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 thought I was going to get away with rolling July and any potential August purchases into one blog post but a little last minute beauty box purchase right at the end of the month made this collective haul big enough for one post, oops! 

 

Starting with a few “boring” repurchases – my trusty Schwarpzkopf dry shampoo which I got in Home Bargains for £1.49 each instead of £2.99 and my favourite Nivea Double Effect eye makeup remover which was £2 in Superdrug instead of its RRP £3.99. 

 

I made one Look Fantastic order to finally get my hands on some cult favourite SPF’s I’ve wanted to try for a while as they had them on (I think) 20% off already then gave out a code for an extra 10% off. The La Roche Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ Sun Cream (what a mouthful!) was £12.97 instead of £18 and the Garnier Ambre Solaire Ultra-Light Sensitive Sun Protection Face Fluid SPF50+ was £5.39 instead of £8.

 

As always, I *needed* to get free delivery so added a couple more things to my basket including the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Body Gel Cream Moisturiser for Normal to Dry Skin for £4.49 instead of £5.99 and the Cantu Thick Detangle Sturdy Wash Day Comb for £2.87

Instead of £3.99. I am going through body products like crazy at the minute and have wanted a detangling comb for when my hair is wet for ages now. This one has been designed with curly and afro hair in mind – I have neither but my hair gets so tangled so easily and I’m hoping it will help minimise breakage! I think Look Fantastic might have upped their free delivery to spends £30 and over instead of £25 which sucks as I got all this for £25.72 so I think it’s gone up from then! 

 

Lastly, and on the last day of the month, Latest in Beauty sent out a discount code for 30% off any of their boxes so I decided to get the Style Summer Essentials 2022 box which came to £33.60 instead of £48. I got this mainly for the Skingredients Skin Shield Moisturising + Priming SPF50 PA+++ which is full size and worth £51 while the overall contents of the box are worth £274. Also included is an Iconic London Triple Precision Brow Definer - Cool Brown (you can pick from a few different shades), The Body Shop Drops of Youth Concentrate, St. Tropez Gradual Tan Classic Lotion - Medium/Dark, Olverum The Dry Body Oil, Prai Beauty Ageless Upper Arm Crème, Code8 5Secs Hydrating Lip Colour in Voyage en Orient, Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Mandarin, Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer, Avant Brightening & De-Puffing Hyaluronic Overnight Eye Recovery Mask and the NUXE Organic Micro-Exfoliating Cleansing Mask. My mum also ended up getting me to order her one too when I told her about the offer! 

 

Overall, my total spend this month was £64.30 instead of £93.95. As always, I use Top Cashback where I can to place orders so I am pending cashback of £3.08 for my Look Fantastic order and £2.95 for the Latest in Beauty purchase. I really recommend them, and they partner with loads of beauty sites! 

Did you buy much last month? I have a few makeup items on my wishlist but they’ve been going in and out of stock and we all know I don’t like paying full price for anything so I’ll keep patiently waiting ;)

 

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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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

 

If you want to keep up to date with my posts, don’t forget to follow me on

Bloglovin | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter