EasterMia: Crisp Apple Nail Polish & Nail Kit

Nail polish is the quickest (and chicest) way to change up your look from day to night, or from season to season. With spring here, at The Amazing Blog  we’ve selected a beautiful true-red nail polish and a Nail Kit to share with you from the Canadian nail brand EasterMia, for a quality at-home manicure. With over 40+ shades to choose from, these nail polishes are vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic and deliver a great professional looking manicure. 

Mia Phan, the creator and founder of EasterMia, owns a local nail salon in Burlington, Ontario. Inspired by her clients and her mother, Helen, who has more than 30 years of experience in the nail industry, she wanted to create a relaxing and fun experience for all the  hardworking women who are time-poor and deserve a little pampering at home. Phan established EasterMia in 2019, and  understands the importance of self-care and nail health. EasterMia was created in collaboration with a chemist, where the range of nail polishes and nail care are free of all the most common toxic chemicals and fragrances used in other mainstream brands. They are also a Leaping Bunny approved brand. So, whether you are a soon-to-be mother or prone to allergies, this nail brand should be safe for you.

The first product to introduce is the Crisp Apple Nail Polish. With so many reds to choose from (think blue-based, neutral or orange-toned), we decided upon this stunning and versatile true apple-red shade; which adds a classic pop of colour. The shiny and vibrant finish of this trans-seasonal red adds a opulent shade to complement any spring, going into summer wardrobe. We also think that this sophisticated hue looks just as chic for sporting on office hands, as it would on the red carpet. It is a 10-free nail polish, meaning that it does not contain the ten common harsh chemicals found in nail polishes, like formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, toluene, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, triphenyl phosphate and fragrance. We like how the formula allows you to apply it thinly onto the nails, and delivers an opaque coverage with just one coat. They suggest for a longer lasting colour, to top-up with their high gloss Top Coat finish, all of which we’re happy to report, are entirely gloop free. 

We also received the Nail Kit. This essentials kit has everything you need to start an at-home manicure, including a clear Base Coat, Top Coat, Organic Cuticle Oil, a small buffer and file. The Base and Top coat serve as foundation and protection for their nail polish. The Base Coat’s unique ingredients help smooth the nail surface and evens out the nail plate, as well as offering no stain residue on the natural nail. The Top Coat is slightly tinted to make it even more light reflective and keeps the nail polish from yellowing. EasterMia purposefully adds aloe vera and vitamin E to its Organic Cuticle Oil to nourish your cuticles. With the pineapple scent here, it makes the experience even more pleasant and relaxing.  To get your nails polished to perfection in a matter of minutes, see here to purchase EasterMia’s Crisp Apple nail polish for £8, and the Nail Kit is here for £15.

Epicuren Discovery® : Defend & Balance Sunscreen Tinted Mineral SPF 50

As the weather warms up and summer fast approaches, we hope that like us, at The Amazing Blog, you’re upping your game by applying stronger sunscreen. We have been looking for an all-in-one sunscreen and discovered this recently launch Defend & Balance Sunscreen Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 from Epicuren Discovery®. We love how this includes all our asks of sunscreen, CC cream, AND moisturiser.

Epicuren Discovery®  is a family-owned and established advanced skincare brand with the goal of ‘leaving the biggest impression on this world through natural skincare while leaving the smallest footprint’. Founded by Colleen Lohrman with developmental scientist Robert Heiman over 35 years ago,  Epicuren® skincare products originated from pharmaceutical enzyme research, performed on severely damaged skin. For over a decade, Epicuren® continues to incorporate the result of its research using technologies, especially with its Metadermabolic Enzyme (a complex of proteins and vitamin B’s) anti-ageing formulas, in their high potency skincare. The range is made up of natural skincare created for both the consumers and the professional. However, occasionally synthetic ingredients are used to enhance product quality;  Epicuren® uses pure, natural ingredients with certified organics to make their safe yet effective products. Based in California, it’s a popular brand amongst Hollywood celebrities like Megan Fox, Kristen Davis. and Gwen Stefani. We like how Epicuren® commits to natural beauty and sustainability, plus its packaging is BPA free and recyclable. 

Released last year, the Defend & Balance Sunscreen Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50  is a unique mineral-based, chemical-free, skin-brightening and reef-safe SPF 50 sunscreen that automatically adapts to and enhances every skin tone with light coverage. It is a sunscreen that provides maximum full-spectrum sun protection and uses vitamin C to shield your skin against UVA and UVB rays. The great thing about this 4% titanium dioxide and 15.5% zinc oxide mineral UV filters is that it’s harmless to the environment and are considered the safest and most effective sunblock ingredients today. The antioxidant in the formula, such as green tea leaf extract, vitamin E and argan oil, balance inflammation and protect skin against environmental stressors. The sunscreen is also rich in sodium hyaluronate, meadowfoam seed oil, kukui nut seed oil, which all serve as hydrators. What we loved about this Sunscreen was its light citrus fragrance, a thin and non-tacky texture and self-adjusting subtle tint which didn’t leave any white cast or residue. It’s also nourishing enough to wear on its own as CC cream, or as a primer under makeup.  It is cruelty-free, recycle-friendly, vegan and water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. It is one of our #amazingfinds and we’ll certainly be ordering more! You can purchase the 30ml multi-tasking sunscreen Defend & Balance here  for $84 on their website.

IDUN Minerals: 2-in1 Pressed Powder & Foundation

Mineral makeup is a hot favourite at The Amazing Blog not only for being waterless and bacteria-free but also for its pure mineral content. Today we are featuring a 2-in-1 Pressed Powder & Foundation, from the established Swedish mineral makeup brand IDUN Minerals.

IDUN Minerals is a Swedish beauty brand founded by Göran Agard. The brand was launched in 2011 with a purposeful mission to bring ‘simply, pure and clean’ products into daily makeup routines. They also cite themselves as an industry role model within the beauty sector, offering high-quality, vegan, cruelty-free, and environmental-friendly cosmetics.  Their makeup, haircare and skincare products are based on a few highly purified minerals which are deemed beneficial to skin; all of which are suitable for sensitive skin or for those with skin issues such as acne and rosacea. IDUN Minerals’ products are sold exclusively at pharmacies, meaning that its products meet the international pharmacies’ high safety and quality standards. Committing to sustainability, IDUN Minerals has created their products using recyclable packaging, no microplastics or per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), these are made only with sustainable content. These are then transported globally by using a low-pollution shipping method. What we thought was interesting, is that the IDUN Minerals mineral powder foundation is the only cosmetic product on the market to be recommended by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association.

We had the opportunity to try out the award-winning 2-in-1 Pressed Powder & Foundation, which can be used as both a foundation and setting powder.  It is currently available in three different shades Sarek (light), Skärgård (light to medium) and Österlen (medium), and if you’re unsure of what will suit you, see their skin tone guide here. What makes this Pressed Powder Foundation unique is the clever design, where the application pad is stored under the pressed powder, opening and retracting from the compact with the lid’s automatic movement. This is a double-sided application pad (with smooth or porous), so depending on the desired effect wanted, the smooth side can be used for setting powder to remove shine; or the porous side for apply the powder as a foundation allowing for light to medium buildable coverage. Suitable for all skin types, it doesn’t contain talc, oil, silicone, perfume, bismuth or preservatives (such as parabens) or any substances that might cause irritation or an allergic reaction. Here there is a high concentration of minerals, antioxidants, and other beneficial ingredients. For example, the silica in the formula builds up the skin’s strength and elasticity and stimulates cellular regeneration. The mica gives the skin a smoothing, radiant effect and protects against damage caused by free radicals. And the natural oils such as passion fruit oil and sunflower seed oil, makes the powder feel light and smooth on the skin, and prevents it from clogging the pores. What we like, is that it keeps skin looking silky smooth and matte. This Pressed Powder Foundation is a recent winner in the 2020 Scandinavian Global Makeup Awards: Gold for Best Foundation and Silver for Best Design & Packaging; and we can see why, with its excellent light texture and coverage and innovative compact design. We think this Pressed Powder & Foundation is Ideal to keep in a handbag for quick touch-ups throughout the day; and unlike some other pressed mineral foundations that we’ve tried, this won’t leave you looking overdone or cakey. If you’re looking for a foundation that will allow your skin to breathe and one that offers you even and natural coverage, then look no further! You can purchase the 2-in-1 Pressed Powder & Foundation in 7.7g here for €27.

Verolive Natural Products: Innovative Sulfate-free Revitalizing Shampoo

It’s an exciting day for us in England, as after four months hairdressers are FINALLY open! So today, at The Amazing Blog we thought it appropriate to talk about a unique haircare.  We’re excited to share another of our #amazingfinds with a natural Innovative Sulfate-free Revitalizing Shampoo, all the way from Crete. Meet the brand Verolive, and their products made with locally sourced organic olive oil and prickly pear seed oil.

Verolive Natural Products was founded in 1975, by Yannis Tzortzakakis in the heart of the Messara Valley, Crete. This area is well known for its endless olive groves, producing top quality extra virgin olive oil, which can be found in each of Verolive's products. The brand has developed a unique core range of ten products, using meticulously selected natural and locally sourced ingredients. Their ethos is focused on high-standard eco care and packaging, with ingredients dermatologically tested, vegan, clean in composition and above all, high in quality. Every product has been designed to protect both the environment and its customers' wellbeing. Apart from the consumer, they also cater to spa professionals and built long term successful partnerships with some of the best-known wellness centres. All plastics are BioPET, which means the plastic is based on 30% renewable raw material such as starch, glucose, vegetable oils and cellulose and 70% oil-based raw material. To maintain their continuity and brand excellence, they only produce each item in a limited batch to ensure superior quality control. Their philosophy and strategies have certainly paid off with their multiple award wins in the 2020 Mama & Baby and a Gold for Best International Breakthrough Brand in The Pure Beauty Awards London 2020.

After two years of research, their shampoo has become of one the top bestsellers; so, as you can imagine, we were eager to try this Innovative Sulfate-free Revitalizing Shampoo. It was developed to ‘respect hair, sensitive scalps and the environment’. This sulphate-free shampoo is formulated with 98% of natural ingredients without any PEGS, silicones, parabens, propylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, cocamidopropyl betaine or phosphates. Among the seven active ingredients, there are two key oils:  Firstly, the organic extra virgin olive oil, which contains omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, and a large number of vitamins, such as vitamins E, A and K. Secondly, the organic prickly pear seed oil and bio-active extract, which certainly piqued our interest, as it’s one of the world’s rarest and most expensive oils rich in fatty and amino acids, it’s known to promote hair growth, treat the scalp and give hair a magnificent lustre. This shampoo is aimed at those with dry, damaged and/or coloured hair. And this could not have been more appropriate for us! We’d like to say that it is almost a co-wash (conditioner wash) rather than a shampoo per se.  With my long (remember no hair cut in four months) fine and curly hair which breaks easily, I found it kind to the hair, as it left it completely tangle-free! Which, to be frank is unheard of. I’m always leary of using shampoo by itself as my hair mats up quickly, making it almost impossible to comb through. By using the Revitalising Shampoo, this was not the case, the comb slide through the hair like a hot knife through butter. It’s impressive, and as mentioned above, it’s rated as one of our #amazingfinds. All we did was to apply it onto wet hair, gently massage and rinse; it left hair clean, soft and shiny, easy to comb and hydrated. Best of all, you don’t need any conditioner; and who doesn’t want to save time and money? You can purchase Verolive Innovative Sulfate-free Revitalizing shampoo (300 ml) here for €27.90.

Benny Hancock For Men: Moisturising Face Perfector SPF 15

Taking care of our skin is nothing new. Each of us has, to some extent, a daily routine to try and keep skin looking at its best. However, men’s skin, and the look they want to achieve, can be quite different from that of women. We know 30% of our readership is men, which is why at The Amazing Blog we wanted to introduce this best-selling new all-in-one lightweight moisturiser and foundation Moisturising Face Perfector from Benny Hancock For Men. 

Working closely with celebrities, supermodels, and VIPs for over a decade, Benny Hancock is an influencer and a global industry pro-makeup artist who understands men’s skin and their priorities when looking for a makeup. After realising men’s increasing need for makeup, he founded Benny Hancock For Men, with a masculine-looking range of vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics, to help men build their confidence and enhancing their appearance. He believes that “makeup for men should enhance rather than conceal” and, therefore, has worked hard to design products that are feel invisible, are convenient, and long-lasting. Benny Hancock For Men is an innovative brand that combines high-tech and wearable formulations to achieve the perfect makeup look that men are seeking out.  

With the Moisturising Face Perfector what we like is that this product is a multi-tasker. It works as both as a moisturiser and foundation. While the hydrogenated coconut oil and argan oil it hydrates the skin just like a moisturiser, the fragrance-free formula provides natural yet buildable coverage that disguises uneven skin tone and imperfections without being sticky or cakey. The SPF 15, along with vitamin E, silica, and Ectoin, protects your skin from UVA/B rays and is clinically proven to create a barrier that defends against pollutants. This foundation is available in five different skin-compatible shades, and if you’re unsure of what colour suits you the best, you can use their ‘Virtual Try-On Mirror’ to find the perfect match, using the camera on your smartphone or computer. As a tip, they advise using the buffing brush to apply the foundation for best result, but it can also be applied with the fingers - if unarmed combat is more your thing! Men’s makeup, is still a relatively new concept for your average bloke. Our tester (that bloke) not one to normally wear makeup, was curious and sceptical all at the same time. We gave him the shade of NC15 fair to try. Our powers of persuasion which involved pointing him to the tutorial at Benny Hancock on ‘How to Use’ and telling him about how the SPF factor and ingredients would protect his face from the sun and city pollutants - he was off and running. Much to his (and our) surprise he was amazed at how natural it looked! He later confessed to having it as one of his ‘empties’ with a view to reordering. You can purchase this 30ml Moisturising Face Perfecter SPF 15  here  for £25.