Wrapping up my Best Beauty Discoveries of
2025 with hair and body care! I am a creature of habit but still found some
newbies to me last year that I loved!
Starting with the Coco and Eve Like a Virgin Hair Masque RRP $56 CAD | £30*and this blew me away this year! It’s
an intensively nourishing formula containing shea butter and argan oil to
detangle hair and tame frizziness. I let it marinate in my hair for 5-10
minutes then wash out and style as normal. The result is manageable, soft,
shiny and hydrated hair with no straw like ends! Usually, I don’t see a huge
difference between normal conditioners and hair masks but with this one I can
really see and feel the difference in my hair! It’s got a lovely lightweight
coconut scent and works for all hair types!
On days I don’t plan to use a hair mask,
I have been making a point of oiling my hair before washing with the OGX Coconut Miracle Oil RRP $13 CAD| £9.99. This is definitely the Abbey Yung
effect and has made such a difference to my hair! This would be way too heavy
of an oil to use on my hair after washing but I coat my ends in it and let it
soak in for about an hour before showering and wash out with a clarifying
shampoo. I am left with soft, hydrated hair with great shine and my ends don’t
look or feel as frazzled! It smells like a vacation and it’s so affordable I
don’t feel bad or like I am wasting it by washing out!
Sticking with the drugstore and after
enjoying the pre-shampoo treatment from the same line, I picked up the OGX Bond Protein Repair Heat Protect Spray RRP $11.97 CAD| £15. This protects
up to 230°C and is a weightless mist with a continuous spray. I spray on damp
hair, it doesn’t weigh it down and leaves it feeling soft and protected from
the heat I use! The spray is formulated to rebuild bonds in the inner hair
cortex and to bind to damaged sites on hair cuticle to help keep hair strong,
smooth, and resilient. I enjoy the scent too, it’s hard to describe but inoffensive!
Moving onto body products and this 2025
was the year of Josie Maran for me! The Body Butter in Topless Tangerine RRP
$22 CAD*is so creamy and hydrating and leaves my skin feeling soft and glowing!
It contains argan oil, avocado oil and shea butter good for skin elasticity and
suppleness and it moisturises my skin so well and smells incredible! This travel
size is so handy for trips too, I took it to Norway last year and it lasted me most
of the trip as you don’t need a lot of it! The formula is perfect, thick but it
sinks in easily!
The body butter is the perfect companion
to the Josie Maran Fragrance Mist in Topless Tangerine RRP $38 CAD*. I used
this so much during summer especially and it smells so fruity and fresh! It is a
milky emulsion scented with pixie tangerine, pink grapefruit and brown sugar. Like
the body butter, the mist also contains argan oil to lock in moisture and scent
and the two can be layered. They both come in a range of scents, but Topless
Tangerine is so special, I love it! Read more here!
Last week was makeup and now it’s the
turn of the skincare I discovered in 2025!
I’m going to start with the CurrentBody Skin LED Red Light Therapy Face Mask: Series 2 RRP £399.99 | $639.99 CAD | $469.99 USD which I bought myself right at the end of 2024! I was so
consistent with this mask throughout 2025 and use it on average 5 nights a week
and I cannot begin to tell you how much I love it! I have a whole post on it here with more information but in short, my skin is more even, calmer and much
less inflamed. Darker pigmentation spots take less time to fade, active spots
aren’t active for as long, my skin looks and feels smoother and firmer and fine
lines aren’t pronounced or getting deeper. My complexion is brighter and
clearer and just better than when I wasn’t using it! It is most definitely an
investment but well worth the money! It is a nightly ritual for me, and my skin
is reaping the benefits! I have an affiliated discount code - DANIELLEBB
- which gives a 10% discount year round and for a few weeks around Black Friday
this increases to 20% off!
I found it so tough to pick just one cleanser,
but I didn’t want this post to have 20 products in it! The Farmacy Green Clean Gentle Creamy Cleanser RRP $44 CAD| £31* was one I finished first
from a few Farmacy cleanser faves I received this year (read more here) and
this one is great for drier and more sensitive skins! It’s fragrance free and
contains moringa as well as oats and Vitamin F to sooth and nourish the skin. It
feels creamy and hydrating and I reached for it especially when my skin was feeling
in any way sensitised but its just such a lovely second or morning cleanse no
matter what your skin type is!
I became obsessed with theFarmacy Brighten Up 3% TXA Dark Spot Toner RRP $52 CAD| £31*last year! It might
just be my favouite of Farmacy’s three toner offerings, but it was Hard
decision! It claims to reduce the look of dark spots in just 7 days and I would
have to agree! It contains 3% tranexamic acid to work on aforementioned dark
spots and to brighten as well as 5% PHA and azelaic acid to even skin tone and
gently exfoliate. This has worked so well to brighten my skin and help lighten
some stubborn dark spots I get after breakouts! It’s gentle and I love using it
in both my AM and PM routines!
The Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner RRP $52 CAD via IPSY| £34*pleasantly surprised me last year,
probably because I have been underwhelmed by most other Glow Recipe products I
have tried! This formula is cooling, brightening and hydrating and it didn’t
smell overpowering like their watermelon line. It contains Cloudberry which is
packed with Vitamins C and E and Coenzyme Q10 which is antioxidant and
strengthens skin. The bottle is only 75mls so I went through it quite quickly
and it was hard to get the last quarter out as it’s a jelly-like consistency
and comes in pump packaging and I just repurchased as Sephora had 50% off last
week! Read more about it and the Farmacy toner here!
My retinal product of the year was the Sachi Skin Ursolic and Acid and Retinal Overnight Reform RRP $129 CAD| £78*. This
is a 0.05% stabilised retinaldehyde and also contains 12 antioxidants and
Ayurvedic botanicals, including Encapsulated Glutathione, Superoxide Dismutase
(also found in one of my favourite facial mists from NIOD!), Niacinamide,
Bakuchiol, Rosehip, and Carrot Root Extract. It also features Liposomal Ursolic
Acid and Tripeptide and these all work together to brighten, protect, support
collagen, firmness, and skin renewal. I used this 1-2 times per week and
noticed a real difference in my skin - it felt smoother, I had less congestion
on my chin and jawline, and my fine lines looked softer and less obvious. It
also helped fade residual dark spots and my skin felt more plump and
even-toned, and I looked fresher in the morning! I love how gentle but
effective this is – it is recommended to layer it under or over moisturiser but
I personally didn’t have to buffer it as it didn’t cause any irritation or
flakiness (I am used to 0.05-0.06% retinals though!). I also love the airless
pump packaging – it feels sleek, hygienic, and makes it easy to get the right
amount of product each time! I got around 5 months use (using 1-2 times a week)
so feel it’s reasonably priced for such an effective product!
Rounding up my best skincare discoveries
of last year with a couple of SPF’s now and the haruharu wonder Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen SPF50+ RRP $23.02 CAD* became one of my
favourite SPF’s this summer and I love the pump packaging it comes in! It’s a
lightweight, non-greasy formula that doesn’t leave a white cast and I think it
would work for all skin types! I use 2 finger lengths worth, and it sits so
well under my makeup, there is no pilling and my skin feels well protected! It
contains 100% Korean black rice, rich in antioxidants, vitamin E for
free-radical protection and skin moisturising Ceramide NP & Heartleaf
Extract. Use my affiliated discount code DANIELLESBB5 for up to 5% extra off at
YesStyle and read more about my K Beauty Faves here!
Lastly, I have to mention the Naked Sundays CabanaClear Invisible Water Gel Serum SPF50 $24.99 CAD| £25| $22 USD*.
This is a lovely lightweight, quick absorbing and hydrating SPF! It’s silicone
free and full of antioxidants like Vitamin E and Kakadu Plum to protect and
fight aging as well as hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump skin. It comes out
like a creamy serum but rubs in clear with no white cast and sits well under
makeup, I can’t fault it! Read more about Naked Sundays here!
I would love to know your thoughts on any
of these products if you have tried them! Check out my previous years posts
below! Best Beauty Discoveries 2024 | Skincare
I’ve got my best beauty discoveries
series coming up this month starting with makeup today! These are not
necessarily new products released in 2025 but that just happened to be the year
I discovered them and fell in love!
For base products, the Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer in shade 04 Fair Neutral RRP $45.50 CAD| £27 has become my go to concealer! It’s a great colour match
for me and works well under the eyes and on blemishes or dark spots. It
contains niacinamide to brighten, arnica to reduce the look of redness and
hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate. I love the packaging and the formula
feels so hydrating and blends easily as well as offering good coverage!
I was sent the limited edition MERIT Archival Lip Essentials Gift Set in September and the Signature Lip Blush in
Archival RRP $36 CAD* and Shade Slick Sheen in Archival RRP $33 CAD*have
not left my lips since! The lip blush is a diffused soft matte in a cool mauve
and the slick sheen is a sheer pearlescent lip oil in a cool mauve. The lip
blush in particular is such a special formula! It feels lightweight, glides on
so smoothly and doesn’t feel drying at all despite being a matte, the shade is
beautiful and looks so natural but helps pull my makeup together! I haven’t
worn a matte on my lips in forever but this is the perfect formula for me!
Obsessed! I love adding the Slick Sheen over the top when I want my lips to
look glossier and the combo gives me the perfect my lips but better shade! I
hope they bring this shade to the permanent line!
Last year I managed to snag a $100 Rouge
Reward so knew I had to pick up something luxurious! I decided on the Yves Saint Laurent All Hours 24H Hyper Sunkissed Glow Bronzer in Shade 2 Dune RRP $88 CAD| £48 and I’ve happily used it all year! I am obsessed with the
packaging of this and the product inside isn’t bad either! It contains a little
shimmer but to be honest I thought it was matte! The formula is smooth and
blendable and leave my skin looking sunkissed and never orange or dirty!
The Tower 28 Beauty GetSet Blur + Set Matte Powder Blush in Long Beach Iced Tea RRP $32 CAD| £22 was my favourite
blush I picked up last year and I definitely want to explore this brand a bit
more! This is an earthy rosy pink shade with great colour payoff and buildable
pigment. It helps smooth the look of texture and give my cheeks a healthy flush
of long lasting colour! Need to get more shades!
Lastly, the Pixi Natural Brow Duo in
Deep Brunette RRP $24 CAD | £15* has been a constant in my makeup bag for
the last half of the year! I love the dual ended packaging and it’s so quick to
use with the angled brow pencil which makes it easy to fill in any sparse sections
of my brow then the gel to set them! The gel isn’t crispy and keeps my brows in
place all day!
Top to bottom: YSL bronzer in 2 Dune, Tower 28 blush in Long
Beach Iced Tea, MERIT Signature Lip Blush in Archival and Shade Slick Sheen in
Archival
I’d love to know your best makeup
discoveries from the last year! Let me know if you have tried any of these as
well!
Find the last few years versions of this post below!
Time for my end of year empties it’s
Farmacy heavy! I got quite a lot finished and am working on some things that I very
nearly got finished for my next batch!
Haircare
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Advanced
Clean Dry Shampoo x2
I can go for a couple days longer without
washing my hair when I use this and my hair looks just as good as if I’d washed
it. There is no white cast or residue and my hair feels manageable and actually
looks clean! While it’s pricey, I find I use less than drugstore dry shampoo
and it has a fresh citrus scent. Already got multiple backups! Read my full review here!
Got2be Extra Fresh Dry Shampoo
I like to have a drug store option on
hand too and this one is great! Nowhere near as effective as the Living Proof
but freshens up my hair for a day and is a great price! Will repurchase in the
future!
Head & Shoulders Itchy Scalp
Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Always have Head & Shoulders in my
shower! A great cleansing shampoo that keeps dandruff and an itchy scalp away!
Have already repurchased!
Olaplex No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair
Serum
I went through a long phase of not using
this but I was consistent recently and it really helped smooth and protect my
hair! I don’t love the scent though it dissipates quickly but I have a lot of
other hair products in my stash right now so not a repurchase!
Oribe Hair Alchemy Resilience Shampoo
I really liked this shampoo! It’s
strengthening and nourishing and made my hair feel stronger and look shiny. As
I said, I have a surplus of haircare at the minute so not a repurchase right
now!
Living Proof Full Shampoo
Another nice shampoo I liked using – I
didn’t see my hair get anymore volume (it’s long and fine so nothing really
helps!) so not a repurchase!
Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Hair
Strengthener
Love this weekly treatment that you apply
to damp hair and leave in. It works to construct new bonds within the hair to
help strengthen it as well as protect it and visibly reduce the look of split
ends. It also offers heat protection up to 232˚C to help prevent future
breakage which is something I always look for in a leave in product as I use
heat on my hair. It’s silicone-free, with a 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! Have two backups of the full size!
Hair Rituel by Sisley The Cream 230
This was a great travel size, smoothing
cream with heat protectant! It has a citrus scent that dissipates quickly and didn’t
weigh my hair down! On the expensive side so not a repurchase for me!
Bodycare
Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Body
Wash
A super hydrating body wash that changes
from an oil consistency to a gentle, milky lather. I love this for my skin in
the winter as it’s so nourishing and doesn’t strip my skin. It doesn’t leave a
residue, leaves my skin feeling clean, soft and hydrated and lasts ages too!
Will repurchase in the future!
Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion
This is a really great body lotion that works
to replenish moisture, leaving skin feeling soft and supple. It hydrates my
skin and absorbs quickly with no greasy residue left behind. I particularly
love it in the winter as it feels a little thicker than some other lotions I’ve
tried. Will repurchase in the future! Full reviews of both these and some other Naturium products here!
Vaseline Dry Skin Repair
Love this, smells so fresh, is a
lightweight consistency and moisturises well and is affordable! Will repurchase!
OUAI Body Cleanser in Melrose Place
Obsessed with anything scented with
Melrose Place and this is no different! It’s a really nice body cleanser too
that didn’t dry out my skin and obviously smells amazing! Will repurchase!
First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body
Scrub with 10% AHA
A great body scrub that is very gritty
and smooths my body skin easily! Would love if it came in a tub rather than a
tub! Would repurchase on a good sale!
L’occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream
Thickest hand cream I have ever tried,
does sink in well eventually but I save this for when I’m at home on the sofa
as it takes longer than lighter formulations! A great treat for hands in the
winter especially! Would repurchase!
Nivea Q10 3 in 1 Anti-Age Hand Cream
My favourite hand cream! So affordable
and keeps my hands so smooth and hydrated! The cream sinks in so quickly and
there is no greasiness! Already have a backup!
Topicals Slather Exfoliating Body Serum
This has a bit of a funny scent but it dissipates
quickly, the formula is lightweight and sinks in with a tiny bit of extra work!
It made my skin feel soft and smooth but it’s probably not a repurchase for me
as I have other similar products I prefer!
Ameliorate Intensive Skin Therapy
Love this! It makes my elbows and heels
so smooth! It’s a thicker cream so I apply before bed and let it soak in
overnight! Will repurchase!
Skincare
Farmacy Green Clean Whipped Foaming
Cleanser*
Farmacy heavy for the next five products!
This is a pH balanced, oil free, foaming extra deep cleanse that draws out oil,
dirt, and impurities caused by pollution. It contains moringa, green clay and
papaya enzymes so nourishes while absorbing oil and doesn’t strip my skin
barrier. I especially loved it throughout the summer when my combo skin can lean
a bit more oily! It smells so fresh and transforms into a light lather with
water, doesn’t dry out my skin and makes it feel so clean!
Farmacy Green Clean Gentle Creamy
Cleanser*
This one is great for drier and more
sensitive skins! It’s fragrance free, also contains moringa as well as oats and
Vitamin F to sooth and nourish the skin. It feels a touch creamier than the
foaming cleanser and I reached for it especially when my skin was feeling in
any way sensitised! I got both of these at the start of February and they
lasted me until mid December with almost daily use! Read my full review here!
Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleaning
Toner*
Moving onto toners now and this one
contains 2% BHA to exfoliate and help clean pores, draw out excess oil and
refine skin texture. Moringa refreshes skin and papaya enzymes gently exfoliate
and clarify skin! This works so quickly for me to calm my skin down when I am
experiencing breakouts and really helps refine problem areas and balance my
skin. Will repurchase!
Farmacy Honey Milk Hydrating Essence*
This one is a toner/essence hybrid with
chamomile to calm and soothe, ceramides to replenish the skins moisture
barrier, smooth fine lines and boost elasticity as well as honey to heal and
nurture dry skin. I loved using this – it was hydrating, and softened and
soothed my skin leaving it ready for my next skincare steps! Will repurchase!
Farmacy Brighten Up 3% TXA Dark Spot
Toner*
This one might be my favourite of the
Farmacy trio! It claims to reduce the look of dark spots in just 7 days and I
would agree! It contains 3% tranexamic acid to work on aforementioned dark
spots and to brighten as well as 5% PHA and azelaic acid to even skin tone and
gently exfoliate. This worked so well to brighten my skin and helped lighten
some stubborn dark spots after breakouts! It’s gentle and worked well in both
my AM and PM routines! I received all three in January and finished them in
October again with rotational daily use so worth it! Will repurchase! Read my full review here!
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant*
This is such a classic Dermalogica
product and one of my favourites from them! It’s a super finely milled
rice-based powder that activates when in contact with water to release Papain, Salicylic
Acid and Rice Enzymes. Depending on how much water you add you can make it more
gentle or more “scrubby”. It is so effective at removing dead, flaky skin and
making my skin feel the smooth and soft! Already have a back up! Read my full review here!
Nivea Double Effect Waterproof Eye Makeup
Remover
The best waterproof eye makeup remover
there is! Gentle and hydrating and removes eye makeup with ease! Already got
several back-ups, this is a forever repurchase!
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair
Love love love this serum! It contains
peptides, hyaluronic and antioxidants and helps protect against UV damage and
repair skin. I use it in the evening and I wake up with hydrated, plump and
firm skin. Read more here! Already have a backup that my mum got me for
Christmas!
Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Gel*
A pricey but effective soothing &
hydrating gel serum that calms and hydrates skin while reducing redness. It
contains hyaluronic acid, botanical extracts, and mulberry to help soothe the
skin, reduce visible redness, minimize the appearance of skin discoloration and
promote a fresh-looking and clear complexion. It works very well to protect my
skin barrier and calm sensitive skin while keeping it hydrated all day and
night! Not a repurchase due to price as I have other similar products at a more
affordable range but a gorgeous product nonetheless!
Mabel + Meg Lumilixir Vitamin C +
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
So sad this brand has shut down now! This
was a great hyaluronic acid serum! It also contains a gentle form of Vitamin C and
worked well to hydrate and brighten my skin! It spreads easily over my face and
leaves my skin feeling smooth and ready for my next skincare steps! Have one
more bottle!
NIOD Fractionated Eye Contour Concentrate
(FECC)
This is such a great eye serum that 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 I notice reduced puffiness and less visible
fine lines Will repurchase! See my full review here!
Clarins Comfort Scrub Nourishing Oil
Scrub
This was an enjoyable gentle face scrub
that felt hydrating due to the oil formula! Not a repurchase as I prefer
something “scrubbier” if I am using a physical exfoliant!
Celimax Retinal Shot Tightening Booster*
This was great! Only 15 mls but you don’t
need a lot either! It’s a 0.1% retinal formula that also contains niacinamide,
panthenol and Matrixyl 3000 to brighten, soothe and target fine lines. My skin
looks noticeably firmer, more plump and smoother with consistent use, and I didn’t
experience any sensitivity or peeling even though it’s one of the stronger
formulations I have tried! Would repurchase! Read my full review here!
Farmacy Honey Halo*
Obsessed with this moisturiser! It’s one
of the best I have tried! It contains ceramides and honey and is deeply
hydrating and replenishes dry skin, smooths fine lines and sits perfectly under
makeup too! It’s a gorgeous creamy formula and works equally well for both AM and
PM and I love the jar it comes in too! This really sorts my skin out anytime it
is feeling sensitised or rough and helped calm it down and get it back to
normal! Will repurchase! Read my full review here!
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Such a great overnight lip mask and the
tub lasts a lifetime! It is so nourishing, gently exfoliates lips making them
feel smooth and it keeps them from drying out overnight which is a must for me!
Will repurchase! Read my full review here!
ESPA 24 Hour Replenishing Eye Moisturiser
This is a medium thickness and sometimes
if I use too much it doesn’t sink in very well, so I have to be careful! It’s
hydrating and left my under eyes feeling smooth but as the formula is not my
favourite this isn’t a repurchase for me!
Pixi Volumizing Infusion Sheet Mask*
These masks are so saturated! I leave on
for about 30-45 minutes and my skin is left feeling plump and hydrated! It
contains hyaluronic acid, peptides and botanical collagen and is great for a pick
me up treatment! Enjoyed but not a repurchase as I prefer to spend money on
serums but these are great for a treat!
Makeup
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Longwear
Setting Powder
A long-time favourite and one I have lost
count of how many I have gone through. It generally mattifies my skin without
drying it out or messing with my foundation, adds subtle extra coverage and a
pot lasts ages! I always pick it up on sale at Christmas so have a backup, but
I have noticed lately it is not mattifying enough around my nose so please let
me know any loose powder recommendations you have!
Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm in Peach
One of my favourite lip products
formulations! This shade is Peach but I prefer the shade Petal. It’s a super
nourishing, glossy balm containing shea butter, cupuaçu butter and plant
squalane to moisturize and cushion lips. My lips are so hydrated when I use this
and I don’t need to constantly top up as it lasts so long on my lips – it’s
perfect all year round but especially for the Canadian winter! Will repurchase!
See my full review here!
Essence Make Me Brow in 02 Browny Brows
This was a really good, easy, brow
product! It was maybe a touch “wet” for my liking but it was so affordable I
didn’t mind wiping the excess off if I put too much in my brows! It was a great
colour match too! Will repurchase!
Benefit Gimme Brow Brow Volumizing Fiber
Gel in 5
This is a more sophisticated formula for
sure! Another great brow product and great shade match and easier to control as
the product is drier and easier to work with! Will repurchase!
Declutter
Hoping to make this section larger in the
future but here are a few unfinished things that had to go!
Essence Brighten Up in 10 Bababanana
Enjoyed this but the packaging is broken
and it’s so old so has to go! Not a repurchase!
ELF Halo Glow in Shade 1 Fair
Never really got on with this one and it’s
also super old and I haven’t used it in at least a year if not more! Not a repurchase!
Glossier Ultralip High Shine Lipstick
with Hyaluronic Acid in Villa
Gutted I didn’t get this one finished! Love
the formula and the shade but it has started to smell plastic-y so in the bin
it goes! Would repurchase but I have way too many lip products as it is!
Thanks for reading to the end! I would
love to hear your thoughts if you have tried anything here! Hoping you all had
a lovely holiday season and wishing you a happy new year!
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