First Skincare Empties of 2025

- Vicki Leave a comment

Garnier Gentle Peeling Water

This is a fantastic, affordable product. I don’t use it to take off makeup, but instead use it as an exfoliating step after cleansing and before my toner. It works to exfoliate the skin, lightly removing dead skin cells to reveal a more radiant complexion. If you like products that help you achieve that natural healthy glow, then this should be in your routine. It is a mild formula, but I would say that if you are more on the sensitive skin side, do a patch test first, just to be on the safe side. This gentle peeling water contains exfoliants & 1% PHA + Glycolic Acid (AHA, known for their gentle peeling efficacy to help exfoliate and leave skin smooth. I love how much it smooths my skin’s texture, and gives that healthy glow. Which Garnier water is your go-to, and have you tried this one? I would 100% buy this again, and I bought it for all the ladies in my family for Christmas.

*No7 Future Renew SPF40 Day Cream

With this collection, No7 used research from the University of Manchester and their breakthroughs in peptide technology (pepticology). This breakthrough technology supports skin’s natural self-repair and helps reverse visible signs of skin damage, fine lines & wrinkles, uneven skin tone, dryness, and loss of firmness. I loved this cream, loved it! It is a rich, hydrating day cream that is packed with ingredients designed to tackle all the key concerns for mature skin (like mine, I am almost 50). What stood out for me is that it has SPF40. I love having extra protection, and there is simply no point in investing in high-quality skincare if we don’t protect our skin from UV damage, which as we know accelerates ageing and contributes to pigmentation and texture issues. So wear your SPF.

I found this day cream deeply nourishing but not heavy or greasy, perfect for daily wear. I think it is the right balance of quality and affordability & it’s no surprise that I will 100% repurchase. The eye cream and the night cream from this collection is 10/10. Have you tried it, or what are your favourite No7 products?

*Tropic Tamanu Healing Balm

This is simply a wonderful multipurpose balm (I love that it is green). I use it for so many things, on chapped lips, cuticles, dry skin and I even use it as an eye cream. It is jam packed full of natural and heeling ingredients, With tamanu oil (aka ‘green gold’) at its core, which is a centuries-old Polynesian remedy known for its ability to stimulate skin & help soothe inflammation, while deeply nourishing. Alongside the tamanu oil, Tropic have blended it with hydrating, soothing monoi and cocoa butters which are hydrating and calming and if that wasn’t enough it also contains antioxidant-rich blackcurrant extract and raspberry seed oil.

This balm is a ‘does all product’, and you will not regret having it in your bag / beauty routine. I take it everywhere. This pot lasted me so long and that was with me using it for so many things on a regular basis, it just lasts forever. I just can’t say enough good things about it and think it is the ultimate multipurpose balm.

Garnier SkinActive Vitamin C Day Serum

I love both the day and night versions of this vitamin C serum from Garnier. In a nutshell, it is formulated to boost radiance, even out skin tone and protect against free radicals. It has a 3.5% concentration of vitamin C which really gets to work, helping your skin look fresh and glowing.  Alongside other skin loving ingredients like Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid which help gently exfoliate to reduce texture and blemishes and Lemon Extract which works to brighten skin. This is just a great and affordable product to have in your routine. It is a product I always recommend.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Fig Cleansing Balm

Fig and all things fig scented are my fave, I adore anything with fig as an ingredient. This is the 3rd 100ml pot of this I have been through, and It won’t be the last. It is a forever repurchase for me. The Elemis cleansing balms are a cult product, and it is easy to see why. Nothing removes makeup like this, it has a balm to oil texture that just cuts through even stubborn waterproof mascara, it is gentle and feels amazing on the skin. It is like having a spa at home, the sweet fig scent is calming, and the balm leaves your skin feeling clean, nourished and soft, it is 10/10. Elemis offer their cleansing balms in a number of scents and I will have to try their latest release, the Dark Cherry Balm, have you tried it yet?

Beauty Bay Chamomile and Oat Cleanser

This cleansing balm is a great affordable option, it is not as rich and luxurious as the Elemis one, but it is still a great everyday gentle cleanser. This balm boasts a formula made up of 86% naturally derived ingredients which include, Oat Lipids which are rich in ceramides, which are essential for maintaining the skin’s barrier and retaining moisture. They help to replenish the skin, leaving it nourished and smooth, whilst gently removing impurities and makeup without stripping the skin. It also contains Chamomile, which is well known for its anti-inflammatory and calming properties, making it ideal for soothing irritated or inflamed skin. I really enjoyed this product and will 100% be purchasing more products from Beauty Bay

 

•this post contains PR samples and affiliate links, If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Five Current Skincare Favourites

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Isle Of Paradise Sunny Serum Bronzer*

This was one of those products I kept seeing everywhere in 2024. Even the skincare queen herself, Caroline Hirons, called it a must-have! But I resisted until winter arrived when I didn’t always want to wear foundation, but I still wanted my skin to look healthy and radiant, so I finally gave in and bought a bottle. And let me tell you, I honestly don’t know what I did before this product. I mix it with my moisturiser I find that works for me, and it gives me a subtle, sun-kissed, fresh-faced glow.

It’s incredibly easy to apply, never looks heavy, and instantly makes you look radiant, like you’ve just had the best night’s sleep or cheeky Winter sun holiday. This is an absolute must-have for those lazy days when you don’t want to do a full face of makeup but still want to look put-together with minimal effort It 10000% lives up to the hype and for the price get it in your makeup bag, you will not regret it. LOVE IT. The price is incredible and the product just works.

Vieve Skin Nova Illuminating Primer

Some products get so much hype that you think, surely, it can’t be that good, well, this one really is. Skin Nova primer is simply beautiful, it is the glow you never knew you could get. The radiant luminous glow it gives is unlike anything else, like you’ve just had a facial, a holiday, and the best night’s sleep all in one. Whether you wear it under foundation as a primer or on its own for a fresh, dewy look, you’ll find yourself reaching for it every single day. It’s effortless, luminous, and absolutely stunning. It feels like primers fell out of favour in the beauty world, either people stopped using them or just stopped talking about them. But Skin Nova has changed that and has put primers back in my makeup bag. It is now a step I never skip. Everything Jamie touches turns to gold and I say good on her, her products are fantastic quality and the prices are reasonable and worth it.

Charlotte Tilbury Air Brush Flawless Setting Spray

I had my makeup done at a Charlotte Tilbury makeup counter when I went in looking for a new foundation (which I bought), and the lady who did my makeup used this setting spray to finish the look. Normally, I like to think about my purchases, maybe hunt for a deal online, but this time, I bought everything on the spot, including the brush (who even am I). My brief to the makeup artist was, I wanted my makeup to look fresh, dewy, and seamless, without settling into fine lines, and WOW this setting spray delivered. Not only does it give your skin an instant glow, but it also locks your makeup in place for hours, literally all day long. Your skin looks radiant, hydrated, and flawless without needing touch ups. I have used quite a few setting sprays, and they have worked, but others have felt a little drying, heavy and tacky to the touch, but this one it gives hydration and glow. I have since bought the travel sized bottle so I can always have it in my bag! Well worth the money & the hype.

Votary Super Seed Serum

This is my go-to serum for calming my skin, I am prone to redness and this has been doing the trick. Votary have such a lovely range of skincare, and I am head over heels for this serum. It’s lightweight, silky smooth, and instantly soothing, perfect for calming my skin, especially during colder months or after sun exposure. The benefits of this serum are that it hydrates & plumps with hyaluronic acid, it strengthens & protects with natural peptides and boosts skin resilience with broccoli seed & rosehip oil. Perfect If, like me, you need gentle yet effective skincare, this serum is a must-have, sensitive skin will love it. It carries quite a big price tag, but I snapped it up in sale, so it is worth looking for a deal.

Kiehl’s Super Multi Corrective Cream*

I have been on a mission to even out my skin tone and combat dullness, and this cream is fantastic for that. I have used Kiehl’s products for years and always feel like they deliver on quality and results, this cream was something I had never tried before, but I’ve been using it every night for almost 2 months and really enjoying it. Not only does it help with skin tone, but it has so many other benefits, it helps, lift, smooth, and firm skin, whilst boosting radiance and enhancing elasticity. So it targets signs of ageing. The cream is just the right texture and feels comforting, rich and hydrating. It has become one of my favourite products in my evening skincare routine.

Let me know if you have tried any of the products I have mentioned, or if you also have them as favourite products. I would love to know what skincare you have discovered lately and that you would recommend I try. Leave me a comment.

*this post contains affiliate links, If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. All products mentioned were purchased by me and not gifted or received as PR.

Hoxton Lloyd Hotel Amsterdam

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After the huge success of the original Hoxton on the Herengracht, Hoxton opened, a second hotel in Amsterdam, in a more quiet neighbourhood in the Eastern Docklands area of the city called The Lloyd. I have stayed at both Hoxton hotels in Amsterdam, and they’re extremely different in both style and location, but I have to say without a shadow of a doubt that the Lloyd Hotel is my preferred place to stay out of the two, and have actually been back 4 times in the past 18 months.

The Hoxton, Lloyd Amsterdam, is a striking blend of history and modern design. Housed in a national monument, the building carries a legacy spanning over a century. Originally commissioned by the Royal Holland Lloyd (Koninklijke Hollandsche Lloyd, KHL), it has served various roles over the years from hosting immigrants to being a detention centre and artists studios, The Lloyd Hotel officially opened in 2004, housing 117 rooms and becoming a popular meeting place for locals and visitors. The Hoxton took over, and gave the tired hotel an extensive refurbishment, doing what they do best, which is blending historic charm with contemporary aesthetics. They opened in September 2023, and I was so excited to visit that I booked a room in October, the hotel was so new, and I was very impressed by all the attention to detail.

The building is so striking and dominates the area, it looks dark and imposing (I love its Wes Anderson vibe) but when you enter the interior is bright and unique. They have done such a good job at keeping so many of the building’s original historic features and making the decor contemporary, it has good energy and you instantly feel comfortable.

The Breman Brasserie, which is the hotels, restaurant is named after the building’s original architect and this grand space is beautiful, with high ceilings, huge windows which let a lot of light in and the decor is elegant and inviting. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as taking your time over a coffee or sit at the bar for a cocktail. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, and I really enjoyed spending time in here, the food is fantastic, but I do wish they would offer a few more Vegan options.

The hotel is a space for relaxing and taking your time, there are lots of places to sit and let the time pass you by. I am in love with the decor, I really like the way they have not shied away from using pattern and colour. The whole hotel is a vibe and it just feels so inviting and interesting. Everything from the original tiles in many of the rooms and the corridors, the incredible light features and the grand high ceilings add to its rich charm.

I have stayed in a few different rooms, all of which had very different decor and vibe. The rooms photographed below are both ‘concept rooms’ and have features that are protected and could not be changed. Like the white subway style tiles that line the walls and the huge mirrors. I really liked this room but my husband said it was quite cold and clinical, I see what he means, I thought it was very interesting and unusual. The bathroom was massive and bigger than the actual bedroom, the showers in this hotel are fantastic and the ‘blank’ products you get in the shower/bathroom are very nice.

We also stayed in the Tune concept room, this room was insane, it had a split-level connected by a statement spiral staircase with the sleeping area upstairs and living space downstairs. The decor was so whacky and the scale of the room hard to take in at first. The vaulted ceiling was so tall and so too were the windows, the room had the biggest mirror I had ever seen, a grand piano and the staircase was a work of art in itself. Such a treat and a room I will never forget, have you ever seen a room like it?

I think our favourite part of the entire hotel was the bar, Barbue has a level of cool which for the time I was there made me feel like I was a little cool too. The double height room, with a mezzanine level, has wood panelling which gives it a warm feel, and the low lighting makes it feel atmospheric and quite sexy. There is a South American flair, giving a nod to the hotel’s rich history, the classic old ticket office, where travellers once purchased tickets before embarking on ships to seek a better life abroad, has been fully preserved in its original state.

The bar is beautiful, and the drinks/cocktail menu has been very well curated with lots of Argentinian offerings, again in keeping with the hotel’s rich South American connection. The staff are fantastic and very helpful when recommending or explaining the heritage and flavours of the drinks. We spend many a night in the bar, soaking up the atmosphere and trying some new and unusual cocktails. Even if you’re not staying at The Hoxton, Lloyd Amsterdam, I highly recommend visiting Barbue for a drink. The bar is intimate, effortlessly stylish, and exudes a very cool vibe, making it the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy its exceptional drink menu. I can’t wait to head back.

So in a nutshell this hotel is fantastic, unusual and in a quiet part of the city but still very well-connected, and you get to also explore new neighbourhoods. As someone that has visited Amsterdam many times, it is nice to be slightly out of the madness but still have access to it. It is easy to find, easy to get about and a lot more affordable than most Amsterdam hotels, but it is up there with the best I have stayed in. No compromises, they give incredible service, the rooms are quiet and I love the decor.

This is from The Hoxton website, on how to find The Lloyd & get about by tram, car,

‘Rietlandpark tram stop is a mere 3-minute walk from the hotel and you can hop off there from any point in the city – including Amsterdam Centraal Station, which is around 10 minutes’ away by tram and connects to regional / international train services. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a 20-minute drive.’

Teoxane Skincare Review

- Vicki Leave a comment

Teoxane are pioneers in aesthetic innovation and skincare excellence. They’re a Swiss-based brand who has earned its reputation as a market leader in both aesthetic Hyaluronic Acid dermal fillers and dermocosmetic skincare. Renowned for high-quality formulations, Teoxane’s products are the result of decades of dedicated research and innovation.

Founded in 2003 by Valérie Taupin, the Teoxane laboratories in Switzerland have continually advanced the fields of aesthetics and skincare. Their commitment to scientific excellence and groundbreaking technologies has solidified their position as a trusted name in the beauty sphere. Whether through their dermal fillers or advanced skincare solutions, Teoxane has combined quality, science, and research to deliver actual results.

I have been trying out 3 products from their skincare collection and in short, I’m beyond impressed with all of them. Even the packaging is sleek and functional, with its white minimal look it gives a very scientific / apothecary vibe. Both the serum and eye cream are in airless packaging, a clever design that ensures optimal preservation of the formula. This innovative feature keeps the product potent and effective for longer, so you can enjoy its full benefits with every use.

Teoxane R(II) Eyes*

The first thing I noticed about this product was its soothing metallic applicator, It delivers an instantly cooling sensation that feels so refreshing and helps to de-puff the delicate under eye area. This feature is such a refreshing way to wake up tired eyes in the morning, making them look more awake and refreshed, even before applying the cream itself.

Say goodbye to tired eyes with Teoxane R[II] Eyes, developed with TEOXANE’s patented RHA (Resilient Hyaluronic Acid) injectable technology, this revolutionary skincare solution targets the delicate eye area, the first to show signs of ageing and fatigue. This product promises,

  • Powerful Anti-Aging Benefits: Smooth fine lines and wrinkles while reducing dark circles and puffiness for a refreshed, youthful look.
  • Cutting-Edge Ingredients: This advanced formula combines TEOXANE’s anti ageing complex (RHA Technology, Dermo-Restructuring Complex, and NovHyal) with targeted active ingredients to deliver expert anti-fatigue and anti-ageing solutions specifically for the eye contour area.
  • Gentle and Effective: Fragrance free and formulated to suit sensitive skin around the eyes, it’s as soothing as it is effective.

Teoxane R[II] EYES has truly transformed my eye care routine. This groundbreaking formula leaves my eyes looking smoother and brighter, with noticeably fewer fine lines. I have to say, I love this eye cream even more than the serum (just a little more). From the soothing, cooling applicator to the lightweight, silky consistency, it’s become my absolute favourite skincare product. I’ve been using it both morning and night for about 6 weeks and I have seen great results, the dark spots around my eyes have faded, my dark circles are far less noticeable, and my concealer has never applied so flawlessly.

This product is a 10/10 for me, I genuinely look forward to using it every day and couldn’t be happier with the results, so far.

Teoxane RHA Serum*

Revitalise your skin the Teoxane RHA Serum designed to target dehydration, dullness, and signs of ageing.

  • Unparalleled Hydration Technology: Featuring the highest concentration of TEOXANE’s patented RHA (Resilient Hyaluronic Acid) technology, this serum delivers deep, long-lasting hydration for visibly rejuvenated skin.
  • Powerful Antioxidant Blend: Packed with remarkable antioxidants and advanced anti ageing ingredients, it works to smooth, tone, and brighten your complexion while improving overall skin properties.
  • Proven Results in Just 14 Days: Experience smoother, more toned skin with a brighter, deeply hydrated appearance in as little as two weeks.

A Game-Changer for Your Skin! This serum is an absolute showstopper. With its gel like consistency, it initially feels slightly tacky upon application, but within moments, it transforms, leaving your skin silky smooth and instantly hydrated. After using this serum consistently for 6–7 weeks, I’ve noticed incredible improvements in my skin, it feels noticeably plumper, softer, and brighter. Even the texture of my skin has improved and is visible smoother.

The fresh, radiant appearance of my skin has even made me reach for makeup less often, my complexion looks naturally vibrant and refreshed. This serum truly delivers on its promises, making it a must-have addition to any skincare routine, and one of my favourite products in mine. I LOVE this serum and don’t think my routine can be without it now.

On my hand is the balm (white rich cream) the serum (clear gel) and the eye cream (beige cream)

Teoxane Deep Repair Balm*

This is a great product for hydrating and soothing damaged, sensitive, or irritated skin, this moisturising balm is designed to provide intensive care for your skin’s recovery and comfort.

  • Advanced Hydration: Formulated with resilient hyaluronic acid, it delivers deep, long-lasting hydration to replenish and restore.
  • Calm and Soothe: Enriched with arnica (floral extract), it reduces redness and calms irritation caused by environmental factors or other stressors.
  • Support Skin Recovery: Perfect for dry, sensitive, or damaged skin, this balm helps repair the skin’s natural barrier while promoting a balanced, even complexion.

This luxurious cream feels instantly calming on the skin. Its rich texture and high quality ingredients make it a great part of my evening skincare routine. What I love most is how it delivers intense hydration (with its resilient hyaluronic acid), making my skin feel plumped, soothed and protected, perfect for the colder Winter months when my skin is at its driest and most sensitive.

If you’re looking for a deeply nourishing, sensitive skin friendly moisturiser to protect and soothe your skin during harsh weather, this one is a must-try, it’s the perfect companion for nurturing sensitive skin back to its best, leaving it hydrated, calm, and radiant.

Out of the 3 products I have tried from Teoxane this is my least favourite not because it doesn’t deliver results but more because I think a good moisturiser is quite easy to find. The eye cream and serum are up there with some of the best skincare I have tried and would highly recommend them. Teoxane have an extensive range of skincare from SPF to cleansers and serums to plumping lip balms, they have it all. I am excited to try more from them and of course repurchase the eye cream and serum.

Let me know if you have heard of or tried anything from this Swiss brand. Let me know your recommendations. You can purchase and browse the range on Teoxane.co.uk

* These products were gifted to me as PR samples but I was not asked to write about them. All opinions are my own.