Saturday, 15 August 2026

Current Skincare | Toners #7

It’s time for another roundup in my toners series, and today I’ve got some formulas that have been keeping my skin clear, hydrated and glowing. From classic BHA exfoliants to hydrating toners, brightening tonics and some bonus toner pads, this is what’s in my current rotation. Let’s get into Toners #7!   


toner reviews

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant  

Starting with a classic and one that has shown up in this series before because at this stage, who hasn't tried it?! It’s a bestseller for a reason and contains 2% salicylic acid to penetrate pores and clear blemish-causing buildup and shed dead skin and green tea, an antioxidant that soothes irritated skin while improving visible signs of aging. It works so well on congested, oily skin and my skin always looks so much clearer and brighter after use! Despite being gentle, it’s effective and also helps set up my skin for the rest of my routine, making it absorb better and work harder for a glowing, makeup-ready complexion.  


Fenty Skincare Fat Water  

Another one that has made it to the blog before and this is billed as a two-in-one toner serum that tightens the look of pores and helps visibly fade dark spots, brightens, smooths, and fights shine - all without stripping skin and I have to agree! It contains niacinamide to combat shine and reduce the look of pores and dark spots and Barbados Cherry (Acerola) which is loaded with vitamin C to brighten skin. It truly does have a “fat water” texture which absorbs quickly and hydrates my skin easily leaving it feeling refreshed and replenished. I enjoy the light scent of cherry and with consistent use it’s helped the overall tone of my skin, but the packaging is not my favourite! It’s hard to get the product out and the lid can get a little messy!   


Isntree Ultra-Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Toner* 

Don’t pay attention to the level of product in the photo, I took it ages ago! This toner is infused with mineral-rich deep seawater from Ulleung Island, Korea and contains 14 types of hyaluronic acid to replenish moisture as well as various plant-based extracts to calm skin. It’s a lightweight, watery formula that sinks in quickly leaving skin plump and refreshed. Super simple and one I’ve been reaching for a lot this summer as it’s so cooling and refreshing! I love the fun cap on the packaging too! Don’t forget, you can get up to 5% more off at Yesstyle with my code DANIELLESBB5   


Pixi Botanical Collagen Tonic* 

Moving onto a Pixi trio next and this is a replenishing toner rich in botanical extracts and antioxidants that restores bounce and radiance to the skin. Acacia collagen supports skin elasticity and plumpness, peptides revitalise and refine uneven texture and coconut water hydrates and conditions the skin. It feels gentle and works as a nice prep step for my next skincare!    


Pixi Vitamin-C Tonic* 

This one has Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid and Citrus Fruit Extracts to brighten and even out skin tone as well as Aloe and gentle exfoliants to hydrate and smooth. It has a citrus scent and definitely feels a little tingly though it's gentle enough to use every day. It helps create a smooth and bright complexion while it preps skin well for the rest of my skincare routine!    

 

Pixi Antioxidant Tonic* 

This one reminds me a little of the Fenty Fat Water in texture – it's a multi-tasking toner, essence and serum, all in one with a unique gel like texture. It’s infused with birch water, probiotics and antioxidant-rich Nordic superfood berries to nourish, revitalize and add radiance and this is my favourite of the three Pixi toners I have here! It feels so cooling, I love the thicker texture and my skin feels calm and nourished after use!


k beauty toner pad review

Anua Azelaic Acid 10 + Hyaluron Redness Soothing Pads*  

These are some of the most saturated toners pads I have ever tried! They are drenched in Azelaic acid and centella asiatica extract to reduce redness and inflammation as well as hyaluronic acid, ceramide NP and squalane to promote smooth and plump skin. The material of the pads stetches easily and means you can cover larger areas of your face. My skin feels instantly soothed when I use these and the tub is going to last ages! Read more in my K Beauty faves post here!  


Celimax JI WOO GAE Heartleaf BHA Peeling Pad* 

These are pre-soaked toning pads with different textures on each side and formulated with BHA to slough away dead skin cells and reveal brighter and smoother skin. The formula also contains hyaluronic acid and heartleaf extract to soothe and hydrate skin. I am loving having these to hand! I gently wipe the embossed side over my face to remove impurities and moisturize skin, wait 30 seconds then wipe the gauze side to exfoliate and target blackheads and dead skin cells. I like to use then when my skin is feeling dull or like I have a breakout coming on, they feel gentle and the tub has 60 pads in total! Read more in my K Beauty faves post here!    


So that’s my latest line‑up of toners and toner pads - a mix of older classics and some newer formulas that make a difference in my routine. There are a few more open at the minute than I would normally have but I do love having options depending on how my skin is feeling, and these have all been helping keep it clearer, smoother and more balanced! 


Have you tried any of these? Let me know your favourite toners below, I’m always looking for new ones to add to the next round‑up! 


*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 

Instagram | Links and Discounts | Shop My Favourites | Pinterest  


  


Sunday, 2 August 2026

Summer Beauty Essentials 2026 | My Top Makeup, Skincare & Body Care Products

Now that we are well into summer, I wanted to round up the products I’ve been reaching for the most! These are my top makeup, skincare and body care essentials for summer 2026 - simple, effective formulas that have been keeping my skin hydrated, fresh and comfortable all day. If you’re looking to update your routine for warmer weather, this is a great place to start! 


summer standouts 2026

Starting with body, and being a huge fan of the original Brazilian Bum Bum cream, when I saw the Sol de Janeiro Body Badalada Vitamin Infused Lotion Cheirosa 62 I knew I had to get it! I tried this a couple of times when I was in duty free at the airport and loved the lighter texture so picked it up earlier this year with a view to using in the summer and I love it! It smells like the original and sinks in quickly keeping my skin soft and smooth and smells amazing!  

 

Moving onto skincare next and the Skinfix Barrier Balancing Water Cream* has been my go to for my combo skin this summer! It is formulated for combination and oily skin, and delivers fast-absorbing hydration that supports the skin barrier, and keeps shine under control. It works well for me under makeup and has lived up to its shine control claim while keeping my skin hydrated and balanced! Ingredients include zinc PCA, niacinamide, and green tea to absorb oil and boost skin’s radiance, prebiotic peptides to support the barrier for healthy-looking skin and hyaluronic acid. I also love the hygienic pump mechanism to dispense the cream!  

 

An oldie but a goodie, this is the second bottle of the SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic Serum* I have used and it really does live up to its hype. It contains 15% pure Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), 1% Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol to replenish skin lipids), and 0.5% Ferulic Acid to enhance protection against environmental damage caused by free radicals that can contribute to visible signs of atmospheric aging and is ideal for dry, normal and sensitive skin. It is a beautiful formulation that absorbs quickly, helps brighten my skin and keeps it looking more even while marks from any spots that pop up while using it fade much quicker! See my full review here!   

 

I had a hard time picking out an SPF for this as I’m using a few at the moment and they are all great so I went with the Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Fresh Sun Serum SPF 50*. You really can’t go wrong with a K Beauty SPF, this one is enriched with hyaluronic acid, squalane and allantoin to soothe, hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier. It’s a chemical formula, feels lightweight and suits my combo skin, leaving a moisturised finish. There is no pilling and it works well under my makeup, keeping my skin hydrated and protected! I have fair skin and don’t experience any white cast with either! Don’t forget, you can get up to 5% more off at YesStyle with my discount code DANIELLESBB5   

 

Makeup next, and after finishing a mini of the Caliray So Blown Blurring and Hydrating Tripeptide Primer I had to grab the full size! My combo skin errs on the side of oily during the summer and I sweat so I wanted something help with excess oil and shine. This does just that and mattifies and blurs my skin without drying it out. I typically focus it on my t-zone, and it doesn’t make my foundation pill or separate while keeping it intact even when I feel oily or sweaty!    

 

Since I tend to reach for mattifying products in the summer months, I like to add a little glow back into my skin and the Jones Road Bright Skin Illuminating Drops in Gilded* has been doing just that! I have not stopped using these since I got them! They give my skin a soft, natural illumination while hydrating and brightening. I have been mixing these into my foundation and the ultra fine pearls are perfect at adding some glow! They can also be mixed in with moisturiser (face or body) or used on bare skin. Gilded is a white gold shade that doesn’t pill with my makeup or skincare and I love how the packaging looks too!   

 

The Jones Road Lip Recharge Glossy Treatment Balm in Rosé* has been my most used lip product over the last month! It’s a sheer pink with gold shimmer which has a metal applicator tip which feels so cooling for summer! The shade is gorgeous, it has some shimmer but doesn’t leave my lips looking glittery and the formula is perfect! It leaves my lips smooth, hydrated with a lovely shine to them and it’s long-lasting too! It contains peptides, vitamin E and shea butter and also has a subtle mint scent!    

 

The Basma Bronzer in Light* has been my number one bronzer this summer! The shade is perfect for my skin! Not too warm, not too cool, just a perfect neutral that doesn’t kick up a lot of powder or leave me with too much blending to do - love it! It’s a satin-matte finish and you can build it up very easily!    

 

Lastly, the Pixi Liquid Glow Blush in Warmth*, a lightweight serum blush that is seriously pigmented! This melts into my skin and leaves a beautiful fresh flush, and I only need the tiniest amount of product for maximum impact! It also contains brightening radiance pigments to leave a healthy-looking glow and Warmth is such a natural and pretty shade! It’s long lasting and there is no fading after a full days wear!   


summer standout swatches
swatches l-r: Jones Road Gilded and Rose, Pixi Warmth and Basma Bronzer in Light - not the best lighting, sorry!

And that’s everything I’ve been loving this summer — a mix of lightweight textures, hydrating formulas and makeup that holds up for me in the heat. Let me know what your summer essentials are, I’m always looking for new favourites to try next! 

 

Check out my 2025 Summer Essentials here!   

 

*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 

Instagram | Links and Discounts | Shop My Favourites | Pinterest  

  


Sunday, 12 October 2025

Current Skincare | Toners #6

It’s been a couple of years since my last toner roundup and I’m either finished or very nearly finished all of these so here are some quick reviews before I open some more! 

 


Isntree Yam Root Vegan Milk Toner RRP $31 CAD*

This is a lightweight, hydrating and refreshing toner which is exactly what K Beauty is known for so no surprise there! It contains yam root extract to replenish skin moisture and keep skin supple along with vegan milk complex (derived from oat, rice, coconut and other plant-based ingredients) and lipid water to strengthen the skin barrier. It feels gentle, has a milky consistency and helped hydrate and calm my skin! Read my review here! Use my Yesstyle code DANIELLESBB5 for $$ off!

 

Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner RRP $52 CAD via IPSY*

I was pleasantly surprised by this formula having found everything I’ve tried from Glow Recipe a bit blah until this which I loved! It’s 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 but I would repurchase as it made my skin feel so good! Read my IPSY review here!

 

Pixi Skintreats Clarity Toner RRP £10*

Another underrated gem from Pixi! This is formulated with glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids, to promote smoother, clearer skin without drying it out! It also contains aloe and probiotics to soothe and balance skin. It used this anytime my skin felt like it was breaking out and it helped so much with congestion! It’s alcohol free so didn’t dry my skin out but worked well to exfoliate and keep spots under control! 

 


Farmacy Honey Milk Hydrating Essence RRP $52 CAD*

I was spoilt earlier this year when Farmacy sent me their three toners! 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 have loved using this – it’s hydrating, and softens and soothes my skin leaving it ready for my next skincare steps!

 

Farmacy Brighten Up 3% TXA Dark Spot Toner RRP $52 CAD*

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 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!

 

Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleaning Toner RRP $52 CAD*

Lastly, another hit for Farmacy! 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!

 

I can’t recommend any of these toners enough! I have loved them all! The Farmacy are really up there though – I received them in January and they will all be finished by the end of the month so they lasted me a good 9 months with rotational daily use! I have a few toners in my stash to use up but I would repurchase all of the toners here tomorrow if I had a gap in my toner stash!

 

See my last toners post here and let me know what toners you have been using!

 

*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

Instagram | Links and Discounts | Shop My Favourites | Pinterest

 

 

Sunday, 29 December 2024

Product Empties #52

 

daniellesbeautyblog empties

Welcome to my end of year empties! I don’t think it’s quite as big as previous year end’s so I have obviously been slacking lately but let’s get onto the mini reviews! 

 

daniellesbeautyblog haircare empties

Haircare

Living Proof Perfect hair Day Dry Shampoo

One of my favourite dry shampoos! I do prefer the advanced version but this one is still great! Doesn’t leave a white cast and gives me an extra day of two out of my hair! Have already repurchased! Read my full review here!

 

Bondi Boost HG Dry Shampoo

Got this on a half price sale from Sephora a few months ago and it was nice to try something different! Smells very strongly of rosemary (reminds me of a cocktail!) and had no whitecast while giving me extra days out of greasy hair but I prefer the Living Proof offerings so not a repurchase!

 

Head and Shoulders Classic Clean 2 in 1

I always like to have a shampoo with SLS in my shower as I tend to use it once a week as it’s clarifying! This one also happens to help with dandruff which I get occasionally and it's affordable! Will repurchase!

 

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Milky Leave In Conditioner

Loved this! Smells just like the body cream, offers heat protection up to 450˚ and smooths my hair! Will repurchase in the future! Read my full review here!  

 

Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray

Found this to be a little disappointing as the claims and hype are so built up! It didn’t do much for frizz when my hair was going through a frizzy phase but it does make my hair feel incredibly smooth and soft. Not a repurchase!

 

Kerastase Nurtitive Masquintense*

Love this! Smells divine and is very concentrated so a little goes a long way! Leaves my hair feeling super soft, smooth and the ends well hydrated which makes them look healthier! Despite my hair not being thick, it rinses out well and doesn’t leave it weighed down. Lasted me ages and I never wanted it to end! I will repurchase once I finish a few other hair treatments! Read my full review here!

 

Living Proof Perfect hair Day Shampoo

Enjoyed this mini, made my hair feel clean and would like to try more hair products from Living Proof but not a repurchase right now!

 

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex

Another favourite! I use this weekly and it offers heat protection up to 232˚C to help prevent future breakage 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! Already repurchased! Read my full review here!

 

daniellesbeautyblog bodycare empties

Bodycare

Naturium The Soother Sensitive Skin Body Wash

Got this on sale last year and it’s a really nice, simple and gentle body wash! Unscented, so a little boring but works well for my skin! Would repurchase but have a few others to get through!

 

Nivea Rich Body Lotion Firming Q10 plus Vitamin C

Really enjoyed this and you know I love Nivea! It felt hydrating, smoothing and firming and it’s so affordable! Will repurchase!

 

The Inkey List PHA Exfoliating and Hydrating Body Water Cream

Another love! This made my skin feel so smooth! Another bit of a boring one as it’s not scented but it was affordable too and worked well on my KP! Would repurchase!

 

Eresos Energos Active Muscle Therapy Balm*

Lovely balm that smelt of eucalyptus! Took me longer to finish than I would like because I don’t tend to reach for products like this so not a repurchase!

 

Frank Body Smoothing AHA Body Lotion

Another nice body lotion that hydrated my skin and made it feel smooth but I went through this size so quickly! Would repurchase the bigger size on offer!

 

Biossance Squalane + Enzyme Sugar Body Scrub

This was nice but nothing special for the price! I prefer something scrubbier or even exfoliating gloves! Not a repurchase!

 

The Body Shop Hemp Hard-Working Hand Protector

A little too rich for me for day to day use and I don’t love the scent! Not a repurchase!

 

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

One of my favourite body creams! Smells amazing and feels so hydrating! This size was handy to have for a couple of nights away I had recently! Will repurchase! 

 

daniellesbeautyblog skincare empties
 

Skincare

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel*

One of my favourite cleansers! I’ve been through a few bottles of this now and it works so well as a second or morning cleanse for me and is gentle and non-drying. It makes my skin feel calm and I can’t recommend it enough! Will repurchase when I finish a few other cleansers! Read my full review here! 

 

Isntree Yam Root Vegan Milk Toner*

This was a really lovely gentle and hydrating toner! It’s lightweight and replenishes skin moisture to keep skin supple as well as strengthening the skin barrier. Would repurchase! 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!

 

January Labs Restorative Tonic Mist

Love this mist, it works so well when I have breakouts to calm my skin! Gutted this has now disappeared from SpaceNK as it had already left Cult Beauty! I have one backup left and would love to repurchase but it might be too difficult to get my hands on!

 

Ultra Violette Supreme Screen Hydrating Facial SkinScreen SPF 50+

Enjoyed this – it’s definitely on the hydrating side but non greasy and worked well to protect my skin leaving no white cast and didn’t pill under makeup. Don’t love the smell and it's pricier than some K Beauty SPF’s I prefer so not a repurchase for me right now!

 

Vichy Mineral 89 100h Moisture Boosting Cream Rich*

Loved this cream – it felt so hydrating and worked well with my combo skin as both an AM and PM moisturiser! Makeup sat better underneath it and I would repurchase! See my full review here!

 

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Crème

This is a balmy-gel and works so well to hydrate under and around my eyes reducing fine lines! I didn’t notice a huge difference in under eye darkness which it does claim to target but I still really like it because of how smoothing I found it! Would repurchase if I found on a good sale!

 

Pixi Clarity Concentrate*

This was my go-to when I was experiencing breakouts and it worked a treat! It contains glycolic, salicylic and lactic acid as well as probiotics and aloe and really helped to gently exfoliate my skin while still keeping it hydrated and my breakouts healed much faster with use! I don’t think this would work miracles if you are experiencing severe acne but for the usual time of the month breakouts, it’s great! Would repurchase! Read my full review here!

 

REN Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream*

Another eye cream I enjoyed for its hydrating purposes more so than brightening claims! I tended to use this in the morning and the Estee Lauder at night! Like I said, it didn’t do much for brightening (a lot of eye creams don’t!) but it worked well under my makeup and didn’t pill and kept my under eye hydrated throughout the day! Not a repurchase for me right now though as I have a few others to use up!

 

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner

A lovely gentle toner that felt creamy and hydrating! Would love a full size of this for winter and would repurchase in the future!

 

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream

Really rich moisturiser that was great under makeup! Super expensive though so not a repurchase for me as I have others I prefer but a lovely product nonetheless!

 

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume

A classic soothing balm/moisturiser, this is nice to have on hand but I’m not sure it did much for me though that’s probably to do with the size! Would consider a repurchase in the future!

 

Pat McGrath Divine Skin Rose 001 The Essence

Nice hydrating essence but not a repurchase for me, I’m a little sick of rose scents! 

 

daniellesbeautyblog sheet mask empties

Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel

Love using these as a more intensive treatment once in a while! Work well to smooth my skin! Will repurchase!

 

Pixi Volumizing Infusion Sheet Mask*

Patchology Flash Patch Hydrating Lip Gels

Patchology Flash Patch Illuminating Eye Gels

Rodial Bee Venom Jelly Eye Patches

Won’t go into detail on all of these but I enjoyed using them and they worked well as a treat to hydrate my skin! Wouldn’t go out of my way to repurchase them but I do like using them when I remember! 

 

daniellesbeautyblog makeup empties

Makeup

By Terry Hydra-Care Setting Powder in 0 Colorless

Really enjoyed this powder on my combo skin, it worked well to mattify my t-zone and never looked cakey or detectable! Would repurchase if on sale!

 

Merit Clean Lash in Black*

This has become my new favourite mascara this year! It’s a tubing mascara and there is no smudging, clumping or flaking, the bristles make it easy to coat my lashes and it works well to lengthen. Received in PR but I repurchased with my own money! Read my full review here!

 

Saie Glowy Super Gel in Starglow

This is a gorgeous illuminator that I mix in with my foundation and it works to help brighten and add a little somethin’ somethin’ to my skin! Got another shade to try in a Sephora favourite set I recently purchased!

 

Clarins SOS Primer (Boosts Radiance)

Another nice glowy primer I like to mix with foundation! Overall, I prefer the Saie so not a repurchase for me but I would happily use it again!

 

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

This was a nice lip balm but it’s so hyped up I’m not sure what I’m missing, it's nothing special! Have a mini in the hot cocoa scent but not a repurchase for me!

 

Naturium Phyto Glow Lip Balm in Petal

Loved this! The perfect amount of stickiness and lasted ages on my lips, hydrating them without having to top up very often! Petal is a lovely my lips but better shade! The packaging on this is awful though, I had to duct tape it as the end popped after only a couple of uses. Naturium customer service was good and refunded me but I have never had this problem on any tube lip balms before! Have repurchased in a different shade! 

 

daniellesbeautyblog miscellaneous empties

Miscellaneous

Organika Enhanced Collagen Protein

Love these, absorb so well in water and help my joints!

 

Genuine Health Original Greens+

Not my favourite greens taste but I’m a picky eater so like to subsidise my greens intake with these. Have gone back to the Costco ones as I prefer the taste but would repurchase these on offer!

 

So that’s my year end empties! I need to get back on track as I had a few products I was hoping to finish by now but didn’t quite manage to so hopefully they will be in my first empties in the New Year! Did you see any products you like or want to try?

 

*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

Instagram | Links and Discounts | Shop My Favourites | Pinterest

 


 

 

 

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