DRINQI- Hyaluronic Acid Serum (Highest Percentage) by Therin

We love products with hyaluronic acid, they work wonders for the complexion and have many benefits including smoothing, plumping and tightening the skin. As time-poor individuals here at The Amazing Blog we’re always looking for products that do the most but require the least amount of effort. Today we’ve found that very thing, and we’re thrilled to be the very first to review a new Australian natural skincare DRINQI Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

Therin G is the founder of DRINQI, she’s originally from the UK but now embraces the ocean breeze and beach life in coastal Australia. With her extensive experience in the skincare industry, her beauty credentials are nothing short of impeccable. Not only is she an Industry Expert Advisor to Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (organic skincare), a private label formulator, a spa menu and treatment adviser but also a qualified holistic practitioner (in all spheres) - the list here is endless! Therin cleverly spotted a gap in the market and decided to focus her efforts on aligning quality with affordability, producing a trio of vegan performance-based serums that offer the very highest percentage of pure hyaluronic acid. There are no fillers, only a few simple ingredients other than the hyaluronic acid (think water and a natural food-based preservative). She is truly a skincare genius, and we couldn’t wait to see the results from her serum. Therin explained: “There are very few really powerful skincare ingredients that can be used and rightfully claim to be a youth elixir or a product that truly produces visible results, achieving the results they purport to be able to do.”  She went on to say “I am only interested in producing or supporting the very best ingredients and products. DRINQI Hyaluronic Acid is one of those rare products.” And so, Therin has created this extraordinary trio of powerhouse serums that offer the highest percentage of hyaluronic acid to be found in the beauty sector today. Something else that we applaud DRINQI for is their ethos supporting and giving back to the Aboriginal communities as well as pet and wildlife rescue see here.

As an ingredient hyaluronic acid (let’s call it HA), is a humectant that attracts water and is critical for maintaining skin hydration.  Not only does it hydrate, but as a molecule it can hold 1,000 x its weight in water. It’s natural and produced by the body and can be used as an injection, supplement, or in this case a serum. Many skincare products contain this ingredient but not in the same way as DRINQI. Competitive brands offer between 0.02% - 2% HA, yet DRINQI has produced a range of three serums from 3%, 10% to an astonishing 13%! How do you know which one to use? Well, it’s probably best to start with the 3% and see how you progress. The performance of the serum depends on the individual, i.e. someone 20+ may feel 3% is a  perfect starting point, whereas someone 50+ may want a higher strength with the potent 13% to achieve more significant results. As mentioned, the serums are vegan with the HA sourced from the fermentation of nutritious vegetables - nothing else. We also like that it’s safe to use even during pregnancy. This DRINQI serum fits into any skincare regime, no matter what other moisturiser or SPF you’re using. It’s also suitable for all skin types – even sensitive ones and is safe to use from ages 16-18 upwards. 

Before using they recommend doing a skin patch test (see their FAQ here ) as we do with any new skincare, simply apply a few drops to the inside of your arm and leave for 24 hours. Three of us used the 3% 10% and 13% serums twice a day morning and night with no issues. However, on a single occasion, one of us did get a little flushing (hormones?) otherwise it sank into our complexions without a trace. It’s so easy to incorporate into your skincare, just a few drops of the clear gel-like liquid on the fingertips and gently smooth into the face/neck and décolletage.  Our verdict? Skin looked dewier, plumper and after only a few days, we also noticed a difference in texture, fine lines and firmness. Will we be buying more? That’s a resounding yes from us all! The bottom line? DRINQI offers you the highest strength of one of the most effective natural ingredients, all at a very affordable price point. To purchase your 30ml bottle with pipette, the DRINQI 3% at £14, DRINQI 10% at £21.05 or DRINQI 13% at £26 here, with shipping at an approximate $10 AU to the UK. 

VINOOS – The Real Wine Gums

Sometimes all it takes is just a few sweeties to put us in a good mood! So what would you say we if we offered you to some ‘real’ wine gums to try?  Some of you may recall that The Amazing Blog reviewed Cocktail Pastilles here. Well, today we are talking about Real Wine Gums from VINOOS. Think Sparkling Wine, Merlot, Chardonnay and Rosé Wine - to name but a few of their delicious flavours.

VINOOS is the creation of Marleen Teters and Mireille Reuling, two businesswomen with a passion for wine. Based in Amsterdam, this successful venture has now grown from an experimental project into a global brand. It all started in 2012 when Reuling, a conceptual designer, developed a 3D art installation: The Wine Xperience. She recreated the feeling of taking that first sip of wine, without actually drinking it. The Real Wine Gums here are the manifestation of the ‘taste’ category of this installation. From this moment, the rest as they say is history. We’re excited to learn that Vinoos is currently collaborating with the cardiologist and Professor dr. P. G. Hugenholtz, where they are working on the new version of The Real Wine Gum with polyphenols (which originate in grape skins) for health-giving properties.

First of all, we want to say that we were initially lured by the beautiful and elegant packaging, then by the actual taste of Real Wine Gums themselves, which contain no alcohol or artificial colouring. The sweets are grape shaped with different colour variants according to the flavour; all are vegetarian friendly, gluten, fat, nut, gelatine and lactose-free. If you only want to put a toe in the water, you can order their Mini-Snoopers which come in small boxes with two wine gums inside. If we had to choose a favourite, it would be the Merlot which is berry-like and fruity, it contains ‘red wine aroma’ and intriguingly extract of black carrot! Although, we must quickly also add that the Sparkling Wine, Chardonnay and Rosé Wine flavours were also a huge success here.

If you want to bring a touch of originality to your guests for dinner or aperitifs, you can find all the VINOO products here. To purchase the 100g box of Sparkling Wine here for £12.95, the 50g box Merlot here for £7.50, the 50-gram box of Chardonnay here for £7.50 and the 50-gram box of Rosé Wine here for £7.50.

Andrea Garland - Vintage Inspired Lip Balm

At The Amazing Blog we’re always delighted to find good quality products that encourage us to reduce our wasteful impact on the environment. One simple gesture or action from each of us on a daily basis can have a huge effect. As they say, it’s the simple things in life… Maybe as simple as applying a refillable lip balm. Anyone who has suffered from chapped or dry lips will know that a good lip balm soon becomes part of a daily routine. It may seem counterintuitive, but we found that by licking our lips, it dries them out more, as saliva contains enzymes that dry and irritate the lips. We usually have several lip balms on the go, but as most lip balms are sold in expendable plastic applicators, it’s easy to see how wasteful we’re being. This is where we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Garland and their Vintage Inspired Lip Balm collection with refillable compacts that contain handmade sustainable natural lip balm.  

Andrea Garland Lip Balms’ success is due to its selection of mostly organic, plant-based ingredients that are put in compacts and sourced locally. We want to applaud this British brand’s initiative and its eco-conscious approach providing refillable and reusable lip balm compacts. When you buy their stylish and collectable vintage-inspired refillable compacts and finish it, you simply return the compact back to Andrea Garland for a refill and at only £3.50 per compact, to us that makes economic sense. As they say, it’s ‘sustainable beauty at its best’ both for your wallet and the environment. The reusable compacts are hand poured and free from parabens, phthalates, SLS, synthetic fragrances, mineral oils and animal testing. All balms are enriched with regenerating organic shea butter, hydrating meadowfoam seed oil and softening coconut oil. They also offer the choice of the standard beeswax base or a vegan candelilla wax option.  

We tested the beeswax-based clear lip balm. However, if you fancy the idea of a tinted lip balm, they also provide pink and red-tinted lip balms. This lip balm leaves lips feeling hydrated, repaired and slightly glossy but with no residue. The organic beeswax is a natural emollient that keeps the skin soft and moisturised. It creates a protective layer on the skin that slows down transepidermal water loss (TEWL) which makes the lips dry. The organic shea butter enhances the hydrating and softening action with its deeply soothing properties which regenerates and repairs skin cells. The meadowfoam seed oil has a composition similar to our skin natural sebum acts as a moisture locker. In addition, there are also antioxidants such as vitamin E oil, rosemary, carotene, lime and grapefruit.

Andrea Garland and their natural, biodegradable, recyclable and refillable Vintage-Inspired Lip Balms are certainly one of our #AmazingFinds. We love the small vintage bejewelled /mirrored compacts, adorned with original designs. It was difficult to choose from their extensive selection, but we decided on a charming compact with a bushy-tailed fox ‘Le Renard’ and can honestly say that we couldn’t love it more. The compacts are glamorous and each comes with a mirror inside that makes them even more useful. To purchase your 6ml Vintage Inspired Lip Balm see here prices ranging from £15 to £18 depending on the choice of compact.

Ieva's Makeup - Reusable Strip Lashes + Classic Case

As they say ‘the eyes are the window to the soul’ and they’re the only focal point of the face with the current ubiquitous mask-wearing! At The Amazing Blog, we’ve been learning new tips and tricks to help make our eyes pop and what better way than with some speedy luxury strip lashes to make them flutter.  On our hunt to find good quality lashes we found a new brand Ieva’s Makeup that not offers only reusable strip lashes but lash cases, glues and tools to help apply. 

The eyelash and makeup company Ieva Makeup was founded a year ago by the makeup artist Ieva Bogdanova, best known for her work with top models. She proudly told us that the supermodel Winnie Harlow wore these lashes shortly after they launched. Ieva decided to create her own line of lashes when she became acutely aware of the colossal waste as people throwing away their strip lashes after only a single use. This is when she decided to create a range of reusable cruelty-free luxury faux mink lashes. She also sells glues, an invaluable Lash Applicator Tool and Classic Cases to keep lashes safe and in shape for reuse. Not forgetting to mention, that the entrepreneurial Ieva offers certified makeup courses for any aspiring makeup artists too. 

We received two pairs of FM22 Sassy Lashes which were soft, mounted on a flexible band and easy to apply. We often have trouble finding strip lashes that fit the shape of our eyes and end up bending and trimming them. However, these blended perfectly with our natural lashes and gave our eyes an extra lift. The results were glamorous! Giving our eyes a more intense look by adding a little drama, but without being over the top. Two of us have tried these, and have reused the lashes already 9 or 10 times. Top tip: After use, carefully peel off the adhesive with tweezers, before replacing them back in the moulds in the Classic Case, then they’ll be ready to go again. A quick note to say that the brand has slightly changed its Classic Case design since our photo above, but is still the same shape and design. You can purchase your Classic Case with the pair of Strip Lashes of your choice here for £14.99. Or if you only want the FM22 Sassy Lash you can find them here for £4.99.

The Knot Dr ® - PhD Kit Brush

At The Amazing Blog, we have to confess to being somewhat bewildered by the vast choice of hairbrushes. After all, how do you know which one is suitable for your hair type? Is it a Paddle, Round, Detangler, or Smoothing brush? Let’s be honest; we only really want one brush that does it all. Today we want to talk about our journey to find the correct brush for fragile, chemically treated and tangly hair, meet The Knot Dr ® with their PhD Kit which had us intrigued and thrilled to try.

The Knot Dr ® was invented by the hairdresser and salon owner John Laverock. Already known in Canada, US and Australia – the brand is a relative newcomer here in the UK. The Knot Dr ® was created out of a need to find a hairbrush that would tackle John’s five daughters’ hair after endless daily struggles to brush their hair long hair. This was his lightbulb moment where he combined engineering principles with high-quality components and created a set of brushes that work to make it easier, faster and painless for detangling. There are five specific Knot Dr ® brushes in the range and each has its own speciality. The Pro/Pro Brite are suitable for curly/fine hair or wigs. The Professional Pro is the salon version designed for intensive use and is a great allrounder. The KNOTTY KIDS® has oversized ball tips that are extra gentle on a child’s scalp.  The Pro Sport/Pro Swim are designed for sports enthusiasts and comes with a protective case to shield the bristles in the gym kit. And The PhD is recommended for those with thicker or chemically treated hair (us!) 

The PhD Kit contains the hairbrush, a travel case and a premium Kleen brush cleaner. The brush is made of 140 Flexalite™bristles that provide strength and flexibility to help gently detangle without breaking or damaging the hair. The balls at the tip of the bristles are slightly larger and rounder than the other brushes, to enable you to massage and stimulate your scalp while brushing (we loved using this brush for massaging alone!) Ergonomically designed, it’s lightweight and fits comfortably into the palm with a good grip so that it doesn't slip out of wet hands. It is suitable for all hair types, whether natural hair or extensions and is particularly good for on medium or long hair.  We chose this brush (as mentioned earlier) because it is designed for chemically treated hair, and one of us here with long hair has sustained heavy breakage from some other so-called detanglers. The secret here is that you need fewer brushstrokes – hence less damage. To use this brush start gently, by brushing the ends and then gradually work your way up. We particularly like that it comes with a protective case to keep bristles in shape and also with the Kleen which removes excess hair without damaging the brush. The packaging is made from recycled materials which makes the range environmentally friendly. This PhD lived up to its reputation and is, without doubt, one of the best detangling brushes that we have tried here at The Amazing Blog. You can purchase the PhD Kit here for £22.95. NB due to popularity it is currently out of stock, we suggest contacting them here to find out when new stock is arriving.