Ayumi - Sandalwood & Ylang Ylang skin and hair care

At The Amazing Blog we believe in source not only the very best products for our readers, but also the best value; and that’s why we’d like to introduce you to another one of our #amazingfinds Ayumi. Today we’re reviewing their seasonally scented Sandalwood & Ylang Ylang skin and hair care range, we also think that these will make fabulous Christmas stocking fillers!

Ayumi is an Ayurvedic and natural skincare brand that originates from a family run business, known as Fudco, which also happens to be one of the leading brands and suppliers of the ethnic food market. Ayumi use only natural ingredients with infusions of spices and essential oils. Their core ranges are Sandalwood & Ylang Ylang, Argan, Neem & Tea Tree, and Turmeric with combinations of Shea Butter,  Hibiscus or Bergamot. The brand’s inspiration comes from ayurvedic principals which is an ancient Indian philosophy that is believed to be one of the most ancient healing traditions helping to create a balance between mind, body and spirit.

Ayumi kindly sent us eight products in their range of Sandalwood & Ylang Ylang face and body care to review. Each of these products has the perfect pairing of a warm, woody and seductive sandalwood, and the heady sweet floral scent of ylang-ylang.  And what a scent combination it is! It couldn’t be more comforting or uplift on these dark bitter nights. This range has been created to help balance and revitalise and is best suited to those with dry or sensitive skin. 

Let begin with the body care range. The Body Wash is a good place to start, it cleanses without stripping away the skins naturals oils, it feels hydrating and invigorating and left our skin smelling subtly scented. The Body Scrub is a gentle and yet effective exfoliator – it takes away rough skin with the finely ground olive seed powder, ideal for getting rid of the daily commuting grim. We recommend using this weekly. To finish off we used the Body Lotion this was our favourite from the range, it smelt divine, absorbed quickly and kept our skin soft and supple all day long. Ayumi also sent us their Argan & Sandalwood Shampoo which has all the nourishing properties of the argan oil and the growth stimulation of amla and bhringra. It’s good for strengthening weak hair and is gentle enough to be used as a frequent wash shampoo.

Moving onto the four key face care products in the Sandalwood & Ylang Ylang range. The Face Scrub is creamy in texture with bamboo stem and perlite volcanic lava powders, it gently buffs the skin leaving it free from impurities and city pollution. It has cocoa and shea butter to replenish the skin and leave it silky smooth. The Face Wash is a gentle cleansing wash, pampering and soothing as well as effectively removes stubborn residue of make-up. Great for everyday use. The Face Mask is a slightly different combination of Sandalwood & Pink Clay, the clay and zinger root extract are the base of this mask which helps to draw out all the impurities in the skin. Finally, we used the Face Cream which has the glorious scent of frankincense, sage and patchouli. We liked the texture and noticed that it gave a luminous base for our foundation.

We think that Ayumi has a great variety of natural skincare that won’t break the bank, and is a great way to introduce your friends to a really special ayurvedic skincare brand. All products are around £6.99, see here.

Eloise Beauty - Ultimate Luxury Brush Collection

We love how make-up is so mainstream and global, YouTube is full of seductive make-up videos and all the colour cosmetic brands now align with each and every fashion-led trend. In order for us to keep up, The Amazing Blog went in search of new and stylish make-up brushes to show off our ever-changing medley of cosmetics. With a little bit of research, we discovered Eloise Beauty with their super-glamorous brushes, which we hear are used by those in the know…

Eloise Beauty is a brand that emerged in 2017, with its founder Risi Jinadu who after a decade in the industry, saw a niche for creating innovative, premium and affordable make-up brushes. Since then she has developed the brand with not only make-up brushes but also a range of extraordinary cosmetics that suit all skin tones (which we will be reviewing from January onwards). Eloise Beauty has fast become a beloved brand of the beauty elite and sits easily alongside the likes of Huda Beauty or Tati Westbrook. These premium brushes are vegan, cruelty-free and all have velvet-soft synthetic bristles. With a full range of six rose gold stylized make-up brushes, we love how the handles are ergonomically designed to sit comfortably in the hand. Plus they’re well-made and able to withstand a certain amount of pressure from make-up application.

Let’s talk about the four brushes which we were given to review. Starting with the ‘So Stiletto’, the brush’s flat surface will give you a guaranteed immaculate finish. Cleverly styled with a tall stem and an oval head, it gives an even, quick and smooth distribution of any liquid or powder cosmetic product. We found it particularly good for contouring and with its multi-functionality we think that it’s a great buy. There is a certain amount of technique needed, if you rotate the brush in circles away from the centre of the face (when using a liquid foundation), this will help you to achieve the perfect finish.

Next, we have their hero brush ‘Tear Drop’ conceived in 2016, it is the first ever tear-shaped make-up brush to be created. It is versatile enough to be used on both face and body and will make any base application flawless. With an astonishing one million densely packed bristles, it also makes it the softest and quickest brush for application. With the party season upon us - this is one of our favourite brushes for larger areas i.e. contouring thighs or highlighting shoulders.

Finally, we come to both the Kabuki Brushes, these are smaller in sizes but do the job just as well. The first of these is the ‘4D Brush’ which is shaped to a point at the tip for precise application, i.e. for areas such as under eyes or around the nose. Best of all it offers excellent blending opportunities. Whereas the Kabuki ‘Bullet Slant Brush’ works well with weightier foundations or powders, again delivering a great finish. We found that all these brushes are easy to clean, simply massage damp bristles either liquid soap or shampoo and then rinse, gently press dry with an absorbent paper towel and leave to dry overnight.

Want to add one of these beauties to your Christmas list? Then see here with the prices ranging between £35-£40. Or you might like to get all four with Ultimate Luxury Brush Collection here for £140. We think that these are not only elegant but extremely good value too! These are definitely make-up brushes to flaunt, and one of our very special #amazingfinds.

Friday Favourites - Luxury Skincare for December

It’s the party season! Demanding schedules, unpredictable weather, an overload of caffeine and often a deficit of sleep can leave your skin and your spirit feeling a little run down and exhausted this time of year. This is why here at The Amazing Blog we’ve decided to walk you through our Friday favourite skincare to rescue your hard-working self and return you back with a radiant glow. We have picked some of our favourite luxury skincare products from some of the trusted brands whose other products we previously featured: Albiva, Repechage and Tiiya.

Let’s begin with one of our early #amazingfinds, the luxury skincare Albiva who are also the recent winners of the Next British Beauty Brand. With the constant gravitation towards technological advancement in almost every industry, it’s no surprise that the beauty industry is setting foot in the same and delivering magically effective products. Albiva is a natural skincare brand where science and nature come together to showcase optimum results. It is vegan, cruelty-free and gender-neutral and this award-winning skincare brand uses effective technology, where the brand confidently maximises the therapeutic benefits of all their ingredients in each and every product. To quickly refresh your memory, we recently reviewed their ECM Advanced Repair Brightening Serum here

One of their many products that distinctly caught our eye is the ECM Advanced Repair Lift & Firm Moisturiser. Made with rubusiIdaeus fruit water, argania spinosa kernel oil and simmondsia chinensis seed oil amongst various others, the product is free from toxic chemicals, parabens, animal derivatives etc. The Moisturiser is enriched with intensive actives that work in synergy to support the skins self-healing properties at a cellular level. With the use of this product, even for a short while, we noticed our skin felt more hydrated and radiant with notable plumpness and reduction in fine lines.

Additionally, Albiva’s ECM Advanced Repair Eye Lift is a true game-changer. We all know the pains and struggles of puffy dark under eyes that often leave us overloading our faces with concealer. Albiva’s Eye Lift gives you fresh and bright under eyes that minimize the appearance of fine lines resulting in a fresher and better version of yourself. Made with 96% natural ingredients and 82% certified organic ingredients, this highly concentrated yet lightweight eye treatment is enriched with peptides and multiple antioxidants that provide intense hydration alongside protection against oxidative stress. This luxury skincare brand carries with itself a promise of radiant, glowing and youthful skin that they deliver with utmost precision. You can purchase these products starting at £145 for The ECM Advanced Repair Eye Lift and £165 for The ECM Advanced Repair Lift and Firm Moisturer here.

Up next is a salon brand Repechage, Beauty from the Sea. Their new Vita Cura Mask brings the luxury of a spa to your very own home. We tried out the B3 Lifting Mask for smoother, younger-looking skin and noticed it had an instant effect. This resulted in the skin that looking plump with visibly improved texture, diminished signs of ageing and a restored look of skin firmness for a complexion that glows. The face mask is not only dermatologically tested but also in fact plastic surgeon recommended as it features ingredients like extract of kappaphycus alvarezii and caesalpinia spinosa fruit,  plus an exclusive, nutrient-rich and sustainably harvested lamaria digitata seaweed filtrate; all of which help to deeply replenish and hydrate the surface of your skin. Again, those of you who are regular readers will know that we’ve fans of this particular brand and may remember The Triple Actin Peptide Serum that we reviewed here.

Research has shown that this mask has so far delivered a 58% reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and a 41% reduction in the appearance of enlarged pores. This sheet mask is unique in its composition as well as its results. It combines both the benefits as well as the luxury of a day spent at the spa all from the ease and comfort of your very own home. A set of 5 Vita Cura B3 Lifting Masks can be purchased together with a free Ionto Massager for only £75 here

Last, in our line-up are two skincare products from Tiiya Alanoud Alattiya – perhaps better known as a leading couturier and for her fragrance Rose Oud Epiphany Eau de Parfum, which we reviewed here.  Let’s start with the Epiphany Regenerative Day Cream, Rigorously tested in laboratories in Paris, the Regenerative Day Cream is the perfect foundation for healthier glowing skin. Like a shield of armour. The Regenerative Day Cream protects the skin against the effects of environmental factors like the sun and wind, not only does it protect it also nourishes the skin on a cellular level and promotes cell growth. One of the key ingredients is organic Bulgarian rose oil, which has anti-inflammatory properties as well as regenerative effects on the skin, hence the name Regenerative Day Cream. The cream also contains their special ingredient of Phytocelltec™ Alp Rose, a Swiss flower that grows at high altitudes, forcing the plant to adapt to extreme conditions and thus develop unique botanical properties. When used in skincare, it helps to maintain the characteristics of skin stem cells and protects the cells against UV-stress.

Then there is the Epiphany Renewing Night Cream. It works overnight while you’re sleeping to improve the vitality, youthful glow and natural beauty of your skin. We like how fast it is to absorb into the skin, giving the complexion a moisturised feel without being heavy or weighed down. All of Tiiya Alanoud Alattiya’s products are paraben, silicone, preservative, mineral oil and colourant free. The creams come beautiful packaged with the push-down dispenser with low waste as it dispenses the perfect amount every time. You can purchase the Epiphany Regenerative Day Cream here for $130 per 50ml or the Renewing Night Cream for $135 per 50ml here.

MATIS - Reponse Corps Dry Oil

As the cold weather engulfs us in the festive season, yet again at The Amazing Blog we find ourselves dreaming about taking off to warmer climes. So, we’ve been tracking down multi-tasking products to share with you, to pack away for your travels. Regular readers may remember Simon reviewing the French salon brand Matis with their Vitality Roll’on Energ Eyes and  Reponse Homme Anti-Ageing Cream. This time it’s our turn to review one of their latest products Response Corps Dry Oil, which is perfect for nourishing both hair and body during this challenging weather.

Based in Paris, Matis is an established salon brand renowned for their scientific research with both their products and treatments. The Response Corps Dry Oil has a blend of 8 ‘Matispa’ active plant oils. The key actives are inca inchi, apricot kernel, marula, macadamia, sandalwood, cranberry and pomegranate. This combination of oils helps to provide protection and nutrition for all skin types. Let’s talk about the properties of these ingredients, the cranberry seed oil offers excellent anti-oxidant protection and enhances cellular functions, while the pomegranate oil has vitamins B and C help repair the skin. For those of you who have extremely dry and sensitive skin, the macadamia oil offers omega 9 which aids epidermal regeneration. What we particularly like is the delicious slightly sandalwood and nutty fragrance from the hemp seed oil, which also helps to calm the mind.

We think that this Dry Oil will make a very good travel companion as that it works on so many levels. It’s a brilliant multi-tasker with the added bonus of being full of replenishing oils. Ideal to add shimmer to the skin in the evening, and repairing hair after showering.  We recommend applying this Dry Oil after a hot bath or shower for an optimum effect. We also like that it absorbs quickly and does not leave any oily residue when applied. The hydration factors in this Dry Oil are ideal for helping repair split ends or replenishing moisture in the skin. If you would like to treat your body and hair to some TLC, then the Response Corps Dry Oil 50ml can be purchased here from £16.38 - offering great value for a 2-in-1 product.

Bili Beauty – Eyes of India Eyeshadow Palette

India is well known for its bright colour palette, diverse culture and unique beauty. Bili Beauty is a brand that creates makeup inspired by India’s evident diversity and celebrated explosion of various different shades and tints. All their products are made in California, vegan, cruelty-free and made with natural and organic ingredients. Bili Beauty brings together Indian beauty trends and presents it to a spectrum of individuals to all different corners of the world.

The founder of Bili Beauty, Sarah began the company with an underlying political motive. Although many of the major stores have an array of different cosmetic brands and products, they are often unable to cater to all the different skin tones. This is where Bili Beauty sets itself apart from others as it is highly pigmented and adapts to suit all given skin shades, textures and tones.  With the combination of her love for Indian culture and her passion for makeup, Sarah was able to create a cosmetics brand with clean ingredients and high pigmentation that celebrated and educated people about the beautiful diversity of Indian culture.

The Eyes of India Eyeshadow Palette is one of our #amazingfinds and our new favourite here at The Amazing Blog. The palette features ten matte as well as glittery shades of pink, gold, red, green and various others that will make your eyes pop. While the palette will enhance your eyes with their vibrant shades, its fragrance will also take you on an olfactory journey all the way to the hidden roads of Jaipur and the magical wonders of Agra. This eyeshadow palette takes you on a cultural beauty that walks you through the enchanting beauty of India, all from the convenience of your blending brush and creativity. The key natural and organic ingredients in these pigments are vitamin E, sunflower and moringa oils, rosemary leaf, Indian gooseberry terminalia chebula and bellerica, caesalpinia sappan bark and bamboo extract. It’s 100% vegan with no animal byproducts and almost 70% of these eyeshadows are made up of pure pigment. We also applaud Bili Beauty who donate a percentage of their annual sales to Destiny Rescue a non-profit organisation to help end child sex trafficking all over the world.

We think that this special eyeshadow palette is not only perfect as a Chrismas gift but as a present to yourself! To embark on this cultural experience, simply visit here to get your very own The Eyes of India Eyeshadow Palette is $49.00.