Danielle's Beauty Blog

I’m back again this month with another spend report – those elusive no-spend months are evading me 

 

First up, on the 1st of June I saw the Look Fantastic X Sol de Janeiro box and I knew it was going to be a bad month lol how could I say no to it, look what’s included! It’s got the body wash, shampoo, hair mask, lip balm, body spray and of course the infamous Bum Bum cream The box was on sale for £40 but I had a 22% off code so this was £31.20. It sold out quickly but then did come back into stock however LF upped the price to £69 so I’m glad I grabbed it when I did! 

 

I had a set of mini Clean rollerball perfumes a few years ago and had two favourites - in April I bought a full size of one of them so this month I got the other one. The Clean Classic Skin Eau de Parfum came from All Beauty and was £20.75 instead of £33 (not sure how accurate that RRP is!). This is a lovely subtle scent that is easy for me to wear – I am not a huge perfume buff and I find most scents overpowering or my favourites tend to get discontinued, so I am glad to have these two back in my life! I would like to try the Reserve versions, but I think they would be too strong…

 

Next, Cult Beauty got me again with a £5 account credit and as they also had 20% off I repurchased my favourite NatureLab Tokyo Clarifying Scalp Scrub (£17 – read more about it here) and I finally got the Evy Technology Daily Defence Face Mousse SPF 50 (£27) so instead of £44 for these two it came to £30.20. I also picked up the Schwarzkopf got2b Glued Brows Wand Gel for £3.49 instead of £4.50 from Amazon as i've been hearing good things!

 

ASOS had 20% off (as they regularly do) so I got the new Ordinary Multi Peptide Lash and Brow Serum for £9.92 instead of £12.40. Later in the month they had a surprise discount and mine was 25% off so I took the plunge and got a new pair of GHD Originals. My hair has been more damaged than normal recently and aside from needing a trim, I have been caring for it really well, so my heat tools were my last stop. I found out GHD’s generally only last 2-3 years (I think longer for the fancier versions) and my plates had a few small scratches. I stopped using mine for a month before and borrowed my mums instead and in that short time my hair felt in much better condition and to be honest I don’t even know how old mine were but definitely at least 5 years old if not more so I didn’t feel too bad about buying new ones. These were £89.25 instead of £119. I also finally got myself a Carry Case and Heatproof Mat which I have been meaning to get for years so hopefully this will protect them a bit better but definitely check your straightener plates if your hair has been feeling damaged! This was £16.46 instead of £21.95. These are both sold out at ASOS now but I’ve linked the GHD website! 

 

Towards the end of the month Escentual had 25% off across their website and since I loved my mini Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in Honey so much I knew I’d have to pick up a full size! This was £15 instead of £20. I also grabbed a Tisserand Eucalyptus oil 20ml for my diffuser which was £6 instead of £8 (I think this is normally £12 full price but must have already been on offer!). I also needed something else for free delivery (yes I know I end up spending more than if I just paid delivery!) so got The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane for £9.30 instead of £12.40 as I wanted a retinoid on the more affordable side to use on my chest! 

 

ASOS got me again with their 20% off and I had been eyeing up the new Sol De Janeiro Leave in Conditioner anyway but when I saw it was £22 on ASOS instead of the £28 I was seeing everywhere else I put it in my basket, so this ended up being £17.60. My first impressions of this are very positive too, it smells amazing and detangles so well! I also repurchased the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray as it was finally back in stock – I could only see the mini version everywhere recently – so this was £20.80 instead of £26! Full review here!

 

Finally, Pat McGrath had another sale on and I had been tempted by the Divine Blush Brush previously so just took the plunge since I was already in treat yourself mode! This was £23 instead of £30! So impressed with how quick shipping is too! 

 

Overall, this month I spent £292.97 instead of £393.25. Still definitely more than I would like to be spending but at the same time my new GHD’s were included in that and I managed to get some stuff I really wanted for a good price! Did you buy much last month? 

 

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

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I got sent the Cohorted X ESPA beauty box* at the weekend and had an impromptu photoshoot so thought I’d make a quick bonus blog post featuring it! I haven’t had a chance to properly try out the products yet so this is more of a first impressions!

 

Cohorted is the UK’s No.1 premium beauty subscription box and offer a monthly beauty box as well as Limited Edition curations. July sees a collaboration with ESPA so you can enjoy a luxury spa experience at home and included in the box are five ESPA products with the box contents worth £139:

Bergamot and Jasmine Hand Lotion 250ml RRP £20

24 Hour Replenishing Eye Moisturiser 15ml RRP £42

Overnight Hydration Therapy 55ml RRP £39

Tri-Active Regenerating Calming Cica Cleansing Balm 55ml RRP £50 for 100ml

Pink Hair & Scalp Mud 30ml RRP £36 for 180ml

There is also a mini Chopard Neroli Eau de Parfum. 

 

 

The products are packaged beautifully and I love the stone effect lids while the contents are a nice mix of body, skin and hair products for a full pamper session! I am a big fan of beauty boxes, they are a great way to save money and discover new brands and products and I have to say, opening the Cohorted box was such a luxury experience! The boxes are hand packed beautifully and 100% recyclable though aside from the stuffing, I tend to keep the box itself anyway for storage and organisation! 

 

The monthly subscription is £39.99 and you can use the code WELCOME15INF for 15% off if you are a first time customer! The boxes are the perfect gift for someone or to yourself and Cohorted have collaborated with the likes of Fresh and Verso in the past too. Some of the previous boxes are still available to buy as a one off for £50 in their Classic Box Collection!  

 

Overall, I am so impressed with the presentation and contents, and I can’t wait to see what else they have coming up this year!

 

Have you bought any beauty boxes in the past? What do you think of this one?

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me.

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

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It’s been just over a year since my last Toner collection update so I thought I would grab my current open bottles and do a quick rundown! This is quite exfoliating toner heavy only because in my last edition I was on Roaccutane so couldn’t use them and they have kind of built up! I definitely don’t use exfoliating products as much now as when I had acne but I still love having them in my collection as I tend to use them on my body too. 

 

First up, one that is no stranger to my blog, and I have gone through many bottles of – the Pixi Glow Tonic RRP £18. This is such a cult classic and also featured in my first toner post in 2017 as it’s usually always in my collection! It contains 5% glycolic acid as well as ginseng and aloe vera for hydration. As well as dissolving dead skin cells, it diminishes signs of sun damage, fine lines and scarring, smooths uneven texture and never dries my skin out. It’s popular for a reason and one of my favourite toners!

 

Sticking with glycolic acid the Good Molecules Glycolic Exfoliating Toner RRP $14* is another good one. This is a 3.5% glycolic concentration so even more gentle than the Glow Tonic and perfect if you have sensitive skin. My skin feels smooth and even with continued use and I love the Good Molecules nothing to hide ingredients list. This toner also contains galactomyces ferment which helps retain skin barrier function and moisture level as well as hyaluronic acid and aloe to help to hydrate and soothe skin. Read my full review here!

 

Moving away from glycolic now to the By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water RRP £20.10. Mandelic acid has a larger molecular structure than glycolic so is even more gentle though similarly works to improve pigmentation and even skintone. This one also contains beta glucan – an anti-inflammatory, panthenol and centella asiatica to help regenerate and sodium hyaluronate for hydration. I personally think glycolic acid works better for my skin when it comes to pigmentation but this does a great job at smoothing and evening skin tone and was the only exfoliating toner I dared try when I was at the end of my Roaccutane course and needed a little exfoliation so I can attest to its gentleness on my skin as I had no issues (but proceed with caution if on Roaccutane)!

 

I probably should have kept the Sioris Feels So Fresh Toner RRP £17 out of this round up because it’s the only one I haven’t really managed to form an opinion on! It falls into the nice but boring category for me, I don’t have any issues with it, but it hasn’t stood out to me either. It contains Black Willow Extract to exfoliate, eliminate blackheads and control oil, Guava Leaf Extract (an antioxidant) and Broccoli Extract to soothe and calm skin. I bought this pre Roaccutane then didn’t use it when I was on the drug and now my skin type has changed, and these aren’t my skin concerns anymore so it’s difficult to review it! What I will say though is that it’s another one that feels gentle and doesn’t dry my skin out despite the sebum controlling properties, but I do have other toners I prefer.

 

Next, I have the CosRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner RRP £19.99 and this is my second bottle – I had it years ago and really enjoyed it. It contains willow bark water and apple fruit water to clear clogged pores and dead skin cells as well as glycolic acid and betaine salicylate. My skin is smoother with use and I love the spray bottle – I actually use this a lot on my body too, particularly on KP on the backs of my arms as well as my chest and back where I do still get the occasional spot and it works so well to smooth my skin and is super easy to distribute!

 

Another old favourite and I have been through a few bottles of the Dear Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner RRP £20.10* too! My skin loves this for how calming and hydrating it is. It’s a gel like texture and contains hyaluronic acid centella asiatica and amino acids so as well as feeling cooling and calming it helps add moisture and strengthen my skin. A simple but hydrating formula – my skin drinks it up and looks plumper after use! There are essential oils in this formula which don’t cause any sensitivity for me but Klairs also have an unscented version without them! Read more about this toner in my K Beauty favourites here!

 

Lastly, the Glow Recipe PHA + BHA Pore Tight Toner RRP £14. The Glow Recipe products I have tried in the past are really meh to me to be honest and it’s not a brand I get excited about over the latest releases. I have had minis of their watermelon sleep mask, blueberry cleanser and lip pop and I just don’t get the hype but I will say that this toner is the best out of the products I have tried! It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate, PHA’s and BHA’s to smooth and decongest skin and my skin did feel smooth with use. I don’t like the sickly-sweet scent or the almost greasy consistency of this though and I think there are better options for better prices! 

 

I got sent the new Charlotte Tilbury Glow Toner this week so I’m looking forward to getting that into rotation too but I’d love to know your thoughts on any of these if you have tried them or what your favourite toner is!

 

See the previous instalments in this series here:

Toners #1 ft. Pixi, Beauty RX and BioEssence

Toners #2 ft Good Molecules, Versed and Ren

Toners #3 ft I’m From, Pyunkang Yul, Klairs and Scientia

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me.

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

If you want to keep up to date with my posts, don’t forget to follow me on

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It’s been a while since I did a Five Things I’m Loving post but I have a few things I’ve been reaching for non-stop so here they are! 

 

First up, one of the newest items to my skincare stash, the Murad Correct and Protect Broad Spectrum SPF45 RRP £68*. This, like the name suggests is an SPF serum and I hadn’t tried an SPF in this type of formula before. You apply it as usual, after moisturiser and as well as offering sun protection this is also a hybrid product that has been proven to correct discolouration and prevent future hyperpigmentation! It’s still early days on the long-term claims but I have high hopes for those! As for the SPF side of things, this is a mineral SPF and, in all honesty, when I rubbed it into my skin it felt a little on the greasy side, so I was worried! It’s a white liquid but once rubbed in it left no white cast (I have fair skin for reference) and there was no pesky pilling! Makeup applies so well on top and looks smooth and it feels hydrating enough to me too as well as no stinging round my eyes! Loving this! The only thing not to love as far as I can see is the price at £68 for 30mls!

 

I’ve just recently finished the Eresos Sweet Almond Hand and Body Oil (2000mg) RRP £65* and it will crop up in my empties in a few weeks, but I’ve really enjoyed using this so had to give it a proper mention! This has a lovely, subtle scent and has lasted me ages! I focus this mainly on my legs at night and a couple of pumps covers each of them. It sinks in quickly, helps me relax before bed and makes my legs feel soft and supple! The blend also helps stimulate the removal of toxins and improve circulation! A bit on the pricey side as most CBD products tend to be but if you fancy a little luxury, you can’t go wrong with a body oil! I have a full review of this and some other products from Eresos on Instagram here!

 

Another one that’s nearly ready for my empties and I am already plotting a full size repurchase is the Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in Honey RRP £20. I got this mini in a set for Christmas and used it a few times but not consistently then over the last few weeks I have been reaching for it non-stop and now I’m almost out because I love it! It feels silky and not sticky at all and lasts a surprisingly long time on my lips making them comfortable and hydrated for hours. It gives a beautiful shine, contains omega 6 and 9, rose oil and jojoba oil and comes in a bunch of shades!

 

Next up, the newest foundation to my collection, the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation in Gobi RRP £37.50. I want to do a full review of this along with my other NARS foundations soon so I’ll keep this brief, but I have really been enjoying this! It feels very lightweight on the skin, and it’s a medium coverage but very perfecting base. The formula is a mix of makeup and skincare and supposedly helps improve skins clarity and texture over time but I’m really only interested in the makeup side of things and I have been impressed with how long this wears on my skin! I haven’t found it to separate and it’s been lasting a full day on my normal/combo skin! Like I said, I’ll do a full review along with my other NARS bases once I have used for longer but first impressions are very promising!

 

Lastly, the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray RRP £26 and I thought I had mentioned this in a post before, but I couldn’t find it so needed to mention it! I am generally quite distrusting of setting sprays – probably because I hadn’t found a good one – and to be honest I wasn’t impressed with this at the start either. However, once I read the instructions and started spraying this before applying my foundation and again at the end of my makeup routine, I saw the light. It's hydrating, lightweight, doesn’t feel sticky and sets my makeup in place perfectly. It helps give radiance to my skin, ensures it doesn’t feel tight and I really can see a difference when I use it! The full size only seems to be in stock at SpaceNK for some reason though the mini is at all the usual places and I will be stocking up again soon!

 

Have you tried any of these before? Tell me what you thought of them or what your current favourite products are!

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me.

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

If you want to keep up to date with my posts, don’t forget to follow me on

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