I read recently that you have a higher chance of being involved in a car crash than of intentionally clicking an online advert. Almost certainly nonsense, but this perception of apathy towards advertising explains why so many beauty companies are marketing via the back door with casual, infomercial-type memes. One can browse Facebook and encounter a seemingly miraculous beauty product, read hundreds of apparently honest comments, and save money by buying direct. Not a week goes by without a friend sending me a link and asking for my opinion before taking the plunge, but I can’t take a blanket view, as some products do have great merit.
Tweexy (£14.95) is a case in point. This soft silicone gadget is secured on the hand to grip a polish bottle in a stable upright position. The user then dips the brush with the other hand, painting the hand wearing the Tweexy. It means the open bottle won’t spill, stain or need resting on armchairs or clamping between knees (my old method). It’s rather ingenious and while pricey, a committed nail painter should invest.
Also good is the Merit Straightening Brush (£25.99), a halfway house between ceramic irons and regular brush, to de-static and smooth. It’s not the loveliest design (more like something from the Grattan catalogue circa 1987) but it works surprisingly well. Simply raked through large-ish hair sections, it has the whole thing straight in about an eighth of the time required by straighteners (it doesn’t iron as flat, but it does retain more bounce).
I had less success with the Makeup Eraser, a microfibre cloth (£25.50 for two) claiming to cleanse even heavily made up faces with nothing more than water. I can see why those normally reliant on cleansing wipes might view this as a money saver or even a step up, but anyone used to proper cleansing balm and flannel will find the Makeup Eraser lacking. It takes way longer, requires much rubbing, leaves skin dry and the cloth filthy (I change cheap Ikea flannels daily. I’d be more hesitant at £12.75 a pop). The eraser didn’t adequately remove makeup, marking a towel with foundation dregs as I dried. But even if it had, I couldn’t countenance the ick-factor. A kitchen top may be stainless after using water and an E-cloth – but would you really consider it clean?
