Danielle's Beauty Blog

Good evening everyone! After the last few weeks of constant haul posts, we’re getting back to normal now with a good old empties post and as usual its product heavy! 

  

Bodycare

Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel 500g

I bought this in the Lush Boxing Day sale and I only finished it this week, how bad is that! I have a full review here but in short it’s my favourite Lush scent and I stock up every Christmas – though I do also have 2 minis to get through before this Christmas! So long-lasting, a little goes a long way and it makes my skin feel so soft, definite repurchase!

Soap and Glory Calm One Calm All Bubble Bath

This is my favourite liquid bubble bath and I find it gives a good amount of bubbles and a lovely relaxing scent. It leaves my skin feeling softer than usual when I have a bath with this and it’s a definite repurchase!

Soap and Glory Up-Toned Girl Firming Body Lotion

I bought this towards the beginning of this year as I was bridesmaid and had capped sleeves so wanted a little extra help for my arms! I really liked this, I’m not sure how much products that claim to firm and tone really do and sometimes think they may have a placebo effect but this was really softening and helped with the bumps I sometimes get on the back of my arms. It has quite a citrusy scent which wasn’t my favourite but I would repurchase this again!

Grown Alchemist Mandarin and Rosemary Leaf Body Cream

I got this in the Space NK sale a few months ago and I absolutely loved it! It has a really subtle citrus scent, sank into my skin really quickly and was very moisturising! I really like the packaging and loved that I got to use my wringer to get the last of it out! Would repurchase only in the sale though as it’s quite expensive at £18 full price and I've had other body lotions last me a lot longer!

Grown Alchemist Vanilla and Orange Peel Hand Cream

Another Grown Alchemist product, this time from a mini amenity kit but another product I really liked! Similar to the body cream this has a light citrus scent, it absorbed into my hands super quickly and it made them feel so soft! I think this size is £9 if bought separately so still a little on the expensive size but definitely one I would repurchase if I had a money off code because its one of the best hand creams I’ve tried!

Lush Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion

I think this is a cult favourite from Lush from what I can gather! I went through it very quickly as it’s such a small pot but it’s not something I would repurchase. I didn’t mind the runny texture but found the scent a little bland although I can see why people with more sensitive skin than me would like it!

Skincare

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

I remember having a mini version of this before and giving it a hard time in an old empties post because it didn’t last me very long. Well the opposite is true for this full size! It lasted an age, has a really refreshing scent, is super creamy and does a brilliant job of removing my make up! Definite repurchase once I’ve used up a few others I have in my stash.

Aurelia Miracle Cleanser

Another gorgeous cleanser and one that has featured before! I find this scent and texture very similar to the Liz Earle one but this is maybe a little creamier. It’s also a lot more expensive so not one I would repurchase even though I do love it! It pops up quite regularly in beauty boxes and this size is perfect for travelling!

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrate

This is one of those hyped do it all products and one I really did like! It’s a little more on the expensive side but a little goes a long way and it works well as a daytime moisturiser/primer for me! I probably won’t repurchase just yet as I’m trying to work my way through my stash but it’s one I would get again in the future!

REN Vita Mineral Daily Supplement Moisturising Cream

Another moisturiser and I found this one to be a little too rich for me for daily use and it took a little longer than I usually like to dry down before applying my makeup. I have oily/combination skin so I can see people with normal skin loving this! Wouldn’t repurchase!

NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 1%

Where do I start with this one! Another hyped product and an expensive one too! This little dropper bottle is £38 and was worth every penny! As with all Deciem products there is a ton of science behind it but simply put this serum is meant to maintain healthy looking skin and target all forms of skin aging including texture, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and lack of radiance. It comes with two glass bottles – one you pour into the other to activate the product and the product itself is a blue watery liquid dispensed from a dropper. I loved this; it sank into my skin so quickly and made my skin feel so smooth and like it says – healthy. I felt like I don’t break out as much when I was using this regularly, my skin looked more even and just better! This is on my Christmas list!

Starskin Foam Peeling Perfection Puff

This was a funny little product, I got it in a beauty box and it’s a reusable puff (up to 3x) that you put a few drops of water on then it foams up. It claims to smooth skin texture, deep clean, even skin tone and boost radiance and I really like the results after the first use! Because its reusable I left it in the packet on the windowsill but kept forgetting about it so when I went to use it again it disintegrated very quickly and didn’t do as good a job so it’s not something would repurchase!

WOW Luxury Facial Mask Treatment

This was my first foray into the world of sheet masks and man oh man did I enjoy it! Again, I got this in a beauty box as sheet masks are not something I would generally go out and buy because I prefer having things that give me more than one use! This however was half an hour of pure relaxation and I loved it! I've hear people complain that some sheet masks don’t fit their face properly but this was perfect, it came in two sections, one for the top and one for the bottom of my face. It’s described as an aqua gel mask and it was so gooey and refreshing it felt amazing! It recommends leaving it on for 20-40 minutes and when the time came I didn’t want to take it off! My skin felt so moisturised, plump and fresh! I’ve just had a look online and seen that these come in a pack of 5 for £99 so looks like I won’t be repurchasing but I highly recommend them if you have the spare cash!  

Makeup

Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot Translucent Mattifying Powder

This is a lovely lightweight powder that doesn’t make my makeup look cakey. However, it is nowhere near mattifying enough for me and I have to retouch several times a day! This is one I always dip in and out of so I’ll probably repurchase again in Winter when my skin generally feels a little drier!

Max Factor False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara

One of my favourite mascaras and I think I already have about 2 backups in my drawer! This gives lots of length and a wide eyed look which I love, I always prefer it a little when it dries out as it has quite a wet formula to begin with!

Soap and Glory Archery Brow Pencil

So happy with myself for finishing this! Don’t get me wrong I love it but I use it probably 3 or 4 times a week and have had it for so long I thought it was never-ending! It has a handy spoolie on one end and a super thin twist up pencil on the other end that is lovely and pigmented and easy to use! Will repurchase in the future!

Soap and Glory Mighty Mouth Smooth and Soften Lip Balm

Another product I’ve had for an absolute age and I’m cheating slightly with this as it’s double ended and I’ve only finished one end! It’s a lip balm on one end and a screw up lip scrub on the other. I've had it for longer than I care to remember and while I liked the balm side the scrub is too hard and doesn’t work! I think it’s been discontinued but I wouldn’t have repurchased anyway!

Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

My old favourite lip balm! I love this stuff and have several on me at all times. Its moisturising, long lasting and I love the minty scent! Already repurchased and backed up!

Hair care

Bataste Dry Shampoo

Always a dry shampoo in my empties post! Batiste isn’t my favourite brand for dry shampoo but I do love the Blush scent so this will always be a repurchase because I can’t always find my favourite V05 one!

Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence

I’m so glad to be finished this! It did a great job of making my hair soft and protecting it from heat but I wasn’t a fan of the scent so I’m glad it’s all used up now! Won’t be repurchasing!  

Miscellaneous

Cutex Ultra Cleansing Nail Polish Remover

The best nail polish remover ever and the only one I ever buy! Its gets my nail polish off so easy, already repurchased!

OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener

I am now onto about my fourth bottle of this stuff! It’s incredible, it makes my nails so strong and shiny and I have already repurchased!

Wisdom Tooth Floss

Bit of a random one but I chucked it into my empties box when I finished it anyway! I am a serial flosser and switch between a few brands but I really like this, it lasts ages and most importantly it gets leftovers out of between my teeth!

So that’s it for another empties! Let me know if you’ve tried any of the products I’ve mentioned and what you thought of them!

After getting home from holidays a few weeks ago the only thing I wanted to do was soak in the bath for half an hour and pamper myself. Unfortunately, due to a broken boiler my plans were scuppered and I was treated to a cold shower instead! With everything back in working order now I thought I take you through my usual pamper routine!

Starting with the bath, the ultimate treat is a great big Lush bath bomb to fill the bathroom with a gorgeous scent and the bath full of bubbles! I savour every Lush bath I take because I don’t take them that often as their products are so expensive. They are the most gorgeous smelling, bubbly, relaxing baths though! I think this is the So White bath bomb that I have had since Christmas, whoopsie! I used it last week and as well as smelling amazing. it made my skin feel so soft and supple! Cheaper alternatives include the magic wand I mentioned in last week’s empties post or the Soap and Glory Calm One Calm All Bubble bath.

  

While I’m waiting for the bath to fill I’ll usually dampen my hair and pop a leave in treatment on to work its magic. At the minute I’ve been using the Garnier Ultimate Blends  Strength Restorer Balm* which smells of honey and leaves my hair feeling super soft and manageable after I wash it out!

As a serial fake tan wearer, a good scrub is a necessity in my pamper routine and Soap and Glory Pulp Friction along with a pair of exfoliating gloves is the best I’ve ever tried! It has the Fruitigo fragrance and the little exfoliating beads are great at removing tan (without hurting) and it gives a good lather so I don’t feel like I am wasting product! Once I get out of the bath I will follow with a good moisturiser like Soap and Glory Righteous Butter which is a thick cream that is easily absorbed and smells amazing while keeping my skin feeling soft and supple!

To make sure I’ve got the days makeup off I’ll use a balm cleanser like the MOA Green Balm which is 100% natural and feels amazing to massage into my skin! As it’s multipurpose it can also be used to soothe bites, eczema, bruises, grazes and is suitable for sensitive skin and it’s so effective as a makeup remover.

I will then put on a facemask depending on what way my skin is looking/feeling like. The Origins Clear Improvement mask is still one of my favourites and one I use regularly when my skin just needs a refresh ready for the week ahead. I also talked about it in this post about my Skincare Saviours! I’ll also apply Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask about once a week to give my skin a real boost of hydration and I always wake up with plumper, softer skin after using this! It smells amazing!

My feet were so dry after coming back from holiday, I couldn’t wait to get my Burt’s Bees Coconut foot cream slathered all over them and I also put bed socks on for a few hours to make it more of a treatment for them! This cream smells amazing and is so thick it almost feels waxy and it makes my feet super soft within hours!

I’m also loving the Grown Alchemist Vanilla and Orange Peel hand cream at the minute, it absorbs so quickly (a must have for hand cream), makes my hands feel so smooth and soft and if you get a chance you need to smell this – it’s so uplifting and fresh! Oh and it has one of those metal tubes for packaging meaning I get to use my wringer when it starts running out J

  

Having a fresh mani/pedi also makes me feel pampered so although maybe not straight after I’ve covered my hands and feet in cream I will file my nails and, pop the toe separators in and pick a nail colour. I’m loving Essie Virgin Snow at the minute and it’s perfect for summer so that’s what’s been gracing my nails recently along with OPI Nail Envy (best nail polish ever) and Seche Vite over the top to make it last longer!

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

What are your pamper essentials? Have you tried anything I’ve mentioned?

Danielle xx

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