Chocolate Treats- Gnaw Chocolate

Here at The Amazing Blog, we are certainly partial to an afternoon tea break, and when a hamper full of Gnaw Chocolate goodies came our way, we were thrilled to try them.

Gnaw’s chocolate mission is to bring back the fun with chocolate. Since when did receiving chocolate as a present become so bland? We love that Gnaw Chocolates made us feel young and excited about treats again. The indulgent selection they sent us included their mini bars, big bars, hot chocolates and buttons. We thought the mini bars were a great idea for taking on the go - they come in a 5 or 10 pack which you can customise, choosing from their 5 different flavours. Our favourite had to be the Peanut Butter, closely followed by Salted Caramel.

The big bars are the ultimate chocolate hit, and we tried the Rocky Road, Banana, Mint and Dark Chocolate. The flavours are all delicious and the packaging is creative yet sleek - perfect for all ages. Their buttons were tasty treats that are deviously more-ish, and the Mixed Chocolate and the Caramel Bags are the perfect size for sharing (if you want to). Gnaw haven’t stopped at food however - they have also created a Hot Choc Shot, which looks like a chocolate lollypop. If you place the stick into hot water it melts to form a rich hot chocolate. Gnaw Chocolate is lovingly hand-crafted in Norfolk, using locally sourced ingredients and natural flavours.

Whether you need a last minute gift idea or are an avid chocolate lover, Gnaw Chocolate can be purchased online here. Their products start at £7.50.

Face Masks - Friday Favourites

In the middle of our busy schedules, it is important to have some 'me-time' and finally get to pamper ourselves a little bit and what could be more perfect for the weekend ahead. Here at The Amazing Blog we've got it covered with these fabulous face masks taking their ingredients from around the world.

The first face masks we recommend are from Oh K. The brand is known for its cute and quirky packaging and this product is no exception. Their Coconut Water Face Masks take inspiration from Korean sheet masks, and provides intense hydration.

This particular mask feels really cool and soothing on the skin, and after a long week this is the perfect thing to just stop and relax. Cleanse the skin and apply the mask over the face, making sure to align the eye and mouth holes correctly. We recommend leaving the mask on for 15-20 minutes, this way you will really feel the added moisture in your skin. With any residue left on the face, simply massage into the skin until absorbed or remove with a cotton pad.

You can get three Oh K. Coconut Water Masks here for £8.00.

Acne, dryness, and dullness can all be improved with a quick intensive mask. To this end, we loved the selection from the brand Vitamasques. They have designed their face mask products to ensure they benefit and improve the skin, using their innovative Korean technology. 

In their Korean Collection we received a Hydro Face Mask that claims to give 120 hours of hydration.  It is recommended that you cleanse and tone your face before applying the mask, and leave on for 20-30 minutes. The Hydro Face mask will enhance the skin's ability to retain moisture, plus it has extracts from the rose of Jericho which will improve the clarity of the skin.

In their fruit range, each mask has a tailored purpose, and we really liked the Pomegranate face mask. The texture of the mask felt ultra soothing on the skin and felt like it was benefiting the skin. This pomegranate face mask works by firming and lifting the skin whilst adding moisture to the face. An added bonus is the triple layer-sheet technology; this will enhance the moisture and will increase the absorption rate too.

Keep your skin moisturised and soothed with the Hydro Face Mask here for £7.99 and you can get the Pomegranate Face Mask box of 4 here for £12.99.

When it comes to anti ageing, Time Less Truth Mask has the solution for “ageless beauty”. They created the award winning TT Glacial Snow Algae & Hyaluronic Acid Bio Cellulose Mask using plant extract derived from the snowy mountains of Switzerland. The Snow Algae is an anti-ageing solution that optimises the skin's collagen production to restore youthfulness to the skin cells. Apply the mask after cleansing and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. The blue serum contained in the bio cellulose cloth is absorbed easily by the skin and helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles. 

Treat your skin with TT Glacial Snow Algae & Hyaluronic Acid Bio Cellulose Mask regularly for a younger complexion here for £7.90.

Finally, we love fruity masks and their scents, they remind us of warm weather and Summers in the sun. It’s never too early to start getting ready for Spring/Summer and we did it with the British brand Ooharr.

The range includes Fruity Magic, a rejuvenating mask and Juicy Burst, a nourishing cream mask. Fruity Magic uses Pomegranate along with ingredients such as Green Tea, Aloe, Honey, Vitamin A, C and E to soothe, regenerate and detoxify your skin. Juicy Burst utilises Orange, Lime, Cucumber and Calendula to refresh, soothe and create a clear complexion. Our complexions felt soft and flawless after leaving these masks on for 10 to 15 minutes.

Give your skin an antioxidant boost with Ooharr, and try the Fruity Magic or the Juicy Burst masks for £1.20 here each.

Anti Blemish Facial Cleansing Foam, Facial Toner & Facial Moisturiser - Metique

Ever had that feeling of frustration when you wake up to find unwanted break outs? Here at the Amazing Blog, we know how demoralising it is when dealing with acne-prone skin, so we are always excited to try out new products that claim to improve troubled skin.

The brand Metique were kind enough to send us their full 3 Step set which involves an Anti-Blemish Facial Cleansing Foam, Anti Blemish Facial Toner and an Anti Blemish Facial Moisturiser. Each of these products have an unique combination of plant based ingredients such as Tea Tree oil and Vitamin E. Metique aims to create products that are gentle on the skin whilst packing a punch with ingredients that work. Each product is suitable for all skin types and are extremely gentle to the complexion.

Cleansing properly is vital when dealing with acne and this cleansing foam is effective as well as at removing dirt, excess oil and make up. All you need is 1-2 pumps from the bottle, then simply massage over the face and neck and rinse off. The next step is the facial toner, which will refresh and soothe your skin, leaving the face moisturised and smooth. The final step is to moisturise your face and neck - this lightweight product combines copaiba balsam oil and macadamia which works well to hydrate and nourish stressed skin.

If you are struggling to combat acne-prone skin, try this full facial set here for £24.99. 

Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm - Nuxe

Here at The Amazing Blog, we always make sure that we care for our lips and ensure that they don't dry out during the Winter. We have recently discovered a miracle product to take our lipcare to the next level, and it comes from one of our all time favourite brands, Nuxe.

In the swathes of great products you can find at Nuxe, there is the multi-award winner Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm. This balm is the rescue solution to any dry or damaged lips. It contains 79.5% natural ingredients such as Sunflower Oil, Rosehip, and Sweet Almond Oil which give it a rich and hydrating texture. Honey is the star ingredient in the balm - it gives a rich colour, a delicate smell and excellent healing properties to the balm.

This lip balm has been created to nourish, repair, soothe, and protect your lips from any external aggressors. We suggest using it daily to preserve the nourishment it gives to the lips, and. we love to apply a thick layer before going to bed at night for an added hit of hydration.

Like most of Nuxe's products, the Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm is paraben-free and non-comedogenic. Moreover, Nuxe contributes to the protection of bees by sponsoring beehives and using honey in an ethical and responsible way.

Give your lips the sweetest treatment with the Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm by Nuxe here for £9.50.  

Purifying Range - Skinician

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love when brands truly know how to treat our skin properly. Skinician is a science-led brand that creates bespoke skincare solutions and does not subscribe to the "one range suits all" method. For that reason, we were glad to receive their Purifying Range, a collection of products targeted to balance and tone the skin.

We started with the Purifying Cleansing Gel. The cleanser contains Chamomile, Grape Seed oil and Green tea extracts, which effectively cleanse and soothe the skin. To balance and regenerate your skin, gently massage the cleanser in and rinse with water. Use the cleanser twice a day.

The next stage is the Purifying Toner. This works to diminish oils, impurities and cleanse the face thoroughly. The different ingredients such as Horse Chestnut Seed, Vitamin C and Collagen are combined to hydrate and mattify the skin. Together they have an antioxidant and firming action while brightening your skin at the same time. Place the lotion on a cotton pad and work the product into your cleansed face, avoiding the eye area.

We ended the routine with the Purifying Active Moisturiser. This product uses a combination of Cocoa and Shea Butter, with Vitamin C to rejuvenate the skin.  Use the moisturiser after the cleanser and toner to experience how quickly it sinks in, leaving no residue. The product will leave your skin soft, smooth and ready to face a busy day. 

For an added boost, you can use the Purifying Mask once a week to eliminate dead cells and toxic external irritants as well as firming your skin. Green Clay, Shea butter and Japanese seaweed work together brilliantly to revitalise the skin. Leave the mask on for 10 to 15 minutes to experience the benefits and to fully nourish the skin.

To try these products for yourself, purchase the Purifying Cleansing Gel for £19.60, the Purifying Toner for £19.60, the Purifying Active Moisturiser for £23.00 and the Purifying Mask for £25.25 here at Skinician.