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product review

Posted on October 24, 2014

Dream Dots for Spots

product review

dd

I was kindly sent this product for review and I must say, I was pretty impressed with the results.

Anyone who is prone to outbreaks can be very skeptical of products that claim to work overnight. Like any normal person, I dismiss such claims and continue on my quest to find the ‘perfect’ spot product to help me get rid of those little buggers.

Of course, Dream Dots for Spots was no different.

After one night of using this product I saw very little improvement (I was even starting to think it made my skin worse). Since I’ve heard nothing but good reviews about this product, I decided to give it another go and I have to say, I’m very glad I did.

Before I get into the nitty gritty of it all, I think it’s a good idea to show you how this product actually works:

dream dots for spots

 

Photo credit

As you can see, it is very simple and it doesn’t take much time to apply at all. One packet comes with 24 patches inside and it costs €14.95. You can also get a double packet of 48 patches which costs €30.00.

According to their website, Dream Dots isn’t just a sticker –

It’s a unique super absorbent hydro matrix patch device. It targets spots and breakouts overnight using no harsh ingredients, yet gives dramatically effective results. With a 100% waterproof, breathable, satin-smooth, wafer-thin surface, it acts seamlessly as a second skin, conforming to any contour of the face. On contact with the spot, the patented core locks in and absorbs the spot exudate. A moist healing environment is formed, maintaining ideal pH balance, temperature and hydration levels while sealing in repair factors, which leads to faster healing. Pain is reduced as nerve endings are cushioned and protected in this moist condition. The patch swells and turns white overnight as it absorbs exudate giving a visible reduction in redness and inflammation when removed in the morning.

From my experience of using Dream Dots, I have to say that it is a product that needs to be used over a couple of nights to get the best results. It didn’t do anything for me overnight – not a lot of products do, but after day 2 I started to see some amount of improvement!

Overall, this is definitely a product I’ll be keeping near by. I especially like the fact that it isn’t a cream so you can get away with wearing it during the day by simply hiding it under your hair – or weave – whichever works best for you!

Now for some pros and cons of Dream Dots for Spots:

Pros:

  • Easy to apply
  • Quite effective after 2-3 days
  • Great packaging
  • Super portable – you can hide it in your wallet
  • You can pretty much wear it anywhere
  • Available to purchase online

Cons:

  • Can be sore when removing
  • Slightly overpriced

I wouldn’t say it would work for severe acne sufferers but it definitely gets the job done for the odd spot or two – you know, the ones that usually appear before a big day? Yup, those exact ones! So if you’re prone to sneaky spot outbreaks then this product is worth giving a try!

If you want to learn more about the science behind Dream Dots you can find all the deets here. For those of you who have already used it, I’d love to know how you got on! Feel free to share your thoughts down below 🙂

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Posted on August 8, 2014

French footwear guru launches beauty line

launch/ product review

cl

Image via Christian Louboutin/Facebook

In just a few more days, the famed shoe designer, Christain Louboutin, will be launching his very own beauty line in Europe.  That’s right, the man behind those godly red soles, has decided to join the multi-million dollar beauty industry with the launch of Christian Louboutin Beauté.

The French designer, who is obviously a man of great talent, has decided to unveil a full range of nail varnishes at the price of $55 – Clearly, these aren’t just any lacquers!

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Photo credit: George Chinsee

From the 14th August these beautifully bottled polishes will be available in Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Christian Louboutin boutiques – alongside those amazing heels.

When talking to Women’s Wear Daily, the French footwear guru said: “The red sole was born from red nail polish. I am giving back to nails what shoe took from the nails so many years ago.”

He really is a man of many talents, can’t wait to have a look at these bad boys!

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Posted on May 11, 2014

Top 3 primers for smooth skin

product review/ Top products

primer collage

Now that the sun has finally started to come out, it’s only fair that I do a review on the products you (and I) will probably need in the next couple of weeks (if we’re lucky, that is).

bareMinerals Prime Time
This is a reasonably priced primer that has a velvety finish. Unlike the other two, the bareMinerals Prime Time is gel based. This means, it’s pretty easy to work with. It’s great for flaky skin as well as oily skin (as long as you only use a pea-size amount). I don’t think it does much for hiding pores,but it does help your makeup stay put for much longer.
PRICE: €23.00, Debenhams

Garnier 5 Sec Blur
This primer is perfect for older gals as it’s great for filling in fine lines and wrinkles. It creates a smooth base for your foundation and you only really have to use a tiny bit of product to get the full effect. The mousse-like consistency makes it the perfect dupe for Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch,meaning you get the same results for only a fraction of the price!
PRICE: €16.39, Boots

Benefit The POREfessional
If you read my review on this primer, you’d know that I’m a big fan of it. I think it pretty much does what is says on the tin (minus the smoother than silk part).It has lasted me for over nine months now and I still have a lot of product left – that’s what you call getting your money’s worth! Have a look at the full review of this product here.

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Posted on April 10, 2014

Mavala Nail Hardener & Nuritive nail Cream

product review

mavala hardener

I planned to do a review on these products much earlier. But, I also wanted to see whether or not Mavala Nail Hardener & Nuritive nail Cream were really the reason behind my nails growing so healthy and so strong.

I can finally say that both of these products have influenced the length and strength of my nail (in a positive way that is) and I’m very thankful that Deborah from puprepr sent these products to me.

I started using both the nail hardener and the nutritive cream about 6 months ago. I’ve used the nail hardener before that so I knew what to expect from it. The nutritive nail cream on the other hand was completely new to me so I wasn’t sure what to make of it at the start. It comes in a 15mlcontainer and you have to apply the cream on your cubicles every day. After getting into the habit of using it, I found that it added moisture to my dry and brittle nails so which helped them grow in a healthy way.

I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who had a bad word to say about the Mavala Nail Hardener. Unlike other nail hardeners, it isn’t a polish that stays on the surface of your nails. Instead, it penetrates right into your nails so all it’s liquid goods are absorbed. I’m guessing the chemicals in them are pretty strong since you only have to apply it once a week. But, it smells amazing and lasts for ages!

mavala nuritive nail cream

If you’re someone who doesn’t have good growth in their nails then you should give either one of these products a try. Of course you will get better results if you use them at the same time, but it’s up to you really to get the one you think you need.

This is how much my nails grew when I used to use the nail hardener on it’s own. So my aim is to get them back to this length! I’d say I need a few more moths,but I’ll get there eventually!(the trick is to file the sides of your nails three times a week  to prevent them from chipping).

Warning: Don’t over do it with the Mavala nail hardener because if you use if more than you should, it might turn your nails yellow (I had to learn the hard way!) 

nails before nails after

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Posted on March 26, 2014

8 essential makeup brushes

Eyes/ product review

brushes essentials

When it comes to achieving a flawless makeup look, the quality of your makeup brushes is just as important as the quality of the products you use. Too often, people underestimate the power of a good makeup brush. They think any old makeup brush could do the trick when in reality, the most expensive makeup products won’t look as nice as they could if you don’t have the right brushes.

That’s not to say that we should all spend an arm and a leg on makeup brushes, you can still find good quality ones at a reasonable price. Once you have the essentials, you can take your time to build up your makeup brush collection.

Here are the brushes I think every woman needs to start off with.

Foundation brush
Whether it’s a flat sided foundation brush or a stippling brush, a quality foundation brush will ensure you don’t end up with a streaky finish or that dreaded painted look.

Concealer brush
A good concealer brush hides even the most sinful beauty problems. One of these could make you forget you ever had dark circles!

Angled eye brush
If it weren’t for this brush I would probably have bad eyebrows! This multi-purpose brush can be used to fill in your brows and give it the definition that it deserves and it can also be used on your lash line for eye liner.

Eye shadow brush
You may be tempted to use your fingers to apply eye shadow, but a flat eye shadow brush nicely gets the eye shadow onto your lid.

Eye shadow blending brush
Anyone who loves a good smokey eye, needs a good blending brush. Without one, you will be left with streaks and lines and that kind of defeats the purpose of ‘smokey’

Blusher brush
Angled blusher brushworks really well because you can also use it for contouring.

Powder brush
I like to set my makeup with a face powder brush so that everything stays intact. Primer is good, but when it’s used with setting powder your makeup lasts even longer.

Lip brush
A good lip brush helps your lip color penetrate deeply into your lips so that your lipstick lasts a lot longer.

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Posted on March 18, 2014

Top 3 mascaras for longer lashes

product review/ Top products

As you might or might not know, I am crazy about eyes. A strong brow and long lashes always get the job done. Especially when you’re going for the ‘natural’ look.

Here my top 3 picks for mascaras that really make your eyes stand out:

top_3_mascaras

1. BareMinerals Lash Domination,  €21.00 in Debenhams (see full review here).

2. Rimmel Scandal Eyes, €8.65 in Boots (see full review here).

3. Benefit They’re Real, €26.00 in Brown Thomas

Unlike the first two, They’re Real mascara by Benefit doesn’t give you that spider eye look. They do make your lashes longer, but I just find that Lash Domination and Scandal Eyes make my lashes look much thicker than they are (a bit of deception never killed anyone!)

Let me know if you use any of these mascaras and what you think of them!

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scandel

Posted on January 29, 2014

Úr Makeup sponge and mascara wands

product review

The lovely Nichola Graham, from Ur Makeup was very kind to send me a few samples of her re-usable mascara wands as well as a cute makeup sponge (it’s near enough to the beauty blender sponge if I say so myself).

Being a fan of big eyes, I couldn’t wait to use the mascara wands, especially since I had so many to choose from….

ur make up

As you can see,  all the wands take on a different shape. Of the seven sent to me, I quite liked the  sphere-shaped ones (2 and 3). Because of the round shape, these wands makes for easy application around the corner of your lashes – perfect way to get the inner part of your eye to stand out.

The wand with the curve was another one of my favorites (number 1), simply because I adore anything that gives my lashes an extra curl.

Ur makeup

To be honest, I can be very picky about how I apply my foundation, so when I saw this sponge, I wasn’t quite sure about how things would play out….

To my surprise, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be . It’s all about nailing the technique!

Here’s how to use it:

  • Soak the sponge into  warm water. This is to ensure that the foundation doesn’t absorb into it and that you get the most out of your foundation.
  • Ring it out so the sponge is damp and not soaked.
  • Dip into foundation and apply on your face.
  • When using this, avoid applying your makeup in strokes. Instead, slightly pat it on your face until you have the coverage you’re looking for.

What I liked:

Unlike foundation brushes, the Ur makeup sponge doesn’t leave any strokes on your face
It leaves you with a clean and natural finish
I love how the pointy part can be used for those hard-to-reach areas
There’s a place specially designed for your fingers so you can get a good grip

The best part about these products is they’re Irish made and easily available! Check out the Facebook page here if you want to get your hands on either of these bad boys.

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Posted on January 27, 2014

Lush Cosmetics Tea Tree Toner Water

product review

lush tea tree toning water - beauty- smEven though I’m a huge fan of natural products, Lush Cosmetics have never really gone down well for me in the past. But, once I finally decided to give their Tea Tree Toner Water a bash, there was little room for any doubts I had before.

Targeted at oily and acne-prone skin, this product is a life-saver, I mean it, it really does save lives….

If you know anything about having oily skin, you’d know that half way through your day, your glands decide to pull a David on you and out of sheer betrayal, they start acting up and make you look rather greasy- never a pretty ‘dewy’ look.

So here’s how I use my toner

  1. I cleanse my face using my usual Simple product
  2.  Pat it dry
  3. Get a clean cotton pads
  4. Give it a few spritz
  5.  Gently pat it over my face

For an extra glow, I like to add lemon juice to the cotton pad and since lemon have natural lightening properties, I can’t really complain about that!

The 250ml bottle usually costs just under €10 and for 100ml you’ll be looking at about €7. I have a 250ml bottle which I use in the morning and the evenings. It lasts me about three months so you’re really get your money’s worth.

If you’re a fan of Lush Cosmetics, feel free to leave a comment below!

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Posted on December 10, 2013

Product review: Nimue rejuvenating mask and lip cream

product review

Nimue products

Hope you’re all well, I decided to give you a quick lunch time read on two Nimue products I received in a goodie bag a while back. At this stage, I think I’ve used the mask enough times to have an opinion on it (and the lip cream is completely gone, I have nothing left at all!)

So first things first, what does the face mask claim to do?

The Nimue rejuvenating mask supposedly

Eliminates the damaging effects of free radicals to produce a brighter, smoother, radiant and clearer complexion

it also claims to

Reduce the signs of premature skin ageing

and

Has a hydrating benefit

Honestly, It would be great if the the instructions on the pack came with a time frame as well (it would give us something to hold on to), as I’m not sure I’m getting all the benefits from this product. That could be because I found it very blotchy and hard to remove, (once there’s a struggle to remove a mask it goes into the bad books!)

face mask

Cons:

–  Blotchy and hard to remove

–  Requires you to use a lot of product

– Not easy to find (only available in selected beauty stores)

– No prices available online

-It doesn’t actually harden on the face (not a bad thing for everyone, but when a mask is clay-based, I expect it to feel like cement after 10 minutes)

Pros: I love the scent!!

Verdit: Pretty obvious here isn’t it? Think I’d give this mask a pass…..

On a brighter note, the Nimue lip cream is something I brought with me everywhere (no wonder it didn’t last me very long!)

lip cream

Pros:

– The lip cream is so glossy it would pass for a lip gloss

– It smells amazing

– Extremely moisturizng

– Looks like lipstick  (too cute)

– Has an SPF 20

Cons:

–  5g didn’t last me very long

–  Difficult to find (again)

– Have to contact Nimue Skin Technology Ireland to find a stockist

All in all, I must say, I preferred the lip cream over the face mask, it glides right on and looks like a lip gloss. It I love how it contains an SPF of 20 (always a bonus)

It’s just a shame I can’t get it just anywhere close by, in this case, I think Carmex lip balm will have to do!

My give away ends soon, don’t forget to enter below !

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aveeno skincare

Posted on November 18, 2013

Yes to Cucumbers Daily Gel Cleanser

product review/ Skincare

yes to cucumbers

Hello there! Hope I’ve given you all enough time to enter my giveaway, I have 2 mini Aveeno hampers and some goodies from Make Up For Ever up for grabs! Check out the details here.

Before I hit the cot, I’m going to give you my feedback on Yes to Cucumbers Daily Gel Cleanser (yet another product I received at Samantha’s bloggers meet up!)

This product was kindly given to us by Paul from The Cosmetic Outlet (he has amazing bargains on well-known beauty brands), it was one of the products I used almost immediately after going through my goodie bag at home.

My initial thoughts on the Yes to Cucumbers cleanser was that it smelled great and it’s extremely gentle on the skin.

However, the question is, what were my thoughts after I used it a couple of times?

Well to answer your question, nothing changed! I quite like this product to be honest with you, here are my pros and cons:

Pros:
1. Affordable (less than €10)
2. Soft scent
3. Didn’t irritate my skin
4. No oily residue
5. Paraben-free

Cons:
1. It doesn’t foam up (not quite sure if that’s a bad thing, but I like foam!)
2. No travel-size option for this product (if you’re anything like me, this will be a problem!)

Other than that, I think it’s worth trying out! Generally Yes to Cucumbers is for normal to sensitive skin, Yes to Carrots is for normal to dry skin and Yes to Tomatoes is for oily to combination skin (all the details are on www.yestocarrots.com)

Those subscribe to Enhance What’s Yours are in for a treat!

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aveeno skincare

Posted on October 28, 2013

Anatomicals Farewell the Scarlet Pimplehell Deep Cleansing Mud Mask

product review/ Skincare

Anatomicals Farewell The Scarlet Pimplehell Face Mud Mask

As you may or may not know, enhancewhatsyours.com attended her first bloggers meetup last weekend organized by Samantha Johnson over at All The Buzz.  I must say that this meetup was very well organized and I’m delighted that she got such a positive response from it (well deserved) 

We all know, I like my facial masks so it should be no surprise that the Anatomicals Mud Mask was one of the first things I jumped at (after the Yes to Cucumbers cleanser of course….) when I finally decided which of the fabulous products I will be reviewing first (such generous goody bags we each got! I’d say I have a years’ supply of product reviews there! (no joke)

So back to Anatomicals Mud Mask…… I guess I will start with the things I liked about the mud mask:

  1. Anatomicals Mud Mask was not very runny so I found it quite easy to apply
  2. It is 100% pure clay and only takes 15 minutes to dry
  3. I managed to get two masks out of the 15ml and still had some product left
  4. It washes off surprisingly well (you wouldn’t think your face felt like cement only seconds before)
  5. IT IS NOT BLOTCHY! (probably the thing I liked the most about it) there is nothing worse than a mask that leaves you looking all blotchy!

As you can see, this product sits very well on the face. Then, you leave it on for 15 minutes and (I think my expression says it all….)

Anatomicals Farewell The Scarlet Pimplehell Face Mud Mask

Anatomicals Farewell The Scarlet Pimplehell Face Mud Mask

What I didn’t like about Anatomicals Mud Mask:

  1. Although the packaging is cute, I don’t like the fact that it’s in a sachet (especially if I plan to get 3 uses out of it)
  2. It seems like this product is targeted for a younger audience so I wonder if it’s something I should be using at all??
  3. Is it just me, or does anybody else get annoyed at the fact that capital letters don’t exist with Anatomicals??? (I find is so annoying!)

So what’s my final verdict:

I quite like my D.I.Y facial masks so this product is something I wouldn’t commit to using all the time, I probably wouldn’t  mind using it on my lazy days. Also, a few people seem to have a problem with the scent of this Anatomicals Mud Mask, but I actually quite like it. Last but not least….a euro a sachet, need I say more? 🙂

If you’ve used Anatomicals Deep Cleansing Mud Mask before, feel free to share your thoughts below! Here is a list of some of the gorgeous bloggers that attended Samantha’s meetup last weekend, what did you think of your mud mask ladies?

Zee-Railed

Beautyandtheblog22

AllTheBuzz

Killer-fashion

Kandigloss

BeautyBaggage

LisaDeJong

BecBoopFashionista

TownMouseCountryMouse

Don’t forget to subscribe to Enhance What’s Yours 

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Posted on September 12, 2013

Pearlys Smile Box (Teeth Whitening Kit)

Beauty/ product review

pearlys smile box

I think it’s about time for me to give you my feedback on Pearlys Smile Box! Worth 60 euros, this teeth whitening kit was kindly sent to Bellefbeauty to review and ever since I used the Pearlys Teeth Whitening Powder I just couldn’t wait to get writing! (But that’s as far as excited I got, so prepare yourself ladies/gentlemen….)

So first things first, what’s in Pearlys Smile Box and how do you use it?

1. Pearlys Weekly Teeth-Brighten Powder
2. Pearlys Daily  Teeth-Whitening Foam
3. Pearlys Teeth Whitening Pen

As you can see, Pearlys Smile Box comes with 3 different products so with these 3 products (and 3 simple guidelines) you can be sure to have brighter teeth in no time!

So now for the steps…….

pearlys smile box

Step 1: Dampen your toothbrush and dip it into Pearlys Weekly Teeth-Brighten Powder. Brush your teeth as you normally would and do so for 2-4 mins (just listen to your favorite song and the time will fly!) This powder contains sodium bicarbonate and green tea that help polish your teeth to make it super-clean and super-shiny! (That’s what we’re aiming for right?)

Step 2:  Add a layer of Pearlys Teeth-Whitening Foam to your regular toothpaste and scrub a dub dub for another 2-4 mins! This foam contains 0.16% of sodium perborate, a substance that breaks down into oxygen and water, (the oxygen lifts the staining from inside the enamel, so you’ll be shining from the inside out!)

Step 3: Twist the whitening pen until you see a clear gel. Apply a thin layer to your teeth and avoid  getting the product directly onto your gums or lips for at least 60 seconds (close to impossible for me!)  After 10mins you can rinse your mouth and then avoid food/drink for another 30mins (Again,  not happening!)

pearlys smile box

So if you have  a little more time in your hands in the morning than most people, then Pearlys Teeth Whitening Pen should not be a huge problem for you. In general I found this quite odd to use (not to mention the fact that you have to avoid getting the product on your gums/lips, beyond awkward!!)

The teeth-whitening foam in Pearlys Smile Box didn’t really add much to my teeth whitening experience (except for the fact that there was a leak when I received it in the post)  so I think I’ll be giving that a pass as well!

Other than that I must admit that the brightening powder really does work wonders, it’s so refreshing and my teeth definitely felt brighter after a single use! Unfortunately you can only use it twice a week so that’s a bummer, but I guess it just makes you look forward to using it the following week! (I know I’m such a nerd!)

So what’s my final verdict, would I purchase Pearlys Smile Box Kit?

This kit was a miss for me! I think I could live without Pearlys Smile Box Kit to be quite honest, I would however purchase Pearlys Teeth-Brighten Powder which cost £15,00 online. Given how little you use of the powder, it would probably last a good few months, especially since the one I have still looks like I’ve never used it!

Have you used any home-whitening kits? If so, which ones?

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