Friday Favourites: Eye Feature

The full-on lash craze is still with us, from mascara to falsies or even eyelash extensions; and we here at The Amazing Blog don’t see it slowing down any time soon. Today, we thought we would share some of our favourite and effective lash products with all of you. The eyes are our favourite feature to play up. There are a mountain of products on the market, it can be both time consuming and costly to find those holy grail items, so here we thought we’d do the work for you. From mascara and eyeliner to removing it all after a long day, we have got your eyes covered!

This dynamic duo from CODE Beautiful is first on our list. The combination of their CODE FFL Forget Fake Lashes with the CODE VLM Volumising Lengthening Mascara is simply a gift from heaven. CODE FFL is a pre-mascara lash plumper that will take your lashes to the next level, giving you that false lash look without the hassle. It’s a fibre based, light brown mascara that latches onto every individual lash for ultimate volume and length with conditioning agents so you can avoid flaky mascara throughout the day. Once you’ve got your first coat on, next up is the CODE VLM. This intensely black mascara adds serious shine to your lashes, but is also buildable so that you can go from day to night—natural to full glam without clumping or flaking. Added bonus? It’s tear-proof for any rough patches in the day.

Both of these mascaras from CODE are fortified with vitamins and waxes to nourish your lashes with each wear and are paraben free and never tested on animals. It’s everything we love all rolled into a tube.

Purchase the CODE FFL here for and the CODE VLM here for £19.95.

The next mascara on our list is a little something for the bold and adventurous souls who love to add an unexpected pop of colour to their look. From the incredible Rouge Bunny Rouge, we have the WITCHERY Modelling Mascara in Red Nightfall. This deep wine shade (yes, really it's a red!)  is sure to catch eyes in the best way possible. We loved using it for a night out to switch up our looks, but we have to say that it's just about subtle enough to wear throughout the day. If red still isn’t quite your colour, the WITCHERY line offers the mascara in both black and brown. The rubber brush perfectly separates the lashes, leaving clumps behind and long, defined lashes centre stage. And our favourite part is that you can skip the eyelash curler because this mascara perfectly curls and holds your lashes all day long.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can purchase the WITCHERY Modelling Mascara in Red Nightfall here for £29.00.

Once you've found the perfect mascara for luscious lashes, the best way to tie it all together is with a sleek sweep of highly pigmented eyeliner. Keep reading, as today we’ve found two eyeliners to offer you different looks. The first is the luxurious Oh My Glide Eyeliner from A.T Antao. The golden design of the pen really does just 'glide' it looks and feels lavish, the intensely pigmented black colour will not smudge or fade for over 12 hours of wear and is waterproof to keep you prepared for whatever comes your way. The second is the OMG Precise Eyeliner which is perfect for achieving that fine sharp wing, it has an easy reach from the root of lashes and corner of eyes as the incredibly soft and thin tip is made of PBT hair (in fact, both eyeliners have this), which is a synthetic animal hair substitute.  The PBT absorbs little liquid allowing both the applicators to hold its stiffness for even application every single time. For beginners, we recommend the OMG Smooth Eyeliner because the soft and thicker tip allows for easy application to create sweeping lines in an instant.

Purchase both the Oh My Glide Eyeliners for £9.90 each here for a perfect line every time.

Our last stop on the list is for eye makeup removers. After a long day, the last thing we want to do is take off our makeup, but the number one rule in our books is to never sleep in our makeup!  The Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover from Nouveau Lashes makes it so quick, easy and leaves our eye area so hydrated, that we actually look forward to it now before heading off to bed. This “gentle, vitamin and anti-oxidant enriched” formula is perfect for those sporting lash extensions, as it doesn’t strip the adhesive bond, ensuring you get the longest wear out of them. The blend of watercress, pomegranate and mango really work to nourish the lashes and skin, with the calming properties of chamomile to soothe as your makeup melts away. We apply the formula onto a cotton pad and then gently wipe away all of our make up; no rinsing required. Added bonus? It’s vegan-friendly.Purchase the Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover here for £14.99.

We hope we’ve helped you narrow down your search or introduced you to some hidden gems. Here’s to flirty, full lashes and keeping our eyes centre stage.

Amphora Aromatics – Energise Aromatherapy Blend

Here at The Amazing Blog, we appreciate companies that use high-quality ingredients but are also able to keep the cost of their products affordable; and since 1984 Amphora Aromatics has been doing just that! We've written about Amphora Aromatics for their products in the past, with their Shampoo Bars and Ylang Ylang, Argan & Rosemary shampoo and conditioner which have been two of our favourites, so far. However, these two products both come from their skincare line - AA Skincare. So we were excited to test a different kind of product from them, which was Energise from their Aromatherapy Blends. 

The ‘Energise Stimulating’ blend is made from a combination of essential oils. Some of the oils used in the product include lime, peppermint, lemongrass, geranium, cypress and cedarwood. The lime, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils help to wake up the body. The combination of geranium, cypress and cedarwood work wonders to alleviate stresses. This product has an incredibly delicious lemon-mint fragrance which is very uplifting when put into a steam diffuser.

In total, there are six different Amphora Aromatics’ Aromatherapy Blends available for purchase including; Sleep, Energise, Revive, Focus, Relax and Festive. Each blend helps to provide any room with a relaxing energy.  In addition to relaxation, each blend also offers a specific unique beneficial function that can be found in the aromatherapy section of their website. You can use each aromatherapy blend in diffusers & burners, for steam inhalation or for massage. We like using the Energise Blend in our diffusers to set a calming, yet energising and refreshing vibe. You can purchase your own 10 ml bottle of Amphora Aromatics Aromatherapy ‘Energise’ Blend here for £7.50.

Therapie by Roques O'Neil - Inner Light Sleep Drops

If you are keeping up on The Amazing Blog you will know how much we rate Michelle Roques-O’Neil’s Therapie aromatherapy products. We were lucky to have used their Restore Aura Spray as well as their Himalayan Detox Bath Salts and Cherish Skin Repair Body Serum in the past. Always being busy and on-the-go we know how important it is to relax at the end of the day – but we also know it can be hard to unwind sometimes. That’s why we wanted to review the Therapie Inner Light Sleep Drops today, which have helped us get a much deeper and more blissful sleep.

The Sleep Drops contain a fantastic mix of oils for example passionflower, frankincense, sandalwood, lavender and many more.  All those ingredients work to calm and soothe your mind as well as effectively strike overextended nerves so you can fall into a deep and nourishing slumber. Overnight your body and mind can restore and rebuild thanks to these Sleep Drops. What we love about the Inner Light Sleep Drops is how versatile they are. You can put 30 drops in a hot bath and soak for 20 minutes, have a foot bath or use them on a cotton wool pad under your pillow. We enjoyed soaking a cloth with warm water that was infused with the drops and then putting it on our face for 30 seconds breathing deeply.

The small bottle is great for travelling and perfect for taking on those stressful business trips. It’s also a go-to product when you feel the need to unwind and slow down your hectic pace of life. You can buy the Inner Light Sleep Drops on their own for £48 here or you can purchase them with a The Colourful Dot Rose-Quartz for £58 here.

Absolute Collagen - Protein Rich Marine Collagen Supplement For Men

Superfoods and supplements have become more and more popular over the past years and we at The Amazing Blog are always on the lookout for new and beneficial supplements to include in our diet. There is still a big trend for ingestible beauty supplements (which means beauty products you swallow rather than apply to your skin) particularly those that are collagen or hyaluronic acid based. We were very interested to hear that the award-winning British brand Absolute Collagen had launched the first-ever men’s ingestible beauty supplement, their Protein Rich Marine Collagen Supplement. We applaud this brand for recognising the need for specific male skincare supplements.

The Protein Rich Marine Collagen has numerous benefits. Fish collagen has superior bioavailability, which means it’s quickly absorbed into the body when digested. Once in the bloodstream, it starts working its magic. The Absolute Collagen supplement encourages the fibroblasts responsible for collagen reproduction to kick-start and therefore helps to fight signs of ageing.

One sachet of 10ml makes a daily dose of the marine collagen. The Supplement is as ‘absolute’ as possible, containing vitamin C for absorption and lemon and sucralose for taste. You can take the marine collagen direct from the sachet or mix it with hot and cold drinks or even add it to yoghurt – the possibilities are endless. We only had a two week supply, and I would like to add that probably I need a lot longer time than just a few weeks, to see significant results. However, I have to say that my joints felt more fluid and my fine lines did start to look slightly more plumped-out. The supplement does actually boast that the skin will look smoother, plumper and more hydrated, so perhaps this is just the start. They also state that the collagen benefits nails, joints, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons as well. I'm very tempted to keep going and order more! You too can order a 14-day supply of the Protein Rich Marine Collagen Supplement for Men here for £29.99.

Handmade Oxford

We love to support artisan brands here at The Amazing Blog and Handmade Oxford is just the event to find unique and beautiful pieces from new craftsmen. The renowned contemporary craft design event organiser, Handmade in Britain, has launched a three-day fair at Oxford Town Hall to bring designers and craftspeople directly to the people. We think shopping directly from the wonderful designers who create our favourite pieces of jewellery or centrepieces for our kitchen makes for an incredibly special experience. Piyush Suri started Handmade in Britain over a decade ago with a mission to support design-makers and create a community where they can promote their work. We love supporting local and small businesses around here and this event has it all in one place.

This three-day showcase boasts over 90 design-makers, so you will be sure to find something to suit your individual style. Located in the heart of Oxford, visitors can enjoy browsing the stands of high-skilled and innovative designers who have perfected their various disciplines. Getting to hear the creator’s story behind their inspiration, process and creation of a certain piece of jewellery or ceramic set is a unique experience and definitely a nice change from shopping on the high street.

At Handmade Oxford you'll find everything from beautifully handcrafted jewellery (perfect for the upcoming wedding season) to ceramics, glass and silverware, furniture, woodwork and mixed media. Most of the designers do not sell their work on the high street, only in exhibitions and galleries like this one, so if you’re on the hunt for something special that will add a touch of style to yourself or your space, don’t miss out on this one.

We love a unique piece of jewellery, so we are thrilled to view the work from designers like Lucy Martin, who specialises in beautiful and colourful contemporary pieces that are sure to become your new favourite accessory. Isabelle Capitain combines traditional methods with new technology to create one-of-a-kind minimal pieces that are to die for. For the home, we look forward to seeing the incredible woodwork from craftsman just like Craig Narramore, a Hollywood prop maker. There is so much more to discover that we are overly-thrilled to see all of the designer’s work.

Handmade Oxford takes place from Friday, May 18th to Sunday, May 20th, so be sure to get your tickets now to ensure you don’t miss a thing. One day entry starts at £5.50 and three-day entry from £13.20 here or here.