SENSSE Beauty: A Review

Anti-Ageing Cleansing Brush

According to their website, SENSSE Beauty believe their products represent “inTRUEtive beauty,” which boasts the idea that “beauty is more than skin deep; it is about showing the beauty in your soul.”   The innovators at SENSSE Beauty have culminated a group of electrical products to help you achieve inner and outer beauty.  These products range from an interesting Hot and Cool Facial Bar to a much-needed (for me, anyway) Deep Pore Suction Cleanser.

A few months ago, I was approached by SENSSE Beauty; they offered me the opportunity to try out their Anti-Ageing Cleansing Brush in exchange for a review.  That being said, I would like to clarify that I was sent this electronic cleansing brush for free, but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.  I have been an enthused fan of electronic cleansing brushes for over 2 years; however, I will not discuss my trusted brand as I want to focus on SENSEE Beauty in this review.

Matching Charger!

The first thing I noticed about the Anti-Ageing Cleansing Brush is how aesthetically pleasing it is! When I began to see this product circulating through the Blogosphere, I immediately thought “woah!”  It is hands-down the most beautiful piece of beauty equipment I have seen! As you can see from the photos, the cleansing brush (and packaging) is chic with hints of rose gold. The brush comes with a matching rose gold charging base which would look impressive on anyone’s vanity; the charger is USB-compatible and does not come with a mains adapter.

Once I got over the impressively sleek appearance, I studied the specifications.  The brush needs to charge for approximately 18 hours before use, so be sure to charge it as soon as you get it!  Even though that may seem like a long time, you can get up to 60 uses between charges (based on 1-minute usages).  It adhere’s to the “smart” technology theme, as it has 3 intensity levels and beeps every 20 seconds to remind you to change areas.  Those with sensitive skin need not worry, for the brush has a “gentle cleansing” mode and SENSSE Beauty claim that the brush head is sensitive enough for all skin types. The manual states that this cleansing brush utilizes 7200 oscillations per minute, and while this sounds promising, my trusted brand promises 15,000.  However, one must remember the price difference between the two (£30 difference based on an Amazon search).

Up-close of the Brush Head

Once my gorgeous cleansing brush was fully-charged, I was excited to finally try it out with my favorite facial cleanser: Murad’s Blemish Control Clarifying Cleanser.  I rinsed the brush head under the water (yes, it is shower-proof!) and it felt incredibly soft; next, I covered the head with my cleanser and began to wash my face. This is when I discovered my least favorite part of the brush: the handle.  I feel as though this may not be an issue for others, but since I have been using another brand’s cleansing brush for a few years, I am used to that handle and I much prefer it to this one. I felt awkward while trying to wash my face with this brush.  On the plus side, I felt this brush head was comparable to the more expensive brush head from my trusted brand.

On a whole, I was impressed with the quality of SENSSE Beauty’s Anti-Ageing Cleansing Brush, especially considering the hefty price difference between this brand and other electrical beauty brands.  If you’ve been wanting to try an electrical cleansing brush, I would definitely suggest starting out with this one from SENSSE Beauty; you can even purchase this brush from Amazon with peace of mind due to their 60 day money-back satisfaction guarantee and 2-year warranty!  The only downside is that they do not offer replacement brush heads at the moment; according to Amazon, the seller stated that if someone wanted replacement brushes, they need to contact them at websales@mplhome.com.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my review!  I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Have you used a product like this before?  Have you tried this one from SENSEE Beauty?  Tell me about your experiences below!!  

 

My Real Life Fairy Tale: Part 1

26 July 2017 marked my 6-year anniversary with my partner, Martyn.  We have a unique story, which I would like to share.  This post is called “My Real Life Fairy Tale: Part 1” and I hope you enjoy this series, which will include 3-4 parts, depending on length.  Also, before I start, I would like to thank the wonderful Katie from Katie’s Corner for making the gorgeous header for my Fairy Tale series.

Let me start with a little backstory: I never wanted to marry and settle down.  My parents always fought and I simply didn’t want the hassle.  I had my fun and had very few serious relationships; my greatest ambition was my future career in psychology.  I’d chat to guys from around the world via Social Me, which allowed you to comment on pictures.  If you fancied someone, you could send them a private message.  I met a few guys that caught my interest, but I wasn’t looking for anything long-term or serious.  I still have friends to chat to today who have become good friends (love you Janus!). 

 

Martyn’s FB photo, June 2010

I believe it was October 2010 when I commented on Martyn’s picture.  I recently had a bad experience with a Welsh guy, so I joked about the Welsh men being assholes.  Martyn engaged in pleasant conversation with me and I thought he was a genuine nice guy.  We would chat about his kids, mom, job, and life in Wales.  I’d bore him with all my uni chat, but amuse him with my wild partying stories…you don’t want to know!!  A friend of Martyn’s told him about this app on Facebook and he would go on when he got home from his night shift.  It would take him about 2 hours to unwind, so he’d have a browse.  To this day, he swears that I was the only person he spoke to because he’s quite shy (which I LOVE!). 

We spoke for months and developed a deep and serious relationship.  He bought a Blackberry so he could text me for free via BBM; we chatted every opportunity we had.  We weren’t committed to each other, but we would say “I love you.”  We were both free to do as we please.  I would go out and party and he was more than welcome to do so.  We had a profound effect on each other and did not want to ruin anything by moving too quickly.  Somehow, I knew he was different from any man I’d met before; he was everything I didn’t even know I wanted. 

Me at the Blarney Castle, Summer 2011

Sometime in early 2011, I secured a place on a study abroad program in Waterford, Ireland.  I decided to finally meet Martyn, and he made plenty of arrangements for us to enjoy our summer together.  Deep down, I didn’t think we’d really meet and fall in love.  I assumed something would come up and we wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet, but he proved me wrong.  Every weekend I was in Waterford, he took the Friday and Monday off so we could have a long weekend together.  My second weekend in Waterford, he came to meet me.  I was petrified; I wanted to cancel, but his friends assured me that he was a decent guy.  I, along with some girls from my course, went to meet him in a pub near the Quay.  I didn’t want to go alone because I was quite anxious, but as soon as I saw him, I felt at home.  I felt like I’d known him my whole life.

Coney Island Pizza in Waterford, Ireland …look how awkward we look; it’s hysterical!!

That first weekend, we stayed in Waterford and explored the local area.  We bonded over our love for pizza and went to Coney Island Pizza a few times throughout the summer… we keep saying we need to go back!!  The second weekend, he came to get me to take me to Wales.  I offered to take public transport on my own, but he was adamant that I was not going to travel alone because it was my first time abroad.  Truthfully, I was so glad he came to get me because I almost got sea sick on the ferry ride from Rosslare, Ireland to Fishguard, Wales.  The silly man booked the “vomit comet,” which sits on top of the water and is therefore faster.  I was miserable!  But, Martyn did everything to help; he even got those sea sickness acupuncture bracelets.  Once we arrived safely in Pembrokeshire, we set off for his tiny village in South Wales, where I would see where he group and meet his family…

The first place I visited in Wales: White Hart Thatched Inn & Brewery in Llanddarog

That concludes Part 1.  I thoroughly hoped you enjoyed reading it and will keep an eye out for Part 2!  Have you found love online?  If so, I’d love to hear about it!!!  

 

The Blogger Crowd: Blogger Pack Review

In July, The Bloggers Crowd released their first Blogger Pack, an organizational tool for bloggers.  I saw their advertisement on Insta Stories and jumped at the chance to check out their product for bloggers.  Luckily, Abbie sent it over quickly!  I was quite impressed with the PDF I was sent.  You could tell a lot of hard work went into designing this blogger pack. First, I will list what was included in the pack then I’ll share my thoughts.

The TBC Blogger Pack contained:

• 2 prints
• a daily planning page
• blog post planner
• 12 monthly planners which helps you organize
  events, birthdays, notes, and goals

Empowering Print!

As a part-time blogger who works 40-50 hours a week, I try to be as organized as possible.  I try to plan when I do blogging work as well as what I am going to post.  I am a newbie blogger who launched in May, so I haven’t really gotten into a routine yet.  I aim to post every week, but sometimes that just doesn’t happen; I am working on being more self-disciplined when it comes to blogging.  Due to my inability to stay on top of blogging tasks, I jumped at the chance to review this blogger pack.  I mean…who doesn’t want to be more organized???

Upon first opening the blogger pack, I was impressed with the quality of graphics .  I don’t know how people produce such adorable and fun prints!!  The title page (first photograph) immediately grabs your attention with the funky lettering and zigzags.  I absolutely love their logo!  The mix between cursive and all-caps is perfectly on trend.  The 2 prints I received (pictured above and below) are definitely empowering and motivating, which is a necessity!  My favorite is the “Get Shit Done” print because I routinely say this in my day-to-day life and because I LOVE me some coffee!  I plan on framing this and putting it by my laptop.  I think it will motivate me to stop procrastinating and give me the much-needed kick up the arse!

The blog post planner is so cute!  I am not typically a pink-loving person, but I adore the coral/pink colors used.  Again, I love the fonts used.  Layout-wise, this page works well.  There is a space for the title of the post at the top.  On the left, one can list photographs needed; on the right, one can ensure they include all the links needed.  A notes section is provided for any other information needed, and finally a space for when the post will be posted can be found at the bottom of the page.  I especially like the “going live” part because I think it would help me stick to a time frame if I write it down and continue to look while working towards completion.  This planning page aids bloggers in managing their blog posts.  As you can see, I already have started planning my next blog post; this will be a review of Which Beauty Box’s first curation.  I can’t wait to start ticking items off my to-do list!  This page is my favorite organizational tool from this blogger pack and I can see myself continuing to use it.

Next, I found a “What Am I Doing Today?” page.  Even though I am not so organized when it comes to blogging (yet), I am incredibly organized in my day-to-day life.   Therefore, I did not find this page particularly useful because I am obsessed with my daily Every Day Matters planner.  I believe that this planning page would be useful for someone who doesn’t routinely use a planner.  One can manage a to-do list, record their food/exercise, take notes, schedule blog posts, and keep themselves motivated with a “looking forward to” section.

Monthly planning pages

Next, I found 12 monthly overview pages; notice the different images in the top right corners.  I am a detail-oriented person and love small touches like that.  I filled mine out for August and it made me feel excited and organized, which are amazing feelings!  I find that when I write down everything I have going on, I am more motivated and better with time management.  I love the coral colors and layout.  I especially like how I can incorporate both my private, work, and blogging life into one planning tool.  I can see myself using these for the rest of the year.

I hope you enjoyed reading what I truly thought about The Blogger Crowd’s blogger pack. I thoroughly enjoyed receiving and reviewing this product, especially because it’s something I can use to increase my productivity.  I want to say thank you to TBC for giving me this opportunity and being patient with me.  I believe TBC will be releasing a finalized blogger pack, so be sure to follow them for updates.  Hint: they often post amazing opportunities on their Insta Stories so watch that space!!

 

 

Nat’s Summer Wish List

I’ve been seeing “wish list” posts for a while and I finally wanted to write one of my own showcasing items I’d love to splurge on but won’t.  I feel quite cheeky writing a wish list a mere month after my birthday, but oh well! 

Photo Credit: Photo credit: https://www.limecrime.com/lipsticks/set-bundles/mermaid-makeup-collection-bundle

Photo Credit: Photo credit: https://www.limecrime.com/lipsticks/set-bundles/mermaid-makeup-collection-bundle

The first item on my lust list is from Lime Crime!  Have you seen their enchanting Mermaid collection which launched in June?!  Well if you’ve somehow missed it, let me enlighten you: promised to make you glow like a mermaid on a moonlit night, this kit has all you need to rock that Ariel-inspired look.  Moonlight Mermaid: Collector’s Kit (now sold out) absolutely spoils consumers with 3 full-sized highlighters and 3 full-sized Velvetines.  As you can see, the shades from the highlighting palette (Seashell, Pearl, Mermaid) correspond to the matching matte liquid lipstick (Siren, Mermaid’s Grotto, Seashell Bra).  I’ve wanted to try Lime Crime for a while due to their popular Diamond Crushers, a set of iridescent lip toppers which use prismatic technology to show off the sparkle! 

Photo Credit

I wouldn’t live up to my handle, Gorgeous and Geeky, if I didn’t include at least one geek-inspired product!  These makeup brushes from Storybook Cosmetics were inspired by the wands you’d find in Ollivanders.  Since these were teased on their Instagram in October 2016, fans have been impatiently awaiting their arrival; when the brushes were released in earlier 2017, you can imagine that these sold out fairly quickly!  Everyone wanted to perform the “Accio Makeup!” spell, I’m sure of it.  These “Wizard Wand” brushes come in gold, gun metal and rose gold.  Rose gold continues to be a hit color and I obviously need the rose gold set ha!  I considered asking my better half for a set as a birthday present, but I’m afraid that if I order them I won’t use them!  I could totally see myself framing them and not actually casting any makeup spells.

Photo Credit

The next item on my wish list isn’t flashy but is indeed necessary!  This Drying Lotion from Mario Badescu has exceptional reviews for its potent, yet gentle, effect on acne.  I am 27 and suffer from hormonal acne due to a reaction to the mini-pill I started taking a few months ago.  I have been off of the pill for 2 months and can see an improvement, but the skin is still irritated and looks like a red rash on both sides of my jaw.  I am not entirely sure if this acne treatment would work for my particular needs, but I’ve been wanting to give it a go.  I absolutely hate my acne.  I will go makeup-free because I believe a woman should be as confident without it as she is with it, but it still doesn’t look very nice.  Plus, who can wear a full face of makeup in this heat?!  If you have been wanting to try this product/brand but are in the UK, you can purchase Mario Badescu from Beauty Bay.  

Photo Credit

Recently, my trusty (and cheap) wet-to-dry straightener died and I decided that when I can afford to replace it, I would like to finally buy the pinnacle of hair straighteners: a ghd.  One of my closest friends turned me onto ghd when we were traveling in Iceland; I was amazed that she could use it in another country without it blowing up or melting.  In 2011, I melted a straightener from the US when I was studying in Ireland!  I researched various ghd products and decided that I’d like to eventually invest in the Platinum Tropic.  I try to take good care of my hair, especially since I started coloring it a few years ago; therefore, I can appreciate the technology that goes into this “safer-for-hair” styler that reduces breakages by 50 percent. 

Photo Credit

My wonderful partner surprised me with a light blue Fitbit Charge 2 and I cannot stop fiddling with the app.  I love it!  I love how it tracks my caloric intake so I can decide how many calories to eat.  I am trying to lose a pound a week, so I try to cut out 500 calories a day.  Before I had a Fitbit, I estimated how many calories I burned and how much I should eat but this device removes all guesswork.   I am astonished at how it tracks my sleep cycles, steps, and active minutes.  Now I am reaching my goals and seeing even better results.  The item on my wish list is this chic, grey-colored leather band which would allow me to paid my trusty Fitbit with nicer outfits.

Photo Credit

The final item on my wish list is something I didn’t even know I wanted until a few weeks ago!  Last year the Town House at the Kensington Hotel in London advertised their brand-new Tale as Old as Time afternoon tea and I joined the waiting list because seats sold out in a matter of minutes.  Thankfully, they released more dates.  My partner and I were already going to London for a night to celebrate my birthday so when they released more dates in May, I jumped at the chance to go!  We were not disappointed!  I plan on writing a post about this experience, but for now I will just say this: you’d be surprised how well-made these figurines are.  They were on each table and I was seriously shocked when I picked it up to move it because it was incredibly hefty!  The figurine is battery-operated and the flames really glow.  I was astonished when I saw the price tag, though: £59 from the Disney website!!!  I do not think I will be getting this item any time soon!    

I hope you enjoyed reading about the lust-worthy products I am wishing will magically turn up on my doorstep!  If you’ve used any of the products I’ve mentioned, I’d love to hear your thoughts!