Danielle's Beauty Blog

 

After last week’s best skincare discoveries of 2022, this week it’s the turn of my favourite makeup discoveries! Some of these I bought towards the end of 2021 but as always, it takes me so long to actually use them, it was 2022 before they came into their own! It’s always risky buying without having seen or swatched the product in person but I did my research and also got lucky as everything I’m talking about today, I bought this way!

 

Starting with bronzers and the Victoria Beckham Matte Bronzing Brick in 02 Soleil | Honey RRP £52 has easily made its way to the top of my favourite bronzer list. This is a weighty compact with a matte duo inside and it has the perfect amount of pigmentation. I mix the two together and it blends like a dream, instantly adds a natural warmth to my face without any patchiness and it lasts all day with no fading. The only thing that annoys me about it is the packaging which has a tendency to pop open, and it can be quite difficult to close but I’ll forgive it because it has such a beautiful formula!

 

Sticking with bronzers and a very close second is the Dior Forever Natural Bronze in 04 Tan Bronze RRP £41. Like the VB, this has just the right amount of pigmentation and isn’t powdery at all. The packaging is lighter than the VB so easier to travel with and I would say I prefer the shade of the VB just a touch as I can customise it but I reach for this so much too!  

 

Onto foundation now, and the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation in Gobi RRP £37.50 was a standout for me this year! It has a thin consistency but offers medium coverage, feels lightweight on the skin and is easily buildable, and leaves a very perfecting base. The formula is a mix of makeup and skincare and supposedly helps improve skins clarity and texture over time and I have been impressed with how long this wears on my skin! I haven’t found it to separate, and it’s been lasting a full day on my normal/combo skin! My skin looks more luminous when I use this, it covers minor imperfections well and gives me a healthy glow! Definitely my favourite NARS foundation out of the three I have tried! See my full review here!

 

Lip products next and I have a few to share! The first being the Dior Addict Lip Glow in 012 Rosewood RRP £30 and it was definitely a case of Instagram made me buy it but I’m glad I did! Tinted lip balms are my jam and this is definitely the fanciest one I own! Aside from beautiful packaging, the product inside is a lovely "my lips but better" sheer rosy nude shade. It's infused with colour-reviver technology that adapts to the pH level of lips to reveal a custom glow which was why I specifically didn’t go with the original pink shade as pH lip products tend to go bright pink on me! Rosewood is perfect though and the formula is beautiful, it lasts on my lips for a good few hours before I feel the need to reapply!

 

The Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in 01 Honey RRP £21.50 has featured on the blog before in mini form, but I loved it so much I had to get a full size! It feels silky and not sticky at all while lasting a surprisingly long time on my lips keeping them comfortable and hydrated for hours. It gives a beautiful shine, contains omega 6 and 9, rose oil and jojoba oil and comes in a bunch of shades and I just got the Christmas mini 4 pack to try some more shades too! 

 

Lastly, in the lip category I have the Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm in Slip RRP £28. Not my favourite packaging mechanism (you can’t wind the product back down) but the product itself is beautiful! These are super glossy but not sticky and the colour is buildable. Again, they last quite a while on my lips and while I don’t find the plumping/volumizing aspect too much, they do make my lips look fuller! Would definitely consider picking up a few more shades if I saw these on offer again! 

 

I purchased a few blushes this year but way out in front is the Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Divine Blush in Divine Rose RRP £30. This is described as a cool mauve rose demi matte and I honestly think this might be my favourite blush in my collection. As well as having the most beautiful imprint, I love the shade (I tend to prefer matte products), the pigmentation is perfect, it’s easily blendable, looks so natural and it has great lasting powder. I also have the shade Nymphette which I like but I love this one! Really want to try the blush duos too!

Finally, the Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Blurring Under Eye Powder in Light RRP £25 has really impressed me. This is so lightweight yet it sets my under eye so it never looks powdery or dry. It’s so finely milled and blurring and barely detectable!

 

And that’s my 2022 best makeup discoveries! I bought everything here when it was on sale or the website had a good offer running as I hate paying full price! These are all pricey items so definitely shop around or wait until you see a good deal if you are planning a splurge and want to save some money! Do you see any of your favoruites? Let me know what makeup products stood out to you this year!

 

See my best makeup discoveries of 2021 here!

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me.

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.  

See my full disclosure here.

Danielle xx

 

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Time for some recent favourites this week and a little mix of makeup, skincare and bodycare – most of which I have been lucky enough to been sent – which I’ll be honest, makes my recent spending low buy much easier! On to the reviews!

 

The Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blush in Love Glow RRP £30 is not new in my collection, in fact I think I’ve had it for almost a year now, but I haven’t put it down over the last couple of weeks so though it deserved a mention! I ummed and ahhed for ages first of all on whether to get one at all as they are expensive and then because I couldn’t decide on a shade! I remember swatching these years ago in Sephora too and leaving empty handed as I just wasn’t completely sold on them. I finally picked one up last year when there was 20% off and have fallen in love! Love Glow is a pearlescent pink – it’s recommend to “swish” the outer shade then “pop” the middle shade on the apples of your cheek but I just mix both and go from there! The result is a beautiful, even, healthy glow that lasts all day on my skin which is normal at the minute! It’s easily buildable which is my favourite type of formula as I can be a bit heavy handed and I’d love to know if you have any other shades and what your recommendations are as I might want to add another one to my collection soon! 

 

Next up, the Cetraben Natural Oatmeal Cream* RRP £8.99 which I have been reaching for intermittently since I got it a few months ago and I know is going to be a staple when we go into winter which is when my skin tends to play up the most. This is perfect for eczema prone skin and works a treat on dry patches I get on my legs! It is so soothing and lasts overnight keeping the area moisturised and stopping me from itching! I am kicking myself for not including this in my post last week about the products I use to repair my skin barrier! I had a reaction a while back to some aloe vera gel I was using with my NuFace which made my skin super red, hot and irritated and after I washed it off I put some of this oatmeal cream on and it instantly calmed it down and was back to normal the next day! Can’t recommend enough if you need a do it all body/face cream for any emergency skin situations! 

 

I recently finished my Bali Body Dark tan and they kindly asked if I wanted a top up so I decided to try the Ultra Dark Self Tanning Mousse* RRP £26.95. So far, I have to say I prefer this to the dark! I find it lasts better throughout the week on me particularly on my neck and chest where most tans fade quickest! It’s super easy to use with the guide colour so staying streak free isn't an issue and I only need one layer. It dries quickly and overnight it develops into a natural looking tan – though if you are new to fake tanning you may want to start with a lighter or gradual tan. I personally stay out of the sun but love having a healthy glow so fake tan is a weekly ritual for me and this makes me feel like I have spent a relaxing week in the sun without any added damage! It also smells pretty fresh for a fake tan! Over the course of the week, it fades very evenly and doesn’t look patchy or mottled at all! I’m going to cheat a little here and also mention a sixth product I am loving – the Luxe Tanning Mitt* RRP £12.95 as the two go hand in hand! It feels so soft and velvety and is so much more luxurious than the foam ones you can get! I love the space for your thumb and find it makes it much easier to be precise with application as I have better grip and it’s streak free every time. It’s definitely worth the higher price tag in my opinion as they last so much longer with proper care and they wash really well too!

 

Good Molecules is one of my favourite affordable skincare brands and they have impressed yet again with their new Glycolic Exfoliating Toner* RRP $14. It’s a 3.5% glycolic concentration so super gentle but somehow manages to still be effective and my skin has been feeling smooth and even with continued use. I love that Good Molecules provide full details of the percentage of ingredients on their outer packaging and this also contains galactomyces ferment which helps retain skin barrier function and moisture level as well as hyaluronic acid and aloe help to hydrate and soothe skin. I haven’t felt the need to use higher percentages of glycolic acid since I’ve been using this one and it could be one to try if you have found sensitivity to other glycolic acid toners!

Finally, I need to mention the Dermalogica Biolumin-C Gel Moisturizer* RRP £59 as it’s been a firm favourite throughout the last couple of months! It’s a lightweight gel moisturiser and my skin looks instantly brighter when I use it. As well as Vitamin C, it contains five types of hyaluronic acid and squalane so keeps my skin hydrated and leaves a glowy finish! I love using this in the morning as my makeup sits so well underneath and it’s got a subtle citrusy scent that doesn’t last on the skin! Love this formula and it’s become one of my favourite Dermalogica products! 

 

So that’s my current favourites! I’d love to know if you see any of yours here! Let me know what you’ve been loving recently!

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me.

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

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Recently, I received a PR package from Pixi with three On-The-Glow cream blush sticks* (also available on ASOS here). After I got over the cuteness of the box they came in, without even trying them I immediately thought, I am not going to like these. What can I say, I am set in my matte/powder makeup ways but, I am happy to report I could not have been more wrong about these!  

 

Like I said, I was not expecting to like these as I generally stay away from cream products. Some formulas I have tried in the past have really interfered with my foundation and made it look patchy and they haven’t lasted long on my oily skin. At the minute, my skin is still on the more normal side of things since finishing Roaccutane so that could be a reason why I am getting on so famously with these but I will be sure to update if and when my skin gets oilier to see how they fair then!

 

The blush sticks are formulated with Ginseng to revitalise and balance, Aloe Vera to soothe and calm and Fruit Extracts to nourish and renew. They are also able to be used on lips as well as cheeks and feel hydrating while giving a really natural colour to both! They come in three colours – Juicy (a bright coral), Fleur (a baby pink) and Ruby (a dark pink/red). As a fan of pink blush I was sure Fleur was going to be my favourite but Juicy has won my heart! It’s the most gorgeous brightening coral shade and I just love it! So much in fact that I also featured it last week in my Five Things I'm Loving post!

 

unedited swatches l-r: Juicy, Fleur, Ruby

These can be applied to cheeks with fingers however, personally, I prefer using a brush and the Zoeva 128 cream cheek brush is my weapon of choice! This makes it easy for me to build up to the colour I want and ensure the tint is blended easily and I love this duo! The result is the perfect amount of tint and glow which never looks greasy just dewy and healthy! The blush also lasts all day which I really wasn’t expecting but there is minimal fading for me. The stick is easy to use on the lips and again either gives a really subtle, sheer tint to them or is easily buildable if you want more impact. It’s not as long lasting on the lips as the cheeks but super easy to reapply so not an issue for me.

 

They give such a natural healthy looking flush, I honestly can’t recommend these enough if you are already a cream blush lover or you want to try one with a great formula! There is a huge amount of product in the sticks at 19g – I don’t think I will ever be able to fully finish one! The packaging feels sturdy and each blush also has a separate plastic cap on the inside to protect it and keep it from drying out! They cost £18 each but are usually on offer at around £14.40 on ASOS, Sephora UK or Look Fantastic when they have 20% off as well as Boots, Marks & Spencer and Harvey Nichols in the UK and Shoppers Drugmart in Canada! They can also be found on Pixi's website here and Pixi is a cruelty free brand!

 

Have you tried these yet? Let me know what you thought or tell me your favourite cream blush!

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me.

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

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It’s been a while since I’ve done a five things I’m loving post so here is one today for your viewing pleasure! A few items have featured recently so I will link to their full review but I haven’t put down these five products over the last month or two so they deserve some spotlight!

 

As a huge fan of the afterglow lip balms, the NARS Soft Matte Tinted lip balm in Unrestricted RRP £23 had been on my radar for a while before I finally saw it with 20% off on Boots and included it in my April Spend Report! I was so glad the shade I wanted was still in stock as annoyingly these are limited edition! I’ve linked to the rest of the shades above as Unrestricted is gone now – I am really hoping they bring this back as a permanent line because the formula is amazing! Like the name suggests, it’s matte but it’s so smooth to apply and comfortable to wear just like the afterglow balms. It applies the most perfect pink nude to my lips and just looks so chic with it being matte! It lasts a decent amount of time on the lips, isn’t drying in the slightest and the packaging is gorgeous! I am in love with this formula – you need to try it! 

 

Sticking with the lip theme, the Fenty Beauty Sheer Shiny Lipstick in Retro Rose RRP £19 is another one that’s been gracing my lips nonstop the last month! I’m working from home now and this and the NARS are just so handy to have on hand to make sure my lips have a bit of a tint before copious zoom calls. Neither of them require a mirror either! This one is obviously a lot shinier but I do have a type –  it’s another dusty pink /my lips but better shade! It’s so moisturising but also buildable if you want a bit more tint and it lasts a good amount of time on my lips too and I love the outer casing! If you are looking for a new lipstick/balm hybrid look no further than these two! Full review here!

 

A more recent addition to my makeup bag is the Pixi On-The-Glow blush stick in Juicy* RRP £18 and one I will be honest, I wasn’t expecting to love as much! Cream blush is not my go to by any means, I am a powder/matte lover but I am so impressed with this formula! It can be used on cheeks and lips and it leaves the most healthy glow and tint of colour! I use a Zoeva cream cheek brush and it adds the perfect amount every time without disturbing my base. I can’t get over how long these last either, I am getting a full 12 hours with very minimal fading though bear in mind that right now my skin is not as oily as it normally would be! On the lips it looks beautiful too though not as long lasting as the NARS or Fenty Beauty! I plan to do a few review and swatches of all three colours in the range soon!

 

Unedited swatches l-r: NARS Unrestricted, Fenty Beauty Retro Rose, Pixi Beauty Juicy

 

Next up, some skincare picks and I do have a full review of these two here but as I am almost finished them I wanted to shout them out again! The Inkey list Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser* RRP £10.99 is currently my go to morning and second cleanse. It very lightly exfoliates and boosts radiance, and leaves my skin feeling smooth and looking more even. It doesn’t leave it feeling dry or tight and it’s a generous 150ml size too! Along with that, the 15% Vitamin C and EGF Serum* RRP £14.99 is one of my most reached for serums at the minute! I just love the non-oily/greasy, lightweight formula that sinks in quickly. Only recently, I found out you are meant to wait 10 minutes before applying other skincare products on top to allow skin cells to respond to the EGF (which supports skin health and elasticity). I use this mostly in the morning where it works perfectly in my routine and under makeup too – I am working on leaving it as long as 10 minutes before continuing my skincare routine! My skin looks brighter, more even and feels plumper! The Vitamin C in this isn’t as potent as some but with this I have found a great formula which I struggle with in Vitamin C serums so the trade-off works for me! 

 

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know what you thought of them or what you are currently loving!

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me.

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

If you want to keep up to date with my posts, don’t forget to follow me on

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