Danielle's Beauty Blog

 

 

Empties time again and I feel like I am finally on a roll! Let’s get into some mini reviews! 

 

Bodycare

Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash RRP £29*

Really nice hydrating body wash though for me the scent of lavender came through more than eucalyptus and I would have preferred a stronger eucalyptus scent! This lasted me a very long time so I think it is worth the money but I struggle to spend more on body care when there are so many affordable options so not a repurchase for me!

Burt’s Bees Moisturizing Body Lotion RRP £10.99*

Perfect for sensitive skin, this is scent free and really thick so a little goes a long way! It kept my skin hydrated all day long and while I generally prefer scented body lotions, I think this is a great option for winter so I would repurchase!

 

Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion via Rocca Box*

This works so well on KP on the backs of my arms and makes it look a lot better and feel smoother! This is the unscented version but I do find it has a bit of a chemical scent though it’s inoffensive. Full review here! Will repurchase!

 

Dr Barbara Sturm Anti-Aging Body Cream

I’m not a huge fan of coconut scents but this was so lightly scented it was beautiful! It was a gorgeous formula too, really lightweight and firming but at £85 for the full size this is out of my price range!

 

L:A Brucket Body Lotion

Another lightweight cream but I didn’t love the sage, rosemary and lavender scent so not a repurchase for me! 

 

Skincare

Venn Moisture Balance All in One Face Cleanser via Face the Future RRP £55*

I loved this cleanser! It really is all in one just as it says and perfect for both makeup removal or as a second/morning cleanse! Lightweight but feels luxurious, lasted ages and I would repurchase this! See my full review here!

 

Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser RRP £35*

Another cleanser I love! Gentle and brightening, not drying and perfect as a morning cleanse to smooth my skin! Full review here and I will repurchase!

CosRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

This is my second bottle of this and it’s a great option for blemished skin or just to gently exfoliate! I love the pump bottle and I use this on my arms and chest too! See my full review here! Already repurchased!

 

NIOD Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist RRP £36*

Love this mist! Full of antioxidants and hydrates my skin, the bottle is so big I don’t feel guilty for using on my chest either as I am trying to take better care of my neck/dec area too! See my full review here and I already have a backup!

 

Good Molecules Glycolic Exfoliating Toner RRP $14*

Smoothing and hydrating, this has helped brighten my skin! Good Molecules are so affordable and have lovely formulations! See my full review here and I would repurchase!

 

Nivea Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover

The best waterproof eye makeup remover there is! Makes light work of removing mascara etc and I already have a backup!

 

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Hydrating Mask

My favourite overnight mask, I have been through so many of these! It feels so hydrating and my skin is plump and healthy looking the next morning! Full review here and I will repurchase once I finish a few other overnight masks!

 

La Roche Posay Anthelios Age Correct Photocorrection Daily SPF 50 via Face the Future RRP £27*

One of my favourite SPF’s I have tried! This comes out as a thick cream but sinks in easily leaving no white cast on my pale skin. It’s hydrating and protects my skin well, leaves a good base for makeup and doesn’t pill! See my full review here and I will repurchase

 

MOA Silver Rain Mystical Toner

Nice toner that would work better for blemish prone skin, full review here but not a repurchase for me as I have other mists that suit my skin type better currently!

 

The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid RRP £14.49*

This product is a little disappointing to me – I don’t find it anymore effective than HA even though it’s meant to hold four times more moisture. It feels quite silicone-y too, not the best serum I have used but not the worst either! Full review here but I won’t repurchase!

Dermalogica Circular Hydration Serum RRP £55*

Now this is a much better PGA/HA mix that I can get on board with! It feels much more watery/gel like and instantly hydrates, plumping my fine lines all day. Full review here and I would repurchase!

Oskia Renaissance Mask

A gorgeous exfoliating and refining face mask that leaves my skin so soft and smooth! Full review here, on the pricey side so not necessarily a repurchase for me but I would pick up again if I saw it in a beauty box etc!

Amelioriate Intensive Lip Therapy

This worked really well overnight for me so soften my lips and keep them hydrated. It does leave a white cast on my lips but I would repurchase as it works so well as a treatment!

 

Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

My favourite daily lip balm! Love the mint scent and it keeps my lips soft and hydrated! Already using another flavour I was sent in PR! 

 

MZ Skin Anti-Pollution Hydrating Face Mask

Nicely hydrating and fit well! I generally prefer “normal” facemask over sheet but nice for a treat! Not a repurchase for me as its £20 for a single!

 

Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying Recovery Mask RRP £8*

Fun to mix, hydrating and left me with lots of leftover serum which I used on my neck and dec. Full review here and would maybe repurchase before an event!

 

Dr Zion x Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Masks RRP £9*

Help my eyes look more refreshed, smoother and hydrated. Again, lovely for a treat or before a big event so would repurchase before one! 

 

Makeup

Revlon Colourstay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin in Buff 150

My favourite budget foundation! This is the best for mattifying and full coverage and it’s always on offer! Full review here and I have already repurchased!

 

Beauty Blender

The original and best foundation application tool in my opinion! Already have a backup!

 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Bark Brown

My favourite brow pencil, pricey but worth it, very soft pencil so makes natural looking stroke marks! Will repurchase in the future!

 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Gel

Much preferred the formula of this when it dried out a bit. Filled in brows but didn’t look like block brows but had to use a very light hand when I first opened. Not a repurchase for me as I prefer pencils or powders! 

 

Miscellaneous

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides

Love this stuff! Makes a huge difference in my joints and I have already repurchased!

 

111Skin Clarity Beauty Dose

Won these in a giveaway and can’t say I noticed a massive difference, but they are geared towards blemished skin which I don’t have! Not a repurchase as they are usually £115!

 

So that’s it for this time round and no haircare empties for once! Have you tried anything I’ve mentioned? Let me know your thoughts!

 

*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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I probably could have included double the amount of products in this post or even split it into two posts but I’ll keep it as short as I can with 18 products that have really stood out to me over the last few summer months! 

 

Bodycare

I have been loving the Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Body Treatment RRP $15* specifically for my chest, shoulders and back. This contains tranexamic acid, glycerin, niacinamide and salicylic acid and works a treat on pigmentation from old acne marks and sun damage. It’s a targeted treatment and they also have a skin serum version which I love as well and talked about more in this post! Sticking with bodycare and since my arms are on show more in the summer I like to use something to treat the KP I get. Enter the Ameliorate Body Lotion RRP £15*, this works so well to smooth bumpy skin and contains lactic acid to remove dead skin cells. It also makes my elbows so soft! This is the unscented version, but I do find there is a slight chemically scent but it’s nothing offensive and the product itself is brilliant! 

 

Haircare

I couldn’t help but pick up the Sol de Janeiro Milky Leave In Conditioner RRP £28 when it was released as I love their Bum Bum Cream so much (I stopped myself including that in this post too!). This smells the exact same aka amazing and is the best detangler I have used! It offers heat protection, frizz control and helps prevent split ends and I love the spray bottle too. It’s also a huge 210ml! It works a dream with the Kerastase Elixir Ultime L'Original Hair Oil RRP £40* at helping smooth my frizz! I’ve always been a little wary of hair oils as I tend to have oily roots so don’t want to add anything that might make it greasier quicker but this oil feels so lightweight whether I apply to damp or dry hair. It also offers heat protection, helps with split ends, adds shine and together these help with my frizz so much! Finally, I now know the hype for the Living Proof PHD Dry Shampoo RRP £22 is real. This is pricey but the best dry shampoo I have tried! No white cast, it absorbs easily giving me an extra day or two out of my greasy hair and makes it look clean. Some dry shampoos only last a few hours before my hair starts looking greasy again, but this is brilliant, and it also gives a bit of lift too! 

 

Makeup

I’ve got two new go to bases this summer, the first being the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation (Gobi) RRP £37.50. This feels lightweight on the skin and gives a medium but very perfecting coverage. I have been impressed with how long this wears on my skin, it doesn’t separate and it’s been lasting a full day on my normal/combo skin! It makes my skin look so healthy, no fine lines peek through (this is a makeup/skincare hybrid) and it looks as good at the end of the day as at the start! Full review here! I’ve also been reaching for the Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint (2) RRP £27 a lot when I’m working from home. This is a much lighter coverage than I am used to but I am embracing it and really enjoying the my skin but better effect it gives. Again, I find it lasts well throughout the day and I have found applying with my fingers gives me better coverage than a beauty blender so have been applying that way! Lastly in the makeup category is the Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in Honey RRP £20. I got a mini of this at Christmas and as soon as I finished it, I bought the full size. This is the only lip oil I have tried but I am in love! It feels lightweight and silky, not sticky at all and lasts a surprisingly long time on my lips making them comfortable and hydrated for hours. It has the nicest shine, contains omega 6 and 9, rose oil and jojoba oil and comes in a bunch of shades and I want more! 

 

Skincare

Onto skincare now and the category I had most trouble narrowing products down in! I’ll link to my last cleansers post because nothing has changed there and I wanted to talk about some new products! My skin tends to get more clogged in the summer with sweat and general melting because of the weather so I have been using physical exfoliants more and the Murad Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial RRP £68* combines both physical with chemical acids so best of both worlds! It makes easy work of dead skin cells and makes my skin feel soft and smooth while looking brighter and prepped for the rest of my routine! 

 

Next up, my first foray into Charlotte Tilbury skincare with the Glow Toner RRP £40* and I’ll be honest, I didn’t want to like this as I am already a fan of the makeup line and it’s an expensive habit! The toner, however, is beautiful, and my skin really seems to drink it up! It’s acid free and contains niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides and trademark ingredients Exfolactive to exfoliate and Poretight to help minimise the look of pores. Overall, my skin has been looking smoother, plumper, and generally more radiant! For mists I have been turning to the Dermalogica Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist RRP £45*. It’s full of, you guessed it, hyaluronic acid and ceramides, and it makes my skin feel hydrated, helps minimise fine lines and keep my skin supple. Full review here! I’ve been loving using this along with the Dermalogica Circular Hydration Serum RRP £55* which contains both hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid and you need in your life if you have dry/dehydrated skin because the effect is instantaneous and fine lines are filled so easily and skin is hydrated all day!

Sticking with serums, I cannot get enough of the Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum RRP £75* and have noticed a huge difference in stubborn pigmentation since introducing this into my routine. It really is a powerhouse antioxidant serum and the inclusion of glycolic acid gently exfoliates and helps ensure effective Vitamin C (in the form of L-ascorbic acid) delivery while the serum itself absorbs quickly, makes my skin look brighter and more even and it doesn’t pill like I have found other Vitamin C serums to! See my full review here! The Niche Beauty Lab (think Deciem, as similarly, they have different brands under one umbrella) Theramid Ceramide Treatment RRP £31* is the newest product in my routine out of everything here but it has very quickly impressed me! It contains ceramides, antioxidants and glycerin, feels more like a lightweight moisturiser than a serum and is a perfect buffer for me under retinol keeping my skin hydrated and protected!

 

For eye cream, I’ve been loving the Vichy Mineral 89 Eyes RRP £20*. It’s got glycerin and sodium hyaluronate as well as caffeine and shea butter and feels lightweight and sinks in quickly. It targets puffiness and fine lines and my full review is here! My go to moisturiser this summer has been The Inkey List Omega Water Cream RRP £9.99*. It’s a water-based gel that contains three omegas to help prevent water loss as well as glycerin and niacinamide. Another lightweight product, this works well under makeup and my skin feels hydrated all day long. Full review here!

 

To round off this post, two more Murad products I can’t get enough of! Firstly, the Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream RRP £73*. After most of the winter off retinols because of some reactions, I started back with this one around May/June and thankfully my skin seems to be back to normal! This formula contains a fast-acting retinoid, a time-released retinol and a retinol booster as well as niacinamide to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The next morning my skin feels plump and smooth and my fine lines aren’t as noticeable! Lastly, I have enjoyed a lot of SPF’s this summer but I think my favourite might be the City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 RRP £62*. This is a mineral sunscreen that shields against digital blue light damage, UVA, UVB & pollution. The formula is lightweight and has a peachy tint that is easily worked into the skin leaving no white cast (I have pale skin for reference). It contains dimethicone but doesn’t have an overly slippery feel and sits well over the rest of my skincare as well as under makeup with no pilling (my personal pet peeve with some SPF’s). My skin feels protected, I haven’t noticed any new pigmentation spots and it’s easy to make sure you are using the right amount as it squeezes out easily onto my finger lengths as it isn’t runny! Read my full review of Murad’s range here!

 

Well done if you made it to the end of this post! As I said, I could have included double the amount of products but had to stop somewhere! What products have stood out to you this summer?

 

*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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I thought I’d do another brand focus this week, this time on Vichy! If you have read my blog over the last few years you will have seen them crop up time and time again especially while I was on Roaccutane as the Mineral 89 was a lifesaver then! Anyway, I have a few other bits from the range and I’ll touch on their SPF too even though it’s not specific to the Mineral 89 line because it’s definitely worth a mention!

 

Starting with the OG itself, the Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Booster* and this comes in both 50ml and 75ml sizes with RRP £25 and £33 respectively. It’s a cooling, gel serum that hydrates my skin, minimises my fine lines and makes it look plump! It sinks in quickly, lasts all day long for me and sits well under makeup too! A super simple formulation, as well as the Vichy Volcanic Water, this contains glycerin and sodium hyaluronate. It doesn’t claim to be a hybrid serum or tackle 101 skin concerns but if you want a good hyaluronic acid this is one of the best I have tried! I apply after misting my skin to make sure I don’t lose water from my skin and this was my HA serum of choice while I was on Accutane as it’s perfect for sensitive skin and really helps protect your skin barrier. The two sizes it comes in are also more generous than usual HA 30ml bottles so I don’t feel guilty using this down my neck and on my decolletage too! I can’t recommend this enough if you have dry or dehydrated skin or are just looking for a good hyaluronic acid! It has featured many times on my blog, most noticeably in my accutane diary, best beauty discoveries, French pharmacy favourites and barrier repair posts!

 

Moving onto the Mineral 89 Probiotic Serum RRP £29* and this is like its sister above, but with the main difference of added Niacinamide and antioxidant vitamins. As well as hydrating, this serum focuses on repairing stressed out skin and guarding against stressors. It’s a 30ml bottle and a more classic serum consistency unlike the OG gel formula. I wouldn’t say it’s just as hydrating as the original but I do love the effects of the added ingredients. My skin feels and looks calmer as well as more even and long term (as you can see I’m almost finished my first bottle!) it feels like it’s being protected and overall it bounces back quicker if I do happen to damage my barrier! I particularly love using this the morning after a retinol night as it’s so calming! 

 

Next up, the Mineral 89 Eyes Hyaluronic Acid Eye Fortifier RRP £20* and as well as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, this also contains caffeine and shea butter. It has a lovely, lightweight formula and the pump is amazing – it dispenses the perfect amount of product so no wastage! The main issues I have with my eyes are puffiness and fine lines and this targets those as well as darkness! It cools down my under eyes making them significantly less puffy and also hydrates, reducing my fine lines. I don’t notice a huge difference with darkness but it’s not a major concern of mine! 

 

Lastly from the Mineral 89 range, the Mineral 89 Fortifying Recovery Mask RRP £8* which comes in two parts – the mask and the solution. It’s a shot of instant hydration and perfect for a skin reset after a stressful week! It leaves my skin feeling plump and juicy and is great if your skin needs a little extra TLC. Generally, while I enjoy sheet masks on the occasions I use them, I still prefer classic masks so in this case I would say just get the serum but consider this if you have a special occasion! Oh, and read the instructions on the back properly unlike me! I opened it first, but you actually mix it before opening by breaking the seal along the dotted lines!

 

To finish off this post, I wanted to mention the Capital Soleil UV-Age Daily SPF50+ Facial Sunscreen RRP £21* which is sadly empty now but was my go-to SPF with its lightweight fluid texture! It offers UVA and UVB protection that corrects wrinkles and dark spots caused by daily UV exposure and it’s formulated with 1% Vitamin E, 4% peptides complex, 2% niacinamide, and 10% Vichy volcanic mineralizing water and probiotic fractions and really has been a dream to use! I was concerned on reading the full ingredients list as alcohol denat is high up there and I previously haven’t got on with SPF’s containing high amounts but apart from a slight “active” feeling on application, which soon disappears, it hasn’t been a problem for me! Aside from that, this has no white cast (I have pale skin for reference), it absorbs easily and sits very well under makeup with no pilling in sight – hallelujah! It doesn’t melt off when I sweat or sting my eyes! Can’t recommend this enough! It has also featured in my best beauty discoveries and best budget skincare posts!

 

All of the products (serums and SPF) absorb well and give me a great base for makeup. There is no pilling and they don’t cause any sensitivity with my eyes! I cannot recommend this line (and the SPF) enough and they are well worth their price tag! Vichy products are available from Escentual, Look Fantastic, Boots and Sephora UK and they are always included in the French Pharmacy offers usually with up to a third off!

 

Have you tried anything from Vichy before? What’s your favourite product?

 

*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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I thought I was going to get away with rolling July and any potential August purchases into one blog post but a little last minute beauty box purchase right at the end of the month made this collective haul big enough for one post, oops! 

 

Starting with a few “boring” repurchases – my trusty Schwarpzkopf dry shampoo which I got in Home Bargains for £1.49 each instead of £2.99 and my favourite Nivea Double Effect eye makeup remover which was £2 in Superdrug instead of its RRP £3.99. 

 

I made one Look Fantastic order to finally get my hands on some cult favourite SPF’s I’ve wanted to try for a while as they had them on (I think) 20% off already then gave out a code for an extra 10% off. The La Roche Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ Sun Cream (what a mouthful!) was £12.97 instead of £18 and the Garnier Ambre Solaire Ultra-Light Sensitive Sun Protection Face Fluid SPF50+ was £5.39 instead of £8.

 

As always, I *needed* to get free delivery so added a couple more things to my basket including the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Body Gel Cream Moisturiser for Normal to Dry Skin for £4.49 instead of £5.99 and the Cantu Thick Detangle Sturdy Wash Day Comb for £2.87

Instead of £3.99. I am going through body products like crazy at the minute and have wanted a detangling comb for when my hair is wet for ages now. This one has been designed with curly and afro hair in mind – I have neither but my hair gets so tangled so easily and I’m hoping it will help minimise breakage! I think Look Fantastic might have upped their free delivery to spends £30 and over instead of £25 which sucks as I got all this for £25.72 so I think it’s gone up from then! 

 

Lastly, and on the last day of the month, Latest in Beauty sent out a discount code for 30% off any of their boxes so I decided to get the Style Summer Essentials 2022 box which came to £33.60 instead of £48. I got this mainly for the Skingredients Skin Shield Moisturising + Priming SPF50 PA+++ which is full size and worth £51 while the overall contents of the box are worth £274. Also included is an Iconic London Triple Precision Brow Definer - Cool Brown (you can pick from a few different shades), The Body Shop Drops of Youth Concentrate, St. Tropez Gradual Tan Classic Lotion - Medium/Dark, Olverum The Dry Body Oil, Prai Beauty Ageless Upper Arm Crème, Code8 5Secs Hydrating Lip Colour in Voyage en Orient, Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Mandarin, Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer, Avant Brightening & De-Puffing Hyaluronic Overnight Eye Recovery Mask and the NUXE Organic Micro-Exfoliating Cleansing Mask. My mum also ended up getting me to order her one too when I told her about the offer! 

 

Overall, my total spend this month was £64.30 instead of £93.95. As always, I use Top Cashback where I can to place orders so I am pending cashback of £3.08 for my Look Fantastic order and £2.95 for the Latest in Beauty purchase. I really recommend them, and they partner with loads of beauty sites! 

Did you buy much last month? I have a few makeup items on my wishlist but they’ve been going in and out of stock and we all know I don’t like paying full price for anything so I’ll keep patiently waiting ;)

 

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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