Botanics & Bloom; Perfect Partners!

Good morning! It's Friday! We made it at last to the Bank Holiday weekend!
I'm off to the Culture & Chip Festival in Limerick (yes, it's a thing) before some last minute prep for the VHI Mini Marathon on Monday (prep = eating chips at the chip festival and singing "The eye of the tiger" really loudly to myself…be grand).
A lot of you though will have tickets to this years Bord Bia Bloom festival in the Phoenix Park, Dublin (ye jammy dodgers!) which commenced yesterday and runs until Monday the 1st of June. 

This years Bloom will showcase 25 exquisite show gardens as well as 125 Irish food producers, which for the pretty flower lover and consummate food guzzler is by itself very appealing. 

There will also be a beauty element as the good people from Boots Ireland have announced that this will be the inaugural year of the "Botanics Skincare Retreat at Bloom". 

What does that mean exactly? 

Well, visitors to Bloom can take a relaxing break in the Blue Zone to experience the power of plants with tailored skincare consultations and complimentary hand massages provided by Botanics experts. 

When I said 'perfect partners' there in the title, I meant it. The Botanics range was developed in collaboration with The Royal Botanic Gardens to identify the most powerful natural plant extracts to create skincare solutions that really work. 

Cool, eh?!

To give you an idea of the products available from Botanics, I'm taking a look at their Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm*, Micellar 3 in 1 Cleansing Solution* and Rosewater Toning Spritz*. 

First up is that glorious looking Cleansing Balm:

I've been a big fan of these sorts of cleansers for a while now, having fallen hard for Eve Lom's offering but then being far too poor to repurchase. I've been on the hunt for a good alternative at a less expensive price point and I think I may be on to a winner here. This comes with it's own muslin cloth in the box (very nice touch), is 97% organic with ingredients like Shea Butter, Rosehip, Sweet Almond, Olive and Jojoba Oils to swiftly lift make up and leave skin soft, smooth and clean. It smells delightful; like a herby/lavendar mix that's very soothing on the auld olfactory senses. Directions are to apply the balm in light upward strokes (it doesn't say to but I always apply balm like this to dry skin), soak your cloth in warm water and remove the balm with small circular movements. This is a really lovely cleanser and only €12.99 for 70ml.

Micellar cleansers are big news at the moment as they remove all your make up in one easy step, require minimal faffing (technical term) and are good for sensitive skin. This one is a 3 in 1 so it claims to dissolve make-up, unclog pores and remove impurities and is suitable for all skin types. It contains Hibiscus which acts as a mild exfoliant and leaves the skin brighter and smoother. Instructions are as simple as applying to a cotton pad and sweeping across your face. Easy as! You can use this day and night but it does contain an AHA which means your skin could be more sensitive to the sun, so if you use it in the morning, wear sunscreen (as you should anyway!). This is €6.49 for 250ml. 

Lastly, I have the Rosewater Toning Spritz to cleanse impurities and freshen the skin. This is for use after cleansing- spritz generously on to the face (with your eyes closed, protect the peepers!), it says to wipe away with a cotton pad but I find it sinks in pretty quickly so whatever you prefer yourself. This fella tightens your pores, removes the last traces of make up and leaves your skin fresh and prepared for your moisturiser. This'll set you back only €7.69 for 150ml. 

Other good-to-know facts about Botanics are:

It's tested on (willing) humans only!

Suitable for vegetarians, the only animal derived products is Beeswax (from Bees, obviously).

No mineral oils or paraffin waxes.

No parabens and no sulphates.

Botanics work under a sustainability and organic policy- using organic produce and continually working to reduce their Eco-footprint.

Impressive!

It's 3 for 2 in Boots on selected skincare at the moment (including the Botanics range) so well worth popping in and picking up a few bits yourself! I'd recommend that cleansing balm- it's LOVELY. 

Have you tried anything from Botanics?

Are you off to Bloom this weekend? Or indeed the Chip Festival?! 

Xx

*Indicates a Press Sample. All opinions my own, as always!

Montagne Jeunesse | Review & Giveaway!

I was recently contacted by skincare brand, Montagne Jeunesse to try out two new masks from their range. I've been using these fellas as an at-home facial since I was a teen and to this day, still pop them in my basket in Penneys or in the trolley in the supermarket when I do my groceries. 

There's a large range of flavours to choose from, the brand is against animal testing, is constantly working to reduce it's Eco footprint and uses natural ingredients (and where that's not possible- safe man made ones instead). 

Given that a single sachet is less than two euro, it's a fool-proof and cost effective way of giving yourself a little weekly beauty treat for less than the price of a coffee. Huzzah! 

On to the masks at hand. 

First up is the Brazilian Mud Fabric Masque. This fella contains purple Brazilian Mud (rich in magnesium to cleanse and stimulate), Acai berries (high in antioxidants) and Avocado (vitamin enriched to fight free radicals) and comes in the form of a sheet mask of mud infused bamboo fabric. 

I was really excited about trying this as I haven't used a fabric mask before (as evident from my over enthusiastic photos below).

To use, you cleanse the skin, apply the mask (very easy as it's pre-cut), relax for 10-15 minutes, remove and rinse off. They include a "massage" step but I left that out as it didn't really seem necessary. 

To start with I was all "I'll do a pouty face, like a proper beauty blogger":

Which quickly morphed into "how much can I look like a serial killer":

That aside, here are my thoughts:

It smells really good, fruity like berries.

It feels wet and cold but there's no drips.

It's like a clay mask and feels nice on; comfortable and relaxing.

Seems like a really efficient way to do a clay mask- very minimal cleaning up to do afterwards unlike a lot of other similar masks.

It was slightly too large for my face- you can see in the photos that it starts to encroach on my hair, so I use this on nights in and then shower afterwards!

My skin looked soft and clear afterwards- no redness or sensitive areas apparent.

Make-up free and tired but look how good my skin looks after the mask! Yay!

Next up is the 7th Heaven (Montagne Jeunesse are also using the name 7th Heaven on some of their masks and I think, throughout the UK.) Black Seaweed Peel-Off Mask. This uses chopped black Laver Seaweed from the Welsh seaside and Sea Buckthorn berries, crushed together to make a deep cleansing, detox mask that peels off dirt and grease. 

Again, super easy to use: clean skin, apply the mask, relax for 20-25 minutes, peel it off and you're done! 

I borrowed my long-suffering husband for this one, who's doing his very best caped crusader face below:

*Gravelly voice* "I'M Batman".

I obviously also got his opinions on it while the mask did its thing:

It feels nice going on (he's never had a facial so has nothing to compare it to but he liked it)

Smells like flowers.

Feels cooling and tightening and a bit tingly, like mint.

It felt refreshing as it was peeling off but it was annoying that some parts didn't peel off and were left behind (that's actually an important note- when applying I layered it on a bit too thickly in parts and those parts then didn't dry completely. I'd recommend a thin layer).

That's it peeling off- you can see the bits that weren't dry and were left behind. I left them on for longer but some still didn't dry so needed a wet muslin cloth to remove.

Skin felt clean and refreshed afterwards.

Would use again- success!

So that's us happy out and amazingly, the good people at Montagne Jeunesse are giving Nurse Fancy Pants readers a chance to try out a mask for yourself too!

Follow THIS LINK for an opportunity to win a free mask! There's 30 up for grabs so quite a good chance to get a nice midweek treat for yourself. 

Are you a fan of Montagne Jeunesse too? Have you tried either of these? Do you also make serial killer faces when wearing a sheet mask? (so many questions). 

XX

Nails Inc. NailKale | Review

I thought I'd long ago given up on Nails Inc. as a brand until recently when my sister and I got a mini manicure in Brown Thomas at one of their nail bars. I was really eager to try the nude shade from the Victoria Beckham range until I spotted this beauty, which although similarly nudey, ended up being more of a flattering shade for pasty skin tones.

The packaging is also really lovely on this. The bottle itself is sleek and rather fancy while it comes in a special Nails Inc. presentation box (on the right), making it ideal to give as a gift.

Relatively new from the brand is the "NailKale" range, described as;

"the first anti-oxidant superfood nail polish made with kale extract for stronger, healthier nails. Botanical extracts nourish and brighten, keratin hardens and protects against splitting".

That all sounds impressive but I wasn't sure if it could be as good as all that given my previous Nails Inc. experiences, which were poor to say the least.

Well, when you're wrong you're wrong. This is one of the best nail polish formulas I've ever used. The brush is wide and encompasses the entire nail neatly and efficiently. The application is perfect; smooth and a joy to apply. It dries quickly and leaves a glossy, expensive looking finish and the shade I have (which is actually an exclusive for Brown Thomas, called "Brown Thomas") is a true classic; elegant, versatile, classy and timeless. It's barely been off my nails for the last month. I love it.

Furthermore, it lasts me a full week with only mini chips, if at all, which is pretty remarkable for me. Although each polish is €17, which I know is steep, if you get a manicure then you can buy this fella at a discount of (I think) €7 off (but don't quote me!).
It's also worth noting that although you could indeed buy several cheaper bottles of polish for the same price, you most definitely won't get as good quality. Even though this was a gift from my sister I would happily buy more of these myself.

The perfect "Greige". Swoon. 

I now have my eye on "Bright Street", an illuminating polish to brighten the nail bed and whiten nail tips and "Abbey Road", a pastel lilac, one of my all time favourite shades for nails. 

Have you tried the NailKale range yet? Were you as impressed as I am?

XX

Nima Brushes: An Irish Brand That You NEED In Your Make Up Bag

A couple of months back I was sent brushes from two different NIMA Brush Collections to put to the test. Before I got into make up properly (late teens I guess...dark times) I thought using brushes to apply make up was mere faffing but having seen the difference it makes to the finished look, I'll never go back. 

A little bit about the brand; NIMA Brush is an Irish cosmetic brush company specialising in brushes manufactured using the most natural fibres and strongest brush ferrules (the part that holds the bristles in the brush). Their aim is to supply specialised brush sets to professionals and non professionals alike at a price to suit everyone's budget.

Make up brush heroes!

I actually almost didn't want to sully them by using them..look how beautiful they are!! (heart eyed emoji time)

There's twenty pieces in the Artistic Collection, of which I have five.  

You can buy the compete collection for €154.99 or you can pick and choose which brushes you want yourself as they are also priced individually.

First up is The Georgie. This is an angled face foundation brush and can be used obviously for foundation or other cream products (this would be particularly good for those cultivating a Kim Kardashian look- it's a good'un for cream contouring). I use it just for foundation and really like it. At first it felt almost too hard (I know, that's what she said) but after I used it a bit it's just right. I tested it using a new foundation versus just my fingers and then a foundation brush from another brand and this provided the best results. Impressed. This is priced at €16.

The Erin is fan brush priced at €10. I use it either to apply powder lightly overall or to remove fallen eyeshadow from under my eyes. Other uses include: a sweep of blush, highlighting above cheekbones or shading below cheekbones (again, contouring ahoy!)

The Blaithín is a precision blush brush and comes in at €16. I naturally enough use this for blush- it's super soft and allows you to apply blush specifically where you want it- i.e on the apples of your cheeks, rather than all over your face like with some larger brushes can. You can also use the tip of the brush for highlighting if you're that way inclined.

The Lady is a stubby tapered eye brush and the Kate is a lip brush. These are €9 and €10 respectively. Truth be told, I have used neither of these because I've been obsessed with the eye brushes I was sent (below) so this little one didn't get a look in (see what I did there?!) and I never use lip brushes. I know, it's pure laziness but I can't change the habit of a lifetime. That's not to say these aren't lovely brushes, I will use them when the situation arises but I guess for now it's important to know that there's a brush in the Artistic Collection for everything.

This is the Elite Collection Eye Detail set that I mentioned above and is priced from €30. Included is a Large Shader to apply a base shadow (also great for those with larger eyes), a Small Shader/Smudge brush (I use this for smudging the eyeshadow under my eyes- it's great because of how precise it is so it doesn't go everywhere, just where I want it), a Crease Blender brush (does what it says on the tin but is also nice and soft so it's good for blending), a Bent Eyeliner brush to help you get your gel or liquid liner right into the inner corner of the eye which can be notoriously difficult to reach and lastly, an Angled Brow Brush for a perfectly tapered brow or for creating an eyeliner flick. 

Look it, I'm not a make up artist but I can get my own make up as close to perfection as possible with the correct brushes. These are absolutely ideal for make up fanatics and newbies alike- you can pay as much or as little for make up itself as you want but if you have the right tools to get it on your face then that's half the battle! It's also important to mention that these wash really well, you hear horror stories of other brush brands that fall apart after a few washes, but not these. They're also very aesthetically pleasing (not to be too superficial there). 

Find out more about NIMA brush HERE, you can shop by brush type, collection or set so there's something for every price range.

Do you own any NIMA's? Any others I need in my collection?

Xx

Lloyd's Pharmacy Introduce: SkinEffect

More and more these days, pharmacies are becoming our go-to for beauty bargains, sought after skincare and niche brands as well as advice and a box of Lemsip. Lloyd's Pharmacy are no different and have recently launched their own skincare brand, Skineffect, as part of a new campaign to promote healthy skin and bodies across Ireland over the Summer months. 

As well as the seven hardworking products from the range, if you call in store you can have your skin assessed using a skincare analysis system to help determine your skin's needs. I think this is a great idea- so many people are unsure of their skin type and end up buying products they don't need. This will save you money and help your skin. Winning! 

The analysis is a questionnaire done there and then in store and means that a bespoke skincare regime can be created for you that includes not just cosmetic products but also supplements (some of which I have been given to try out- more on that at a later date!)

For now though, here are the products that are available, there's currently 30% until May 26th (yay!) so I've reflected that in the pricing:

Of the four products above, I've tried the Anti-Ageing Face and Eye Serum and the Intense Anti-Age Face Cream. Both are free of parabens, allergens and colorants, are light, easily absorbed, non-greasy and smell incredible! The moisturiser in particular is very comforting on the skin and left me feeling soft and hydrated. Two enthusiastic thumbs up! I'm auld now folks, I need all the help I can get and I love a good anti-ageing serum/moisturiser combo, plus those prices are too good to pass up.

I'm always trying new hand creams in the search for the Holy Grail so that'd be my pick here, along with the body lotion for my super dry skin. I would find that body wash a bit too pricey for my tastes but if you suffer from sensitive skin this again contains no added allergens, parabens or colorants so could be a good option for a lot of people. 

What makes this range different is a new innovative ingredient, exclusive to Skineffect called HydraMatrix. I'm not a scientist nor do I pretend to be so here's what the brand says of that:

HydraMatrix hydrates the skin, fighting moisture loss, nourishing the skin to maintain hydration to soothe and stimulate cell regeneration while stimulating the immune protection mechanism, reducing the oxidative stress of UV rays and renovates the natural hydration level of the skin day after day. All products in the Skineffect range also work to delay the ageing process.

So now!

While you're in looking at this lot you'll notice Lloyd's also carry Nuxe, Caudalie, Clarins, Eucerin, Trilogy, Neostrata, Avene and Dermalogica, all much sought after skincare brands.

You can visit the website HERE to find details of your nearest store or you can also order online with next day delivery. 

What do you think of the skin analysis system? Is it something you'd be interested in trying?

XX