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product review

Posted on September 9, 2013

BareMinerals Get Started Kit

Beauty/ product review

bareminerals get started kit

Before I tell you about how much fun I had at the Dublin Fashion Festival, I think it’s fair to tell you a bit about Bellefbeauty‘s visit to BareMinerals and my a mini lesson on using the BareMinerals Get Started Kit (56-58 euros). Anyone who knows me personally would know that I am against drag makeup ,instead, I always strive for the most natural look possible. So if you’re anything like me (and even if you do enjoy the occasional drag makeup) you will find that this kit is still perfect for an everyday ”no makeup” look.

For those of you who are cosmetically challenged, worry not, because the BareMinerals Get Started Kit has everything you need, from the right brushes, to a ‘Get Started Guide Book’ that will truly help you master their signature Swirl, Tap, Buff makeup technique (which I’m very happy to have mastered myself)

bareMinerals GET STARTED kit

So what’s in the Get Started Kit and how do I use it?

  •  After cleansing and moisturizing your face, you can start off with the Prime Time Foundation Primer (As you know I’m quite liking Benefit’s POREfessional primer at the moment, so I will definitely have to do a comparison post to see which primer I prefer)
  • When that is all set and done, use your Full Flawless Face Brush to apply the  BareMinerals SPF foundation that you choose from 20 different shades and 3 different formulas (original, matte or ready formula) but of course if you pop into BareMinerals they can help you decide on what’s the best formula for your skin type!

1.SWIRL a small amount of BareMinerals in the lid with the brush until it’s all tucked into the bristles. 2.TAP away any excess. There should be no visible bareMinerals on the outside of the brush. 3.BUFF bareMinerals onto the skin in a circular motion all over the face, concentrating on your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin.

  • Follow these instructions until you’re happy with the coverage you have built. If there are still some areas you would like to conceal, apply the Swirl, Tap, Buff technique but use the Max Concealer Cover Brush instead and apply to desired areas.
  • After that you can use the smaller Flawless Face Brush and apply the same Swirl, Tap, Buff technique to use the Warmth All-Over Face Color. Apply it in a 3 motion starting from the side of your forehead to under  your cheekbones and then backwards from the cheekbone to your jawline. This should add color to your face and give you a healthy sun-kissed glow.
  • Lastly, use your Full Flawless Face Brush to apply the Mineral Veil over your face in a circular motion. This will further absorb any oil and will keep your complexion fresh.

bareMinerals Gert started kit

The BareMinerals Get Started Kit is about all you need for a natural and healthy everyday look! After the lovely staff in BareMinerals were finished with me I felt so much more fresh and alive! Especially after they used LASH DOMINATION (which you all know I love!) 

What impressed me the most about the BareMinerals Get Started Kit is that you really only need a tiny bit of product followed by the Swirl, Tap, Buff technique to easily build the coverage you’re looking for. That aside, the Mineral veil that you apply at the very end to keep everything in place actually prevents the makeup from smudging (I witnessed it myself!!) so you no longer have to worry about wearing that pretty white blouse you’ve been dying to wear!

Have you picked up your BareMinerals Get Started Kit yet? If so, what are your favorite products so far, if not, what are you waiting for??? 🙂

Hope you’ve subscribed to Enhance What’s Yours Remember, Swirl, Tap and Buff ladies! 

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Posted on August 28, 2013

Willow Water

Beauty/ Natural beauty/ product review/ Youthful Skin

willow water

If there is one thing that a great skin care regime needs, it’s plenty of water. But, why drink any old water when you can have one that has naturally occurring beautifying properties?

I couldn’t agree more!

Honestly, I find it hard to disagree with anything that’s good for you and also has beauty benefits,  because it really is a win win. So when nearly 20l of Willow Water was sent to me for review I couldn’t wait to get started to see how it works……

So how does it work?

Willow Water contains a unique blend of minerals which has been proven to be effective in beautifying the skin. The high levels of calcium and the salicin in the Willow Water (sourced from the salicin enriched willow tree) contain anti-flammatory properties which can improve your skins appearance.

Who did it work for?

2 in 3 women with dry skin at the start of the trial felt their skin condition had improved by the end of it
5 out of 6 women who considered their skin condition to be oily at the start of the trial reported improvements
Of those suffering acne prior to the trial, 3 out of 4 reported improvements

Did it work for me?

Honestly, I have yet to see improvements in my complexion or blemishes on my skin, but then again, that could be because I haven’t been drinking Willow Water for long enough to make a judgement. All of the other testimonies were taken up to 6 weeks after being introduced to Willow Water.

Final verdict?

I will continue to drink Willow Water, (not religiously though) because it actually tastes nicer than some water you can get! Also, I love the packaging (quite a sophisticated bottle for water some would say) so carrying 1.5l of Willow Water isn’t the least bit embarrassing!

If you want to find out more about Willow Water, and are interested in getting some for yourself check out their website below:

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Posted on August 26, 2013

Maybelline GREAT LASH vs BareMinerals LASH DOMINATION

Beauty/ product review

mascara

If you read my first post on mascara (or eye lash growth for that matter), you would know that I’m big into thick and long eye lashes. So When I popped into BareMinerals to pick up a free sample of their LASH DOMINATION mascara I was chuffed, even though I had bought Maybelline mascara a few weeks beforehand!

I guess you can never had enough mascara in your makeup bag

BARE MINERALS LASH DOMINATION

I must admit, it was good thing I did pick up a sample of BareMinerals LASH DOMINATION,because if I hadn’t, I would be left with not so lengthening mascara.

Maybeline’s GREAT LASH mascara claims to have a precise lash building brush, but I honestly think that it really doesn’t give the same effect as the ”PROTWIST” 180 wand on LASH DOMINATION.

After only two coats of BareMinerals LASH DOMINATION I managed to get the desired effect.

   Bare Minerals LASH DOMINATIONAs you can see, BareMinerals LASH DOMINATION really    does add a lot of volume and colors to my eye lash here.    With only two coats, they looked fuller, darker and            longer and at only 20e, BareMineral LASH DOMINATION    offers a 10-in-1 lash benefits:

    1. Volume              6. Length

    2. Thickness        7.Mineral fortified

    3. Seperation           8. Smudge- free

    4. Lifts                       9. Clump-free

    5. All-day wear       10. Flake- free

maybelline great lash

Maybeline’s GREAT LASH on the other hand, does not  offer the same benefits!

In fact it doesn’t offer half of what LASH DOMINATION offers. I’m happy that I got a 30% discount on the day so it only came up to about  7 euros, but other than that this mascara only works for a daytime look, it just isn’t dramatic enough!

It’s not negative now, it does a great job at separating the lashes and making them look nice and healthy, but in terms of volume and thickness? This mascara was a miss for me!

Have you tried any of these two mascaras? If so feel free to share your thoughts below!

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog to be in a chance to take part of my free giveaway! 

Hope you’ve had a chance to read this weeks post on stiletto nails on the Starlit Jewellery blog…

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Posted on August 23, 2013

Benefit: The POREfessional

Beauty/ product review

Benefit the POREfessional

Unfortunately for me (and any other person who has been cursed with sebum-prone skin), when it comes to maintaining a healthy look throughout the day, a little bit of extra care has to be taken into account. This can be particularly stressful on warm and summer days, so one of the ways to avoid a makeup meltdown (or any other type of meltdown) would be to use a face primer, or should I say Benefit: The POREfessional face primer. (34.50E)

Although it may seem a bit on the pricey end of things for such a small tube (22ml), the reason why I like the POREfessional face primer is because the product is highly concentrated, you really only need a pea size of it (maybe even less if you’re only applying it to your T-zone) so at the end of the day, you will get a good wear out of this product.

What Benefit say:

Quickly minimize the appearance of  pores with the POREfessional. apply this silky, lightweight formula to minimize the appearance of pores & fine lines for smoother-than-silk skin

What I say:

I think ”smoother-than-silk” is a bit of an oversell to be honest, nevertheless, the POREfessional really does do an amazing job at minimizing the appearance of pores (even without foundation!) So the fact that it can be worn before, after AND without any foundation at all is always a plus when you’re trying to keep it light during the summer!

Benefit POREfessional

  • Before foundation:The POREfessional creates a smooth and even canvas before you apply your foundation so it minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines leaving you with a seamless finish.
  • After foundation:The POREfessional can be used during the day for a touch up in case your pores come out during hiding. (we don’t want that now do we!)
  • Without foundation:Because the POREfessional is quite mattifying, it is perfect for oil control (not to mention the Vitamin E derivative it contains which is known to protect skin from free radicals)

As you can see, the POREfessional has a bit of a beige color, but don’t be alarmed because after it is blended in it just leaves a smooth and mattifying finish.

Benefit POREfessional

There really is no reason why you shouldn’t at least give POREfessional a try….I know the name is a bit cheesy, but we’re all a bit guilty of being cheesy from time to time so get off your high horse and get shopping!

Have you tried Benefit’s POREfessional primer? if not, what are your favorite primers? 

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog to be in a chance to take part of my free giveaway! 

Hope you’ve had a chance to read this weeks post on stiletto nails on the Starlit Jewellery blog…

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Posted on August 21, 2013

Gosh BB Skin Perfecting Kit

product review

gosh bb skin perfecting kit

If you’ve read my post on highlighting and contouring, you would know that I love the overall look achieved after sculpting and defining the face. So when I came across the Gosh BB Skin perfecting kit, it should be no surprise to you that I felt instantly drawn to it (with reason!)

At only 10.99, the Gosh BB Skin perfecting kit comes in two different shades: Light and Medium (as pictured above) The kit contains two concealers and one shimmering highlighter (which is fabulous)

How to use the Gosh BB skin perfecting kit:

1. Using your finger tips or a concealer brush, apply the lightest color concealer right under your eyes if you want to brighten up dark circles.

2. To cover up any other imperfections, mix the shades until you get the closest match to your skin tone.

3. And for my favorite step, use the highlighter under your brows and above your cheekbones for a fabulous finish!

 Remember: If you use a powder foundation, conceal first, if you use a liquid foundation, conceal after!

Now for my honest opinion:

Because I’d use the Gosh BB skin perfecting kit for a day look, I’m not too pushed on the pasty concealers that would normally be suited for a night time look. The highlighter however is a very close match to my skin tone (with a bit of a sparkle) so I found it perfect for enhancing the shape of my eye brows and for giving me higher raised cheek bones.

Normally I would use MAC prep + prime highlighter, but again, I’d rather use that for a night time look so the Gosh BB skin perfecting kit really saved me from using my MAC highlighter on a daily basis.

Have you used the Gosh BB skin perfecting kit yet? If so feel free to leave your thoughts and feedback below!

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog to be in a chance to take part of my free giveaway! 

If you want to read another witty article, check out my post on stiletto nails on the Starlit Jewellery blog!

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Posted on July 30, 2013

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie: First Finish

Appearance/ Beauty/ maintenance/ product review

bare minerals marvelous moxie finish first best nude lipstick

Those of you who know me would know that I tend to go through a series of phases. Ever since my matte phase started dying on me I slowly started building an obsession with something new (I guess it’s true what they say ‘the only way to get rid of one obsession is to find another’) and in this case, my new obsession is with nude lipstick.

Of course it started off with nude nails (first indication of obsession), but as always I managed to find a way to get my hands on a nude lipstick that really blew me away: Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie: Finish First (19e)

This lippy really does glide on like a dream! So those of you who suffer from chapped lips will be more than happy to know that this product is very forgiving !

bare minerals marvelous moxie finish first best nude lipstick enhance whats yours belle f beauty

What I Iove:

1.This nude lipstick has a plumping effect so it gives you a nice and healthy pout (operating word being healthy)

2. It has a creamy texture it’s almost like putting butter on your lips!

3.It gives you a rich satin finish (you really  can’t go wrong)

4.It’s a nude lipstick that applies evenly

5. It’s long wearing so you don’t have to retouch too many times with this

6. It’s great for a day-time look and night-time look so you could get the best wear out of it

and last but not least……

It smells amazing!

If that isn’t enough for you to want one of your own, then I really don’t know what is! Even I have to admit that I’m glad they didn’t have the nude lipstick I was looking for in MAC the day I bought this, otherwise I would not have discovered this fabulous lippy at all.

Have you tried anything from the new Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lip collection? If not, don’t you worry because you have loads to choose from! Bare Escentuals have recently released 20 new lippies, 10 liners, and 4 brand new Moxie lip glosses so I cannot wait to get my hands on more!

Nude lipstick: Are you a fan or a foe?

Bare minerals moxie lipstick finish first before and after

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Posted on June 12, 2013

Carmex Lip balm: For dry lips

lips/ product review

carmex lip balm

Dry lips have never been a huge problem for me growing up, I mean let’s face it, what are the chances of someone with oily skin actually ending up with dry lips as well? Life isn’t that bad! But, (there’s always a but) I did go through a stage in my life where I was mad about using Vaseline’s pocket size lip balm. I thought their packaging was cute,  I thought it was great that I could choose from a range of colors and their scents were absolutely gorgeous!  sounds like heaven right?

Far from it! 

This so called ‘Lip Therapy’ balm was actually the cause of my dry lips because from the moment I started using it, I found my lips getting a lot drier than usual.

So that’s when I did some research and discovered that petroleum jelly (the main ingredient in Vaseline) does not moisturize your lips (or any part of your body for that matter) what it does is, it creates a barrier over your skin that protects it from losing moisture and although I’m grateful for that, this product still didn’t tick all the boxes, it just wasn’t enough!

I then decided to be a bit daring by going for something I wouldn’t normally go for: Carmex lip balm and that was by far the best decision I have ever made (I’m speaking for my lips here!) 

This product ‘soothes, relieves and moisturizes’  and thanks to the natural moisturizers it contains i.e cocoa butter and lanolin, you will have healthy looking lips in no time! Because it’s such a great moisturizer, it doesn’t need to be put on as often as others. I tend to use mine right after the shower and then again two or three later on in the day (sometimes even more because of that tingly feeling you get from it! very cool and refreshing!)

This product comes in either a jar or a tube,you also have a few flavors to choose from. I’ve somehow gotten used to the smell of the original one, but if you can’t, then you could always go for the cherry/strawberry flavor (best part is, they contain SPF 15!!)

Have you used any of these products before? If not, What’s your go-to lip balm?

Please comment below and share!

Thanks for reading my post 🙂

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Posted on May 30, 2013

Thermal Water

product review/ Youthful Skin

thermal water

I’ve always thought that hot bottles were a great idea! You feel cold, heat up some water, put it in you bottle and voila! you instantly  feel warm! I thought, who ever came up with that is a genius…… and then I thought, well maybe not! why don’t cold water bottles exist?? I mean we don’t have too many options when we’re too warm, and the ones we currently have, never get the job done quite right!
Well let me tell you, that very thought escaped me ever so quickly, after having used one of the most refreshing summer products that are presently out there : thermal water
Thermal water is a miracle water which essentially soothes and refreshes your face with a single spray!  Now I haven’t gone crazy yet so this isn’t all  in my head, the reason why thermal water has the ability to do this is because it comes from the untouched waters (untouched by humans anyways) of the beautiful glaciers and lakes of France. Meaning it’s filled with essential minerals and nutrients that you would never find in still water, or better yet, tap water.
What better substance to put on your face than one that has been untouched by humans in a multi-mineral environment? 
 The debate between La Roche Posay thermal water and Avene thermal water will always be ongoing, as both French brands are absolutely amazing!  (leave it to the French to perfect something as simple as water!)  and believe it or not, but  both products are equally effective!
So why should you include this in your hand luggage?
One reason being that there is nothing worse than travelling while you’re too warm. You’re flushed, you feel like you’re sweating and you just want to shower really!  What can be worse than that? Well how about arriving  to your destination without freshening up at all!? that really sounds like a nightmare for me, one that could and should  be avoided with a travel size thermal water spray.
It’s a simple solution! All you do is spray this directly on you’re face 2 to 3 times a day, especially when you start feeling warm. No rest room required, no mirror required, nada! After a few spritz and you will instantly feel your skin coming back to life! Also, the French have soooo much respect for their wine, so you could only imagine how much respect they have for something as natural and pure as thermal water!
For me it all comes down to packaging, I have yet to see a travel size thermal spray by La Roche Posay, so if you’re ad bad as me with kilos, then I suggest you get the travel size Avene one which is just under 7euro! If you’re willing to give this miracle water some extra space in your bag, then why not go for La Roche Posay! Just remember you will be storing this in a fridge so not too sure how good a big bottle would look in one!
Have you tried any of the three in the picture above? If so, what do you make of it?
Here are a few reviews you could check out:
http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemId=16027/Thermal_Water/Avene_/Skincare_-_Face
http://www.skinstore.com/p-9468-avene-thermal-spring-water.aspx
http://www.aveneusa.com/thermal-spring-water/
http://www.cherrysuedointhedo.com/2012/05/thermal-spring-water-its-very-many-uses.html

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Posted on May 8, 2013

MAC Lipstick: Ruby Woo

lips/ product review

mac ruby woo

I have recently become obsessed with the matte world…..it all started off with a  matte black manicure and it even went as far as matte black cars! (I know, I know,I went a bit matte crazy!) but I must say, the one thing that truly stole my heart was MAC’s matte red lipstick;  Ruby Woo.

It really did woo me….

For me, this lipstick is definitely a holy grail product. I think that every person (including men) should have this on their dressing room table. Even if you’re not going to use it (which I think you’d highly regret), its retro, absolutely gorgeous to look at, and if that isn’t enough, it actually smells nice! Now that’s not something you  find in a lot of lipsticks these days…..

Okay, I was messing about men having this product, I was getting a bit ahead of myself there, but, that just goes to show how much of an impact this lipstick had on me, as well as the impact it can have on you!

I know Riri woo has been out for quite sometime now, and a lot of people have been going crazy about it. I have nothing but love for Rihanna herself, so no disrespect, but I must say that only a few people can get away with rocking that lipstick, and let’s face it, not everyone is Riri.

RUBY woo on the other hand, does not raise that question, the stress of  ”finding the perfect shade” does not apply with this product at all.It’s just one of those magic lipsticks sent from above (with the help of MAC cosmetics of course) and really does suit every skin tone.

It’s classic and represents elegance in the most retro way, you really can’t go wrong!

mac ruby woo

Another thing we have to remember about this lipstick is that it is matte, so because of this it lasts the longest out of any lipstick out there. I would easily bet that this lipstick would last for days if you didn’t take it off (just make sure you use a drinking straw!) so you would only have to go for one lip touch-up when using this product.

Now everything can’t be rosey right? So just a word of precaution:

Before applying this devilish color, be sure to have lip balm on your lips because if not, u won’t embrace this product as much as I did when I first tried it!

Matte lipsticks require you put on a good bit of lip balm due to its drying nature; they are a lot more dense and contain less moisture. But sure that isn’t the most difficult thing now is it? A bit of effort can go a long way…..

Now that u know, stop reading, moisten up those lips and get shopping!

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mac ruby woo

Posted on April 20, 2013

Bobbi Brown, Extreme Party Mascara or Rimmel, Scandel Eyes?

Eyes/ product review

bobbi brown extreme party mascara

A lot of you may think that the answer to this is a given, but believe me, you will soon be very surprised when I give you my feedback on each mascara. I know I know, how dare I compare Rimmel to this world class makeup line, I mean how could I even put them both in the same sentence right?

Well the reason why I chose these two in particular is because  one  is my daily mascara while the other I use for nights out and you might be a bit shocked when I tell you which.rimmel scandel eyes mascara

When I first got Bobbi Brown, Extreme Party Mascara I was more than excited to use it for a night out, I mean let’s face it, the name ‘Extreme Party Mascara’ really does make you want to just let your hair down and get all dolled up! So that’s exactly what I did!

To my surprise, and I feel almost guilty to have to say this, but after a few hours of applying this mascara, my lashes were flat. My lashes were lifeless. And a lot of the product had  smeared off leaving flakes under my eyes.

The Rimmel, Scandel Eyes which I initially bought for an everyday use really took me by surprise as it did absolute wonders for my eyes! I instantly saw a difference in my lashes after applying this mascara as my lashes were fuller,longer and the product stayed put until I washed it off.

So which should you choose?

Honestly, it all comes down to what exactly you want your mascara to do I mean Extreme Party is a misleading name because it’s pretty much like any typical mascara. So if you’re looking for a natural curl and nothing too dramatic, I’d recommend you get something cheap and cheerful in your local chemist because Bobbi Brown, Extreme Party Mascara isn’t worth the money for it’s performance!

If you want something that adds extra length/volume to your lashes, something that  really IS waterproof and doesn’t come off until you want it to, then go for Rimmel Scandel Eyes! I know the packaging isn’t great and if you happen to fall asleep with this mascara on, it will hurt, but after all it only costs about 8 euros and I think it’s priced exactly where it should be!

Have you tried these products before? If so, did you experience the same things that I did?

 

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Posted on April 17, 2013

Olive oil: The perfect eye makeup remover

Natural beauty/ product review

organic-olive-oil

A lot of people get startled when they see olive oil in the toilet, they think that olive oil is something that should be ”kept in the kitchen and no place else because it is used for cooking and nothing else”

Boy are they wrong…..

I woke up one morning and found it quite odd that I still had a bit of white eyeliner on my waterline from the night before (the excitement of trying on new makeup!) I found this pretty strange as I’m usually pretty good at getting all my makeup off before going to bed and up until now, Boots Essentials Cucumber Eye Makeup Remover Gel had never let me down.

It then occurred to me that white eyeliner would probably need a little bit of extra care when trying to remove it, especially for my skin tone and because the liner was the complete opposite of my skin color, even the tiniest of makeup residue would still be visible!

So I searched and I searched and I searched some more, until I finally had a breakthrough and discovered Extra Virgin Olive Oil, the perfect eye makeup remover had been sitting in the kitchen press just waiting to be used.

After I saw how effective it was, I quickly went out and purchased a 100ml bottle of Olive oil in the nearest chemist and decided that from that day on, it would be the only eye makeup remover to ever touch my eyes. (dramatic much?)

50ml, 100ml, 500ml

Perhaps I am a being a tad bit dramatic, but it’s excusable, and here’s why:

1. A drop or two of  extra virgin olive oil  and water on a cotton pad instantly removes any eye makeup without irritating the skin.

2. It has a lipid profile very close to that of the human skin meaning it is suitable for all skin types when mixed with water.

3. It helps smooth wrinkles that can form around the eyes.

4. Extra virgin olive oil is the highest quality of its class as it has the added advantage of providing strong antioxidants like vitamin A and E that help repair and renew damaged skin due to sun exposure.

Besides all the technical stuff, olive oil is cheaper than other eye makeup removers, it lasts a lifetime, and it conditions your lashes leading to possible eye lash growth! I would highly recommend it to everyone, and even if you aren’t sure about going out and buying a bottle just go to your kitchen and give it a go before making such a ”huge” commitment.

For those of you who would like to take a leap of faith, here is a link to where you could but it now:

http://mccabespharmacy.com/shop/beauty/skin-care/olive-oil-pharmacy-brand-ireland-4645.html


Thanks for reading such a long post! Feel free to comment and share!

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