain organs, that require specific care, such as the liver. The liver has many important functions in supporting the body including making bile, metabolising carbohydrates/proteins/fats, and filtering blood. With all of these crucial tasks at hand, it is essential that you keep your liver healthy. Our latest discovery is Anima Mundi where we found a selection of tasty products that help to make taking care of our liver easier than ever. Anima Mundi's mission is to 'preserve the wisdom of ancient botany'. With roots in Costa Rica, Central and South America, Anima Mundi contain only the finest ingredients found in nature. They support fair trade practices, permacultural outreach in developing small economies, and plant-based remedies that benefit people from all walks of life. All products are handcrafted in NYC with the team is composed of aspiring herbalists, utilising biodynamic standards.

The first product we suggest using is Anima Mundi’s Liver Vitality Daily Jungle Greens. This is a green powder that can be added to any of your favourite beverages. This powder formula is a chockfull of natural vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, and many other nutrients that all help to detoxify your liver and gallbladder. The product contains Dandelion Root, Burdock, Moringa, Chlorella, Spirulina, Graviola, Chanca Piedra, Turmeric, and Milk Thistle and is both gluten-free and vegan. We like to use this product when we make green smoothies in the morning for an added vitamin boost at breakfast. 

The second product we suggest is Anima Mundi’s Chanca Piedra which is a tonic that is used to treat kidney and gallbladder stones. Brazilians have been using this plant for many years to treat a wide variety of health problems. You can add this to your favourite juice/smoothies or you can even make tea with it (our personal fave). Chanca Piedra can help with a wide variety of both viral and bacterial infections, diabetes, hypertension, pain relief and a variety of other symptoms. The only ingredient in this powder is the Chanca Piedra, meaning that you are getting the most naturally pure ingredient there is.  

Finally, we suggest trying out the Viridem Cleansing Elixir. This product is full of iron-rich super-foods that help to oxygenate the blood, expel toxic build-up, and detoxify your gallbladder and liver. The product also contains high levels of chlorophyll that digests old fats in the liver, releases bad oils, and reduces inflammation.  To use this product you simply drink 1 tsp of the Viridem Cleansing Elixir 2 times a day 30 min before eating. You can drink this product by itself or you can add it to your favourite beverage.  We think that all these products are perfect for either using in your detox regime or for just giving your liver a bit of an 'uplift'.

You can buy the Liver Vitality Jungle Greens here for £21.04. You can buy the Chanca Piedra Liver Cleanse here for  £16.53 You can buy the Viridem Cleansing Elixer here for £12.02