Hype Review: Tweezermans

I have used tweezers for my eyebrows since I was about 12 or 13 and I think I can safely say all of us have at least one pair of tweezers that are used on a regular basis.

I’ve used generic tweezers for years, finding some better than others. I’ve always heard great things about the Tweezermans but their steep €20+ price tag in Boots always put me off buying them.

Eventually last Summer in the US I caved and bought a pair justifying it by assuming it was working out cheaper in dollars. (Which it was).

Was I disappointed when I tried them? Was I ecstatic thinking they were the best things ever? Thankfully I was the latter. I find the Tweezermans to be very precise and are a gem at catching those teeny hairs that drive you insane normally.

I have them almost a year now and I don’t feel that they are blunt at all. They are still as sharp as when I first started using them.

Are they really worth the price tag? To me, yes. If you solely tame your eyebrows by tweezing and don’t wax or thread they are definitely a good investment. If you use other methods mainly and only use a tweezer to maintain your brows between sessions you might not want to spend that much on them.

Hype Review: Origins VitaZing

VitaZing and the Laura Mericer tinted moisturiser are probably the 2 most talked about and hyped up tinted moisturisers on blogs and YouTube. I went for VitaZing.

VitaZing is a lovely fresh feeling tinted moisturiser. It is very lightweight feeling product and the coverage is surprisingly good for a tinted moisturiser. It helps even out the skin tone and leaves a lovely glowing finish to the skin.

All this said, I haven’t used VitaZing that much. Why? I suppose it’s mainly because when I first got this my acne was still quite alive and I just didn’t feel comfortable with my face so exposed. However, now that my skin has improved a great deal and we are coming into summer, I will be wearing this a lot more. It is ideal for lazy days when you don’t need a full face of make-up. I also think it is perfect  for when you are on your holidays.

Is it worth the hype? Surprisingly yes. I mean it didn’t completely rock my world and I think you need to either have decent skin or be very comfortable with your skin to wear this alone. But it does leave a beautiful, glowing finish to your face, which is where I believe the hype for it comes from.

Hype Review: Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers

The Shu Uemura eyelash curlers are often referred to as some of the best eyelash curlers out there. At first I wondered could expensive curlers really do that much of a better job than some cheapo ones from Boots. 

They were always in the back of mind but I never actively sought them out. When I stumbled across them in Brown Thomas (I wasn't even aware there was a Shu Uemura counter there) I bit the bullet and bought them.

What they do: Curl your eyelashes to a natural flair.

Did they work: Yes! I was seriously surprised that I found a noticeable difference between using the Shu Uemura ones and my old cheap curlers. My old ones barely curled my lashes at all. Not to mention previous curlers I've owned which have successfully 'curled' my lashes in to perfect 90 degree right angles.

The Shu Uemura eyelash curlers brought a nice, natural curl to my lashes. I even found that mascara applied better to my lashes after using them.

Availability: You can get them from the Shu Uemura counter in Brown Thomas

Price: €24.50

Hype Worthiness: They definitely live up to the hype. They make a nice difference to your lashes but they are not a ground-breaking miracle. There is plenty of products that you could spend €24.50 on that would  improve your beauty regime more.

Hype Review: Boscia Black Mask

The Boscia Black Mask is a peel-off luminizing mask. I read a lot of rave reviews of this product and as I was in the middle of sorting out my skin I decided it was a good time to give it a go.

What is it: It’s a peel-off mask that is indeed jet black. It says it's a mask 'that boosts skin clarity and radiance. Removes dirt and impurities while refining the look of pores. Reveals a smoother, brighter complexion'.

A drop of the good stuff

How to use it: You smooth the facemask on to clean, dry skin and allow it to dry for about 20 minutes. Unfortunately it doesn’t peel off in one fell swoop so you will have to peel it off in bits. For this reason prepare for a bit of mess in the sink. Any stubborn bits that you can’t peel off will wash away very easily with water. I wouldn’t say peeling it off hurts as such, but there is a slight ‘peeling of a plaster effect’, though it’s not as severe.

Availability: As far as I’m aware it isn’t available in Ireland. I bought the travel sized one off eBay just to test it out. The Boscia website will deliver to Ireland though.

Price: It cost me $19.06 including shipping from eBay for a 1oz bottle.

Did it work: This stuff is incredible! Whilst I wasn’t sceptical about using it, I wasn’t expecting a miracle either. But wow, never have I gotten up in the morning after using a skin product the previous night and actually go ‘wow’ when I look at myself in the mirror. This is what happened the morning after I used the Boscia Black Mask. My skin looked so incredibly clear, especially around my jaw area, which had being cluttered with the dead remains of spots. Now, obviously it didn’t rid my skin of those but it certainly lightened the redness and just brought an overall clearness to my skin and yes, even a bit of luminosity. When I showed my mum she gave the same type of reaction – surprised and saw a noticeable difference. A difference which literally happened over night.

Hype Worthiness: It hits it out of the park. I never expected it to be this good. A definite must have in your skincare routine.

Hype Review: Bioderma Créaline H2O

This is the first review that I've done in relation to this post on products I've bought due to the hype.

Now I must admit the Bioderma hype went slightly over my head in the sense that I only became aware of it a few months ago. I read a blog post on it, was extremely interested and as I began to research it, I realised that people were going crazy for it.

What is it?: Bioderma is a French brand and the particular product that people went wild for is a micellar cleansing solution that very gently removes eye and face make-up. While some have said that it's just expensive water, I found it did better than any other make-up remover that I've tried.

How did it do?: You can slightly feel the oil in the solution but it does not leave a greasy residue. It hasn't irritated my skin or dried it out. In fact, it leaves it very soft. I was concerned about using it on my eyes, as a lot of eye make-up removers leave my eyes stinging and watering. However, I have encountered zero problems with using Bioderma on my eyes. It removes my make-up very effectively. I pour some on to an oval cotton pad (they are generally bigger than the regular round cotton pads). I find that for my usual day make-up this is sufficient, however, if it's night out make-up I may need to use two of the cotton pads.

Availability: Unfortunately, Bioderma isn't the easiest to find in Ireland but I successfully ordered it from this eBay seller who specializes in French Beauty brands. Shipping was quick and it came securely packaged.

Price:  I paid £18.20 (around €21) including shipping. It is quite pricy but you do get a reasonable   amount of product.

Hype Worthiness: Did it live up to the hype? Absolutely.

Bioderma is now a firm part of my skincare routine and I will definitely be re-purchasing it.

What The Hype?!

As I sit in my room, surrounded by make-up and beauty related items, I began to think of all the things I have bought because of the hype. Because they were the new wonder product. The new must have. The holy grail.

And as I thought this, I wondered how many of them lived up to that expectation. That hype. Was it worth craving? Was it worth searching for? Was it worth the money?

And so I am going to begin reviewing some of the products that I have bought because of the hype. Off the top of my head, this minute I'm thinking of things like the Clarisonic, Bioderma cleansing solution cleanser, Origins Gin Zing eye cream etc.

Most of the things probably are worth it because although I'm a dreadful impulse buyer and easily swayed by hype, if I know in my gut it won't suit me, then I won't buy it.

So we shall see. Stay tuned.