TGIF

Friday Favourites - Anti-Ageing Skincare

The skincare market is so saturated with up-and-coming luxurious products, that it never hurts to have a little help to navigate the choices. We at The Amazing Blog have narrowed down three high-end products that are guaranteed to help your face feel fresh and radiant.

Ageing and its effects on the body is something we should never be ashamed of. However, we believe it’s possible to age with grace while maintaining healthy, fresh, and glowing skin. There are countless anti-ageing products on the market, so it can be overwhelming when faced with the decision of which one to buy. We’ve found that Elizabeth Grant carries a light face cream worth your attention.

Elizabeth Grant International Inc., a sixty-year-old Canadian company, focuses on advancing their luxurious skincare products, highlighting their powerful patented anti-ageing ingredient. Elizabeth Grant started her beauty empire in the UK in the 1950’s, at a time when women owning businesses was extremely unusual (go Elizabeth!) Now, the company is run by Elizabeth, her daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. This company is truly meant for women, by women.

The Torricelumn Age Interception Face Cream, when applied, is light to the touch, non-greasy, and has a lovely cooling effect. Another point we can check off on our list is how quickly it absorbs. The wait time is minimal, plus it has a faint floral scent. This fantastic face cream uses Elizabeth Grant Skin Care’s exclusive BioLumaEssence Technology, meaning that it assists the skin in its repair and helps it to recover from harmful effects caused by day-to-day aggressors.

Our skin goes through a lot. Gently massage the Torricelumn Age Interception Face Cream into your face, to fight its tired, and sometimes lacklustre appearance. This cream benefits all skin types and addresses signs of ageing (lines, wrinkles), dryness, uneven skin tone, dullness, and sagging skin.

Elizabeth Grant Torricelumn Age Interception Face Cream 50ml is available here for £39.99.

 

Everyone’s goal is to have clear skin. We will admit that our secret weapon to a glowing complexion, is that of a trusty exfoliant. Even after we’ve removed our make-up, there are often traces of foundation, dirt, and gunk that get stuck in our pores. Most of the time, make-up wipes and the average face wash don’t suffice. This is why we include an exfoliant, like the Krisana Vigus Gentle Exfoliant, into our routine; it also ensures our skin is soft, clean and ready for the day.

Founder Krisana Vigus has built a name for herself in the fashion world with D&K Fashion LLC, which she launched in 2014. However, she didn’t want to stop there; she began her own skincare line with the philosophy of “…emphasising our honest natural belief policy.”

The Gentle Exfoliant mildly foams to cleanse the skin. The exfoliation power comes from the use of jojoba beads, which are natural exfoliants that unlike other exfoliants, do not leave microscopic tears in the skin. They are gentle, yet effective and natural. Three words we always like to hear. This helps to decongest the skin and minimise those pesky pores.

Of course, the list of skin-loving ingredients doesn’t stop there. This bottle is chock-full of naturally beneficial ingredients like Mukurossi: a natural cleanser that has anti-microbial properties to help reduce inflammation and provides oil control. It is also important to replace moisture in the skin to maintain a healthy balance. The use of Natural Betain does the trick. This raw material is derived from sugar beet molasses, and conditions the skin wonderfully.

The blend of aromatherapy oils makes it perfect for morning or night use. The lovely infusion of lavender, tea tree, lemongrass, and sweet orange are incredibly calming and are known to reduce stress, both mentally and on the skin.

The Kirsana Vigus Gentle Exfoliant 150ml is available for purchase here for $42.

 

 

We are back to discuss another product by Babor, a brand we have previously written about. Babor is an outstanding German skincare brand that has been established since 1956. We at The Amazing Blog are huge fans of natural products, so Babor is the perfect skincare brand for us. They’ve also been cruelty-free since the company was founded – yet another reason to love them!

Babor does their scientific research in their headquarters in Germany, where renowned scientists work to find new, innovative and active ingredients to incorporate into skincare products. Babor’s Dual Face Lift Serum is part of their Lifting Cellular range, which comprises of highly concentrated products, working against the signs of ageing. These products reduce signs of wrinkles and provide the skin with elasticity and strength.

The Dual Face Lift Serum is split into two tubes, each containing a serum to tackle specific areas of the face. Apply the V-Shape Serum to your neck, chin and jawline to help firm your skin, and lift your facial contours. The Re-Fill Serum was designed to be used on the forehead and high cheek areas to improve skin density. Babor’s Dual Face Lift Serum is the perfect product if you are looking to keep a youthful V-shape to your face.

So if you want to enjoy your own mini-facelift without any injections, buy the Dual Face Lift Serum here for £139.

Open House - British Summer Time

In a city like London, one can get lost in the endless options of things to do. It’s almost unavoidable to become overwhelmed when deciding on plans. So, The Amazing Blog is here to help and put your mind at ease. Join us at the OPEN HOUSE in Hyde Park from Monday 9 July until Thursday 12 July. This four-day event is free to enter, and includes a free outdoor cinema, live music and activities!

With a wide variety of food, OPEN HOUSE’s street food market will satisfy all of your cravings, and importantly, will keep your spirits high with pop up bars, serving from 12 pm onwards. Each day, attendees can to partake in Birra Moretti’s “taste tour of Italy.” Additionally, Upswing, the aerial circus company, will have performances and workshops from 4pm-9pm. Every night has a themed movie with showings at 5:30 and 8:30 pm. You can expect free Wimbledon Championship screenings, from 12 pm onwards, without the hassle of a crowded bar. On Tuesday through Thursday, stop by the Royal Parks Showcase and hear daily talks, go to the plant sale or ask for advice.

Here’s a breakdown of each day.

Monday:

Starting on Monday, the event will kick off with family favourites: The Lego Movie (U) playing at 5:30 pm and Matilda (PG) at 8:30 pm. Live music will include Mister Kanish and Daytoner. Mister Kanish, a new artist on Open House’s line-up, began in 2008 and has since been mixing 90s style hip-hop, with folk and rock riffage. Afterwards, Daytoner will perform. Enjoy the sounds of baritone, sax, flute, keys, bass, drums and DJ.

Tuesday:

There is no reason that you cannot enjoy everything that OPEN HOUSE has to offer over the course of the four days. On Tuesday, welcome Freddie & the Freeloaders and London Gay Big Band. Freddie & the Freeloaders received national recognition for the live shows and inspired interpretations of golden era Soul and Motown. London Gay Big Band is a jazz orchestra of predominately LGBT musicians and vocalists. Chickenshed’s Tales is collaborating with Brit School’s Community Arts Practice and will have performances at 10:30 am, 11:45 pm and 12:45 pm. All shows last about an hour. At night, watch our personal favourites – Grease (PG) at 5:30 pm and The Greatest Showman (PG) at 8:30 pm.

Wednesday:

Can’t make it to Chickenshed’s performance on Tuesday? That’s OK! There will be three more performances at 10:30 am, 11:45 pm and 12:45 pm. Wednesday’s musical line-up invites back The London Gay Men’s Chorus, for the fourth year, and a new band to British Summer Time Hyde Park, Temple Funk Collective. Evening movie showings are Lion (PG) at 5:30 pm and The Grand Budapest Hotel (15) at 8:30 pm.

Thursday:

To wrap up the event, OPEN HOUSE is bringing back the 80s. If you’re a fan of classics, then Thursday night’s outdoor cinema is for you. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (PG) will show at 5:30 pm and Flash Gordon (PG) at 8:30. Dance the night away with House Gospel Choir and Old Dirty Brasstards.

We hope to see you there! Comment below what part of the event you’re looking forward to most.  

Friday Favourites - Lip Feature

With summer here, at The Amazing Blogwe'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.

An Inmate Themed Night Out:

If like us at The Amazing Blog you're always looking for a unique way to spend a night out on the town with friends or a loved one. Well, look no further than Alcotraz - London’s own prison-themed cocktail bar. Alcotraz provides guests with an adventurous twist on an average night out in London.

Alcotraz is definitely not your typical bar experience. When you arrive at Alcotraz you
become an inmate
. Inmates change into orange jumpsuits and pose for their mugshots, just like actual prisoners. Individuals must find a way to smuggle their liquor of choice past the
intimidating warden and into the prison. Inside the prison, there are actors stationed as guards, who can assist you in sneaking your alcohol past the warden.

If you successfully make it past the warden with your alcohol, you will arrive at the
prison’s secret bar where other inmates can serve you drinks. To make the prison scene more
realistic, there is no set drink menu at the bar. Rather, guests have to customize their own drinks and work with the ingredients provided at the bar. With prison cells as the perfect backdrop,Alcotraz is sure to be a memorable night out for all guests in attendance.

Alcotraz is open on Wednesday nights from 6:15pm - 10:15pm. On Thursday, Friday and
Saturday nights Alcotraz is open from 5:00pm - 11:15pm. A limited amount of tickets are
available here for £33.99. With the purchase of a ticket to Alcotraz guests are given an hour
and 45 minutes inside the prison and four drinks. We would suggest booking in advance because tickets are selling out fast!

The Tropical Gelish Gala

After a long week, we can’t wait to put our feet up, relax, and indulge in good food, drinks and even better company. At this time of year we all day-dream of our next holiday – will it be a weekend getaway in the country or a beachside cabana?  Nail Harmony UK is hosting their very special Tropical Gelish Gala evening on 22nd June. Plus, also offering a great opportunity to win a luxury all-inclusive holiday to Mexico!  So let’s talk about the Tropical Gelish Gala first. This glamorous affair has something for everyone: Food, music, dancing and entertainment. During the evening, you’ll be able to enjoy a live performance by an X Factor contestant, table magic, fire dancers and so much more …… please keep reading on!

 

Don’t be shy, whether you’re a nail newbie, experienced pro or friend of the industry, this fantastic evening is open to everyone!  “This not-to-be missed party is open to all and has a tropical theme is to encourage some summer sun,” comments Georgie Smedley, director, Nail Harmony UK. “ Complimentary Cocktails and Mocktails will be available all night long, as well as great food to keep energy levels high and some exciting announcements will also be revealed…”

As mentioned earlier, if you’re looking for your next holiday, Nail Harmony UK is offering an all-inclusive trip for two to Mexico, for one lucky winner! The entry guidelines are simple:  Book a ticket, take a photo of a Gelish bottle in a creative, unique or exotic location – we say think beyond the bounds of convention here. Then, upload to social media with the hashtag #CherishGelish and, you’re done.

It’s guaranteed to be a fun-filled night. Put on your party shoes and come and join us on Friday 22nd June.  Tickets are going fast, so don’t miss out and book here

All tickets are £45 per person, the evening will be at The Princes Theatre, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, from 6.30pm ‘til late! We at The Amazing Blog can’t wait to meet you all – please do come and find us to say hello :)