Danielle's Beauty Blog

Empties time again and I’m so happy I’ve started the year with a good batch. Sometimes it can take me 3-4 months to get enough to post about but this is around 2 month’s worth and it was harder to photograph as I left it too long so I am feeling good about getting through my stash! 

 

Bodycare

Bioderma Atoderm Cleansing Oil

This is the second bottle of this I have had though this was the jumbo size and its lasted me two Canadian winters (and a summer) and is perfect for the season. It’s a thick oil and feels so luxurious, not greasy at all, and creates a mild lather. It is formulated with vegetal biolipids that create a defensive barrier over your skin and after my shower my skin feels soft and nourished. It keeps dry patches at bay and is very lightly fragranced. Read more about it here! Will repurchase in the future when I finish some more body products!

 

Naturium The Smoother Glycolic Acid Body Wash

Another shower product I enjoyed though I wish this was fragranced! It’s a creamy formula that contains glycolic and lactic acids and really helped smooth my skin while keeping it hydrated. It lasted a good amount of time though I did have difficulty getting the last bit out of the packaging! Would repurchase in the future!

 

Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion

I asked a friend to bring this back from the US for me and while I enjoyed it, based on the hype I thought it was going to be way better than their normal Complete Repair (without the AHA’s). It was good and I would happily use up again but I find the Complete Repair easier to get a hold of and just as hydrating and smoothing! Will repurchase this or CR in the future!

 

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

Another great moisturising cream for winter! This is a creamy formula that is easy to spread and instantly soothes and hydrates my skin! Will repurchase in the future!

 

Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion (10% off with code DANIELLESBEAUTYBLOG10)

Really enjoyed this lotion but I found the packaging a little tough to get the cream out as it comes out of quite a small hole. The cream itself, while it takes a little extra time to rub in completely, helped firm and smooth my skin! Would repurchase on offer!  

 

Rocky Mountain Soap Omega 3 Hand Cream

I found the scent of this a little like play-doh weirdly and the formula takes longer than I would like to sink in but one it does it feels nicely smoothing and hydrating! Not a repurchase!

 

Malin + Goetz Vitamin B5 Body Moisturiser

This was OK for a sample but not a repurchase for me! 

 

Haircare

Head & Shoulders Itchy Scalp Care 2 in 1

Bit of a boring one but also a bit of a necessity! I grab this when it’s on offer and because I like to have at least one SLS containing shampoo in the shower to fully detox my hair from the products I use on it! This worked great and helped with dandruff too! Already repurchased!

 

Living Proof Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo

The next two are my favourite dry shampoos! Both are pricey but work so well! I flit between which is my favourite but currently it’s this one! I can get away without washing my hair a couple extra days when I use this compared to a drugstore dry shampoo! This is so easy to rub in and leaves my hair looking like it’s just been a couple days since I washed it not nearly a week! Already repurchased!

 

Living Proof Dry Shampoo

Another great option! This one doesn’t give me quite as may days as the Advanced Clean version but still more than a drugstore dry shampoo and my hair looks less greasy and lank! See my full review here! Already repurchased!

 

NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Shine Clarifying Scalp Scrub

I’ve been through so many of these tubs! It’s such a great clarifying scrub and really invigorates my scalp! Read more about it here! Already repurchased!

 

Olaplex No. 3

Another product I’ve lost count of how many I’ve been through and I’ve loved it over the years but I think I’ve officially moved on! This has worked well for me to strengthen my hair and make split ends less visible, but I can’t be bothered wetting my hair and applying before my shower and I have replaced this with the living Proof Triple Bond Complex which is a leave in treatment and much handier for me! Read more here! Not a repurchase right now! 

 

Skincare

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser RRP £40*

I loved this! It lightly lathers and feels gentle despite containing physical as well as chemical exfoliants and has really been helping to keep my skin smooth and give me a good base for the rest of my skincare and makeup application! It lasted me ages too so while pricey for a cleanser if you can get it on sale I think it’s worth it! Read more here! Will repurchase in the future!

 

Fenty Skin Fat Water Toner

Enjoyed this one too! It contains niacinamide which helps reduce the appearance of dark spots, even skin tone, and fight excess shine, Barbados cherry which is full of vitamin C and witch hazel to reduce oil. The texture really is that of “fat water” and it’s also nicely hydrating. With consistent use it’s helped the overall tone of my skin but the packaging is not my favourite! It’s hard to get the product out and the lid can get a little messy! Read more here! Already have a back up!

 

Nivea Double Effect Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover

Probably my most repurchased skincare item ever! This is incredible at taking off waterproof eye makeup, never stings or affects my vision and is super affordable (in the UK at least!). Read more here! Already have about 4 bottles in my backup stash!

 

Naturium Multi-Peptide Moisturiser

Another product I loved! This is a lightweight moisturiser filled with peptides, encapsulated ethylated vitamin C and panthenol which helped my skin look smooth and kept it hydrated all day long! I favoured using this in the morning as it sat so well under my makeup and it was hydrating enough through winter too! Will repurchase once I use up a few other moisturisers!

 

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream RRP £85*

I’ll be honest I have a love/hate relationship with this one! I’m suspicious I have reacted to it in the past when my skin was more sensitive so I am always a little cautious using it! When it works for me, it’s great, it 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 and strengthen the skins barrier. It left me with plump, smooth skin in the morning! Not a repurchase for me right now!

 

Murad Intense Recovery Cream RRP £84*

This is the ultimate comfort blanket for stressed out, dehydrated, sensitive skin and I am gutted it’s finished! It contains shea better, macadamia oil and microalgae extract and provides deep moisturisation reduces redness and irritation. This was my go-to when my skin is sensitive and stressed out and it works every time! It felt instantly soothing, reduces redness and is so comforting and hydrating! It feels like more of a balm than a cream and it melts into skin keeping it hydrated and protected overnight. Read more here! Will repurchase in the future on a good offer.

 

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm

One of my favourite cleansers of all time! It’s a luxurious balm and it works beautifully to remove makeup. I love the moringa scent and it really makes cleansing an experience! My skin always feels clean, soft and hydrated after use and I can always find it on offer! Read more here! Already repurchased!

 

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair 

I can see why this one is such a cult favourite now I’ve tried it for myself! It’s a restorative serum containing peptides and hyaluronic acid bifida ferment lysate and helps protect against UV damage and repair skin. It’s called night repair but can be used AM or PM though I tend to use it in the evening and I wake up with hydrated, plump and firm skin. Read more here! Already repurchased!

 

Hello Skin Eyes So Bright Hydrogel Eye Patches RRP £10*

These worked well to depuff and hydrate my eyes and surprisingly remained pretty juicy despite me having them open for longer than I care to remember as I’m awful for using eye patches! Would repurchase!

 

Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Another classic and one I saw a noticeable difference with when I used as it exfoliated gently and helped clarify my skin! Read more here! Not a repurchase for right now as I have a few other similar products I’m trying!

 

Tula 24-7 Moisture Hydrating Day and Night Cream

Enjoyed this mini, it worked well to hydrate my skin and sat well under makeup. Have others I prefer so not a repurchase!

 

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

Have used a couple of these up, it’s lightweight and hydrating but I prefer their cica sleeping mask. Not a repurchase!

 

Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra Hydrating Ceramide Moisturiser

Loved this and can’t believe I haven’t tried it before! Full of ceramides and this tiny pot lasted me longer than I expected as I didn’t need that much product. It made my makeup look better too! Will repurchase in the future!

 

La Mer Moisturising Cream

Overhyped and overpriced, this was a thick cream that smelt cheap to me! Worked fine to hydrate but not a repurchase!

 

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

This felt lighter than I expected to and worked well to hydrate. I picked up a Kiehl’s set at Christmas so I have a larger size to use!

 

Dr Jart Ceramidin Liquid

Enjoyed using this up but I have other products that do the same and it didn’t stand out to me as much as their cream which I love! Not a repurchase!

 

Burt’s Bees Lemon Sorbet Lip Treatment RRP £12.99 CAD*

A great overnight lip treatment. This contains vitamin C, ceramides and jojoba oil and it scented of lemon. It kept my lips hydrated overnight and I would repurchase! 

 

 

Makeup

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Makeup in 2N1 Desert Beige

My favourite foundation! I actually hadn’t worn this for months but went back to it just before Christmas and remembered how much I loved it! I trust it 100% to stay on all day, cover all my imperfections and magically this seems to look better as the day goes on. I know people have a love/hate relationship with it but if you have combo/oily skin and like full coverage look no further! Read more here! Already have a replacement!

 

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer in Vanilla

My favourite concealer, this is matte but not drying and gives great coverage! I don’t experience any flaking with this and the colour match is perfect for me! I use my finger tip to apply and it covers imperfection and dark circles without looking cakey. Read my full review here! Have already repurchased!

 

Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in Honey

I’ve been through two minis of this and now the full size. It feels silky and not sticky at all and lasts a surprisingly long time on my lips keeping 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 few other shades too! See my full review here! Already have a back up!

 

Clarins Natural Lip Perfector in 01

Another great lip product from Clarins! This gives a lovely hint of pink to the lips while keeping them nourished and hydrated for a couple of hours! Would repurchase on a good offer or as part of a set. 

 

Miscellaneous

Purely Inspired Collagen Peptides X2

Been through so many of these! I find them great for helping my joints! Already using my repurchase!

 

Genuine Health Original Greens+

I’m not sure if I see a huge difference with this but I wanted to incorporate more greens into my diet as a picky eater and I have grown to like my habit of taking this with breakfast! I just went to Costco on the weekend hoping to get a jumbo size of this but I had to get a different brand and I much prefer the Original Greens taste! Will update if I notice anything with the new tub but otherwise I will repurchase this when I finish the new one!

 

Hycosan Extra 0.2% Sodium Hyaluronate Eye Drops

These are great, the mechanism is a pump design so no delay or anxiety build up like with a squeeze bottle going into your eye! Keeps my eyes hydrated and I already have a backup! \

 

 

And that’s a wrap on this batch of empties! Thank you for reading! Let me know if you’ve tried anything I’ve mentioned and what you thought!

 

*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’m back today with a one brand review of Biotherm and some products I was sent that I’m either finished or very nearly finished! To give a little history of the brand, it was founded in 1952 and is a division of L’Oréal. Their hero product is life plankton, a microorganism found in the French Pyrenees that contains 35 nutrients to deliver intense regenerating hydration for visibly soothed and soft skin. It is 100% natural, biodegradable and renewable and works to balance, firm, provide antioxidants, smooth and refine the skin. Biotherm’s focus is on hydration and they are committed to using more renewable ingredients, creating more formulas that respect the oceans, developing more sustainable designs and empowering a global community of water lovers.

 

Starting off with the Biotherm Cera Cream to Foam Cleanser RRP $38 CAD* and I’ve always been a bit wary of foaming cleansers so honestly expected this to dry my skin out as it really does lather up more than any other cleanser I have tried before! It’s a vegan formula that is soap free and contains bioceramides, niacinamide and life plankton. It left my skin feeling squeaky clean, hydrated and soft and never felt dry or tight. I also love the scent though I know some people don’t like added scent but this is fresh like the ocean! The packaging is also made from 24% recycled plastic packaging and the formula is 99% biodegradable.

 

The Biotherm Life Plankton Elixir RRP $107 CAD / £69* is a beautiful hydrating and soothing serum that contains glycerin, life plankton and Vitamin C. It’s also scented and I am obsessed with the smell – it’s so fresh and “blue” and it really adds to the experience for me. This makes my skin feel hydrated and supported and it looks brighter and feels smoother! I notice my fine lines less and I love the packaging too, the dropper has a chrome look, it just feels so luxe!  

 

The Biotherm Cera Repair Barrier Cream RRP $65 CAD / £58* was a dream to use! I loved this as my daytime moisturiser as it sat so well under my makeup and kept my skin hydrated all day. That will be thanks to the ceramides as well as the life plankton! The formula felt thick yet sank in straight away and worked overtime on drier patches around my nose, repairing my barrier. My skin felt soft, soothed and well supported and I abandoned all my other day creams for this as I loved it so much! 

 

Moving onto a couple of retinol products now and the Blue Retinol Night Serum RRP $99 CAD / £75* contains 0.25% retinol as well as life plankton, glycerin, HA and niacinamide. This has worked well to smooth and even my skin tone while targeting fine lines and I use it 2-3 times a week. The formula is creamy and doesn’t cause any sensitivity or peeling for me! 

 

Also at night, I loved the Biotherm Blue Pro-Retinol Multi Correct Cream RRP $103 CAD / £72*. It’s a rich overnight cream containing pre-retinol, life plankton and niacinamide that smoothed my skin leaving it plump the next morning and making fine lines less visible. It felt so luxurious and hydrating and I used this on nights I also used the serum as well as nights I didn’t! I’m not sure what percentage retinol this equates to and I can’t find it online but my skin drank it up and I am missing it from my routine now it's finished!

 

Read more about the Life Plankton Elixir, Retinol Night Serum and Pro-Retinol Multi Correct Cream which made it into my Best Skincare Discoveries of 2023! The products are pricey but I have really enjoyed using them and they are regularly on sale (there is a sale on their website right now for Lunar New Year!). 

 

Biotherm products are available to buy from their website and Shoppers Drug Mart in Candada and Look Fantastic in the UK! Have you tried the brand?

 

*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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Back again with another round up of new favourites from last year, this time in makeup! I covered my best beauty discoveries in skincare last week so don’t forget to give that a read  too if you haven’t already! I am a lip product, blush and bronzer addict so this is heavy on all of those type of products!

 

First up, the Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Powder Sculpt Velvet Bronzer in Light Level 2 RRP $55 CAD / £35. This is actually the newest bronzer in my makeup collection and I got it in November with 20% off. It gets great reviews on Sephora and I had previously swatched in store so was confident on the shade. The formula is super smooth and easy to blend. There isn’t a lot of fallout and Light Level 2 is a great neutral shade for me that adds just the right amount of colour. It seems impossible to go overboard with this formula and I have been reaching for it almost daily since I got it!

 

Before Haus Labs came along, the Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Divine Bronzer in Nude Honey RRP $53 CAD / £40 was my go to and absolutely deserves a mention in this post as I still love it! As soon I saw this released earlier last year I waited patiently for one of the websites many sales as I am obsessed with the blush from this line and knew I would love this. The bronzer is a beautiful neutral shade like the Haus Labs so no looking muddy here! It’s another smooth formula that blends easily and I can go back in with my brush if I want to build more colour.

 

Onto blush and I couldn’t resist the NARS The Multiple Cream Blush, Lip and Eye Stick in Dolce Vita RRP $53 CAD / £33 mini which came in a set at Christmas. I believe this shade is limited edition which is strange as the powder version is part of the permanent line. It’s a dusty rose shade and blends easily whether I apply directly to my check or with a brush! The lasting power is great and it makes me look like I have a healthy glow!

 

To apply these, I have been reaching for my Rephr Brush 05 RRP $57 USD non-stop! These brushes are handmade in Japan using uncut natural hair so feel super soft and number 05 is a do it all cheek brush that like I said, have been using for bronzer. It fits perfectly into the hollow of my cheek, never picks up too much pigment and helps the bronzer blend seamlessly into my foundation.

 

Moving onto lip products now and the Fenty Skin Hydrating and Strengthening Lip Oil in Cherry RRP $33 CAD / £20 is so good I’m already on my second one this year! See my review of the first one I finished here! Definitely the best lip oil I have tried and miles ahead of the Dior and Clarins in terms of hydrating and conditioning my lips! This is long lasting, smells great and so easy to throw in my handbag!

 

I’ve also enjoyed the Lawless Forget the Filler Lip-Plumping Line-Smoothing Tinted Lip Balm in Georgie RRP $35.50 CAD. This is a warm nude shade so a little different to my usual pinky shades which I like! I didn’t realise this was so pricey but again I picked it up with 20% off and it gives me long lasting hydrating and leaves a lovely colour on my lips! I do not like the packaging though, this one is faulty and I will need to see if I can exchange it as the mechanism to wind the bullet back down stopped working!

 

Finally, the Glossier Ultralip High Shine Lipstick with Hyaluronic Acid in Villa RRP $24 CAD / £18 has been another constant in my handbag when I am going out for the day as the formula is so good and Villa is a perfect my lips but better shade for me! It’s a dusty rose colour and definitely more of a tinted lip balm than a true lipstick in my opinion. It does a great job of keeping my lips moisturised and I am definitely going to look at getting more shades! 

 

l-r: Glossier Villa, Lawless Georgie, NARS Dolce Vita, Pat McGrath Nude Honey, Haus Labs Light Level 2

Let me know if you have tried any of the products I’ve mentioned today and what you thought! If you want to check out my best beauty discoveries in makeup from previous years you can see 2022, 2021, and 2020 here!

 

*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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Happy New Year! I have a couple of best beauty discoveries posts to round off some new favourites from last year starting with skincare! Nothing new really stood out to me in the haircare and bodycare departments but makeup will be coming soon! 

 

Starting with cleansers and the e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm RRP $14 CAD / £11 really impressed me this year! It’s the only skincare product I have tried from e.l.f. but I will definitely be checking out the rest of the range! It contains sunflower seed oil, ceramides, and glycerin and the balm melts into an oil making easy work out of removing makeup! It’s lightly scented, lasted me a good amount of time and it’s super affordable! Definitely not as luxurious as my all-time favourite cleanser – the Emma Hardie Moringa cleansing balm – but for the price it’s impressive!

 

Moving onto serums and I tried a few this year that I can’t get enough of! The Biotherm Life Plankton Elixir RRP $116 CAD / £69* is a beautiful hydrating and soothing serum that contains glycerin, life plankton and Vitamin C. It’s also scented which I don’t mind but I know some people do but it’s so fresh and “blue” smelling it really adds to the experience for me. This makes my skin feel hydrated and supported and it looks brighter and feels smoother! Sticking with Biotherm and I have also been enjoying their Blue Retinol Night Serum RRP $99 CAD / £75*. It contains 0.25% retinol as well as life plankton, glycerin, HA and niacinamide. This has worked well to smooth and even my skin and target fine lines while also not causing any sensitivity or peeling due to the formula!

 

Next up is a classic that I only started using last year and I finally get the hype! The Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair RRP $108 CAD / £65 is a restorative serum containing peptides and hyaluronic acid bifida ferment lysate (an ingredient that’s also in the Biotherm Life Plankton Elixir) which helps protect against UV damage and repair skin. It’s called night repair but can be used AM or PM though I tend to use it in the evening and I wake up with hydrated, plump and firm skin. Lastly for serums, I have the Pixi Clarity Concentrate RRP £26* which has been my go-to when I have been experiencing breakouts and it’s been a saviour over the festive season! It contains glycolic, salicylic and lactic acid as well as probiotics and aloe and really helps to gently exfoliate my skin while still keeping it hydrated and my breakouts have been healing faster!

 

For moisturisers and SPF’s, I found quite a few I fell in love with this year! The Naturium Multi-Peptide Moisturiser RRP $20 USD / £21 is a great, simple, lightweight moisturiser I used in the AM that kept my skin hydrated and worked well with SPF’s and my makeup! At night, I loved the Biotherm Blue Pro-Retinol Multi Correct Cream RRP $103 CAD*. This is a rich overnight cream that smoothed my skin leaving it plump the next morning with less visible fine lines. It felt so luxurious, and, as I mentoned, I love the scent of Biotherm products!

 

For SPF’s I really rate the older version of the Fenty Hydra Vizor – the Invisible Moisturiser Broad Spectrum SPF 30 RRP $49 CAD. This seems to have been recently reformulated to a mineral SPF and I am gutted I replaced it without realising the new one gets awful reviews. It seems to be out of stock in a lot of places but hopefully she brings it back as it’s perfect under makeup, no pilling, hydrating, protecting and smells good! Sticking with the purple theme and the Isntree Onion Newpair Sunscreen SPF40 RRP $30.64 CAD* was another stand out product. It’s lightweight, again didn’t pill with my makeup and hydrates all day. Not pictured as I used it up way earlier in the year is the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50 RRP $24.08 CAD which I couldn’t not mention as it might be my favourite SPF ever! Super lightweight, this feels like you have nothing on and like the others, doesn’t pill or react with other products or makeup. It just stands out a little more to me and I like that it’s SPF 50! Another product definitely worth the hype!

 

Did I mention any of your favourites? Let me know what your favourite skincare discovery was this year! If you want to see my previous best beauty discoveries in skincare you can check out 2020, 2021 and 2022!

 

*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

Bloglovin | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter