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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.

Marc Jacobs Daisy for Christmas

- Vicki Leave a comment
Perfume Gift Ideas

Marc Jacobs Daisy Perfume

As I get older I always say to family & friends “let’s not do gifts this year lets just get together and enjoy a meal and a few drinks”. I especially love Christmas for giving us so many excuses to spend time together and it makes me so grateful for all the amazing people I have in my life. That being said it is nice to have something under the tree to open on Christmas morning even if it just one lovely gift, and my husband always gets the most thoughtful presents for me. I like to ask for something special, something I don’t often buy myself and for me that is perfume.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Fragrance

A fragrance for me is such a treat and that’s what makes it the perfect gift to both give and receive. There are so many incredible scents and this year I wanted to add back to my collection a scent that I used to wear a lot a few years ago. We all have that one perfume which never gets old and that for me is Marc Jacobs Daisy. It is such an iconic scent and the bottle is instantly recognisable with the cap adorned with pretty daisies, I haven’t owned it for so long but I’m thrilled to have it for 2018.

It is beautiful, timeless fragrance and one that can be worn by all ages. It is such a mix of fruity, floral and fresh notes that it never smells overpowering of too intense. It reminds me of so many happy moments, birthdays, holidays and getting my job at RBS. It has been a favourite of mine for so long and it was my Mum that first introduced me to it and she still wears it too, so we have the same great taste in perfume.

Perfume Gift Ideas

Top notes of wild berries and soft white violets

Heart notes of velvety jasmine

Base notes of sandalwood

Marc Jacobs Christmas Gift Ideas

What perfume would you love to receive this Christmas? do you have your heart set on a new release or a classic, iconic scent?

Marc Jacob Daisy is available from Fragrance Direct. You can get it as part of a gift set, in limited edition packaging or you can opt for the classic fragrance.

*this post was sponsored by Fragrance Direct but all the views are 100% my own

Discovering New Beauty Brands in 2016

- Vicki 3 Comments
Trying New Beauty Brands

For me 2016 was the year of trying out brands and products I’d never used before. I was not only introduced to brands I had never heard of before but also given the chance to test out products that had been on my wish list for a while.

A few didn’t live up to expectations but I’m pleased to say most of them have become firm favourites. I thought I would share some of the ones that stood out to me. I am very much looking forward to trying more new brands this year and have a few on my radar already.

Pureology Haircare

Pureology Haircare

I had wanted to try this brand for the longest time as I’d only heard positive reviews from bloggers whose opinions I really trust. I was thrilled that the FULFYL haircare system that I tried out lived up to my expectations and my Mum even went out and purchased it for herself too. This particular range is formulated for colour treated hair and it protects your colour from fading whilst keeping your hair strong, nourished and looking super glossy. I am obsessed with it and the hair colour I used on my hair this year stayed vibrant for the longest time, I 100% put it down to using this trio.

NIOD Skincare

NIOD

Again I was excited to try this brand and I have to say its one of my favourite skincare discoveries of 2016. NIOD are a relatively new brand to the market but don’t overlook them on that count, they’re a brand that are pushing the envelope of ingredients and producing products that are fuss free, effective and pretty damn cool. Everything from their production & packaging right down to the products themselves are progressive. I have tried out a couple of their offerings this year but this Mud Mask has changed my life – well my skin. It has restored my skins radiance and I’ve certainly had fewer blemishes which pleases me greatly. I will be purchasing a lot more from them in 2017 and also trying a few products from their sister company The Ordinary.

Mac Palette Dupe

W7 Summer Nights Eyeshadow Palette

This is a budget brand that has always intrigued me, they are quite renowned for producing dupes and when I saw this MAC Burgundy Times Nine Palette dupe on MissMakeupMagpie blog I knew I had to try it. I love neutral palettes and this 9 pan palette has become a firm favourite. I’ve used it so much these past few months and if you are able to track it down (its like gold dust) then I urge you to snap it up. Its super pigmented, wearable and affordable, what more do you want!?

BRYT Skincare

BRYT Skincare 

This was a new British skincare company that I was introduced to this year but they mainly cater for younger skin and I’m certainly not in that bracket anymore. Nevertheless their skincare is gentle and although rich its not greasy or too heavy. I did enjoy trying out these three products, but I need something that offers more lift, tightening and hydration. BRYT seem to be ticking all the boxes when is comes to delivering affordable, ethical and botanical premium skincare. So if you’re under 25 then make sure you check them out. How cute and bright is their packaging too!

Skin Chemist Snail Serum Skincare

skinChemists Skincare 

This is quite a luxury brand which has a very modern minimal feel to its branding and packaging. I have enjoyed the products I have tried from them, especially the snail eye cream which I thought was very gentle and nourishing. It was very lightweight and felt cooling around my eye area, also my concealer applied so well over this. I have been using a few products from their Caviar range too but It’s still early days, so keep an eye out for a full review soon.

Ooh! Oils Cacay Facial Oil

Ooh! Oils of Heaven 

I adore using facial oils and love how versatile they are, these two from Ooh! have been a pleasure to use. The Cacay Oil was my favourite of the two and I mostly use this as part of my evening skincare routine but I do mix a little with my serum during the day of my skin is looking lacklustre. It helps to keep my skin looking radiant and hydrated and is great at reducing scaring and uneven skint one. This particular Oil has a high content of vitamin A, vitamin E and Linoleic Acid (omega-6) which have effective results in skincare.

Blank Canvas Cosmetics Eyeshadow Palette-One-

Blank Canvas Cosmetics

Another brand I had never heard of before trying this palette but I have learnt that they have a huge following, especially in Ireland which is where this brand is from. They produce high quality makeup brushes and also a range of makeup products. The eyeshadow palette didn’t completely WOW me but I did like quite a few of the shades and think they are a brand to keep an eye on. The double ended brush that came with the palette was incredible quality and Its made me want to try a few more from their huge range.

What brands did you try for the first time in 2016, any firm favourites that you would recommend?

Origins Three Part Harmony Moisturiser

- Vicki 1 Comment
Origins Three Part Harmony Cream

Origins Three Part Harmony Moisturiser

Origins Three Part Harmony £60 

Over the past 15 years as my skin has changed, aged and matured, Origins skincare have really been a consistent part of my skincare journey. At some point along the way I have used almost all of their options, some I have moved on from but there are still a few which I have never stopped loving, like their Mega Mushroom Range & also the very popular GinZing Range. They have such a fantastic range of skincare which caters to a spectrum of skin concerns and ages too.

I have been using this Three Point Harmony Cream (the three-point refers to Renewal, Repair and Radiance) for a whole year now & its a really great option for me, now I’m almost in my 40’s, as I said my skin has changed so much and I find I’m reaching for skincare which is more nourishing and keeps my skin hydrated which in turn stops my fine lines looking so prominent. This has been a very good moisturiser for making my skin look its best, not younger or less old but radiant and refreshed.

Origins Three Part Harmony Cream

This does have a rich, thick consistency but once you massage it in, it feels luxurious and your skin is so moisturised, without leaving behind any greasy residue. It leaves the skin feeling very smooth, supple and instantly radiant. Post application you do notice an instant smoothness and the scent is beautifully sweet & uplifting.

This cream has some really lovely skin beneficial ingredients, specifically to pep up your skin and help it look more rejuvenated and glowing.

‘This intensely rich cream with Tazetta Lily Bulbs, White Myrtle and Japanese Knot Weed helps produce youthful supplies of natural collagen to help visibly repair skin’s structure. Fine lines and wrinkles are softened. With deeply nourishing plant butters plus Vitamin E, this luscious cream renews skin’s hydration levels. With Scutellaria, it helps reveal radiance, refine tone and brighten skin to impart a healthy, vibrant glow.’

This cream tackles those skin concerns which become more prominent as our skin matures and its exciting that Origins have extended their range to cater for more mature skin types. I am hoping they add a toner and a face mask to this range in the near future.

Lovely New Origins Skincare

I am very much enjoying this cream but I’ve only got a tiny amount left so I have been saving to get a new pot, as I don’t think I can be without it in my routine. Its made such a difference to my dry, dull complexion that I am willing to spend the £60 on a new jar.

Speaking of the jar, this Origins cream comes exquisitely packaged in a luxurious weighty glass jar with a lightly coloured faux wooden lid. It looks pretty, understated and luxurious.

I have heard so many positive reviews about the Serum from this Three Part Harmony Collection that I am very tempted to also purchase that too. If you have tried this range let me know your thoughts & if I should get the Serum too.