This week, we’ve got a guest post from Katie Innnes.

I’m a big fan of gimmicks when it comes to my make-up. I’m aware this doesn’t make me the grown-up beauty expert I’d like to be, mainly because I won’t buy something unless it comes in pretty packaging or has an idea behind it which is so absurd it kind of makes sense.

Take L’Oreal’s new foundation True Match Roll’ On, which takes the classic make up jokes about ‘troweling it on’ and ‘painting your face’ and turns them into a reality.

The foundation comes with a mini roller, exactly like the ones used for painting and decorating, except dolls house size and for your face.

Yes, I’m aware it sounds mad and just a marketing ploy but on sight of the advert, whilst shaking my head feigning a “no, that really is one step too far, not even I could fall for that” to keep my credibility, I was actually thinking “what an ingenious idea, I’ll be buying that one.”

And it wasn’t just the roller that made me want to spend my pennies. The advert makes perfect sense (to a gullible consumer like me) It claimed that with “other foundations you have to blend, but with L’Oreal Roll’ On True Match you just roll it on.” Therefore I could justify the £12 I was to spend on it, I wasn’t being taken in by a gimmick.

However, what L’Oreal (and I) failed to realise was that a woman’s face is not flat like a blank wall. It has bumps and curves which a roller just can’t navigate. Trying to apply the foundation to my nose resulted in an odd stripe up the centre of my face and questionable lumps of foundation below my nostrils. And guess what? I had to blend it in.

Two hours later the foundation had completely disintegrated. So out came the roller again and after the three more re-applications the novelty really had worn off. The foundation is now resigned to the darkest pits of my make-up bag with all my other foolish purchases.

You may wonder if I’ve learned my lesson? Has my experience put me off gimmicky beauty products? Hell no! Like a lamb to the slaughter that vibrating mascara is next on my list…

True Match Roll’on £12.71 from Boots

No, you haven’t stumbled into the naughty toys section  of this site by mistake, this really is the Fashion and Beauty area.

It seems that the beauty world has discovered its latest gimmick to lure us all into buying their products. Vibrating beauty.

First up, Estee Lauder. They’ve introduced the TurboLash All Effects Motion Mascara (right) This award winning £28 mascara claims to improve volume, curl, length and separation with one coat as it buzzes through your lashes.

Which all sounds great, though I’d be a little nervous putting something vibrating so close to my eyes.  Maybelline also offer a vibrating mascara, costing half the price, falling under the name of Pulse Perfection. I have to admit I’d be more tempted with the cheaper option. Plus you can choose to turn off the vibrations with the latter.

Neutrogena have been in the buzzing beauty market for a while now with the impressive sounding ‘Wave Power Cleanser‘. Sounds like a floor cleaner, looks like a foot exfoliator, and apparently the vibrations open up your pores to thoroughly clean your face. All you have to do is pop one of the disposable pads into the attachment, rinse it to activate the foam, and then power it up and cleanse away.

Probably not the most eco-friendly product due to the disposable pads, but it’s cheaper than I had assumed at £12.99.

So that’s makeup and skincare covered, but what about your hair? The Pink Vibe Hair Straightener is the kind of product a curly haired girl like me loves. I’m addicted to my GHDs, but these straighteners claim to eliminate any pulling or snagging with its vibrating action. The vibrating function means that you don’t have to clamp down on the hair so hard, and therefore avoid causing too much damage to your hair.

They’re £94 if you fancy something a bit different.