JML DIRECT

Take it Alllll Off: Ayvo Sonic Facial Brush

/ brightandbeautyfull / 3 Comments

How clean is clean? I mean, I wipe down my face every night, with Clinique Clarifying Toner still being my fave, and Weleda Aknedoron Cleansing Lotion being a very close second. I cleanse in the shower — long boring story about my crap water heater + making a splashy mess at the sink — and exfoliate a lot.

Since I’ve gotten my eyelash extensions, though, I feel like I haven’t really been getting in there. This is a reflection of how badly I treat my eye area, how rough and tough I am on my poor wee face. How can I do both? How can I gently but thoroughly get off all the makeup and dead skin and whatnot?

May this help?

AYVO package

The Ayvo Sonic Facial Brush is a high street version {= less expensive} of the original Clairsonic brush {= expensive.} It comes with three attachments: a spongy one for applying mosituriser, a lighter-bristled one for sensitive skin, and pictured below, the one for normal skin.

AYVO standing

The brush perches securely on its slip-proof stand, takes 4 AA batteries, and is suitable for use in the shower. It’s okay, I’ve done it, and am here to tell the tale. I always worry about using things that have motors in running water, call me crazy. But I’ve used other, over-the-counter facial scrubbing things that run on batteries, and like those, this one is perfect for use during one’s ablutions.

The thing with the over-the-counter facial scrubbing things was the disposable pad you had to affix on them. The packaging wasn’t the best, and I found that the pads dried out fairly quickly. I was quite happy to see not only the range of brushes accompanying the Ayvo, but also the ease with which they attached to the handle.

Too easy? Maybe: if you press the brush too hard against your face then the brush tends to wobble off its axle. This is annoying, when one is naked under a rush of water and is a bit squinty from the cleanser on one’s face. You’re not suppose to be pressing it that mightily, in fairness — there I go again, scouring my face like it was the floor!

How’d it do? I am very happy with it. It doesn’t solve my ‘hating the splashy mess of cleansing over my sink’, but using it in the shower has been terrific, and I come out glowing even more than usual. You can also use this twice a week or so with an exfoliating scrub, and I’ve found that to be really effective. But again, don’t be like me and smash the brush into your face: the rotating action + my excessive application of pressure =’d a big glob of exfoliant into my eye. *Gahhhhh!*

My face feels itchy just thinking about all the dead skin sitting there, clinging to old makeup. Off the showers!

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The Ayvo Sonic Facial Brush retails for €71.99 from http://www.JMLdirect.com

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To Be Snatched Up On the Way Out of a Burning Building: Finishing Touch Lumina

/ brightandbeautyfull / 2 Comments

The Finishing Touch Lumina Personal Hair Remover, to give it its full, glorious appellation.

Here’s the thing. I have inured myself to using the epilator on my chin, and below my chin. I get my eyebrows waxed, but can pull egregious hairs out one at a time. But the upper lip area? As sensitive and tender as the day I was born.

The only stuff that worked was some cream stuff I got at Boots — but that sadly let me down, and I have been wary ever since. The only thing worked was the Beauty Trimmer via jmldirect.com, and as reported via that link, it doesn’t bounce, and eventually just fell all into bits and pieces.

Enter the FT Lumina, as I like to call it for short. Also available from JML, it is even better.

Look how fancy!

A faceted jewel concealing a mighty blade!

It doesn’t look all that mighty, but it is! Two swipes at the upper lip with this bad gal and buh-bye, annoying and unsightly hairs! No pain, no tears, no smelly cream!

The thing about facial hair is that it is sneaky. One day, there you are, bopping down the road, happily hairless, and then the next second — the next second — you are maybe sitting having a cup of coffee with someone, and you go to touch up your illuminating powder, and there they are, those feckin’ hairs, sticking out in all directions. Gah!

This is one of my most necessary beauty tools, and seriously, if you haven’t gotten the message — GET THIS.

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For the record, other things on the list are: loved ones, iPhone, laptops, my stereo thingie, which isn’t exactly portable but is manageable, and my stuffed dog that I have had since I was 8 years old and has been everywhere with me.

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€18 [approx], £14.99; jmldirect.com