Another week another blog post! This week I want to talk about a few favourites, some recent and others more long term!
I recently reintroduced the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balmback into my routine after finishing up pretty much all of my cleansers and I don’t know how I went so long without it! First off, it has the most uplifting scent, never too overpowering or eye watering! The balm itself is so luxurious, it melts easily on touch, a little goes a long way and it spreads like a dream. It feels hydrating and balancing and removes heavy makeup as well as waterproof eye makeup with ease. The pot comes with a little spatula, so is hygienic, as well as a lovely thick cleansing cloth that really elevates using the balm to a spa like experience! It’s pricey at £47 but I’ve seen this as cheap as £33 on Look Fantastic depending on what offer is on and it is well worth the money! I also talked about it more in this post from the archives here!
A more recent addition to my collection and new favourite is the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzerin Medium and this recently got its own post but it deserves another mention here! It really is the most beautiful compact with a huge pan - I doubt I will ever run out of bronzer! It’s not too pigmented but easily buildable and so finely milled it’s impossible to look cakey or muddy with this! With a price tag of £39 it ain’t cheap but if you can find a discount it’s definitely worth it!
I can’t quite believe the Laneige Lip Sleeping Maskhas never gotten a mention here before! It’s one of those background products that quietly gets the job done for me but over the last few weeks as my lips have dried out due to Roaccutane, this little pot of magic has really stepped up! I was expecting to be waking up in the middle of the night with lips so dry they were cracking but nope, still fully covered in this the next morning! My lips are hydrated, plump and nourished! I got this little pot in Sephora last year after having a few minis but the full-size has lasted me ages! Does anyone know the best place to buy this from in the UK?
Finally, I have another couple of K beauty products that are a little newer in my collection but I have been using for about two months now – first up the Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner. Containing only seven ingredients (milk vetch root extract being the main one), this is instantly cooling and soothing. It’s thicker than a normal toner and feels very gel like and it is so gentle and hydrating. It is perfect for my currently sensitive and dry skin and my face is drinking this up at the minute! I apply with a cotton pad like I would a toner but you can also apply by patting in with your hands like you would an essence so it’s a nice allrounder!
Last but not least, the I’m From Mugwort Essencehas also made its way into my daily routine. Another soothing, calming addition to my skincare collection, I have been applying this over the Pyunkang Yul essence toner after hyaluronic acid to really layer up the hydration. My skin always struggles with the change in seasons but this year its struggling even more with the addition of Roaccutane so every little helps! The essence is watery and I press in with my palms. Mugwort is rich in antioxidants and this, like the toner, feels cooling, calming and hydrating. Personally, I didn’t find it helped much with my acne but I think mine was past the point of help! I decanted a little of this for a girl at work who had a bad patch of maskne on her chin and she loved it so much she bought a full size, it really calmed it down and took the redness out of it!
So, those are my current favourites! I’d love to know if you have tried any of them and what you thought!
Danielle xx
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Morning all! I have a new empties post today that is heavy on the skincare! I’ve been on a mission to finish up both my copious amount of minis but also my more acid based skincare as I started Roaccutane last week so can’t use it anymore as my skin is so dry and sensitive! I’ve split my skincare empties into cleansers and then a bit of everything else and I have also linked where possible to previous reviews! You can click on them if you fancy reading a bit more detail on any of the products as I try to keep my empties reviews as short as possible as there are always so many to get through!
This has a fresh, light scent and leaves no white cast but it’s not very volumizing. Basically not the worst dry shampoo I’ve tried but not the best either, so not too bad if you can get it on offer!
Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Avocado + Kiwi mega moisture superfood mask
A nice mask that made my hair super soft. It smells like sweets but I not a repurchase for me as I only got two uses out of it and the full size is £30, would rather spend that on Olaplex!
One of my favourite body moisturisers! Sinks in quickly, hydrating and smells so fresh and clean, always on offer and a tub lasts ages! Forever repurchased!
Another favourite! Can’t go wrong with this hand cream! It’s lightweight, hydrating, sinks in quickly and like all Nivea products, smells fresh and clean! Will repurchase when I finish a few other hand creams up!
I sound like a broken record now but this is another favourite! I have lost count of how many of these tubes I have gone through but it’s a lovely, gentle exfoliating cleanser with glycolic acid but it’s never stripping due to the addition of oils and hyaluronic acid! Couldn’t recommend more but I won’t be repurchasing until I finish my course of Roaccutane!
Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser
This contains cherry, lemon and aloe juices as well as retinyl patmitate but I was left a bit underwhelmed (similar to how I felt about their serum). It has a watery gel texture and doesn’t foam up too much, leaves my skin feeling mattifed but maybe a touch dryer than other cleansers. I’m probably being a bit hard on this as it claims to clear blemishes and I didn’t notice much but shortly after finishing I did go on Roaccutane lol but not a repurchase for me!
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
Really lovely lightweight, balancing, non-drying cleanser. I have used up a few sample sizes of this but never bought the full size however I am contemplating it now as my skin is much more sensitive and dryer than it usually is!
Indie Lee Rosehip Cleanser
A nourishing, calming and non-stripping cleanser that I can’t seem to on any UK websites now so it may have been discontinued but another one that would have been good for my skin right now!
First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser
Another mini I didn’t appreciate at the time! This is a gentle, creamy, hydrating cleanser and I confess I sometimes find these scent free products boring but right now it is what my skin is crying out for so another I will be thinking about repurchasing soon!
Emma Hardie Moringa Light Cleansing Gel
The balm is a constant in my routine and this smells just as beautiful and felt very hydrating – in my full review I said I preferred using this at night due to the leftover oils after rinsing but guess what? I want to try it again too for my morning routine haha so yes will be considering a repurchase!
Ven Effect Pore Minimising Cleanser
This was a nice gel cleanser that left my skin feeling balanced, smooth and mattified. Would consider a repurchase in the future as it was better suited to my oily skin!
Elemis Pro Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm
Can’t say I was a huge fan of this even though I wanted to be as it is so hyped! To me it felt like applying melted toffee to my face and my eyes were pretty sensitive to it too though it did remove makeup well. Wouldn’t repurchase!
I was surprised at how much I did like this one considering everything else I have tried from the brand has fallen short of expectations. This melts into skin easily to remove makeup and my eyes weren’t sensitive to it! I wouldn’t repurchase though as there are other balms I prefer and I don’t love this brands attitude!
A really great budget azelaic acid, it targets the texture of blemishes and has brightening properties. I really want to try the Paula’s Choice version of this but it’s always out of stock so I picked up the Garden of Wisdom version to try but would repurchase this one again in the future!
Quite possibly my favourite skincare product of all time and one that has been a constant in my skincare arsenal for over 4 years now! I am so mad at myself for not using this consistently when I first got it, I had so many serums on the go this one got forgotten about but honestly in the last month when I was using it consistently my skin just looked and felt so much better! There is a whole lot of science behind this but basically it’s an amazing product for the overall health of your skin targeting skin aging, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and a lack of radiance. I plan to repurchase once I see what Deciem are doing for Black Friday!
My favourite facial oil! I have gone through so many bottles of this and it is so good for nourishing skin and keeping it hydrated and smooth! Will repurchase once I finish up my current oils!
Absolutely loved this hyaluronic acid! I am so picky over formulas and this one ticks all the boxes - lightweight gel, spreads easily, hydrates, affordable! A little goes a long way and I will repurchase this soon!
Another beautiful facial oil containing rosehip oil and retinyl palmitate. It's hydrating, reduces fine lines and helps with pigmentation. Highly recommend and will repurchase in the future!
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
I’ve had this for longer than I care to remember and finally got round to using it consistently and I really liked it! Skin felt firmer, hydrated and more even! Very pricey though so not a repurchase for me until I win the lottery!
Boscia Exfoliating Peel Gel
I found this a bit gimmicky and used it on the backs of my arms. It’s a gel that once rubbed in feels like its pilling so it’s a fun formula and feels gentle but I just prefer other exfoliants so wouldn’t repurchase!
This is a lovely little mist – it’s cooling and soothing and very affordable! Will repurchase!
Dr Dennis Gross Stress Repair Face Cream
I absolutely loved this face cream! It felt calming and hydrating and also contains one of my favourite ingredients – niacinamide! My skin always felt plump and looked brighter after use! Would repurchase even though its pricey!
You know the score with this one! Good, affordable, full coverage foundation that lasts well on my oily skin! Have already repurchased in the dry skin version!
NYX Matte Finish setting spray
This was a nice spray that didn’t leave any dreaded “white spots” behind. I think it helped mattify in the morning when I sprayed it but it didn’t last throughout the day. Saying that though I would buy again if on offer to give it a better try!
The best founcation applicator there is and the only one that gives me a streak free, even finish! Worth the money and I already have a back up J
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel
This mini lasted me ages! Keeps my brows in place nicely but I would say it’s a little crispy to the touch but nothing you would notice to look at! Already have a backup of this!
Have you tried any of these products before Let me know your thoughts on them!
Danielle xx
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Today, I thought I would add my two pence
on one of the many new additions to Charlotte Tilbury’s makeup line – the Airbrush Bronzer in 2 Medium! I lusted after this all summer but just couldn’t bring
myself to spend £39 on it and I find CT discounts are usually capped at 10% off
or the brand is excluded altogether. I finally made the purchase when Space NK
did their £15 off a £60 spend and made the most of the discount with a few
other purchases too!
First off, this is the largest bronzer I
own by a mile, at 18g it’s a whopper! No risk of me hitting pan or running out
any time soon so I guess that price tag becomes a little easier to swallow! By
comparison, NARS Laguna is 8g and Fenty Sun Stalkr is 6.23g. With only four
shades, it’s not the most inclusive and I have to say that the second shade
Medium is not actually as dark as I was expecting and I wondered if I could
have got away with 3 Tan which is a little shocking considering how fair/pale I
am!
Not being as dark as I expected is not
necessarily a bad thing as it means I can easily build up the colour. The
powder is very finely milled and I wouldn’t say its hugely pigmented – again
not a bad thing in my eyes – and this really does give a beautiful airbrushed
finish as the name would suggest. It’s smooth to apply, gives my face some
subtle warmth and blends seamlessly into the rest of my makeup leaving no
harsh, hard to blend lines. It’s matte too but not flat and I really am blown
away with the formula!
Not sure why I sound so shocked as I love
all the Charlotte Tilbury products I have and in particular the bronze shade
from Bronze and Glow is a long term favourite of mine! The only thing I would
say is that on my oily/combo skin I do notice some slight fading/wearing off
close to my ear where I am on the phone for work. This isn’t something that’s
noticeable to other people and is a recurring problem I have with all bronzers
not just this one!
The compact itself, apart from being a
bitch to photograph, is absolutely beautiful, it’s like a giant shell! It’s
size doesn’t make it feel overly heavy and it’s sleek and got a good size
mirror too. I don’t want to jinx myself but I feel like if I dropped it the
powder would break in an instant so let’s hope I don’t get butter fingers!
I’ve included some unedited swatches with some of
my other bronzers so you can get an idea of how the shade compares, hopefully
it helps! I am forever looking up swatches of products I am interested in
especially now when I can’t get to test them out at the actual counter! If you like these types of reviews check out my NARS Laguna one too!
Have you tried this bronzer? Let me know your thoughts or tell me what your
favourite Charlotte Tilbury product is!
Danielle
xx
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you want to keep up to date with my posts, don’t forget to follow me on
Morning all! I was having a nosy through my mums makeup the other day and thought I would do an updated version of this post from a few years ago (based on one Jasmine did)! Not much has changed but here’s a little look into a fifty somethings makeup bag!
Like myself, my mum’s two favourite foundations are Estee Lauder Double Wear in Desert Beige and Revlon Colourstay Combination/Oily in Sand Beige. She has been reaching for the Colourstay more often these days as she’s not going too far and its obviously more affordable than the EL. Both are long lasting, full coverage and staples in both our makeup bags! When I discovered theLaura Mercier Translucent loose setting powdera few years ago I told my mum about it and lo and behold she bought a pot and loves it too! Its mattifying without being cakey and even though its expensive, a pot lasts a long time!
Her bronzer which you can see is well loved it a cast off from me from longer ago than I care to remember! It’s the Loreal Glam Bronze in 06 Golden Bronzewhich seems to be discontinued (my mum said typical when I told her this which we will get to in a minute) or renamed as Back to Bronze now! She likes it as it’s not too in your face and the light shade means she can build it up! I’m one part impressed one part embarrassed my mum is still using this miniNARS Orgasm blush, she likes a project empty more than me! This is another hand me down from me as I already have the shade and while my mum said she likes the colour she found it too sparkly so it’s not going to be one she repurchases!She also uses anEstee Lauder compactshe got as a GWP (shades are Signature Silky Powder Bush Nude Rose 11, Bronze Goddess Soft Matte bronzer 01 and Signature Shimmer powder Gold Pearl 01). Clearly the matte blush and bronzer shade are more loved than the shimmer but she says she mixes these as a blush.
The NYX Retractable waterproof eye liner in Grey is the best eye liner my mum has found in recent years as it doesn’t smudge and stays put all day and as luck would have it NYX seem to have discontinued it! My mum currently has five backups as she noticed it was out of stock everywhere but the NYX website and I just went to see if I could link it and it’s not there anymore! She is not impressed! For her brows she usesGimme Brow in shade 1as it’s so quick and easy and she’s just asked me to get her a new one for Christmas too! Although she has tried the Charlotte Tilbury lip cheat in Pillowtalk she find she goes through it too quickly for what it’s worth so she is back to theNo7 Precision Lips pencil in Nudeas its much more affordable and does the job!Bobbi Brown lip colour in Brownhas been my mums signature lipstick for as long as I can remember and the only one she used until I sent her a mini MAC Velvet Teddyfor Christmas one year! The MAC is more matte but both last well and are similar shades, classic nudes!
With the amount of pan going on in this picture I asked what back-ups she has and similarly to last time we have Benefit Hoola Bronzeras well as NYX Blush in Mauve (another recommendation from moi and another one that is discontinued and she bought back ups of lol).
Like last time there is no primer, concealer, highlighter, eyeshadow or mascara here because my mum doesn’t use them! She wears glasses and gets her lashes tinted so just misses the mascara step and doesn’t see the point in the others! Do you recognise any of these products from your makeup bag? What do you do when your favourite makeup products get discontinued?
Danielle xx
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