This brand overview has been on my to do
list for the longest time but with up to 40% off on the Sand&Sky website
for the Black Friday weekend there is no time like the present!Sand&Sky are an instantly recognisable
(just look at that packaging!) Australian cruelty free, vegan brand founded by
twin sisters Emily and Sarah Hamilton. Using Aussie botanicals in their
products, they are committed to responsible sourcing and recyclable packaging!
There are three ‘lines’ if you will – Australian Pink Clay to detoxify,
Australian Emu Apple to brighten and Tasmanian Spring Water to hydrate – can
you tell they are a proud A-Beauty brand yet?! I have four of their products
here from each of the lines that I’ve been using for quite a while now and I
honestly couldn’t recommend them more!
The Sand&Sky Enzyme Powder Polish
RRP £44.90* is a beautifully gentle exfoliator that was even suitable for
me when I was on Roaccutane and couldn’t use anything too harsh! The powder is
ultra-fine, full of antioxidants and, on contact with water, it turns into a pink
foam! It doesn’t feel gritty but my skin always looks smoother, more even and
brighter after use and never looks red or feels tight or dry! It is similar to
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and Good Molecules Pineappple Exfoliating Powder
but this is the gentlest of the three though no less effective! It also
contains Vitamin C and Australian super berries to nourish and hydrate. I use
this a couple of times a week and you only need about a coin size amount so
this tub has lasted me forever and I am only about half way through! I spoke
about it more in this Five Things I’m Loving post here!
Next up, we have the Australian Emu
Apple Dreamy Glow Drops RRP £50.90* which is definitely one of their most
famous products! It’s a really unique bi-phase serum that you shake to activate
and the result is hydrated, brighter skin! The formula feels very lightweight
though it is oily and I’m not sure how I wouldn’t have got on with this if my
skin was still oily/combo but it’s more on the normal/dry side now and drinks
this up! It contains 5 types of Hyaluronic acid, Australia Emu Apple - an
antioxidant to combat ageing, boost brightness and add glow, Kakadu Plum, a source
of Vitamin C to target pigmentation and hemi-squalane to lock in moisture. It
really is a dreamy formula and my skin looks more even and bright and glowy with use!
Despite the lightly oily formula this works well with my other skin products and
makeup and never makes it separate or pill!
Another insta fave is the Sand&Sky
Australian Pink Clay Porefining Mask RRP £36.90*(for 60g – mine is 30g) and
for good reason! It’s a detoxifying face mask, using Australian Pink Clay to
draw impurities, toxins, and pollutants out of the skin. This works to tighten
pores, tackle pigmentation and even skin tone and as well as pink clay it
contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C again in the form of Kakadu Plum and Pomegranate
to act as an antioxidant. You only need to leave it on for 10 minutes to get
the benefits and the tingle is real with this! My skin feels smoother and
tighter (but not dry), pores look smaller and my skin looks brighter overall. Love
the dinky little brush that comes with it too! Read more in this Five More Facemasks post!
Finally, the newest product to my stash –
the Tasmanian Spring Water Hydration Boost Cream RRP £44.90*. This is a hydrating
gel-cream containing, you guessed it, Tasmanian Spring Water to strengthen as
well as hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture, fermented sea kelp to smooth and
target fine lines and red seaweed extract to prevent dehydration. The texture
makes it feel both lightweight and rich at the same time and it immediately
feels cooling and soothing. It has become my go to night cream and I wake up to
plump, hydrated skin and I love the subtle marshmallow-y scent! I find the
formula a little too much sometimes during the day, depending on what other
serums/SPF or makeup I use on occasion it pills slightly along my hairline and
with other products which is a pet peeve of mine but I don’t have this issue at
night so that’s my preferred time to use it!
I also have to take a moment to mention the packaging again – I am
obsessed with how bright and weighty it is! It’s so eye-catching and luxurious
feeling and the brand is almost 100% recyclable (the aluminium droppers in the
serums are the only part that isn’t!).
Like I said at the start of the post,
there are hefty discounts across the website ending today (28th November - sorry if you are reading later than that!)! As well having their own
website, Sand&Sky are also available from ASOS and BeautyBay! Have
you tried anything yet? Let me know your thoughts!
*denotes
a PR sample that was sent to me. Affiliate links included All opinions are my
own. 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
I’ve been meaning to post about the
Sanctuary Spa Wellness range for the longest time now and I am finally getting
round to it and it’s actually perfect timing as we move into winter! Sanctuary
Spa is not a brand I have tried much from despite them being readily available
and affordable but I’ve been using these for a while now so read on to hear my
thoughts!
The range consists of four products
designed specifically to help you relax, de-stress and aid sleep and first up
we have the De-Stress Bath Salts with Magnesium RRP £8*. While I shower
more often than I take a bath, there have been a few occasions over the last
couple of months were I have been feeling more stressed than usual and these
salts have been a welcome addition to my nightly routine! I’ve drawn a bath,
added a few handfuls and the whole ritual has helped relax me before bed and
ensure a full nights sleep! I have struggled in the past with salts that don’t
dissolve properly leaving me feeling uncomfortable in the bath but these are
amazing, they are so finely ground, dissolve straight away and the scent is so
relaxing! The magnesium also helps to sooth tired muscles so these have become
a firm favourite when I want to wind down and have some me time before
bed!
I haven’t noticed much difference with
CBD oil before (I used to have one safe for ingesting) but the Calming CBD Oil RRP £12.50*is a nice little multi tasker – it’s a body, bath and shower oil scented with
jasmine, patchouli and frankincense. I hate the scent of jasmine on its own but
this blend matches the rest of the range and is very subtle and relaxing. I
like to add a few drops into my bath or rub over my body before stepping into
the shower but this can also be used on pulse points. It releases the scent, softens
my body and helps me wind down!
I have previously spoken about the De-Stress
Warming Body Balm RRP £10* back in this post and like I said then, forget
warming, this stuff is HOT! At least to begin with! While I enjoy this I can
imagine it would be a bit much for some people and whatever you do, wash your hands
thoroughly before touching your face! Like with the rest of the range, I like
to use this just before bed and let it do its work soothing any tight or tense
muscles across my shoulders and calves. It warms up slowly so I would recommend
starting with less product as it feels a little hot for a while before calming
down to a lovely relaxing sensation and it feels so comforting! As well as the
jasmine, patchouli and frankincense scent this is also infused with ginger and
rosemary oil.
Finally, the Sleep Mist RRP £12*
which I like to spritz over my pillows and duvet as I am getting into bed and
from using the rest of the range, I’ve come to associate this scent with
relaxing and bedtime so it’s become so soothing to me! You can also use this
over your face as it includes hyaluronic acid as well as queen of the night
extract and blue light protection. While I don’t have huge problems sleeping, I
am pretty stressy and I do think these products help me relax and sleep deeper!
This and the oil are also perfect for travelling with if you want something comforting
if staying away from home! Sanctuary Spa have also conducted a study where the
results show these products are clinically proven to help aid sleep and
relaxation and 93% agreed the scent helped relax body and mind so don’t just
take my word for it!
Sanctuary Spa is available from their website, Boots, Superdrug, Look Fantastic, Feel Unique and Next among others! They
have a few bundles out at the minute for Christmas and are also often
discounted or on 3 for 2 promotions!
Have you tried anything from Sanctuary
Spa before? What is your nightly ritual?
I’m sure you all know by now what a huge
DECIEM fan I am with particular emphasis on NIOD and The Ordinary! This year
it’s Slowvember and you are encouraged to shop slowly, only buying what you
need while taking advantage of a 23% saving through the entire month.
Furthermore, on November 26, they will 'Take Back Black Friday', the DECIEM
website will be on pause and products will not be available to purchase at any
of their stores. So, to coincide with their annual sale, here is a review of
some recent additions to my routine and some old favourites! An absolute dream
PR parcel for me! You can also read my 2019 post here!
Starting with Sanskrit Saponins (SS) RRP £34*, this is a cleanser but not a makeup remover, and it’s perfect as
a second or morning cleanse and one I’ve been through multiple tubes of over
the years! Don’t be put off by the scent – it’s made with ayurvedic plant
saponins and day old coffee beans is the best way I can describe it! It’s a
thick paste and works to clean oil and dirt from my face making pores look
minimised – despite it removing oil, my skin never feels stripped! This has worked
particularly well for me in the past when my skin was more on the
oily/blemished side of things as it really removed build-up and helped clarify
my skin and even now with my skin type being more normal I am still enjoying it!
Talked about it more in this post here too!
Next up,the Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist (SSDM2) RRP £34*, and this one is a bit of a cult
favourite and I can now see why! Fun fact, I did have this for a while back in
2017 before I did my visa in Canada but as you can see from the packaging, it
is rather on the bulky side so I left it behind and now I know what I have been
missing out on! This is a protective mist, acting against oxidative stress,
water loss and inflammation of the skin. I love the fact it’s antioxidant and
my skin feels so calm and hydrated with every use! I already mentioned the
bulky packaging but that means I don’t feel so guilty for wasting this and I
have been spraying over my chest area too as I am starting to target early
signs of aging there too.
Moving onto serums now and starting with
a couple of my most repurchased skincare items! TheMulti-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex (MMHC2) RRP £38is myone true Hyaluronic Acid
love – this to me is the gold standard and one I can see and feel immediate
results with. It contains 15 forms of hyaluronic compounds designed to plump
and hydrate the different layers of the skin and has a watery consistency - a
little goes a long way and it spreads easily over my face. My skin drinks this
up and nothing works as quickly or as long as this on my smile lines – usually
throughout the day I can see the fine lines setting in as my face dries out but
not with this, not even sitting in central heating working from home all day
with makeup on, it is magical! It also works to encourage production of
collagen and my skin just looks and feels so plump and well supported with
this!
If talking to someone new to NIOD, I
always recommend MMHC2 and the Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1 (CAIS3) RRP £60*as starting points. These are two serums I have been using for years
now (since around 2016 – see this best beauty discoveries post!) and always go
back to. CAIS is now in its third generation now and working just as well as
ever for me. It is no longer required to premix the serum yourself - good that there is less packaging but I had
gotten kind of use to playing scientist ;)! CAIS3 is a watery, blue liquid with
a slight scent of vinegar (don’t worry it dissipates very quickly!) that
maintains healthy looking skin by targeting signs of skin ageing including
textural damage, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and a lack of radiance. This
has been a constant repurchase for me over the last few years and will continue
to be – it is easily my favourite serum! My skin really does look and feel much
healthier when I use this consistently. It’s more even, clear and firm, it really
does what it says on the tin! A must have!
RE: Pigment (RP) RRP £50* is a newer NIOD
product to me. It’s a multi-pathway brightening serum and feels very
lightweight and doesn’t pill or interfere with my other serums. It is
formulated to target uneven skin tone and treat pigmentation and contains
gallic acid and white shiitake ferment to aid this. I haven’t seen any major
improvement in some targeted pigmentation I have from old acne but overall my
skin is looking bright and even so I will update once I have used the whole
bottle – it’s been about five weeks so far! I should also mention this targeted
pigmentation is only immediately noticeable to me as I am my own biggest critic
and I tend to be harsh on products designed for treating pigmentation as it’s
one of my biggest skin concerns!
Moving on to another couple of tried and
tested serums, Modulating Glucosides (MG) RRP £21*targets sensitive,
irritated skin encouraging a calmer complexion. It supports the skin barrier,
encourages hydration and repair and contains oat synthetic analogues, ceramides
and purified ginger root to help reduce redness, itching and burning. Despite
its viscous appearance, it feels lightweight and sinks in easily - I find the
scent a bit like paint though it doesn’t linger. I used this a lot while I was
on Roaccutane earlier this year and it only occurred to me after I finished my
first bottle that it was one of the reasons my skin had been so calm while on
the drug. Such a comforting, soothing serum, can’t recommended it enough if you
struggle with sensitivity!
I used Survival 0 (S0) RRP £20*alongside
MG at night and it’s another one that impressed me so much! It’s an
antioxidant, reparative serum targeting damage caused by environmental
stressors like pollution, smog and blue light. It also comes in 10, 20 and 30
which offer some SPF protection. It’s a lightweight, orange serum that absorbs
easily and has a faint herbal scent. Overtime, this reduces photo damage and I
have noticed my skin tone is healthier overall. It also feels hydrating
(includes glycerin and squalane) and layers well with other skincare! Like I mentioned
earlier when talking about SDSM2, antioxidants are something I am loving
incorporating into my routine and this one is special *heart eyes emoji*. MG
and S0 have their own dedicated blog post here and also feature in this how I repair my skin barrier post!
Another couple of newer products to
finish up this review! The Fractionated Eye-Contour Concentrate (FECC) RRP £43*
is a step up for me in terms of eye creams/serums as this one targets visible
aging whereas previously I was mostly targeting dark circles/puffiness. FECC
does that too using 28 technologies to target concerns. Despite being a serum
this is hydrating enough for me during the day and overnight. It plays well
with the rest of my skincare as well as my makeup and the biggest difference I
have noticed with aside from reduced puffiness and less visible fine lines is
the difference on my upper lids! I have hooded lids so it is a bit of a
revelation to feel like I can actually see a (small) bit of lid space and have
them look firmer! Looking forward to seeing continued results with this one!
Finally, Flavanone Mud (FM) RRP £38*,
a burnt orange, decongesting three phase “system”, this is billed as much more
than a mask. It purifies the skin, offers a barrier against external pollution
and it responds and works to improve the skins defence mechanisms. It’s advised
to only use once a week for ten minutes and this tingles while it’s on and for
a while after its washed off (though my skin doesn’t go red)! I have really
been enjoying the decongesting properties of this especially along my jaw line and
my skin always feels soft after use while looking brighter too!
Congratulations if you made it to the end
of this bumper post! DECIEM are known for their scientific explanations and I
am the first to admit a lot of the terminology goes over my head but there is
more information available on their website as well as information on what
order to use the serums in and regimen builders if you are just starting out
with a skincare routine! I honestly can’t recommend NIOD enough, I am a huge
fan of The Ordinary too but NIOD is probably my favourite skincare brand ever –
it’s well worth the money and especially now with 23% off but as DECIEM say,
don’t rush and only buy what you need!
Happy Halloween! It’s that time again, and, as usual, I
have quite a few to get through so lets get to it!
Haircare
Schwarzkopf got2b Dry Shampoo
My dry shampoo go to, this features in
every other empties post as it's affordable, smells fresh and mops up grease
without leaving a white cast! Gives me an extra day out of my hair and I
already have a backup!
My favourite scalp scrub that I have
tried! It contains sugar crystals to exfoliate and does a great job getting
rid of build-up and making my scalp feel invigorated. I find with some scalp
scrubs I can’t even seem to get it worked into my scalp but this is a brilliant
formula – it’s sulphate free however lathers up well and it’s really easy to
get it worked into the scalp! It leaves my hair shiny and feeling hydrated but
not weighed down. Will repurchase once I finish another scalp scrub I have!
Read more here!
Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector
The best hair treatment there is! I love
this stuff and notice a huge difference in the strength of my hair when I use
it! Have already repurchased and you can read more here in this Haircare Essentials post!
Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask
Nice but I wasn’t blown away bythis – probably due to the size and me only
getting a couple if uses out of it – I would be inclined to purchase a full
size and try this properly though considering how much I love No.3!
Living Proof Intense Moisture Mask
A nice softening mask but nothing special
making me want to repurchase! Again, might just be because of the size though!
Not a repurchase!
Paradox Repair 3-in-1 Conditioner
Nicely softening but I did not love the
scent – very herbal. I like their sustainable packaging though so this would be
a brand I will maybe explore more in the future!
Skincare
Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm
Hands down my favourite cleanser! Super
luxurious formula and scent, this is a joy to use! Removed my makeup easily and
doesn’t irritate my eyes or leave a film behind and it feels hydrating! Pricy
but worth it and it’s always on offer! Will repurchase when I finish a few more
cleansers and you can read more about it here!
Jordan Samuel Skin The After Show
Cleanser
This is a thick, gel to oil formula and
feels and smells very luxurious with it’s citrus scent. It made easy work of removing
my makeup and my face felt clean and hydrated after use but there are other
cleansers I prefer so this isn’t a repurchase for me! Read more here!
Cerave Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser
I loved the OG hydrating cleanser so
picked this up to try but for me it isn’t on the same level! They both contain
ceramides and hyaluronic acid but the OG feels more hydrating to me. Nice to
try the cream to foam but I will stick with the hydrating in the future! Read more here!
BeautyBio The Nightly Serum*
Oops, I didn’t realise I’d had this for
so long! This contains deep-release retinol (though I can’t find any
information on strength) peptides and hyaluronic acid. Don’t get me wrong, it
is a nice product, I didn’t experience any sensitivity and my skin felt and
looked plump the next day but for the price (£105) I was not blown away by it and
felt like I saw similar results with products 10% of the price! Full review here!
Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating
Treatment*
Another one I am embarrassed to admit
I’ve had for so long! I’m putting this down to being on Roaccutane earlier in
the year and not being able to use retinols or exfoliants so they got forgotten
about! This is a 10% AHA and BHA serum and tingled on application for me but
the effects were brilliant, it brough clogged pores to the surface and made my
skin smooth! I ended up using the end of the bottle on the back of my arms as I
realised how old it was and it did a great job of helping with KP too! Would repurchase!
Read more about Good Molecules here!
Lanolips Face Base The Aussie Flyer Recovery
Mask
Really enjoyed this overnight mask, as well
as lanolin, it also contains coffee to reboot dull skin and mint oil to restore
radiance. It's not recommended for sensitive skin but I personally haven't had
any reaction to it! It leaves my skin feeling plump and hydrated and I don’t
bother tissuing off the excess after 10 minutes, I just leave it on and
sometimes put some oil on top as well right before bed! I do have other
overnight masks I prefer so probably not a repurchase for me! Read more about Lanolips here!
One of the best Vitamin C serums I have
used to date! I struggle with formulations suitable for daytime i.e., not oily,
don’t pill and this was a lightweight, creamy serum that rubbed in easily and
sat so well with the rest of my skincare and makeup. It contains THD Ascorbate,
Q10, Vitamin E and squalane and did a great job brightening my complexion as
well as minimising fine lines. The price is eye watering however so this won’t
be a repurchase right away for me as I have some others to use up! Read more here!
Garden of Wisdom C-Deep Vitamin C Serum
Another great Vitamin C option however I
could only use this one in the PM as it’s oil based. I woke up to a hydrated,
bright and plump complexion! Have some more Vitamin C in my stash so not a
repurchase for now but I may go back to it if I can’t find a morning one I am
happy with the price and effects of!
This was a lovely thick hyaluronic acid serum
that helped plump my skin and improve the look of fine lines and texture. I
loved the consistency of this – it felt so luxurious - and it did a great job
hydrating my skin (I apply to slightly damp skin). It didn’t wow me anymore
than my usual go to, NIOD MMHC, which, although still pricey, isn’t as pricey
as this so it’s not a repurchase for me! Read more here!
Cerave Eye Repair Cream
I’ve been through a couple of these and
you really can’t go wrong – it’s a simple, lightweight, hydrating cream that
contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid and it’s great for puffiness and dark
circles and sits under makeup very well too. Will repurchase in the future!
Read more about it and some other budget eye creams here!
AHC Essential Real Eye Cream for Face
This was a lovely lightweight cream – I
used all over the face not just eyes – and it was perfect for daytime as it sat
well under makeup. Maybe a little too lightweight for me overnight as I prefer
thicker creams but I would repurchase this for summer! Check it out in this post!
Lumene Nordic-C Arctic Berry Oil
Cocktail*
This was a lovely hydrating product! It’s
a super lightweight oil/serum that brightened and hydrated my skin and I was
impressed with how well it sat under my makeup so I think anyone with dry skin
would love this! Would consider a repurchase in the future but I have plenty of
similar products I am working my way through right now! Full review here!
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss lip butter
I think this has overtaken Burt’s Bees as
my favourite lip balm! This is my second tube, it’s huge and leaves a gorgeous
hydrating sheen behind and it lasts so long between top ups leaving my lips super
soft! Same scent as the Bum Bum cream but much more subtle! Will repurchase
soon! Full review here!
Bodycare
Vaseline Essential Healing Body lotion
A classic moisturiser that I have
repurchased countless times and will continue to do so! Love the fresh scent
and it moisturises my body well. Will repurchase!
Nivea Crème Care Shower Cream
Another classic – love the fresh, clean
scent and it's £1, can’t go wrong, already repurchased!
Nivea Soft moisturising cream
Another affordable body care love, like
the shower gel this smells fresh and clean and sinks into my skin quickly! Will
repurchase soon!
Rituals Ritual of Jing mild body scrub*
via Look Fantastic
Enjoyed this scrub, it was gritty but
gentle and rubbed in easily and the scent was quite masculine which was nice! Plenty of other scrubs to get through so not a
repurchase!
ESPA Body lotion
Felt very lightweight and moisturised
well but I didn’t love the scent – not a repurchase!
Elemis Skin Nourishing Milk Bath
This was lovely – my skin felt so soft and
nourished after the bath and it had a subtle, powdery scent. Not a crazy amount
of bubbles but I would repurchase this for sure if I took baths more often!
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Shower
Gel
Again, scented like Bum Bum cream but
more subtle, this is a lovely shower gel! A bit pricy to purchase but I love
when these are in Christmas sets and I plan to repurchase soon!
Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Bright Cream
Didn’t love this scent unfortunately but
it did moisturise and smooth my KP really well! Not a repurchase for me though!
Makeup
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte
Longwear foundation in 150
Been through a couple of bottles of this
now and I love it. It’s full coverage, matte and lasts really well all day on
me especially now my skin is more on the normal side of things. When I was oily
I found my chin would wear away throughout the day. Will repurchase in the
future! Full review here!
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating
Longwear Foundation in 150
Picked this up late last year when I was
on Roaccutane and I ended up loving it too! It’s medium to full coverage and it
really brings the glow! I found it didn’t fully set even when I powdered so it
transfers a bit but it really did work well for me while my skin was dry/more
dehydrated. My skin is more normal now so I will stick to the matte version
now! Full review here!
Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in
2N1 Desert Beige
My holy grail foundation and one I will
never be without in my makeup collection. It’s my go to if I need to look my
best and 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. Already have a back up!
Read more about why I love it here!
Pat McGrath Sheer Colour Lip Balm in Blow
Up
Really enjoyed this lip balm and tinted
lip balms are all I have been wearing the last 2 years! This was a gorgeous
colour and though not the longest lasting tinted lip balm I have tried I still
loved it. Gave a great sheer wash of colour and felt nicely hydrating. There
was so much extra product in the tube too, I scraped it all out with a cotton
bud! Would repurchase! Read more about the Pat McGrath balms here!
Beauty Blender
The original and still the best makeup
sponge in my opinion – I already have a backup and about 3 more as I bought a
couple of Christmas sets on sale last year!
Miscellaneous
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
I couldn’t fit this in the main picture
but wanted to mention it again as its technically a beauty supplement. I love
taking this every day and the main difference I notice is that my joints are
a lot more supple. Dissolves really well too. Already using my back up!
I reckon I will have one more empties
right at the end of the year and I am trying to be more considered with
my purchases and what PR I accept recently so that has really helped me
concentrate on getting products finished! Have you tried anything I’ve
mentioned? Let me know what you thought!
