Last year I was sent a few products from Niche
Beauty Lab, a Spanish company with a science-skin approach – they develop
the products in their own lab and bring them straight to the customer. Products
are formulated with innovative active ingredients and Niche Beauty Lab is a bit
of an umbrella for the five brands they produce - Theramid and Transparent Labs
(which I will talk about today), Acnemy, Hyalulip and Hairvest. I received two
products from each Theramid and Transparent Labs and since all
four are now almost finished, I thought it was about time I did a review!
Theramid is the pricier of
the two brands and the most eye-catching with its very aesthetic colour coded
glass bottles! I’ve already talked about the Ceramide TreatmentRRP £32*
a couple of times on the blog, most recently in my Best Beauty Discoveries of 2022. Containing ceramide, ectoin and cica this has been my go-to on nights
I’ve been using retinol to keep my barrier supported! It’s a thick serum that
feels more like a lightweight moisturiser and it works so well to keep my skin
hydrated and protected. As the serum is so thick, I struggled to pump it out
once I got about halfway through so I just unscrew it and use a cosmetic
spatula which works fine. Nonetheless, I absolutely love this product, and if
you ever suffer from a compromised skin barrier, it's a must-have.
Next up from Theramid is the Derma-Peptides RRP £30*, a multi-peptide serum containing a mix of Matrixyl’s and bio
peptides to improve visual signs of aging, boost collagen and elastin, reduce
fine lines and encourage smoother looking skin. This is a much thinner
consistency than the Ceramide treatment and while the results are subtle, this
is another serum worth having in your stash! My skin feels smooth and supported
with consistent use!
Moving onto Transparent Lab now and this
is the more affordable range, think Deciem and NIOD/The Ordinary. I have the PIH Sun Spot Fading Treatment RRP £15*, a serum for hyperpigmentation due to
scarring, hormonal episodes and exposure to the sun. It’s a gel formula and contains
a powerhouse of brightening ingredients including tranexamic acid,
azeloglicina, niacinamide, kojic acid and lumina granatum and works a treat on
scarring from spots. I had a small break out about a month ago and once it
started healing, I really ramped up my usage of this product and the scar went
from bright red to faded within a matter of a couple of weeks. The fading has
slowed now but it’s much less noticeable and I’m confident I won’t even notice
it in a few more weeks, it’s so impressive!
Finally, I have the Protect + Correct Serum RRP £17* an antioxidant serum containing Vitamin A, C, E, Ferulic
Acid and Resveratrol. This aims to improve the overall appearance of the skin
while helping to prevent the appearance of new wrinkles. I am a big fan of
antioxidants and while you can’t always see their effects straight away, I am
confident they are working in the background and protecting my skin! With
consistent use my skin looks and feels more even and both this and the Derma-Peptides
fit easily into either my AM or PM routine as they both contain glycerin so I
use them to hydrate aswell. The only negative is that the pipette on this
doesn’t work the best unfortunately as the serum is a thicker consistency!
Overall, I can’t recommend
these products enough! All the serums work well with my other products and
don’t cause pilling. The products are designed with innovative active
ingredients and are formulated to target a range of skin concerns. Whether
you're looking to support your skin barrier or fade hyperpigmentation, Niche
Beauty Lab's range of products has you covered!
Have you tried anything from this brand
before? Let me know if you like the sound of anything here!
A slightly better number of empties
compared to my last post in December and I finally feel like I am back on it
with finishing products! Lets see what we have this time!
Haircare
Dove Go Active Dry Shampoo
I mentioned the dry shampoo recall in my last empties post and this was another one I had to check the batch code of but
thankfully it wasn’t affected. Overall, while not as effective as the Living
Proof dry shampoo I have been loving, this is a good budget option. It soaks up
oil, leaves no white cast and gives me another day out of my hair. Have
repurchased.
Living Proof PhD Dry Shampoo x2
This stuff on the other hand is incredible!
It is a lot pricier than my usual budget dry shampoos, but it is the best I
have tried! It leaves no white cast, absorbs easily giving me an extra day or
two out of my greasy hair and actually makes it look clean. It also gives a bit
of lift which is perfect as my hair can look lank when greasy and it has a
really subtle fresh scent. I don’t normally go that long between washes but
this makes it easy! Well worth the money and it featured in my Best Beauty Discoveries in Haircare for 2022! Have repurchased.
Sol de Janeiro Strengthening + Smoothing
Shampoo
This SLS free shampoo smells exactly like
Bum Bum Cream and left my hair feeling clean and soft and obviously smelling
amazing! I do have other shampoos I prefer but I would repurchase this if it
was on a good offer.
Sol de Janeiro Strengthening + Smoothing
Conditioner
Lovely hydrating conditioner that again
smells beautiful! Again, I have other conditioners I prefer but I would
repurchase.
Sol de Janeiro Triple Brazilian Butter
Hair Repair Treatment
Another gorgeous product from SDJ that
hydrates hair and makes it smell amazing! Would repurchase.
Bodycare
Nivea Nourishing Body Milk
You know know how much I love Nivea and
while this smells clean and fresh and moisturises well, it’s not my favourite
formula! I find it smears over my skin and I need to work it in more than their
other body moisturisers so this wont be a repurchase for me but I will pick up
their Smooth body lotion again which I love!
Eucerin Complete Repair Moisturizing
Lotion
My go to in winter! I use this mostly on
my legs as they get so dry in winter and this stuff instantly calms skin and
stops me scratching my eczema patches. I have been using it for years and
always go back to it! Will repurchase!
First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body
Scrub
Really enjoyed this scrub, it’s very fine
so did a good job of smoothing my KP. It contains both pumice for physical
exfoliation and 10% AHA for chemical exfoliation and I would repurchase if I
find it on offer!
Skincare
Dermalogica Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist*
A lovely, hydrating and smoothing facial
mist. It’s rose scented but I am a bit sick of the scent so not a repurchase
for me as there are a lot of other facial mists I prefer including the
Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist! See my full review here!
Sioris Time is Running Out Mist
There was a lot of hype over this one but
it fell a bit flat for me. Worked well to hydrate my skin throughout the day
but again there are just other mists I prefer so not a repurchase for me!
Nivea Express Eye Makeup Remover
Probably my most repurchased skincare
item. It’s dual phase formula makes taking off waterproof eye makeup a breeze!
Gentle, doesn't sting my eyes or dry out the skin around them! A must have on
everyone’s skincare shelf and a good budget buy too!
NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum
Dare I say my favourite serum and a
staple in my skincare rotation since 2016. It’s a pro-repair and pro-collagen
serum that maintains healthy looking skin by targeting signs of skin ageing like
textural damage, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and a lack of radiance. My
skin is more even, clear and firm when I use this consistently! It’s watery and
sinks in quickly and can be used in the morning and evening. My skin just looks
better when I use this and I will repurchase once I use up a few more serums in
my stash. See my full review here!
NIOD Modulating Glucosides*
A really interesting serum that targets
sensitive, irritated skin encouraging a calmer complexion. It supports the skin
barrier, hydration and repair and helps reduce redness, itching and burning.
Again, it’s lightweight and sinks in easily though the scent is quite strong.
It is such a comforting serum and really helped calm and repair my barrier and
if you struggle with sensitivity you need to try this! Will repurchase! Full review here!
Vichy Mineral 89 Eyes*
This is a lovely, lightweight formula and
the pump dispenses the perfect amount of product every time! It contains
glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, caffeine and shea butter and targets puffiness, fine
lines and darkness! It cools down my under eyes making them significantly less
puffy and also hydrates, reducing my fine lines. Didn’t pill with makeup
either! Will repurchase! Full review here!
A much thicker formulation than the Vichy
so I used this one at night. It felt nicely hydrating and left my undereyes
smooth and moisturised. Liked it but probably wouldn’t repurchase.
First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser
Boring but nice is how I would explain
this one. It has no scent but feels creamy and cleans and refreshes skin without
leaving it feeling dried out perfect for sensitive skins! Would repurchase!
Fenty Skin Total Cleans’r
I used this as a second or morning
cleanse and it felt nicely hydrating and didn’t dry my skin out. I have a lot
of other cleansers I need to get through and ones I prefer over this so not a
repurchase for me!
Fenty Beauty Hydra Vizor
I was surprised how long this little
bottle lasted and honestly by how much I enjoyed it! It’s SPF 30 so perfect for
me this winter and it left my skin feeling hydrated and smooth. I actually
picked up a full size of this before I left for Canada as I spotted it at TK
Maxx and I am glad I did! Would repurchase!
Tatcha The Rice Wash
This has a slightly grainy texture so
gently exfoliates and doesn’t feel stripping. I am not a huge fan of the scent
though so it’s not a repurchase for me!
Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C
Brightening Serum
Too small a sample to say if it did much
brightening but this was a lovely lightweight formula that sank in quickly and
didn’t pill with other products. The price tag is eye watering so not a
repurchase for me!
Dr Lipp Miracle balm
Loved this and gutted it’s finished! This
was my night time lip treatment and it kept them hydrated overnight and this
little tube lasted forever. Lanolin Is one of my favourite lip care ingredients
and I would repurchase this again!
Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Berry
Another love! This felt very hydrating on
my lips and I didn’t need to reapply throughout the day too often. It had a
lovely subtle scent and a really subtle pink hint of colour to the lips too! Will
repurchase when I finish up a few more lip products!
Makeup
Revlon Colourstay for Combination/Oily
Skin in 150 Buff
My favourite budget foundation. This has
good coverage and lasting power, and I am already using my backup and have two
more bottles in my stash as it’s my day to day work foundation!
Maybelline The Falsies Volum Express
Waterproof Mascara
Been through so many tubes of this and
love it! Gives good volume and separation with no flaking. I have watery eyes
so even waterproof mascara leave a small smudge under one of my eyes by the end
of the day but with this it’s very minimal so I will forgive it! Will
repurchase!
Miscellaneous
Purely Inspired Collagen Peptides
This is dissolving better for me now when
I leave it for a few minutes in water and my joints always feel much better
when I take collagen. I hope it works for my skin too but I don’t notice much
difference with that! Have already repurchased.
Briogeo B. Well Vegan Omega 3, 6, 9 +
Biotin supplements *
Enjoyed these but more expensive than my
normal vitamins (I just take cod liver oil, Vitamin B etc) so not a repurchase
for me!
So that's it for this batch! Did you see any of your favourites or products you would like to try? Sorry about the horrendous photo quality too, my lighting was already bad then the site I use to edit has become paid :( if you have a good free editing site alternative please let me know!
Last up in my best beauty discoveries of
2022 is the haircare category and I have quite a few this year! I have long
brown hair with dry end and oily roots, and I really try to protect my hair as
best as possible as I use heat so here are the products that have stood out to
me this year!
As a huge fan of the bum bum bodycare
scent I had to pick up Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Milky Leave In Conditioner RRP £28when it launched earlier this year! It smells exactly
like the rest of the line but it’s not overpowering at all. I love the trigger
mechanism and the formula itself is thicker than I was expecting but not heavy
at all. It offers heat protection up to 232˚C, frizz control and helps prevent
split ends and is a huge 210ml! It’s the best detangler I have used and makes
my hair so soft and smooth! See my full review here!
I finally gave in and bought the Living Proof PhD Dry Shampoo RRP £20 and let me tell you, the hype is real. This
is a lot pricier than my usual budget dry shampoos, but it is the best I have
tried! It leaves no white cast, absorbs easily giving me an extra day or two
out of my greasy hair and actually makes it look clean. Some dry shampoos only
last a few hours before my hair starts looking greasy again and I need to
reapply, but this works so well and I use far less product! As well as making
my hair look clean again it also gives a bit of lift which is perfect as
my hair can look lank when greasy and it has a really subtle fresh scent. There
is no residue and I love this so much I just bought three sets from Sephora
when it was on sale!
Sticking with Living Proof, and I received
their Triple Bond Complex RRP £42* at the end of summer and famous last
words, but I think I prefer it as a repair treatment to Olaplex! This is a
weekly treatment that you apply to damp hair after washing and leave in - it works to construct new
bonds within the hair to help strengthen it as well as protect it and the look of
split ends are visibly reduced. It also offers heat protection up to 232˚C to help
prevent future breakage. It’s a silicone-free, serum consistency and leaves my
hair feeling protected, smooth and manageable with a good shine and I have
noticed my ends looking way healthier with less split ends even when my hair is overdue
a trim!
I am a sucker for a scalp scrub and the Briogeo
Scalp Revival Charcoal and Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo RRP $54*has
really impressed me! As I was rubbing this into my scalp the first time I used it,
I was convinced my hair was still going to be greasy and that it was not going
to clean it as there is no lather (it’s sulphate free) but I couldn’t have been
more wrong! The exfoliant is very fine and this made my hair look and feel the
cleanest it’s ever been! My scalp, while still being oily has also been flaking
on me this winter and this shampoo really refreshes and balances it
without drying it out while getting rid of flakes! As well as charcoal and
coconut oil, this contains peppermint, spearmint and tea tree oil to help
reduce itchiness and it gives it a really light minty scent!
I love a good hair mask and the Kerastase Nutritive Masquintense Thick Hair Mask RRP £36.60* might be one of the best
I have tried! It smells incredible and as it’s for thick hair it’s super
concentrated so a little goes a long way in my fine hair! I like to leave it on
15-20 minutes before rinsing out and it leaves my hair soft, smooth, shiny and
the ends well hydrated which makes them look so much healthier! Despite my hair
not being thick, it rinses out well and doesn’t leave it feeling weighed down.
It’s a huge 200ml too and is lasting me ages despite using it regularly! See my full Kerastase Nutritive range review here!
Lastly, The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum RRP $15.80 has really helped the condition of my lashes
and brows! Since using this, I have noticed way less fall out in both areas and
they are both looking much fuller! I’ve never tried a lash/brow serum before
this aside from castor oil and I don’t see myself trying any others as this is
so affordable and works! You do need to be in a good routine using it every day
to see results but much like the hair density serum I included in last year’s
haircare discoveries this is another win for The Ordinary!
