Monday, 17 April 2017

Product Empties #17

danielles beauty blog empties

Happy Easter Monday everyone! Product Empties part 2 is here! My last batch of empties was huge so I split in in two – read part 1 here! Hopefully normal empties service will return soon, I need to stop having such a big gap in between! Anyway here are my recent skincare and makeup empties!

danielles beauty blog skincare empties

Skincare
Caudalie Moisturising Toner
This was the never ending toner for me! That sounds negative but it isn’t! This is a really lovely refreshing toner that felt hydrating (I always use an alcohol free toner) and was gentle enough to use over eyes as well as skin. Would repurchase!

Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover
This features constantly in my empties because it is amazing at getting waterproof eye makeup off and it’s so gentle, my eyes never sting using this and it’s so effective – if you wear eye makeup you need to try this! It features in this forever repurchased post too and you guessed it I’ve already repurchased and am using and I have a backup too!

Olay Essentials Beauty Fluid
This featured recently in my Tannng 101 post and though I don’t actually use it on my face it’s here because it’s a skincare item. I remember years ago someone on YouTube (Samantha Maria I think) saying they had stopped using this because it has mineral oil in it so I stopped using it on my face. Side note – I’m awful at looking at ingredients so I’m sure I probably use other products with mineral oil but this one sticks out to me. Saying that, I love the scent of this and it’s really nostalgic to me because my mum used to use it too and mineral oil aside, it’s a really lightweight moisturiser that is perfect for prepping my elbows, heels and hands before tan so I have repurchased!

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo +
I hate this. I’ve went through so many tubes of the old version without the “+” and then this one to see if it was any different and it does not work for my skin at all. It was hailed as a miracle product back in the day but all it did to my skin was make me breakout in little pimples so it sat for probably over a year getting no use until I read somewhere that it was good for keratosis pilaris (bumps on the back of your arms). I’ve used it up recently by doing that and it did work well but no better in my opinion than a scrub and some Nivea cream which is way cheaper so I will never repurchase this again!

Pixi Nourishing Sleep Mask
I don’t think I ever wrote about this on my blog and I think it was because I never saw amazing results with it like say the Glow Tonic. I can sometimes be a little unfair to products like this but it did do what it said it would and left my skin feeling nourished and plumped in the morning and never broke me out so for that reason I will repurchase in the future.  

Pixi Hydrating Milky Serum
I really enjoyed using this serum, its lightweight, felt smoothing and absorbed quickly. It was a pain in the arse for the last few weeks of use though and I wish I had kept the original cap so I could have balanced it upside down easier! I did manage to get every last drop though and will repurchase in the future!

Burt’s Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream
I’ve went through loads of these before from different Burt’s Bees sets and this is a really lovely cleanser. It’s not as creamy as say the Rodial Stem Cell Superfood Cleanser but it’s still lovely to massage into the skin. I love the scent too as it’s so refreshing but the one negative thing I would say about this is that it can sting the eyes a bit and even when I avoid my eyes the scent can make them stream a bit! This travel size is perfect for taking away too so I would repurchase the travel size before a full size!

This Works In Transit Camera Close Up
I got this in a magazine and this tiny sample lasted ages! It’s a really great all-rounder in terms of moisturising and priming for me and I would repurchase in the future.

Skin Owl Neck+
This was part of a GWP with Cult Beauty absolutely ages ago and I’m finally finished! I don’t know why I keep products for ages – someone tell me they do the same? Anyway, it’s a lovely lightweight gel that was formulated specifically for the neck and chest because these areas don’t produce oil – who knew?  I used this a lot last year before I was bridesmaid and then forgot about it until recently – nearly a year later *facepalm*. It feels lovely, it sinks in quickly and though I don’t have a “crêpey” neck I think this did well to further firm it. I won’t repurchase because the full size is £56 and I think I can just get away with moisturising those areas but if an aging neck and décolleté is a worry of yours this all natural concentrate would be a good shout!

Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream
Another mini sample and one that I loved! This was more lightweight than I had imagined which wasn’t a bad thing and was just lovely to use at night time! I will repurchase the full size in the future!

Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips
I had seen so much hype over this so was excited to try it but it’s one of those super thick, sticky formulas so even though it felt good on my lips I would not repurchase the full size.

Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
My favourite lip balm ever, I usually have at least two of these on the go and panic if I can’t find it! It’s a really lovely natural balm that feels soothing on the lips and the peppermint scent is lovely! Have already repurchased and probably have about five backups too

These have featured in my last few empties and I also have a full post on them here but in short the more I use these the more I fall in love with them! The Detox Clay mask works particularly well with my oily/combo acne prone skin and I love the results it gives! My skin looks clearer and more balanced and it removes black heads so easily! After using the hydrating clay mask my skin feels so hydrated and soft and ready for the products I put on top. I’ve been getting about 4 uses out of each sachet too so great value for money – I only use these on my face now and not my body!

Tony Moly Clear Skin Rice sheet mask
To be honest it’s been so long since I used this, I can’t really remember much about it! As with all sheet masks I’ve used, it’s really saturated and feels lovely and cooling on the skin. This one promised to make dull skin look radiant and glowing and I can’t really remember if it did or not but I felt relaxed while using it! I’ve also just read the ingredients list and there is mineral oil in it haha!

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream and Magic Eye Rescue
Some more sachet samples I can’t really remember using – I’m so helpful aren’t I! Both felt nice but it’s hard to know what you think with only a sample you can get a few uses out of so I wouldn’t repurchase!

danielles beauty blog makeup empties

Makeup
L’Oréal Infallible Fixing Mist
I loved this when I first got it but I found the longer I had it the less well it worked for me and to be honest I probably had it longer than the 12 month expiry on the back! It did extend the wear of my makeup when I first got it but the mist wasn’t that fine and you really had to shake it up or you would be left with white dots all over your face ruining your good work so I wouldn’t repurchase!

SEVENTEEN Stay Time Pressed Powder in Fair
I liked this powder when I first got it and thought it did help my makeup stay put but I don’t like the fact it’s not translucent and I find it can look a little patchy. It also hasn’t been working well recently and although there is still a little bit of powder left I just don’t want to use it! Won’t repurchase! The SEVENTEEN Miracle Matte loose powder is much better!

L’Oréal Brow Artist Plumper in Translucent
This lasted me ages and I really liked it! It has a tiny wand and set my brows well without making them crispy. I don’t really understand the plumping bit but that’s not what I was looking for so I would repurchase!

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 06
I got this in a gift set I got in the sale last Christmas so it’s lasted forever even though it’s a mini! It feels hydrating and long lasting and 06 is a lovely nude shade that I use to top up during the day and for a bit of colour! Would repurchase if I saw in the sale again.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation in 2 Fair
This is the second sample I’ve had of this foundation and I find I can get three good uses out of it! Fair is a great match for my skin when I haven’t tanned and the foundation is really lovely – it’s not quite as full coverage as I would like so I wouldn’t purchase a full size but it has a lovely finish and I might try a darker shade if I can pick a sample again!

Skincare and makeup empties done! I think I need to set a date in the diary to remind myself to do these before they get too out of hand! Do you see any of your favourites here?

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

Danielle xx

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Thursday, 13 April 2017

Stepping Out Of My Comfort Zone | Vincent Longo Highlighters


Vincent Longo highlighters review creme to powder la bella luce

Highlighters are a funny thing to me, with my oily skin I tend to shy away from them or skip them completely when I’m doing my makeup because I’m paranoid they will draw attention to me (ironic since this is one of the reasons most people wear them, no?). I remember doing my makeup for my friend’s wedding a few years ago and thinking I’ll add a little highlighter, what can go wrong, fast forward a few hours and I notice glitter that has dropped down my cheeks and gathered under my eyes (ABH Sand from the contour kit by the way) and I think I made a conscious decision then not to bother with that step. (I think I was probably the only person that noticed the fall out and I cleared it up pretty quick with a powder brush by the way!)

Since then, I’ve always been extra careful with highlighter, I only use a tiny amount and the highlighters I own all come in palettes with the only full size coming as a free gift! So, when I was sent these two Vincent Longo highlighters I knew I was going to be pushed firmly out of my makeup comfort zone and you know what, I’m loving it!

Vincent Longo highlighters review

I have previously reviewed Vincent Longo Cosmetics on my blog here but very briefly, the brand was founded in 1995 and is known for its luxurious, high performance formulas as well as creativity and award winning products. One of my favourite products from them is their Water Canvas Crème to Powder blush which featured again in my Five Products I’m Loving post back in January so I was excited to give the Vincent Longo Water Canvas Highlighter in Mermaid Muse* (RRP £32) a try.

Vincent Longo Water Canvas Highlighter in Mermaid Muse review creme to powder

Vincent Longo Water Canvas Highlighter in Mermaid Muse review

The crème to powder formula is quite possibly the most unique formula in makeup I’ve ever come across and it feels absolutely beautiful on the skin! It’s moist with the formula containing 75% Microwater – a natural seaweed polymer - pure pigment, Vitamin E and silica. In the pan this looks like a peachy blush shade but when on the skin it transforms into a translucent sheer but buildable skin shimmer that promises to give a refreshing wash of luminous colour and sparkle which it certainly does! This is a little too sparkly for me for daily wear but I’ve been enjoying experimenting with it and can vouch for how long lasting it is and it won’t migrate or cause fall out. The packaging is airtight so keep it moist so make sure you close it properly after use!

Vincent Longo La Bella Luce Highlighter in Flora review

Vincent Longo La Bella Luce Highlighter in Flora* (RRP £24.50) on the other hand is something I can fully get on board with and it’s officially my favourite highlighter! It is everything I didn’t know I needed on my face and I’m going overboard because I love it! La Bella Luce means “beautiful light” in Italian and that’s really what this highlighter is. It’s a very finely milled powder in a beautiful marbled pan. Flora is a pearlescent pink that suits my skin tone perfectly whether I have tan on or not and it’s easily buildable depending on how much glow you want! Ethereal, candlelit and luminescent are also words that are in the description of this product online and I could not agree more, this gives me exactly the right amount of sheen every time I use it and it just adds a little somethin’ somethin’ to my face! I also love the packaging; it’s a sleek black magnetic compact with a mirror inside so perfect for travelling with. I think I’ve finally got over my highlighter fear with this one! Trust me, you need it!

Vincent Longo La Bella Luce Highlighter in Flora close up review

I found it impossible to capture these properly in my swatches but I’ve added them in any way to give you a guide! The first photo on the left shows finger swatches of Mermaid Muse and Flora, the middle photo shows a finger swatch of Mermaid Muse then a brush swatch using the Real Techniques duo fibre contour brush and finally the last photo is a finger swatch of Flora then a diffused brush swatch using a Morphe B8 fan brush.

Vincent Longo highlighters review swatches

Vincent Longo Cosmetics are available at Cult Beauty, Feel Unique, ASOS, Beauty Expert, Look Fantastic and HQ Hair!

Have you tried Vincent Longo Cosmetics before? Let me know what your favourite highlighter is in your collection!

*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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Monday, 10 April 2017

Latest in Beauty Subscription Box

latest in beauty subscription box

Latest in Beauty are my favourite beauty box service, they continually come out with collaborations with the likes of Glamour magazine and Origins and also offer a subscription service! I’ve never subscribed to the likes of Birchbox or Glossybox before because I don’t like the fact you don’t know what you’re getting each month but with Latest in Beauty you choose exactly what you want to receive each month - brands range from Rimmel and MUA to Nuxe and Omorovicza! Now I certainly don’t need any more beauty products but I was tipped over the edge this time when I saw what had been added to the website when Sal at Umm Baby Beauty showed her last box over on Instagram! She is one of my favourite bloggers and you should all follow her immediately if you aren't already! 

The Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist was the product that did it for me – I have wanted to try the brand for the longest time but the products aren’t cheap and I was unsure if the rose scent would be too much for me. I’ve only used this a couple of times since I got it but the scent is very gentle and the mist feels really refreshing!

The Bumble and Bumble Hairdressers Invisible Oil PrimerDr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel pads and Oskia Renaissance Mask were also Sal inspired purchases and all brands I’ve heard great things about but never tried anything from so thought this was the perfect time! I’ve only used the invisible oil primer and so far so good, it’s lightweight and doesn’t make my hair greasy and apparently it’s meant to protect against heat styling too so perfect for me!

latest in beauty subscription box oskia renaissance mask

You will see a continuing theme here as all the rest of the products I went for are from brands I have tried nothing or very little from. Next up is the Ole Henrickson Sheer Transformation Facial Crème to help fade skin discoloration and retexturise the skin, NUDE Skincare Rescue Oil to smooth skin and refine texture (can you tell I have a thing for products that promise to do this?!) and Purity Made Simple 3 in 1 Cleanser which I thought would be nice to use in the morning with my Foreo Luna.

I also picked out a Nanshy Kabuki Brush because I haven’t used one in years preferring my Real Techniques blush brush for bronzing but I wanted to try the brand and the Elemis British Botanical Body Cream as I wanted a change from my usual Soap and Glory or Nivea creams!

latest in beauty subscription box 9 product

So that was my build your own box! Lots of new products to try and I’m sure you will see them pop up here or on my Instagram soon! It also came in a makeup bag which I wasn’t expecting and I know that when I bought a one off box for my aunt at Christmas you had to buy this separately if you wanted it (£4) so I’m not entirely sure if this just comes the first time you sign up to the subscription but I’m assuming so!

I went with the 9 product subscription but they also offer a 3 product or 6 product box. As well as the subscription service you can buy a box at any time as a one off buy though it’s slightly more expensive. To subscribe to the three product box its £9 per month with free delivery or £16 one off plus £3.95 delivery. Six products are £15 or £22 plus delivery and the nine product box (my personal favourite) is £18 or £25 plus delivery. You can see why I went with the nine product subscription though I will cancel it before next month or downgrade it depending on what’s new in to pick from!

Have you tried the Latest in Beauty subscription box?

Danielle xx

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Thursday, 6 April 2017

Makeup | Lorac PRO Palette Review


Lorac PRO Palette review

I mentioned in my try not to buy haul on Monday that I would have a full review of the Lorac PRO palette today so here it is! I know these have been done to death but I can’t help myself, I absolutely love it and I want to talk about it!  

I have wanted this palette for years – I used to see it all the time on Youtube and blogs with The Anna Edit and Estee Lalonde being my main enablers. I always remember how much trouble Estee had getting this palette because it was always out of stock so when my friend was in America on holiday recently and asked if there was anything I wanted back I said this palette and told her not to go out of her way to find an ULTA. She found one though with a fully stocked Lorac stand and I could not be happier!

Lorac PRO palette  original review

This palette had become my go to and I haven’t put it down in the three weeks I’ve had it! The packaging is super slim line and matte black and is definitely looking a little grubby already but I couldn’t care less! Inside are 16 beautifully pigmented neural eyeshadows with 8 mattes along the top row and 8 shimmers (1 sparkle to be precise) along the bottom.

Lorac PRO Palette close up

The mattes do have a bit of fallout and you only need to lightly dip your eye brush in to get amazing payoff! If I’m going for a matte eye I love using Light Pink to set my eye as its really brightening then I usually go for Taupe or Mauve through the crease and I’ll build up my outer corner with Sable and Espresso before using Cream in my inner corner and halfway across my lid and then I'll use Black to line my upper lid.

Lorac PRO palette top row matte swatches

Lorac PRO palette bottom row shimmer swatches

If I’m doing something a little more special, I’ll use basically the same combination but instead of Cream, I’ll pop Pewter or Light Bronze over my lid. I will pluck up the courage to try out Garnet one of these days too! As usual my swatches do no justice to how pigmented and smooth these eyeshadows really are! 

With the palette also came a mini Behind the Scenes eye primer which I have been enjoying using. It dries matte quickly and brightens up my eyelid but I do find oils start to peak through during the day. I have oily lids and most primers start to fail on me after half a day’s wear so I don’t hold that against it. It’s fine for daytime use but I still something like the NARS one if I’m going out as it lasts a little longer.

Overall, if you can’t already tell, I am in love with this palette and it has very quickly climbed to the top of my favourite palette list! The quality of the shadows is amazing and though I probably would have liked to have seen another mid toned matte brown on the top row instead of the stark white I really don’t have anything bad to say about it at all! I feel like this is what I wanted the Smashbox Full Exposure palette to be but the bottom row shimmers in that palette are awful and I never reach for it even though I love the mattes. The mattes in the Lorac palette remind me of the Kat Von D Shade and Light eye palette which I also love but I do think the Lorac is more versatile as it has the shimmers too! 10 out of 10! 

What do you think of this palette? What’s on you eyeshadow palette wishlist?

Danielle xx

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