Elf was, for the lack of a Laser card, one of the few budget brands I had not tried out til recently. Despite the largely glowing reviews I’d heard from just about everyone, I’d never got around to taking the plunge – but I have to say, I now get what all the fuss is about.
Firstly, I love Elf’s packaging. It’s very like MAC and it may be my inner snob, but nice packaging just endears a product to me from the get go – Prestige, take note! The formula of the Minty Lip Gloss (1) was slightly disappointing – I think I was expecting something along the lines of California Kissin, but got more of a deathly-pale-lip effect. Still, the smell and tingle was yummy and the promise of fresh breath was definitely fulfilled.
Sacrilege aside, the Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths (2) were aaaaaamazing! I wouldn’t use them every day, just because my skin would probably blow up, but for a quick fix these are the best makeup wipes I’ve used. One does for your entire face and leaves it nicely moisturised. They’re quite lily-scented, which I didn’t like, but I’d put up with smelling like a garden centre if it meant not looking like a panda. No black eyes with these wipes!
It might be overly enthusiastic to say that the third time was the charm for my bronzer escapades, but this was the best of the bunch I’ve tried out. Warm Bronzer (3) comes in a sturdy palette with a great mirror and actually gave a bronzed effect as opposed to my recent mud-bath experiences. Three colours with a slight shimmer are just the right mix of light colour and sparkle.
Lastly, I trialled Mineral Lip Liner in Rose (4). This was my perfect liner colour, very similar to a MAC liner in Dervish that has graced my makeup bag for years. Great quality and minimal packaging won a thumbs up from me for this.
All products are €4, excepting Mineral Lip Liner which is €3.50, and can be bought online from eyeslipsface.co.uk.
Tags: bronzer, budget, cleansing wipes, elf, lip liner, lipgloss, student style
Like cutting edge skincare that’s brand new to the Irish market?
Like effective anti ageing products with scientifically proven results?
Like to WIN this fantastic kit from iS Clinical worth a whopping €380?
Yep, thought so!
More details and entry details after the cut
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Anti-ageing, competition, is clinical, win!
By now, Irish readers have probably heard of Tan Organic a time or twenty. A Dragon’s Den success story, Kirstie gave us the lowdown on Tan Organic following a meeting with the tan’s creator, Noelle O’Connor, back in May, and since then I’ve given both the professional in-salon airbrush version and the consumer DIY at-home version a whirl.
First up for review: the pro-applied spray.
I was advised to exfoliate well and moisturise the night before, but not the day of, my tan – I duly spent two nights scrubbing my skin raw to remove old tan build-up and dead skin cells, and lashing on moisturiser to ensure my skin was in prime condition. The application process itself was similarly fairly standard.
Standing in a small dedicated tanning room in some snazzy disposable knickers and with my hair out of the way in an equally fetching hair net, my therapist instructed me to assume various positions as she sprayed me with the lighter coloured “Caramel” tinted liquid from top to toe. She then gave me a hand-held dryer with which to dry the freshly applied tan.
It was a good job that she did: the aloe vera base means this stuff takes quite a while to dry.
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Tags: fake tan, tan, tan organic, tan trials 10, tanorganic
You’re mad for Catrice you lot, but one problem we’ve all been having is the lack of stockist information. So in inimitable Beaut.ie fashion, we decided to do something about it.
Taking to Facebook, we typed “Hello fragrant followers! We’re looking for the low-down on Catrice stockists in Ireland – got a pharmacy near you selling it? Do leave us a comment!”
And you did. Country-wide, you left us the gen on tons of locations the brand can be found. I also have the official word that it’s in Dunnes, Penneys, Guineys, Bradleys, McCabes and pharmacies nationwide, but here are more specific stockist details as provided by our lovely – and indeed fragrant – Facebook followers after the cut.
Cheers ladies, we, and mna na hEireann, appreciate it.
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Tags: beaut.ie investigates, catrice, stockists
Last week we told you about the situation over the Mac/Rodarte limited edition collection and thanks to everyone who pushed the issue and wouldn’t let it lie, Mac is now donating 100% of the profits to the women and girls of Juarez. Read more about it over on Temptalia.
Tags: blather
A sunscreen review seemed more timely when I first started thinking about this post a few weeks back, with the sun regularly splitting the stones. We’ve seen a bit less of the big yellow ball in the sky for the last while, but as we all know, damaging UV rays do still manage to make it through the clouds on an overcast day and so I’ve continued to wear Shiseido Urban Environment UV Protection Cream, €33, on a daily basis.
The “Urban Environment” part of the name is the first clue that this is targeted at those of us looking for a sunscreen product to wear on a daily basis, rather than on trips to the beach. Along with broad spectrum UV protection, it also contains antioxidant plant extracts to protect against air pollution and an amino acid complex to help moisturise the skin. As I’m always on the hunt for a daily sunscreen that not only protects my skin, but also feels comfortable to wear on a regular basis, I was very interested to try it out to see if it would fit the bill.
I’ve been using Urban Environment in the SPF30 formulation (there’s also an SPF50) daily for about three weeks now and I must say that I really like it. It’s a light cream that absorbs easily, keeps my dry skin nicely hydrated and most importantly of all, doesn’t have that mask-like feel that many sunscreens have. It makes a lovely base for makeup but doesn’t have that horribly shiny finish that makes wearing makeup over it a necessity.
It removes easily with my normal cleanser and I haven’t had so much as a clogged pore when wearing it – the more hardcore sunscreens I’ve worn in the past have often resulted in breakouts when worn for longer periods. I’m happy with the protection levels it offers for daily wear and most of all with the fact that wearing it isn’t a chore.
Urban Environment is in a higher price bracket than pharmacy-brand sunscreens, but for a daily care product which I’m happy to use and which suits my skin so well, I’m willing to pay the price.
Tags: Shiseido, SPF, Sunscreen
Yesterday evening on Xpose I chatted to the gorgeous Karen Koster about the final five of our bargaintastic Ten Things for a Tenner. If you missed it fear not: watch it here.
Click here to see the first five picks and read on to find out what made the cut this time.
5 ESSENCE RETURN TO PARADISE
This multipurpose powder can be to set a liquid foundation or used as a luminizer. The packaging is oh so pretty and they’ve clearly been studying Benefit’s boxes of blusher very closely! It’s a limited edition so snap it up – this won’t stay around for long.
Price: €3.49
Where: Widely available: Dunnes, Boots, pharmacies
Can I read a review? Click here to get the lowdown on the entire Return to Paradise range - lots of gorgeous cheapies in there.
6 BARRY M DAZZLE DUST
Barry M Dazzle Dusts are a brilliant way to get high-fashion or trend-led shades for pocket money prices and the range offers similar shades to lots of Mac shadows.
Price: €6.95
Where: Superdrug and selected Boots
Can I read a review: Find out what Kirstie thinks of Petrol Black
8. 17 SOLO SHADOWS
17 solo shadows give results that are very expensive looking with brilliant intensity. They’re highly pigmented and particularly good for nights out.
Price: €5 ish
Where: Boots and selected pharmacies
Compares to: the deep shades can be compared to the results you’d get from Dior and Nars shadows.
9 L’ONGLEX
Takes even the darkest varnish off easily and quickly – therefore good for the environment too as you use less cotton pads! The oily formula means it’s kind to nails – acetone free is the kindest.
Price: €3.69
Where: widely available
Can I read a review: yes click here – and make sure to read the comments, it was tested by Beaut.ie readers prior to launch and they loved it.
10 VASELINE SHEER INFUSIONS
Recently launched range of body lotions with a triple action penetrating skin deeply and sinking in quickly. The formula holds four times more moisture than a normal glycerine based moisturiser – and even better – no wuthering tights as within five minutes you can put your stockings on.
Price: €5.99
Where: everywhere
Can I read a review? Indeed you can – take a look here. And don’t miss the comments on this one (unless you’re of a prudish disposition!)
Tags: beaut.ie in the press, beautienomics
This is pretty timely given Aphrodite’s been on the telly-box revealing her top ten products for under a tenner, and we really do like to hear about well-priced Beaut.ienomical spends in any case: Johnson’s Daily Essentials line is launching in gala-tastic fanfare tomorrow, and we’ve got passes for three of you plus a pal to attend!
So, what is it? Daily Essentials sounds like a nice proposition: everything costs €5 and the line is pretty much designed to be exactly what it says it is – all your skincare needs each day. There are 17 products in total across ranges for normal, dry and combo skintypes, along with a few extra companion products that all can use, like an eye makeup remover and exfoliator.
While older gals might not want to ditch their posh products for it, this’ll be a go-to for teenagers, early 20-somethings and those who don’t yet need the heavier-duty (expensive!) peptide-packed gloop I find myself slapping on with increasing frequency. Wah!
We haven’t gotten to stick our fingers into any of it yet but intend to investigate further at the launch. Oh yes – the launch! Taking place tomorrow evening from 5.30pm at a central Dublin location, there’ll be the all-important canapes and cupcakes as well as the chance to meet Celebrity Salon star Elaine Butler Doolin and Johnson’s skincare scientist Maxime Buffat, who’ll be on hand to chat to you about your skin type, the best routine to suit it and to answer any other questions you may have.
Plus you’ll get to try the products, maybe indulge in a mani, pedi or a blowdry and get to take home a jam-packed goody bag. Ah here, could you ask for anything more? Quite frankly, no! Entry deets are after the cut, so get going if you want in.
COMPETITION CLOSED, WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY EMAIL
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Tags: competition, Johnsons, win!
Chatting to my hairdresser Nick the other day while he put manners on my unshapely grown-out gruaig, I prodded him for a recommendation for an easy DIY wedding updo. His suggestion of an SJP-stylee oversized bun was immediate, and I loved it, but frankly I wasn’t entirely sure that my own limp locks would be up to the task of recreating such an engineering feat. A little red container that bore a strong resemblance to a pepper pot was produced, a small amount of its contents were sprinkled throughout my hair, and hey presto – I had instant volume and thickness, together with a decent amount of hold.
Needless to say, I took home a container of this wonder product, OSiS Dust It by Schwarzkopf Professional, with me.
It’s different to a dry shampoo like Batiste, which is good for mopping up excess grease at the roots and generally freshening hair but which doesn’t really add much in the way of volume or control. In contrast, Dust It creates something of an optical illusion and makes me look like I’ve oodles of hair, almost like it’s been backcombed, while providing enough hold that I don’t feel the need to add hairspray. I’m liking it for a deconstructed bed head hair look as well as for use with updos or controlling unruly strands, and a little really goes a long way.
Now, Nick reckons this is a real Marmite product and I’d be inclined to agree: if you’re not into a matte texture or like your hair to feel very natural it’s unlikely you’ll be a fan. I’m firmly in the “nom, love it” camp, though!
Find OSiS Dust It at salons or feelunique.com* for €11.94, including delivery.
Tags: hair powder, Schwarzkopf, upstyles
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