Danielle's Beauty Blog

I’m back with another current rotation of skincare and this time it’s face mists! One of my favourite skincare steps within my routine as well as something I like to use throughout the day to hydrate and refresh my skin. I have three open at the minute so let’s get into it! 

 

The newest to my collection is the Dermalogica Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist RRP £45*. This contains four types of hyaluronic acid as well as ceramides (its’s all in the name haha) to offer long lasting hydration and help smooth the appearance of fine lines. It is rose scented, and the rose flower water offers antioxidant protection though in all honesty I don’t love the scent. It reminds me a lot of the Mario Badescu Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater spray which I have been through many bottles of and sickened myself! The Dermalogica mist is a much more advanced formula in terms of skincare benefits (I only used the Mario Badescu as a refreshing spritz throughout the day not as a skincare step) so the benefits of using it far outweigh a very slight aversion to the scent! My skin feels hydrated, it works well with my hyaluronic acid to minimise fine lines and keep my skin supple, but I do think I prefer the Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist just a touch more than this, though, if your skin is very dry or dehydrated you would love the HCM!

 

Next up, the cult favourite NIOD Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist (SSDM2) RRP £36*. This is a protective mist, acting against oxidative stress, water loss and inflammation of the skin. I love the fact it’s antioxidant as I have become more aware of preventative skincare measures in the last year or two and it makes my skin feels calm and hydrated! It has very bulky packaging so not the best for travelling unless you want to decant but it means I don’t feel guilty using this over my body (neck and dec in particular) or spritzing through the day either! This doesn’t contain as many hydrating ingredients as the Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist but my skin is more normal/combo at the minute so it helps retain enough moisture for me! Read more here!

 

Finally, the Magic Organic Apothecary (MOA) Silver Rain Mystical Toner RRP £15 and this was one I bought along with a few other skincare products back when my skin I was struggling with acne then subsequently went on Roaccutane and struggled to fit them into my routine! MOA is a natural, organic brand and you’ll maybe know them from my blog as I love their Green Balm! This mist contains antibacterial colloidal silver, yarrow and thyme to help calm irritated, blemish-prone skin help promote a healthy, clear complexion. I have found a good space in my routine for this after workouts where it calms my face and hopefully works its antibacterial action between the workout and when I cleanse! It has a herby scent which is lightweight and refreshing and it can also be used as a pillow spray or on the likes of your yoga mat! 

 

As you can see they all have a purpose in my routine but I would have to say the NIOD SDSM is my favourite out of these three and I think best value too! See Part One and Part Two of this series to hear more about the facial mists I have used and rate! What is your favourite facial mist?

 

*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 a little update on my current stash of cleansers and if you have seen any of the first five instalments of this blog series, you will know I like choices! I’ll also preface this by saying I haven’t tried any of the products on my eye makeup as I had laser eye surgery in December so wasn’t wearing mascara for a while and was trying to keep water away from my eyes for so long, I have just kept going! I use Nivea Double Effect Waterproof eye makeup remover for that now I have started wearing mascara again and I can’t recommend it enough!

 

Starting with the first cleansers and first up we have the The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm RRP £9.99* and I really can’t fault this. It contains oat kernel oil and colloidal oatmeal so as well as being nicely hydrating, it’s great for sensitive skin too! I use a flannel to wash it off and it removes makeup with ease and leaves my skin feeling soft and doesn’t leave a film behind! I have read some other reviews with people saying it can be hard to squeeze out so keep that in mind but I haven’t personally noticed this with my tube. I do quite enjoy a scent with my balms and this is unscented so that’s the only thing that lets this slightly down but again, great for sensitive skin and it’s cheap and cheerful!

 

Next up, the Aromatica Orange Cleansing Sherbet RRP £23 which I got to try as a cheaper alternative to my beloved Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing balm. Unfortunately, this one doesn’t quite hit the spot for me! It’s closer in consistency to the Elemis cleansing balm which I didn’t like, and the scent is a little too sweet/artificial for me. It still does a good job at removing makeup and leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated so I will continue to use it but I don’t plan on repurchasing it in the future!  

 

Now time for an old favourite and the MOA The Green Balm RRP £16 actually featured in my first post in this series back in 2017 when it was £12.50! Yikes! It contains yarrow and tea tree and is another one that’s great for sensitive skin. It’s a bit of a do it all product and as well as a cleanser it can be used on bites/grazes, as a healing tattoo treatment or even added to hot water and honey to gargle for sore throats! I absolutely love the scent, it is so relaxing and spa like and it removes makeup well. It can leave a bit of a film but I don’t mind as it gets removed on my second cleanse and I think this is my third tub of this now! My mum loves this too and often puts it on any stressed patches of skin and leaves it overnight!

 

Another favourite now and I spoke about this one last week too! The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser RRP £13.90* is probably the best all-rounder I have come across! As well as being an effective first cleanse this is also lightweight enough to work as a second or morning cleanse too. The formula is so gentle, it’s a cream to oil-like cleanser and makes easy work of removing makeup, feels hydrating and comes in two sizes at a ridiculously good price! When using to remove makeup, I use a flannel, but this also emulsifies nicely when I use in the morning and never leaves my skin feeling tight or dry! It also features in instalment four of this cleanser series!

 

Moving onto second and morning cleansers and The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser RRP £9.99* is one of the newest products to their line up! This has a pleasant gel formula that foams marginally and contains 1% hyaluronic acid compound which has been modified to stick to skin even after the cleanser has been washed off. My skin feels fresh after use but I would say a little tight around my nose specifically which I was surprised about considering the hyaluronic acid element. It doesn’t translate to dryness though and subsides when I finish my routine but I would say that I prefer their Fulvic Acid cleanser over this one!

 

The newest cleanser to me is the COSRX Pure Fit Cica Cleanser RRP £19* which was sent mid-January and I’ve been reaching for it regularly. It has a creamy formula that lathers gently, and it contains centella asiatica so it’s mild and it also contains eucalyptus oil – a scent I love! My skin feels nicely balanced using this and I haven’t noticed any dryness! It’s probably not one I would have picked up myself, but I have really been enjoying it!

 

Nearly at the end of my round up now and the Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser RRP £35* got a mention in my Best Beauty Discoveries 2021 as I love it so much! Despite containing glycolic acid, as the name would suggest, this is gentle enough to use every day and I have noticed a brightening effect as it sloughs away dead skin cells as well as my skin being smooth and well prepped for makeup. It doesn’t dry my skin out at all and is another win for Dermalogica who really know how to make a good cleanser – see my review of some of their other options here!

 

Finally, another regular on the blog – the NIOD Sanskrit Saponins RRP £37*. NIOD specify that this is a cleanser, not a makeup remover, and I’ve been through multiple tubes of this over the years! I don’t even mind the scent! It’s made with ayurvedic plant saponins and day-old coffee beans is the best way I can describe the noticeable scent! It’s a thick paste and works to clean oil and dirt from my face, making pores look minimised – despite it removing oil, my skin never feels stripped by this! It’s worked particularly well for me in the past when my skin was more oily/acne prone and it really removed build-up and helped clarify my skin and even now with my skin type being more normal I am still enjoying it!

 

So that’s what’s currently taking up space on my bathroom windowsill and I should have a few cropping up in my empties soon! Let me know what cleansers you are loving at the minute! I really want to get my hands on the Alpha H Melting Moment cleansing balm, Then I Met You Living cleansing balm and Omorovicza Queen cleanser next!

 

*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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It has been a hot minute since my last empties – the end of December to be precise! I have been making very slow progress for some reason, especially on skincare and makeup but I have plenty of body and hair care products to talk through! 

 

Haircare

SportFX Body Build Dry Shampoo

I’m actually finding it really hard to judge dry shampoos at the minute as I’m still on Roaccutane so being blessed with “normal” hair and not ridiculously greasy hair that needs to be washed every two days. This worked fine for me but I can’t say for sure how good it would be on oily roots! No white cast but I found the vanilla scent a bit meh and it’s not readily available at the usual places I shop (got it in a Latest in Beauty box ) so won’t be repurchasing!

 

VERB Volume Conditioner

This empty has been a long time coming haha, I brought it home from Canada in the middle of August 2019 and it kind of got forgotten about but I am so sad it’s finished now! I hope they start selling here in the future! I got this from Sephora and it’s so affordable for such a big bottle plus it works really well – I don’t notice massive volume (I have long fine hair) but it leaves me with lots of shine and hydration! Would repurchase if I could!

 

Olaplex No.0

This is my second bottle of this and to be honest I can’t tell much difference with or without it as the primer for my long term favourite No.3. You saturate your hair with this, wait 10 minutes then apply No.3 and in conjunction they work to repair damaged hair. I get about 4 uses out of this as my hair is quite long and after use it certainly feels and looks healthier. I haven’t repurchased just yet but I think I will in the future as I trust Olaplex as a brand and want to give it more of a go!

 

Olaplex No.3

I am obsessed with this and it is probably the best thing I have ever bought for my hair! I spoke more about it in this Haircare Essentials post too but I have been using this for years now and can’t see myself without it! Breakage is dramatically reduced and hair feels much stronger and healthier! This was a mini I got with the No.0 but I have already repurchased the full size!

 

Bodycare

Soap and Glory Clean on Me Shower Gel

Going to be a real negative Nancy for a minute to complain about Soap and Glory but they have discontinued my favourite scent Mist you Madly and come out with a bunch of generic fruity scents to replace the original, distinctive scents they became known for and I am so disappointed! I think there have been big delays with stock during the pandemic so I am not sure if now Clean on Me is also discontinued or just permanently out of stock but where I was once a loyal fan, their new products just don’t interest me anymore *shrugs*. I will always repurchase Clean on Me (if I can find it again) and anything else Original Pink scented (still devastated they discontinued the perfume) but I wish they would bring back Mist you Madly and a quick stalk of their socials shows a lot of other people would like them to as well! Rant over!

 

Aveeno Moisturising Cream

This is the second one of these I have gone through now since I’ve been on roaccutane and it works really well for my skin! It’s been keeping it nicely hydrated and I like how it’s got a pump and there is a lot of product in there too which is great considering how much moisturiser I go through - it sinks in quickly as well which is a bonus! The only downside is that it’s unscented which yes is a good thing for sensitive skin, but I do generally like my moisturiser to be scented so I find this a bit boring! Already using my backup!

 

Bioderma Atoderm Ultra gentle shower gel*

This feels good and doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight, it has a light scent and worked well to help stop scratching! I went through this quite quickly though and I prefer the oil cleanser so won’t be a repurchase!

 

Bioderma Atoderm ultra nourishing cream*

This is really soothing on my skin and keeps it hydrated all day long and again, doesn’t leave me wanting to itch my skin later in the day! It also has a light scent too (though I can’t really detect it) but again I went through it very quickly so would get the bigger pump bottle next time! Wrote about all three of the above more in this post about the bodycare I am using while on Accutane here! Would repurchase!

                                

Lanolips Everywhere multi cream

My mum recommended this as she loves it and like the name suggests, this is made for use everywhere – face, body, hands, under eyes etc! I used it as a body moisturiser and though it hydrated my skin well without leaving a greasy feel, I went through it so quickly! They do have a pump version that is double the size of product for £14 which works out better value so I will be picking that up next time as I do like the formula! Full review here!

 

Soaper Duper Marvellous hand cream

Got this in a beauty box, moisturised my hands well without leaving them greasy and a very generous size for a hand cream I thought but I don’t love the scent and it doesn’t seem to be available anymore anyway! 

 

Skincare

Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum*

My second one of these and a lovely lightweight serum containing 2% Cetyl Tranexamate Mesylate which works to improve the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation as well as 4% niacinamide to target pores, uneven skin texture and oiliness! This was gentle enough for me to use while on Roaccutane and did a great job of evening out my skin tone though I didn’t see a huge change in targeted leftover pigmentation from spots! At $12 I will definitely repurchase! Full review here!

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum

Another lightweight serum – I have went through a few minis of this but never purchased a full size though I know people rave about it. Like the GM I just mentioned, this is good for evening skin tone and works on pigmentation but at a higher price! Maybe I would feel differently after using up a full size but this isn’t a repurchase for me!

 

Bioderma Atoderm lip balm*

Really enjoyed this lip balm too, it has a little more slip than the Burt’s Bees which feels good and it’s got a subtle raspberry scent too. I like how it has a slanted tip as it feels a little fancier to apply and my lips have been really well hydrated throughout the day with this! Would repurchase! See my full review here!

 

Burt’s Bees lip balm

My fave, forever repurchased, minty, perfect for reapplying during the day lip balm, already have a backup! 

 

Miscellaneous

Spotlight Oral Care Teeth Whitening Strips and toothpaste

I picked these up last November as I wanted to start whitening my teeth before my birthday. It says use them every night for 2 weeks but I’ll confess I use them as and when I want a little lift! I wouldn’t say the whitening effect is anything crazy but my teeth definitely look brighter after use and I haven’t experienced any sensitivity! The toothpaste is ok, again I didn’t notice a huge amount of whitening and I would prefer it to be mintier! I have the Polished London set to try next but I think overall I would repurchase this if I got it on offer again!

 

MOA Dreamy Mineral Soak

Really nice relaxing bath soak, I used half the night before an interview and felt so calm afterwards and the other half more recently! Would repurchase.

 

Dettol Anti-Bacterial Hand Hygiene Gel

A must have since I started going into the office. I really like this, it dries quickly without drying out my hands! Will repurchase!

 

Botanics Eucalyptus Oil

Love the scent of this and I have been through a few of these now! I just put it into my diffuser, I would like to invest in some fancier oils and blends but for now this is cheap and cheerful! Already repurchased the scent but a different brand!

 

So that’s what I have emptied this year so far! I hope that has opened the floodgates now and I will have plenty more empties with less time between each post! Let me know if you have tried anything I’ve mentioned and what you though of it!

 

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