I got sent the cutest package from Bondi Sands’ new(ish) skincare range a few months ago so thought it was about time I
wrote about them! If you are a regular reader, you’ll know how much I love their self-tan range so I was excited to see they had expanded into skincare! I
was sent three products to try but there are plenty more in the range and they
come under five categories – cleanse, treat, hydrate, protect and mask. Bondi
Sands are an Australian brand, vegan and cruelty free and as well as having a
vast tanning and skincare range they also do bodycare and suncare!
The product that immediately stood out to
me after only a few uses was the Thirsty Skin Hyaluronic Acid RRP £8.99*. I
tend to have expensive taste when it comes to hyaluronic acid so I was only too
happy to find a budget formulation I love! This one is the thickest formula I
have tried, and I love the gel texture! It spreads easily, leaving my skin
feeling soft and supple, locking in moisture and plumping and filling out my
fine lines! As well as HA, it also contains glycerin and is an all-round goodie
if you are looking a budget HA serum! See more here!
Next up is the Bondi Babe Clay Mask RRP £11.99* and it’s another hit! This is a blue clay mask that purifies and
detoxifies skin to help clear complexion. It contains blue spirulina extract (antioxidant
and anti-inflammatory properties), bentonite clay (to soak up excess sebum) and Red Algae Extract
(helps reduce redness). It dries down quickly but doesn’t make my skin feel
tight and after washing off after 10-15 minutes, my skin feels so soft and
looks so much more refined and clearer! This has quickly become one of my
favourite clay masks and it doesn’t feel harsh or drying at all!
Lastly, to round up this trio, is the Sweet
Dreams Night Moisturiser RRP £10.99*! This has a lightweight consistency
and contains hyaluronic acid for hydration, squalane to soften and blue algae
extract to smooth. This has worked well for me during the summer but I think
during winter I will want something heavier! Despite feeling lighter than other
night creams I use, this does keep my skin hydrated overnight and when I wake
up, my face feels plump and nourished. I will probably mix this with an oil in
winter if I want an extra hit of hydration!
I also have to mention the packaging –
how cute? It’s so kitsch and I love it! It almost reminds of my toy skincare or
something, it’s so dinky! It’s all recyclable too and the products are
fragrance free.
Overall, my first foray into Bondi Sands
skincare has been a success and I think they are well worth checking out! The
stand outs for me are the clay mask and hyaluronic acid! As well as their own
website, Bondi Sands skincare is also available from Cult Beauty, Boots and
Look Fantastic! Have you tried anything? What’s your favourite budget beauty
brand?
I’m back with another current rotation of
skincare and this time it’s face mists! One of my favourite skincare steps
within my routine as well as something I like to use throughout the day to
hydrate and refresh my skin. I have three open at the minute so let’s get into
it!
The newest to my collection is the Dermalogica Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist RRP £45*. This contains four types of hyaluronic
acid as well as ceramides (its’s all in the name haha) to offer long lasting
hydration and help smooth the appearance of fine lines. It is rose scented, and
the rose flower water offers antioxidant protection though in all honesty I
don’t love the scent. It reminds me a lot of the Mario Badescu Aloe, Herbs and
Rosewater spray which I have been through many bottles of and sickened myself! The Dermalogica mist is a much more advanced formula in terms of skincare
benefits (I only used the Mario Badescu as a refreshing spritz throughout the
day not as a skincare step) so the benefits of using it far outweigh a very
slight aversion to the scent! My skin feels hydrated, it works well with my
hyaluronic acid to minimise fine lines and keep my skin supple, but I do think
I prefer the Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist just a touch more than this,
though, if your skin is very dry or dehydrated you would love the HCM!
Next up, the cult favourite NIOD
Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist (SSDM2) RRP £36*. This is a protective
mist, acting against oxidative stress, water loss and inflammation of the skin.
I love the fact it’s antioxidant as I have become more aware of preventative
skincare measures in the last year or two and it makes my skin feels calm and
hydrated! It has very bulky packaging so not the best for travelling unless you
want to decant but it means I don’t feel guilty using this over my body (neck
and dec in particular) or spritzing through the day either! This doesn’t
contain as many hydrating ingredients as the Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist but my
skin is more normal/combo at the minute so it helps retain enough moisture for
me! Read more here!
Finally, the Magic Organic Apothecary
(MOA) Silver Rain Mystical Toner RRP £15 and this was one I bought along
with a few other skincare products back when my skin I was struggling with acne
then subsequently went on Roaccutane and struggled to fit them into my routine!
MOA is a natural, organic brand and you’ll maybe know them from my blog as I love their Green Balm! This mist contains antibacterial colloidal silver,
yarrow and thyme to help calm irritated, blemish-prone skin help promote a
healthy, clear complexion. I have found a good space in my routine for this
after workouts where it calms my face and hopefully works its antibacterial
action between the workout and when I cleanse! It has a herby scent which is
lightweight and refreshing and it can also be used as a pillow spray or on the
likes of your yoga mat!
As you can see they all have a purpose in my routine but I would have to say the NIOD SDSM is my favourite out of these three and I think best value too! See Part One and Part Two of this series
to hear more about the facial mists I have used and rate! What is your favourite
facial mist?
Finally, time for another empties! This
is just short of two months’ worth so this year definitely seems to be going
slower than others, but I already have a batch of products I am very close to
finishing so hopefully I can make these posts a bit more regular for the rest
of the year! Onto the mini reviews!
Haircare
TRESemme Hairspray
Pretty bog standard, this gave my hair
some hold (though I wouldn’t say firm) without any stickiness. Will repurchase
in the future.
Schwarzkopf Det Shampoo Extra Volume
A regular feature and my current
favourite budget dry shampoo! No white cast and gives me an extra day without
washing along with some volume. Scent is fresh and unoffensive and this is
around £1.49 at Home Bargains! Already have a backup!
I love this so much! It has helped
dramatically reduce my hair shedding so I think as a result probably has made
my hair look thicker. It definitely is noticeable in your hair; I am still
working from home so this isn’t an issue for me and it doesn’t necessarily make
it look greasy – just like there is a bit of product build-up (I avoid my
parting). Can’t recommend it enough if your hair is falling out more than
usual! I have a full review here! I stocked up when Home Bargains had the old
packaging in so have already refilled this bottle as the nozzle makes it so
easy to apply!
This is a lovely body oil that lasted me
a good amount of time. It has a subtle scent and a few pumps covers each of my
legs easily. It’s non greasy, feels relaxing and I wake up with soft, nourished
and supple skin! The CBD blend helps stimulate the removal of toxins and
improve circulation but at this price it’s not a repurchase for me when there
are other oils I love just as much for more affordable prices! See my full review here!
Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Stress
Relief Moisturising Body Oil
Speaking of more affordable body oils,
this BBW one is another favourite and is £18 and on 3 for 2. I am a sucker for
anything eucalyptus scented and this smells so refreshing and relaxing. The
bottle is a bit of a nuisance and tends to get quite messy so I do prefer a
pump but I will definitely repurchase this one!
Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Stress
Relief Moisturising Body Cream
From the same line, this was a really
nice, thick moisturiser that sunk in quickly. I wish the scent lasted a bit
longer on my skin but again I would repurchase this as it feels so indulgent
and the initial scent is beautiful! The body lotion from this range featured in this post earlier this year too! And don’t worry this was cut open to get the
last days’ worth of product out after I took pictures!
Nivea Rose & Argan Oil Body Lotion
It’s not an empties post without a Nivea
product! This was a lightweight body lotion that absorbed quickly, and the rose
scent wasn’t overpowering but I do prefer their classic Nivea scent so this
won’t be a repurchase for me (though I do have another back up of this I got in
a Christmas set!).
Frank Body Smoothing AHA Body Lotion
The scent of this reminded me a little of
Refreshers sweets if anyone remembers those haha but unfortunately this didn’t
feel strong enough for my KP and I saw better results when using my AHA toner
or The Ordinary Lactic Acid. I went through it very quickly too despite only
using on arms and chest area so not a repurchase, but the formula was
lightweight and it did feel moisturising.
Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel
A classic from Christmas! This is sickly
sweet but I love it and get it every year! Limited Edition but will pick up
again at Christmas!
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
You already know how much I love this
one! It feels so rich and smells so good I already have a couple of back-ups!
Frank Body Coconut Coffee Scrub
I’ve had this for longer than I care to
remember as a little goes such a long way! This is one of the best exfoliators
I have used and my skin feels baby soft once I’ve used it! Beware though, it’s
messy! I already have a backup!
Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream
This was a good lightweight formula and
sank in quickly. I don’t love the smell though and I get the same results from
Nivea so not a repurchase for me!
Soap and Glory Scrub + Happiness Hand
Scrub
Found this in the depths of my stash along
with a few other products and used it up as a body scrub. It worked great and I
do have a couple more to use but Soap and Glory really fell off the radar for
me when they discontinued their original, unique scents in favour of generic
coconut and lime you can get anywhere so it’s not a brand I see myself repurchasing.
BRING BACK MIST YOU MADLY!!!!
Skincare
MOA The Green Balm
Love this and I’ve been through so many jars
over the years! It’s multipurpose but I use it as a cleanser. It contains
yarrow and tea tree and smells amazing though it can tend to leave a bit of a
film after cleansing but it feels more moisturising than anything! Will
repurchase in the future! Full review here!
Clarins Double Serum Eye
I won this in a giveaway on Instagram and
I liked it but not enough to repurchase at £56! The packaging is bulky and you
can twist the top to better control how much product you are pumping out. It’s
very gel like so felt cooling and moisturising and sat well under makeup but I
didn’t see a difference with dark circles. Nice but nothing special for me!
This feels like a dry oil and worked well
to minimise fine lines. I didn’t experience any sensitivity with this either which
was good! I stopped using this while I was on Roaccutane so when I came back to
it I wasn’t having issues with breakouts and overall I have other BHA and
retinol products I prefer so this won’t be a repurchase. Full review here!
Been through quite a few bottles of this
now and I am in the small minority who don’t love it haha. It’s not bad, I just
have other HA’s I see better results with so I used this up on my
chest/decolletage area as I am trying to take better care of it so hopefully
its enjoying the extra attention! Not a repurchase.
I absolutely love this! It’s a cream so I
thought it wouldn’t be moisturising enough overnight, but I was wrong! See my original review here where I said I wake up looking like I’ve had some very
good, subtle lip work done haha! It really does make my lips look plumper and feather
fine lines are gone! It lasted an absolute age as well! I can’t justify a
repurchase right now but I will definitely be getting this again if I have any
big events coming up as it makes my mouth and lip area look so good!
Glow Recipe Watermelon PHA & BHA
Pore-Tight Toner
This featured quite recently in a roundup of my current toners but I am glad to be finished it! I don’t love the scent
and it tends to leave a bit of film behind on my skin though it does make it
feel softer so it’s certainly not the worst toner I have tried, it’s just not worth
the money for me!
Clarins Moisture Surge
I tried this in winter and it actually
felt quite drying on my skin so I left it and used it up recently. It worked
much better in Summer for me, felt lightweight and sat well under makeup etc
but not a repurchase for me as I have other moisturisers I prefer and can trust
not to feel dry!
Barry M Peppermint Lip Scrub
Love this! Just as good as the lush lip
scrubs! I couldn’t find this scent again sadly but I have already repurchased
in the Bubblegum flavour
Origins GinZing Peel Off Mask
Another one that’s been in my collection
far too long! Fun to use but not a go to mask for me though it did make my skin
feel smooth. Not a repurchase!
Dr Dennis Gross All Physical Lightweight
Wrinkle Defense SPF 30
I thought this was going to be awful the
first time I tried it as there seemed to be a lot of white cast while I was
rubbing in but it soon settled. It’s quite a liquid formula so does feel
lightweight and didn’t cause any pilling with my makeup but I have other SPF’s
I prefer so not a repurchase!
Lanolips 101 Ointment Multi Balm
Strawberry
Love this, the 101 ointments are amazing
at really smoothing my lips! Strawberry isn’t my favourite scent but I already
have a backup in coconut! See my Lanolips brand review here!
Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in Honey
If you read my post last week you’ll
already know I’ve repurchased this! It feels so lightweight and non-sticky,
gives a beautiful gloss to my lips and makes them feel hydrated for hours! I
love this!
Miscellaneous
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
Love these, they have really helped with
joint pain in my knees and I hope help with skin/hair etc too but I have mostly
noticed it with my joints!
Estee Lauder Hand Sanitizer
Had to mention this as it’s a fancy one –
I got it free I think near the start of the pandemic, and it’s been my car hand
sanitizer of choice since. Absorbs quickly and doesn’t dry my hands out! Plenty
others to use up so not a repurchase right away.
Ouai Candle in Melrose Place
Melrose Place is my favourite perfume, so
I had to get the matching candle! This was nice but I prefer it as a body scent
as opposed to a room scent. This burned so badly for me at the start, I trimmed
the wick and it’s first burn was hours but it still tunnelled, and the wick was
almost completely covered by wax so I had to dig it out! A large portion of its
lifespan was covered in tinfoil to try sort out the tunnelling issue which
eventually worked and I have to say I’ve never seen a candle use all its wax
before, there is literally nothing left at the bottom of this so it came good
in the end but not a repurchase for me!
This smelt more natural/herby to me than
of eucalyptus but I do think it helped me sleep deeper. I generally don’t have
trouble sleeping so while this was a nice addition to my wind down time it’s
not a repurchase as it’s so expensive and I don’t think I need it. Full review of Eresos here!
OTO 10% CBD Sleep Drops
Weirdly, these made my throat feel dry so
I didn’t love taking them. Again, I am probably not the best person to review
these as I don’t have massive issues with sleep *touch wood* but I don’t think
they made a huge difference. I much prefer a spray or oil than something oral
so not a repurchase for me at £69 (I got these in a beauty box!).
Congratulations as always if you made it
to the end of that! Have you been emptying many products lately? Let me know if
you saw any of your favourites here!
