CLĒ Cosmetics - Melting Lip Powder

With the anticipation of summer, we’re feeling a little bit more colourful at The Amazing Blog.  We’ve been getting ready searching out our lighter and brighter clothing to complement our range of statement lip tints and blushes. That’s when we were recommended CLĒ Cosmetic’s Melting Lip Powder which is versatile enough to be used on lips and cheeks, so we had to include it in this week’s #amazingfinds.

When US born Lauren Jin founded CLĒ Cosmetics, she wanted to craft every product with the ‘modern’ woman in mind. With the beauty brand’s minimalistic and multifunctional approach, we were intrigued when they kindly sent us the shade Hot Choco of the Melting Lip Powder to try out. Made with the Korean beauty technology, CLĒ’s Melting Lip Powder is like no other product we have tried. While we’ve tried many liquid lip and cheek tints throughout the years, CLĒ’s powder-to-stain tint is an innovative take to the cult-favourite.

While the lip powder looks dry in the bottle, when applied to lips, cheeks or eyelids, the Melting Lip Powder glides beautifully across the skin to melt into a smudge and water resistant matte tint. Like all CLĒ Cosmetic’s products, the Melting Lip Powder is entirely  vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, has no paraben, or sulfates and contains nourishing elements like Vitamin E to ensure skin is moisturised and protected.  Some of the other key ingredients are:  Natto gum, hydrolozed hyaluronic acid, blueberry fruit extract, bamboo leaf/stem extract, saussurea involucrate extract (thistle), and coconut oil. CLĒ sources these ingredients with a holistic approach in mind and aims to develop a makeup formula that benefits the skin as well.  While the lip powder is a little messy when you open the cap, the doe-foot applicator makes it easy to control where and how much of the pigmented powder to apply. After applying the chestnut-hued Hot Choco to my eyelids, cheeks and lips, I was able to put together an effortless look in less than five minutes. To try CLĒ’s innovative Melting Lip Powder for yourself, you can purchase a tube for $20 on their website here or for £14.34 available here.

NB: CLĒ does warn that the powder can naturally compress over time, which in turn decreases the powder level.

Fitty London's Paleo Box

Stereotypical it may be, but we're making a conscious health effort this January. After an extended period of overindulging at The Amazing Blog, we're actively trying to get ourselves back on track to a healthier lifestyle. Through these trepidations, we discovered Fitty London, a brand bringing performance-enhancing products to our doorsteps, with boxes full of nutritional and affordable goodies. This is something we can certainly get behind!

Fitty London's premise is simple, to bring proper nutrition, with specific foods, drinks and workout products. We're not always hot on this, and when we do endeavour to make a better effort, we admit that it is often difficult to find products that are truly good for us. So many promise the world, but instead do the opposite, with a variety of hidden sugars and ingredients that are best avoided. We were therefore pleased to discover that Fitty London's products are all sourced by specialised nutritionists, allowing us to be secure in the knowledge that we're not being sold another hyped and overpromised subscription box.

We tried the newly launched Paleo Box, as we were keen to learn more about the paleo diet and lifestyle. Despite being trusted by millions of people, we were admittedly unaware of the vast amount of health benefits this lifestyle can promote. Although we may not be full paleo converts, we were pleased to try Fitty London's selection of products, our first steps in a healthier direction. This box contains eight specially selected brands and is worth around £60, making it an economical way of trying a multitude of paleo products. We enjoyed the Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee as a morning pick me up, providing a fruity drink that packs a superfood punch! For a mid-morning snack, we have been reaching for the Blue Dinosaur Paleo Bar. The Banana Bread flavour has a cinnamon kick, reminiscent of the past festivities, without the calorific indulgences! For those with a more savoury tooth, the Raw World Company Biltong has proven to be popular. We were intrigued by the crackling black pepper flavour, adding a bit of kick to the 100% grass-fed and dried beef.

Aside from snacking, this Paleo Box also contains the Bare Biology Lionheart Omega 3s supplement and the Symprove probiotic. The Lionheart capsules have helped to boost the appearance of our congested complexions, and the Symprove probiotic has helped to up our gut health, after let's face it, a month of rich foods. Finally, the box also contains a few products to help with your day to day cooking, the Happy Butter Ghee has become a firm cooking oil favourite, and the Cocofina Coconut Aminos has replaced the usual salty soy sauce in our stir-frys. For our New Year salads, we've also been loving the Willy's Apple Cider Vinegar - it's great as a dressing.

So there you have it, we're feeling much healthier and happier, and although we can't completely put it down to Fitty London's Paleo Box, it certainly makes a change to swap our sweet snacks with nutritional ones! To purchase a Paleo Box for £32, visit the Fitty London website here.

Smoothing Toning Mist By Novexpert

Our favourite products, here at The Amazing Blog, are multi-use products, where one product can perform a multitude of functions. The Smoothing and Toning Mist does just this.

The Smoothing Toning Mist by Novexpert is a marvellous multi-use spray, as it tackles a range of problems. It has an anti-ageing effect, a moisturising effect and an anti-pollution effect. Novexpert recommend it for all skin types, but especially for those with dehydrated ‘tired’ skin who need a rejuvenating boost and for showing signs of ageing. It is a lovely little product to provide a pick-me-up for the skin, especially in temperamental weather conditions, whether that be extremely dry, hot, or cold climates. It is also great to provide some much-needed moisture and protection in air conditioning.

For the moisturising properties, Novexpert have included hyaluronic acid, moisturising probiotic and aloe vera gel. Amino acids, phytic acid, anti-free radicals and monosaccharide biotech sugar give the mist its wonderful anti-ageing properties. A few special ingredients, including oxygenating phytic acid and metals catcher, aid in anti-pollution.

It is a delightfully convenient product, as all you need to do is spray a few times on the face, leave for 10 seconds to dry and be on your way! You can use the spray as many times during the day as you like, but we love it before applying our skincare for hydration and after applying our makeup to set it beautifully. Our favourite aspect is that it is 100ml which means we can take in on the plane with us, to keep our skin supple and happy during those dehydrating flights.  

Purchase the Smoothing Toning Mist here for around £20

Holiday Drinks - Friday Favourites

With the Christmas Party season in full swing, and here at The Amazing Blog we like to celebrate in style. So whether you’re a Champagne, Prosecco, Rum or Beer drinker, here’s our round up of the classiest drinks to make sure your parties to celebrate the holidays are a success. 

Finest Fizz seem to have created the impossible, a Brut Rosé Champagne which is not only lower in calories at 270 calories, but low in sugar content too.  Comparing this to a regular Brut Champagne which can come in at approximately 570 calories, that's a big difference!

The hand-crafted fizz has Strawberry, Raspberry and Red Cherry flavours and is Premier Cru Champagne. This skinny Champagne is a version of Champagne Tribaut’s popular Rosé de Reserve, just with no added sugar. Which, if you’ve had indulgent Christmas celebrations will be a good alternative. We found that you didn’t notice the Rosé was low-sugar one, and considering it is Extra Brut it’s deliciously dry. The bottle is very feminine with a pink label and the Champagne is, of course a light pink shade. Skinny Rosé would make a perfect addition to a ladies night!

You can purchase Skinny Rosé here for £39.

When you’re told a product is a multiple award-winning one you may set very high expectations, and Premier Estate’s Prosecco did not disappoint.  This extra dry DOC is produced with grapes from a single harvest which highlights the luxurious aspects of it. It is lightly creamy with a zesty freshness and flute of this is required for anyone looking for a sophisticated accessory for when the clock strikes 12. The fizz is refreshing and can work great with or without food. The price is surprising low for the quality of the Champagne and the awards, including a bronze in the International wine challenge reflect that the experts agree.

You can purchase Prosecco here for £9.99

Ron Santa Teresa is one of the first Caribbean rum producers and is now sold in over 30 countries, the brand specialises on high quality and premium rum. We received their Santa Teresa 1796, it is a clear, reddish amber colour and its character means it’s suitable to drink on the rocks or with mineral water, if you would prefer. The strong, well rounded taste boasts smoke through tobacco and leather notes. These are created through the Solera method, a traditional method that uses Oak barrels to age the alcohol, from which it is produced entirely. The taste remains delicate, elegant and velvety whilst the bottle looks classic and classy, sure to wow any guests.

You can purchase a bottle of Santa Teresa 1796 here for £40.

If you’re the designated driver or not an alcohol drinker, St. Peter’s Brewery has made sure you don’t miss out! St. Peters is based in Suffolk and they create traditional beers as well as unusual beers. Launched in September, they have created a ‘Without’ range of beers that are alcohol free yet tastes just as good as the alcoholic version. The beer is brewed to the exact same standards as your usual craft ale, but without the alcohol. It is malty, full-bodied and bursting with flavour and is also fewer calories than standard beer. Unlike other alcohol free alternatives, this looks like beer as well as feels and tastes like beer. For an alcohol free alternative, try St. Peters Without here, 8 x 500ml £13.

The long-established English philosophy at Wimbledon Brewery uses the best Ingredients and traditions to ensure the highest of quality beers. We tried the Quatermaine bottled beer named after William Quatermaine, an original owner of Wimbledon Brewery. This beer is an I.P.A and has spicy orange notes which goes on to a crisp hops bitterness. We also tried the Bravo American Pale Ale which comes in a 330ml can; it is refreshing, with a fruity and crisp taste and pronounced Blackberry. They both have the sophisticated Wimbledon Brewery look, with silver labels and the large logo of the Wimbledon tower, Phoenix, barley and hops which encases the important aspects of the brand. You can buy the Quatermaine bottled beer here for £2.70 and the Bravo American pale ale here for £2.50.