Equinox Kombucha

Micro-breweries appear to be popping up everywhere you look these days. At The Amazing Blog, we’re big supporters of the fledgeling companies who produce innovative and exciting new libations, to tickle the taste buds. One of the most interesting examples of this trend is from the Equinox Kombucha team, who began their story from a makeshift brewery in a Yorkshire bedroom, Hebden Bridge to be exact. Their history reads like a classic success story: friends take off around the world, head to East Asia, try a local tea, bring the concept back to Blighty, and embark on a whirlwind business, which grows and grows. It has not always been plain sailing for the team, particularly when the floods of 2015 threatened their future. Commendably, they have picked themselves up, dried themselves out, and returned even stronger; with a range of delicious products which can be found online, on their website, from other online retailers and in many supermarkets.

Green Tea fans will love the diverse flavours available. Our ultimate favourite is the Ginger infusion, closely followed by Raspberry and Elderflower. Both provide a fresh and unique alternative to common sparkling drinks, with a zing that could brighten you up even on the dullest of days. All of the ingredients are natural, and the fermenting process creates plenty of bubbles, to add some sparkle to the palate. There are two further flavours, the original, which compromises of simple, yet delicious flavours; and wild berry, which has a refreshingly fruity taste. Whichever you choose, however, you'll be safe in the knowledge that you are consuming a drink that is delicious, yet packed full of goodness.

Each bottle is priced according to the number of units purchased; however, a 12 pack brings the price to just £1.83 for a 275ml measure. Check out the Equinox Kombucha website to choose your favourite flavour. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, or if you're unsure of which delightful flavour to try, then there is also the popular option of a four elements tasting set. This compromises of 4 bottles, each in a different flavour, and can be purchased here for £7.99.

It's no surprise that Equinox Kombucha are picking up awards left, right and centre; having claimed two Great Taste Awards in both 2016 and 2017. Count us into the Equinox Kombucha revolution!

Winky Lux Coffee Collection

We always need new make-up,  even if our make-up drawer is overflowing. Collectively we've lost count of how many mascaras we own (what an admission!) We at The Amazing Blog know how hard it is to resist new and exciting products, and recently we've fallen for some new products from Winky Lux. You may well remember their adorable Lip Pill Kit that we wrote about here. Based in New York City, Winky Lux is always up-to-date with the latest make-up trends and best of all, they make them affordable. Their newest innovation: coffee-scented make-up!

Both the Coffee Bronzer and Coffee Palette products have a slight waft of a coffee fragrance when you open the palettes.  We have to say the scent on the Bronzer is much more subtle than that of the Eyeshadows, but they're still a fun gimmick. We also like the cute packaging,  with the toffee-coloured boxes,  illustrated with flowers, and cups of coffee. The Bronzer is in an elegant gold casing compact and comes in two shades Mocha and Latte. We tried the deeper Mocha colour, which doubled as a contour powder for us. It has a buttery consistency and because it is matte, it's easy to wear and gives a soft bronzed look. It also comes with a mirror, making it easy to apply on-the-go.  

The Coffee Eyeshadow Palette is covered in wonderful colourful floral illustrations, making it a decorative addition to your dressing table. We were impressed with how authentic and pleasant the coffee scent is in the eyeshadow, but more importantly, we like the strength and the lasting quality of pigments in the powders. All nine shades have a velvety texture and blend nicely on the lid. The Coffee Eyeshadow Palette is every neutral-lovers dream, with matte, satin and shimmer finishes. The colours range from light beige tones into latte browns and finally darker espresso greys. With this variety of coffee shades, we recommend keeping this versatile eye palette as a staple in your handbag, for either a subtle day or a more enhanced glamorous night-out look.

If you want a different kind of coffee fix, the Coffee Bronzer is available to purchase here for £20 and the Coffee Eyeshadow Palette is £25 here. Winky Lux is also available on ASOS, Harvey Nichols and FeelUnique.com.

Esse - Repair Oil

Scaring of any size is a mark of life, but it’s no biggie to want to minimise their appearance. The trick is to find the right product. We prefer a natural product that will be gentle on the skin. Luckily, The Amazing Blog team discovered a Certified Organic treatment by Esse Probiotic Skincare, sure to reduce scarring on all skin types.

Esse was founded by Trevor Steyn, in South Africa, in 2002, after the formulating was complete. The company’s focus is on the probiotic microbes living in and on the skin. Their products create an environment on the surface that caters to the growth of beneficial microbes. Most importantly, Esse does not believe in harming skin in the quest for short-term results. As well as being Organic, Esse is vegan and cruelty-free. They also support fair trade and are a carbon neutral company. What’s not to love?

Esse’s Repair Oil is for all skin types, night treatment, and scar tissue repair. We’ve found that it does not leave excess residue on the fingertips after it’s been applied elsewhere. The golden hue of the oil disappears after it’s been rubbed into the skin, but the faint flower scent sticks around much longer.

We don’t know about you, but natural, readable ingredients get us excited. The Repair Oil contains a nourishing balance of omega fatty acids found in flax, marula, and rosehip. RegeMarula Oil includes anti-oxidants meant to strengthen and protect, as well as heal (as does rosehip oil). Not only does it contain fabulous omega fatty acids, but vitamin E is included in high doses to stimulate cell regeneration. Other advantageous oils include kalahari melon oil, which is high in omegas, and yangu and manketti, which are also high in omegas and omega-3s and demonstrate UV protective properties. Hello, healthy, stronger skin!

You can purchase Esse Probiotic Skincare Repair Oil 15ml for £36.00 here.

Montezuma Truffle Chocolate Bars

It’s safe to say that everyone here at The Amazing Blog has a bit of a sweet tooth. We love indulging ourselves from time to time with sweet treats, and recently we have been treating ourselves to Montezuma’s Truffle Chocolate Bars. Montezuma is known for their innovative flavours that use the best ingredients. However, Montezuma also works with Children on the Edge, a company that works to support children around the world who are ‘living on the edge’. Through their sales, Montezuma has donated thousands of pounds to help support children struggling to survive. So not only does the chocolate taste amazing, but you can feel good about supporting a philanthropic brand. Montezuma launched their Truffle Chocolate Bar Range in 2018 and we had to be the first to try it.

The Truffle Chocolate Bar range includes four chocolate bars; Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter, Milk Chocolate with Cappuccino, Dark Chocolate with Cherry and Milk Chocolate with Coconut. These bars combine everything we love about truffles into a chocolate bar: each chunk of chocolate contains a flavoured truffle centre. First, Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter Bar offers the classic sweet and salty combination of chocolate and peanut butter, which was absolutely mouth-watering. The Milk Chocolate and Cappuccino Bar brings together two of our favourite flavours, whilst the Dark Chocolate and Cherry Bar offers a delicious option for those looking for a dairy-free treat. Finally, the Milk Chocolate and Coconut Bar, is equally delicious, with a sweet, creamy and truly delightful taste.

No matter what flavour you choose, we are confident that these chocolate bars will satisfy your chocolate cravings. You can purchase the Truffle Chocolate Bar Range here for £2.59. Or, you can buy Gift Vouchers here for £10 or £20.

Friday Favourites - Lip Feature

With summer here, at The Amazing Blog, we're busy thinking about our 'holiday makeup' in anticipation for our long-awaited sunshine break ahead. Of course, we want to look our best to feel our best and we think that having a perfect pout and adding a pop of colour is essential to every summer or holiday look. So today we’ve got a few favourites to share with you, to help achieve full, luscious and kissable lips.

ROUGE BUNNY ROUGE

We’re turning our eyes towards a familiar brand we trust to get this started on the right foot. Rouge Bunny Rouge is a retro-inspired cosmetics brand that delivers on the long-lasting; something we can say is tried and true. While they have a wide range of products to have you looking your best, we’re putting their FOREVER YOURS… Long-lasting Lip Pencil in the spotlight. In five beautiful shades to match various lip shades, you will be sure to find one to suit your fancy. We wanted to highlight our personal favourite, Marco, because it is a stunning matte, medium cool raspberry shade that we think complements every skin tone. It is still on the natural side of the spectrum, but it really made our lips the focus of our look; day or night.

The formula of these lip pencils is fantastic. It glides on in incredibly smooth strokes and then stays put—all day. Through eating, drinking, laughing and a bit of smooching, this little one packs a punch. It is waterproof and semi-permanent so you don’t have to be on the hunt for a mirror every hour, to see if it’s in place. We love it on its own, but it also pairs well with a gloss for a little shimmer and shine. You can purchase the Rouge Bunny Rouge FOREVER YOURS…Long-lasting Lip Pencil here for €19.

PRETTY LITTLE LIPS

Next up, we wanted to share a new discovery of ours from the sweet brand Pretty Little Lips. This duo is another look we love to rock for a high shine, pretty pout. We start the lookout with their All Day Matte Lip Liner in Naked. This is the perfect nude with touches of pink and coral that make your lips pop. It lasts all day and the colour is deeply pigmented.

To complete the duo, we top the look off with their Nude Lipgloss in Bare. Not only do these glosses add some serious shine that will give you a “glass-like look,” it will keep the moisture in your lips locked in and ready for anything. This combination is truly a slice of heaven. It is subtle, yet stunning and we find ourselves constantly reaching for it. The Bare shade is a true nude that stands out on its own, but when put with Naked, it transforms into a beautiful creamsicle hue that is surely eye-catching and perfect for summer days. You can purchase the All Day Matte Lip Liner in Naked here for £6 and the Nude Lipgloss in Bare here for £12.

ELIZABETH GRANT

Last but not least, we could not resist putting in a little plumping action on this list. We turned to the creators at Elizabeth Grant and even though they're a well-known American brand for their skincare (we’ve tested out quite a few, like this one on our blog), we were excited to branch out and see how their Collagen Re-Inforce Lip  Plumper worked. It is one of their best sellers and claims to “deliver hydration and helps plump the appearance of lips for a look that lasts and lasts,” so of course that peaked our interest. It comes in two shades, Clear and Natural, and we went with Natural because it has a subtle hue and a touch of shimmer that emphasizes the plumpness of your lips. We enjoy using this one under every lip look, to really make that pout pop, or even on its own for subtle days when we still want our lips to look pouty and full, because let's be honest, when don’t we want that? It is completely painless and smells sweet as candy. You can purchase the Collagen Re-Inforce Lip Plumper here for £12.99 (currently on special offer at Ideal World with Collagen Re-Inforce 3D Lip Wrinkle and Lift Serum 15ml). 

We hope that we've inspired you to find a new favourite go-to lip combo, for showing off your perfect pout together with summer cocktails.