Bioderma - the magic micellaire?

I mentioned I purchased Bioderma in a recent haul  and as my bottle  reaches half way point I feel I have used it enough to give my opinion on this much talked about micellaire solution. This is a product that continuously creeps up in the online beauty community, it seems like the hype never dies down. After using up a tonne of products and selling some items on Ebay, I decided to finally take the plunge and make an order. The reviews I have seen seem to glorify the product and I couldn't wait to try it out. I was expecting my entire face makeup to dissolve with a gentle sweep of this magic water.

Do I think it is as magical as others have made out? No. I think it is an effective makeup remover for face products but when it comes to mascara this simply does not measure up, Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover is needed for that. To me this product acts like a kinder solution to the skin than baby wipes and having oily skin I like the water texture. I would recommend and repurchase this product but if you're a mascara lover like me just don't throw out your eye make-up remover!!

What are your thoughts on Bioderma??

they're Real

They're my own just a little enhanced ;-) 

The difference between using this mascara on the left eye and my natural lashes on the right

 Possibly the most talked about mascara of the year and the biggest seller in the UK and Ireland, I had to give Benefits they're Real! a go. When I purchased it from Debenhams costing €25, I couldn't wait to try it out. Based on the reviews and marketing schpeel I expected alot from this little tube.

The packaging makes some very bold claims :

• 94% saw dramatic length and volume
• 90% saw base-to-tip curl
• 94% saw dramatic lift
• 100% saw long lasting results

Benefit wouldn't be my favourite brand, I like a few of their products but I feel their brand is more concerned with pretty packaging rather than quality products. I have been trying this mascara out for a few weeks now. 

The brush is a plastic wand, typically i favour a natural bristle wand but this mascara did perform well. I would definitely agree with the claim of long lasting results as i find the mascara quite hard to remove, Bioderma is no match for this mascara, you need something like the Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover to remove it fully without tugging the delicate eye area. It definitely performs well but not worthy of throwing your false eyelashes away. I like DRAMATIC eyelashes, the bigger the better and although I enjoyed using this mascara I would not say it was the best I've ever used. That title still belongs to Ysl shocking volume. theyre Real would probably make it into my top 5 along with Maybelline Falsies, Estee Lauder Turbolash and Maxfactor 2000 calorie. Close but no cigar. 

Have you tried this mascara? what are your thoughts? 

January Empties

February is finally here and the January blues are over. Here are my empties for the least liked month of the year!!

I used up quite a bit of make-up last month, probably in an effort to cover the toll the party season has taken on me!

Products include: VO5 High Volume Hairspray, Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner, Clarins Moisture- Rich Body Lotion, Clarins HydraQuench Cooling Cream-Gel, Garnier Olia Silk and Shine Conditioner, Demaq Up Duo, Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover, Burts Bees Lipbalm, Clarins Instant Definition Mascara, Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, Essence Bronzer in 02, YSL Rouge Volupte in 19, Mac  Studio Fix Foundation, Mac Hue and Mac Lazy Day. 

Although there were products that I liked such as Burts Bees Lipbalm and Mac Studio Fix Fluid there are two products Id rush out to repurchase. Seche Vite ; which I already repurchased and Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover which is the only eye make-up remover I have ever gotten on well with. It doesnt irritate my extremely sensitive eyes yet is extremely effective. 

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What Products have you used up this month?

Have you used any of the products mentioned? 

Empty Addiction #2

No this is not a picture of the contents of my rubbish bin. As I mentioned in my previous post, this year i was determined to use up as much products i had lying around as possible, this was my effort for the latter part of the year.

Can you spot any of your favourites??

I am determined to reclaim space and get my collection down to a reasonable size so i can purchase the odd beauty treat without guilt. Hopefully through continuing to use up items and selling on ebay, i can achieve this. 

The best of the bunch from this rather sizeable pile were:

Clarins Bust Beauty Ultra Lift Gel: This product really made a difference to the appearance to the bust area. The area seemed smoother, firmer and lifted. This is one of those products that in years to come youll be glad you used  as the skin around the bust area can get quite 'creppy' with age. Other products i enjoy in this range include the Instant Eye Make Up Remover, Tanning milk for the Face and Decollete, Instant Light Lip Perfectors, Body Shaping Cream and the infamous Beauty Flash Balm.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Matte: Renamed and repackaged, formally known as Effaclar M, I actually prefer the previous pump bottle packaging. Having combination skin, I find alot of products either too heavy on the skin or in terms of products focused towards oilier skin not hydrating enough. This moisturiser is a lovely gel like consistency that is light on the skin and provides an excellent canvas for foundation making it the perfect daytime moisturiser. This whole range is targeted towards sensitive skin and is recommended by many dermatologists. I am half way through my third tube. I am also tempted by the Effaclar Duo that seems to be doing the rounds at the moment. 

Vichy Dermablend Foundation: I do not wear  tinted moisturiser , i am a fan of full coverage. This foundation provides flawless coverage with the smallest amount of product although i do find the need to powder as the lasting power is not the best despite a 16 hour wear promise on the tube. If you enjoy the coverage of Mac Studio Fix Fluid and Estee Lauder Double Wear which i will mention in a moment, you will enjoy this. The tube pictured here is in the shade sand,  I am currently making my way through a second tube this time in nude but i prefer the Sand shade. 

Benefit Hoola Bronzer: A bit of a cult classic, this is a lovely matte brown shade. This is my second box and i will probably repurchase.

Estee Lauder Double Wear: Another full coverage foundation similar to Mac Studio Fix Fluid. I find the best way to apply this is with the fingers to warm up the product . A good layer of moisturiser must be used and not to be used in photographs as the white cast is quite dramatic. 

Ysl Shocking Mascara: Probably the best mascara i have ever used. Endless volume and length is achieved with a few swipes of the natural bristle brush. The only con is that it dries up within weeks.

Creightons Bronze Me Mousse: A terrific tan for the price, a lovely golden brown colour. I prefer this to the likes of other tans in the same price range such as St. Moritz.

Urban Decay Primer Potion: This is the best eye primer around, eye shadow literally stays perfect all day and I actually have to work harder to remove my eye makeup when using this. A mini one pictured but i have gone through many of these in full size. A definite repurchase.

Almay Bare it All Legs: Very similar product to Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs providing colour and a stocking like effect on the legs covering any imperfections. Purchased on a trip to Galway this cost only €4.99 but I have yet to find it in Dublin :-(

Nuxe Firming Body Cream : Not quite as good as the Clarins Body Shaping Cream but applies really nicely and has a lovely vanilla scent. 

Revlon Colourbomb: This is one of the stand out products of the year for me. It revives faded colour in minutes without damaging the hair,  particularly good for those with bright hair colour such as red. Another definite repurchase.

Loreal Sulphate Free Range: I like the entire range of these sulphate free shampoo and conditioners and have repurchased these several times throughout the year but I am keen to try Pureology as I have heard many good things about the line. 

Have you let your collection get out of control? 

Any thoughts on the products mentioned?

Darina x

Empty Addiction

On the highest shelf in the darkest corner of my bedroom lurks a cardboard box. Overflowing with empty bottles, yars and containers; this mountain of emptiness signifies six long months of dedicated product use. The 1st of  this month did not just mark my 23rd birthday ( the less said about that the better!!) but also six months since i undertook the task of tackling my terrifying collection trying to make a dent into the masses of make-up i have consumed over the past few years.

Youtube, blogs and glossy magazine addictions are penned as the main culprits in feeding my cometic addiction. Every few weeks there seemed to be a new buzz product, a new collection released or simply a new recommendation. If my favourites from the online beauty community liked it, i had to have it and pretty soon i was left with quite a substancial minimally used stash. I would start one product and go onto the next without finishing the last.


In 2012 i took my habbit by the horns and put myself on a buying ban in a bid to clear half or minimally used items in an effort to downsize my vast collection.




Lets unleash this monster....

Fake tan, foundation, mascara and hair treatments seem to be the trend among the chaos. Signifying my search for the perfect tan flawless skin big lashes and frizz free hair.

Among the madness there is only six products that made the grade when deciding on what or if i would repurchase.

 Clarins Body Shaping Cream- a sillouette shaping cream that actually delivers

.Fakebake Flawless Tan: Dark yet natural doesnt leave you looking tangoed.

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer: Concealing yet illuminating hides all traces of a late night the morning after.

 Mac Long Wear Creme Lipstick in overtime: the perfect everyday pink.
Mac Studio Fix Fluid in NC35: good skin in a bottle

Lancome Hynose Drama Mascara: dramatic lashes without the glue.

The box has now been emptied in a bid to hopefully make way for just as many if not more empty products. My dream whittling my essentials to a single makeup bag is still a distant possibility but hopefully in another six months I'll be that bit closer!

Is your makeup collection also out of control?

 Have you ever undergone a similar project?

Have u used any of the products mentioned?

Id love to hear your thoughts :-)

Darina xx