Hylamide is a fairly new brand to me. I’ve used a couple of products from them in the past few months and have been dipping in and out of using them. The Hylamide HA Blur has come out on top and so I wanted to share it with you.

Hylamide HA Blur

I know silicone is not the best thing to be using on your skin. But for me, makeup primers that contain it tend to work the best. Silica does dry out your skin though and can absorb too much of the natural oils.
I need a barrier to not only help my makeup last longer, but to keep the natural oils at bay and make my pores less visible. The Hylamide does all of this, but in a different way to most. It uses Hylauronic Acid.

Hylamide HA Blur Review

It comes out of the tube white and quite thick.

makeup primer

As you work it in to the skin, it starts to become more pliable and gel like.

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irish beauty blogger

It feels like skincare going on first and then it becomes more like a primer with a texture similar to the likes of Benefit’s Porefessional (which I love).

It doesn’t feel drying or uncomfortable on the skin. It does however, glide over enlarged pores and fine lines making them less noticeable. As well, as leaving a smoother, more matte base to apply your makeup on top of.

I use probably a double pea sized amount, what’s the next measurement after pea sized? Ha!

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I pat it into my finger tips and them push it into my skin with both hands.

Before application:
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After application:
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I find my foundation glides really well over the top of the Hylamide HA Blur, and it does work well at keeping the shine at bay for my oilier skin. I think even if you have dry or more combination skin, it would work well for you too as Hyaluronic acid helps keep skin moisturised. So, using it won’t dry out your skin. I think this is a good point for all skin types really. Even though I have more oily skin, it can still get dehydrated and flaky. Hylamide say you can mix it with your foundation or use it on top too. I’ve yet to try that method of application myself.

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Overall, I am a big fan of it! You can pick up Hylamide HA Blur from the Deciem website here for €19. Look Fantastic and Boots also sell the brand. This particular product is not in stock on the websites at this exact time though 🙁

So tell me, would you give it a go?

xxx

 

 

 

I am on my second bottle of the La Roche Posay Toleriane Ultra Eye Contour.

La Roche Posay Toleriane Ultra Eye Contour

I picked this up after seeing Sinèad from The Beautiful Truth talking about it. And, I am so glad I did!

La Roche Posay Toleriane Ultra Eye Contour

As you probably know because I always go on about it. My skin is predominately oily. However, I do suffer with dryness under my eyes. So, I was on the hunt for an eye cream that cleared it up as it can not only be uncomfortable. It can make applying makeup a pain in the bum too. I also didn’t want to spend a tonne of money on something, in case it didn’t do the job. I can say hand on heart the La Roche Posay Toleriane Ultra Eye Contour has ticked all of the eye cream boxes for me 🙂

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It is specifically designed for sensitive eyes. And according to La Roche Posay here, it is ‘preservative-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free, alcohol-free, colorant-free, lanolin-free.’

It comes within a pump dispenser which I always find handy.

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And the formula itself is in a separate airtight bag within the bottle.

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This is supposed to keep the formula fresh. On a side note, the pump doesn’t dispense too much product. You can somewhat control the amount of cream you want. The pump has a spring mechanism. I don’t find myself rubbing excess cream into my hands after applying it 🙂

The formula is what I would describe as a creamy gel.

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Even though it feels hydrating on the skin, it absorbs really quickly and doesn’t feel tacky or leave a film behind. I have been using it both morning and evening for the past few months and have found a significant reduction in the dryness under my eyes as a result. I use a probably a pea sized amount tapped out around each eye.

Overall, I am a big fan of the La Roche Posay Toleriane Ultra Eye Contour. To be fair I would have to be to repurchase it. I can be a bit flaky when it comes to my beauty products (no pun intended 🙂 ) I think it is a really good price too. I got mine in a local pharmacy for €14. You can pick it up from Boots in store or online here too.

xxx

 

 

It’s October Favourites time!

October favourites

Halloween is over and it is time to embrace the colder weather. Oh, and it means we are allowed talk about Christmas properly too now, right?

My October Favourites are strictly beauty related this month. For whatever reason there has been nothing else really floating my boat over the past few weeks.

October Favourites

I talk about my hair care favourites, skin care and of course some makeup too.

As always the actual Youtube video can be found on my channel here. But, you can watch it above too by just clicking on my mush there, Whatever you prefer 🙂

You can find the L’Oréal Fibrology hair products in Boots in store or online here.

The Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is also in Boots in store or online here. Liz Earle are great with special offers and gift sets so keep an eye out if you want to try it.

You can watch my first impressions video on the  Urban Decay Afterglow Highlighter in Sin here if you want to see it up close and in action

I also have the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in Nude Mauve up close in a post here if you want to see swatches.

The Kryolan Transluscent Powder is available on the Sunaura website here. You just have to scroll down to see it listed.

And that’s it for my October Favourites for 2016.

I was digging my somewhat simple makeup that day so I thought I would include a couple of pics 🙂

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The shadows are from the Too Faced Christmas Macaron Palette that is in Debenhams at the moment. And, my lippie is the Rimmel The Only One Matte Lipstick in ‘Trendsetter’. I have swatches of the lippie here. I’m obsessed!

Happy November , have a brilliant one 🙂

Gemma

xxx

If you watch American beauty Youtubers like me, the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion will be familiar to you.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

Or,if you’re a Kylie Jenner fan, you’ll have seen her rocking her Mario Badescu Drying Lotion over on her Snapchat. The skincare brand is pretty well known over in the States. They have been established since 1967 and do a whole host of products.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

The Drying Lotion is formulated to dry out surface spots on the skin. It contains Calamine as the fifth listed ingredient. We, of course would use calamine lotion in the treatment of chicken pox. It also contains Glycerin and Salicylic Acid, but they are lower down on the list. Good to note that it is cruelty and paraben free too 🙂

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As you can see the Marion Badescu Drying Lotion comes in a 29ml glass bottle. The solution is split. You have the liquid and then there’s a pink sediment (which I presume is calamine) on the bottom.

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To use, you dip a cotton bud straight down into it. This coats the swab with the mixture. You don’t shake or mix it up. Then, you just dab the solution on any blemishes you might have. It dries down and you leave it overnight.

It will take a while to get through the solution you use very little, but I presume, as it depletes it will be harder and harder to get to the product on the bottom. It may end up a little messy. You can already see mines a bit worse for wear!

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It has quite a strong medicated scent and be warned if you use it on broken skin it will sting the bejesus out of you! I do find it does what it says on the tin though. I have been using this a lot over the last couple of months. I am prone to breakouts so I have had plenty to practice on. The solution does dry out active spots. It is not a miracle cure, nor does it claim to be. But, it will make your spots a little less, well spot like and sore 🙂 I like it too because it dries down so it doesn’t end up all over your pillowcase and it’s targeted so you’re not adding ingredients that dry out your skin all over your face where you might not need it.

Overall, the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion gets a thumbs up from me! I got mine from Beautybay for €16.30 online here.

Have you tried it?

xxx

 

I have used and loved the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo for literally years and years. There is always a tube of it in my skincare stash.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo +

As a beauty blogger, I am very lucky to be able to try and test new products all of the time. But, as someone with oilier skin, I am always hesitant with day time moisturisers. I need one that adds moisture without interfering with my makeup. La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo is one I can apply and I don’t have to think about it. I just know it works for me.

La Roche Posay Ireland

It is specifically made for oily, spot prone skin. It is non- comedogenic and doesn’t contain any parabens either. The ingredients include: Niacinamide, LHA, Piroctone Olamine, Linoleic Acid, Zinc PCA. They say it helps prevent shine, my take on that would be that it doesn’t add any extra oil to the skin.

My non science interpretation of La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo is that along with helping to alleviate any active breakouts, it still makes my skin feel hydrated. Even if are more oily, your skin can still be dehydrated and in need of moisture and I think this gives a balance to the skin without leaving any residue behind that might interfere with makeup application.

It has a gel like consistency and blends in super easy and quick. You don’t have to wait around for it to soak in. I think it does have a strong floral scent, which I personally don’t mind. It doesn’t really linger after the product has soaked into the skin.

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beauty blogger ireland

I am not saying by any means it’s a miracle worker (what is really?) I just find Effaclar Duo works really well for me and it doesn’t cost a whole load either. At the moment it’s €11.99 in Boots here on offer. But, usually it’ll set you back around 17 quid or so for a 40ml tube.

This year La Roche Posay released the Effaclar Duo + Unifiant.

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This is basically the moisturiser as we know but with a tint. I went to the launch of and I was super excited to give it a go because of course I love the original.

It only comes in two shades, light and medium. The one I use is light and it is a pretty ok match for me.

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I use this as I would the original. I would say it has light coverage but the ability to cover redness. I apply it as a moisturiser, let it sink in and then put primer on top. I like using it for ‘no makeup days’. I’ll then skip foundation and just used concealer and whatever other makeup I want to use that day. It wouldn’t last on my skin just on it’s own.

 

Are you a fan of the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo + range?

xxx

**** PR Sample

 

 

 

I thought rather than just tell you about the Garnier Micellar Oil Infused Cleansing Water, I would make a video showing in action.

 

Garnier Micellar Oil Infused Cleansing Water

This is the first time I’ve ever taken my makeup off in video form so it felt a little strange, not going to lie 🙂

Garnier Micellar Oil Infused Cleansing Water

Garnier say of their new Micellar Water on the Boots website: ‘Is Garnier Micellar Oil-Infused Cleansing Water Right For Me? Yes, if you are looking for an efficient, yet gentle cleanser that removes all make-up (even waterproof), impurities and dirt and leaves skin feeling nourished. Suitable even for dry, sensitive skin. Why Is It Different? Micellar Oil-Infused Cleansing Water is an easy way to remove even waterproof make-up, and cleanse and nourish the feel of skin, in 1 step without rinsing. How Does It Work? For the 1st time Garnier Micellar technology is formulated with oils. The micelles (cleansing agents) capture impurities like a magnet & lift away dirt from the skin, whilst the oils instantly dissolve all types of make-up. The Results:Perfectly cleansed, nourished feeling skin without rubbing or rinsing.’

In this video I show you the Garnier Micellar Oil Infused Cleansing Water in action on a full face of makeup including waterproof mascara and gel eyeliner. As well as giving you my two cents on it. I’ll give you a hint though….

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I think this picture give you my true feelings, right? 🙂

The Garnier Micellar Oil Infused Cleansing Water is always on special it seems. I’ve seen it in Penneys, Dunnes and even Tesco discounted and it currently €5.53 on Boots online here. The normal price for a 400ml bottle is usually €8.29.

As always you can watch by clicking on the video above or you can head straight over to watch it on my Youtube channel here.

Have you used the Garnier Micellar Oil Infused Cleansing Water? Are you a fan? I would love to know your thoughts 🙂

Thanks for watching.

xxx