Danielle's Beauty Blog

Monday, 1 May 2017

A Try Not to Buy Haul #3

I toyed with just calling this post a collective haul but technically I am still on my version of a spending ban even though it didn’t go so well last month! Anyway, here is what I tried and failed not to buy!

I got an email from House of Fraser a few weeks ago with their current promotions and 10% off CT is too good to pass up! Especially when you can nab a student discount code too and get a further 10% off so I took the opportunity to buy two things I’ve had on my wishlist for the longest time! Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow isn’t completely brand new to me as I do have a mini version of it in my Instant Look in a Palette but you’ll know from this post how much I love those two shades and how I don’t really rate the blushers and eyeshadows in the palette. Although I haven’t hit pan on that palette yet, I didn’t think I would get a better offer than this so I snapped it up and I’m so glad I did!

I also picked up the Charlotte Tilbury Powder and Sculpt Brush, another item that I’ve had on my wishlist for the longest time and come close to buying but couldn’t quite justify it. I’m such a sucker for money off promotions aren’t I? Again I’m so glad I have this in my brush pot now, I have nothing like it, everything else is a lot bigger or not as tapered and this is a match made in heaven with Bronze and Glow! I might do a separate post on these two because I love them so much!

skincare haul mario badescu shiseido body shop

I made a mini Feel Unique order when they had 15% off and bought the Shiseido Ibuki Softening Concentrate as I loved the last Shiseido mini I had and read a good review of this on Naya’s blog as well as seeing Simone talking about it in her Instagram stories! I haven’t used this much yet as I’m testing a few other skincare items but I love the scent and it’s a very watery formula that is supposed to deliver moisture to the skin and leave it with a softer, smoother feel! I’ve enjoyed it the few times I’ve used it so I’m sure it will pop up again soon!

I bought The Body Shop Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF 50 last month when The Body Shop had their 40% offer on because I thought I had heard good reviews and I liked how lightweight it sounded. I’ve taken an instant dislike to it though because it smells like raw vodka when I’m rubbing it on my face so I’ve literally used it twice! I’ll try it again before deciding whether to pass on to my mum or not!

Beauty Bay was my next stop and with the introduction of a few new highlighters to my collection, I wanted to add a new brush! Ideally I would have got the Real Techniques fan brush because I have a feeling it would be a good size for my face and looks duo fibre so I could easily build intensity. However, it’s only available in a set and I already have the other two brushes. Instead I bought the Zoeva 137 Petite Fan Brush because I thought that though it looked a little smaller that the RT and I could work with it. How wrong I was, this is a lash separating brush which works fine when you have no mascara in but when you do it’s not strong enough to brush through! Waste of money!

To get the free delivery I also bought the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea as my Aloe Herbs and Rosewater one is almost out and whats one more facial mist in my collection. So far I’m loving this, its hydrating and calming and smells like my Gerard Cosmetics Green Tea setting spray!

Cult Beauty then did 15% off and I of course could not pass this up as they never seem to do them so again I went and had a look at my account wishlist and added a few things. I’ve heard good things about the Yu Ling Jade Medium Facial Roller and even though it’s expensive, curiosity got the better of me. My skin can be quite congested at times around my chin and I get hormonal breakouts on my jawline so I’m hoping this has a positive effect! I’ve using this most nights since getting and it’s a nice step in my routine, I usually spray a mist and then start rolling in an upwards motion and it’s very relaxing and refreshing. Will get back to you if it calms my skin down anymore!

After my disaster with the Zoeva brush I picked up this Morphe M310 Large Soft Fan Brush and I’m loving it! I toyed with getting the Zoeva Luxe Fan Brush but it wasn’t included in the offer so Morphe won out! This one is a little stiffer than my other Morphe fan brush and its puts the perfect amount of highlighter on my face every time.

charlotte tilbury bronze and glow becca flowerchild

Lastly, I got myself the Becca Mineral Blush in Flowerchild which wasn’t actually on my list and I can’t quite remember why I decided to get it but I am so glad I did! This along with CT Bronze and Glow have been the only products gracing my cheeks this week and I love it! The packaging is gorgeous and the blush itself is a beautiful peachy pink with subtle highlights and it’s really easily buildable. The formula is so smooth and I’m already looking at their other shades even though I shouldn’t!

There we have it, a very unsuccessful try not to buy challenge for me this month but one that’s made me feel great all the same! I feel like a junkie getting that next hit but I think I should be OK for a while now!

If you like this post you might also like installments 1 and 2! Let me know what you’ve been hauling lately or if you have tried anything I mentioned!

Danielle xx

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Skincare Review | French Pharmacy Favourites

I’ve been getting a lot of promotional emails from Escentual at the minute about their French Pharmacy month so I thought I’d chat today about my favourite French Pharmacy brands and products before the up to 1/3 off offer is over this Sunday!

Klorane Ultra Gentle shampoo and conditioner with Oat Milk* currently £6 and £7.50

I was introduced to this brand just before Christmas and I absolutely love how gentle it is! The shampoo is a lot more watery than any other brands I’ve tried and lathers up better on the second wash. My hair always feels super soft and looks shiny when I use these but what I’m most impressed about with these is how much less tangled my hair is! I’ve never used anything that makes it as easy to brush through as when I use this! The scent is really gentle too and not overly perfumed and the range is so gentle it can be used on all ages!

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk for dark hair* currently £6

I’d never tried a dry shampoo for dark hair until this and I’m impressed. It doesn’t spray tinted but I leave it for two minutes like its recommended then give it a quick rub into my scalp and brush through and my once greasy second day hairs looks shiny again with no white cast! I love the scent of this too; it’s really refreshing and instantly recognisable as Klorane!

eucerin complete repair intensive lotion review

Eucerin Complete Repair Intensive Lotion* currently £8.66

I’m sure you’ve heard me talk about this countless times but I can’t be without it in my body care stash! It’s not a fancy moisturiser but I sometimes get itchy legs at the most random times for no reason whatsoever and this is the only thing that calms my scratching down and offers me relief! It also helps with any dry skin patches I get and it’s so basic but 100% effective and another product I always stock up on!

french pharmacy skincare facourites la roche posay vichy avene

La Roche Posay Serozinc Spray currently £5.66

This is a really refreshing, calming spray that I use either as a toner or just after toning my face before applying moisturiser. It works really well with my blemish prone skin and targets excess oiliness as well without drying my skin out!

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Dynamic Hydration Power Serum currently £15

This is another old favourite of mine and one I have went more bottles than I care to remember! It’s so hydrating, lightweight and smoothing and I think everyone should have this in their stash!

It sinks in really quickly and I always go back to this as it works so well with my oily/combo skin! I talked about it in this Forever Repurchased post too!

Avene TriAcneal currently £17.25

Excuse the really old packaging of this and I’ve probably had it longer than is recommended but a little goes a long way and I don’t like throwing out things when they still work! This helps dry out spots without drying out the skin around it and is something I always go back to when I have a stubborn spot that just won’t budge! I’ve linked the newer version which I haven’t tried but I’m sure it’s just as good and I really like the Cleanance range from Avene in general!

That’s it for my French Pharmacy favourites! I’m trying to save money at the minute (it’s not going well this month!) but it’s so tempting to stock up when Escentual do this 1/3 off promotion! Definitely take advantage of it if you want to try anything new!

If you liked this post you might also like my post on the Best UK Beauty Sites and how to save!

*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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Skincare | BeautyRX by Dr. Schultz

Recently, I was asked if I’d like to try some products from the BeautyRX by Dr. Schultz line and being the skincare junkie that I am, I couldn’t resist! The brand was formed by Dr. Neal Schultz; an NYC dermatologist with over 35 years’ experience best known for his award winning, gentle but effective glycolic exfoliants, in order to offer them to people who couldn’t see him at his practice!

Although the brand is known for its chemical exfoliants, I went with a few products that I was running out of to see how they fared on my oily/combo, acne prone skin and after testing them out over the last 4 weeks here’s what I think!

Beauty RX by Dr. Schultz Clarifying Toner* RRP $30

This is an alcohol free toner and makeup remover that’s formulated for normal, dry and combination skin. It contains Sodium PCA which attracts water molecules to the skin to help maintain hydration as well as Cypress tree bark extract, a natural astringent that leaves skin feeling fresh. I generally don’t mind alcohol in my skincare but toner is the one product I like to be alcohol free and this fits the bill perfectly.

BeautyRX by Dr. Schultz clarifying toner skincare review

This is great at removing any leftover makeup or dirt from my face after cleansing (I always miss bits on my neck and near my ears!) and feels really refreshing. It doesn’t leave any residue on my skin but does leave my skin feeling soft and ready for the next step in my routine.

Its different to any other toner packaging I have in that it comes in a spray bottle which I love because I waste less product – I find 6-7 sprays onto a cotton pad is perfect for me and you can spray this onto your face during the day too if you wish – the mist is very fine and sprays evenly so its brilliant if you want a refresh! I do detect a light fragrance with this which I personally love but bare that in mind if you like fragrance free products!

Beauty RX by Dr. Schultz Light Rehydrating Lotion* RRP $45

A lightweight, water based, oil free moisturiser formulated for normal, oily and combination skin, this works so well with my skin as a daily moisturiser! There are number of ingredients in this including a patented BeautyRX compound called Triantiox – a hydrator that helps to replace depleted moisture and visibly improve the complexion. Other key ingredients include glycerin which helps maintain the skins hydration, lavender extract to soothe irritation and protect skin from the harsh environment and Vitamins C and E to provide antioxidant protection against free radicals helping to prevent the signs of premature ageing.

BeautyRX by Dr. Schultz skincare light rehydrating lotion review

I use a pea size amount of this every morning and there is no greasy residue whatsoever, it absorbs quickly into my skin and leaves me with a great base for makeup so I usually find myself skipping primer. You can also use this in the evening but I generally prefer a heavier moisturiser so have been saving this for the morning. I can tell already that this is going to be a staple over the summer for me when my skin tends to be on the oilier side of things – this one doesn’t have SPF but I will layer it up with another product that does!

Beauty RX by Dr. Schultz Ultra Hydrating Eye Repair Cream* RRP $90

Last but certainly not least is the Ultra Hydrating eye repair cream and this might be my favourite out of the bunch! Formulated for all skin types, this is an emollient packed; nourishing eye cream that treats and helps prevent visible signs of ageing. It works to brighten the eye area while decreasing the appearance of fine lines and improving tone and texture. Key ingredients include hyaluronic acid to improve hydration and two more BeautyRX compounds – Pentabright, to brighten and Tentrafoliant, a complex of four exfoliating ingredients (Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, and Phytic Acid) to improve texture and tone.

BeautyRX by Dr. Schultz skincare ultra hydrating eye repair cream review

This is a very rich, hydrating eye cream that is perfect for night time. I sometimes use it in the morning too but as it’s so rich I only take a tiny amount on my ring finger and pat around my eyes. Since using this, I’ve noticed my under eye area is much brighter and the sides of my eyes where I’ve recently noticed a few fine lines are much more hydrated and not as noticeable. $90 is expensive but the tub is massive so this will last ages! I know some people prefer pump packaging and that is probably the only thing that would make this a little better!

All the products are dermatologist tested and come boxed and I love the chic, white minimalistic packaging of the products themselves. The BeautyRX website is great and has a lot more information on the ingredients included within the products.

Shipping within the US is free on orders over $99 otherwise its $7.99 and they offer international shipping too though its $45 via USPS!

Overall, I am so impressed with the BeautyRX by Dr. Schultz products I had the opportunity to try and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them! None of the products broke me out and they do exactly what they say they are going to! Have you tried BeautyRX by Dr. Schultz before?

*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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What’s in my Mum’s Makeup Bag?

I’ve been wanting to do a post like this for ages and the idea came from a post Jasmine did with her mum ages ago but I finally got my mum talked into telling me why she likes certain items of makeup and you might see a few familiar products here because a few are firm favourites of mine too! Her response to why she uses these products was mostly “it’s nice and I like it” so I’ve tried to expand a little more on that but it’s safe to say she won’t be starting her own blog!

My mum is a bit like me in that she won’t leave the house without her “face” on but not like me in that she wants to try every new makeup product that’s released! Some of these are new to her but a lot of them are tried and tested old favourites and she really only spends money on makeup when it comes to foundation and lipstick, everything else is more on the drugstore side of things!

For foundation, my mum generally sticks to Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place foundation in Desert Beige and Revlon Colorstay foundation for oily/combination skin in Sand Beige. She says these both offer good coverage for her oily/combo skin and while Double Wear is her favourite, the ColorStay is a lot cheaper so she switches between the two. She was the first person to mention these foundations to me and they (Double Wear in particular) are favourites of mine too!

No7 Perfect Light Translucent loose powder is my mums go to powder and you might know that the pressed version is my favourite too so you can see a pattern forming! She says this helps keep her makeup in place though she will usually top up her T zone when she’s home at lunchtime which is normal for her with her skin type.

My aunt recently gave my mum the end of her Benefit Hoola bronzer which she has really been enjoying. She says this gives a nice shade of bronze to her skin and I also gave her one of my minis to use up as she really likes it!

For blusher, she has been using the No7 Perfectly Bronzed Mozaic Bronzer for years and you can see there are quite a lot of bronze tones here too! The one in the main photo is actually one I got in a set and gave to my mum because I found it a bit much for my skin. She already has a backup ready to go and you can see she really likes to use the last of the product up – something I could learn from!

The NYX Eye and Eyebrow Pencil in Charcoal is a recent buy for my mum. She wears eyeliner everyday but finds black shades too harsh so always goes for a grey. This is easily put on and doesn’t drag though she does experience some smudging like she does with all eyeliner because she has watery eyes.

Another No7 product she is a fan of is the Precision Lips Pencil in Nude which keeps her lipstick from bleeding. She only outlines her lips and doesn’t fill them in with the lip liner as she doesn’t want to change the colour of her lipstick. I’m the opposite and always fill my whole lip in!

Bobbi Brown Lip Colour in Brown is the only lipstick she owns (!), I usually buy her one for Christmas but she probably goes through about two of these a year. She likes the colour and the formula and when she gets to the end she digs it out with a cotton bud to make sure she gets every last bit!

Benefit Gimme Brow Volumising Brow Gel in the shade 1 is another newish addition to my mum’s routine. This is a mini from a magazine but my mum loves it and I bought her the full size for Christmas. She says it gives her eyebrows a bit of shape and colour which she needs as she is blonde so this is easy and quick for her.

You’ll notice there is no primer, concealer, highlighter, eyeshadow or mascara here because my mum doesn’t use them! She is a glasses wearer with really curly lashes so just misses the mascara step and doesn’t see the point in the others! How am I related to her?

Also the makeup bag is just a Estee Lauder one she uses if she’s going on holiday, a bit like me, her makeup lives on her dressing table or in some drawers she has! Hope you enjoyed that post and a look into someone else's makeup collection! Do you have any of the same products as my mum?

Danielle xx

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Danielle's Beauty Blog

Monday, 1 May 2017

A Try Not to Buy Haul #3

Thursday, 27 April 2017

Skincare Review | French Pharmacy Favourites

Monday, 24 April 2017

Skincare | BeautyRX by Dr. Schultz

Thursday, 20 April 2017

What’s in my Mum’s Makeup Bag?