PARA’KITO®

There’s really nothing quite like a run around the pond in Hyde Park or an evening stroll after work around the boating lake in Battersea Park, refreshing, energising and invigorating. However, at The Amazing Blog, we’re all only too aware of the dreaded mosquito bites that come with the territory of being near still water. We may get a great workout but then return home covered in itchy bites. This is when we discovered PARA’KITO® to help solve the problem.

According to PARA’KITO®, the world is a wonderful place full of exciting adventures. They want you to embrace this world, go travel and explore - all free from the nuisance of mosquitoes! Hence, the brand has created a new generation of topical repellents to combat mosquitoes and ticks. Cleverly they have achieved the feat of combining a mosquito repellent with extremely effective natural formulations for optimal protection that you can trust.

After several years of research and development with a team of determined biochemists, the brand has created some unique formulations. While traditional mosquito repellents tend to resort to alcohol and chemical surfactants as binders, PARA’KITO®, has incorporated patented technologies with only natural formulations in water-based or dry oil formulas.

The brand has released two key ranges of products.  The first being a repellent for tropical areas and the second is a repellent for regions in Europe. These come as a roll-on and spray product, these include cellulose and clay (ClayCell technology) allowing PARA’KITO® to avoid the toxic impacts of active ingredients through the skin and potentially into the bloodstream. It uses a mineral (clay) and vegetal extract (cellulose) as binders, with no alcohol or synthetic surfactants. These are able to reduce the repellent actives’ penetration into the epidermis, enhancing product efficacy. Furthermore, PARA’KITO® also uses Citrepel which contains PMD in its products, thus setting the company apart from traditional repellent brands. Citrepel is a natural derivative of citronella Java essential oil. It has the highest and most stable concentration of PMD (p-menthane-diol), a repellent very effective on a wide variety of insects, especially mosquitoes and ticks. PMD is the only natural repellent that provides the most protection against mosquitoes. It acts on the sensory receptors of mosquitoes with a level of efficacy similar to the 3 other active ingredients which are synthetic chemicals (DEET, IR3535 and Icaridin). That’s all the technical stuff!

PARA’KITO® have quite a few different types of repellents, one is a Pellet filled with natural essential oils which is worn as a wrist or ankle band. Made of comfy neoprene and comes with two refills that diffuse as a unique cocktail of natural essential oils that effectively mask our olfactory signals. These pellets last up to 15 days and include ingredients of citronella, rosemary geranium mint, clove and peppermint essential oils.

The products we tried were five from the range (see above photo). Let’s start with the Family Spray and Roll On in the green range, which is for Europe. They provide complete protection for the whole family for 8 hours against tiger mosquitoes and 5 hours against ticks.  Whereas The Tropical Spray and Roll On is a stronger formula for up to 10 hours protection against tiger mosquitoes and up to 6 hours against the Anopheles (malaria vector) as well as 7 hours against ticks.  Both ranges come with a wristband too – best for full protection - see here both the Roll-Ons and Sprays start from £14.95 ea. They feel gentle on the skin and smell deliciously of citronella without a trace of anything chemical (i.e. DEET!) Each helps safeguard you against mosquitoes depending on the geographical region that you’re in. What sets these products apart is that they don’t use any artificial chemicals and serve as a brilliant alternative to chemical repellents.

They also have a mosquito and tick repellent in the form of a water-resistant Dry Oil. It has a 6 hour proven efficacy and can be used as a skin moisturiser or after-sun care. This product uses coconut oil extracts, vitamin E and organic vegetal oils, as these moisturising lipophilic compounds have an affinity with the epidermis. The unique HydraActive™ technology boosts the active’s repellence by achieving, at a lower concentration, with optimal and prolonged efficacy. The Dry Oil product is renowned for its moisturising and nourishing properties as well as with highly concentrated of  Citrepel® and extracts of shea butter and liquorice to smooth and repair the skin, priced at £14.95 for a 75ml bottle.  Our favourite from this range? The Dry Oil wins hands down! Head over to their official website here to buy the full range, and protect yourself against these horrible blood-sucking beasties!

Depixym - Cosmetic Emulsions Colours

Fancy playing around with some colours? But don’t have enough time to pick up a paintbrush and create a magical masterpiece? The Amazing Blog is here to introduce a new make-up concept that will allow you to explore your artistic side while creating looks that will leave you looking your brightest, best and gleeful self. Meet Depixym with their ‘Cosmetic Emulsion’ which is probably going to become the most versatile make-up product that you’ve ever used! The brand is here to give you the creative freedom to put some fun back into your make up look.

Depixym is the new generation of makeup that’s ready to rattle the cages of the cosmetic establishment. Mix and match away with their 19 different colours  (plus the addition of a gloss); think vibrant colours, bright yellow, an energising orange or a subtle pink with a woody brown. We know what you’re going to ask; how exactly do you use these colours? Well, that’s the point, it’s however you’d like! The brand breaks away from the restrictions of traditional make-up where an eyebrow pencil cannot be used as lipstick and eyeliner can’t possibly be used as a blush. Depixym’s products can be mixed together and used anywhere on the face or body; it’s so easy and just as you would mix your acrylics or oil paints to achieve the right hue when painting. All these 19 emulsions can be used as eyeshadow, lipstick, blush, eyebrow fillers etc. There are absolutely no limitations on where and how the product can be used, as long as you don’t eat it or stick it in your beautiful eyes.

The founders of this new and exciting brand believe that each individual is different; as to how can one product and one shade suit each and every one of us? They want us to break away from this world of labels. We love how they allow us to experiment and create their own looks and colours based on their personal desires and tastes. They want people to mix it all up and bring out their funky inner sides in a world that’s constantly telling you what’s acceptable. Depixym is based on breaking free from the shackles of society and embracing your true self in whatever shape, form or colour!

The product comes with a small metal palette (be careful it’s a little sharp on the edges) and a mixing wand, all for you to mix your colours in. We tried out the #1059 and #1183 to create our own shades. Each of us ended up with a completely different look; we mainly experimented with it as a lipstick taking us from vivid peach to a nude peachy brown. Best of all is its staying power, but don’t get it on your clothes – one of us did and couldn’t wash it out of their jeans! Hop over to their website to discover your hidden artist.  All their Cosmetic Emulsions colours are priced at £18.

Allira Organics - Nourish Anti-Ageing Cream & Brightening Foaming Cleanser

Have you like us, had the endless night creams and serums that promise a reduction in fine lines? But then only offer exhaustion of your time and money. Well, fortunately for you, The Amazing Blog is here to help restore your faith in the skincare miracles and anti-ageing products all over again.

Allira Organics is an Australian hand-crafted, vegan and cruelty-free brand that creates products their labs with esteemed and knowledgeable naturopaths and nutritionists who have over two decades of experience in natural skincare formulations. They offer an array of products created with the highest quality and certified organic raw ingredients in order to deliver a range of products that embed your skin with the nutrients and help to showcase your true radiance. Every dedicated formulation takes birth from current research and approaches skincare from traditional and effective plant methodology and thus is designed to be, in its truest sense, anti-ageing. Allira Organics aims to take you on a luxurious journey that will leave your senses deeply intoxicated and your mind at ease. Their products carry an aromatic smell of organic botanicals that will transform your bathroom into a spa sanctuary where all your worries can miraculously float away.

The Allira Nourish Anti-Ageing Cream is an award-winning formula made with natural ingredients such as gumbi, calendula and rosehip. Made and manufactured in Australia, it is a nourishing cream (as the name suggests) and extremely rich in antioxidants, pure essential oils and calming organic herbs that do their magic as powerful anti-ageing agents. The formula will leave your complexion feeling nourished, radiant and of course, with consistent use rejuvenated! We recommend you use it twice a day, both before you put on your facial armour to take on the world as well as after you retire and succumb to the comforts of your bed.  

This award-winning cream is complimented best with the Allira Brightening Foaming Cleanser that packs together a unique blend of earthy minerals, herbs and essential oils deeply cleansing the skin while simultaneously soothing and brightening your complexion. Made with refreshing aloe vera, lactic acid, gumbi, rose water, red and white clay as well as green tea and grapefruit extract, the Cleanser works as a timeless product for all skin types but especially well on oily/acne-prone skin. Additionally, the 40ml bottle will go a long way since you don’t need more than a drop or two to work through your canvas and get rid of all the impurities. We also recommend using the cleaner twice a day, prior to applying their magnificent Anti-Ageing Cream.

The two products are available on the official Allira Organics website here and are priced at an affordable £30.76 and £20.69 respectively. Re-enforcing an indulgent beauty ritual, Allira Organics proves to be a one of a kind brand that doesn’t only make promises but also delivers on their every word.

Sxollie - Cripps Pink Cider

Hustling is not something we would normally advocate here at The Amazing Blog, however when an advertising campaign comes in which is structured around the very essence of a jolly good hustle, we sit up, keyboards poised and channel the inner opportunist. Sxollie is the brand, and their delicious cider is the product which takes no prisoners and proudly promotes a good down to earth hustle.

Now ‘sxollie’ is derived from the english word scallywag, the afrikaans word skorrie-morrie, the dutch word schoelje meaning rascal, and the yiddish word meaning jackal. Quite a heady mix to get our teeth into, but also a highly effective marketing tool to ensure we are sitting up and taking notice, especially since it forms the basis for the philosophy behind Sxollie Cider. ‘In a nutshell’, as they decree, the term Sxollie means ‘hustler’, and its composition is a barrelful of single varietal cider, backed up by the company’s rousing chorus that this is the best cider to come out of Africa.

The interesting part of this approach is that actually the taste of Sxollie is rather refined - elegant almost, which must derive from the Champagne yeasts which are used to ferment their carefully chosen apples from the Elgin orchards of Cape Town. Perhaps the harder edge synopsis of this drink comes from the urban jungle itself which forms an integral ingredient to the finished product? However, that final product is certainly one to take a chance on, as it celebrates with all it’s might it’s African heritage, right down to the pottery design mosaic ‘X’ sprawled across the bottle. We discovered the brand as they were the winners of the International Cider Challenge 2019. There is a trio in the range to try, although we were ONLY sent one bottle Cripps Pink (Pink Lady) - ahem, Sxollie we would have like to have tried more!

Sxollie is available from our high street supermarkets, Waitrose and Sainsburys across the country have them on their shelves, as well as many good independent outlets. Waitrose currently have a 330ml bottle on at £1.85, but if you get your skates on, Sainsbury's have an offer running with bottles priced at £1.60. As the ‘Sxollie philosophy’ tells us - “Pursue that glint in your eye … a little hustle goes a long way”!

Friday Favourites – Lash Serums

With the weekend approaching, it’s time to get our high heels out, we’re getting ready to paint the town red! However, we’re well aware that no outfit is complete without long, voluminous and beautiful lashes that flutter like butterflies... That is why, today at The Amazing Blog we’re ready to bring to you all the necessary products that you need to ensure you look like a million dollars not just over the weekend, but every single day!

We’re going to begin with the dynamic duo sold by Avante. Their Dynamic Lash Serum and Dynamic Effect Mascara will leave your lashes looking thick and rich completing your Friday night going into your Saturday morning! Avante’s philosophy and the aim is to use scientifically proven ingredients for maximum results in combination with ingredients that provide nutritional benefits. This brand hails from New Zealand and is created by a multidisciplinary team of leading aestheticians, trichologists and pharmacists.

The  Dynamic Lash Serum is an effective and deep conditioning serum that maximises hydration, helps reduce breakage and improves the overall texture of lashes making sure your blinking butterflies can give the Great Wall of China a run for its money! This is to be applied once a day and provides up to three months of conditioning solution in this compact 2ml tube. NB: It’s free-from prostaglandin, petroleum-based ingredients like mineral oil or petroleum jelly, parabens, animal products, artificial colours or fragrances. Made with vitamin E and C, hyaluronic acid and liquorice root extract, the serum delivers unbelievable results.

Additionally, the Dynamic Effect Mascara is just as effective. It is smudge-proof and perfectly lengthens, volumises and strengthens the lashes too. Created with nourishing castor oil, jojoba seed oil, liquorice extract and naturally scented with rose flower water. This mascara with its curved wand for uplift will surely give you the best lashes ever. Hop on over to their official website, to give your lashes the gift they very well deserve for £48 for the Dynamic Lash Serum here and £30 for the Dynamic Effect Mascara (in Jet Black or Chocolate) here.

Up next we have another two game-changing products by Lashfactor. The brand has created the world’s very first eyelash and eyebrow enhancer that incorporates a ground-breaking serums free nano-molecular growth technology that promises longer, fuller and darker eyelashes and eyebrows in just 4 weeks. Lashfactor realises that eyes are one of the most precious organs of your body. The gift of sight through eyes is a miracle of nature that should be truly appreciated. Therefore, Lashfactor has developed TWO products: an Eyelash Enhancing Serum as well as a Lash + Brows Eyelash & Eyebrow Enhancing Serum. So, what’s the difference between the two? They say that the Lash + Brows Eyelash & Eyebrow Enhancing Serum is the higher strength out of the two. It’s a serum-free nano-molecular polymeric solution with a patented sterile micro bristle dip-in applicator; not only does it give long, fuller and darker eyelashes but it’s also strong enough to considerably enhance the eyebrows too. Thus ideal for everyone to boost their lashes in a natural way without the use of fake extensions. 

Their semi-viscous formula containing bimatoprost ophthalmic solution with a unique volume building nano polymers which gently coats the roots of the hair follicles. The brand recommends applying it once every night along with the roots of the eyelashes and the eyebrows. Lash Factors hopes to eliminate fake lashes and further, enrich and thicken your natural lashes to look just as long and luscious as extensions.  You can purchase both these products as a gift set on their official website for an affordable £50 here for both the 2ml serums and if you put in the code AMPR10 in the checkout, you will get 10% off your purchase.

Last but most certainly not the least, is one of our favourite brands Lavera, with their Lavera’s Lash Care Serum. This is very different to the other two brands, it’s chemical-free with the key ingredient of organic coffee (caffeine) developed for stronger and more revitalised lashes. Lavera prides itself on using natural and sustainable ingredients in all its products. When used at night this serum is highly effective in strengthening your lashes and making them look healthier and thicker. The brand is organic, vegan, makes 100% certified natural cosmetics and is also engaged in animal protection thus allowing you to use their beautiful products without the pounding sense of guilt in your heart. This overnight clear serum holds the lashes in place conditioning them whilst also making them soft and hydrated. You can purchase Lavera’s Lash Care Serum 9ml for £12.90 here.