Bamboo smooth AM & PM treatment- Alterna Haircare

Frizz can be a problem all year round, we at The Amazing Blog have been searching for an anti-frizz treatment that is able to combat frizz for the whole day. We were excited to discover Alterna’s Bamboo smooth AM and PM treatment as we were amazed that it claimed to last 72 hours.

The Bamboo collection from Alterna is aimed at creating strong, healthy hair, with all types of products for all types of hair; from volumising sprays, beach balms and treatment oils. The AM/PM anti-smoothing treatments work together to help hair resist frizz and humidity. Firstly the Pm is used before bedtime; the cream is pillow-safe and can work its’ magic whilst you get your beauty sleep. We found the best way to apply is to place a small amount into your palms and rub both hands together. We then applied the cream using a combing method, like brushing your hair with your fingers- this allows it to spread evenly all over with ease. In the morning a simple shampoo wash will rinse it out ready for stage two. The AM cream can be used once hair is towel dried, using the same method as applying the PM treatment, however make sure to use slightly less or there’s a chance your hair will go greasy. Once applied, hair can be blow-dried and flat ironed straight. This style lasts 3 days and hair is noticeably smooth, shiny and soft.

Tame the hair frizz with Alterna’s AM/PM smoothing treatment creams, available here for £ 35.95.

Extensions Aftercare Range - Gold Class

Hair extensions are not always the easiest thing to maintain, between fittings hair can become dry and dull. Here at The Amazing Blog we have found Gold Class’ aftercare products for your extensions. 

Gold Class uses the finest hair extensions that are ethically sourced for healthy, strong extensions, to ensure the extensions stay top quality. They have created a range of aftercare products to match the high quality of their extensions. The range includes a shampoo and conditioner which can both be used all over the hair, avoiding the bonds to prolong the quality of the extensions. You can then follow this up with the conditioning boost twice a week; this will keep your hair feeling smooth glossy and vibrant. The cream is a thick consistency and once thoroughly washed out leaves no scent. For daily use, the leave in protein spray feeds and pampers hair extensions. Pro-vitamin B5 moisturises, coats and seals the hair surface along with other ingredients leaves the hair non-static and re-vitalised. The Amazing Blog has long been a lover of Argan oil, a rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids treat, Gold Class' Argan oil is an easily absorbed emollient for use as a leave in hair moisturising treatment. Only a small amount of oil is needed before styling. The last product for your extensions is the Gold Class paddle brush, with natural bristles that gently glide over the extension bonds and through the hair, preventing pulling whilst making the hair shine.

For exceptional extensions, try Gold Class aftercare available from an Inanch hair salon in London. You can also purchase the Shampoo here for £ 12, the Conditioner here for £12, the Conditioning Boost here for £12, the Protein Spray here for £12 and the Paddle Brush here for £ 20.

Christmas special: Chocolate Collections.

Let’s be honest, Christmas isn’t really Christmas without a slight overindulgence. Here at The Amazing Blog we are not the type to turn down a piece or two (or three). We’ve searched for the most interesting brands and flavours, including Paxton, Chief Chocolate Officer, Helen’s Hamper , Urban Village and Stateside Treat Emporium. 

Paxton’s Christmas chocolate collection has a mix of 4 delicious and unique festive flavours. These are white chocolate, sage & cranberry, Milk chocolate, orange & Cardamom, Milk chocolate, Orange & Panettone and Dark chocolate, Orange & Ginger. The medium box, which we received, has 12 giant button-like shapes, the sleek metal design alongside the mature flavours makes it extremely sophisticated. These sizes are perfect for a table top to snack on and the interesting flavours means you don’t have too many at one time. They also come in a small size which is 6 pieces and a large version of 24 pieces.

The medium box makes a perfect gift or to keep for yourself, it is £15 available here.

There’s not much better than wine and chocolate, however sometimes it can be hard to find the perfect slice for your favourite glass. Chief Chocolate Officer have got you covered. They have created a selection of chocolates that match specific grapes used to make wine. The individual flavours like Fig, Smoke & Pink Peppermint are matched accordingly, the other flavours included are Liquorice & Rose, Blueberry, Vanilla & Black Peppercorn, Coffee, Cherry & Cacao, Pear and Elderflower and Toffee & Orange. The chocolate is made in England and the box includes all the information for the perfect pairing of the chocolate and wine.

You can purchase these here for £15.95.

If you’re looking for a variety of chocolates for that wow factor, Helen’s Hampers are the place to go. They create amazing hampers from afternoon tea to corporate gifts which can all be personalised to your chocolate taste and with pictures. Our Hamper was the Christmas Chocolate hamper, including chocolate truffles, shards, bars, a lolly and champagne truffles. The different brands within the box made sure the chocolate was very varied, with milk, white and dark chocolate of all varieties included. Our favourites were the rocky road bar and the salted caramel shards! The simple black box is decorated with bright red ribbon elegantly festive and sure to put a giant smile on the lucky receiver’s face.

The Chocolate hamper can be purchased here for £50.

Combining beautiful designs and exciting flavours, Urban Village Chocolates are deliciously simple and yet extremely hard to refuse. We received their single-origin tasting collection, a sweet selection of hearts imprinted with pretty, modern designs, we also received the large (think giant, giant buttons) buttons, all with different patterns and a mixture of dark and milk chocolate. As well as a pack of 4 of the best-selling, award winning champagne chocolates, these luxury gold circle treats are rich and super tasty. All three a packaged in clear plastic with white labels embossed with gold writing.

They are all handcrafted in St Margaret’s, Twickenham, you can buy the single origin collection here for £11.95.

Last but not least we were grateful to receive a variety of chocolate treats from the company Stateside Treat Emporium, when these treats arrived it was a happy day in the office as we were all impressed with how good these chocolates tastes when they touch your lips. What we loved about these chocolates overall and were really impressed by the brand was the variety of flavours, some were unusual flavours that we would of never selected together but they work really well and the team were pleasantly surprised with how delicious they were such as their signature range which  includes  Maple Bacon Pancake Chocolate Bar. Another chocolate treat that really stood out for us and we all loved the design was the Popcorn Lolly, it is mixed with Belgium milk and white chocolate and the popcorn flavour is toffee it tasted like heaven the chocolate melts into your mouth and tastes really delightful and didn’t give you the sickly feeling after indulging to much.

Explore the word of American inspired treats, and you can grab the maple chocolate bar here for £1.60 and the popcorn lolly here for £1.90.

Lipgloss, Eyeshadow and Face Scrub - Uoga Uoga

This winter at The Amazing Blog, we are loving the deep, dark colours that we’re seeing all over the makeup scene. The brand Uoga Uoga are known for their natural, mineral based cosmetics, so we decided to try their dark Eyeshadow, Lip Gloss and Face Scrub.

One of their best-selling products is the Eye-shadow in the shade Just One Sip. It is made from pure natural minerals, with a burgundy warm matte finish that is soft and well-pigmented. This eye-shadow is long-lasting with great coverage all day and night, and we recommend using a primer to the eye lids before applying the shadow for a perfect finish. It also does not contain any synthetic colouring, so it is suitable for sensitive eyes as well. 

The second product from this brand is a natural Lip Gloss called Star On My Face, this lip gloss has a glossy, cherry tone which compliments all skin tones well. There are six lip glosses in their collection to choose from. Star On My Face is the darkest colour from their range, and is enriched with cherry extract and natural oils that will moisturise the lips with a non-sticky finish. Not only does this brand do make-up, they also do skincare products, including a natural face scrub called Go Nuts. This is one of their best sellers. This loose powder scrub can be mixed with either water or milk to create a facial cleanser, you can apply to the face by gently massaging and then rinse with cool water. The facial scrub is a mixed combination of almond and sunflower seeds which cleanses skin and remove any dirt from the face. The ingredients within the nuts will help protect your skin and nourish the face thanks to the protein and fatty acids and will help reveal the natural glow from your face.

You can purchase the Just One Sip Eye-shadow here for £11.19, the Star On My Face lip gloss here for £11.19 and the Go Nuts face srub here for £7.90.

Sebopure - Clarol

Acne can sometimes seem like an impossible barrier to overcome. Here at The Amazing Blog, we’ve discovered Clarol’s Sebopure, a cream that can purify and reduce excess sebum, which is often a cause for acne, that annoying result of a bacteria building up that eventually leads to break outs and congested skin.

Clarol skincare is a revolutionary skincare range for acne sufferers. Their products aim to strengthen, enhance and protect the body’s natural resources fighting acne without damaging surrounding skin. Sebopure is a cream that you can use to either leave overnight and allow it to soak in or during the day before applying other products. It contains an ingredient called Pixalia, a natural plant active derived from wild mustard leaf oil. This works to reduce the amount of sebum secreted by the glands, allowing the skin to be clear and preventing bacteria from building up and creating break outs, whilst increasing the skin’s good moisturising oils. The simple and small bottle is also perfect to carry around in your handbag or your travel bag.

For a natural, anti-acne alternative treatment try the Sebopure cream from Clarol available here for £12.95.