Beauty

Smith & Sinclair - Lick Your Sent

Anyone else has a bathroom drawer full of half used perfumes? At The Amazing Blog, we all came to the conclusion that it can take years of accumulating different scents (even layering them) before you find your true signature fragrance. However, we tracked down Smith & Sinclair who have given us the most fun fragrance of the season! Regular readers may remember that we featured the Smith & Sinclair Cocktail Pastilles, It would seem that Smith & Sinclair have endless creative ideas, bringing us the craziest innovations. This time is edible fragrance. Yes, you read it right; their line of products Lick Your Scent which certainly made our heads turn in the office.

Smith & Sinclair describe themselves as, “alcohol and confectionery innovators, or the Willy Wonka for grown-ups,” and we think they couldn’t have phrased it better. It all started with Mel and Emile, the founders of Smith & Sinclair. A while back, they hosted a series of single events and they noticed that instead of falling in love with each other, people were falling in love with the alcoholic confectionery they were offering. Bingo! Out of trying to bring people together for love, they created Smith & Sinclair, to bring people together through new ways of sharing.

Featured in the Sunday Times, You Magazine, and Cosmopolitan, among other outlets, Smith & Sinclair are revolutionising the beauty and beverage industry. Their edible fragrances are crafted to up your “cocktail” game. “Cocktail” in quotation marks because the Lick Your Scent range is not only designed to liven up your fragrance but tantalise the taste buds, as they are also lickable! Different, you might say…. You can pick from a range of flavours: Pear & VanillaCherry Blossom & Mandarin, or Watermelon & Citrus.

We chose the Pear & Vanilla scent because it works perfectly for autumn. Fear not, even though it is edible, it’s not sticky, the formula is created to be suitable to spray it on your skin as well as flavouring your drinks. The main ingredients are: Vodka (30%), calvados (30%) - this means it is an adult’s fragrance, it can only be purchased if you are over the age of 18 - citric acid, glycerine and pear and vanilla natural flavouring, making it 100% vegan. The question is do you store it in the bathroom or the kitchen? With the fruity and flowery scent/taste and bright packaging, your bathroom drawer will certainly now have a new addition with a difference. Set the trend this autumn and purchase your 50ml edible fragrance here for only £10. Warning: Please lick responsibly.

Zephorium Soul Tonic - Vitamin A Holistic Crystal Skincare Collection

Isn’t there a motto that goes something like: “Happy mind, happy life”? At The Amazing Blog we believe that taking care of our minds is a priority, after all it’s our powerhouse, so if we have a healthy mind, we’ll have a healthy body. We’d like to introduce you a favourite brand Zephorium Soul Tonic with their holistic skincare. As regular readers will know, we’ve previously written about their Zephorium Aura Sprays and Body Oil these are very empowering and are matched to a specific chakra points with an uplifting affirmation.

Zephorium Soul Tonic is a natural beauty and lifestyle brand where their main ingredients help to promote energy, attraction and positivity. Every product is made with aromatherapy blends to not only to help heal your skin, but also your mind. Zephorium was established in 2012 by Sarah Cox who is well-known as a spiritual teacher. She created Zephorium because she was conscious that the stress, rush hour, and pressure of living in the city were burning her out. She decided to launch a range of products that were composed with natural ingredients, mantras and blended with aromatherapy techniques to help us cope with the hustle and bustle of the everyday life.

Zephorium has recently launched a new line of products that we absolutely love. Packaged in bright orange crystal bottles, The Vitamin A Holistic Crystal Skincare range all infused with Carnelian Crystal energy matches its packaging, ingredients and colour to its Sacral Chakra affirmation: “I unleash fun and creativity from within me now.” This range takes you through a 6-step journey for a beautiful skin. Blended with carrot and orange oil and infused with Carnelian Crystal energy, these blends are packed with vitamin A and are there to inspire a spark of joy and creativity within you. While the 6 products serve a different purpose, they are natural and suitable for all skin types.

Let’s begin with the Vitamin A Holistic Deep Cleanser. When we began to use this cleanser, we were impressed it’s gentle yet effective formula. Due to its richness in wild carrot oil (vitamin A), organic orange and palmarosa oils rich in other antioxidants, this cleanser has the power to restore and rejuvenate skin tissue.  Simply apply a little cleanser onto clean damp finger tips gently massaging into the face and then removing it with a cotton pad. We use it in the morning to kick start the day with a clean skin and at night to remove the pollutants, whilst mindfully repeating the mantra to also clear any negativity. Ideally, follow the cleanser by the Vitamin A Holistic Facial Toner by simply using a cotton pad to sweep the toner across your face. 100% organic alcohol-free and infused with key ingredients of organic orange flower water and homeopathic carnelian crystal which is said to bring joy, motivation and creativity into our lives. The toner is ideal for those with hectic schedules since it revitalises and refreshes tired skin by tightening the pores, giving it an anti-ageing effect. This was our favourite from the collection.

The third step of the skincare routine is the Vitamin A Deep Exfoliation Holistic Face Mask. We really like using this clay based mask because it has heavenly effects. This mask has two uses, either as a hard or soft mask. Either way, this mask completely removed our dead skin cells, encouraging collagen growth which helped to make our face look clearer and more radiant. If you want to use it as a hard mask, mix 1 teaspoon of powder with 1-2 teaspoons of warm water until it becomes a paste. Then just massage it onto your skin. As a person with sensitive skin, I recommend you leave it on only for 5 minutes. However, if you have normal or oily skin, they recommend leaving it for up to 20 minutes before washing off. However, if you want to use it as a soft mask, follow the same steps as above but instead of using water as a mixer, apply a body or face oil instead. In the same ratios as suggested for the water above.  Great economy too as with this 120g jar, you can enjoy up to 15 masks. For us that was about once a fortnight.

Onto the Fourth and final steps, these are with the Zephorium Vitamin A Holistic Face Serum , Intense Face Cream and Lip & Eye Cream.  The Face Serum is loaded with vitamins from the organic wild carrot, orange and Frankincense oils, this serum automatically balances and hydrates the skin to the individual needs. For optimal results, we recommend you apply it after the cleanser and the toner to ensure all the potent and nourishing properties are applied to properly cleansed skin in order penetrate the dermis. With only one or two drops you can be economical as  this will have both your face and neck covered. Gently massage it onto your skin and let it sit for about 5 minutes morning and night. Once the serum has been absorbed, we encourage you to then apply their Vitamin A Hydrate Holistic Face Cream and last but not least  their Vitamin A Intense Holistic Lip & Eye Cream both to seal in the effects of the serum. Both these two products contains organic shea and cocoa butter as well as multiple antioxidants which enhance skin rejuvenation and hydrate super delicate areas. To apply them, simply dab evenly the cream on your face (or around lip and eye area for this cream) using your fingertips and use it twice a day to achieve optimal results and witness its full effect. Best of all they are packaged in glass sacral chakra bottles with aluminium tops. No plastic, no cruelty, no waste. 100% recyclable.

Want to have a happy mind and healthy skin? Then boost and nourishing your skin, with this energising Vitamin A Holistic Crystal range here, prices starting at £18.50. However, don’t forget to keep repeating the Sacral Chakra affirmation when applying the products – we promise they’ll work wonders to help lower your stress levels and give you a peaceful mind.

SEA MAGIK - Pink Salt Shampoo and 3-Seaweed Scalp Mud

Raise your hand up if you have an itchy scalp, product build up, dehydrated or thinning hair. For these reasons, we at The Amazing Blog have given both these two hair treatments from Sea Magik a try, and we can happily say that you’re in for a lovely surprise.

The Sea Magik is a new discovery brand for us. It’s a family enterprise and is one of four award-winning brands under their umbrella company Finders Brands It also has a very unique story to the products. As it all started when the founder Kate Bunyan’s grandmother who took her father, Robert Czik, to visit the therapeutic natural salt lakes and caves in Hungary. These trips are what inspired Robert to create a professional spa brand. Nothing came easy as salty water has a unique chemistry which he eventually tapped into and creating the world’s first line of mineral-infused spa skincare.

Let’s talk about their Pink Salt Shampoo which is blended with three organic seaweed extracts and composed of Himalayan salt granules with lime, rosemary and cypress essential oils. This treatment shampoo exfoliates the scalp and remove product build-up. It is easy to use and just requires you to massage the salt shampoo into wet hair and scalp as a weekly treatment. Take your time to lather the product as you inhale the spa essential oils. Rinse and follow with your regular conditioner. The shampoo is SLS/SLES free, and even though the shampoo is granulated in texture, it is not at all abrasive and smells refreshingly of lime and left our hair squeaky clean pre conditioner.

Next is the 3-Seaweed Scalp Mud which is made up of three organic seaweeds, dead-sea mud and pure coconut oil. The mud is creamy and with a moreish coconut scent. It can be used as a daily basis as a conditioning treatment to soothe the scalp, (especially an itchy scalp) and the coconut oil helps to hydrate the hair. Replace your regular conditioner with the scalp mud and apply after shampooing and let sit for 1-5 minutes. Rinse with fresh warm water. It really did leave our scalps feeling deeply nourished and hair silky soft. A big thumbs up on this from us.

Both products are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and free from harsh ingredients and silicones. Best of all they are kind to all skin and hair types. There are no sulphates, synthetic fragrances, parabens, petrochemicals, PEG’s, GMO’s gluten and dairy. The plastic tubes are made from sugarcane and is recyclable. So what’s not to like? Purchase Pink Salt Shampoo here 200ml for £11.99 and 3-Seaweed Scalp Mud here 150ml for £11.95. Get on board with healthy scalp and hair with these two products and begin your journey to beautiful hair.

 

 

 

Cally King London- Fragrances

For some young girls trying to navigate their way around the world of fragrance, can be really quite daunting. We at The Amazing Blog have heard this from various younger sisters, nieces and friends. So, where do they begin?  Step forward Cally King a welcome newcomer to the beauty world, who has created an original concept with a range of fragrances mainly aimed at the teen market.

Cally King London was created by Kate Wright, whose inspiration came from wanting to give her teenage daughters a bearing in the over-populated and confusing world of perfume. Kate herself, recalls falling in love with different fragrances as a young girl. For her, it all started when seated in her grandmother’s bedroom watching her daily ritual of spritzing her favourite scent. She said “bottle after tantalising bottle was unstoppered for me to try, Guerlain, Chanel, Dior and I was quickly hooked. But confused!” Years later, curious to see how her own daughter would navigate her way in this world, Kate took her to a perfumery. They started trying all the different fragrances until they both became dizzy with choice and couldn’t tell one from the other. Kate added, “I realised we needed to get back to basics – to try some scents out at home, to find out what we really like. Which is how Cally King was born.”

Cally King is not only perfect for teenage girls, but for anyone who wants to experiment with fragrance. They have a handy selection on four scents which can used by mixing and matching at home. A perfect way to discover what kind of scents suit you, by smelling them individually or layering in any combination you choose. It also gives young perfume aficionado the chance to experiment on their own, without feeling pressurised by pushy sales assistants. The choice of these four eau de toilette fragrances helps to demystify perfume by offering four distinct aspects of the fragrance wheel - fresh, floral, exotic and woody. Their Gift Set presentation box containing all four is stylish, girly and elegantly designed and comes with an explanatory notebook and sample strips.

The first scent in the Gift Set that we tried was Aspen, which is a woody scent reminiscent of a forest after a heavy down pour. It smells of a combination of sandalwood/cedarwood and has a delicious chocolate and earthy finish to complete it. The second is Honor (named after Kate’s daughter), which has a fresh smell identifying to us as mainly citrus. Awakening the senses, it also has a hint of mint and fresh green leaves which adds another dimension to this zesty scent. On the other hand, Maya is a stronger more exotic and sophisticated fragrance with a moreish fruitiness of ripe apricots and spice. The final quartet in the Gift Set is Grace which is floral, feminine and light. Grace reminds us of English flower garden in full bloom, it’s the perfect fragrance to brighten up even the dullest days. Our favourite? Layering Aspen and Grace, to strengthen the floral top notes and tone down the woody base notes, it’s a great combination do try it.

To purchase Aspen, Honor, Maya and Grace see here. All fragrances are eau de toilette, 10ml and individually priced at £9.95. These scents are also available in roller balls at the same price. Cally King also offers a Gift Set here with the full quartet of scents at £30.

Urban Jack - Revolution Shave Serum

We have often wondered here at The Amazing Blog, why when it comes to shaving the unwanted follicles from our varied skin types, many shaving preparations often obliterate any view of the actual epidermis? When we are about to drag a ferociously sharp razor edge across our chins, would it not make more sense to have a cream which actually keeps visibility as a priority, allowing us to see what we are trying to do? We all have highly individual challenges when it comes to our skin, whether that be problematic acne or moles which obviously need to avoid the unforgiving blade, or indeed the more aesthetic requirements of trimming away only that which we are wanting to get rid of.

The anwer to this conundrum has happily arrived in the stylishly  designed range of products from Urban Jack - and in particular a hero product in the shape of their Revolution Shave Serum which was swiftly transferred onto the beard which needed a bit of attention. Boasting some seriously impressive ingredients -vitis vinifera (grape) fruit meristem cell culture, which are powerful antiioxidants that protect skin from UV stress and maintains the cell characteristics of epidermal stem cells; limanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil which functions as a skin-conditioning agent oryza sativa (rice) bran oil extract for skin soothing enzymes and antioxidant properties. And always one of our favourites, shea butter which not only provides a rich source of vitamin A, but is also rapidly absorbed into the skin and seals in moisture helping to keep those wrinkles at bay. The rice bran oil also brings unsaturated fatty acids to the mix, as well as natural antioxidants and vitamin E to help protect the skin, whereas the alba seed oil helps to form a natural barrier to keep moisture within the skin, avoiding dehydration. As proud as Urban Jack are of this shaving gem that is made up of 96% natural ingredients, they also take great pride in being against animal testing, as well as dermatologically tested, totally vegan-friendly, and of course made in the UK!

Urban Jack offer up a few suggestions to their customers of ‘how to use’ here . It comes  in at a very competitive priced £18 for 30ml, the Revolution ShaveSerum is available through their online shop here where the complete range can also be thoroughly inspected, which is definitely worth checking out for all the other goodies on offer. Standard delivery is free of charge, but we also have the option of next day delivery which is charged at £3.95.