Mamma Fairy

I was delighted to be asked to attend the launch of Cardtrix – a new loyalty shopping app which was launched today in Stephens Green by the fabulous Pippa O’Connor.

Myself and my blog buddy OneYummyMummy attended the press call and subsequent demonstration in the Fitzwilliam Hotel, where the Pippa spoke about her thoughts on the app and Fiachra Woodman, Vice President of Aimira Global Innovation Lab, the company behind the production of the app itself gave a demonstration of it in use.

I will admit I was pretty excited about this app as I am that annoying person at the checkout who rifles through loads of loyalty cards before I find the correct card!! I am a little ott about loyalty cards. I have them all, from Supermarket ones, to hotel ones to petrol one and the list goes on.

This new app Cardtrix is going to be a godsend for me (and probably anybody who has ever had the pleasure of serving me or waiting behind me at a checkout). This app acts as a digital assistant managing my loyalty cards in one place – like a digital wallet. The app is supported by the major supermarket loyalty programmes from Dunnes to Tesco to Boots, as well as the likes of Debenhams, Costa, Topaz amongst other. I also understand over time new loyalty programs will be added. However I must admit my heart did do a little flutter when I realised I could sign up for cards I didn’t already have! (there wasn’t many!)

It is so simple to use, even for a non techie like me, you simply add in your card number manually or for the ones with barcodes you can scan them in. It literally took me a couple of minutes to upload my considerable collection of loyalty cards. The great thing about the app is that all I need to do now is show the app to the cashier who scans the relevant barcode and my points are added to my account. I can also check my balances, configure the types of emails id like to receive and it sets out the listed benefits for each loyalty program.

Now for the techie bit! The app – Cardtrix is available for both iphone and android phones free of charge from App Store and Google Play Store respectively. The app itself supports the loyalty programmes of 13 major retailers in Ireland. The company behind the development are Aimia, who themselves are global leaders in loyalty programs.

I will report back next week after my weekly shopping is done and let you know how I got on with using the app day to day.

For now, if you would like any further information – see www.cardtrix.co

Take care

~Mamma F

A couple of weeks ago after my second was born my skin became so dry. I have never had dry skin, in fact I moaned about my oily skin (I take it back now!). I reached out on social media for some help and tried and tested a couple of different products. Thankfully I found three that made such a difference.

1 – Bioderma Micellar Water

Ok! Before the make up buffs give out to me, since having my first, my taking off makeup routine consisted of walking bleary eyed up the stairs wiping my make up off with a baby wipe! Yes, I know its not great so when I was kindly sent some Bioderma products to try I decided to give it a go. I had heard lots and seen lots of different brands of micellar water in shops and wasn’t really sure what to expect. I must say I was pleasantly surprised it really does remove all traces of make up off including stubborn mascara. Its also super quick, I use on a bit of cotton wool (what new mum doesn’t have plenty cotton wool!!!) and make up is off in a flash.

Its not drying or oily which I expected it to be. I can safely say I have ditched the baby wipes to wash off my makeup for good. On the rare moments I get some time to myself, I do like to give my skin a good deep cleanse but for the tired-no-time-mummy days, its all about the micellar water for me.

It is only new to the Irish market but available from most chemists.

2 – Bia Beauty Skin Superfood

I purchased this product on-line from a company in Cork called Bia Beauty (actually love that name!). They produce a range of natural skin care products at great prices. I ordered the 50 ml of this product and it was out of stock and was sent the 100ml for the same price, that is good customer service.

I used this product after taking my makeup off every evening. I actually applied it quite liberally and let soak in overnight. The texture is lovely and there is little of no scent from it. The listed ingredients include the traditional soothing herbs of comfrey, calendula and mallow. It took about 4 or 5 nights of using it to really start to see the difference. I was delighted to see it left my skin very smooth and really moisturised the dry patches particularly around my jaw line where they were worst.

Once my skin was re hydrated I went back to using a normal moisturiser but I do go back to this product when my skin gets dry, which seems to be around the time of the month for me since having babies. Its great to find a product that works and at such a good price and Irish which is also a bonus for me.

3 – Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturiser
Stretch marks!!! Need I say anymore about them. I didn’t get any on my first but suffered badly on my second. After having the section my tummy area was so tender and I couldn’t bear to rub cream on it so it was great to get a product which was moisturising but in a spray.

I used (and still do) this after ever shower (but not on the scar itself) and it really does moisturise the skin on my tummy area. I am certainly not under the illusion that this was going to cure them or even get rid of the crinkled skin ( im sure there is a better technical term for this!). It did however much improve the effect of the crinkled part around my belly button.

I’m all about speed! After all with having kids every second counts, so this is so quick to use, it sprays evening literally in a matter of second and dries almost instantly, smells divine too.

I threw this in on impluse during my weekly shopping and im glad I did, ill keep using it for sure. It is available in most supermarkets and chemists.

~ Mamma F