Review: Barry M Nail Paints

Hey dolls! So today, I thought I'd do a little review on my all time favourite nail polishes, Barry M's Nail Paints. At the moment I have a modest collection of six varnishes from the range, but no doubt this will grow as my nail obsession continues.....

Pre Barry M Nail Paints, I wasn't the biggest fan of nails. I owned a random collection of colours, finishes and brand polishes that I'd acquired here and there over the years but I'd never really found a product that got me excited about nails.That is until I saw Sammi a la BeautyCrush on YT rave about Barry M's Red Black about a year ago. I was completely sold by the colour alone and as the name suggests, its this beautiful blood red that looks red in certain lights and black in others. I was highly impressed by everything the polish had to offer and so have since picked up six more polishes from the brand: (L-R with Red Black and the nail effects polish painted over Peach Melba) Mint Green, Berry, Blue Moon, Peach Melba, Spring Green, and number 311 from the Nail Effects range, which is a true black.

Needless to say, these polishes truly are amazing. For about €4.50, they're not too expensive and are definitely worth the quality they provide. The polishes need about two coats to provide a completely opaque colour and last about two or three days without a topcoat before chipping, which I think is great. Although each colour is gorgeous I would probably have to deem Red Black my favourite as I always seem to revert back to it when I don't know which colour to choose. I have to admit, I'm not crazy about the Nail Effects polish I own. It gives a crackle effect when painted over another varnish, as I'm sure most of you know, but its probably a matter of personal taste over anything else.

All in all, I absolutely adore Barry M's Nail Paints and would recommend them to anyone whose on the lookout for on-trend nail colours that don't break the bank but provide the same quality as perhaps a polish that would!

xx

Neutrogena 'Visibly Clear' Review

 

 

 Hey guys! So today, I thought I'd do a review of the Neutrogena 'Visibly Clear' range, as I've been using some of their products for quite a while now and have seen what effect they've had on my skin. I know many people are interested in sampling some of the products due to their reasonable prices, as a way of treating minor skin issues before investing in something more high end, so I hope this post is helpful to anyone out there who has been debating whether or not to invest....

 

 

Visibly Clear Grapefruit Facial Wash

 

 

 

 

I'd thought I'd begin with my favourite product from the range, the infamous Grapefruit facial wash. This product is quite controversial as it seems to have a very 'hit and miss' effect on most who try it. I'd heard that this product had broken many people out and had left them with worse skin than they'd had before trying it. However, a good facial wash is almost the cornerstone to my skin routine and I badly needed one that was catered to acne prone skin.

In terms of the physical matter of the product, the packaging is fine in my opinion, quite durable and coming with a pump, which is always an advantage (unfortunately, the pump on my present bottle of the product is quite jammy, so I'd recommend to try before you buy!). The wash itself has quite a pleasant scent and is light pink in colour. It comes as quite a runny, gel consistency, which foams up pretty well when applied with water and washes off just as easily.

 

I've been using this product for about 8 months now and am on to my third bottle. Needless to say, the product did not break me out and always leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed. This product is certainly gentle enough for use every morning and I even use it at night sometimes if my skin feels as though it needs a bit of a deeper wash. So much as preventing acne, the product did clear up the particular breakout I had when I first used it, which I was delighted with. However, I don't believe the product works very well at preventing further break-outs, so I don't know if I could fully recommend it for that purpose.

On the whole, if you're looking for a nice, everyday cleanser that leaves skin feeling cleansed and refreshed, then this is a lovely product, even if not a 'Holy Grail' acne wash.

Visibly Clear Gentle Exfoliating Wash

 

 

 

The next product I'd like to discuss is the exfoliating wash, which I do also get on extremely well with. I hadn't heard much about this product before I purchased it, however, I was in dire need of a good scrub, so decided to pick this one up to work alongside my cleanser.

The packaging of this product, again, is durable and comes with a solid lid, which hasn't snapped on me yet (fingers crossed!). The product itself is a slightly thicker gel consistency, quite turquoise in colour and speckled with small exfoliating beads, which are the perfect size to gently scrub the face without feeling like sandpaper!

 

I've been using this product since last April and am quite impressed with it. According to instructions for use on the back of the bottle, the exfoliator is gentle enough for everyday use, however, if I use this product for even three or four days in a row, I do feel as though it is slightly too drying, so I have only been using it once or twice a week at the most. The scrub lathers up extremely well and leaves my skin feeling perfectly smooth and clean. So much for acne treatment, again, I can't say this product is amazing at clearing up acne, but I do still think its worth a shot if you're looking for a good and purse friendly exfoliator to use on acne prone skin.

Visibly Clear Spot Stress Control 3 in 1 Daily Cleanser

 

 

 

After giving the facial wash and scrub a good testing, I returned to the Neutrogena shelf at Boots in search of a nigh-time, liquid cleanser I could use to remove my make-up or a a final cleansing step before using my toner. I spotted this and thought it would be worth a try.

This product comes in a slightly flimsier plastic bottle with a less durable plastic lid. On first impressions of the product, I was overwhelmed by the nauseating stench of alcohol coming from the cleanser. I mean, this stuff stinks, and the prospect of actually putting it on your face at first seems daunting. The cleanser comes out as more of a toner consistency, completely liquid form and fully absorbent on a cotton pad.

 

Once again, the good people at Neutrogena recommend this product is gentle enough for everyday use, but, being honest, you would have to be crazy to use this everyday. Upon applying the product, the skin becomes quite tingly and almost stingy, which is not desirable! I only use this product, at the most, once a week, or when my skin is in complete freak out stage and needs a good deep cleanse. Although the skin does feel fully cool and cleansed after use, I couldn't condone using it any more than once a week, as, unfortunately, it simply comes across way too strong to be used any more than that. As with the other products, the skin benefits of this product are questionable, as I have yet to witness any miracle work on my face after using it. Combined with the fact that it smells like a bottle of Smirnoff and probably has the same effects on the skin as consuming a bottle of Smirnoff would, I would not recommend this product. Sorry!

Visibly Clear Spot Stress Control Ultra Light Spot Treatment Moisturiser 

 

 

 

Of course, the primary remaining product I hadn't tested from the range was a moisturiser and so, during a particularly desperate moment, I picked up the Spot Treatment Moisturiser, to use on my T-zone, where I suffer the most from break-outs. On the whole, I didn't have a good relationship with this product.

The moisturiser comes in a small, 40ml bottle, which is perfect for travelling or popping in the make-up bag. The product itself is more of a gel, with a clear, blue-ish colour running through it and feels very cooling on the skin. The moisturiser definitely has a similar scent to the daily cleanser, but is nowhere near as overwhelming, thankfully.

 

Being an oil free moisturiser, the product is absorbed pretty quickly into the skin and due to the gel-like texture, I imagine it would work quite well as a make-up base. I tried this product out during a time when my skin wasn't acting very well behaved and hoped it would work to dry out any problem areas I had. However, this product was just not compatible with my skin and simply dried it out too much. In fact, it was absorbed so quickly that it didn't even feel as if I had moisturised my skin. Maybe this product just isn't suited to my needs and I may just have to relegate it to the summer skincare bag. But if you do, as the product suggests, have oily skin, I guess this moisturiser would be worth a good shot.

 

Visibly Clear Rapid Clear Treatment

 

 

 

The final product from this range I picked up was the Rapid Clear Treatment, which is basically a spot treatment which is applied to targeted areas after cleansing, toning and moisturising. I picked this up as I though it would be a good product to combine with each of the other products I had been trying.

The product comes in similar packaging to the moisturiser, with the 15ml bottle small enough to be carried around. In terms of texture the treatment is a slightly thicker gel consistency, and has a cream, almost clear colour to it. The product  has a distnguishable scent, with this one taking me back to my primary school days. Strangely enough, this product smells exactly like Pritt Stick, which, again, is not exactly what I'd like to put on my face.

 

The product applies well and is absorbed pretty well also. If you can ignore the stinging, that it. That's right, this treatment stings like a mo'fo', so much so that I actually wanted to sprint to the bathroom and submerge my face under the cold tap. According to the packaging, the treatment "visibly clears spots in just 4 hours". Unfortunately, I don't see this product reducing spots in 4 weeks, never mind 4 hours. This treatment had absolutely no effect on my skin whatsoever and, unsurprisingly, I would not recommend it.

 

So, there you have it, folks, the Visibly Clear range is certainly hit and miss. The Grapefruit Facial Wash and Exfoliating Wash are perfectly pleasing but do not appear to visibly clarify the skin. The 3-in-1 Daily Cleanser and Rapid Spot Treatment are a little too strong to actually give any skin benefits. Annnnd the jury's till out on the moisturiser. Boots always seem to have some kind of 3 for 2 offer on Neutrogena so, if you're curious, give the range a go. But don't expect miracles!

 

x







Battle of the BB Creams!

 

 Hey y'all! Today, I felt like jumping on the BB bandwagon and doing a bit of a review/ comparison on two of what the high street has to offer to this new phenomenon. As I'm sure most of you all know, the BB cream is the slightly less high maintenance sister of the foundation, but the slightly more substantial sister of the tinted moisturiser, if that makes any sense!

 

BB stands for 'Blemish Balm', or 'Beauty Balm', or so states the 'BB Creams for Dummies' handbook (I jest...). This stuff supposedly offers similar coverage to a heavier duty product, such as foundation, but without all the nasties that foundations contain. BB Creams are said to target uneven skin tone, scarring, discolouration, etc to leave your skin looking naturally glowy and clear. Its difference from tinted moisturisers, I hear you ask. The jury is still out on that one, but, for now, lets get right into reviewing two BB Creams that I have acquired over the last couple of months and see which one wins the battle of the BB Creams.....

 

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB

 

 

 

This product boasts 8 in 1 skin benefits including its ability to blur imperfections, hydrate all day and compliment skin tone. It apparently provides an 'instant fresh face glow' and comes in four shades, Light, Medium, Dark and Universal Glow.

 

Pros

•  SPF 30 - extra high protection for a cosmetic product
•  Natural, glowy finish
•  Fairly long-lasting
•  Medium coverage
•  Easily available to world market

Cons

• Shading is problematic - 'light' being slightly darker than I expected
• Unbalanced in terms of tone - very pink toned
• Feels slightly greasy on the skin
• Caused BREAKOUTS!!
• Price - a little overpriced for what you're getting

I picked up Maybelline's attempt at the BB Cream in July, before my holiday abroad. I wanted something light that I could wear in sweltering heat and the high SPF of this product is what initially drew me to it. I did my research, and this was the highest SPF available in a high street BB Cream at that time and so it ticked all the boxes for me. It was priced at around €12, which I though was a little expensive for the 30mls you get, but hey, I was desperate.

I began using this when I arrived in Spain and was pleasantly surprised at the natural and glowly finish it gave me. It was buildable, which meant I could apply slightly more product in the areas I needed it. At the time, my skin was in one of its moods, which I didn't attribute to the product at all. But things were soon to change....

After I arrived home, I took a break from the BB Cream and went back to my usual routine, which I have in fact written a blog post about, if you're interested. My skin was on the mend, thanks be to God, so, on a lazy Sunday a couple of weeks ago, I decided to ditch the foundation and break out the BB Cream once more. It was great letting my skin breath again, but things that I hadn't really picked up on in Spain, being in the holiday mood that I was, came to the fore. First and foremost, the product looked too pink toned and didn't blend in with the rest of my skin very well. It felt slightly heavy and looked a little greasy on the skin. Most alarming, however, was waking up for college on Monday morning with a sprinkling of whiteheads across my forehead and chin. I was devastated, having been so elated to have cleared my skin for the first time in months the previous week. This really made me turn my back on this product and, to this day, I vow never again to use it.

                                                                                  

This product is really handy if its a quick holiday fix you're after, giving a natural finish and extremely high sun protection. But for a day-to-day basis, I would not recommend this product, unless you feel like dabbling with acne for a fortnight....

Sleek 'Be Beautiful' Blemish Balm

 

 

This product apparently provides a full coverage formulation and conceals, repairs and protects the skin. Coming in three shades, Light, Medium and Dark, it contains red algae extract, which assists in the prevention of wrinkles and Vitamin C, a potent anti-oxidant.

 

 

Pros

 

•  SPF 15 - suitable for everyday protection in temperate climate
•  Natural, glowy finish
•  Conceals imperfections and redness very well
•  Medium, buildable coverage
•  Price - good value for what you get

Cons

•  Not very long lasting
•  Hard to get a hold of outside the UK
•  Shading - Light is darker than I expected it to be

I was desperate to try this BB Cream, both after my debacle with the Maybelline one and upon hearing 'Gossmakeupartist' on YT claiming that it's one of the best high street make-up products. I took the chance to pick this up when I was in the UK last week, with Sleek being very hard to get a hold of anywhere else. The Cream was £8.99, so about €12 which is very good value for the 50mls you get.

I started using Sleek's attempt at the skin craze last week and I am very impressed. The product offers an incredibly natural finish with a medium coverage and when I wear it, I feel as though I'm not wearing any make-up, but I still have the confidence of having my imperfections concealed. I quite like Sleek's claim of using wrinkle prevention based ingredients, which is something that make-up isn't usually concerned with. This product is definitely a lot darker than I would have expected, but unlike the Maybelline one, it just sinks into the skin without looking streaky or orange. Unfortunately, this product is not extremely long lasting, but with a bit of powder, you can't really go wrong.

All in all, I'm very satisfied with this product and would highly recommend it to fellow beauty junkies. If its the natural look you're after, but without the dreaded imperfections peeking through, then this is the one you want. (Oh and please don't be put off by my dodgy photograph, I squirted out way too much product.)

Thanks for reading guys, and hopefully this has helped anyone out there who feels like joining me on the BB Cream bandwagon.

xx

 



My Biggest YouTube Fashion Inspirations

Hi guys! I thought I'd write a post today on my biggest YT fashion inspirations. In my opinion, YT is the dark horse of trend setting in the fashion industry. Forget Alexa Chung or Vogue, YT is home to some seriously talented individuals in terms of fashion. For as long as I've been old enough to understand the power of fashion, YT fashion vloggers have inspired me in a massive way, setting trends months before the retailers can catch on and offer them to the masses. You know those striped black and white Beetlejuice style jeans that everyone seems to be wearing to death these days? Well, I remember one of my favourite YT Gurus premiering those babies to her viewers back in the realms of 2011. I tried to keep this to my Top 5, but found it absolutely impossible to break it down from my Top 7 So, if you're looking to inject some style credits into your wardrobe, then check out these darlings . . . .

BeautyCrush

BeautyCrush, ie 23 year old Londoner Samantha, has been the longest standing style inspiration in my life and I'm sure anyone reading will probably have to agree. This girl is incredible, so watchable and a real girl next door with a not so girl next door sense of style. Sammi sticks to a palette of blacks and neutrals with her fashion choices which certainly appeals to my own personal style. She jazzes her outfits up with unique accessories of usually luxuriously gold hardware and has seriously increased my lust for Michael Kors arm candy. If there's anyone out there that hasn't heard of this beauty already (which I seriously doubt) then follow this link pronto:

http://www.youtube.com/user/beautycrush

Blog: http://www.beautycrush.co.uk/

 

LeanneWoodfull

Next up is a Dublin girl who I could easily spend hours watching and listening to, due to her down-to-earth personality and brilliant sense of humour, not to mention her stunningly unique sense of style. At 19, Leanne has achieved what most fashion savvy individuals could only dream of and today, is one of Ireland's most successful fashion and beauty bloggers and YT Gurus. Leanne mixes goth glam with her interest in Old Hollywood, which I absolutely love and take heavy inspiration from. Please, for the love of Ireland, check out this girl:

http://www.youtube.com/user/leannewoodfull
Blog: http://thunderandthreads.blogspot.ie/

 

NiaSays

Nia, who is of Indian heritage, grew up in Hong Kong and now studies in London and with this cultural melting pot, a truly unique fashion eye was born. This girl is stunningly beautiful and I still can't over her incredible looks each time I open my YT subscription box. Nia is probably my favourite YT girl to watch, as I adore the manner in which she puts pieces together to create perfectly eclectic looks. On top of all that, she has the most wonderful voice, so even when she uploads a 'talky' video, I can't help but become engrossed. If you're looking for a truly lovely girl with a great sense of personal style, then I urge you to follow this link:

http://www.youtube.com/user/NiaSays
Blog: http://niasays.blogspot.com/

 

SoTotallyVlog

Alexia is another YT fashion vlogger with a fantastically sick sense of style. This girl has a body to die for and would look stunning in a bin bag, but, thankfully, decks herself out in much nicer clobber than a bin bag! I'm ridiculously jealosus of Lexi's considerable Chanel bag collection, bag envy to say the very least. . . STV encompasses a combination of classic pieces with edgy and unique items and is an inspiration unto herself.  Lexi is my most recent find in the world of YT Gurus and boy, am I glad I found her. If you to would like to discover this YT gem, then just follow this link:
http://www.youtube.com/user/sototallyvlog
Blog: http://www.fashionfilth.com/

 

Sunbeamjess

If its one of a kind style you're after, then 18 year old Jessica is worth a look. This girl has the most risk-taking and boundary-puhing sense of style of all the girls on my list. The way Jess styles pieces is revolutionary and completley unlike anybody else I've seen on YT. This girl takes risks, but never seems to put a toe out of line in terms of her outfit choices. Her Jeffrey Campbell collection is to die for and I particularly love her dip dyed green hair, which adds a final edge to any ootd. Here's her link:
http://www.youtube.com/user/sunbeamsjess
Blog: http://sunbeamsjess.blogspot.ie/

 

thefashioncitizen

The only US entry on my list is reserved for Arizonian sisters Stephanie and Melanie. Personally, I don't seem to come across very many US fashion vloggers who have the edge that attracts me, but these girls definitely do. What I really love about the girls is their fierce perchant for Goodwill buying and making an ancient item look right on trend for only a couple of dollars. Melanie has a sweet and feminine sense of style, waering florals and chiffon shirts mostly. I particularly love Stephanie's personal style which is pretty much summed up in her mantra, "All black, everything"! If you'd like to earn your stripes stateside then just follow this link:
http://www.youtube.com/user/thefashioncitizen
Blog: http://thefashioncitizen.com/

ThePersianBabe

ThePersianBabe, aka, 19 year old Barbara has a personal style that totally appeals to me. She mixes high street trends with simple basics to create ultra sophisticated yet casual outfits that are super relatable for girls like me pottering around town, going in and out of college and the likes. I really admire how Barbara mixes and matches simple accessories from stores such as H&M and Zara to put her own individual twist on any otherwise plain OOTD. She totally inspires to jazz up my outfits on the days even when I'm feelingat my most lazy and if you think you'd like to get inspired yourself, then here's her link:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePersianbabe

Well, that's all for today, folks. I'm always on the lookout for style inspiration so please comment below about your favourite fashion fiends, as I'd love to hear about them!

xx

 

My Everyday Make-up Routine

Hi blog readers! Since I'm feeling slightly virginal in the world of blogosphere, I thought I would begin this crazy and ever-so-daunting journey by sharing my 'Everyday Make-Up Routine'. It's something that I feel many girls and young women, myself included, gain benefit from, as its quite interesting to compare your own routine against other girls your age, as well as getting the dirt on exactly how amazing (or not so amazing) that new mascara really is.
In terms of my own routine, I am fairly low maintenance when it comes to my day-to-day make-up choices, preferring to concentrate on creating a perfect base and keeping it simple with the eyes and lips. If you're interested in seeing what I like to do, then read on......

Base

As I said before, I take the most pride, in terms of make-up, in creating a perfect base. Due to my acne-prone skin, faking good skin is a must for me and so foundation is a necessity. On good days, I love going for a lighter coverage but unfortunately, those days ain't a-plenty:

 1. I begin with moisturized skin. I know, d'uh, but I really can't stress how much better foundation glides across the skin when it has a tacky base to cling to. Over this, I apply the Natural Collection's Green Corrector Stick, which works absolute wonders in toning down red and angry skin. I know, it looks terrifying, but to anyone out there with acne scarring, it will change your life, no joke.

2. Over this, I apply Revlon Colorstay Foundation, for Combination/Oily skin in the shade 150 Buff.  This stuff is holy-grail material, giving a medium to full coverage with a semi-matte, semi-dewy finish. I know I couldn't live without this product as it gives me a wealth of confidence, even on my worst skin days.

3. Onto another much raved about, holy-grail product, in the form of Collection 2000's Lasting Perfection Concealer, in the shade 1 Fair. I cannot say enough about this product, and for about €6, you really can't go wrong. For a more concentrated coverage, I apply with my fingers directly onto problem areas or else smear onto my stippling brush for fuller coverage of a wider area. Guys, you need this in your life.

4. Once the basics have been covered, I move onto the extra tweaks that add a bit of pop. If I'm feeling oily, I powder with L'Oréal Bare Naturale Gentle Mineral Powder in the shade 408 Soft Ivory, along the forehead and around the chin. To add a bit of colour, I sometimes apply Bourjois Délíce de Poudre (or the Chocolate Bronzer to you and me) down the backs of the cheekbones and along the cheeks. I'm not huge on blusher, but sometimes drift towards Sleek's Blush in 933 Coral.

Eyes

I tend to be quite lazy when it comes to my eyes, sometimes only going for mascara, but this is what I usually do when I want to add a little something extra:

1. Of course, I begin with my brows, using Essence Eyebrow Designer in 04 Blonde. I can't say this is a revolutionary product, but it does the job when I need to fill in those pesky sparse areas.

2. When I feel like adding a bit of definition for whatever reason, I usually go in with Maybelline's Colour Tattoo in 40 Permanent Taupe along the crease. This is such an easy product to use either with a fluffy brush, or just with your fingers if you're running late. What I really like about it is, when it first goes on, it looks like a kind of cool toned slate grey, but after a few hours of wear, it warms up in this lovely warm brown, which always looks nice in the crease.

3. If I really feel like making an effort, I'll run the Miss Sporty Mini Me Eyeliner in 020 Grizzly along the tight-line and at the outer corners of the upper lid. I'll then take the Natural Collection Eye Lines in White along the water line, to enlarge my annoyingly small eyes, and on the tear-duct, to brighten them up.

4. Finally, I'll curl my eyelashes and liberally apply Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara. I'm not picky with mascara, as I feel that they all do the same job, but this one is pleasant enough to use.

Lips

Once again, lips are not my forte on a day-to-day basis but these are some of the products that I would drift towards:

1. I always, always, always apply Carmex. It's brilliant stuff, as I'm sure most of you are well aware of and if not, then definitely give it a whirl.

2. If I feel like adding a bit of colour, I'll go for either Bourjois's Lipstick in 06 Rose Balnéaire, which gives a lovely sheer pink sheen, or else I'll add a No7 Perfect Lips Pencil in 10 Blush, which adds nice matte pink dimension to the lips.

I hope this has given any readers out there a bit of an insight into the make-up routine of an Average Joe like myself. I'd love to hear anyone's opinion, good or bad, on any of the products mentioned and I hope to speak to you again soon!

xx