Fitz N Bitz - Irish Beauty Blog ★

SoSu Hot Fire Palette Review

2018-06-13T19:47:00.001+01:00

Dia daoibh!

So today's post is one from the vault!.... Well, that's a bit dramatic; perhaps six months ago! I came across a memory card I thought I had lost and found lots of products images I had ready for review on my blog. So, rather than letting them go to waste, I will share the products (that are all still available now) here. First up are up close pictures of the, sell-out, SoSu Hot Fire Palette.

Suzanne Jackson is one of Ireland's biggest beauty bloggers and beauty business women and this was her first eye shadow palette launch. It retails for €29.95 and is available in pharmacies nationwide. The palette itself is made from a sturdy board so it's not too heavy and I was delighted to see that it included a large mirror in the lid - always a plus.

The palette contains 12 eye shadows - 8 mattes and 4 shimmers, ranging from pale creams and champagnes to warm apricots and deep chocolate browns. Here's a list of the colours:

. Naked - Pale, matte cream

Heat - Soft pale peach

Spark - Rich warm brown

Ignite - Matte sandy ochre

Embers - Warm apricot

Pot of Gold - Burnished metallic gold

Iced - Shimmering buttermilk

Blaze - Metallic taupe

Flame - Shimmering copper

Depth - Matte cocoa

Copperlight - Warm chestnut

Smoked - Deep chocolate

Most of the shadows have great colour payoff and are quite pigmented with the exception of the darker shades surprisingly. These work better under the lash line rather than over the lid as I found them separating otherwise. Some of the eyeshadows do have a bit of fall out but most of them stay surprisingly pigmented. The palette is Paraben Free, Cruelty Free and Vegan Friendly

Like I mentioned, the palette is still available from SoSue's website and from pharmacies nationwide. To buy online click >HERE< to get it for just €23.96 or >HERE< for €27.50 from Cloud10Beauty.

Slán!

Eucerin Urea Skincare review

2018-04-10T15:44:00.000+01:00

Dia daoibh!

So today, it's back to skincare. In general, my skin is typically "normal" but at times it can sometimes feel quite dehydrated. I had ran out of my previous moisturiser so I popped into my local Lloyds Pharmacy and saw these Eucerin ones on sale. Initially, I just bought the night time one, but was so impressed, I returned to buy the day time moisturiser and lip balm also. Here's a round up of of each.

Eucerin is a German brand founded by a pharmacist, so all products in the brand are scientifically & clinically tested & proven. They have a range of products, but the line I purchased all contain... wait for it!..... urea! Ring any bells? You might recognise this word as being pee BUT fear not, there are different types of urea, and the one used in skincare, isn't actually urine, as it's made from a synthetic sources! Phew!!

The sciency bit!!

Urea exists in all body fluids & tissues & is an important part of skin's natural moisturising factor. In many dry skin conditions, natural urea levels are reduced, leading to further moisture loss. By replenishing this active ingredient, urea effectively relieves itching &skin dryness. Unlike many other skincare "miracles", once applied to the skin, it doesn't just lay on top. It actually penetrates & is absorbed so that it can retain water &then increases the capacity of the skin to hold moisture and rehydrate.

The day time Eucerin face moisturiser isn't overly thick, so it works well under my make up, but still gives me enough moisture so that any dry patches are concealed.

The night time version, however, is different story. I was really impressed with this one. It's much more rich & a lot thicker in consistency - something that I love in an evening moisturiser as I feel it seeps into the skin as I sleep. When I woke up the next morning, my skin was noticeably softer & felt really hydrated and smooth.

I'm a big matte liquid lipstick lover, so I apply lip balm every single night before bed to keep my lips moisturised, This one is also nicely thick &a little goes a long way. I tend to get cracked lips at the corners of my mouth & this worked a treat at easing the sting.

In the above image, you can see the consistency of each product. From left to right, starting with the night moisturiser you will notice it is much thicker than the 2nd daytime moisturiser, with the last lip balm being more of a gel balm. Overall I'm thoroughly impressed.

Pricing

As an added bonus, Eucerin products won't break the bank:

Eucerin Smoothing Face Cream 5% Urea - €9-€10 (currently buy 1 get 1 half price in Boots >HERE< or get it for 25% off on Feel Unique >HERE<)

Eucerin Smoothing Night Creme 5% Urea €10-€11 (but still €6.69 in Lloyds at the moment >HERE<)

Eucerin Intensive Lip Balm - €7 from SamMcCauleys >HERE< (€4.50 currently out of stock on Inish Pharmacy >HERE< but keep an eye out as it's the lowest price I've seen).

Slán!

Luna by Lisa Jordan Liquid Eyeshadows - Party Edition

2018-03-13T17:33:00.001+00:00

Dia daoibh!

So I posted a sneak peek of the newly launched Luna By Lisa Liquid Eyeshadows to my Instagram and Facebook and you voted YES to a review, so let's get started!!

If you're new to Luna by Lisa Jordan, let me tell you a little about her. Otherwise known as "Just Jordan", Lisa Jordan is a professional makeup artist and fashion & image consultant from Cork City. She launched her beauty line ''Luna by Lisa" last September. So far she has brought out a Lip Gloss collection, a leave in miracle hair treatment and her newest venture is with her liquid eyeshadows, which is what we will be taking a look at today.

Described as a "Liquid Pigment for everyone" the two liquid eyeshadows come together in one set priced at €25 - shades Rose Quartz and Midnight Onyx. On first impression, I was a bit apprehensive as to how chunky the glitter looked in them, but nonetheless, I caved and picked them up!

MIDNIGHT ONYX is described as "A smoky midnight grey embellished with silver glitter, this sultry shade is perfect for adding drama to your look. Easy to wear and apply, Midnight Onyx will soon become your go-to shade for after dark".

ROSE QUARTZ is described as a "soft rose liquid pigment enhanced with ultimate shine and showstopping sparkle. An adaptable shade that works with any eye colour – wear Rose Quartz and shine bright every day.

Surprisingly, once I swatched the liquid eyeshadows they didn't feel as grainy as I had thought they might and the glitter was super sparkly. These wouldn't be for a day to day look - more so for nights out! In the image above you can see that the liquid eyeshadows can be applied directly from the doe foot applicator (blend with a brush or your finger once it's on the lid) to work on their own, or layered over an eyeshadow.

The silver sparkles in Midnight Onyx did seem more chunky than the gold sparkles in Rose Quartz which blended down more evenly. In certain lights, Midnight Onyx did look a little on the green side than the black/grey but this will depend on whether you apply it over a shadow or not. Rose Quartz is definitely my favourite out of the two (sidenote: it's not rose gold in colour..... just gold!)

One word of advise though. Don't layer this product, as it will break up. For testing purposes I applied one layer, then went in to see if I could add a second to intensify it. Once it's dried on the lid, leave it be. Otherwise you'll end up with something like this!!

I have to say, I was a bit dubious to begin with because they are quite sparkly but.... I do like them. I think in particular they will suit people who find glitter/powder pigments too difficult or messy to work with. These liquid piments will add lots of glitz to your eye look in seconds and for that, they are quite unique.

The Liquid Eyeshadows were released into pharmacies nationwide last week. So far they are available online from the >Luna website< >Meaghers Pharmacy< and >SamMcCauley< websites.

Slán!

The Whole Shebang - Charity Event, Charleville

2018-02-18T21:42:00.000+00:00

Dia daoibh!

So, today I wanted to share with you, details of an exciting charity event that will be taking place in April that I think a lot of you will be interested in. As many of you know from my >Instagram<, I get my nails done in >The Nail Sanctuary< in Charleville and owner, Kelly Marie Daly together with >Claire Treacy< - Award Winning Make Up Artist and Niamh Webb O’Rourke – >Love Life< Fashion Blogger are putting the event together as I type! Here are the details for "The Whole Shebang"!

The charity event will be a girly (males welcome also of course!) day of skin care, tanning & make up demos, talks on awareness & info on topics such as anxiety, autism, mindfulness, nutrition, motivation, beauty, blogging and more! There will be lots of guest speakers, bloggers & surprises on the day. It will be an afternoon for you to doll up, treat yourself, love, laugh, sit back & relax. From afternoon tea to prosecco on arrival and some great giveaways, the pampering will never stop!

The Whole Shebang event is being held from 12-5pm on the 8^th of April at >The Charleville Park Hotel< in celebration of The Nail Sanctuary’s 10th year in business. All proceeds of the event will be in aid of Pieta House, Milford Hospice, St. Joseph’s Foundation and the Neonatal Unit of The Maternity Hospital, Limerick.

I'm very excited to confirm that the event will be M.C’d by my sister Dawn along with Dale of Gogglebox Ireland!!! The duo are gas, if I do say so myself and as I'm sure any of you Gogglebox fans will know, so lots of giggles will be had!

Demos and guest speakers on the day will include Bloggers, Fitness Experts, Authors, Skincare Specialists, Makeup Artists, Mental Health and Learning Difficulty Specialists and more.

There will be lots of spot prizes on the day too from – Revas Spa, Leanun, Sanctuary Beauty Salon, Ballymaloe, BPerfect, dinner vouchers, hair vouchers so keep an eye out! Of course there will be pop up stands galore to tempt you including – Horizon Designs, Joe Brown Ireland, Rebeluna Cosmetics, BPerfect Cosmetics, Fuschia MakeUp, 808 Donuts and more!

Edit 25/02/18 - even more spot prizes and pop up stands have been added to the list such as Mrs. Pebbles, Pebble Art, Glowing Girlies Boutique, Carmel Pilates, Shoe Rack, Stella & Dot Stylist Louise Brassil Leahy, Doctor Mahers, Barrons Supplements and many more will all be there on the day!!

Tickets are priced at €50, with all proceeds going to Pieta House, Milford Hospice, St. Joseph’s Foundation and Neonatal Unit Limerick, so not only will you be treating yourself, you can feel good about supporting and contributing funds to these local charities. Tickets will be available from 10am on Monday week, the 26^th of February from >Eventbrite<. There will also be a link to donate online if you cannot attend on the day but would like to support.

I will be there on the day and will be sure to share as much of the event as possible on social media. If you want to keep track of added prizes, stands and other details, make sure to keep an eye on the The Whole Shebang Facebook event page >HERE< or the Nail Sanctuary Facebook page >HERE<.

Will I be seeing you there!!?

Slán!

Bioderma Hydrabio Masque Review

2018-01-10T20:13:00.000+00:00

Dia daoibh!

If you follow me on >Snapchat< or >Instagram Stories< you will know that I have been suffering from dehydration - my lips are cracked, my skin is tight and my body is, in general, lacking in the H2O department (I blame the Christmas and New Year celebrations....). I've been using the Bioderma Hydrabio Mask and wanted to share my thoughts as there are not as many masks available for dry or dehydrated skin as there is for say the likes of oily or blemish prone skin. Here we go.

So, first up; the claims. Bioderma state that the Hydrabio Mask provides deep-down, long-lasting moisture during periods of extreme dehydration. Second on the list of ingredients is Glycerin (also known as "glycerol" if you want to keep an eye out for it when you're buying a new skincare product) - an ingredient that attracts water to your skin from the air around you and locks it into the skin. It's a skincare ingredient that is compatible with all skin types and people of all ages so I was delighted to see it was high up in the list of the Hydrabio Mask. Although the mask does contain fragrance, there is no offensive smell (barely detectable in fact) and thankful didn't seem to have a negative effect on my skin.

It is advised to use the mask daily for the first week and then as often as you need it after that. It's advised to be used regularly at the beginning so that something called the "Aquagenium biological complex" can re-train the skin to generate the hydration essential to its natural balance and to lock it in on its surface..... Now I don't know about all that. In my opinion just whack it on for a few goes in a row and see how your skin is feeling after that.

Personally, the mask reacted very well with my skin. Please keep in mind that skincare will work differently on my skin than yours so don't take this as me swearing that it will work for you!! It left my skin feel super soft and looked and felt plumped and thankfully it eased the tight feeling of my skin.. It's advised to apply a thick layer and leave on for 10 minutes. The thing about this mask is that is doesn't "set" or harden on the skin. The consistency of the mask is a mix between a lotion and a cream so it stays feeling moisturised whilst on the skin. It basically just looks like a moisturiser that isn't fully rubbed in yet!

You can remove any excess with a cotton pad. Personally, most of the mask actually absorbed into my skin (I'm tellin ya.... dehydration central over here!!) but after about 2 weeks of using it on and off there has been a bit left over afterwards. In the application instructions it says to remove any excess product with a cotton pad but I really didn't like this as it seemed to go bitty on my skin which I hope you can see in the image above. If I do want to remove it completely from my skin, I wipe it off with a warm facecloth and moisturise after. The mask is non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic so is suitable for those with sensitive skin also.

The Bioderma Hydrabio Masque is priced at a quite reasonable €13 and is available in most pharmacies nationwide. You can buy online from >Cloud10Beauty<

Slán!

The above product was sent to me from the brand's PR team for reviewing purposes. All opinions above are completely my own, 100% honest thoughts on the product.

bullshitcallerouter - Happy Women's Little Christmas......

2018-01-06T18:20:00.001+00:00

Dia daoibh.

Today is Women's Little Christmas (not "Little Women's" Christmas - if you're going to celebrate, don't beLITTLE yourself!! #PetPeeve!). So yeah, a day of celebrating women, to acknowledge and appreciate all of the hard work they have put in over the Christmas period - cooking the dinner, cleaning the house, wrapping the gifts etc. Traditionally, the men gave the women the day off and they took over the housework and the woman of the house could have a day of rest or celebrate with her fellow hardworking and exhausted female friends.

It's more of a big deal this year because 2018 marks the 100 year anniversary since Irish women were given the right to vote. Celebrity Big Brother this year has historically opened up with an all-female cast, something that's never been done before. In mid 2018 the huge vote regarding the removal of the Eighth Amendment from the Irish Constitution will take place; another huge women's rights issue.

Anyway..... it's all getting a bit deep here. My point is, this year and today is a day for celebrating women. And what are a vast amount of female Irish social media users focusing on today...... the newly created instagram page "bullshitcallerouter".

The page was set up this week and basically is a profile dedicated to comparing (shaming? you decide) before and after pics of popular Irish Bloggers and influencers. Calling them out on photoshopping their photos. This has always been an issue in the online beauty community and people have very different views on the matter. I'm here to share mine.

There's a difference between filtering your photo and photoshopping it. I make no qualms in saying that I filter 90% of my instagram photos, mainly for lighting reasons. Let's face it, Ireland doesn't have the best natural light so Clarendon is my go to. If I happen to take a selfie, which isn't actually that regularly if you look at my Insta, I again usually use the Clarendon filter which sometimes can make my skin look clearer or my eyes look bluer/greener. Also, if I do take a selfie of my make up or whatever the case may be, I stand in front of my ringlight, which instantly makes the picture and me as a person in real life, look better. Is that me "editing the bejaysus" out of myself? Everyone will have their own views, but I personally know you can see the picture clearer and I look better in it so obviously I want to use it over the original.

Where the issue is, it seems, is when women (I haven't seen mention of a man yet.... *eyeroll) alter the size and shape of their body. There doesn't seem to be too much of an issue with people editing out a spot or whitening their teeth etc. but it's when it comes to the shape of a woman's body, fellow women are up in arms about it. At the centre of the "controversy" are Suzanne Jackson, Rosie Connolly and Joanne Larby. Some of the before and after pictures are gas. I mean gas as in one pic looks as if it was taken back in the 90s and then the after is from last week. Hardly fair eh bullshitcallerouter!? People NATURALLY change over time, their hair, their body, their eyebrows, their makeup technique. Then people change with the help of cosmetology - veneers, lash extensions, boob jobs, wigs. That's ok too.

I get that people are mainly pissed with Joanne Larby A.K.A. The Make Up Fairy because some of the full body shots posted of her taken by someone else vs one she has taken of herself on the same day, do look quite different. It's an issue for people because Joanne has documented her lifestyle change and fitness journey in depth on her blog and social media and people take it as her being a liar about her progress, about how she really looks. Others have said they feel left down. This has me torn. If MUF inspired you with her words and blog posts to get up off your ass and lose weight or get fit then isn't that a positive thing? You have changed your life for the better because of her. If she has insecurities about herself and feels the urge to virtually nip and tuck herself, that shouldn't affect your self esteem. Of course, then there’s the business aspect. Joanne is not just a blogger, she’s a business woman. Blogging and social media pay her bills so therein lies the problem in my opinion. For example, where she alters images of her body in a paid/sponsored post, that has left a sour taste in a lot of women’s mouths, causing people to accuse her of “false advertising”. Again, I’m a bit torn here as Joanne isn’t selling her body, she’s advertising the fitness clothes. Whether she looks “fat” or “fit” won’t make a difference as to how the clothes will look on you. People do need to be aware that editing is EVERYWHERE these days, be it in the papers, magazine, tv or blogs; however I think the ASAI need to enforce regulations when it comes to this as not everyone is au fait with this as I am, so I guess this is something bloggers and I myself need to keep in mind. I’m not saying people editing their bodies is ok, I just know it’s been happening for a long time. I can’t stop it, I can only control my own actions and choose not to participate. There’s nothing legally stopping bloggers from editing their pictures. It’s their property.

Lots of others have come to Joanne’s defence regarding lighting and angles and I totally agree with this. I've seen it myself first hand with my own photo's vs the same night someone else has taken. See exhibit a and b below.....

I know my angles, I can make myself look a size 10 despite having crept back up to a size 14 over the last few months (*eyeroll). I know the angles thing isn't the answer here but it is a huge factor that I think people need to take into consideration. Also, editing works both ways.... can make you look better or make you look worse. Some images posted online of bloggers have been edited to make them look worse. Keep that in mind too.

On the other hand, I have seen other photo's of her (the one in the green dress in particular) where both photos were taken head on, so no angle excuse can be used. It's clear her waist line is different in each pic. Does that effect my day to day life? No. I still think she's a lovely girl who wasn't 100% happy with the way she looked, so she altered it. She’s wasn’t advertising anything in the post so it was a personal blogger picture so she can do what she wants with it. It's not like she put her hand on the bible and swore to us she didn't edit it. It's not like as if she edited the photo to be 7 stone lighter. It's not like as if she's horsing McDonalds into her every day. It's obvious that she's working on her physical appearance and perhaps she was having a low self esteem day & did it to get through the day. Who knows. Does she regret editing her photos? I don't know. Are the disgusting, unnecessary over the top comments getting her down today on a day of celebrating women? Most probably. If you're one of those people leaving nasty comments, do you feel better? Have you left a positive vibe for other females to take with them? Doubtful. Maybe she's a complete liar and I'm being "fooled" (into what, I don't know.... it doesn't make a difference to me what she weighs). It doesn't excuse the way some other women are spitefully reacting. Do women just want to see shit selfies of others? It's not going to happen, you and I will take multiple photos and put up the most flattering one. There may not be a need to photoshop the image and I do get why people feel let down, but that's an issue for the uploader. It's their issue/insecurity, not yours.

I felt the need to write this post because some people are being absolutely completely over the top and cruel about it. This post is more so about the feedback from the public of the actions of the bloggers as opposed to the actions/editing topic itself. Just look at some of the below comments.

It's the reaction from other women that has saddened me rather than a blogger editing their pictures. It angers me more when people buy followers, rather that earning them. It frustrates me when people are sent items free of charge to review but don't actually properly try them out or give an honest opinion, they just simply rehash the press release. It pisses me off when bloggers are paid to say good things about a product that they don't use or believe in. All these things, to me, are deception. A woman cinching her waist or adding seagulls to a photo, isn't enough for me to lose faith in the power that is womanhood.

Regarding people being disappointed in these women as role models to their kids or nieces etc...... step up to the mark. You be their role model. Teach them the way YOU think things or people should be. Don't leave it up to a woman you don't know from the internet. Lead by example instead of criticism.

To make it clear, I don't necessarily agree with the extent some bloggers have gone to to make themselves look thinner, more muscular, more tanned, prettier etc..... it's more so the tone of the backlash that I find so upsetting. Yes, we need to teach the younger generation to be comfortable in their own bodies, but this won't happen by attacking someone you dislike. Like I said, lead by example and if you happen to be a new blogger reading this, stay true to yourself. You won't have to worry about being called out on in the future!

I do hope that all women out there learn to love the body they have and not edit as much to the point of it becoming an issue to their followers. All opinions welcome in the comments below or on my social media.

Slán!

Blank Canvas Cosmetics Magnimarble Set

2018-01-04T19:01:00.000+00:00

Dia daoibh!

Just within the last few days of 2017, I received what was probably THEE most exciting package I had received all year... the brand new release from my favourite make up brush brand, the Blank Canvas Cosmetics Magnimarble Set. The set goes beyond just looking stunning.....

Ok, lets start with the obvious; the design. I don't know when or why white marble became so crazily popular within 2017, but I'm fully on board the band wagon! Each brush has a beautiful copper and white marble design.

Now, like I said, it's not just about the design; it's about the "hidden" function of the base of each brush. As you will see, each brush is tipped with what looks like a regular rose gold design. Here's the secret..... it's magnetic! You might be stumped as to why that's a big deal so wait.... there's more.

Within the luxurious and sturdy marble keepsake box is a metal frame. Because the casing is metal, the tip of each brush can adhere to the base therefore creating an instant and fuss free stand for the full set of brushes.

Not only will your brushes be displayed beautifully, in a row like above, or every second one reversed like in the image below, but it's an ideal way of letting your brushes dry after cleaning. Because the brushes can hang upside down in the frame, this prevents water from entering the ferrule and extending the lifespan of the brushes!

Included in the set are ten face and eye brushes, which are all multi purpose, but here's list of what each one works best at:

FACE BRUSHES

MF47 Medium Powder Brush: Ideal to use as a finishing brush for application of blush/powder

MF38 Duo Fibre Face Brush: Ideal for sculpting, contouring, blending and highlighting the face.

MF08 Dome Buffing Brush. Ideal for foundation/blush/contour application.

MF56 Medium Buffer: Perfect to use with liquid, cream or powder products such as concealer/contour/highlight.

MF35 Small Angled Edge Face Brush: Use to apply or blend concealer, foundation, cream contour, and powder products.

MF49 Jumbo Buffer: Ideal for buffing concealer/foundation to smaller areas.

MF48: Flat Concealer Brush. Use with cream or liquid products.

EYE BRUSHES

ME04 Flat Shader: Ideal for applying or shading product. Also great for applying lip product.

ME45 Duo Fibre Eye Blender: Amazing eyeshadow blending brush. Great for concealer too.

ME11 Brow/Liner Brush: Perfect for brow grooming or applying liner to the lash line. Great with powder/gel/cream product.

I am beyond impressed with the design and quality of the Magnimarble set. The full set including gift box, metal frame, 7 face brushes and 3 eye brushes retails for €99.95 from >INISH PHARMACY< or €100 at >BLANK CANVAS COSMETICS<, or >MEAHERS PHARMACY<

Slán,

The above products were sent to me from the Blank Canvas Cosmetics team for reviewing purposes. All opinions above are completely my own, 100% honest thoughts on the product.

Leanún 2018 Daily Planner

2018-01-02T12:34:00.002+00:00

Dia daoibh!

So, today I mean business and am getting stuck straight into my new Leanún Planner. I celebrated the new year at a house party in Cork so, needless to say, I was in no fit state to start planning yesterday! But.... today's the day.

So before I show you inside my mint 2018 planner, a little about the brand. Leanún is an Irish brand founded by Cork girls Ciara, Éadaoin & Kate, best friends who met in college. Leanún is a shortened version of the Irish word ‘leanúnach’ which means to continue, to keep moving or to progress.

This planner had everything I was looking for and because it's and Irish brand (printed in Ireland also) it was a no brainer for me to go for it!

It's a page per day planner which also includes a full page month view, monthly inspirational prints, monthly trackers such as goal action list, needs & treats, things to download, books to read, people to meet, things to try, and important dates. The planner is wire bound, which I love as it lays flat on the desk as you write.

As you can see, I went for the white and mint planner but it comes in a black and white version also. The planner is well priced at €35 and I have to say the quality of the planner, hard back, gold foiled writing, thick paper, fonts etc. are beautiful.

Leanún ship internationally and it' free shipping on orders over €35. If would prefer to try out one of their other items, they also sell beautiful notepads (€15), meal planners (€12.50) or trackers (€15).

So there you have it. Here's hoping that my new planner will keep me on track and organised for 2018!

Click >HERE< or order your own Leanun Planner

Slán!

FitznBitz does 2018

2018-01-01T06:00:00.000+00:00

Dia daoibh!

A new year, new chances. Welcome 2018! I'm back to blogging and with today being the first day of the new year I wanted to reintroduce myself and welcome you to my newly revamped blog.

If you're new here, thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy my little corner of the world wide web. If you've been here before, thank you for returning and supporting my blog.

I'm "Fitz" and I write about "Bitz"; mainly beauty bitz. My blog is focused on reviews, my honest opinion of makeup, skincare, haircare. If there's ever something specific you'd like my review or give my opinion of, just shoot me a message (my social media is at the top right).

I've been through a lot in 2017 on so many different levels - personal, professional, friendships, relationships, mental journeys and more. We all have our own things going on and if I've learned anything in 2017 it's to simply be kind. Be present. Be aware. Be true to yourself.

Back to the blog. My aim for 2018 is to blog regularly. One of my downfalls in 2017 was irregularity. I'd post here and there in a non scheduled manner. This year.... will be different. I'm going to put my beautiful new Leanún planner to good use. (I might do a post on the planner in fact).

I'll try to focus on new products also. I've noticed that there's huge hype when a new foundation, lipstick etc. is released and I'm here to give an honest, real review, not a rewrite of a PR release praising the shite of something for no good reason other than to please companies and perhaps gain a few free goodies along the way.

On the point of free stuff..... lets be real. We all know bloggers work in different ways when it comes to freebies, sponsored posts and the like. I myself, do accept products to try, but I have never accepted payment to promote a product. I accept products for free to try out in exchange for my written review. Simple. It's the way it's always been here on FitznBitz and it's the way it will continue. For those of you out there who are wary of honesty in bloggers, I have and will always continue to disclose when a product has been sent to me (even though I'm not actually required to. I just feel better about it by doing so).

So there you go. More of the same for 2018 but hopefully in a more regular schedule. I'd love for us to trust each other here and get to know one another. Leave a comment if you stop by. I'd love to know you were here. Here's to 2018.

Slán!

The Body Shop Drops of Glow Lustre Finish Creator

2017-09-18T19:01:00.003+01:00

Dia daoibh!

Contouring & highlighting products have taken the beauty world by storm and there's no sign of that storm passing just yet. So today, I'm giving you an up close look at a multipurpose highlighting product; The Body Shop Drops of Glow.

The milky pink toned, pearlescent liquid can be used on its own or mixed with your favourite beauty products for instant luminous finish

I was about to throw out some foundations that I just don't teach for anymore but I tried mixing a few of the Drops of Glow into the foundation on the back of my hand and it really changed the look of the foundation on my skin, leaving a healthy-looking radiance.

If you're going makeup free for the day, you can add a few drops to your moisturiser to give a subtle sheen. Of course it can be used in the most recently popular way of using it directly on the face to highlight your cupid’s bow and high points of your cheek bones or it can also be used as a topcoat to eyeshadow.

As you can see from the image above, the liquid highlighter comes in a sturdy glass bottle with a pipette for easy mixing & hygiene. It's priced at €17 & available from The Body Shop now.

Slán!

The above products were sent to me from the brands PR Team for reviewing purposes. All opinions above are completely my own, 100% honest thoughts on the product.

Penneys Lip Kit in Cookie Dough - Review & Time Test

2017-07-20T12:26:00.002+01:00

Dia daoibh!

Primark, or Penneys as it's known here in Ireland, recently launched their PS Pro Lip Kit Matte Collection. This is basically a dupe for the Kylie Jenner Lip Kit which is available for a substantially larger amount of money.

In the review video below, I tried out the shade Chocolate Brownie. It also comes in a lighter nude shade called Cookie Dough. They're priced at €4 and available in store now (if you're lucky enough to get your hands on one). They've also since come out with a matte metallic range.

Slán!

Kiss New York Eye Make Up Review

2017-05-22T08:00:00.000+01:00

Dia daoibh

Today I'm here to share some eye products from Kiss. Kiss is the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of professional quality nail products. Through the success of their nail line, they have branched into the cosmetics sector launching lashes and they now offer a range of affordable make up.

Kiss New York Professional Curl & Volume Dead Sexy Lashes Mascara

The Kiss Curl & Volume Dead Sexy Lashes Mascara comes with a lot of claims!! It promises to create full body, high volume curls. Benefits include to give 95% spectacular volume & curl, 100% extreme wear and 100% smudge-proof.

Does it do all of this!? Well, I don't tend to measure the volume percentage of my lashes on the daily, but short answer..... no. I don't find it adds much volume at all in fact. If anything, it's more or a separating or lengthening mascara. It's quite a dry mascara so it works well to hold a curl though but on the flip side, I did find it to feel a little... crunchy. The wand is a slightly curved bristle brush. As with all mascaras, give this mascara a few uses before it get's to it best.

I have to mention my one gripe with the packaging that I had though! On the back of the box (not the detail of the product itself ). It shows a before and after image and the after image clearly shows the model wearing false lashes. I despise this in mascara advertising!!!!

Kiss New York Professional Luxury Eye Crayon

The Kiss Luxury Eye Crayons are Jumbo style, waterproof eye pencils that come in 18 shades and can be used as a liner or as a cream eyeshadow once blended out. The first thing I noticed about these is the packaging - the glossy black pencil is retractable, which I love! No need to faff with pencil sharpeners!

Of the three shades I tried, the black shade, named simply, 'Black', was matte, the blue shade named 'Violet' had glitter in it and the cream one named 'Pearl Ivory' had some shimmer through it. Personally, I would stick to the matte shades. The pencils are all well pigmented and glide on easily without tugging on the skin.

Kiss is available from select pharmacies around Ireland. Check out their Facebook page >HERE< to see if there's one near you.

Slán!

The above products were sent to me from the brands PR Team for reviewing purposes. All opinions above are completely my own, 100% honest thoughts on the product.

Matcha Ireland Review & Discount

2017-05-21T17:51:00.000+01:00

Dia daoibh!

Hope you all had a lovely week. Today I'm here with a non-beauty related post. Anyone who follows me on snapchat will know that I'm currently on a healthy kick. Also, I love my hot drinks; be it coffee, herbal tea or my newest addiction... Matcha. After watching >Tar Mar's video< on how to make the perfect Iced Matcha Latte, I whipped out my own green tea powder and made a Matcha Latte that very night. Today I'm here to introduce to you to an Irish (Cork based) supplier of Matcha powder - >Matcha Ireland<.

I find that some matcha green teas can be hugely overpriced in health food shops (anywhere between €15-€20) so here's what was sent to me by Matcha Ireland. The powder they sell is Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha Green Tea Powder and they also offer a Vanilla Blend version. As you will see from the ingredients in the below image, it's pure 100% organic matcha green tea powder. And the best bit (aside the the health benefits!) the price. Each sachet contains 50g and is priced at just €12.95.

What the hell is Matcha!?

To wind it back a bit..... what is Matcha? Hailing from Japan, Matcha basically a powerful, higher grade variant of green tea but is finely ground to a powder. It is claimed to be even healthier than other types of green teas as it is grown and prepared differently and additionally, the whole tea leaf is consumed.

A measurement (half teaspoon) of matcha provides approximately 34mg of caffeine, which is the roughly the same as in cup (1 teaspoon) of instant coffee but matcha's "caffeine buzz" is much more energising and longer-lasting. Because the caffeine in coffee is absorbed so quickly, it tends to cause a sudden bust of energy for some, that is followed by a crash in an hour or two. In contrast, the caffeine in matcha takes up to six hours to be absorbed by the body, so matcha drinkers remain mildly energised for a few hours before the effects gradually fade away.

Caffeine content in matcha is slightly more than a cup of regular green tea but matcha contains more antioxidants (you’d have to drink 10 to 15 cups of green tea to equal the nutrients in one cup of high quality matcha).

Some of the benefits of matcha include reducing the risk of heart disease, helps with relaxation and alertness and also, it's been claimed to boost the body's metabolism and aid weight loss, Matcha can help to speed up metabolism and help the body burn fat approximately four times faster than average green teas

Now, not everyone will like the taste of this straight off, but, people that don’t enjoy the taste of green tea may like matcha a little better because it has a rich, naturally slighter sweeter flavour. It does take a while to get used to, but eventually your taste buds will adjust. I make mine in multiple different ways, simply with boiled water, I sometimes add sweetener, I make an iced version, a creamy version using almond/coconut/hazelnut milk. I tend to use my nutribullet to mix or else whisk the powder to make sure it dissolves properly into the milk.

And not to be forgotten, matcha can be sprinkled into your foods too. If I'm not in the mood to drink my matcha, I sprinkle some over my salads, into my smoothies and porridge, I add it to cous cous and have even made matcha pancakes!

All in all, I'd say I'm a matcha convert! You can buy the matcha I used online >HERE< Plus use code FNB10 to get 10% off your order!

Slán!

The above products were sent to me from the brands PR Team for reviewing purposes. All opinions above are completely my own, 100% honest thoughts on the product.

Ziaja Cucumber Mint Collection Review

2017-04-29T15:23:00.000+01:00

Dia daoibh!

Today I'm here to share with you, Ziaja's latest collection - the Cucumber Mint line. Ziaja is an affordable, polish skincare brand, The Cucumber and Mint collection ranges from €0.69 for a sachet of the face mask up to €5.99 for the body lotion.

The collection consists of a micellar gel, face mask, face moisturiser and a body lotion. I have tried out all four products over the past few weeks and here are my thoughts.

Ziaja Cucumber Mint Body Lotion

First up, the Body Lotion. This comes in spritz a form of 200mls. The lightweight body lotion contains an ingredient called lactobionic acid, which is said to has excellent moisturising and soothing properties. It's claimed that this lotion reduces roughness, provides smoothness and elasticity to the skin. To be honest, I didn't see any huge to roughness of my skin but it did leave it feeling refreshed and moisturised. I love actually quite like spritzy moisturisers like this one, as they tend to absorb into the skin quicker.

Price - €5.99

Ziaja Cucumber Mint Enzyme Gel Face Mask

Up next is the enzyme peel gel mask. This contains papain and microgranules. Papain is a fruit enzyme that acts as a natural exfoliator. This mask doesn't set/go hard on the face so it's ideal if you're not all about that life or, perhaps, looking for a mask to feel more moisturising. I have tried this mask just once and to be honest I wasn't a fan. For some reason, it slightly stung my skin. It was cooling afterwards but I was a bit apprehensive after I first applied it. In saying that, once I removed it my skin was fine.

Price - €0.69 per sachet

Ziaja Cucumber Mint Micellar Gel

Next is the complete fail of the bunch for me; the Micellar Gel. I honestly had no love for this. I was intrigued once I saw the combination of "micellar" and "gel" but unfortunately, it just didn't work out for me. I found the gel slushy on the face, it stung my eyes and I felt as though was face wasn't thoroughly clean after using it. It does claim to foam up whilst using it, but...... it doesn't really!

Don't get me wrong, it does add moisture to the skin (as you would expect!!) but nothing wowed me. I won't let it go to waste though..... (get ready for some FitznBitz weirdness here!). I'm actually using it as a foot wash! It's surprisingly refreshing on the feet because of the mint extract and cucumber is gentle on my tootsies!

Price - €3.99

Ziaja Cucumber Mint Face Cream

And finally, onto the face moisturiser. The Ziaja Cucumber and Mint Face Cream claims to be an "ultralight formula face cream with SPF 6". Again, I don't agree with the claims. The moisturiser, to me, is actually quite thick and heavy in consistency in comparison to other "ultralight" formulas I have tried. Because it is a bit thicker though, (not necessarily a bad thing, just not as it's described to be!) I do like to use this after the shower when I feel my face is a bit tight. It contains lactobionic acid, which has excellent moisturising and soothing properties. It has the same cucumber/mint refreshing fragrance which, thankfully, is not too overpowering.

Price - €3.99

So there you have it, Ziaja's latest collection. Of course, bear in mind that what works or doesn't work for me, may suit/not suit everyone else. That's the trick with skincare! All Ziaja products are dermatologically tested, hypo-allergenic and products are NOT tested on animals. Ziaja have a huge range of other collections (over 1,000 products!) so be sure to check out the online Irish stockist website >HERE<

Slán!

The above products were sent to me from the brands PR Team for reviewing purposes. All opinions above are completely my own, 100% honest thoughts on the product.

Kinvara Skincare review and sale on Inish Pharmacy

2017-04-23T16:39:00.003+01:00

Dia daoibh!

Today I'm here with my two absolute favourite skincare items of the month. Kinvara is an Irish, oil based skincare brand - amazing for anyone looking for a bit of moisturisation and hydration for their skin. I've been trying out two award winning products; the Kinvara Absolute Cleansing Oil and their 24HR Rosehip Face Serum. I'm obsessed. As with all of my skincare reviews, I have been trying these products for about a month and have had no bad reactions.... at all,; only positive.

Kinvara Absolute Cleansing Oil

First up, the Kinvara Skincare Absolute Cleansing Oil. I have tried this in the past and when Inish Pharmacy heard me raving about it and mentioning that I had ran out, they very generously, sent me over a backup. I' m obsessed with this stuff. In case you've never heard of a cleansing oil before, here's a quick run down. Warm 1-2 pumps of the oil between your hands and apply straight to the face. The oil breaks up any make up or dirt on your face. I then wash-off with a hot facecloth. After I complete my "first cleanse" I like to "double cleanse " by doing the same thing again but directly on to my damp, clean face to further deep clean my skin . As this is a cleansing oil, you might feel that it leaves a slight moisturising residue. I would advise to make sure to use quite warm water rather than cold or just luke water.

This oil contains no harsh chemicals, only an innovative blend of 100% plant based oils, which are extremely gentle on the skin, making it suitable for all skin types.

Price €22.95 (or €16.52 with my code below!)

Kinvara 24HR Rosehip Face Serum

Next up is a product I had never tried before; the Kinvara Skincare 24HR Rosehip Face Serum. This is a concentrated serum which is packed full of plant extracts, vitamins, antioxidants and calming ingredients. The serum is yellow in colour, smells of lemons/oranges and 1-2 pumps each night is all I need. When I wake up in the morning, my skin is noticeably moisturised and more supple. 180 applications per bottle means it can last up to 6 months.

Ingredients in the rosehip face serum include Carrot seed extract and vitamin E which are anti-oxidant rich and fight against nasty free radicals that contribute to wrinkle formation. Sea buckthorn helps with inflammation, cell regeneration and absorbs UV rays making it a great ingredient for helping skin prone to acne and exposed to Irish environments. Glycerine helps keep skin moisturised & hydrated. Aloe vera calms and soothes while lemon scented tea tree is in there to help with the odd break out. My skin absolutely drank this stuff up! If you want to treat your skin, I highly recommend this serum.

Price: €32.95 (or €23.72 with my code below!)

So, Inish Pharmacy not only treated me, but they're willing to treat you too! They are currently running an offer for the month of April where there are offering 20% off the whole Kinvara line. Unbelievable savings PLUS if you use my discount code FITZNBITZ at check out, you will get an additional 10% off Kinvara or anything on the Inish Pharmacy website! Treat yourself by clicking >HERE< ! ;)

Slán!

The above products were kindly gifted to me by Inish Pharmacy All opinions above are completely my own, 100% honest thoughts on the products.

L.O.V. Cosmetics

2017-04-15T21:55:00.000+01:00

Dia daoibh!

Today I introduce to you L.O.V. Cosmetics. LOV is one of the newest budget brands to hit the Irish shores; a sister company of the beloved affordable brands Essence and Catrice.

If I were to compare the LOV line to the likes of Essence and Catrice, I would say this is more of a grown up and sophisticated mix of them both (with better packing!!). I have tried a foundation, blush, contour and highlight palette and a lipstick. Here's how I got on.

Undressed 12 Hour Moisturizing Foundation

First up, their Undressed 12 Hour Moisturizing Foundation. The foundation comes in a tiny 4 shade range, the lightest being the shade 020 Fair Dream, which is what I tried out. I don't agree with the 12 hour claim (I never do with any brand!) but I do have to say this is beautifully moisturising for a foundation. It actually reminded me more of a tinted moisturiser than a foundation, as it had quite a wet consistency. To me, this is a sheer coverage foundation, but perfect for the summer or days where you want to slightly conceal discolouration, without the heavy feeling of a foundation on your face.

Price - €9.99

LOV LIP Affair Color & Care Lipstick

Next up is the LOV LIP Affair Color & Care Lipstick in the shade 551 Christina's Red. On the LOV website >HERE< this is claimed to be a "subtle shiny or semi matte finish" - completely contradicting I know! It's definitely in no way a matte, or even semi-matte finish, but more of a creamy, satin finish. It glides across the lips beautifully and is super comfortable on. As you can see, it's wonderfully pigmented and the packaging, again, is gorg. The glossy black bullet is weighty and is complete with a magnetic lid that gently snaps shut, ensuring it won't come loose if thrown into your handbag. Very impressive packaging indeed. Available in 18 shades.

Price - €9.99

LOV PERFECTitude Face Contouring Palette

Penultimately, I tried the LOV PERFECTitude Face Contouring Palette. Contouring and strobing are trends from which you cannot escape at the moment and this palette was made to include both. In the sleek palette comes a full sized mirror in the lid and three cream pans. Left to right as pictured above we have a light, slightly yellow based cream to emphasize and brighten, a peachy champagne illuminating cream for highlighting/strobing and finally a darker cream shade to contour and define. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of cream contouring and highlighting as I find it leaves my face feeling a little tacky and if powdered over, a little blotchy looking - but that's just personal preference. I did, however, like the middle strobe cream as a base for my powder highlight.

Price - €11.99

LOV Heartful Healthy Glow Blush

And finally, probably my favourite of the products I was sent to try; the LOV Heartful Healthy Glow Blush in the shade 050 Mystic Sand. I really, genuinely love it. Even though this particular shade is matte (3 mattes and three satin finishes available), it's not overly chawky/talc-ey, it's beautifully pigmented and this shade in particular, Mystic Sand, is gorg and will suit most skin tones! The packaging is beautiful, really petite but they managed to fit a full sized mirror in the lid. Big thumbs up from me.

Price - €6.99

Over, I'm very impressed with the L.O.V. Cosmetics pieces I tried out and look forward to, hopefully, finding a stockist near me. L.O.V Cosmetics can be purchased in Shaws Department Stores and selected pharmacies across Ireland including Mccauleys, Lloyds, Adrian Dunne, CH Tralee, Cara, Health Express, Wards in Longford, Kissane’s in Tipperary and McGorisks Athlone.

Slán!

The above products were sent to me from the brand's PR Team for reviewing purposes. All opinions above are completely my own, 100% honest thoughts on the products.

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear - 005 Beige Ivoire

2017-04-04T20:21:00.000+01:00

Dia daoibh!

Today I'm here to fill you in on the reinvigorated and iconic Teint Idole Ultra Wear by Lancôme; formally known as Teint Idole Ultra 24h. In celebration of its 20 years, the brand have given the popular foundation a facelift in the form of a new bottle and additional shades, now totalling 40! I tried out one of the lightest shades, 005 Beige Ivoire. Here's how I got on.

The foundation is an oil-free, long-wearing liquid foundation that claims to give full coverage. I do have to say, I personally wouldn't consider this as a full coverage foundation. It does conceal redness beautifully, but still leaves your natural skin shine through..... if that make sense!? I guess what I'm trying to say, is that this foundation is not heavy or cakey on the skin which most "full coverage" foundations tend to be. For a matte foundation, this is probably one of thee most comfortable and lightest feeling I've ever used.

One aspect I didn't particularly like (which others may love) was that there is a noticeable smell to this foundation. It reminds me of an old, floral perfume. Not necessarily a bad smell, but thankfully after application it diminishes .

The foundation doesn't leave the skin completely matte, however. Perhaps more of a natural looking, velvet matte finish. I tend to ignore "x hours wear" claims that are put on cosmetic items, but it does last a typical working day, which is what I think, most of us look for in a foundation. As I mentioned and as you can see from the image below, the foundation worked well to blur imperfections like redness on my forehead and the few pimples on my chin area. I was also glad to notice that it seemed to disguise pores around my nose area.

After using the foundation for a few weeks, I've decided I like to apply a thin layer to start off with and then go back in to build up coverage in order to target any problematic areas such as redness around my nose and chin. Speaking of skin targeting, the foundation has an SPF15 to protect the skin from UV rays and also contains silica and perlite which help to absorb oil for a shine free finish.

Lancôme’s spectrum of shades ranges from light ivory hues to rich ebony which I'm so delighted to mention. To go with this re-release, Lancôme have also launched an online Shade Finder service. Simply click >HERE< to be taken to the website to match your skin type to the complexions of 40 Lancôme beauty advisors. I love that the website actually shows real women's faces/skin colour as opposed to just a list of numbers and computer generated shades which leads to a lot of guess work!

Overall I'm quite impressed with Lancôme’s re-release of their Teint Idole Ultra Wear. It's available on counter now and retails from between €39 to €41 in-store. It's currently on sale online from Debenhams >HERE< for €34.20, so be quick if you're looking to treat yourself!

Slán!

The above product was sent to me from the brand's PR Team for reviewing purposes. All opinions above are completely my own, 100% honest thoughts on the product.

Elegant Touch Totally Bare Mixed Nails

2017-03-14T17:51:00.000+00:00

Dia daoibh!

Today I'm here with a nail post and it's on falsies by Elegant Touch. This 'Totally Bare Mixed Nails' bumper set, in particular, caught my eye as it includes three different shapes - Stilletto, Oval and Square. As I'm not a regular false nail wearer, I thought this would be an ideal set to try out to decide which shape I prefer. If you do know what shape is your fav, then these sets also come individually with each shape too.

As the packaging suggests, the set includes 216 nails - random, I know! Within the 216 nails there are 10 different sizes of each style. Herein lay my problem...... I found it very difficult to find nails to correctly fit my own nails. I'm not sure if it's that I have particularly small nails beds but I found them to be huge! See the below pic. So a lot of the nails within the kit went to waste.

Included in the handy, plastic carry case is glue (which is meant to give "fantastic results for up to 10 days") and a little nail file. The set did not last me 10 days, more like 4, when 2/3 started popping off, which is when I decided to remove them. I am quite handsy though!! In saying that, the glue was adhesive enough to make them feel secure enough once dried, so would be perfect for an event, night out, few day long wedding etc.

I do love the concept of the set, being that it gives you the option of trying different styles, but unfortunately I just found the nails themselves far too large. The absolute smallest was the only to fit my pinky! Again, this may be just because I have naturally small nails.

Other than that, I found the nails to be quite durable, the glue lasted relatively long (as included set glue tends to go) and nail polish lasted really well on them also.

This set retails for €12.74 on >FEEL UNIQUE< or they are available from McCabes, Cara Pharmacy, Total Health Pharmacy, Shaws Dept Stores and independent pharmacies nationwide.

Slán!

The above product was sent to me from the brand's PR Team for reviewing purposes. All opinions above are completely my own, 100% honest thoughts on the product.

Nutrilite Vitamin B Plus Review

2017-03-06T17:24:00.000+00:00

Dia daoibh.

Today I'm here with more of a lifestyle post. I've been trying out the Nutrilite Vitamin B Plus supplements for the past month and wanted to let you know about them in case you're on the hunt for a good B Vitamin supplement. First off, why do we need B vitamins in our diet you might ask. There are many benefits, but the main ones include energy production, a healthy nervous system, good digestion and healthy skin, hair and nails. Without the B-group vitamins, the body lacks energy, so by taking a supplement such as the Nutrilite Vitamin B Plus, it will help the body to use carbohydrates, fats and protein for fuel.

Now, on to the Nutrilite Vitamin B Plus supplements themselves. Although the packaging leaves a lot to be desired, in my opinion, the vitamins inside are actually of high quality. The one thing, in particular, that interested me was the concept of instant and slow release.

As you will see from the above image, the tablets are dual layered. The dark layer gives an instant release. It provides a boost of two vitamins - Vitamin B12 and B2 to the body in less than one hour. The second, lighter green layer gives an extended release. It provides the body with six more B vitamins over a period of eight hours. This way, all eight essential B Vitamins are released to the body at the optimal time.

One Nutrilite Vitamin B Plus tablet contains all eight B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12) at levels of 100% of the Daily Value. B Vitamins are water-soluble which means any excess will be excreted through the urine.

Although I have mentioned energy in this post, I do want to point out, however, that taking a B complex vitamin will not create heightened alertness or energy the way coffee or energy drinks might. This is a misconception that I had myself before this post. However, if you lead a hectic of stressful life, chances are, you may not be getting enough of all eight B Vitamins in your diet, so a supplement like this is ideal for ensuring you do. This is the reason I am very happy to include these supplements as part of my daily routine. I take one tablet every single morning so that I know each day I am guaranteed to be getting 100% of the recommended intake of B Vitamins.

The Nutrilite Vitamin B Plus tub as pictured above, contains 60 tablets, which is a two month supply, as you only need one day. It's priced at €21.50 and available exclusively from Amway >HERE<.

Slán!

The above product was sent to me from the brand's PR Team for reviewing purposes. All opinions above are completely my own, 100% honest thoughts on the product.

Loreal Pure Clay Purity Wash, Glow Scrub and Detox Wash.

2017-02-27T18:09:00.000+00:00

Dia daoibh!

Last year, L'Oreal launched the Pure Clay range of facemasks. The range went down a storm with skincare fans. Just recently, they have launched 3 matching face washes. I introduce to you,the L'Oreal Paris Pure Clay Purity Wash, Glow Scrub and Detox Wash.

First off, the packaging. Each face wash comes in a 150ml, pastel army green squeezy tube. The Pure Clay Purity and Pure Clay Detox are both face washes. The green Purity version is more of a cream wash and the blue Detox version is more of a gel wash. They are both soap-free so your skin won't be left with that tight feeling after washing. The Pure Clay Detox is a a scrub containing little microbeads.

Each of the three face washes contain the following 3 clays:

Kaolin- a highly effective natural clay, known to absorb impurities and excess sebum

Montmorillonite- rich in minerals, a clay recognised for helping to eliminate imperfections

Ghassoul- a pure clay highly concentrated in minerals, renowned to help clarify complexion

Purity Wash - for a purified deep clean

This one contains Eucalyptus extract, which known for its purifying properties. It aims to give you clearer, fresher skin, without shine. Its non-drying gel texture transforms into a light foam, eliminating impurities and excess oil, and visibly reducing shine.

Benefits - skin is deeply cleansed and purified, with excess oil reduced.

Glow Scrub - for a healthy glow

This scrub contains Red Algae extract and exfoliating micro-beads for brighter, smoother and fresher skin.. Its non-drying texture transforms into a light foam and releases the micro-beads, which exfoliate impurities and dead skin cells, leaving skin smoother and brighter.

Red Algae- known for its brightening properties and will leave your skin with a healthy glow.

Benefits - skin feels deeply cleansed, purified and refined. Pores feel tighter. With continued use, skin is visibly transformed, smoother and has an even, healthy glow.

Detox Wash - to draw out impurities for a skin detox

This gel wash contains Charcoal for clearer, fresher skin.. The dark tinted blue gel transforms into a light foam once in contact with water, which detoxifies the skin's surface by capturing impurities, including excess oil and make-up residue. Charcoal acts like a magnet to draw out impurities from the skin

Benefits - skin is deeply cleansed and purified

PRICE & WHERE TO BUY

Each of the Purity Clay washes are priced at €7.99 in Boots but I found them for €6.85 from Inish Pharmacy >HERE< plus use promo code FITZNBITZ for an 10% off that!

Slán!

Molee Beauty Large Palette - Z Palette dupe

2017-02-21T15:11:00.000+00:00

Dia daoibh!

Today I'm here with an amazing dupe for you. Some of you may have heard about the controversy surrounding ZPalette at the moment. (They recently launched a new product which received some critiqueing feedback from their customers which is when the brand lashed out by attacking their customers personal appearance, financial circumstances etc). A quick rundown is in this video >HERE< and >HERE< Taking all of that into consideration, I'm happy to share a dupe of the ZPalette so that you don't need to give an unprofessional, rude company your support. I introduce to you, Molee Beauty.

Today I'm going to run through all details such as price, (safe affiliate) links of where to buy , delivery, colours and sizes of the palettes available. I found this large magnetised palette on Ebay from the >Molee Beauty< (lullaby-1609) shop and purchased the large, rose gold version to store my single Inglot eyeshadows.

Although, the company is based in China, the palette arrived in about 2 weeks (the estimated delivery was between 18-36 days. Mine arrived in 15 days). As a bonus, it also arrived via registered post and very securely packaged.

One of my main concerns was how durable or flimsy the palette would be. To my delight, in my hand, the palette is actually very sturdy and durable. It is made up of artificial leather, sturdy cardboard and has a magnetic base and magnetic lid. The magnet itself is very strong and holds my Inglot shadows very securely with no movement at all once in place.

This large version holds 18 Inglot square shadows, with room to move around - 6 across and 3 down. (the same as the large Z Palette). If you flip the Inglot shadows around the other way, it still holds the same 6x3 rows but the with 6 across fitting in evenly. I was left with just shy enough space to fit an extra row. The palette will hold more round pans than it holds the Inglot square (Actually rectangular!!) pans. The palettes come in six different colours as pictured at the start of tis post; Terrace, Elegant Lace (Real Lace), Rose Golden, Bright Purple, Satin Taupe and Black.

The palettes also come in small, medium and a combo version of all three small, medium and large sizes. I did not have to purchase separate magnetics to place under my Inglot pans; they stuck to the magnetic immediately which is a bonus.

For those of you wanting to get the nitty gritty details (which I did also!), here are the measurements of the large palette:

Outside Dimension: 206 mm x 128 mm x 15 mm

Inside Dimension: 192 mm x 114 mm x 7 mm

Price and where to buy

Overall, I am thoroughly impressed with my ebay dupe of the ZPalette. Direct link to where I bought mine is >HERE<

The large palette is priced at £16 which converts to €18.80 with free delivery.

The same sized Zpalette when purchased from Beauty Bay >HERE< is priced at €21.10/£17.90 not including delivery.

Hope you enjoyed today's dupe post and be sure to let me know if you treat yourself to one!

Slán!

18" Dimmmable Neewer Ringlight Unboxing incl Diffuser & Hotshoe Adapter

2017-02-21T13:32:00.002+00:00

Dia daoibh!

Hello friends! So; I have treated myself to a new ringlight and unboxed it on camera for you all to see. I have covered everything in the video below, but if you do have any further questions, just let me know!

Details of where I purchased as follows:

Breakdown of price:
In total, to get all three items (ring light, diffusers and hot shoe adapter) shipped to my house in Ireland it came to:

Total in pounds delivered £124.34
Total in Euro delivered €152.56

18" Dimmable Neewer Ring Light - >HERE<

Hard Plastic Diffusers for 18" Neewer Ring Light - >HERE<

Hot Shoe Adapter - >HERE<

If you have any questions about anything mentioned (or not mentioned!) in this video, just leave a comment and I will do my best to answer.

Exact title on Amazon:
Neewer® Camera Photo/Video 18"Outer 14"Inner 600W 5500K Dimmable Ring Fluorescent Flash Light (Light Only)

Neewer® White and Yellow Color Filter Set for Neewer 600W 5500K Dimmable Ring Fluorescent Flash Light

Neewer Mini Ball Head with Lock and Hot Shoe Adapter for Camera

Slán!

The Happiness Planner 2017 - Serenity & Rose Quartz Jan- Dec

2017-01-31T19:40:00.004+00:00

Dia daoibh!

Today's post is one that was requested by lots of you on my >SNAPCHAT< and one that I myself am very excited about! I introduce to you..... The Happiness Planner.

The Happiness Planner is a diary/journal that embraces the power of positive thinking, mindfulness, gratitude, and self-development. Basically, the concept of the planner is to simply focus on what makes you happy.

To me, writing things down on paper is quite therapeutic and by filling in a page of the journal each day, it will become a habit of focusing and embracing happiness. Each day there are sections for goal setting and organisation, self reflection and gratitude journalling.

The blue Happiness Planner I chose - Serenity & Rose Quartz - came beautifully presented in a sturdy, matching gift box together with a divine rose gold pen and clips to keep your sections organised.

It was also joined by separate goal setting lists, resolutions, vision board template and more. These can also be printed for free from the website >HERE< and >HERE<

As a huge stationery fan, this stood out to me in a big way. The Happiness Planner is aesthetically pleasing while also being hugely beneficial for organising your day to day life and encouraging a positive outlook.

As you can see, the planer is spiral bound - ideal for desk writing. As the planner is quite hefty, it's not one to carry with with you on a day to day basis; more so one to be filled out each morning and evening at home.

Throughout the planner, you will find positive life quotes on the top of each page. There is an overview section at the beginning of each month and also a review/reflection section at the end of the month (and year).

Where to buy and how much

The Happiness Planner comes in different varieties and colours. This particular version (January to December) is the biggest of the planners (as it is to be filled out daily), There are also smaller, weekly and 100 day versions available for cheaper.

I bought mine direct from The Happiness Planner website >HERE< and used promo/discount code POSITIVETHINKING for 5% off. Ive since found out that code POSITIVEATTITUDE or BRANDMENTALIST will get you 10% off so your planner will come down to around €40/£34!! It worked out at being the cheapest place to by from despite it being posted from the UK (super fast delivery) The planner came to and €53/£46 including shipping but you can get yours using the BRANDMENTALIST code for €51/£44 including shipping!

It's also available within Ireland (Excluding shipping) from:

The Dotty Lemon for €55 >HERE<

Moss Cottage for €50 >HERE<

Meaghers Pharmacy have the smaller, 52 Week Planner (€39) and 100 Day Planner (€27) >HERE<

I'm super excited about starting my Happiness Planner journey! Any questions, just >TWEET ME< or message me on >FACEBOOK< or >SNAPCHAT< (FitznBitz).

Slán!

Bryt Skincare Nourish Serum Review

2017-01-23T19:01:00.000+00:00

Dia daoibh!

So here we go; another year, another blog post. Today marks my return to blogging in 2017 & I'm excited to get back into the routine of posting. I'm here with a skincare review which I'm quite excited about. I have been using the Bryt Skincare Nourish Serum throughout Christmas and it's a good-un!

BRYT Skincare is a British, vegan brand that has been created to help both men and women re-establish and maintain their skin’s natural equilibrium. The brand hugely focuses on something they call their APS (Advanced Phytoscience System) formulation which combines a naturally-derived Antioxidant Protection System that encourages skin to detoxify and exfoliate, while soothing, calming and moisturising. Ok, that's enough of the science - more details on the brand and their products >HERE< if you're interested.

Back to the Nourish Serum. First off.....the packaging. Stylish and eye catching; the bright colours caught my eye immediately when I saw them in Shaws. I LOVE skincare with a pump as it's hygienic and fuss free. Two pumps does my whole face and neck.

This particular "Nourish" version (3 more versions available) is aimed at people with dry or dehydrated skin. As I mentioned, I used this over the Christmas period and I'm so glad I had it to try out as my skin was quite dehydrated from indoor heating and...... lets face it, the alcohol consumed over the holiday!! The serums itself is a thick gel-texture serum which I noticed glides beautifully over the skin and absorbs quite quickly. It immediately left my skin noticeably smoother after application, which surprised me.

It doesn’t have much of a plumping effect, which I tend to opt for in a serum, but then again, it doesn’t claim to. What it does have though, is a lovely cooling effect. I would put that down to the aloe vera and jojoba extracts which work together to refresh the skin. Other noteworthy ingredients include African Baobab Oil, Jojoba Oil and essential oils including Rosemary, Lavender and Jasmine.

The skin-balancing active ingredients penetrate right down to cell level, helping to revive and rebalance the skin, rediscovering its "natural equilibrium" ie aims to get it back to what it should be! I've noticed other reviews of the serum mentioning that this has a "gentle" smell. Not sure what that's supposed to mean or if it was included in a press release, (gentle.... what!??) but to me it has a distinctive, natural/herbal smell. It's not offensive, however it is noticeable. It's also worth mentioning that the serum is cruelty free and has a vegan formula.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed using the Bryt Nourish Serum and look forward to checking out more of what Bryt Skincare have to offer. The serum is priced at €29.95 and is available to buy online from McCabes >HERE< (sign up to their newsletter for 10% off) or from Beauty Boutique for €28.50 >HERE< . It's also available in-store from Shaws Department Stores nationwide.

Slán!

The above product was sent to me from the brand's PR Team for reviewing purposes. All opinions above are completely my own, 100% honest thoughts on the product.

Blank Canvas Cosmetics Dimension Series

2016-11-24T00:00:00.000+00:00

Dia daoibh!

Blank Canvas Cosmetics are, in my humble opinion, one of thee most well known make up brush brands available online within Ireland at the moment.They recently had their 5 year anniversary and to celebrate they released their new Dimension Series of brushes. Today, I'm here to give you an up close look on some at the new collection.

The Dimension Series is an array of brushes that come in various finishes and colours, which makes them stand out from the original collection by Blank Canvas. I, personally, am a huge fan of Blank Canvas brushes and have been using them myself since they first launched. Let;s take a look at the new collection.

New to the Blank Canvas family is the BC Standee. This hybrid between a stand and a carry case, can hold up to 20 brushes (depending on size and shape). When the Standee is opened, it stands upright, meaning your brushes are easy to see and reach. It zips flat just like a regular make up case, saving space in your kit or suitcase!

Ideal for travelling, this faux leather and embossed suede centre pouch comes in either hot Pink or black. It's priced at €19.95 and is available online >HERE<

The F01, on first impression, reminded me of a short handled version of my beloved round tip buffing brush for foundation, making this ideal for on the go. It's seems to have more bristles than my current foundation brush making it great to get your foundation buffed in quickly!

You can get it for €15.95 >HERE<.

The F08 is short bristled, domed shaped face brush. It's a multipurpose buffing brush but because it's quite densely packed, I think it's great for cream contouring in particular. It's also available in rose gold/black handle, metallic champagne pink, metallic rose gold and metallic gold.

You can get it for €14.95 >HERE<.

The F34 is a large round top, fluffy face brush and is perfect to use when applying powder or bronzers. This brush is ideal for setting your makeup.

You can get it for €14.95 >HERE<.

The beautiful F41 is a flat, tapered cheek and contour brush. It's also great for powdering small areas or baking.It's comes in a range of gorgeous metallic shades.

You can get it for €14.95 >HERE<.

The F36 is a petite, round top, multipurpose brush. Because of it's size and shape it's quite a versatile brush that's ideal for applying blusher,highlighter or contour makeup.and works brilliantly with a variety of formulations.

You can get it for €14.95 >HERE<.

The F09 is the perfect shape and size for applying concealer or eyeshadow primers. This brush can be used with cream and powder products. It's handmade from extra soft, high quality anti-bacterial synthetic fibres.

You can get it for €7.95 >HERE<.

The F12, is an angled version of the F09, so again, this is great for concealing under the eyes and also around the nose. The flat, anged edge can even be used to apply contour makeup onto the bridge of the nose and under the lip

You can get it for €7.95 >HERE<.

And finally, the E01. This is a small, blending brush for cream or powder eyeshadow. It's also great for buffing in concealer and because of it's small rounded tip, perfect for smoking out eyeshadow on the lower lashline.

You can get it for €7.95 >HERE<.

And there you have it. Some of what's available from the new Dimension Series by Blank Canvas. You can buy direct from BCC >HERE< from Cloud10Beauty >HERE< or Inish Pharmacy >HERE<

Slán

The above products were sent to me from the brand's PR Team for reviewing purposes. Some safe affiliate links are in this post. All opinions above are completely my own, 100% honest thoughts on the products.