I'm getting LIP FILLERS! Part 1 - Intro! ♥

So, I've made the decision to finally get temporary lip fillers. Is this something you generally flaunt or shout from the roof-tops? Maybe not, but I think everything is a little different when you have a platform to share your experience. The reason I've decided to share my story wasn't to encourage others to alter their appearance or follow a trend - it's to let people know about the clinic & procedure itself if it's something that interests them. I would advise to continue reading this post to those over 18 who've been considering getting them done for a while now. Trust me, the last thing I want to do is come across as though I'm encouraging them to those who don't need any! 

Getting any aesthetic treatment isn't something you should get because your favourite Instagram personality has them or because 'big lips are in'. If you are ever thinking about going through with them, take the time to discover your options and see if they're right for you. When I say time, I don't mean a few days of googling. I mean months or maybe even years! One really important message is not to shop around for the cheapest, shop around for the best!

Let me clear this up straight away - the reason I've decided to take the plunge was not to follow the latest 'Kylie Jenner' trend or hope for a celebrity pout. Anybody that knows me knows that I am not a glamorous person; I shop high street (mostly for fluffy socks & peanut butter, truth be told), I don't follow trends and just do my own thing!

 I have no desire to be glamorous by any means, that is so not me!

Although there's been a big focus on juicy lips in the last 2 years or so, this is something that I've actually been researching since I was 15! Yes, 15! Lip fillers back then were kind of a taboo. Knowing that I was too young at the time didn't stop me from emailing companies for future reference and ask about the products they used and how they worked. I'm a very... careful person. I don't make really impulsive decisions. So even when I turned 18 I didn't want to go ahead with them until I knew I was ready. I said if I still want them in another year I'd look into it. Another year passed and so on and so forth. I'm 21 now and after 6 years of researching & knowing all of the information, I'm finally ready!

My teeth, lips and nose have always been something I would love to change. Don't worry, I'm not saving for a nose job, but braces could be on the cards! Anyway, I have a very long side-profile with most of the attention on my lengthy nose. I feel that my lips lose focus and by making them a little bit more prominent, my face will look a little more balanced overall, and I'll be happier which is the main thing. As a Makeup Artist you may notice that the only lip colour I ever wear is nude, despite having so many vibrant colours in my makeup collection dying to be worn - but I don't have the confidence I need to pull them off how I would like to! 

So after 'liking' a million Facebook pages of mobile nurses, visiting nation-wide websites, emailing various doctors, researching ingredients, reading reviews and viewing before & after photos, I've finally come to my decision that Amara Clinics is the only option for me! After taking the time to research I now know that I only want a qualified doctor in a clinical environment near my face and that's the bottom line. Here's an article that scared the bejayzuz out of me - check it out!

Just one of the things I love about Amara Clinics is that they are so easily contactable and they use all of their resources available. I saved their website, liked them on Facebook, followed them on Instagram, read through their Twitter, watched their Youtube and read their blog. They literally couldn't have more information out there, which is great for people like me that google EVERYTHING! I'm a super thorough person and would spend the day googling what kind of almond milk to buy... yep, I'm a freak!

My consultation and procedure with Dr. Munsanje of Amara Clinics is scheduled for a few weeks time. This post is just to let you guys in on it and to criss-cross any potential nastiness I may receive "Yew don't need dem hun x" by explaining why I've made the choice. In my next piece I will be showing you all my 'Before & After' photos, letting you know my experience at the clinic, talking about the shape & size I'm after, what I want to avoid , disclosing the price and of course you will be (secretly) judging my results! Aaahh! So if this is something you've been seriously considering for a while, stay posted! Until my little procedure, have a look around their website, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube or blog. Yeah, I know, it's a pretty long list!

Is there anything in particular you'd like me to include in my piece on the procedure?

Let me know below in the comments!

Wish me luck, but I don't think I'll need it :)

Martha x

The White House Teeth Whitening! FULL Review & Before/After Photos! ♥

So recently I was in with The White House in Swords, getting my teeth professionally whitened - what a treat! As soon as I thought about getting my teeth whitened, they immediately sprung to mind as a few of my friends had been there in the past and I'm constantly seeing updates from them on my social media, so I said I'd give it a go.

I had my teeth whitened somewhere else about two years ago but it wasn't half as thorough. I bought a 50% groupon deal and purchased an express treatment. At the time my teeth's whiteness may have excelled by about 1 shade so I was a little disappointed and even more eager to try it again in a different place. The White House uses a the most advanced technology available worldwide, so I knew I was in good hands! 

Everything was stress and hassle free, even including the booking process! They have a great online booking system which is handy for people like me who always forget to ring places yet always have their laptops open! I arrived to my appointment and Maria, the Swords clinic's Dental Professional was waiting for me as soon as I walked in. There was no waiting around and it was a really nice personal touch. I filled in a quick consultation form & read the terms and I was set. In we went to a little clean room off reception and I lay on the chair. Maria talked through the treatment and how it worked. There is a little 3D tooth-chart that Maria measured up to my own to note my natural shade and thereby having the means to compare the result. Generally your teeth can brighten by 5 - 10 shades, with 8 shades being the average. Everybody differs! 

The treatment is done in three 15 minute segments. You're to put this aparatus in your mouth to help keep your teeth on display. At first it feels a little funny but after the first few minutes I forgot all about it. Next, your Dental Professional applies a pre-accelerating substance to heighten the effects and remove any excess plaque. Then the whitening gel is applied and you're good to go! Maria brought over the teeth-whitening machine and set the timer. She made sure I was comfortable and gave me the remote for the in-clinic telly. Yes, a TV! So you're not laying there doing absolutely nothing for your time, you're actually entertained too! Bliss!

As I lay there with my big Star Wars-esque glasses I noticed how pristine the clinic was. Normally when you're in a clinical environment, it's not very cozy but this little treatment room is almost like a sitting room with sparkling wooden floors and the odd personal touch like a few plants. I lay there watching Futurama and Maria would check on me every few minutes. When she would come in I always noticed her washing her hands, changing her gloves and staying sanitized, which is a big plus! From reading their website, filling out the consultation form and being in the clinic itself, I could tell that hygiene and client safety is very important to them! 

When each segment of whitening was finished, Maria would clear off the gel and apply a new layer for maximum results until the third round was complete and I was good to go! During the treatment I didn't experience any uncomfortably or sensitivity. I can't actually use 'Crest' whitening strips as they hurt my teeth too much. I can honestly say I didn't feel a thing besides the gel itself! 

My Before & After photo: I can't believe they were that yellow!

When Maria showed me the results I was really happy with how they turned out. My teeth have always been one of those things that I don't like to show often for various reasons (you can probably guess!), so having a big white smile certainly helps matters! I found myself checking every mirror I passed as I walked through Penneys afterward. Looking at the first photo I'm actually embarrassed that my teeth looked like that before. Both photos were taken with flash but one in daylight and one at night, same day. My first shade was 2R1.5 and my second was 0M3. That sounds like alien-talk, so in real life that means I went up 8 shades lighter!!!

The price of the whitening at the clinic is €130.00 for a full hour treatment. This includes your consultation where you can discuss your goals and they can talk you through the treatment. For this treatment you're expected to go 5-10 shades whiter! They also offer a 'top up' whitening treatment and that takes 30 minutes. I imagine this to be ideal for those with quite white teeth already as you're expected to go just 3-5 shades whiter with this treatment and it costs €75.00. Lastly, they have a deal for two people's full treatments at the moment for €240.00. 

The clinic I went to was their first baby and it's been there in Swords since 2008. But due to their growing success they have also opened clinics in Dublin City Centre, Cork, Dundrum, Galway & Belfast! So if you're reading this thinking that they're too far away for you, you're in luck! 

I would definitely recommend The White House to anybody interested in getting their teeth professionally whitened, hence the blog-post! It is such a huge confidence booster and I think I'm hooked on pearly whites now! So if you're looking to get teeth whitening in Dublin (or anywhere for that matter thanks to their nation-wide locations!) you can check out their website here where you can read client testimonials, understand the technology used and even buy vouchers for Christmas prezzies! Also you can check them out on Facebook here and give them a 'like'! 

I hope you found this review helpful!

Let me know if you book in!

Martha x