Evese London: Si'Nekra Mud Mask & Hydra'Moist Daily Moisturiser

We all need a little pampering at the moment, and at The Amazing Blog with Christmas fast approaching. we’ve found a luxury skincare brand that offers just that with Evese London.

After growing up around women and hearing their discussions about their appearance, founder Andreas Samiotis wanted to create a luxury skincare brand of his own. He was curious about the multitude of skincare products that he had witnessed growing up and wondered what made each one special. After much research, he decided to try and find a way to take the very best ingredients from each product, and then put them into one. Thus, Evese was launched in 2019, where Andreas has created a brand of natural skincare that performs, is cruelty-free and has a low carbon footprint. The environmental impact of the ingredients has been a paramount factor when creating the brand and bringing it to market. Today Evese London has six spa-grade products in its premium skincare range, and even offer a short questionnaire here to help the customer find the right product for their individual skin type.

The two product that they kindly sent to were their Si’Nekra Mud Mask and The Hydra’Moist Daily Moisturiser. Let’s start with their hero product Si’Nekra Mud Mask which translates from the Greek as the ‘Dead Sea’ Mud Mask. This mask extracts toxins from the skin, giving it a healthy and glowing appearence. It helps reduce fine lines, minimise pore size and replenish the skin with vital minerals and vitamins. This mask we found is best used as part of a weekly routine applied on face, neck and décolletage area only (avoiding the delicate eye area). In this grey mud mask, the three most active ingredients are dead sea mud, volcanic ash, and kaolinite, which all work together to cleanse and refresh the skin. Dead sea mud works to get rid of impurities, the salt and magnesium here help boost skin elasticity. Volcanic ash has cleansing, purification and exfoliating properties. Kaolinite gets rid of dead skin cells and absorbs impurities from pores. Other key ingredients include tea tree oil, titanium dioxide, shea butter. With slightly more unusual chondrus cripus (Irish moss) which apart from being packed full of vitamins and minerals is also a conditioning agent and often used as a to regulate the viscosity of a product. The allantoin here is extracted from the root of the comfrey plant, it is a gentle, soothing and protects the skin. We found that unlike other liquid face masks, that dry almost instantaneous when it is applied, this stays moist (the shea butter perhaps?) We let it sit on the skin for 10-15 minutes then gently removed it in circular motions with warm water. It left our skin feeling fresh and super-hydrated with the hint of a citrus fragrance. Evese suggests following this step with their Hydra’Moist Daily Moisturiser, which we duly did.

All skin needs to be hydrated; whether you have dry skin or an oily complexion, good hydration is vital. The Hydra’Moist Daily Moisturiser is for all-day full-on hydration. This moisturiser helps protect the skin from pollutants with the three actives, opuntia streptacantha (prickly pear extract), ophiopogon japonicus (snake’s beard root extract), and panthenol (provitamin B5) that all work together in the formula to give maximum hydration. Prickly pear provides soothing properties, ideal for acne-prone, dry and sensitive complexions. It’s also age-defying and can improve overall skin tone. Snake’s beard root boosts the skin’s moisture-retaining ability which in turn protects it from dryness with its enhanced skin barrier function. Whereas provitamin B5 has a calming effect on the skin – again it increases skin hydration and creates a protective barrier. We found that when applied, this Hydra’Moist felt silky and soothing, and offered more than adequate protection against the cold winter elements. Best of all, we think that the Hydra’Moist makes a great primer for makeup allowing foundation or powders the perfect canvas for an even application. So, why not treat yourself (or others) with this luxury skincare duo for good skincare protection for the winter. To purchase the 250g Si'Nekra Mud Mask for £40 see here. Or the 50g Hydra’Moist Daily Moisturiser for £41 see here. There is even an option to purchase them as a bundle here for £72.

Nay Luxury CBD Skincare: Moonlight Massage Candle & Wanderlust Face Serum

As we’re rounding the corner on this unusual year, here at The Amazing Blog we’ve been collating gift ideas for friends and family. As CBD is one of our favourite things, it’s great to be able to give them a gentle introduction with some of the new products from Nay Luxury CBD Skincare.

After finding out that the soothing properties of CBD, Sophie Taylor and Nicole Levy Wogman teamed up to launch Nay Luxury CBD Skincare. Their journey began when they started to use CBD products to treat both stretch marks and acne after pregnancy. Thrilled with the results, they decided to combine their two passions of skincare and CBD and launch the brand earlier this year. They have sourced the highest quality of CBD isolate, which is typically used in food and skincare due to it having no smell or flavour. The products are formulated by CBD specialist Taylor Mammon, where the CBD has been infused into four botanical-based products for a natural plant-based range of skincare.

We received two products from Nay Skincare the first was the Wanderlust Face Serum which they call a ‘CBD Facial Gel Serum’ it nourishes the skin and has anti-ageing properties. The packaging is sleek, with the white opaque glass bottle and gold twist dropper.  The key ingredients are simple, 300mg of CBD isolate in 30ml, which is infused with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and retinol, all of which give excellent results and keep dark circles and wrinkles at bay. It is suitable for all skin types and we found it easy to apply, cooling on the skin and super-quick to absorb. We wonder if Nay Skincare has a further range of skincare in the wings to launch with this…? You can purchase your Wanderlust Face Serum here for £24.99.

Next to we tried the Moonlight Massage Candle which we think makes a fantastic gift. This candle is infused with 300mg of CBD isolate in a 30cl white ceramic pot with pouring lip and lid. We think this takes relaxation to another level as a three-in-one; candle, massage oil and body moisturiser. You can even drizzle the candle’s warm fragrant oil into the bath while it’s filling up, all for a more relaxing soak. The base is soya wax with coconut, Argan, avocado and peach kernel oils, which all help rejuvenate and repair damaged skin. At the same time, the essential oils soothing the mind with three of the calming oils lavender, jasmine and sandalwood. We love that by lighting the wick, you can have a scented candle, and a hydrating oil as the wax melts. What better gift to give a loved one who needs a little bit of TLC, after the year we’ve all had. To purchase the Moonlight Massage Candle see here for £29.99.

Manicure You London - Nail Polishes

We can never get enough of manicured nails, here at The Amazing Blog whether it’s to coordinate with our latest outfit or to pack into our travel bags for holidays. With Christmas fast approaching we couldn’t resist adding a trio of new sparkly colours from Manicure You to our collection.

Like many of us, Nicola Soremekun, the founder of Manicure You had damaged nails after years nail-biting and acrylics. Finally, she decided that it was time take care of her natural nails which took her on a nail journey creating an Instagram page ‘Nikki & Nails’ where she photographed and detailed her manicures, nail growth and colours of the week.  As a nail polish convert, she decided to launch her own brand in 2018 with a range of luxury nail products offered at affordable prices. Also, a black-owned business, being inclusive for all skin tones was a must for her, Nicola said: “I wanted to create a product that is inclusive of all skin tones, toxin-free and would allow my nails to breathe, be nurtured and grow whilst still rocking the latest shades.” All the Manicure You nail polishes are free from ingredients such as toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, and xylene. For those of you new to nail lacquer formulations, here is why they are not included in the Manicure You formulations: Toluene is a neurotoxin that can cause neurological damage when inhaled. Although Dibutyl Phthalate helps improve nail durability but it is also associated with damage to the liver and kidneys. Formaldehyde and it’s by-product Formaldehyde Resin can cause allergic reactions, asthma, nausea, and dermatitis. Camphor can also trigger allergic reactions, headaches and nausea. Low doses of Xylene can cause headaches, and high doses can affect the respiratory system. Ethyl Tosylamide is banned in Europe due to it causing mild to severe allergic reactions; it also can disrupt hormones. With cuticle oil, top and base coat, as well as an array of over 23 vibrant colours in the range, there is something for everyone here. This collection of chic and environmentally friendly products, give results with a long-lasting gel-like finish, without the use of a UV lamp or soaking your nails in toxic acetone. 

Adding some twinkle to fingers and toes, and creating fun nail art always gets us in the celebratory mood. This is where the Christmas trio of shimmer shades from Manicure You with Moonlight, Ruby Queen and Trophy complement, adding some serious festive pizzazz to our home manicure. Best of all, we found that the recommended application of two thin coats gives a gloop-free and long-lasting colour. Ruby Queen is a ‘lipstick red’ with the tiniest flecks of gold which glistens in the light, we think this shade is great for a girly night out or for the on-trend fashionistas. Whereas Trophy is the perfect in-between metallic shade of silver/gold making it the most versatile colour of the trio to rock for Christmas parties. Moonlight is a midnight blue giving a prism effect with light-reflecting rich cobalt shades, all of which add a little drama - this was our favourite shade from the trio. You can use these colours alone, or there are numerous nail art designs you can create. We suggest starting with Trophy as the base followed by a line of Ruby Queen and Midnight on the tips, like a reverse French. Or perhaps having Ruby Queen as the base and then taking Trophy to paint diagonal lines creating a candy cane effect. However, if you’re nail art novices, like us, then go for a more straightforward look by painting eight fingers in Midnight and both ring fingers in Trophy to give a festive accent. Why not follow this by painting all toes in the glorious Ruby Queen, the perfect colour for getting your feet party-ready. You can purchase all the Manicure You nail polishes here for £8.50 each.

The Flat Lay Co: Leopard Print Full Size Flat Lay Makeup Bag

Finding a perfect present for one person can be challenging, but when it comes to Christmas with lots of friends and family, now we’re having a complete meltdown! Here at The Amazing Blog when we ask our makeup-loving friends what they want, they just say: “Oh we’ll leave it up to you…” But then there’s always the question of: “Is it the right brand and colour?” However, the problem‘s solved this year with our latest #amazingfinds and The Flat Lay Co with their Flat Lay Makeup Bags.

After spending time getting her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, the founder Izzy Howe realised that it wasn’t the right career for her and promptly switched to business for her postgraduate education. After working in multiple tech companies, she decided to change her focus and 2017 The Flat Lay Co was born. Based in Shoreditch, Howe’s goal has been to create a product which offers a time-saving solution for an everyday problem. She noticed a gap in the market for a drawstring flat lay make up bag. This is a cosmetics bag that opens flat, offering the user to view all their makeup at once, with no more scrabbling around to find that all-important lip gloss at the bottom!  This ingenious drawstring flat lay makeup bag is the brand’s signature product and comes in a variety of colours and designs. Apart from the drawstring open flat makeup bags, they also have Brush Cases, Box Bags, Oversized Eye Masks and Scrunchies, so something to suit every budget.

The Leopard Print Flat Lay Makeup Bag has been a joy to use, as it’s both practical and stylish and comes in two sizes 50cm at £19.99 (that we have) or in a ‘Mini’ in 33cm at £17.99. Best of all, there is a range of fourteen different colourways to choose from, as well as three pale coloured soft velvet bags that coordinate with the Box Cases and Brush Bags. This leopard print was the one that caught our eye, and in a matter of seconds, we could open the flat lay makeup bag and find exactly the product we wanted, rather than rummaging around for ages.  The outer shell is made of a thick material which protects products from breakage, where there’s also a raised edge to stop anything from rolling away. Let’s not forget to mention the inside and outside pockets too, which hold loose products that might get lost, plus four elastic holders designed for brushes. What more do you need? We love these and think the ‘Mini’ is ideal for everyday use in our handbag, whereas the ‘Full size’ also makes an excellent travel companion. More importantly, we think this is an absolute must-have present for every makeup lover.  You can purchase any of The Flat Lay Co Makeup Bags here and by using our exclusive code THEAMAZINGBLOG15, you can receive 15% off your purchase.

Jones & Modha: no. 1 Eau de Parfum

It’s December already – time really does fly by at The Amazing Blog, and we’ll all be happy to see the back of this terrible year... As we come in and out and in again with the lockdown.  To our horror, we’ve suddenly realised that there’s very little time left to find our Christmas presents. So for December, we’ll be giving you some great gifting ideas starting with today’s natural plant alchemy fragrance from Jones & Modha, which we think is just perfect for helping make life a little more fragrant!

The brand Jones & Modha are all about returning to natural plant alchemy, the ancient ways of perfume making. This is done very simply by blending only the purest essential oils from plants, without any synthetic or animal substances. Co-founders and friends Catrin MacDonnell and Hemali Modha who recently launched the brand said: “For too long there has been so little choice for anyone who loves our planet. Things are changing and more of us are searching for eco-harmony and integrity within the health and beauty industry. We wanted a natural scent that is not tested on animals, does not use any animal-derived ingredients.” With very little of this available, they decided to create their own with Jones & Modha. Their aim with this range is to offer the world unique scents that are mindful of people, animals and the planet all without compromise. Their fragrances are designed and crafted using exclusively natural essential oils, leaving out all chemical and animal-derivatives that are usually found in commercially manufactured perfumes. As sustainability is important to the brand they also paid much attention to the packaging, ensuring that no extra plastic or cellophane is ever used. Each component is recyclable or has a low carbon footprint by minimising travel and the use of fossil resources. We love that they also donate 2.5% of their profits to environmental charities. Something else that convinced us to try their fragrance, is that this perfume is gender-neutral, and so we agree with Catrin and Hemali who say: “Why should anyone be allowed to tell us which perfume we should buy based on gender?”

For its first perfume launch, the Jones & Modha No.1, brings us a fresh, uplifting and comforting sunny fragrance; we think it’s perfect for any city dwellers dreaming of an escape to the country. At first, it has citrusy top notes like lemon myrtle and bergamot giving a very fresh and elevating feel, but shortly afterwards these become less citrus and more spicy/floral with the middle notes of rose geranium, linden, ginger, and coriander in the blend; finishing with the woody base notes of cedarwood and rock rose, balancing the fragrance. This scent is quite long-lasting, and even though Jones & Modha only offer this one fragrance, for now, this certainly has a bigger enough scent personality to be a staring standalone. Each of us who tried the scent found it unique and different, meaning that it didn’t smell identical on any one of us. This complex blend combined with an individual’s skin scent created a unique and personal fresh fragrance that we all loved! This 50ml planet-friendly fragrance comes in an elegant but minimalist and completely recyclable packaging designed by artist Judith Archer, and is available for £69.00 here. What could be a more perfect and individual present, than to give this to your loved one?