I haven’t
done a wishlist post in absolutely ages! I thought with my move happening on
Wednesday it would give me a little time to put together this list of what I
want to pick up when I finally get to Canada and Sephora in particular. I know
I could have ordered a lot of this stuff (and a lot of its available to me here
though the likes of Cult Beauty) but it’s not the same as getting a look at it
in store and I’ve also been on my version of a spending ban for the past five
months which although wasn’t a complete success was still pretty good by my
standards! Anyway, I’m looking forward to a (massive) splurge when I get over and
here are the main products on my list!
I have
the longest Ordinary list and I’m sure that as soon as I make an order it won’t
just be these three products on it! I’ll most likely also need to pick up Alpha
Arbutin and Niacinamide again as I’m almost finished both my bottles and I love the stuff! They come in glass bottles so will add a little too much weight to
my luggage so I’ll leave these with my mum!
Another
product that has actually been sitting in my Cult Beauty wishlist for the
longest time but again I didn’t want to buy too much skincare when I knew I
would be going away. I’ve heard so many good things about this product in
particular but let me know if there are any other CosRX products you think I
should pick up!
Youth to the People Cleasner and Cream Youth Duo
Again,
this is a brand I’ve wanted to try for a while along with Farmacy Skin Saviour Kit and I do love a mini so I think these will
be great ways to try the brands before committing to a full size!
It was
so hard to pick just one trio out because I love the look of about three of
them but though I love a coral blush, I think pinks suit me better and these
look so cute! Again, not on the Sephora website – does anyone know if they will
be going into Sephora soon? I think I’d like to see them in person!
Bite Beauty The Perfect Pair Amuse Bouche lipstick set Meringue/Fig
I’ve
wanted to try Bite Beauty for so long and these mini lipsticks look like the
perfect introduction to the brand as well as my type of shades!
I absolutely
love the OUAI and have been putting off buying their dry shampoo foam because I
knew I’d just be adding more weight to my suitcase. I love that it’s got a mini
of the dry shampoo foam as well as the new rose hair and body oil and I already know I love the finishing cream! The OUAI scent it to die for too!
Sephora Favourite Sets
I’m
hoping a few of these are still in stock when I get to Sephora as they are such
good value! I really want the Sunkissed Glow set as it’s got a mini Becca highlighter and Hourglass bronzer, the Give Me Some Nude Lip kit because look
at it and I want to try the NARS Velvet Lip Glide and the Safe Sun on the Fly set as I want to try Coola and Fresh! And also because
I can’t resist a mini or a good value deal! Hopefully they’re still in stock
but if not I’m sure Sephora will come out with something equally as good!
I
would also kill to sign up to the Sephora Play Box but it’s not available in
Canada L Anyway, I could probably go on but that will do me
for now! Please leave me all the recommendations below for Sephora or any Canadian brands, I love reading them and
adding more to my wishlist! I won’t get to a Sephora straight away but you can bet there will be a wishlist
purchases post coming!
Also,
sorry if I’m not as active with commenting etc. but I will try to keep up! I
have loads of photos taken for posts and have some scheduled too and hope to
keep up my blog while I’m away! If you want something else to read in the
meantime all my wishlist and wishlist purchases posts are here!
Danielle xx
If you want to keep up to date with my posts, don’t forget to follow me
on
I have
been meaning to do one of these posts for a ridiculously long time now but I
find that when I am disappointed by a product, I stop using it. This means that
I can really say much about it other than I don’t like it but I have been using
the products I’m talking about today regularly again over the last couple of
months in an attempt to actually like them and failing that – to give a better
reason as to why they are disappointing! I think some of these products usually
show up in people’s favourites as well so this could be a little controversial!
This
primer promises to diminish pores, offer all day shine control, hide imperfections,
even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of redness and make your makeup
last longer. It feels gorgeous on the skin and quite hydrating and does even
out my skin but this does NOTHING for my oily face and when it’s marketed as a 12
hour shine free primer I’m allowed to feel disappointed that it doesn’t work
and I have to powder my face constantly throughout the day!
Mark Hill Wonder Ball Brush 6 in 1 Styling Sphere £9.99
This
looks like a torture device and it feels like one too! It’s meant to detangle
wet or dry hair and add lift to roots and it might if I could actually get it through
my hair! This is a complete gimmick and actually painful for me to use, I tried
to use this to blow dry my hair and it got so tangled I thought I would have to
use scissors to get it out! I hate it!
I just
don’t get the hype with this one at all and believe me I have tried. I’ve went
through a few of these pots and this will be the last one. It does feel nice
and hydrating when it’s on and it smells nice too but if I put this on at night
it dries out quickly and I sometimes wake up needing to put more on. It also
leaves me with disgusting white bits in between my lips when I wake up which is
the reason I choose not to wear it during the day. I find Carmex and Blistex
work much better on my lips overnight
and are much more affordable so I will stick to those!
A
product I bought because of the hype and the most money I’ve ever spent on a
mascara and what a waste of money it was. If you like clumpy lashes with no
volume, length or definition you will love this. It seriously makes me look like I have about three lashes on each eye! The wand is an absolute mess
with the fibres even after wiping the excess off the side of the tube and I absolutely
hate it. It’s got marginally better as it’s dried out but I’ll be sticking to
the drugstore as usual for my mascara choices from now on!
I am
very hard to please when it comes to foundation – I have acne scarred skin and
struggle with pigmentation issues as well as uneven texture. Paired with mainly
oily but sometimes dehydrated skin and you will see why I’m so tough on my
base!
I
think out of the three foundations I have included is the most disappointing! It’s
an oil free foundation with a medium to full coverage that promises to be undetectable
and leave you looking radiant but I look like an oil slick when I wear this! It
didn’t matter what primer or powder I wore, nothing worked with it!
I have
the shade Vanilla which is orange as you can see from the swatch and I have to
be wearing tan to make this work for me even though it’s supposedly one of the
lighter shades (at least it was when I ordered it last year!). This wears off
my chin and lower cheeks to the point they look stark against the shade of the
foundation and for an oil free foundation I can’t believe how oily my skin gets
with it!
I was
so excited when Urban Decay released this as it promises to provide full
coverage with a matte finish for all night wear and a flawless looking
complexion. It’s got a high amount of pigment, its waterproof and it absorbs
oil to reduce appearance of shine.
Although
this looks good when first applied as the pigment really is amazing and it
gives good coverage, it fades like mad on me! It gathers and wears off my nose
and chin awfully so I end up looking patchy though I will say it doesn’t make
me look oily so the matte finish gets a thumbs up from me.
This
promises to even out discolouration, stop shine and hide blemishes while
offering amazing coverage so long lasting you can go 24 hours without
reapplying. It’s meant to stay flawless, fade, free and transfer proof but on
my skin is doesn’t!
It clings
to fine lines I didn’t even know where there, is patchy AF on my cheeks and chin
and shine comes through my t-zone and chin after only a few hours wear. It has
a tendency to “sit” on my skin no matter how much I’ve blended it in and transfers
too.
Too Faced Born This Way Vanilla, Urban Decay All Nighter 2, Kat Von D Light 45 foundation swatches
I have
recently found a day cream in the Nivea Cellular Radiance range that I talked about last week that works well with all three of these foundations so I have
been getting on with them a lot better recently as they have been lasting
longer on my skin! However, I don’t think I should have to use such a specific product
underneath to get the results the foundations themselves promise!
Estee
Lauder Double Wear is Holy Grail for me and I don’t think I’ll ever find something
that tops it so I’m going to stop trying! Rant over! That’s my disappointing products;
let me know what you think of these and if you’ve tried them! I've also scheduled this post a little earlier than usual as I have a blog sale going up this evening! These three foundations will be in it - I've done a good job of selling them haven't I?
Danielle xx
If you want to keep up to date with my posts, don’t forget to follow me
on
Nivea
features regularly on my blog but apart from their lotion which I use as a
first cleanse most nights and their Daily Essentials eye makeup remover, I
haven’t used much else of their skincare recently so I was excited when these
arrived for me to test out!
Very
briefly (because science is not my strong point) dark spots are caused by the
overproduction of melanin and his happens deep within skin cells by an enzyme
called Tyrosinase. After years of clinical study, scientists at Beiersdorf (the
company behind Nivea) have found that an active ingredient called Lumicinol
works to counteract Tyrosinase and with continued use, melanin production is
slowed down and pigmentation marks are visibly reduced. Nivea’s Cellular
Radiance range is formulated with Lumicinol to even skin tone as well as Magnolia
Extract which helps improve cell surface renewal.
You’ll
all know by now that pigmentation and residual marks left over from break outs
are bugbears of mine as well as dull skin so I had high hopes for this range
and I wasn’t disappointed!
Nivea Cellular Radiance Illuminating Day Cream SPF 15* RRP £15.99
When I
first opened this pot I thought the cream might be too thick for me for day
time use but I was so wrong. This absorbs quickly on my skin and isn’t greasy
at all but it’s not flat matte either which is perfect for my oily/combination
skin! It definitely does what it says and gives a luminous look to my skin
feeling very hydrating throughout the day and working really well to smooth
over my skin and make it look a lot more even overall. It also has SPF 15 to help
protect skin from sun induced premature ageing which I’m always glad to see in
a day time moisturiser as I’m not the most diligent with SPF!
It’s
probably the product that has impressed me the most because when I use a
certain three cult foundations I hate and have been in my Disappointing
Products draft for months I actually like them! I can’t get over how well this
works as a moisturiser/primer with the foundations – I have tried everything in
my stash with them and this is the only thing that actually keeps them matte
and makes them long lasting while not showing off fine lines!
With
continued use, this promises to reveal a beautiful youthful glow; visibly
reduce wrinkles and improve the skins appearance; support an even skin tone;
improve firmness and surface cell renewal; and leave skin feeling smooth and
silky and I am starting to see the benefits of all these already so can’t wait
to continue using this!
This
is marginally lighter than the day cream but still not as light as I was
expecting as it’s called a fluid. Like the Illuminating Day Cream, this
contains SPF 15 UVA and UVB protection but this can be used alone or over the
moisturiser. I prefer to use it alone just like I would a moisturiser but this
contains something a little extra in its skin-adaptive pigments to even out
skin tone.
The only other experience I have with a product like this is the Origins
Vitazing which I find doesn’t blend well on my skin and can sometimes gather in
my eyebrows. This on the other hand blends quickly and evenly across my face
giving a subtle tint and evening out imperfections leaving a beautiful glow
like the day cream. Personally this is not enough coverage for me to use on its
own so I always apply makeup over the top and again have been impressed with it
as a base! It helps my foundations last longer and my skin looks fresh all day
long. I can imagine anyone who likes minimal makeup would like this on its own!
Nivea Cellular Radiance Skin Evening Night Essence* RRP £15.99
Another
product where the name confused me slightly, I don’t have much experience with
Essences but the ones I’ve read about seem to be liquid and this is a cream. My
confusion aside, this has been a lovely addition to my night time routine. This
is a lightweight concentrated cream though still feels hydrating enough for me
for bedtime and it’s advised to apply a small amount every evening on cleansed
face, neck and décolleté.
Like
the daytime products this contains Luminicol and Magnolia Extract which work
overnight to minimise the appearance of discolouration, improve firmness and
visibly reduce wrinkles. I notice my skin feels and looks plumper the next
morning and my fines lines are definitely reduced and stubborn pigment patches
are a lot lighter giving my skin more radiance about it!
Overall,
I have been so impressed with this range over the six weeks since I got it and
though I can’t say much for their effects on deeper wrinkles, they are making
the fine lines on my forehead much less pronounced and helping with my
pigmentation issues. All products come boxed and have very light fresh scents
and the Nivea Cellular Radiance range is available exclusively from Boots and is
currently on 3 for 2! Have you tried this range before? Whats you favourite Nivea product?
I
finally feel like I am back on track with my empties now that I split my last
batch up though I’m not sure how long it’s going to last because at the end of
the month I’m moving to Canada! Eeek, it’s all happening a bit fast and I’ll
definitely get another one done before I go but after that I’m really not sure what’s
going to happen! I have a lot of blog posts photographed and I plan to write
them up and schedule them before I go but I just don’t know how much time I’ll
have when I go away and I won’t be putting myself under any pressure! Anyway, I
might be home after two weeks if I’m homesick so let’s get straight into this
months empties because it’s a long one as usual!
Bodycare
Nivea Waterlily and Oil Shower Gel
This
smells amazing and feels so moisturising! I’ve went through loads of these as
they’re so affordable and when my mum took this with her when she went away for
the weekend last month I made her bring it back for my empties! Will
repurchase!
Bondi Sands Self Tanning Lotion Dark
One of
my favourite fake tans, I wrote about this in my Tanning 101 post. It’s a
beautiful dark lotion that applies streak free and gives a perfect dark tan. It
also lasts all week, wears off slowly and evenly and the bottle lasted ages! Will
repurchase once I get through a few others tans!
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturising Body Oil
I
mentioned this briefly in last week’s Rediscovering Palmer's post but I used it
nonstop last summer on my legs and it left them feeling silky soft like it says
on the bottle! It then got put in a box while our bathroom got redone and I
found it again a few weeks ago so used the little bit remaining in the bath and
my skin felt amazing after! This is so affordable too so I will definitely be
picking this up again in the Summer!
Grown Alchemist Pearl, Peppermint and Ylang Ylang Body
Exfoliant
The
scent of this is really fresh and invigorating but it’s not my favourite scrub,
it’s a little watery and I don’t love the packaging for a scrub either. I got
this in the sale but I probably wouldn’t repurchase, I’ll stick to their
moisturisers which I love!
Soap and Glory The Righteous Butter
I
won’t say too much about this because it’s in nearly every one of my empties
posts but you all know I love it! The scent is long lasting, it sinks in
quickly to my skin and it feels super moisturising. Already have a backup and
using!
Soap and Glory Scrub ‘em and Leave ‘em Body Buff
I
really like the scent of this but I do have my S&G favourites and generally
stick to them so I was just using this to use it up! It did feel moisturising
though as there is oil in it but Pulp Friction is and always will be my
favourite scrub so I wouldn’t repurchase this!
Soap and Glory Smoothie Star Body Buttercream
Another
one I was just trying to use up – I don’t love the scent of this but like the
Righteous Butter is feels really nourishing. Won’t repurchase.
Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel
Yes it’s
May and I’m still using up Snow Fairy! I love this scent all year round though
not just Christmas and a little bottle lasts me ages! I already have a few
backups of this and will always repurchase!
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
I was
glad to get this finished up – I think I got it in a set but I’m just not wowed
by it for the price. The scent is a bit blah and I used this on the backs of my
arms where it did do a good job of smoothing the bumps I get but no better that
the much more affordable Nivea Soft cream so I will not repurchase.
MIO The Activist Firming Active Body Oil
I won
this in a giveaway ages ago and along with the next product is just one of
these products I forgot about. This has a lovely citrus/orange scent and feels quite
thick for an oil and my skin always felt really nourished after using it. I
didn’t notice much firming but to be honest it would be so long in between me
using it I don’t blame it! Probably won’t repurchase.
Roques O'Neil Therapie Cherish Skin Repair Serum
Another
beautiful oil and with this one I really did feel like I was in a spa, it
almost felt like it heated up when I rubbed it in and I loved the scent, it’s
so rich! The full size is quite expensive though and because it’s an “extra” in
my routine I probably won’t repurchase!
Skincare
Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm
One of
my favourite cleansers ever, I have gone through countless of these! I usually
buy the set of three when it’s on offer as it seems to be the best deal and I
just love how this feels on my skin and how good it is at removing makeup. It’s
expensive but worth it in my opinion and I already have a backup!
NIOD Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex
I’m
not sure I ever mentioned this in a post but I love it and probably don’t give
products like this enough credit! It’s one of the best hyaluronic acids I’ve used,
has a really light scent and sinks into my skin quickly. I noticed a lot less
dry patches when using this and I have a backup already that I got in a
Christmas deal!
Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask
Another
favourite that has bitten the dust, I got this in an Origins Face mask set ages
ago and used this probably once or twice a week. I love the scent and I would
just pile this onto my face when I wanted extra overnight hydration. I always
wake up with plumper skin after using this and I already have a mini waiting to
go!
Dr. Levy Intense Stem Cell Booster Serum
This
is a little sample I got from a Cult Beauty GWP and I can’t say too much about
its effects because I went through it quite quickly but it felt beautiful on
the skin, it’s one of those jelly/slippery like textures but it sinks in
quickly and left my skin feeling really soft. On the expensive side of things
though so I won’t be repurchasing!
Real Essential Collagen Sheet Mask
I’m so
bad at reviewing sheet masks because it’s usually ages since I actually had it
on my face but I did like this one and my skin felt smooth and supple after
use. I added this to my basket so I could get free delivery on BeautyBay and
would do the same if I needed a few extra pounds to reach the threshold!
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel
I got
a few of these in my Latest in Beauty box and though I’ve only used one set so
far I enjoyed it. I think it’s handy having individually wrapped wipes and
though it wasn’t as strong as I was expecting my skin felt smoother and looked
more even overall after use so I would consider a repurchase in the future.
Haircare
OUAI Repair Shampoo*
I
absolutely loved this shampoo! Everything from the scent to the packaging to
how it made the ends of my hair feel was perfect! I have a whole review on therange here and have since repurchased the Volume range but I prefer the Repair
so will buy that in the future!
L’Oréal Everstrong Fortifying and Vitality Shampoo
This
has been sitting in my bathroom for longer than I care to admit but you can see
I’ve been making progress with my haircare empties! This is from L’Oréal’s no
sulphates range though it still lathers up nicely for me and the scent is quite
minty and feels good when I’m rubbing into my scalp! It also leaves my end
feeling super soft so I would repurchase in the future.
Klorane Ultra Gentle Shampoo* and Conditioner with Oat
Milk*
Klorane
is another haircare discovery for me too and I originally talked about these two here! Like the name says, this range is very gentle and safe to use on all
the family. The shampoo doesn’t lather up much on the first wash but does on
the second and leave my hair feeling really clean and not stripped at all and
the conditioner is amazing on my tangled hair to the point where I can now
actually get a brush through it without having to rip hair out!
Khairpep Hair Repair Masque* and Serum*
Like
my body oils, these two were put in a pot and forgotten about after I reviewed them originally unfortunately! I recently dug them out and finished them up and
was again impressed on how well they work on my split ends! The masque in
particular is brilliant and I notice less breakage when I used it! The full
size is on the expensive side of things but I would consider a repurchase if my
hair was coloured and not in as good condition as it is at the minute!
Makeup
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Chocolate
Another
Cult Beauty GWP item, I finally got to try this infamous brow pencil in mini
form and really liked it! Chocolate is on the warm side of things but I made it
work and the pencil itself has a lovely formula though I wouldn’t say it’s any
better than S&G Archery or the NYX Micro Brow Pencil so I won’t be
repurchasing straight away but will possibly in the future!
Micellaneous
Soap and Glory Original Pink Eau de Toilette
One of
my favourite perfumes and so affordable too! It was actually a shock to me that
it finished because I thought I had more left and that’s probably the only
negative to this perfume – you can’t see what level is left! I love the scent
though it’s not the longest lasting of perfumes, probably because it’s an eau
de toilette but I will repurchase!
