Danielle's Beauty Blog

 

I thought I’d do another brand focus this week, this time on Vichy! If you have read my blog over the last few years you will have seen them crop up time and time again especially while I was on Roaccutane as the Mineral 89 was a lifesaver then! Anyway, I have a few other bits from the range and I’ll touch on their SPF too even though it’s not specific to the Mineral 89 line because it’s definitely worth a mention!

 

Starting with the OG itself, the Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Booster* and this comes in both 50ml and 75ml sizes with RRP £25 and £33 respectively. It’s a cooling, gel serum that hydrates my skin, minimises my fine lines and makes it look plump! It sinks in quickly, lasts all day long for me and sits well under makeup too! A super simple formulation, as well as the Vichy Volcanic Water, this contains glycerin and sodium hyaluronate. It doesn’t claim to be a hybrid serum or tackle 101 skin concerns but if you want a good hyaluronic acid this is one of the best I have tried! I apply after misting my skin to make sure I don’t lose water from my skin and this was my HA serum of choice while I was on Accutane as it’s perfect for sensitive skin and really helps protect your skin barrier. The two sizes it comes in are also more generous than usual HA 30ml bottles so I don’t feel guilty using this down my neck and on my decolletage too! I can’t recommend this enough if you have dry or dehydrated skin or are just looking for a good hyaluronic acid! It has featured many times on my blog, most noticeably in my accutane diary, best beauty discoveries, French pharmacy favourites and barrier repair posts!

 

Moving onto the Mineral 89 Probiotic Serum RRP £29* and this is like its sister above, but with the main difference of added Niacinamide and antioxidant vitamins. As well as hydrating, this serum focuses on repairing stressed out skin and guarding against stressors. It’s a 30ml bottle and a more classic serum consistency unlike the OG gel formula. I wouldn’t say it’s just as hydrating as the original but I do love the effects of the added ingredients. My skin feels and looks calmer as well as more even and long term (as you can see I’m almost finished my first bottle!) it feels like it’s being protected and overall it bounces back quicker if I do happen to damage my barrier! I particularly love using this the morning after a retinol night as it’s so calming! 

 

Next up, the Mineral 89 Eyes Hyaluronic Acid Eye Fortifier RRP £20* and as well as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, this also contains caffeine and shea butter. It has a lovely, lightweight formula and the pump is amazing – it dispenses the perfect amount of product so no wastage! The main issues I have with my eyes are puffiness and fine lines and this targets those as well as darkness! It cools down my under eyes making them significantly less puffy and also hydrates, reducing my fine lines. I don’t notice a huge difference with darkness but it’s not a major concern of mine! 

 

Lastly from the Mineral 89 range, the Mineral 89 Fortifying Recovery Mask RRP £8* which comes in two parts – the mask and the solution. It’s a shot of instant hydration and perfect for a skin reset after a stressful week! It leaves my skin feeling plump and juicy and is great if your skin needs a little extra TLC. Generally, while I enjoy sheet masks on the occasions I use them, I still prefer classic masks so in this case I would say just get the serum but consider this if you have a special occasion! Oh, and read the instructions on the back properly unlike me! I opened it first, but you actually mix it before opening by breaking the seal along the dotted lines!

 

To finish off this post, I wanted to mention the Capital Soleil UV-Age Daily SPF50+ Facial Sunscreen RRP £21* which is sadly empty now but was my go-to SPF with its lightweight fluid texture! It offers UVA and UVB protection that corrects wrinkles and dark spots caused by daily UV exposure and it’s formulated with 1% Vitamin E, 4% peptides complex, 2% niacinamide, and 10% Vichy volcanic mineralizing water and probiotic fractions and really has been a dream to use! I was concerned on reading the full ingredients list as alcohol denat is high up there and I previously haven’t got on with SPF’s containing high amounts but apart from a slight “active” feeling on application, which soon disappears, it hasn’t been a problem for me! Aside from that, this has no white cast (I have pale skin for reference), it absorbs easily and sits very well under makeup with no pilling in sight – hallelujah! It doesn’t melt off when I sweat or sting my eyes! Can’t recommend this enough! It has also featured in my best beauty discoveries and best budget skincare posts!

 

All of the products (serums and SPF) absorb well and give me a great base for makeup. There is no pilling and they don’t cause any sensitivity with my eyes! I cannot recommend this line (and the SPF) enough and they are well worth their price tag! Vichy products are available from Escentual, Look Fantastic, Boots and Sephora UK and they are always included in the French Pharmacy offers usually with up to a third off!

 

Have you tried anything from Vichy before? What’s your favourite product?

 

*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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I got sent the cutest package from Bondi Sands’ new(ish) skincare range a few months ago so thought it was about time I wrote about them! If you are a regular reader, you’ll know how much I love their self-tan range so I was excited to see they had expanded into skincare! I was sent three products to try but there are plenty more in the range and they come under five categories – cleanse, treat, hydrate, protect and mask. Bondi Sands are an Australian brand, vegan and cruelty free and as well as having a vast tanning and skincare range they also do bodycare and suncare!

 

The product that immediately stood out to me after only a few uses was the Thirsty Skin Hyaluronic Acid RRP £8.99*. I tend to have expensive taste when it comes to hyaluronic acid so I was only too happy to find a budget formulation I love! This one is the thickest formula I have tried, and I love the gel texture! It spreads easily, leaving my skin feeling soft and supple, locking in moisture and plumping and filling out my fine lines! As well as HA, it also contains glycerin and is an all-round goodie if you are looking a budget HA serum! See more here!

 

Next up is the Bondi Babe Clay Mask RRP £11.99* and it’s another hit! This is a blue clay mask that purifies and detoxifies skin to help clear complexion. It contains blue spirulina extract (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties), bentonite clay (to soak up excess sebum) and Red Algae Extract (helps reduce redness). It dries down quickly but doesn’t make my skin feel tight and after washing off after 10-15 minutes, my skin feels so soft and looks so much more refined and clearer! This has quickly become one of my favourite clay masks and it doesn’t feel harsh or drying at all!

Lastly, to round up this trio, is the Sweet Dreams Night Moisturiser RRP £10.99*! This has a lightweight consistency and contains hyaluronic acid for hydration, squalane to soften and blue algae extract to smooth. This has worked well for me during the summer but I think during winter I will want something heavier! Despite feeling lighter than other night creams I use, this does keep my skin hydrated overnight and when I wake up, my face feels plump and nourished. I will probably mix this with an oil in winter if I want an extra hit of hydration! 

 

I also have to mention the packaging – how cute? It’s so kitsch and I love it! It almost reminds of my toy skincare or something, it’s so dinky! It’s all recyclable too and the products are fragrance free.

 

Overall, my first foray into Bondi Sands skincare has been a success and I think they are well worth checking out! The stand outs for me are the clay mask and hyaluronic acid! As well as their own website, Bondi Sands skincare is also available from Cult Beauty, Boots and Look Fantastic! Have you tried anything? What’s your favourite budget beauty brand?

 

*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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Welcome back! Today I want to talk about a certain, very hyped brand that I have wanted to try for years! I finally picked up some products before Christmas and now I have had a chance to fully try them out I have some thoughts! I purchased these directly from the Necessaire website but about a month later the brand became more readily available in the UK via Space NK!

 

I purchased the Body Essentials set in the Eucalyptus fragrance while they had an offer on to get a free Body Serum with purchase. I assumed the body lotion was also in the Eucalyptus scent but it’s fragrance free which I was disappointed with – they have currently released a limited edition eucalyptus version though! They don’t do huge discounts as far as I could see but I did have a 10% off code and this came to $59 including shipping so £46.19 ish which worked out pretty good value compared to if I was buying from Space NK today with no offer on - it would be £130! 

 

First things first, the brand itself is beautiful, I love the aesthetic and Necessaire is also carbon and plastic neutral and allocate 1% of sales to environmental not for profit organisations - you can read more about how they offset their footprint here. Everything here is vegan, cruelty free dermatologically tested and non-hypoallergenic and I really wanted to love these products but I’m not sure if it’s because they are so hyped, the impressive ingredients/claims vs results or what but I’ve been left feeling a little underwhelmed! 

 

 

I’ll start off by saying my body skin is pretty normal – I shower and moisturise every day but it’s not overly dry or anything. The Body Wash in Eucalyptus RRP £25 is a light gel cleanser containing Niacinamide, Vitamins C & E and Omega 6 & 9 that is meant to lather into a rich foam and it has a nifty screw cap to release the body wash. As a huge fan of eucalyptus, I found the scent a little disappointing. It just isn’t strong enough for me, doesn’t last on the skin or linger in the bathroom. The cleanser feels good, but I wouldn’t say it lathers much at all though it does cleanse well, and I do love the packaging. Overall, I don’t notice much difference in the condition of my skin than if I was using my usual Nivea or lush shower gel.

As a fan of fake tan, I am a serial exfoliator and have high standards in order to remove old tan, keep my skin smooth and also help with KP on the back of my arms and The Body Exfoliator in Eucalyptus RRP £30 falls short for me! It is formulated with bamboo charcoal, pumice, glycolic acid, lactic acid and salicylic acid so provides both chemical and physical exfoliation. As you can see, it’s a gel formula, with quite a fine grain. This is a much gentler scrub than what I am used to – I use exfoliating gloves normally to remove tan and the Frank Bod coffee scrub at other times to keep my skin smooth, so this is more of a gentle polish to me. Again, the scent isn’t as strong as I would like and while this did help exfoliate my skin, I had to use more than I expected to cover my body but it didn’t leave it as soft as my usual coffee scrub and at £30 it ain’t cheap! 

 

 

The Body Serum Fragrance Free RRP £45 is my favourite from the bunch and the most expensive! It’s a Hyaluronic Acid treatment that’s a gel formula and it absorbs into the body quickly. It’s formulated with 5 molecular weights of Hyaluronic Acid as well as Niacinamide and Ceramide NP. I’ve really enjoyed this extra step in my routine, and I usually concentrate on the top half of my body before following with the lotion and I do think it’s helped with extra hydration. Prior to this, I had been using up the Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid on my chest area as I don’t love it on my face and while the Necessaire feels more luxurious, I don’t see a massive difference in them so at this price I couldn’t justify repurchasing!

Finally, The Body Lotion Fragrance Free RRP £28, a multi-vitamin and peptide moisturizer. As I mentioned before, I thought this was also scented so I couldn’t help but be disappointed when I realised it wasn’t as I find unscented body lotions a tad boring. Don’t get me wrong, they are a great option for sensitive skin and perfect if you don’t want a scent clashing with your perfume but for me I wanted something more! While the formula itself is thick, it takes some rubbing in before it’s fully absorbed but when it is there is no greasy residue, and my skin was hydrated. The packaging is similar to the exfoliator with a weighted cap that feels very luxurious but again it just too pricy to not hit all my boxes! 

 

So, to answer the question in the title – no, I don’t think for me personally these are worth the hype unfortunately! I’m glad I scratched the itch, but, aesthetically pleasing packaging aside, I get more joy out of products a fraction of the price and haven’t noticed any major skin benefits to these as opposed to my usual more affordable body care choices! I would consider picking up the hand cream in the future if on offer but I think I am in the small minority that hasn’t fully fallen for these and while I’ll happily use them up, they aren’t repurchase worthy for me!

 

Have you tried Necessaire? I would love to hear your thoughts!  

 

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

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A couple of months ago I was sent a generous skincare package from The Inkey List to target my skin brightening concerns. I think at this point everyone is familiar with The Inkey List and their straightforward, high quality products at affordable prices so now I have had time to test, lets chat about the products!

 

First up, and dare I say it, this is my favourite along with the 15% Vitamin C serum, the Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser* RRP £10.99. I have fallen in love with this and I like to use it as a second cleanse or morning cleanser as it leaves my skin feeling soft and looking more even. As well as fulvic acid to exfoliate, it has Kakadu plum extract which contains Vitamin C to boost radiance, liquorice root to help deal with hyperpigmentation and aloe vera to soothe skin. It is very liquidy and a little goes a long way - I massage this onto damp skin then rinse off. My skin always looks fresh and bright, doesn’t feel dry or tight and it’s ready for its next steps. The texture looks like it might be gritty but that isn’t the case at all, it’s smooth! It’s a generous 150ml size too! I have been reaching for this every day since I got it and still have loads left! 

 

Next up, another standout for me, the 15% Vitamin C and EGF Serum* £14.99! I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from this as I have previously tried and did not like the Inkey List’s other Vitamin C “serum” offering (I found it to be a paste that pilled with every other product I tried it with!) This however is a true serum to me, it's liquid, lightweight and sinks in quickly. I find it so hard to get Vitamin C formulas that aren’t oily or, like I mentioned before, don't pill so this was already in my good books with its formula! Vitamin C, in this case ascorbyl glucoside, helps brighten skin and protects from damage caused by environmental pollution while EGF (epidermal growth factor) is a peptide which promotes collagen production. I use this mostly in the morning where it works perfectly in my routine and under makeup too. My skin looks brighter, more even and feels plumper! The Vitamin C in this isn’t as potent as the Vitamin C serum I mentioned earlier which contains 30% L-ascorbic acid but like I said that formula just didn’t work for me so I am getting much more use out of this! I also love the pump packaging which dispenses the perfect amount of product!

 

Moving on to the cult Hyaluronic Acid* RRP £5.99 and I know this is a lot of people’s holy grail hyaluronic! This is the third or fourth bottle I have gone through and though it’s a lovely product I do have others I prefer. Hyaluronic Acid attracts moisture and can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water and I apply this after toning and misting onto damp skin before the rest of my serums and moisturiser. Hyaluronic Acid is a godsend for dry or dehydrated skin and helps to plump fine lines and keep moisture in. This one is a a steal! I don’t love the packaging, I find the cap gets messy quickly and I have to clean it often so wish it also came with a pump but for the price it’s not a huge deal. Like I said, I have other hyaluronic acids I do prefer (Hada Labo, NIOD, Good Molecules) as I find them more effective but this is a nice start! 

 

I was also excited to try the Polyglutamic Acid* RRP £12.99 which is said to hold 4 times more moisture than hyaluronic acid so perfect for those needing hydration! Unfortunately, this is the product I am most disappointed with! It feels lightweight but it’s silicone heavy so bear that in mind and it’s recommended to apply this as the last step in your routine before moisturiser or makeup. I personally only use this in the AM due to the silicones as they are known to be good for priming. When using this I just don’t see or feel a difference with the hydration in my skin compared to when I just use hyaluronic acid. My makeup definitely stays on my skin more evenly throughout the day, my skin looks smoother and again I love the pump packaging but I was expecting more if I am honest!

 

Finally, we have the Symbright Moisturiser* RRP £10.99 and this one took me a little longer to get on board with as when I first started using it my skin was a bit drier as I was still on accutane and this was just not cutting the mustard for me! Now I’ve been off it for just over a month this has come into its own! It’s a lightweight moisturiser containing symbright produced through clary sage to brighten and Kakadu plum extract again to increase radiance and luminosity. Like I said, if you have dry skin you might want something thicker but for normal/oily people this is lovely! Again I use this in the AM as I prefer heavier creams and oils at night time but this works so well under makeup and my skin feels moisturised all day! I also really like the packaging – it feels a lot sturdier than the squeezy bottle of the Retinol which is hard to control!  

 

It is worth noting all of these products have an expiration date of 6 months so will lose their efficacy after that time! Overall I am impressed, especially with the cleanser and 15% Vitamin C and EGF Serum! If you want to see some more reviews of the Inkey list, check out my review of their Retinol here and Q10 here!

 

The Inkey List products are available at Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, Boots, Feel Unique and ASOS! Have you tried any before? Let me know your favourites!

 

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

 

Danielle xx

 

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