Danielle's Beauty Blog

 

This brand overview has been on my to do list for the longest time but with up to 40% off on the Sand&Sky website for the Black Friday weekend there is no time like the present! Sand&Sky are an instantly recognisable (just look at that packaging!) Australian cruelty free, vegan brand founded by twin sisters Emily and Sarah Hamilton. Using Aussie botanicals in their products, they are committed to responsible sourcing and recyclable packaging! There are three ‘lines’ if you will – Australian Pink Clay to detoxify, Australian Emu Apple to brighten and Tasmanian Spring Water to hydrate – can you tell they are a proud A-Beauty brand yet?! I have four of their products here from each of the lines that I’ve been using for quite a while now and I honestly couldn’t recommend them more! 

 

The Sand&Sky Enzyme Powder Polish RRP £44.90* is a beautifully gentle exfoliator that was even suitable for me when I was on Roaccutane and couldn’t use anything too harsh! The powder is ultra-fine, full of antioxidants and, on contact with water, it turns into a pink foam! It doesn’t feel gritty but my skin always looks smoother, more even and brighter after use and never looks red or feels tight or dry! It is similar to Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and Good Molecules Pineappple Exfoliating Powder but this is the gentlest of the three though no less effective! It also contains Vitamin C and Australian super berries to nourish and hydrate. I use this a couple of times a week and you only need about a coin size amount so this tub has lasted me forever and I am only about half way through! I spoke about it more in this Five Things I’m Loving post here!

 

Next up, we have the Australian Emu Apple Dreamy Glow Drops RRP £50.90* which is definitely one of their most famous products! It’s a really unique bi-phase serum that you shake to activate and the result is hydrated, brighter skin! The formula feels very lightweight though it is oily and I’m not sure how I wouldn’t have got on with this if my skin was still oily/combo but it’s more on the normal/dry side now and drinks this up! It contains 5 types of Hyaluronic acid, Australia Emu Apple - an antioxidant to combat ageing, boost brightness and add glow, Kakadu Plum, a source of Vitamin C to target pigmentation and hemi-squalane to lock in moisture. It really is a dreamy formula and my skin looks more even and bright and glowy with use! Despite the lightly oily formula this works well with my other skin products and makeup and never makes it separate or pill! 

 

Another insta fave is the Sand&Sky Australian Pink Clay Porefining Mask RRP £36.90* (for 60g – mine is 30g) and for good reason! It’s a detoxifying face mask, using Australian Pink Clay to draw impurities, toxins, and pollutants out of the skin. This works to tighten pores, tackle pigmentation and even skin tone and as well as pink clay it contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C again in the form of Kakadu Plum and Pomegranate to act as an antioxidant. You only need to leave it on for 10 minutes to get the benefits and the tingle is real with this! My skin feels smoother and tighter (but not dry), pores look smaller and my skin looks brighter overall. Love the dinky little brush that comes with it too! Read more in this Five More Facemasks post!

 

Finally, the newest product to my stash – the Tasmanian Spring Water Hydration Boost Cream RRP £44.90*. This is a hydrating gel-cream containing, you guessed it, Tasmanian Spring Water to strengthen as well as hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture, fermented sea kelp to smooth and target fine lines and red seaweed extract to prevent dehydration. The texture makes it feel both lightweight and rich at the same time and it immediately feels cooling and soothing. It has become my go to night cream and I wake up to plump, hydrated skin and I love the subtle marshmallow-y scent! I find the formula a little too much sometimes during the day, depending on what other serums/SPF or makeup I use on occasion it pills slightly along my hairline and with other products which is a pet peeve of mine but I don’t have this issue at night so that’s my preferred time to use it! 

 

I also have to take a moment to mention the packaging again – I am obsessed with how bright and weighty it is! It’s so eye-catching and luxurious feeling and the brand is almost 100% recyclable (the aluminium droppers in the serums are the only part that isn’t!). 

 

Like I said at the start of the post, there are hefty discounts across the website ending today (28th November - sorry if you are reading later than that!)! As well having their own website, Sand&Sky are also available from ASOS and BeautyBay! Have you tried anything yet? Let me know your thoughts! 

 

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

 

Danielle xx

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I know there are a few days left but March has absolutely flown by! And, as of today, I am beauty purchase free for the month so no spending report from me, yay! Instead, I thought I would share some recent favourites! 

 

The priciest item I have today was kindly sent over by Dermalogica and it’s their Neck Fit Contour Serum* RRP £75. Now, having a dedicated neck serum is not a necessity for everyone, but, since turning 30, I am increasingly interested in products targeted towards aging skin. Neck skin is thinner and more delicate than the skin on your face as well as being more vulnerable to UV damage especially if using fragrance. Finally, and my main issue – the skin on your neck is more prone to creasing from tech neck and constantly looking down like me with my phone and iPad! The serum claims to lift and tighten, smooth fine lines and protect skin against pollution while delivering retinol-like results and strengthening the skins moisture barrier. I cannot get over the difference in my neck since using this! First off, the roller applicator is so cooling and relaxing to apply, it dispenses the perfect amount and then you turn the nozzle off and continue to roll in. It really has targeted the creases I had been noticing more and more and my neck has never felt so soft, smooth and toned and those fine lines are nowhere near as noticeable anymore! I cannot recommend this enough if you are concerned about aging skin on your neck and I can’t wait to see continued results from more use!

 

Moving from the most to least expensive of the items I want to tell you about today and the Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel* RRP $6 has slotted in very nicely as my current eye gel! Yerba Mate is a tree from South America and a source of antioxidants and polyphenols which help to slow the appearance of aging caused by UV rays. It also contains peptides, caffeine and hyaluronic acid so works to hydrate and revitalise tired, puffy eyes. The gel is so cooling and sinks in easily making it a perfect base under makeup. My skin is hydrated, bags are depuffed and look brighter and I am also obsessed with the fun, bright packaging! This also featured in my Best Budget Skincare post! 

 

 

Next up, the newest foundation to my collection, the NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation RRP £28 and one I have been wearing constantly since I got it! NARS claims that it is oxidation proof and provides full, natural looking coverage and I would have to agree! Coverage is definitely full but not cakey and while it provides a matte finish it still lets some natural shine come through without the base disintegrating! It claims to last 16 hours though I haven’t had any reason to test it that long but it lasts well throughout a day of work and my mask being on and off! It also comes in a very generous 45ml size and I love the squeezy bottle! NARS recommend applying with fingers but I apply with a damp BeautyBlender and don’t think this has affected the coverage or finish! I plan to do a full review of this later in the year once I am off Roaccutane and my skin becomes more oily again so I can test how it performs fully as at the minute I would class my skin as “normal”. See the haul it was included in in my Beauty Spend Report forJanuary! 

 

Sticking with NARS and an oldie but a goodie - NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder RRP £30. A bronzer with a subtle golden shimmer running through it, this has been a favourite of mine for years since it was included in the Steven Klein palette way back when! I upgraded to a single pan in Sephora a couple of years ago and it’s been used regularly ever since! I neglected it recently as I was trying to hit pan on my Fenty bronzer which I was successful in (woohoo!) so I have set my sights back on this one as its already got a pretty good dip in the pan. It really gives the most natural, sunkissed warmth to my face and also adds a little contour without looking harsh. It is such a fool proof shade for lighter complexions and is so flattering on the skin! It is easily buildable, and leaves a beautiful healthy glow! A must have in your makeup bag if you ask me! I have another review of it here along with the matte version! 

 

Last but not least, the Sand&Sky Enzyme Powder Polish* RRP £44.90 deserves a shout out as it’s such a beautiful gentle exfoliator that has been perfect for my skin while on Roaccutane. The powder is ultra-fine, full of antioxidants and on contact with water it turns pink! It doesn’t feel gritty at all which is amazing for me at the moment as I can’t use anything too harsh but my skin always looks smoother and brighter after use and never looks red or feels tight or dry! It is very similar to Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and Good Molecules Pineappple Exfoliating Powder but this is the gentler of the three! 

 

 

 

So that’s my current favourites! Let me know if you have tried any of these and what your favourite products are right now!

 

*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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You might have seen my last minute beauty lovers Christmas gift guide last week and this week I have another instalment! This time I thought I would include some non-beauty related items as well in case you need some inspo! 

I have a thing about pyjamas, especially at Christmas, and it’s always a tradition to get a new pair every year. This year, I asked my mum for some silk (read: satin because silk is too expensive!) pyjamas and I know I got them because I tried on a couple of sizes to see which fit best! I fell in love with the Chelsea Peers Zebra print set but the Bluebella Giraffe set came a close second! Sadly these both seem to be out of stock now but they felt so luxurious I knew I wanted to get my aunt a similar pair so I went with the Marks & Spencer Satin Butterfly print pyjama set which I love and I hope she does aswell! 

To go with my new pyjamas I also asked for a sturdy pair of slippers as mine are threadbare and again I’ve spoiled the surprise because my mum wated me to check these fitted too – the Next Suede Mule Slippers! I’ve borrowed them for the photo but I won’t get them to Christmas Day! Even though I only wore them to check the size I know I will love these, the heel is so thick and they feel so comfortable! They are very Ugg like but without having to spend the same amount of money! 

I’ve kindly been sent the Sand&Sky Purify and Glow Kit* and I cannot wait to try the products out - it’s a brand I’ve seen all over Instagram and it’s got great reviews to go with its beautiful pink aesthetic! They are an Australian cruelty free brand that use Aussie botanicals in their products and this set includes the Australian Pink Clay mask (with the cutest mini mask brush), the Enzyme Powder Polish (that turns pink on activation with water!) and the Emu Apple Dreamy Glow Drops in a handy pink cosmetic bag. It’s also available from Cult Beauty and I’m sure these products will be in future blog posts once I’ve had a chance to test them properly! The Dreamy Glow Drops are calling my name and this set would be perfect for a skincare obsessive! 

I’ve also picked up a Lanolips Rose Intense hand cream for my aunt as at the minute with sanitising, hydration is important and I hope she likes this one! I haven’t tried it before but I am enjoying the other products I have picked up from Lanolips recently! 

 

Candles are also a gift I love to receive and thought I can’t quite justify the price of a Diptyque or Overose, I love the selection TK Maxx and Homesence has and picked up this DW Home candle in the scent of sea salt and driftwood to gift to my aunt! I’ve had other scents myself before and they last long, burn evenly and fill the room with scent! 

The Emma Hardie Essential Luxury Collection has been tempting me for weeks but if you want to gift something smaller, the Moringa Cleansing Balm is always a good shout! I don’t know anyone who has used this that doesn’t like it! It’s luxurious, removes makeup with ease and feels so hydrating! 

 

Most of the presents I’ve got for my mum revolve around makeup and skincare and I’ll probably do a separate Instagram post of those but for now, another crowd favourite I think makes a great present - the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose setting powder and puff (I think I somehow managed to order the old packaging oops!) I’m a long term fan of this and so is my mum, its mattifying but not cakey and not flat! She has been wanting the puff for a while so I picked up the set as it’s expensive on its own! 

Finally, I also picked up some sweets to add as little extras for some people. One of my friends got me a giant jar from a different company for my birthday and it was such a treat and since Christmas is the season for overindulgence I thought I would do the same but with smaller packs! The Little Candy Box Company was the first company that came up when I searched and I am super happy with them, delivery was quick, packaged well and most importantly the sweets taste good (obviously I got some for myself too!)

 

And that concludes my extra little gift guide! I hope it’s helped if you still have some people to buy for! I really need to finish off my presents this week, some things are taking so long to arrive I don’t want to leave it any longer! Let me know if you have picked up any similar presents for your friends and family! 

 

*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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