Current Skincare | Toners #4

It’s been just over a year since my last Toner collection update so I thought I would grab my current open bottles and do a quick rundown! This is quite exfoliating toner heavy only because in my last edition I was on Roaccutane so couldn’t use them and they have kind of built up! I definitely don’t use exfoliating products as much now as when I had acne but I still love having them in my collection as I tend to use them on my body too. 

 

First up, one that is no stranger to my blog, and I have gone through many bottles of – the Pixi Glow Tonic RRP £18. This is such a cult classic and also featured in my first toner post in 2017 as it’s usually always in my collection! It contains 5% glycolic acid as well as ginseng and aloe vera for hydration. As well as dissolving dead skin cells, it diminishes signs of sun damage, fine lines and scarring, smooths uneven texture and never dries my skin out. It’s popular for a reason and one of my favourite toners!

 

Sticking with glycolic acid the Good Molecules Glycolic Exfoliating Toner RRP $14* is another good one. This is a 3.5% glycolic concentration so even more gentle than the Glow Tonic and perfect if you have sensitive skin. My skin feels smooth and even with continued use and I love the Good Molecules nothing to hide ingredients list. This toner also contains galactomyces ferment which helps retain skin barrier function and moisture level as well as hyaluronic acid and aloe to help to hydrate and soothe skin. Read my full review here!

 

Moving away from glycolic now to the By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water RRP £20.10. Mandelic acid has a larger molecular structure than glycolic so is even more gentle though similarly works to improve pigmentation and even skintone. This one also contains beta glucan – an anti-inflammatory, panthenol and centella asiatica to help regenerate and sodium hyaluronate for hydration. I personally think glycolic acid works better for my skin when it comes to pigmentation but this does a great job at smoothing and evening skin tone and was the only exfoliating toner I dared try when I was at the end of my Roaccutane course and needed a little exfoliation so I can attest to its gentleness on my skin as I had no issues (but proceed with caution if on Roaccutane)!

 

I probably should have kept the Sioris Feels So Fresh Toner RRP £17 out of this round up because it’s the only one I haven’t really managed to form an opinion on! It falls into the nice but boring category for me, I don’t have any issues with it, but it hasn’t stood out to me either. It contains Black Willow Extract to exfoliate, eliminate blackheads and control oil, Guava Leaf Extract (an antioxidant) and Broccoli Extract to soothe and calm skin. I bought this pre Roaccutane then didn’t use it when I was on the drug and now my skin type has changed, and these aren’t my skin concerns anymore so it’s difficult to review it! What I will say though is that it’s another one that feels gentle and doesn’t dry my skin out despite the sebum controlling properties, but I do have other toners I prefer.

 

Next, I have the CosRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner RRP £19.99 and this is my second bottle – I had it years ago and really enjoyed it. It contains willow bark water and apple fruit water to clear clogged pores and dead skin cells as well as glycolic acid and betaine salicylate. My skin is smoother with use and I love the spray bottle – I actually use this a lot on my body too, particularly on KP on the backs of my arms as well as my chest and back where I do still get the occasional spot and it works so well to smooth my skin and is super easy to distribute!

 

Another old favourite and I have been through a few bottles of the Dear Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner RRP £20.10* too! My skin loves this for how calming and hydrating it is. It’s a gel like texture and contains hyaluronic acid centella asiatica and amino acids so as well as feeling cooling and calming it helps add moisture and strengthen my skin. A simple but hydrating formula – my skin drinks it up and looks plumper after use! There are essential oils in this formula which don’t cause any sensitivity for me but Klairs also have an unscented version without them! Read more about this toner in my K Beauty favourites here!

 

Lastly, the Glow Recipe PHA + BHA Pore Tight Toner RRP £14. The Glow Recipe products I have tried in the past are really meh to me to be honest and it’s not a brand I get excited about over the latest releases. I have had minis of their watermelon sleep mask, blueberry cleanser and lip pop and I just don’t get the hype but I will say that this toner is the best out of the products I have tried! It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate, PHA’s and BHA’s to smooth and decongest skin and my skin did feel smooth with use. I don’t like the sickly-sweet scent or the almost greasy consistency of this though and I think there are better options for better prices! 

 

I got sent the new Charlotte Tilbury Glow Toner this week so I’m looking forward to getting that into rotation too but I’d love to know your thoughts on any of these if you have tried them or what your favourite toner is!

 

See the previous instalments in this series here:

Toners #1 ft. Pixi, Beauty RX and BioEssence

Toners #2 ft Good Molecules, Versed and Ren

Toners #3 ft I’m From, Pyunkang Yul, Klairs and Scientia

 

*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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Five Things I’m Loving | June 2022

It’s been a while since I did a Five Things I’m Loving post but I have a few things I’ve been reaching for non-stop so here they are! 

 

First up, one of the newest items to my skincare stash, the Murad Correct and Protect Broad Spectrum SPF45 RRP £68*. This, like the name suggests is an SPF serum and I hadn’t tried an SPF in this type of formula before. You apply it as usual, after moisturiser and as well as offering sun protection this is also a hybrid product that has been proven to correct discolouration and prevent future hyperpigmentation! It’s still early days on the long-term claims but I have high hopes for those! As for the SPF side of things, this is a mineral SPF and, in all honesty, when I rubbed it into my skin it felt a little on the greasy side, so I was worried! It’s a white liquid but once rubbed in it left no white cast (I have fair skin for reference) and there was no pesky pilling! Makeup applies so well on top and looks smooth and it feels hydrating enough to me too as well as no stinging round my eyes! Loving this! The only thing not to love as far as I can see is the price at £68 for 30mls!

 

I’ve just recently finished the Eresos Sweet Almond Hand and Body Oil (2000mg) RRP £65* and it will crop up in my empties in a few weeks, but I’ve really enjoyed using this so had to give it a proper mention! This has a lovely, subtle scent and has lasted me ages! I focus this mainly on my legs at night and a couple of pumps covers each of them. It sinks in quickly, helps me relax before bed and makes my legs feel soft and supple! The blend also helps stimulate the removal of toxins and improve circulation! A bit on the pricey side as most CBD products tend to be but if you fancy a little luxury, you can’t go wrong with a body oil! I have a full review of this and some other products from Eresos on Instagram here!

 

Another one that’s nearly ready for my empties and I am already plotting a full size repurchase is the Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in Honey RRP £20. I got this mini in a set for Christmas and used it a few times but not consistently then over the last few weeks I have been reaching for it non-stop and now I’m almost out because I love it! It feels silky and not sticky at all and lasts a surprisingly long time on my lips making 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 bunch of shades!

 

Next up, the newest foundation to my collection, the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation in Gobi RRP £37.50. I want to do a full review of this along with my other NARS foundations soon so I’ll keep this brief, but I have really been enjoying this! It feels very lightweight on the skin, and it’s a medium coverage but very perfecting base. The formula is a mix of makeup and skincare and supposedly helps improve skins clarity and texture over time but I’m really only interested in the makeup side of things and I have been impressed with how long this wears on my skin! I haven’t found it to separate and it’s been lasting a full day on my normal/combo skin! Like I said, I’ll do a full review along with my other NARS bases once I have used for longer but first impressions are very promising!

 

Lastly, the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray RRP £26 and I thought I had mentioned this in a post before, but I couldn’t find it so needed to mention it! I am generally quite distrusting of setting sprays – probably because I hadn’t found a good one – and to be honest I wasn’t impressed with this at the start either. However, once I read the instructions and started spraying this before applying my foundation and again at the end of my makeup routine, I saw the light. It's hydrating, lightweight, doesn’t feel sticky and sets my makeup in place perfectly. It helps give radiance to my skin, ensures it doesn’t feel tight and I really can see a difference when I use it! The full size only seems to be in stock at SpaceNK for some reason though the mini is at all the usual places and I will be stocking up again soon!

 

Have you tried any of these before? Tell me what you thought of them or what your current favourite products are!

 

*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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Skincare | Three Serums that Make a Difference

 

I know I never shut up about these three serums, but they have really stood out so much to me I thought they deserved a dedicated blogpost singing their praises! 

 

First up, my OG old favourite, the one and only NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1 (CAIS3) RRP £65*. This is a long-term love and I have consistently had a bottle of this in my stash since 2016 (had to check the archives for that!). Now in its third generation, it comes “pre-assembled” where once you had to play scientist and premix the serum using the two bottles it came with! It hasn’t affected the efficacy of the serum, a watery, blue liquid with a slight scent of vinegar (that dissipates quickly) which is pro-repair and pro-collagen and works to maintain healthy looking skin by targeting signs of ageing including textural damage, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and lack of radiance. My skin looks and feel much healthier when I use this consistently. It’s more even, clear and firm - it is an absolute wonder product for me! If you’ve been on the fence about trying it now is the time – there is 23% off DECIEM products until the 23^rd June! See my full review of CAIS3 and some other NIOD products here!

 

Next up is a recent sad empty for me, the Dermalogica Smart Response Serum RRP £129*. When I read the press release, I was a little suspicious, how can a serum be “smart” and offer a personalised response to your skins needs? Somehow, this does everything it claims to. Whether my skin needs hydration, brightening, soothing, firming or help with fine lines this responds and works! The heavyweight bottle is so luxe and the serum itself is so rich (but not greasy) I sometimes didn’t feel the need to follow with moisturiser. With consistent use twice a day my skin felt hydrated, calm, brighter, soft and plump and my fine lines looked less noticeable. It is definitely the priciest product in my routine and that’s the only negative I would say! Look Fantastic has many 20% off codes that work on it and I think if you are streamlining your routine or want to cut out a few steps with multiple serums this is a one stop shop and well worth it! This also made it into my Best Beauty Discoveries of 2021!

 

Last but not least, and most recent to my stash at the end of last year, the Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum RRP £74* and this has quickly become my favourite Vitamin C serum. I was worried at first that the addition of glycolic acid along with the Vitamin C would cause irritation but I’m happy to say it hasn’t. This is a powerhouse antioxidant serum and after struggling with Vitamin C formulas that help brighten but don’t do much for specific areas of pigmentation this has worked better than I thought possible. The inclusion of glycolic acid gently exfoliates, making my skin smoother and helping ensure effective Vitamin C delivery. The Vitamin C in question is L-ascorbic acid, known for being the most effective as well! The serum itself has a light citrus scent and absorbs quickly and like I said, some stubborn pigmentation has really lifted with consistent use! My skin is also much brighter and more even. The serum also comes with a dual chamber delivery system giving extra defence to oxidation. I’m so impressed and you can read more about Murad here!

 

So, those are three serums that have really made a difference to my skin! I promise I’ll stop harping on about them now, but I really can’t recommend them enough if you are in the market for a new serum! They are all pricey but 100% worth the money and I have already or will purchase these with my own money in the future! Have you noticed a massive difference in your skin since using a particular serum? Let me know which one!

 

*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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Best Budget Skincare #3

I’m back with another edition of my best budget skincare picks! Generally, I try to keep individual prices down to £10 or lower but some of these are a little more expensive but I wanted to include them as they are often on offer making them around the £15 mark! 

 

First up, trusty Inkey List - it wouldn’t be a budget skincare roundup without them would it? Cleanser wise, I can’t recommend the Oat Cleansing Balm RRP £10.99* and Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser RRP £10.99* enough. These are such a good double cleanse duo! The oat cleansing balm is great for sensitive skin and removes makeup with ease leaving my skin feel soft while the Fulvic Acid brightens and never makes my skin feel tight or dry – I prefer this to their Hyaluronic Acid cleanser which I find more drying for some reason! These are both 150ml tubes too so last ages! Read more on the oat cleanser here!

 

 

Their Caffeine Eye Serum RRP £9.99 is another good one, it’s a lightweight creamy texture containing, you guessed it, caffeine, so helps depuff the eye area and is also hydrating enough to help minimise my fine lines! I have also been impressed by their 15% Vitamin C and EGF Serum* £14.99! I didn’t like their other Vitamin C serum so honestly wasn’t expecting much from this, but the formula is just beautiful - it's watery and sinks in quickly. This is not the most potent Vitamin C but with regular use this helped brighten and even my skin tone and made it look and feel plumper! Read more about it here! Lastly from the Inkey List is their Omega Water Cream RRP £9.99* and this is by far my favourite moisturiser they have, it’s a water-based gel that contains three omegas to help prevent water loss as well as glycerin and niacinamide. It sinks in quickly leaving no white residue behind (I’m looking at you Vitmain B, C and E moisturiser), works well under makeup and my skin feels hydrated all day long.

 

The Good Molecules Glycolic Exfoliating Toner RRP $14* is a 3.5% glycolic concentration so nice and gentle, perfect if you have sensitive skin, but still effective and my skin has been feeling smooth and even with continued use. I love the Good Molecules nothing to hide ingredients list which shows you the full details of the percentage of ingredients and this also contains galactomyces ferment which helps retain skin barrier function and moisture level as well as hyaluronic acid and aloe help to hydrate and soothe skin. Read my full review here!

 

I can be quite picky with hyaluronic acid formulations and unfortunately, tend to prefer pricier options but the Bondi Sands Thirsty Skin Hyaluronic Acid RRP £8.99* has really stood out to me! It’s a gel formula so a little thicker than a standard serum and it spreads so easily leaving my skin feeling soft and supple, locking in moisture and plumping and filling out my fine lines! Plus look at that packaging! It reminds me of toy skincare and I love it! I also really enjoyed the Garden of Wisdom RetiStar Retinol Serum RRP £10. It’s gentle as retinol serums go so perfect for beginners and I noticed my fine lines were much less pronounced when using this, skin was brighter, smoother and plumper too! Such an underrated brand! Next up, a bit like what I said earlier, it’s hard to write a best budget skincare post without a mention of The Ordinary! Here I have their Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA RRP £6.80, another no fuss moisturiser containing amino acids, fatty acids, urea, ceramides and hyaluronic acid that is perfect for daytime use for me. It’s non-greasy, doesn’t interfere with my makeup and keeps my skin feeling hydrated all day! 

 

I have another great budget moisturiser option in the form of the Cetraben Natural Oatmeal Cream RRP £8.99* which is for both face and body! It is perfect for eczema prone skin and feels so soothing. It’s another one that, despite feeling lightweight, packs a punch with long lasting hydration and it really helps to repair the skin barrier if you have any sensitive skin issues! See more here! To finish off, I’m slightly cheating with the Vichy Capital Soleil UV-Age Daily SPF 50 RRP £21* as it’s a bit out of the “budget” range but this is always on sale and I usually see it for around £15 on French Pharmacy offers! This quickly became one of my favourite SPF’s last year due to its lightweight fluid texture! Containing Vitamin E, peptides and niacinamide this works to target pigmentation as well as offering UVA and UVB protection. I was worried about the percentage of alcohol denat in the ingredients but apart from a slight “active” feeling on application which soon disappears, it hasn’t been a problem for me! If you have *very* sensitive skin it might not be the one for you though. This also has no white cast (I have pale skin for reference), it absorbs easily, doesn’t sting eyes and sits very well under makeup with no pilling in sight! LOVE!

 

Let me know if you see any of your favourites here or tell me your favourite budget skincare brand! There are loads I still need to try! If you want to see the other installments in this series, click here for Part One and here for Part Two!

 

I’ve had a couple of messages this week from people having trouble leaving comments and I have also noticed some blogs I normally comment on not having their usual comment section there – I checked all my settings and I can’t see any issues so sorry I’m not sure what’s going on!

 

*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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