Nivea Creme Care* Range Review

A few weeks back I was sent some products from the Nivea Creme Care range. Now, as I'm sure you all know, I am a massive Nivea fan, with over half of my products bearing the name. I have to say, this brand ticks all the boxes for me, from the price point, to the packaging, to the great job they do!

First up, I've got the Creme Care Cleansing Milk, which happened to arrive onto my desk at the opportune moment, since I've not yet managed to repurchase my staple 2 in 1 Cleanser And Toner. This cleansing milk is similar in consistency to the 2 in 1, and it smells similar too, but that's where it ends. This cleansing milk has left my skin feeling softer and more nourished. I follow up with the Daily Essentials Toner that I have as back up.

I found my skin feels more plump and looks nicer too, so much so that I've been heading out without makeup more often than not. On the days where I do wear makeup, I use this beforehand as a quick prep to remove any residue or build up from my skin, followed by moisturizer and my full makeup application.


In the evenings I take the bulk of my makeup off with a wipe, and some eye makeup remover for the sensitive eye contour area, and then follow up with Creme Care Cleansing Wash, which I was also very kindly gifted! I find the Creme Care Cleansing Wash incredibly gentle, but cleanses deeply enough that you feel a notable difference after a few uses. I take a little dab, maybe the size of a 20c coin or so on wet hands, and massage it into my skin, then I take a damp facecloth and rub my face in circular motions to thoroughly work the product into the skin. I rinse my face with warm water and pat my skin dry with a clean towel.

I'm really enjoying this range. it's cleansing and softening and makes my skin feel great both before and after makeup!

Have you any Nivea Skincare recommendations for me?

Amy 

xx

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Dex Does - Nivea Creme for Men*

Hey all! Just a little introduction for you all to bring you my best friend in the world, who has kindly agreed to review mens products for Red Lips; Red Hair. I wont waffle on much longer, so I hereby give you Dexter, and the first Dex Does!!!

 

So today I am writing a review of the moisturiser product Nivea MEN Creme from the manliest grooming perspective. Skincare.

Thus far I have used a few moisturisers in my life so I am somewhat familiar with them and how they work but I am by no means an expert, just someone with a humble opinion about how they make my skin feel when I use them. So let's get started!

 

I have been using Nivea Creme for a fortnight now and (drumroll) it's pretty great! I am actually surprisingly pleased with it and it's performance! It's been really nice on my skin, comes in nice packaging and has generated some nice compliments from people in my life about my skin. All winning traits in my book! 

First impressions of this product were off to a good start. For a mans product, the casing it comes in is surprisingly stylish and "suitable" for men to be seen with. Dark blue and steely grey colored in a compact tin with no faff to be seen anywhere, perfect! On my first use it was easy to open, easy to peel the seal and easy to apply. No fuss. All the while I was in a gym locker room fresh from the shower with wet hands so I thought this worth mentioning, if it were in any way hard to utilise in the one place I'd use it most commonly I probably would have given up and thrown it back in my bag! 

Generally speaking it didn't add any length of time to my morning routine, maybe about two minutes in total to moisturise my face, neck and hands after showering. The creme is absorbed rapidly on my skin and doesn't feel sticky on my face at all afterwards, skin dry and all in about 30 seconds after applying. There is a generous amount in the tin so I could see this lasting the average guy a month to a couple months. I use this every day at least once on my face and maybe once on my hands every other day and the tin is about 1/8th empty. Maybe I'm not using the right amount but I used what felt right on my skin to me.

After using this for about a fortnight now I have gotten a few compliments on my skin looking well (which is always nice) and by this feedback alone (let alone how much I like the product itself) I am persuaded to keep using it for a while longer to see if its affects on my skin persist, though from research it seems like this product may just be a hidden gem for males to have in their vanity arsenal.

So the long of it is above, the short and sweet is: I recommend this product. It does exactly what it says on the tin, there's no faff about it and it's a really great price! This product is great as we are just coming into Winter where our skin will get dry in the cold weather so keeping something like this handy will prove beneficial. I'm no dermatologist or expert on moisturiser but if I were to give it a score out of 10 I would give it an 11/10. I'm no expert on numbers either.

-Dex

Nivea Men Crème was kindly gifted for consideration, and Dex knows better than to lie to me or you!! You can pick up Nivea Men creme in all major supermarkets and its currently on offer in Supervalu for €2.45. 

April Favorites 2015

Hi All!!

It's been so long since I posted a talk-through of all my favorite things from the previous month, so I thought today I would do that for you all! Let's go ahead and get into it!!

LUSH Mask of Magnaminty:

Oh my god, I cannot even begin to describe how much I am digging this mask, you guys! I've tried on three occasions to write a review for you all but it winds up just being a couple of hundred words of blatant gushing and absolutely no constructive feedback. I will say that this mask really helps to control breakouts and soak up any excess oils you may have. It also slightly exfoliates your skin when you wash it off because of the little bits in it. Mmmmph, I love it!

Toms:

I have not worn any other shoes than Toms all month, unless I've had to attend an event, whereby I clearly wear heels! Toms shoes are seriously comfortable, really well made, warm and breathable. The best bit is that they are ethical, and every time you buy a pair, Toms give a pair to a child in an impoverished country. I literally cannot get over how comfy they are and they look so cute with all kinds of outfits!! You need a pair, honestly!!

Nivea Daily Essential Express Hydration Primer

This stuff has really been useful to me on those "no make up" days, when I want my skin to look great but I don't want to wear a full face of slap, I smooth this on, apply some concealer to trouble spots, mascara, do my brows and I'm done! It leaves my skin hydrated and glowing but not in that awful glittery way, more of a subtle "lit from within" way,

Isa Dora Face Sculptor Palette:

I am in love with this palette lately, not least because it's 3 perfect shades in one handy compact. It's been truly well loved since Isa Dora gifted it to me a couple of months ago. The bronzer is perfect for sculpting out my cheekbones and the blush is incredibly flattering. the highlight shade is my favourite of the trio, however, I've been using it as a highlight on my cheekbones, brow bone, inner eye and even use it as a shimmery eye-shadow.

What have you been loving lately?

 

xo

Amy

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Make-Up Removal and Night Time Skincare

Hi Ladies!!

Make-up removal is so important to maintaining healthy skin. Today I am going to talk you through my steps for removing any and all traces of make-up from your face. 

Water Wipes

Image: Water Wipes

To take off the bulk of my make-up, from my face - not my eyes - I use a Water Wipe. This removes the bulk of the product, from my cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. Basically I wipe over my whole face and avoid the eyes or the eye contour area. 

Nivea Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover

On two large oval cotton pads, I take some bi-phase eye makeup remover and apply them to my eyes. I hold them over my eyes for 10-15 seconds, and then gently wipe outwards. Again, this removes the bulk of the product. Then I take one more cotton pad and another squirt of the remover to wipe downward and then around to remove any traces of mascara and eyeliner. 

Boots Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm

When I've stripped off my make-up, I then take a small dab of this cleansing balm, which I rub between my fingers and then massage onto my face to lift any left over make-up. I take the muslin cloth that came with it, wet it with warm water and use it to gently rub over my face in small circles, rinse and pat my face dry. 

Argan Oil Night Repair Serum 

Once my face is squeaky clean, I take a few drops of this serum, warm it between my fingers and pat this onto the skin. This serum has Argan Oil extract, and it leaves my skin feeling plump and soft the next morning. 

Tesco Pro Radiance Night Cream

Image: Pretty Wonderful Blog

Immediately following the serum, I apply the Tesco Pro Radiance Night Cream. This has a rich but not greasy texture and is absorbed into my skin by morning. A real winner, in my book. 

So there you have it, my make-up removal and night time skincare routine. I know it's not perfect, but it works for me and is subject to alteration from time to time! 

Are there any products you would recommend??

Drop me a comment down below if you have!

xo 

Amy

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Nivea Q10 Plus Anti-Wrinkle Skincare Routine*

Nothing makes me feel as confident as good, clear, well cared for skin. So, when the wonderful Breena emailed me on behalf of Nivea, to see if I would like to trial some products, I was delighted and very eager. As I write this, I have been using them for a week, and I've got some thoughts. I was sent four items from the new Q10 Plus range, a day cream, a night cream, an eye cream and the serum pearls. 

Aren't they so gorgeous??

All of Nivea's product range come in really lovely, glossy hard plastic packaging. They are weighty and very well made, a testament to the products they hold! These products have become staple in my routine, and all but one of my skincare routine products are Nivea, now! Thanks to their ingredients, Coenzyme Q10, Hyaluronic Acid and Creatine, my skin has been in possibly the best condition of my life. Coenzyme Q10 is proven to keep the skin firm and plump, effectively slowing the sagging process that causes wrinkles. 

For full disclosure, my cleansing routine both morning and evening is the Nivea 2 in 1 Cleanser and Toner, followed by these and I trialled them every day for a week before I made up my mind!

The Serum Pearls. 

"Pure anti-wrinkle power for a refined and younger looking complexion"

I'm just going to give it all away now, because why not! These serum pearls are my newest love. Honestly I could wax lyrical about these through multiple posts. They are incredible. I think they would be perfect for an under make-up base as they absorb instantly and leave a matte finish. I thank these for relieving the redness on my nose, my chin and also for keeping my skin clear and plump, Girls, I never knew what I was missing until these arrived onto my desk. I cannot be without them now.

The Energizing Day Cream. 

"Boosts tired, dull skin"

This cream is beautiful, lightly scented and when applied it feels like velvet. It soaks in instantly, I mean that literally. Once it's been smoothed in, there is no residue. The Q10 Plus Energizing Day Cream has brightened my skin and left it plump and hydrated. I am so impressed with this stuff you would not believe, because I work in a very warm, very air conditioned office environment and for the first 3 weeks, my skin was in tatters. Now I apply this cream before I leave for work, and when I get home almost 9 hours later my skin is still gorgeous and radiant. 

The Eye Cream

"Minimises dark under eye circles"

Up until a week or two ago, when I smiled, you could see the puffy eye bags that looked more like suitcases under my eyes. I thought maybe they were meant to be there. Oh, how wrong I was!! I've been applying a literal pinhead sized amount of the Q10 Plus eye cream morning and evening since I got hold of it and now when I smile, I actually look 22 not 122. 

The Night Cream. 

"Regenerates skin during the night"

So far this range as a whole has impressed me and really given my skin a new lease of life, but I cannot say I'm terribly enamoured with this Night Cream. It has all the same benefits as the range from which it comes, but personally I didn't enjoy it. It felt heavy and greasy on my skin, and though it's meant to soak in over night I work up every morning feeling desperate to cleanse my skin. It really just didn't do it for me. I wanted to like it, and it didn't do anything wrong, per se, but  just didn't find it as appealing as the other 3 items I was sent. 

All in all, as a whole I was impressed by this new range and I'm a little it obsessed with the Serum Pearls and the Day Cream, to the point where I will be repurchasing these in future. Holy grail achievement: Unlocked!

Have you tried these products?

Let me know what you thought!! 

xo

Amy

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Novermber Favorites

It's December and it's been too long since I did a favourites post... So lets get straight in, no kissing!! 

Dream Dots*. 

I used half a dozen of these in a week and I'm literally obsessed with them. There are not enough good words in the world to describe how well these dots work. They're not just a dream, they're a miracle!! Read my full review HERE. 

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation

I shopped my stash this month in a bid to use up some products and make space for the impending Christmas spending spree, and in doing so I found my summer love, Nearly Naked. It's been great because when I'm not tanning, I like a light coverage foundation that just works in a colour correcting capacity, especially after I've eradicated my spots. There's no point in covering up good skin. 

Impress Press On Nails

I'm obsessed with Impress nails. They actually look good, unlike most of those glue-on jobs. I rocked glossy black ones in the week leading up to -and including- Chris's graduation and they looked wonderful. They don't damage your nails, they've flex and shock absorbing properties and they stopped me biting my real nails when I was stressed... I couldn't have asked for better this month! 

Nivea 2 in 1 Cleanser and Toner

This stuff actually gives me life! I can't even begin to describe how good it has been for my skin. The fact that it's a 2 in 1 product was throwing me but it's great. Between this and the Dots, I've not had such well behaved skin!! Read my full review HERE

Johnsons Baby Shampoo 

I bought a bottle of baby shampoo last summer to clean my make-up brushes with, and I've still a quarter of the bottle left. If you want to deep clean your brushes, leave them soft and smelling lovely and you don't fancy springing for the No.7 Brush cleanser or the Blender Cleanser, then this is a great option. For a deep clean on eye and powder brushes once a week and every two days on your foundation, baby shampoo is a cost effective and all round great option. 

Love/Hate

My always lovely friend Kayliegh lent me the first 3 seasons of Love Hate on a shopping trip for her birthday and I'm hooked. I powered through 3 seasons in a week. All because I watched the season five finale. I need to know what's going on!!! Between Darren, Nidge, Fran and Siobhan, I'm up to 90. You'd swear I was in the middle of it! 

I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.

The last time I watched I'm A Celeb, was the year Kerry Katona won it. That's a long time. Of course I kept vaguely in touch with the contestants and the drama over the years but this is the first year in a long time I'm watching it pro-actively. I love the line up, they're only mildly famous but the entertainment is maximum levels! Bush-Tucker Trials are so funny to watch, and part of me would love to experience it. Am I mad?? 

What have you been loving during the month of November??

Drop me a comment!

Amy 

xx

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*Dream Dots were sent for review early in November, all opinions are my own. 

Recommended To Red - Nivea 2 in 1 Cleanser and Toner

I rarely take recommendations off my boyfriends mum when it comes to skincare. However this has been a staple in her skincare regime as long as I've been with Chris and that fact hasn't been lost on me. 

I picked this up doing the shopping a couple of weeks ago and have been using it daily ever since, sometimes I've used it twice daily, depending on whether it's a deep cleanse day. This lovely creamy cleanser cuts the time you spend at the vanity in half, and it takes away all the dirt and grime from your skin, leaving you feeling cleansed and refreshed. 

Apply it with cotton pads and follow with whatever you usually use in your skincare regime. 

Thanks to this bottle of loveliness, my pores haven't been so small and tight in a long time. 

The verdict? A real time saver, and really effective skincare. 

Let me know if you've tried it!!

Amy

xxx

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