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!
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.
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!
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
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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 62I 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 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!
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!
It’s empties time again! This is
everything I have from the last three months and to be honest it’s not as much
as I was hoping but here we are!
Haircare
Living Proof Perfect hair Day Advanced
Clean Dry Shampoo
Starting as usually with my go to dry
shampoo! It let’s me go for a few extra days without washing my hair and there
is no white cast or residue. My hair feels manageable and actually looks clean!
It’s pricey, but 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!
Dove Bond Strength 10 in 1 Serum Mask
Loved this hair mask and it’s always on
offer so you can pick it up relatively cheap! Nourished my hair, left it shiny
and reduced the look of breakage and dry ends. The mask itself feels
lightweight and only needs to be left in for a minute so good if you are in a
rush! Will reperuchase or try the intensive repair mask next!
Living Proof Perfect hair Day Triple
Detox Shampoo
I believe this has been discontinued and
updated to be the Clarifying Detox Shampoo now. It was a gentle formula that
had charcoal to help absorb excess oil. It has the same citrus scent most if
not all Living Proof products have which is not my favourite hair scent but not
offensive either! I liked this but it’s not a repurchase!
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector
I went through so many full sizes of this
back in the day! It’s a pre shampoo treatment that I like to leave in my hair
for 2-3 hours before washing out to see the best results. It works well on my
damaged ends and makes them a lot softer, hydrated and also makes my split ends
look sealed and healthy! This is the old formula but they recently brough out a
new version you don’t need to leave in your hair as long! Typically, these days
I prefer a leave in treatment so this isn’t a repurchase! Read my full review here!
Bodycare
Nivea Smooth Body Lotion
Love this! It’s a lightweight formula
with a fresh, clean scent, the bottle is huge and you can always get it for an
affordable price! A staple in my body care routine, have the Q10 one in my
backup drawer!
Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion
Another great body lotion, this one has a
bit of a weird scent even though its unscented but it dissipates quickly! It
contains lactic acid so gently resurfaces the skin as well as hydrating it and
I see and feel an improvement in my skin texture (particularly on my arms!)
after use! Would repurchase! See my full review here!
Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel
Love this, it smells incredible and makes
my skin feel so nourished and the bottle lasts forever! Have a back up already!
Lush Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner
This I did not love, the smell isn’t
quite the same and the formula is not my favourite either, I found it hard to
rub in and while it did leave my skin soft I will stick to other standard
moisturisers I prefer!
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
An old favourite – smells incredible and
a pot goes a long way as it’s so nourishing! Will repurchase! See my review here!
Moroccan Oil Hand Cream
Not a fan of this, the scent is not my
favourite and the hand cream dried my hands out. Not a repurchase!
Clarins Super Restorative Balm for
Abdomen and Waist
This was a really nice treatment and I
used over my whole body not just abdomen but it was so hydrating and smoothing!
Not a repurchase for me right now!
Skincare
Celimax Noni Acne Cleanser*
This was such a refreshing foaming
cleanser that I loved as a morning or second cleanse! It was my go to when I felt
a spot coming on and contains glycerin, Noni extract (rich in antioxidants),
salicylic acid, willow bark extract and centella asiatica so gently removes
dead skin cells and soothes skin and it has a fresh, herbal mint scent. Despite
being a foaming cleanser, it didn’t strip my skin and it felt soft and balanced
after use! If you are shopping on YesStyle, my code DANIELLESBB5 gets up to 5%
more off your order! Read my full review here!
REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic*
So sad that REN has closed down as they
had some real gems like the PHA exfoliating facial! This toner was not my favourite
as I found it a little too astringent for my skin with the natural citrus essential
oils. I ended up using this on my arms to help with KP where it worked well to
smooth and my arms didn’t feel as sensitive as when I use it on my face! Won’t
be a repurchase!
Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm*
Love this formula and the scent – lime,
bergamot and orange – it’s so fresh! The balm has a stiffer formula than something
like the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleanser but melts easily one you start massaging
into the skin and transforms into a milky lather when you add water. It’s rich
in antioxidants and contains sunflower oil and papaya extract to nourish skin
and target impurities leaving my skin soft and hydrated. It removes my makeup
without leaving any residue behind and I can’t fault it! Would repurchase! Read my full review here!
Loved this! Perfect for both morning and
night, this is a potent corrective cream treatment that helps reverse visible
signs of aging impacted by collagen decline. It’s formulated with 18%
concentrated Proxylane and 4.25% Wild Fruit Flavonoid blend and it’s advanced
technology is clinically shown to reduce the look of five types of wrinkles
(forehead wrinkles, glabellar line, crow’s feet, nasolabial folds, and
marionette lines), restore the skin's firmness & elasticity, and enhance
skin's radiance. My skin drank this up, it’s rich but perfect under makeup and
overnight. Every product I’ve tried from Skinceuticals is more than twice the
price of my budget for the product but 100% worth it! Would repurchase if I saw
a very good offer!
Pixi NutrifEYE Nourishing Eye Patches*
These were great and felt like such treat
on weekend mornings to soothe and refresh my eyes! They are infused with rose, aloe
vera and chamomile and feel juicy and hydrating and help to depuff my eyes and they stay in place!
Already have a backup!
NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1
One of my most repurchased skincare
serums and one I’ve been going back to for yen years now! It’s a copper peptide
serum, that is pro-repair and pro-collagen serum and helps maintains healthy
looking skin by targeting signs of skin ageing including textural damage,
uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and a lack of radiance. My skin looks and feels
much more even, clearer and firmer when I use this consistently. It sinks in
quickly and can be used in the morning and evening, but it is recommended to
not use with acids, Vitamin C, EUK, or strong antioxidants. I tend to keep my
routine simple when using this serum as it does all the heavy lifting for me! Will
repurchase! Read my full review here!
Vegreen Fragrance Free Nature Mucin Serum*
This is a really nice hydrating and
repairing serum! It contains mucin from wild yam, panthenol, peptides and
ceramides and also helps with skin elasticity and moisture. Would repurchase!
Vegreen Skin Barrier Reishi Serum*
This one is also really hydrating and
contains 3 types of mushrooms - Reishi to strengthen the skin barrier; Chaga -
an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging extract which protects the
skin from sun damage; and Tremella Fuciformis Extract which helps enhance skin
elasticity, and plump and smooth fine lines. It also contains probiotics which
maintain the skin's microbiome to reduce skin sensitivity.Both Vegreen serums have more
watery textures and they are both great simple serums staples to have in your
routine! Would repurchase! See my full review here!
Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide
Serum
I opened this a long time after I bought
it and the colour seemed darker than in photos so I ended up using it on my
chest rather than my face! It is formulated with 10% Niacinamide to improve the
look of post-acne dark spots, oiliness, and surface redness and Trans-Resveratrol
to brighten the appearance of dark spots. I think it worked ok but not a
repurchase as I didn’t try it out properly on my face!
ZIIP Crystal Gel*
I use this with my ZIIP Microcurrent
Facial device and it works great with it! The gel is formulated with glutathione,
cedar bark extract, and veronica flower extract to brighten, repair and calm.
It feel luxurious and enhances conductivity with the device but it is so
expensive so I’m not sure I will repurchase, I have a couple other gels from
the brand to try but then I will be trying a cheaper alternative to see if it
works as well! See my initial thoughts on the ZIIP Microcurrent device here and
get 10% off with my code DANIELLEBEAUTY here!
Biossance Squalane + Amino Acid Gentle
Cleanser
A great gel cleanser! It foams nicely and
doesn’t feel stripping - amino acid helps eliminate the dirt that can clog
pores and Aloe Vera hydrates, calms and soothes. It also contains moringa so
there is a lovely citrus scent and my skin always feels clean, ready for my
next steps! Would repurchase! Read more here!
Really enjoyed this eye cream! It felt
lightweight and moisturized well while improving the look of my under-eye area
leaving it looking firmer and more plump. Would repurchase!
Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance
Great moisturiser! Would repurchase!
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Instant Glow
Moisturiser
Another lovely moisturiser but I wouldn’t
repurchase as I have others I prefer!
Masks
Pixi Volume Volumizing Infusion Sheet
Mask*
Super saturated and hydrated and plumped
my skin! I happily use up sheet masks but not a repurchase!
Anua Heartleaf 70 + Hyaluron Soothing
Collagen Mask x 2*
Another saturated mask that hydrated and
calmed my skin! Wouldn’t repurchase but I enjoyed!
Makeup
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte
Longwear Foundation shade 150
Love this foundation – it comes in 50 shades
and is described as a soft matte longwear foundation that’s a buildable, medium
to full coverage that fights heat, sweat and shine. Despite offering good
coverage, it doesn’t feel thick feels and does a great job of covering
blemishes. It lasts a good all day with minimal powdering throughout the day on
my combo skin and it leaves my skin looking perfected and doesn’t settle into
fine lines. Already have a back up! See my full review here!
Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint
in shade 2
This is a great lighter base that comes in
25 shades. Despite being lighter, it offers very good coverage! It’s perfecting
and really does blur the skin and even out my complexion and with the rest of
my makeup on top I am super happy with the coverage! I loved these for work from
home days or a lighter base when running errands on the weekend! They last all
day on my skin and don’t settle into fine lines and the shade 2 is perfect for
my fair skin and maybe just a touch lighter than the 150 shade I am in the Soft
Matte foundation! Would repurchase!
Cinta London Aqua Forte Super-Hold
Setting Spray*
Worked well to keep my makeup in place
but I have others I prefer so not a repurchase!
Merit Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara
Love love love this mascara! Tubing is
the way to go for my watery eyes! This doesn’t budge and the bristles make it
easy to coat my lashes and it works well to lengthen and give volume. There are
no clumps or flakes and no smudging as the day goes on! Already have a back up! Read my full review here!
Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero Smudge
Lengthening Mascara
Another great tubing mascara! Separates
my lashes well and the only time I experienced smudging was when I walked to
work in a bad snow storm and my face got really wet so I’ll forgive it that one
time! Already have a backup!
Haus Labs PhD Hybrid Lip Glaze in Guava
I made it my mission to finish this one
up recently as it was getting old! It’s a really nice non-sticky gloss that
lasts a decent amount of time on my lips! I love the shade but there is no
scent so not a repurchase for me!
Caliray So Blown Clean Blurring Primer
with Collagen Peptides
Loved this mini! It really helped with
shine control on my combo skin, plumped my skin and blurred my pores. Already
repurchased the full size!
Well done if you made it to the end of
this post! Let me know if you’ve tried any of the products I’ve mentioned and
what you thought of them!
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