Posh Tart - Filthy Velvet

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love nothing more than lighting some candles and unwinding with a few close friends, so when Filthy Velvet sent us one of their fun candles to try, we couldn't wait to use it.

There is a cheeky element to Filthy Velvet that we love, and while they make fabulous candles with beautiful scents, they don't take themselves too seriously. The candles, or "Scented Scandals" as they call them, are chic and set in a circular metal tin, looking at home on any counter, table or mantelpiece. The fun begins as you watch a shocked friend reading one of Filthy Velvet's unexpected names, such as "Big Pants" or "Busty Blonde" or "Pot Head." The provocative product names are original, odd and hilarious, making a superb gift for your sassiest friend.

We were sent the apple pie candle "Posh Tart" which had a sweet apple aroma, with notes of rich, spicy cinnamon and hints of nutmeg, vanilla and sugar pastry. The scent was noticeable but subtle, so you don't have to worry about it overpowering your home. Filthy Velvet's products are all hand poured in Northern Ireland, and are made from the finest fragrance oils, natural wax and cotton wicks. With a burn life of up to 50 hours, these "filthy little scandals" are sure to leave you smiling for a long time.  

If you want the perfect quirky candle for your home, or a fun gift to give to a loved one, you can purchase a candle from their website here from £10.50.

Victor Rejuvenating Serum - Walker Johnston

Any skincare routine worth its salt will contain at least one product to protect skin against premature ageing. It’s imperative to protect skin from free radicals and UV rays if we want to remain looking youthful and not let our skin betray our years, or worse make us look older than we are. As such, all of us here at The Amazing Blog have a product that we swear by – in fact it has often led to disagreements over which moisturiser, serum or essence is superior, but we can all agree that Victor Rejuvenating Serum can do no wrong for male skin. With no harsh smells, chemicals or animal testing, Walker Johnston has created a male skincare line that matches the standards of women’s products while meeting the specific needs and concerns that male skin has. 

The serum we used is a multi-tasking proprietary complex designed for intense epidermal rejuvenation and reducing visible signs of ageing. By preventing free radical damage, the serum helped guard skin against the development of fine lines, contributed to retaining skin’s firmness and elasticity and left skin looking plumper and feeling firmer.  

Walker Johnston is a British company that makes their products in New Zealand, using the best ingredients that nature of the region offers. With 74% of the serum being made from organic ingredients, including Black Fern ‘Mamaku’ from New Zealand and Hydrolyzed Keratin, the product is full of natural goodies to help skin look and feel its best. 

As Father's day approaches, this serum makes an excellent gift and is one guaranteed to help keep you father's looking his best for as long as possible.  You can purchase the serum here for £44.95

Eye Shadow - Rouge Bunny Rouge

As May creeps by and Summer draws ever near, it’s time to begin thinking about switching makeup palettes from warmer Winter and Spring hues to brighter Summer tones. With this in mind we are turning our attention to Rouge Bunny Rouge, a brand that The Amazing Blog has always loved and have in fact previously reviewed! They very kindly sent over some inspired beauty products, such as their Surprise Eye Shadow Palette, Long-Lasting Duo Cream Eye Shadow, Long-Lasting Eye Shadow Refill, and their Raw Garden Eye Shadow Palette “Caliche.”

We loved all of the products, and it’s hard to pick a favourite, but perhaps the most exciting was their Surprise Eye Shadow Palette. This palette comes with five surprise colours. All you know is that you will recieve one highlighter, one shimmer shade, and three neutral tones. The seemingly endless combinations of a stunning collection, make the anticipation of receiving the product part of the fun and made the shopping experience feel more like we were purchasing ourselves a gift rather than shopping. If you like the colours you receive then you will be pleased to know that the palette is refillable; great news if, like us, your favourite base tone runs out faster than the rest. The case is magnetic so holds the shades firmly in place, but allows you to top up when needed. So when the product inevitably runs low you can order one of their Long-Lasting Eye Shadow Refills, available in six colours which last for 8 hours, to replace what you've used.

To achieve a lasting and perfectly smooth eye shadow application, the Long-Lasting Duo Cream Eye Shadow will become a staple of your makeup in no time at all. Available in two forms: Gossamer Wings and Birdwing Beauteous, you can achieve two different and desired effects. The Gossamer Wings tube, which has a creamy shade on either end, is infused with Para Cress Flower Extract as well as Coffee Extract, to stimulate natural skin lifting, increase collagen production and up the skin’s defences. All of which will give you more youthful, less tired and brighter eyes. The Birdwing Beauteous formula contains a high amount of water which helps to nourish the delicate eyelid skin. The fact that both are free from oil, parabens, alcohol and silicone oil is an added and important plus.

If the surprise palette isn't for you and, you want to know what you're getting, then the Raw Garden Eye Shadow Palette “Caliche” brings together four of Rouge Bunny Rouge’s most stunning shades. Not only will your eyes look incredible, but this eye shadow is blended with natural Argan Oil and Encapsulated Hyaluronic Acid which leaves the shadow feeling silky and lightweight rather than powdery and patchy.

Unfortunately all of Rouge Bunny Rouge's prices are in Euro's, but don't worry, you can still purchase them if you live in the UK. You can purchase the Surprise Eye Shadow Palette here for around £50.00, the Long-Lasting Duo Cream Eye Shadow here for around £42.00, the Long-Lasting Eye Shadow Refill here for around £17.00 and the Raw Garden Eye Shadow Palette “Caliche” here for £59.00 or there abouts.

Nuxe - Huile Prodigieuse 25th Anniversary

Nuxe’s flagship product, Huile Prodigieuse, is celebrating its 25th anniversary which is exciting news for all fans of the French beauty brand. To celebrate this monumental birthday, the company has released three limited edition bottles of their number one dry oil. The Amazing Blog has long been devotees of Huile Prodigieuse, and we were lucky enough to sample the limited edition products before their release. 

The three colourful and exclusive bottles are decorated with botanical lace and each represent a unique quality Nuxe possess and value. The coral celebrates 25 years of passion, the turquoise represents 25 years of emotion, and the white symbolises 25 years of pure beauty.  As well as the new and stunning bottles, the company has refreshed their original formula. The product now contains Tsubaki oil, a powerful anti-ageing ingredient which is quickly absorbed and nourishes the skin.  Along with the addition of Tsubaki oil the, the dry oil contains hydrating sweet almond oil, vitamine E, borage seed oil and softening Macadamia nut oil. The use of Camellia oil gives the product a beautiful and full-bodied botanical fragrance that encapsulates the essence of the company; which is, everyday luxury. 

Huile Prodigieuse leaves no greasy texture and is easily absorbed into skin or hair. The diversity of the product is what makes Huile Prodigieuse so utterly fantastic in our eyes as the dry oil can be used on the face, body and hair. For a more youthful look apply once a day, to eradicate stretch marks massage into problem areas, and to repair damaged hair rub into ends as frequently as you deem necessary. What’s more, Nuxe is a brand inspired by the infinite power of plants, as such their products are rooted with an eco-attitude and use nature as a way to innovate their skincare. This really is a wonder product, and one we can’t wait to use for the next 25 years.

 You can purchase the set here for £29.00.

Summer Manicure - Friday Favourites

Woo hoo summer's on its way! However, our hands and feet are truly screaming out for a good mani-pedi. It feels like a long recovery time from the chapped and dry skin on our hands and feet, that the past winter month have so cruelly inflicted upon them.  So we've been searching for some quick fixes and hottest new products, to give them that little boost to help them on their way. As some of us (no names mentioned) at The Amazing Blog  have a slight nail polish addiction, we pooled our knowledge and came up with a list of the latest 'at home' mani-pedi products to give you that professional manicurist finish.

First on our list is FLASH Manicure, we tried both their Original and Lotus scented FLASH Instant Manicure. They left our hands feeling pampered within minutes. FLASH Instant Manicure is effectively a complete treatment in one; it moisturises and exfoliates the hands while also aiding dry and damaged cuticles and nails. It works to brighten and soften hands by using a combination of sea salt and essential oils such as lavender oil, citrus oil and avocado oil. They recommend using the product once a week. This product is so easy to use, you just have to shake the bottle to make sure that the salts are properly dispersed into the oils, then pour an amount about the size of a one pound coin into clean palms and carefully scrub the product into the hands. This product is very effective on damaged cuticles so make sure not to skip the nails. Once you’ve rubbed the product into your hands sufficiently, rinse them with tepid water and dry with a clean towel. The plain FLASH Instant Manicure leaves a lovely aroma of lavender that will leave you coming back for more, while the lotus scented product has an even more tantalisingly floral aroma. NB Great for hands and feet.

Both versions are available here from £10.35 and come in a variety of options for you to choose from. These products left our skin looking clean, smelling fabulous and feeling smooth – what more could you want?

The next products we found are a selection of unique and summery nail polishes from Margaret Dabbs. After her award-winning collection of hand and foot care ranges, Margaret has recently unveiled a stunning and much-anticipated range of treatment-enriched and cutting edge nail polishes.

We tried three colours: Snap Dragon, Poppy and Saffron, opting for richer pinks and reds - which we hope will complement and enrich our newly acquired sun kissed tans. There is a vast array of colours within the collection ranging from the most delicate on-trend nudes and pastels to the most vivid blues. Each of the 72 shades takes its inspiration from the wonder of nature as each polish follows a floral theme.  We applied two coats with a base and top coat and our finger nails remained chip free for up to four days.

These polishes are also made with the highest quality lacquer combining beneficial ingredients that help to make them last longer than your regular nail polish. All free from Formaldehyde, Toluene or DPB which will ensure that the nails remain healthy even after removing the varnish. These unique formulas have been designed to promote nail health and vitality. The Vitamin E in the product helps to strengthen and protect the nail, while the Rose Botanical Extract revitalises, prevents infection and leaves an aroma of wild roses.

You can explore the range and purchase these amazing nail polishes here!

Finally, if you want to spice things up a bit, then you might be interested in Semilac and their product Semi-Flash which allows you to join in with one of the hottest nail trends without the salon price! However, it must be noted that you will need a LED lamp in order to cure and use this powder. It is also recommended to purchase their Top No Wipe with Semi-Flash to ensure a quality and professional manicure and will also need an applicator.  NB please see here for instructions.

Semi-Flash is a special powder used for creating the latest designer nail effect of mirrored chrome. This product will give you glamorous and unique nails that all your friends will be talking about for weeks to come. This uber cool effect when cured will last up to an astonishing 3 weeks as the powder doesn’t smudge or chip. Its superior performance and the fact that the product is so easy to apply that make this a summer must have!

You can purchase your own Semi-Flash powder here for £9.99.

Remember anyone can wear a great outfit but it's your nails that will make the statement!