Five Things I’m Loving | March 2021

I know there are a few days left but March has absolutely flown by! And, as of today, I am beauty purchase free for the month so no spending report from me, yay! Instead, I thought I would share some recent favourites! 

 

The priciest item I have today was kindly sent over by Dermalogica and it’s their Neck Fit Contour Serum* RRP £75. Now, having a dedicated neck serum is not a necessity for everyone, but, since turning 30, I am increasingly interested in products targeted towards aging skin. Neck skin is thinner and more delicate than the skin on your face as well as being more vulnerable to UV damage especially if using fragrance. Finally, and my main issue – the skin on your neck is more prone to creasing from tech neck and constantly looking down like me with my phone and iPad! The serum claims to lift and tighten, smooth fine lines and protect skin against pollution while delivering retinol-like results and strengthening the skins moisture barrier. I cannot get over the difference in my neck since using this! First off, the roller applicator is so cooling and relaxing to apply, it dispenses the perfect amount and then you turn the nozzle off and continue to roll in. It really has targeted the creases I had been noticing more and more and my neck has never felt so soft, smooth and toned and those fine lines are nowhere near as noticeable anymore! I cannot recommend this enough if you are concerned about aging skin on your neck and I can’t wait to see continued results from more use!

 

Moving from the most to least expensive of the items I want to tell you about today and the Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel* RRP $6 has slotted in very nicely as my current eye gel! Yerba Mate is a tree from South America and a source of antioxidants and polyphenols which help to slow the appearance of aging caused by UV rays. It also contains peptides, caffeine and hyaluronic acid so works to hydrate and revitalise tired, puffy eyes. The gel is so cooling and sinks in easily making it a perfect base under makeup. My skin is hydrated, bags are depuffed and look brighter and I am also obsessed with the fun, bright packaging! This also featured in my Best Budget Skincare post! 

 

 

Next up, the newest foundation to my collection, the NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation RRP £28 and one I have been wearing constantly since I got it! NARS claims that it is oxidation proof and provides full, natural looking coverage and I would have to agree! Coverage is definitely full but not cakey and while it provides a matte finish it still lets some natural shine come through without the base disintegrating! It claims to last 16 hours though I haven’t had any reason to test it that long but it lasts well throughout a day of work and my mask being on and off! It also comes in a very generous 45ml size and I love the squeezy bottle! NARS recommend applying with fingers but I apply with a damp BeautyBlender and don’t think this has affected the coverage or finish! I plan to do a full review of this later in the year once I am off Roaccutane and my skin becomes more oily again so I can test how it performs fully as at the minute I would class my skin as “normal”. See the haul it was included in in my Beauty Spend Report forJanuary! 

 

Sticking with NARS and an oldie but a goodie - NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder RRP £30. A bronzer with a subtle golden shimmer running through it, this has been a favourite of mine for years since it was included in the Steven Klein palette way back when! I upgraded to a single pan in Sephora a couple of years ago and it’s been used regularly ever since! I neglected it recently as I was trying to hit pan on my Fenty bronzer which I was successful in (woohoo!) so I have set my sights back on this one as its already got a pretty good dip in the pan. It really gives the most natural, sunkissed warmth to my face and also adds a little contour without looking harsh. It is such a fool proof shade for lighter complexions and is so flattering on the skin! It is easily buildable, and leaves a beautiful healthy glow! A must have in your makeup bag if you ask me! I have another review of it here along with the matte version! 

 

Last but not least, the Sand&Sky Enzyme Powder Polish* RRP £44.90 deserves a shout out as it’s such a beautiful gentle exfoliator that has been perfect for my skin while on Roaccutane. The powder is ultra-fine, full of antioxidants and on contact with water it turns pink! It doesn’t feel gritty at all which is amazing for me at the moment as I can’t use anything too harsh but my skin always looks smoother and brighter after use and never looks red or feels tight or dry! It is very similar to Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and Good Molecules Pineappple Exfoliating Powder but this is the gentler of the three! 

 

 

 

So that’s my current favourites! Let me know if you have tried any of these and what your favourite products are right now!

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own. See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

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Product Empties #31

 

It has been a hot minute since my last empties – the end of December to be precise! I have been making very slow progress for some reason, especially on skincare and makeup but I have plenty of body and hair care products to talk through! 

 

Haircare

SportFX Body Build Dry Shampoo

I’m actually finding it really hard to judge dry shampoos at the minute as I’m still on Roaccutane so being blessed with “normal” hair and not ridiculously greasy hair that needs to be washed every two days. This worked fine for me but I can’t say for sure how good it would be on oily roots! No white cast but I found the vanilla scent a bit meh and it’s not readily available at the usual places I shop (got it in a Latest in Beauty box ) so won’t be repurchasing!

 

VERB Volume Conditioner

This empty has been a long time coming haha, I brought it home from Canada in the middle of August 2019 and it kind of got forgotten about but I am so sad it’s finished now! I hope they start selling here in the future! I got this from Sephora and it’s so affordable for such a big bottle plus it works really well – I don’t notice massive volume (I have long fine hair) but it leaves me with lots of shine and hydration! Would repurchase if I could!

 

Olaplex No.0

This is my second bottle of this and to be honest I can’t tell much difference with or without it as the primer for my long term favourite No.3. You saturate your hair with this, wait 10 minutes then apply No.3 and in conjunction they work to repair damaged hair. I get about 4 uses out of this as my hair is quite long and after use it certainly feels and looks healthier. I haven’t repurchased just yet but I think I will in the future as I trust Olaplex as a brand and want to give it more of a go!

 

Olaplex No.3

I am obsessed with this and it is probably the best thing I have ever bought for my hair! I spoke more about it in this Haircare Essentials post too but I have been using this for years now and can’t see myself without it! Breakage is dramatically reduced and hair feels much stronger and healthier! This was a mini I got with the No.0 but I have already repurchased the full size!

 

Bodycare

Soap and Glory Clean on Me Shower Gel

Going to be a real negative Nancy for a minute to complain about Soap and Glory but they have discontinued my favourite scent Mist you Madly and come out with a bunch of generic fruity scents to replace the original, distinctive scents they became known for and I am so disappointed! I think there have been big delays with stock during the pandemic so I am not sure if now Clean on Me is also discontinued or just permanently out of stock but where I was once a loyal fan, their new products just don’t interest me anymore *shrugs*. I will always repurchase Clean on Me (if I can find it again) and anything else Original Pink scented (still devastated they discontinued the perfume) but I wish they would bring back Mist you Madly and a quick stalk of their socials shows a lot of other people would like them to as well! Rant over!

 

Aveeno Moisturising Cream

This is the second one of these I have gone through now since I’ve been on roaccutane and it works really well for my skin! It’s been keeping it nicely hydrated and I like how it’s got a pump and there is a lot of product in there too which is great considering how much moisturiser I go through - it sinks in quickly as well which is a bonus! The only downside is that it’s unscented which yes is a good thing for sensitive skin, but I do generally like my moisturiser to be scented so I find this a bit boring! Already using my backup!

 

Bioderma Atoderm Ultra gentle shower gel*

This feels good and doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight, it has a light scent and worked well to help stop scratching! I went through this quite quickly though and I prefer the oil cleanser so won’t be a repurchase!

 

Bioderma Atoderm ultra nourishing cream*

This is really soothing on my skin and keeps it hydrated all day long and again, doesn’t leave me wanting to itch my skin later in the day! It also has a light scent too (though I can’t really detect it) but again I went through it very quickly so would get the bigger pump bottle next time! Wrote about all three of the above more in this post about the bodycare I am using while on Accutane here! Would repurchase!

                                

Lanolips Everywhere multi cream

My mum recommended this as she loves it and like the name suggests, this is made for use everywhere – face, body, hands, under eyes etc! I used it as a body moisturiser and though it hydrated my skin well without leaving a greasy feel, I went through it so quickly! They do have a pump version that is double the size of product for £14 which works out better value so I will be picking that up next time as I do like the formula! Full review here!

 

Soaper Duper Marvellous hand cream

Got this in a beauty box, moisturised my hands well without leaving them greasy and a very generous size for a hand cream I thought but I don’t love the scent and it doesn’t seem to be available anymore anyway! 

 

Skincare

Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum*

My second one of these and a lovely lightweight serum containing 2% Cetyl Tranexamate Mesylate which works to improve the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation as well as 4% niacinamide to target pores, uneven skin texture and oiliness! This was gentle enough for me to use while on Roaccutane and did a great job of evening out my skin tone though I didn’t see a huge change in targeted leftover pigmentation from spots! At $12 I will definitely repurchase! Full review here!

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum

Another lightweight serum – I have went through a few minis of this but never purchased a full size though I know people rave about it. Like the GM I just mentioned, this is good for evening skin tone and works on pigmentation but at a higher price! Maybe I would feel differently after using up a full size but this isn’t a repurchase for me!

 

Bioderma Atoderm lip balm*

Really enjoyed this lip balm too, it has a little more slip than the Burt’s Bees which feels good and it’s got a subtle raspberry scent too. I like how it has a slanted tip as it feels a little fancier to apply and my lips have been really well hydrated throughout the day with this! Would repurchase! See my full review here!

 

Burt’s Bees lip balm

My fave, forever repurchased, minty, perfect for reapplying during the day lip balm, already have a backup! 

 

Miscellaneous

Spotlight Oral Care Teeth Whitening Strips and toothpaste

I picked these up last November as I wanted to start whitening my teeth before my birthday. It says use them every night for 2 weeks but I’ll confess I use them as and when I want a little lift! I wouldn’t say the whitening effect is anything crazy but my teeth definitely look brighter after use and I haven’t experienced any sensitivity! The toothpaste is ok, again I didn’t notice a huge amount of whitening and I would prefer it to be mintier! I have the Polished London set to try next but I think overall I would repurchase this if I got it on offer again!

 

MOA Dreamy Mineral Soak

Really nice relaxing bath soak, I used half the night before an interview and felt so calm afterwards and the other half more recently! Would repurchase.

 

Dettol Anti-Bacterial Hand Hygiene Gel

A must have since I started going into the office. I really like this, it dries quickly without drying out my hands! Will repurchase!

 

Botanics Eucalyptus Oil

Love the scent of this and I have been through a few of these now! I just put it into my diffuser, I would like to invest in some fancier oils and blends but for now this is cheap and cheerful! Already repurchased the scent but a different brand!

 

So that’s what I have emptied this year so far! I hope that has opened the floodgates now and I will have plenty more empties with less time between each post! Let me know if you have tried anything I’ve mentioned and what you though of it!

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own. See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

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Current Skincare | Cleansers #4

My cleanser obsession isn’t showing any signs of slowing down so here is the latest instalment of my current cleansers!

First Cleanse

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution* RRP £11

I hadn’t tried too many micellar waters before this one and I have no interest in trying any others as this one is so good! I use it to remove the bulk of my makeup before going in with a balm or oil and it is lovely. The formula is gentle, non-astringent and really just feels like water, I was shocked at how much makeup it removed while leaving no residue or film behind! I would say it struggles a little with my waterproof mascara but that doesn’t concern me as I always follow up with another cleanser! Full review here!

 

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser RRP £5.50

I am gutted this one is nearly finished! I was so late to the hype over it and it really is a beautiful, affordable cleanser! It feels so hydrating and turns from a creamy balm to a lightweight oil making quick work of removing makeup and never leaving my skin tight when I remove! I will definitely be picking up the jumbo size once this is finished and I get through another few cleansers! This also featured in a recent post all about my favourite affordable skincare picks!

 

Dr Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Meltaway Cleanser RRP £30

Getting into pricier territory now and this cleanser like the name suggests is packed full of hyaluronic acid and is oil free. It is super creamy and almost feels like rubbing a moisturiser over makeup but again removes it easily (I use a damp face cloth). It’s also got quite an enjoyable sweet marshmellowy scent that adds to the experience and I love the bright blue packaging! My skin feels plump and hydrated after using and while I like this I don’t love it so probably won’t repurchase!

 

Jordan Samuel Skin The After Show Treatment Cleanser RRP £20

This is a brand I had wanted to try for ages as it’s so heavily hyped and I finally picked up this cleanser just before Christmas. It’s a thick, gel to oil formula so feels very rich and contains plant based oils and natural exfoliators and has a citrus scent. Again, this makes easy work of eradicating my makeup and spreads easily over my face before I remove with a face cloth. My face feels clean and hydrated after use but this is another one I just like and don’t love and I don’t think it will be a repurchase for me!

 

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm RRP £47

My HG favourite cleanser and this also featured before way back in my first cleanser collection post! This is the most luxurious balm I have ever tried and as well as being an overall experience it works beautifully to remove my makeup. The balm melts easily and breaks down makeup and the cleansing cloth that comes with it is really thick and soft so perfect for removing the balm. The moringa scent is so uplifting and my skin always feels soft and hydrated after use! It’s the most expensive cleanser in my collection and it’s well worth the money in my opinion, this size pot will last me a lifetime and Look Fantastic always have if on offer so I’ve never actually paid full price for it! I also talked about it more in this post!

 

Second/Morning Cleanse

Cerave Hydrating Cleanser RRP £9.50

Another great budget pick and one I have already mentioned a couple of times before! It’s so simple, full of ceramides and hyaluronic acid and leaves my skin feeling clean, hydrated and never tight! I got this right when I started Roaccutane in October and have used it almost daily since so it lasts a long time too! Can’t recommend this one enough and it also made my best beauty discoveries of 2020 post! 

 

The Body Shop Deep Cleansing Seaweed Facial Wash RRP £8.50

My mum got me this for Christmas and even though it’s aimed more at combo-oily skin I opened it anyway! Aside from month one on Roaccutane I would classify my skin more as normal than dry the rest of the time I have been on it and I was expecting this to be drying considering it contains SLS and foams but I was pleasantly surprised! It doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight or dry and the scent is very refreshing! I’m going to save some of this for summer as I’d like to see how it performs when my skin becomes more oily again!

Scientia Peachy Clean Milky Oil Cleanser* RRP £24

The newest cleanser to my collection and one that contains oils and glycerin to replenish and maintain moisture. Although this does remove makeup, personally, I prefer something more heavy duty as my main first/makeup cleanse so this has become a second and morning cleanser for me. It feels lightweight and has a pleasant peach scent and the milky liquid emulsifies on contact with water. After rinsing or using a face cloth my skin feels hydrated and soft. There is no tight feeling after use and no residue is left behind! Read my full review from last week’s post here!

 

And that concludes my current cleansers! Well my open ones anyway! I actually have a few more in my stash as you can see below – what can I say, I am a cleanser junkie! If you want to see the other instalments in this series click here for One, Two and Three! Let me know your favourite cleansers in the comments! 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own. See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

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