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Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer

I have been using the Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer since just after Christmas on and off. It’s definitely been a hot minute. I’ve put off writing about it for ages, just because it took me this long to formulate a logical opinion on it.

I bought this along with the Bomb Baby Mini Lip And Face Set. I really like the gloss, I can understand the hype. Although I will say loads of brands have jumped on the pretty sparkly non sticky gloss band wagon now. So there’s many a lovely gloss out there to choose from now.

The Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer is said to be ‘A shine-stopping, pore-diffusing primer that smooths the way for better foundation application and longer wear with an instant retouch effect’. This description is basically what confuses me. Hear me out 🙂

This is obviously a description that would hook me with my skin being on the oiler side and having pores like craters in my t zone. I’ll start with the pros of this primer. The packaging is so lovely and the matte glass bottle feels so fancy in your hands. The pump is really easy to control. It has a really delicate , sweet scent. The formula is really light, blends really nicely and applies nearly like an extra layer of skincare. It dries down and leaves your skin feeling really soft.

Ok, this is where I get confused. For me, it doesn’t really control oil. I generally use it in conjunction with another more hardy primer like Benefit Porefessional. I apply the the Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer all over and the other primer in my t zone where I know it just won’t cut the mustard. Just because I like how it feels and, well I have it and spent a decent amount of money on it. It also doesn’t do anything for my enlarged pores either, so that were Porefessional comes too.

If they had of marketed this primer towards drier skin types, I could completely concur with the consistency and how it feels. But saying it’s a pore diffusing, shine stopping primer doesn’t really make any sense to me.

Overall, I think it’s nice and it doesn’t put me off the brand at all, this was just a kind of a miss because it doesn’t do what it says on the tin.

The Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer is available from Harvey Nichols in store and online here now.

Have you tried anything from the Fenty range yet? I’d love to know your thoughts.

xxx

May 2, 2018/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Makeup

LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation

The LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation landed here in Ireland before you could even get your hands on it anywhere else in Europe. I was lucky enough to go to the launch of it here in Dublin, so I got to bring a bottle of it home to try out.

According to the brand, the LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation gives a ‘suede like finish to the skin’. ‘Has buildable coverage for both day and night’. And is a ‘paraben free formula’.

I have the shade Natural.

Looking at the shades at the event, Ivory was too light and the other shades after that were a bit too yellow for my skin. Natural is a bit too dark, but it was the most suited out of the lighter colours. We have 14 shades to choose from here in Ireland.

It comes in a glass bottle and have a pump, that alone impresses me, I won’t lie 🙂

On me, the LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation definitely has a more medium to full coverage. It’s not super thick though like some more full coverage foundations can be. The formula definitely does dry down to a suede like finish as the brand suggests. So although it’s more matte, it’s not gonna crack if you smile matte 🙂

I have oily skin. I know I say it constantly, but especially for foundation reviews it’s really important to note. Generally, I use a more silicone heavy primer, as I find they are the ones that work best for my skin type. I actually used the LA Girl one here which I really like.

I use a synthetic kabuki brush to apply it and again that works well for me too. The formula is pretty pigmented so you really have to work it into the skin, so a more dense brush makes things easier. I find the formula can cling to more drier skinned areas so that is something to note. That’s why I think the more silicone heavy primers work better with it. It gives it a bit more of a slippy base. Once I use one though it glides over enlarged pores and doesn’t sit in fine lines either. I don’t apply foundation on or around my eyes.

On me, the coverage is medium, but I can amp it up to more full where I want it. It covers redness and slight pigmentation. My darker freckles come through but I am completely ok with that. I love that the finish, although matte, has a satin feel and look to it. It’s not just completely flat. I think it photographs really well too. It lasts well on my skin once I prime and lightly powder. I can get 6-8 hours out of it, with minimal shine or breakdown. It honestly competes with my very favourite L’Oréal Infallible 24 HR Matte in that department!

Overall, I am a big fan of the LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation. It has made it’s way into my everyday foundation rotation. Yes I have one of those 🙂 You can find it now in store from LA Girl stockists. Online from TRNDbeauty, and Beauty Bay. Have you picked it up yet?

xxx

PR SAMPLE

March 23, 2018/by Gem

Skincare, Youtube Video

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

Makeup, Youtube Video

Benefit The Porefessional Pore Minimizing Makeup

I jumped in at the deep end with the new Benefit The Porefessional Pore Minimizing Makeup.

This very cute package arrived the other day from Benefit with all four products from the range.

I thought I would do a complete first impressions video using everything including the new Benefit The Porefessional Pore Minimizing Makeup.

I’ve used the Benefit The Porefessional Primer many times before over the years and do really like it. So, my first impressions are of the other three products that are newer in the range. The Matte Rescue, Agent Zero Shine and the Pore Minimizing Makeup that was the whole point of the press release 🙂

Obviously you don’t have to buy all four products, they are pretty pricey! But if you do, I go through and use all four step by step. And also, I don’t read the instructions on the makeup and do a really bad blogger job of showing it in action 🙂 I think I make a pretty decent comeback in the end though so don’t judge me on that, k?

Here’s a before and after of the first three products minus powder and obviously eyes and brows done aswell.

Then here is my skin with all four products applied with the added makeup accoutrements 🙂

If you click on the video either above or directly on my YouTube channel here, you can see them all in action one by one, my first impressions and how my makeup fared throughout the day. I do a check in after wearing them for about six hours.

The whole Benefit The Porefessional range is available from Benefit retailers nationwide with the Pore Minimizing Makeup coming this month. You can have a closer look at the products on the Boots website here. Anything take your fancy?

Gemma

xxx *****PR SAMPLE****

May 5, 2017/by Gem

Skincare

Night Time Skin Care Routine Currently

I already spoke about my current day time routine here. It’s only fair that I throw my night time skin care routine into the mix too 🙂

I am very proud of being someone who removes their makeup every night before sleep. No matter how tired (or typsy) I might be. For me, it’s like brushing your teeth, it just has to be done! I am not really one for makeup wipes. If I am feeling really lazy, I’ll use eye makeup remover and micellar water and call it a day. But for the most part, I like to actually wash my face.

This for me, is my current night time skin care routine. I do change up products every now and then. It’s of course part of what I do. I don’t have majorly sensitive skin either so it usually doesn’t affect my skin too radically.

I do like to extra exfoliate a couple of times each week. I’ll usually use the Waxperts Wonder Pads (which I reviewed ages ago here), or the Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer Pads. These contain AHA’s so I stick to using them at night.

If I have a breakout I use the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, which I have a review of here. It’s a bit gimmicky, but it seems to do the job. And it dries down on the skin, so you don’t get it all over your pillow which is a bonus in my book 🙂

I wear waterproof mascara on the daily, so before I wash my face I usually remove my eye makeup with an oil based cleanser.

I have been using the Botanics All Bright one for literally years. It does a great job at getting even gel liner off without too much rubbing. It doesn’t irritate my eyes and it’s as cheap as chips. You can buy it from Boots here.

For cleansing, at the moment. I have two in my bathroom. The Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1.

This can be used as a face wash, to exfoliate or a mask. I usually use this in the shower. I can wash my face with it and then pop some on as a mask while I go about my business. It is kaolin based so it dries on the skin like a clay mask. It’s been working really well for my oily skin.

If I am just washing my face and not showering I have been using the Yonka Cleansing Gel. This feels really gentle on my skin.

It is also like a spa in a plastic bottle, it smells bloody amazing.

For toner, it’s generally just the La Roche Posay Serozinc which I speak more about here. I always have a bottle of it in my skincare stash.

I use the same eye cream both day and night. My go to one over the past year or so is the La Roche Posay Ultra Toleriane Ultra Eye Contour.

I really like this stuff and it’s not super expensive either. I have a full review of it here.

Because I cannot get too heavy with moisturiser during the day because I am so oily. I usually make up for it in my night time skincare routine.

At the moment I am using (and really enjoying) the Hylamide Low Molecular HA Booster.

It’s basically a serum that contains hyaluronic acid. It helps hydrate without weighing down the skin. It’s an extra step in my routine but my skin is reacting well from it. My skin is feeling a little plumper and more hydrated without my pores being clogged up. You can buy it directly from the Deciem website here.

After that settles in, I apply a light layer of the Image Vital C Hydrating Facial Oil.

It just feels so nice. I pat a dropper amount into my face and neck. Although I am oily, I do have areas of dehydration so I use the serum and the oil in the evening to help with that. The Vital C is formulated for dull, tired skin but also suitable for acne prone skin that is healing. Image skincare is stocked in salons throughout the country including Millie’s here.

The final step in my night time skin care routine then is just lip balm. I usually just use some Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream.

I have a full review of this here.

And then my night time skin care routine is completed and I am ready for bed 🙂

xxx

March 27, 2017/by Gem

Lifestyle, Youtube Video

Getting A Little Personal…

I feel really weird doing this, not going to lie. But, I love watching question and answer videos on YouTube. I love getting a little nosey into people’s personal lives and seeing them as human, if that makes sense?

I am as human as they come, sometimes too much so 🙂

I officially have 50 videos over on my YouTube channel!! I literally never thought I would see the day. Seriously, the thoughts of making a video scared the living daylights out of me. It still does, but I am getting more and more comfortable with it as each video is completed. It’s a slow process getting my content seen, but everyday more people stop by.

I am by no means a YouTuber. I make videos to mix up my content here on Beautynook. I am a huge vlog fan too, so I wanted to give it a go myself and push my comfort zones a little. I’ve grown to love the editing aspect of it, and am actually thinking of maybe vlogging a little too if that’s something that would interest you guys? So getting a little personal every now and again and showing you snippets of life?

For my 51st video I thought I would try on the personal side a bit (not too much ha) and answer some questions that you very kindly asked me on my Snapchat and on my Facebook page.

There’s some random questions, some blogging questions and some life questions. You can as always watch the video by clicking on it above or directly on my channel here.

This was another step outside my comfort zone, I have to admit. I’m not a particularly private person, I’ll tell you anything. But doing it in this capacity is a bit more formal and permanent. I’m not the most eloquent speaker either, but sure hopefully you enjoy it anyways.

I was also digging my ‘more simple’ makeup that day, so here’s a bit of a closer look. I used a baby blue pencil in my waterline and I think it really opens the eyes up 🙂

As always thanks for stopping, I really appreciate it.

Gemma

xxx

March 24, 2017/1 Comment/by Gem

Posts

The Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer is available from Harvey Nichols in store and online here now.

Have you tried anything from the Fenty range yet? I’d love to know your thoughts.

xxx

Overall, I am a big fan of the LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation. It has made it’s way into my everyday foundation rotation. Yes I have one of those 🙂 You can find it now in store from LA Girl stockists. Online from TRNDbeauty, and Beauty Bay. Have you picked it up yet?

xxx

**********PR SAMPLE**********

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.

I jumped in at the deep end with the new Benefit The Porefessional Pore Minimizing Makeup.

I already spoke about my current day time routine here. It’s only fair that I throw my night time skin care routine into the mix too 🙂

I feel really weird doing this, not going to lie. But, I love watching question and answer videos on YouTube. I love getting a little nosey into people’s personal lives and seeing them as human, if that makes sense?

I am as human as they come, sometimes too much so 🙂

PR SAMPLE