I thought I’d do a little serum round up
today and while some of these are no stranger to the blog, after revisiting
recently, I thought they were worth another mention!
This is definitely one of, if not the best
Vitamin C serum I have used! It is a powerhouse antioxidant serum that also
contains glycolic acid to exfoliate, meaning the L-ascorbic acid can penetrate
more effectively. This makes my skin feel so smooth and helps it look clearer
and more brighter and even! L-ascorbic acid is known for being the most effective
form of Vitamin C and the serum itself has a light citrus scent, absorbs
quickly and stubborn pigmentation fades impressively with consistent use! The serum
comes with a dual chamber delivery system giving extra defence to oxidation of
the Vitamin C and I haven’t experienced any irritation with the inclusion of the
glycolic acid either. This is 100% worth the money and definitely worth a try
if you struggle with Vitamin C formulas that feel oily or pill as this does neither!
Read my full review here!
Such a cult anti-aging serum and I can
see why! This recently got reformulated as well so I won’t delve too much into
the ingredients etc but this was a beautiful hydrating serum that I tended to
use overnight on non-retinol nights. It felt so repairing and firming and it smells
incredible too! I’m not exactly sure what the changes are to the formulation
but I’m sure it's just as incredible and the new packaging looks so luxe!
A beautiful, calming formula for sensitive
skin, I reached for this all through winter and am sure I will through summer
too! It contains hyaluronic acid, botanical extracts such as cucumber, olive
and thyme and mulberry to soothe the skin. It feels super hydrating and really
helps reduce redness in the skin!
This is probably one of the skincare
products I have had In my routine the longest (since 2016) and I always go back
to! CAIS3 is a copper peptide, pro-collagen, pro-repair, watery, blue liquid
with a slight scent of vinegar that dissipates very quickly! It sinks in
quickly and can be used in the morning and evening, but it is recommended to
not use with acids, Vitamin C, EUK, or strong antioxidants. Its purpose is to
maintain healthy looking skin by targeting signs of skin ageing including
textural damage, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and a lack of radiance. My
skin looks and feels much healthier when I use this consistently. It’s more
even, clear and firm, and this is a must have in my routine! Read my full review here!
Finally, a gem from The Ordinary! This
makes my skin feel much smoother and also doubles up as a body serum for me as
it’s so effective on KP on the backs of my arms! It comes in a 5% formulation too but I prefer the 10% and I don’t
experience any sensitivity personally (it contains Tasmanian Pepperberry
extract to help reduce irritation and sensitivity associated with acids). The Ordinary
say this is perfect for dry skin and can be used every day! It’s also the most affordable
of the offerings I have today and one of my favourite exfoliating serums!
That’s it for my round up of serums for
any skin concern – did you see any of your favourites or any you would like to
try?
Well, it’s that time of year again! Although
it seems to have launched a bit more quietly than previous years, the DECIEM “Slowvember” Sale is back for the month of November and actually running until December 6th - and I’ll assume they will include
their yearly “blackout” where they shut down their website on Black Friday!
Today I thought I would share what products I currently have in my skincare
collection and talk through my recommendations! I have a number of DECIEM skincare posts on my blog as they are one of my favourite brands and I love
NIOD in particular. It’s a little pricier than The Ordinary but worth it in my
opinion and if you have been eyeing anything up now, this month is the time to
get it with the 23% discount! They also have 50% off a couple of NIOD products –
my favourite hyaluronic acid MMHC, and the Hydration Vaccine.
Starting with a couple of The Ordinary
picks and you really can’t go wrong with this brand, it’s so affordable yet
still gets results! I have been through quite a few of the Squalane Cleanser RRP $26.20 CAD | £14.90and it’s such a good all-rounder! This is such an
effective makeup remover and cleanser, emulsifying from a creamy balm to an oil
and removing makeup easily as well as feeling hydrating and never leaving my
skin feeling tight! It works just as well as a second or morning cleanser as
it’s so lightweight.
The Lactic Acid 10% + HA RRP $12.20 CAD | £8.80 is another gem from The Ordinary! This makes my skin feel much
smoother and doubles up as a body serum for me too as it’s so effective on KP
on the backs of my arms! It’s also available in a 5% formulation but I prefer
the stronger one and don’t experience any sensitivity personally (it contains
Tasmanian Pepperberry extract to help reduce irritation and sensitivity
associated with acids).
Moving onto some NIOD favourites and
before I get into the serums, the Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist (SDSM2) RRP $61 CAD | £40is one of my favourite mists. It acts against oxidative
stress, water loss and inflammation of the skin. I love the fact it’s
antioxidant and my skin feels so calm and hydrated with every use! It’s in a
huge 240ml bottle too so I don’t feel guilty using this all over my chest as
well as face!
Launching into the rest of the serums now
and I’ll start with my absolute favourite – the Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3
1:1 (CAIS3) RRP $108 CAD | £70. I have been using this on and off since
around 2016 and always go back to it. It’s a copper peptide, pro-collagen,
pro-repair serum that is watery in texture and blue in colour with a slight
scent of vinegar that dissipates very quickly. This sinks in quickly and can be
used in the morning and evening, but it is recommended to not use with acids,
Vitamin C, EUK, or strong antioxidants. I keep my routine simple when using
this serum as it works so well by itself! It maintains healthy looking skin by
targeting signs of skin ageing including textural damage, uneven skin tone,
enlarged pores and a lack of radiance and my skin looks and feels much
healthier when I use this consistently leaving it more even, clear and firm.
Similarly, the Copper Amino Isolate Lipid (CAIL) 1% RRP $108 CAD | £75is a copper peptide formula but this one
is suspended in squalane so melts into skin and takes on more of a balmy,
oil-like feel and it’s designed for evening use. Again, its pro-collagen,
pro-lipid and pro-fat and aims for healthy looking skin. It also has the added
benefits of building and enhancing skin elasticity. I tend to keep my routine
simple with this one as well and use this after cleansing and toning my skin. My
skin feels well supported and hydrated overnight and like with CAIS, overall,
it looks better and healthier with consistent use. It reduces the look of
wrinkles and leaves my skin supple and plump. My personal favourite is still the
serum as it fits better into my routine as I can use it both AM and PM. See my full review of CAIS3 and CAIL here!
Modulating Glucosides (MG) RRP $34 CAD | £27
is an emulsion that targets sensitive, irritated skin and encourages a calmer
complexion. It supports the skin barrier, encourages hydration and repair and
contains oat synthetic analogues, ceramides and purified ginger root to help
reduce redness, itching and burning. Despite its viscous appearance, it feels
lightweight and sinks in easily - I find the scent a bit like paint though it
doesn’t linger. I replied on this a lot while I was on Roaccutane as it was so
calming and it is such a comforting, soothing serum. Definitely a great one to
have in your stash!
Lastly, Survival 0 (S0) RRP $30 CAD |
£22 is an antioxidant, reparative serum targeting damage caused by
environmental stressors like pollution, smog and blue light. It also comes in
10, 20 and 30 versions which offer some SPF protection as well but I use this
at night and let it work its magic. It’s a lightweight, orange-y serum that
absorbs easily and has a faint herbal scent. Over time, this reduces photo
damage and I have noticed my skin tone is healthier overall. It also feels
hydrating (it includes glycerin and squalane) and layers well with other
skincare! MG and S0 have their own dedicated blog post here!
I honestly can’t recommend DECIEM
skincare enough, both NIOD and The Ordinary have so many amazing products and if
you have been eyeing anything up, now is the best time to get it with the 23%
off! As DECIEM say though, don’t rush and only buy what you need! Honourable
mentions to some of my other favourite NIOD products that I don’t have in my
stash at the minute include the Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex (MMHC2),
Sanskrit Saponins,Flavanone Mud and the Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum.
On my list to buy this year are the newer
Ordinary Cleansers, bodycare and the lip balm! Will you be buying anything?
Don’t forget to check out my older DECIEM
posts below!
Welcome back! I’m on a roll with blog
posts at the minute thanks to a bank holiday weekend and some time off work for
wisdom teeth extractions so trying to make use and get my empties up! Onto the
mini reviews! (Ignore the mess I made of my background – sticky back plastic
gone wrong!)
Haircare
Dove Dry Shampoo
Works well to refresh my hair and is
affordable when on offer so would repurchase!
Batiste Plant Powered Dry Shampoo
As someone who usually avoids the classic
Batiste as it’s my least favourite dry shampoo I was pleasantly surprised by
this! Worked well on my dark hair, no white cast and definitely dulled down the
grease! I have others I prefer so not a repurchase!
Love this shampoo! It contains SLS and is
lightly scented and smells amazing! It lathers well and makes my scalp and hair
feel clean without drying it out. Despite being formulated for dry hair (I have
an oily scalp and dry ends), this doesn’t weigh my hair down and it makes it
feel soft and look shiny! Read my full review here! Would repurchase even
though it’s pricey as it lasted ages and made washing my hair a good
experience!
JVN Complete Air Dry Cream
This smoothed my hair and tamed flyaways
but I am a serial blow dryer and straightener so I can’t say much for how it
helps hair settle as it airdries! The main thing I look for in a hair product
is heat protection which this doesn’t have so not a repurchase for me though I
do have another mini to use!
Bodycare
Olay Collagen Body Lotion
This was a nice lightweight lotion that
sank in quickly and moisturised well. I have other body lotions I prefer the
scent of and that are more affordable so not a repurchase for me!
Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion
I really liked this! It’s thick but sank
in quickly and kept my body well moisturised. The only bad things are the fact
I went through it so quickly and I would prefer a scented product! A good price
for the amount you get and often on offer. I have other more affordable moisturisers
I like just as much but this was a treat so I would repurchase!
Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel
Love this and it lasted so long for me! I
find it pricey so it’s usually a birthday or Christmas present to myself but
worth every penny as it smells incredible and feels so good to clean my skin
with! Will repurchase!
A great cream to have in your stash for
dry patches or itchy/sensitive skin! Will repurchase!
Lancaster Golden Tan Maximiser
A mini and I only got one use out of it
so I can’t say much for the effects but it smelts good and sank in quickly! Not
a repurchase!
Skincare
Dear, Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing
Oil
More affordable than the Dermalogica
Precleanse and feels just as luxurious though this one has no scent. It spreads
easily, removes makeup with ease, emulsifies, doesn’t sting my eyes and leaves
my skin feeling clean and hydrated with no film left behind! Will repurchase!
Full review here!
Really enjoyed this toner! It has a
lovely thick formula and helped smooth and plump my skin. On the pricey side so
not a repurchase for me! Full review here!
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power
Essence
This is a cult product for a reason! Felt
very soothing and hydrating but I did get bored of it as it’s in a 100ml
bottle! Good value for money so would repurchase in the future! Full review here!
A luxurious citrus scented oil cleanser that
turns into a milky emulsion when you add water. This lasted me a long time
and I enjoyed it but there are other oil and balm cleansers I enjoy more that
are a lot more affordable so not a repurchase for me! Full review here!
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6
Another cult classic and another product
I enjoyed! I felt zero irritation with this and woke up to smooth, plump skin
with my fine lines less noticeable. Would repurchase but in the higher concentration!
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice and
Probiotics SPF50+
I loved this so much I used it every day
until it was finished and didn’t even get time to feature it in a blog or
instagram post! It feels so lightweight, left no whitecast on my skin and sank
in quickly leaving a great base for makeup. My skin felt protected, my eyes
didn’t water and I can’t recommend it enough! Will repurchase 100% but I have a
lot of other SPF’s to finish first!
Avant Brightening and De-Puffing
Hyaluronic overnight Eye Recovery Mask
Another love! I think I got this in a
beauty box and it’s pricey! The formula is lovely, it feels very
hydrating and sinks in quickly and doesn’t pill around my eyes like some eye
creams can. It’s not a miracle worker at brightening or depuffing my eye bags
but I have been impressed! Sadly, not a repurchase right now because of the
cost!
A nice formulation but this oxidised
quickly on me I think because it’s in a 59ml bottle! It contains lactic acid as
well as Vitamin C and worked nicely to brighten and smooth my skin! Not a
repurchase as there are others I prefer!
I really didn’t want to like this because
of the price but it worked really well for my skin! This is more of an
introductory Vitamin C serum containing 10% pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid)
and 0.2% ferulic acid. With daily use it lasted me just over 3 months and my
skin looked even, brighter and fine lines were less noticeable. Would repurchase
on offer but I do have a couple of their other Vitamin C’s to try first!
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA
I actually use this more on the back of
my arms to target KP than my face but it works well on both! Very smoothing but
I prefer the 10% and I have a back up of that so wouldn’t repurchase the 5%
again!
This is part of a duo set with the tri
action peel and is a polyglutamic acid serum to plump, hydrate and smooth skin.
Worked well but only 15ml and I don’t believe you can buy it separately so not
a repurchase for me!
Loved this and it was perfect for daytime
for me under makeup as it gave me a really good base with no pilling! It has a
subtle illuminating effect so looks brightening as well as being hydrating!
Will repurchase!
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Mango
Love the lip sleeping mask and this was
the first flavour other than original I've tried! It’s super hydrating and perfect
for overnight. The scent was nice but I prefer the OG berry so not a repurchase
but I already have a berry back up anyway!
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich
Hydration Cream
Loved this! Worked really well as a
daytime moisturiser for me on some trips I had this summer and kept my skin
hydrated and supported! Would repurchase if on offer!
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream
Another nice cream, I used this at night
on my trips and liked it but not as much as the CEO, so not a repurchase!
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch
Loved having these in my stash, they come in
different sizes and worked well to reduce some bigger spots! Have a backup
already!
Love using these when I have an event or
big day out planned, they feel nicely hydrating and help brighten and plump the
skin around my eyes! Pricey so not a repruchase!
This was nicely hydrating and gave a nice
shine to my lips but it also has quite a lot of slip so I didn’t find it the
longest lasting lip product! I have another one but I wouldn’t repurchase!
I usually stick with the original mint
flavour but this was a nice change and had a lovely sweet scent! The formula is
one of my favourite lip balm formulas so this is a great option for no fuss
hydration but the original is still my fave so not a repurchase!
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Exfoliating
Moisturiser
Loved this mini! It contains lactic and
glycolic acids as well as ceramides and squalane and made my skin so soft and
smooth! Would definitely repurchase, you guessed it, on a good offer!
I haven’t tried much Lancome at all but
this serum was lovely! Very softening and brightening but I do have others I
like just as much that are (a little) more affordable so not a repurchase
though I have another mini and I will enjoy it!
Pat McGrath Divine Skin Rose Essence
I liked this but didn’t notice much in
the way of benefits as the bottle is so small and I find essences to be one of
the skincare products I neglect most often so not a repurchase!
Makeup
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High
Waterproof Mascara
Loved this! I’ve been struggling with
mascaras recently that say they are waterproof and I still get smudging under
one eye in a matter of hours but not with this one! It gives me such good
volume, separation and length and there is no smudging or flaking! Have already repurchased!
Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips in
Pillow Talk
One of my favourite tinted lip balms! This
is so hydrating, long lasting and a beautiful pinky nude shade! I have way too
many lip products to get through but I already repurchased this as I love it so much! See my full review here!
NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in Orgasm
Another great tinted lip balm option but
this one is less long lasting and not as pigmented at the Charlotte Tilbuty!
Orgasm is probably my least favourite NARS shade so this is not a repurchase but
I did repurchase in the shade Dolce Vita and I would recommend Fast Lane too!
Miscellaneous
Purely Inspired Collagen Peptides x2
Love these, I think they really help with
my joints so have already repurchased!
Boka Ela Mint Toothpaste
Bit of a random one but I recently
started using a nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste at night (and a fluoride based
one in the morning) and I’ve been enjoying it! It helps remineralize and fortify teeth
and I’ve already repurchased!
Congrats as always if you made it through
all those, I hope to have another bumper edition before the end of the year!
Have you tried anything I’ve mentioned? Let me know your thoughts!
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