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Elf Magnetic Mask & Night Time Routine

The Elf Magnetic Mask is one of the coolest products I have ever tried. Does it work? I’m not sure yet I’ve only used it twice so far. I couldn’t resist putting in a video though to show you how you use it.

This concept of the Elf Magnetic Mask isn’t new to the market necessarily. There has been a few out before it. But, this is hands down the most affordable one at the moment. Unfortunately it hasn’t made it to our shores yet.

I was lucky enough to get one as a press sample. It is on their website here though and they do international shipping, if you fancy taking the plunge. For some reason the euro price is much more expensive. Hopefully if it does come over here, it won’t be as bad.

I can say my skin felt really nice both times I’ve used it. And I do feel like it drew some clogged pores to the surface. I definitely had a bit of a breakout after the first time. But in a good way, if that makes sense? 🙂

So in the video I give you a demo of the Elf Magnetic Mask. It’s so much fun to use. You apply the mask and then use the magnetized applicator to literally pull it off your skin. Sounds scary, but you can hardly feel it. There’s iron in it so that’s what makes it magnetic.

I’ve never been happier using a face mask…look at me like!

Within the video, I also gave a quick rundown on what I’ve been using to cleanse and then my bedtime moisturising concoction too.

I used:

Bioderma to take my eye makeup off. It’s in a limited edition pump bottle. If you can get your hands on it. Do! It’s on the Cloud10Beauty website here.
Nia Cleansing Balm. It’s on their website here.
Clarins Double Serum. (Review here).
Clarins Total V Contouring Serum.
Neostrata Bionic Eye Cream Plus. I found it on the Meaghers Pharmacy website here.
The Ordinary Retinoid 2%. More info on this here.
Botanics Facial Oil. It’s on the Boots website here.
Catrice Volumizing Lip Balm.

This is my current night time routine although I do alternate serums and I don’t always use an oil. I have oily skin, so it really just depends on whether I feel I need it or not.

As always you can click on the video above to watch the magic happen or you can go directly to my YouTube channel here. 🙂

Let me know what you think.

Gemma

xxx ********CONTAINS PR SAMPLES***********

September 22, 2017/by Gem

Skincare

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo SPF 30

Myself and Effaclar Duo have a very close bond. It is one of the only face creams that doesn’t interfere with my makeup and create extra oil throughout the day. I did a blog post last year here about the OG one and about their Unifiant (tinted) version. This post is dedication to the latest release, the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo SPF 30!

As someone with oily skin, SPF, generally does not do very well on my mush! SPF on it’s own is a no go. It tends to be thick and doesn’t absorb enough into the skin. When it’s within skincare, it can still be like this and I just find myself getting shiny pretty much instantaneously.

Because of this, I have to guiltily admit, sometimes I go without SPF on my face completely, or I use a foundation with some protection in it. I can say hand on heart that the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo SPF 30 has been a bit of a revelation for me.

It comes in the same 40ml tube as the original and smells the same. It has the same gel like formula but it’s definitely a little thicker in consistency.

But, if you give it a couple of minutes, it does sink into the skin without feeling tacky or leaving a white mask on the skin.

It of course has SPF 30 and protects against UVA and UVB rays. It’s also kind to imperfections too. Now as it’s a moisturiser rather than full on sunscreen, it does mean that it doesn’t protect for as long and we generally apply it in a thinner layer. And it’s not water resistant. So it’s great for general day to day wear. But, if you’re heading to the beach or spending a lot of time directly in the sun, proper sunscreen is still the way to go.

The important part for me though that it doesn’t make my makeup slide off completely. I do get more shiner than I would if I use the original version, but nothing like I would if I was wearing full blown SPF.

Overall, I am a fan of the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo SPF 30. It’s a great middle ground for me. It means I have some sort of decent protection on my face day to day, while out and about. I don’t feel as exposed.

It’s available now in pharmacies nationwide. The general price is around €19 or so. I found it on Feel Unique online here for the best price.

Have you tried it yet?

Shout out to Rosie for all the help as always 🙂

xxx

****PR SAMPLE****

July 24, 2017/1 Comment/by Gem

Skincare

Vichy Normaderm Beautifying Anti-Blemish Care

Vichy Normaderm Beautifying Anti-Blemish Care…what a mouthful! 🙂

If you have been following Beautynook for any length of time, you will know I have oily, spot prone skin. The Vichy Normaderm range on paper, is literally made for my skin type. Vichy says it’s ‘An expert collection of products to combat the 6 signs of imperfection-prone adult skin: Blemishes, Pores, Shine, Oily Skin, Marks & Uneven Complexion. Suitable for even sensitive skin.’ My skin in a nut shell 🙂

I’ve been using this moisturiser for a couple of months now, so I think I am in a good enough place with it to give you an opinion. Off the bat, I love the packaging. It has a pump applicator, you can control the amount of product that comes out of it by how hard you press on the top of the pump.

The moisturiser itself has a really fresh (but strong scent) that I personally like. The texture of it to me, is like a gel/cream hybrid. It has a thin consistency and soaks into the skin really quickly. If you have oily or combination skin, this is brilliant for a day cream.

Vichy says it contains something called Airlicium, this is supposed to help the moisturiser disperse and absorb sebum. It also contains 1.5% salicylic acid. Alcohol is high up on the ingredients list too, so if you are really senstive, I would be careful.

I can honestly say the Vichy Normaderm Beautifying Anti-Blemish Care does not interfere with my makeup longevity. I’ve used so many moisturisers in the past that are just far too emollient and my skin is shiny within the hour. It still manages to moisturise my skin though. My skin, although oily can tend to be dehydrated in places and I’ve found since using the Vichy Normaderm moisturiser this has significantly decreased. My skin feels more replenished.

Using this along with my holy grail toner the La Roche Posay Serozinc (I have a full review of this here), I have also noticed my skin texture (I tend to get alot of whiteheads on my cheeks) has improved alot too. I can’t say it helps particularly with pore appearance like it claims though. It has helped lessen the redness of my hormonal breakouts somewhat, I don’t think a topical cream, can stop them altogether.

I use a pump of the Vichy Normaderm Beautifying Anti-Blemish Care after cleansing and toning during the day and leave it to sink in for only about 5-10 minutes, it soaks in really fast. Then, just do my makeup as normal. I use it in my night time routine too, and then follow up with a heavier cream, but that’s completely just me, that isn’t necessary at all.

When it comes to skincare, I can only tell you what works for me, I am by no means an expert 🙂

Overall, the Vichy Normaderm Beautifying Anti-Blemish Care seems to work really well for me though. The bottle I have now is a press sample, but when it runs out, I will definitely repurchase. The Vichy Normaderm range contains toners, cleansers, spot treatments the works and like with most Vichy products, are not too horrendously priced.

You can buy Vichy Normaderm in chemists nationwide and in Boots in store and online here. It will set you back between €19-20 euro, depending on where you purchase it.

Have you tried anything from the range? Be sure to let me know, I’d love some recommendations.

xxx

March 2, 2016/by Gem

Skincare

La Roche Posay Serozinc Review

La Roche Posay Serozinc has finally hit Irish shores! Thank the lord! I have been waiting very patiently to get my mitts on this stuff. When I saw McCabes pharmacy say they had stock in their store in Swords, I trekked out and got it no questions asked 🙂 I’m a southsider!!! 🙂

Serozinc is a zinc sulphate solution for oily, blemish prone skin. Its also suitable for acne prone skin too. You use it just like you would a toner. Spray it onto your skin after you cleanse, leave it to soak in and you can pat any excess off, then moisturise as normal. These are the directions La Roche Posay give you.

I suffer with my skin. It goes into hormonal breakout every month and I already have oily skin to begin with. I find alot of products you can get for oily blemish prone skin can be great but really dry your skin out at the same time, which means you have to be careful with using them. I don’t find this with the Serozinc at all. I’ve been using it twice a day since I bought it and it has never dried my skin out. It has however calmed my spots and brought down their inflammation. I feel it has also helped with the texture of my skin. I have really seen a difference in the amount of comedones I suffer with i.e. whiteheads and blackheads…another lovely aspect of oily skin. I personally use it after I use the Pixi Glow Tonic in the evening which is an exfoliating toner, I adore this stuff too. I think the Serozinc adds a little moisture to my skin after using the more abrasive toner and they work really well together.

The spray itself applies really easily, it has a nice steady flow that you can control when you spray, it doesn’t scare you in the morning when you apply it…that has happened me with some similarly packaged products :p

In conclusion, I love the La Roche Posay Serozinc. It’s not going to save you from breakouts completely, but it will make them alot easier to handle. La Roche Posay really make fantastic skin care products. And the good news too is Serozinc will only set you back a tenner here in Ireland! It’s so worth it!!

Have you tried it? What do you use with it? I would love to know?

xxx

April 27, 2015/9 Comments/by Gem

Posts

The Elf Magnetic Mask is one of the coolest products I have ever tried. Does it work? I’m not sure yet I’ve only used it twice so far. I couldn’t resist putting in a video though to show you how you use it.

So in the video I give you a demo of the Elf Magnetic Mask. It’s so much fun to use. You apply the mask and then use the magnetized applicator to literally pull it off your skin. Sounds scary, but you can hardly feel it. There’s iron in it so that’s what makes it magnetic.

Vichy Normaderm Beautifying Anti-Blemish Care…what a mouthful! 🙂