Danielle's Beauty Blog

 

It has been a hot minute since my last empties – the end of December to be precise! I have been making very slow progress for some reason, especially on skincare and makeup but I have plenty of body and hair care products to talk through! 

 

Haircare

SportFX Body Build Dry Shampoo

I’m actually finding it really hard to judge dry shampoos at the minute as I’m still on Roaccutane so being blessed with “normal” hair and not ridiculously greasy hair that needs to be washed every two days. This worked fine for me but I can’t say for sure how good it would be on oily roots! No white cast but I found the vanilla scent a bit meh and it’s not readily available at the usual places I shop (got it in a Latest in Beauty box ) so won’t be repurchasing!

 

VERB Volume Conditioner

This empty has been a long time coming haha, I brought it home from Canada in the middle of August 2019 and it kind of got forgotten about but I am so sad it’s finished now! I hope they start selling here in the future! I got this from Sephora and it’s so affordable for such a big bottle plus it works really well – I don’t notice massive volume (I have long fine hair) but it leaves me with lots of shine and hydration! Would repurchase if I could!

 

Olaplex No.0

This is my second bottle of this and to be honest I can’t tell much difference with or without it as the primer for my long term favourite No.3. You saturate your hair with this, wait 10 minutes then apply No.3 and in conjunction they work to repair damaged hair. I get about 4 uses out of this as my hair is quite long and after use it certainly feels and looks healthier. I haven’t repurchased just yet but I think I will in the future as I trust Olaplex as a brand and want to give it more of a go!

 

Olaplex No.3

I am obsessed with this and it is probably the best thing I have ever bought for my hair! I spoke more about it in this Haircare Essentials post too but I have been using this for years now and can’t see myself without it! Breakage is dramatically reduced and hair feels much stronger and healthier! This was a mini I got with the No.0 but I have already repurchased the full size!

 

Bodycare

Soap and Glory Clean on Me Shower Gel

Going to be a real negative Nancy for a minute to complain about Soap and Glory but they have discontinued my favourite scent Mist you Madly and come out with a bunch of generic fruity scents to replace the original, distinctive scents they became known for and I am so disappointed! I think there have been big delays with stock during the pandemic so I am not sure if now Clean on Me is also discontinued or just permanently out of stock but where I was once a loyal fan, their new products just don’t interest me anymore *shrugs*. I will always repurchase Clean on Me (if I can find it again) and anything else Original Pink scented (still devastated they discontinued the perfume) but I wish they would bring back Mist you Madly and a quick stalk of their socials shows a lot of other people would like them to as well! Rant over!

 

Aveeno Moisturising Cream

This is the second one of these I have gone through now since I’ve been on roaccutane and it works really well for my skin! It’s been keeping it nicely hydrated and I like how it’s got a pump and there is a lot of product in there too which is great considering how much moisturiser I go through - it sinks in quickly as well which is a bonus! The only downside is that it’s unscented which yes is a good thing for sensitive skin, but I do generally like my moisturiser to be scented so I find this a bit boring! Already using my backup!

 

Bioderma Atoderm Ultra gentle shower gel*

This feels good and doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight, it has a light scent and worked well to help stop scratching! I went through this quite quickly though and I prefer the oil cleanser so won’t be a repurchase!

 

Bioderma Atoderm ultra nourishing cream*

This is really soothing on my skin and keeps it hydrated all day long and again, doesn’t leave me wanting to itch my skin later in the day! It also has a light scent too (though I can’t really detect it) but again I went through it very quickly so would get the bigger pump bottle next time! Wrote about all three of the above more in this post about the bodycare I am using while on Accutane here! Would repurchase!

                                

Lanolips Everywhere multi cream

My mum recommended this as she loves it and like the name suggests, this is made for use everywhere – face, body, hands, under eyes etc! I used it as a body moisturiser and though it hydrated my skin well without leaving a greasy feel, I went through it so quickly! They do have a pump version that is double the size of product for £14 which works out better value so I will be picking that up next time as I do like the formula! Full review here!

 

Soaper Duper Marvellous hand cream

Got this in a beauty box, moisturised my hands well without leaving them greasy and a very generous size for a hand cream I thought but I don’t love the scent and it doesn’t seem to be available anymore anyway! 

 

Skincare

Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum*

My second one of these and a lovely lightweight serum containing 2% Cetyl Tranexamate Mesylate which works to improve the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation as well as 4% niacinamide to target pores, uneven skin texture and oiliness! This was gentle enough for me to use while on Roaccutane and did a great job of evening out my skin tone though I didn’t see a huge change in targeted leftover pigmentation from spots! At $12 I will definitely repurchase! Full review here!

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum

Another lightweight serum – I have went through a few minis of this but never purchased a full size though I know people rave about it. Like the GM I just mentioned, this is good for evening skin tone and works on pigmentation but at a higher price! Maybe I would feel differently after using up a full size but this isn’t a repurchase for me!

 

Bioderma Atoderm lip balm*

Really enjoyed this lip balm too, it has a little more slip than the Burt’s Bees which feels good and it’s got a subtle raspberry scent too. I like how it has a slanted tip as it feels a little fancier to apply and my lips have been really well hydrated throughout the day with this! Would repurchase! See my full review here!

 

Burt’s Bees lip balm

My fave, forever repurchased, minty, perfect for reapplying during the day lip balm, already have a backup! 

 

Miscellaneous

Spotlight Oral Care Teeth Whitening Strips and toothpaste

I picked these up last November as I wanted to start whitening my teeth before my birthday. It says use them every night for 2 weeks but I’ll confess I use them as and when I want a little lift! I wouldn’t say the whitening effect is anything crazy but my teeth definitely look brighter after use and I haven’t experienced any sensitivity! The toothpaste is ok, again I didn’t notice a huge amount of whitening and I would prefer it to be mintier! I have the Polished London set to try next but I think overall I would repurchase this if I got it on offer again!

 

MOA Dreamy Mineral Soak

Really nice relaxing bath soak, I used half the night before an interview and felt so calm afterwards and the other half more recently! Would repurchase.

 

Dettol Anti-Bacterial Hand Hygiene Gel

A must have since I started going into the office. I really like this, it dries quickly without drying out my hands! Will repurchase!

 

Botanics Eucalyptus Oil

Love the scent of this and I have been through a few of these now! I just put it into my diffuser, I would like to invest in some fancier oils and blends but for now this is cheap and cheerful! Already repurchased the scent but a different brand!

 

So that’s what I have emptied this year so far! I hope that has opened the floodgates now and I will have plenty more empties with less time between each post! Let me know if you have tried anything I’ve mentioned and what you though of it!

 

*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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First Cleanse

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution* RRP £11

I hadn’t tried too many micellar waters before this one and I have no interest in trying any others as this one is so good! I use it to remove the bulk of my makeup before going in with a balm or oil and it is lovely. The formula is gentle, non-astringent and really just feels like water, I was shocked at how much makeup it removed while leaving no residue or film behind! I would say it struggles a little with my waterproof mascara but that doesn’t concern me as I always follow up with another cleanser! Full review here!

 

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser RRP £5.50

I am gutted this one is nearly finished! I was so late to the hype over it and it really is a beautiful, affordable cleanser! It feels so hydrating and turns from a creamy balm to a lightweight oil making quick work of removing makeup and never leaving my skin tight when I remove! I will definitely be picking up the jumbo size once this is finished and I get through another few cleansers! This also featured in a recent post all about my favourite affordable skincare picks!

 

Dr Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Meltaway Cleanser RRP £30

Getting into pricier territory now and this cleanser like the name suggests is packed full of hyaluronic acid and is oil free. It is super creamy and almost feels like rubbing a moisturiser over makeup but again removes it easily (I use a damp face cloth). It’s also got quite an enjoyable sweet marshmellowy scent that adds to the experience and I love the bright blue packaging! My skin feels plump and hydrated after using and while I like this I don’t love it so probably won’t repurchase!

 

Jordan Samuel Skin The After Show Treatment Cleanser RRP £20

This is a brand I had wanted to try for ages as it’s so heavily hyped and I finally picked up this cleanser just before Christmas. It’s a thick, gel to oil formula so feels very rich and contains plant based oils and natural exfoliators and has a citrus scent. Again, this makes easy work of eradicating my makeup and spreads easily over my face before I remove with a face cloth. My face feels clean and hydrated after use but this is another one I just like and don’t love and I don’t think it will be a repurchase for me!

 

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm RRP £47

My HG favourite cleanser and this also featured before way back in my first cleanser collection post! This is the most luxurious balm I have ever tried and as well as being an overall experience it works beautifully to remove my makeup. The balm melts easily and breaks down makeup and the cleansing cloth that comes with it is really thick and soft so perfect for removing the balm. The moringa scent is so uplifting and my skin always feels soft and hydrated after use! It’s the most expensive cleanser in my collection and it’s well worth the money in my opinion, this size pot will last me a lifetime and Look Fantastic always have if on offer so I’ve never actually paid full price for it! I also talked about it more in this post!

 

Second/Morning Cleanse

Cerave Hydrating Cleanser RRP £9.50

Another great budget pick and one I have already mentioned a couple of times before! It’s so simple, full of ceramides and hyaluronic acid and leaves my skin feeling clean, hydrated and never tight! I got this right when I started Roaccutane in October and have used it almost daily since so it lasts a long time too! Can’t recommend this one enough and it also made my best beauty discoveries of 2020 post! 

 

The Body Shop Deep Cleansing Seaweed Facial Wash RRP £8.50

My mum got me this for Christmas and even though it’s aimed more at combo-oily skin I opened it anyway! Aside from month one on Roaccutane I would classify my skin more as normal than dry the rest of the time I have been on it and I was expecting this to be drying considering it contains SLS and foams but I was pleasantly surprised! It doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight or dry and the scent is very refreshing! I’m going to save some of this for summer as I’d like to see how it performs when my skin becomes more oily again!

Scientia Peachy Clean Milky Oil Cleanser* RRP £24

The newest cleanser to my collection and one that contains oils and glycerin to replenish and maintain moisture. Although this does remove makeup, personally, I prefer something more heavy duty as my main first/makeup cleanse so this has become a second and morning cleanser for me. It feels lightweight and has a pleasant peach scent and the milky liquid emulsifies on contact with water. After rinsing or using a face cloth my skin feels hydrated and soft. There is no tight feeling after use and no residue is left behind! Read my full review from last week’s post here!

 

And that concludes my current cleansers! Well my open ones anyway! I actually have a few more in my stash as you can see below – what can I say, I am a cleanser junkie! If you want to see the other instalments in this series click here for One, Two and Three! Let me know your favourite cleansers in the comments! 

*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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Back in January I was sent these gorgeous products from Scientia and now I’ve tested them out for long enough I want to share my thoughts! First off, Scientia (pronounced See-en-cha) are vegan, cruelty free and made in the UK coming in sustainable, recyclable glass bottles. Their tagline is that this is “skincare worthy of your face and your shelf” and I mean, just look at them, definitely shelfie worthy! But are they face worthy? Read on to find out…

 

First up, the Peachy Clean Milky Oil Cleanser* RRP £24 for 95ml. It removes dirt, makeup and impurities whilst softening, hydrating and soothing skin. For me, I prefer something more heavy duty as my main first/makeup cleanse but this has slotted in nicely as a second and sometimes morning cleanse for me! Like the name suggests, it’s a lightweight milky cleanser that on contact emulsifies and it contains duh you guessed it Peach as well as Baobab, Rosehip and Jojoba oils to replenish skin and glycerin to maintain moisture. It is antioxidant rich and feels super nourishing and hydrating.

 

I massage 2-3 pumps into my skin then add a few drops of water to my hands before massaging again so it can emulsify and fully cleanse before rinsing. There is no tightness after use nor is any residue left behind and the product itself has a very lightweight peach scent. As well as feeling hydrated after use my skin feels soft and smooth too ready for my next skincare steps! 

 

My next step is then usually the Peach and Glow Hydra Skin Tonic* RRP £24 for 100ml and this is the one I was most excited to try as it contains Tranexamic acid and Bakuchiol. Being on Roaccutane at the minute (read more about that here) means my skin is too sensitive for glycolic acid, salicylic acid and retinol which are my normal go to’s for dealing with pigmentation which is my main skincare concern at the minute as my acne has cleared up with the drug. The hydra skin tonic targets pigmentation and dullness and as well as the Tranexamic acid and Bakuchiol it also contains Matrixyl 3000 and Glycerin resulting in hydrated and brighter skin. It works to target fine lines and dark spots while leaving skin hydrated and glowing.

 

Overall, I have found this toner to help even out my skin tone and add to my skins hydration levels. I haven’t seen a dramatic difference in my pigmentation but there is improvement for sure, it’s just slow progress! My skin does look much brighter though and I think this has been helping with fine lines (along with the other products!). It leaves my skin feeling soft and well prepped and though you can use by patting into skin I still prefer to use a reusable cotton pad to apply! It also has a light fruity scent and as you can see, a beautiful frosted glass bottle! 

 

Lastly, I have the Dusk Elixir* RRP £32 for 50ml and I think this might be my favourite of the bunch. Like the words on the bottle suggest, this aims to regenerate, rewind, replenish and restore the skin and let me tell you it is a dream to apply! It’s a rich, viscous, hydrating liquid made up of 23 natural oils including Rosehip, Moringa and Bakuchiol. These help boost collagen production and tackle signs of ageing while supporting natural repair and recovery overnight. Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Frankincense oils give this oil a spa like quality too with the overall scent feeling beautifully calming right before bed. Like I said, I can’t use retinol right now so I particularly like the inclusion of the Bakuchiol. It’s a naturally occurring alternative and helps reduce the appearance of fine line and wrinkles.

 

Three drops is enough for my face and neck and I like to inhale the scent too as it’s so therapeutic before gently rubbing in upward motions! Other ingredients in the oil have antioxidant properties and overall, the results the next morning for me are hydrated, calm, plump, supple and less dull skin! I love the opaque pink bottle and the bottle itself is also a huge 50ml not the standard 30ml so will last a lifetime! I also mentioned it in my last favourites post here!

 

All the product pages have a nice little run down of where they source the main ingredients from and some background! I really can’t recommend these products enough! I haven’t been noticing fine lines as much - I have a smile line on one side that I judge most days lol and lately I don’t think it has been that noticeable – and I would say its largely down to these, the Hydra Skin Tonic and Dusk Elixir in particular! They come beautifully packaged in cardboard boxes as well as their weighty glass bottles and I think the price per ml is generous!

 

Products are available directy from Scientia Beauty and now on Cult Beauty! Have you tried anything from Scientia? Let me know what you think!

 

*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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Uh oh, it’s that time again and I really did plan to be good this month but what started with a little slip became a full on slide into treat yo self territory as I started a new job and decided to reward myself muhahaha. 

 

Back in, I think January, I saw the Cult Beauty Lip Edit was coming soon so signed up to the waitlist. Unfortunately, it’s sold out now but it contains five lip products – the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Lip Pop, Huda Beauty Silk Balm and Patchology Flash Patch Hydrating Lip Gel which I haven’t tried before and the Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm and Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss lip butter which I have! For £20 but with contents worth over £55 I couldn’t pass this up as I am going through lip balms like crazy at the minute and I had planned on repurchasing the Sol de Janeiro balm anyway as I loved it so much (it’s £15 alone!) It reminds me of the Sephora Favourites sets and I love the big reusable box it comes in too, I hope Cult Beauty do more of these! 

 

Next up, another Cult Beauty order and I convinced myself I didn’t need these but then I got a 15% off code and couldn’t resist any longer! I picked up the Vieve Sunset Blush in Cherub (normally £23, I got for £19.55). This is a lot more pigmented than I thought it was going to be so requires a light hand but first impressions are good, it wears for an impressive amount of time! I also picked up the Ordinary Concealer in 1.1N (£4.90 but got for £4.17) which is unfortunately is a little too light for me, the formula itself seems good though, lightweight but not as much coverage as say the NARS Soft Matte concealer. The Charlotte Tilbury Hyaluronic Happikiss in Pillowtalk was the last product from this haul and at £25 full price it isn’t the most affordable lip balm I have in my collection, getting it for £21.25 made me feel a little better! The packaging is not quite as luxe as say the Superstar Lips but it’s a beautiful formula and shade and I can’t wait to wear it more! With this order I also got 5% cashback through my bank as they had a retailer offer with Cult Beauty so another £2.25 will go back into my bank account! 

 

l-r: light swatch of Vieve blush in Cherub, The Ordinary concealer in 1.1N, CT Happikiss in Pillowtalk

Lastly, I was missing my brow lady and getting sick of having to fill in my brows so much so I did a little order of the Eylure Dybrow Eyebrow Dye Kit in Dark Brown for £6.50. I am super happy with the results of this so far, I didn’t leave on for the full recommended time as it was the first time I had done my own brows but I was happy with the colour it gave so will keep it on longer next time! Also, not pictured is a last minute order of some black lash dye as I may as well go all out (£10.96)!

 

I also used Top Cashback on my Cult Beauty orders which will give me back 52p when it clears as well as the £2.25 from the bank! My final total spend was £82.43 instead of £90.36! There are a few things on my shopping list at the minute but they are mostly repurchases so I will try to make more of a concerted effort over the next few months with my spending! Hopefully my next beauty spend report will be an amalgamation of a couple of months! If you want to see Janaury’s Beauty Spend Report click here!

 

Danielle xx

 

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