nivea – sarah fynn

Evening routine with Nivea Luminous 630 Anti Dark Spot Collection

Hi everyone, I hope all is well and making use of the bout of sunshine we are having in the UK at the moment.

Today’s post will be my full evening routine featuring the new Anti-Dark Spot collection from Nivea (gifted). For full details on the collection & claims, read my previous post here

My evening routine is easy and straight forward:

I start with cleansing with – Roc Skincare Vitamin c cleanser (gifted) (I do a double cleanse if I’m wearing a lot of sunscreen/makeup) then its layering my serums. I’ve started using the Boots Polyglutamic serum which I am really loving so far and pleasantly surprised with. Then it’s my trusted Lancôme Advanced Genifique serum then the Nivea Luminous 630 Anti Dark Spot Serum, I have listed these in order of application. I finish off with Nivea Luminous 630 Anti Dark Even Tone Night cream. My skin has been feeling a little dry lately so I have been using the Clinique 72hr Moisture surge OR Sleep mask right before I sleep for extra hydration. I also intermittently use the Estee Lauder ANR Ampoules which I absolutely adore.

Then voila, that’s it

This has been my routine for the last 2 weeks and the Nivea products were very easy to add to my routine. I will bring a full review on the products after 4-6 weeks!

See you later!

Some affiliate links used

Check out my morning routine here

Morning routine with Nivea Luminous 630 Anti Dark Spot Collection

Hi everyone,

Today’s post will be my current morning routine with the new Nivea Luminous 630 products. Check out my previous post for introduction to the new collection.

This has been my routine for the last week and half, and the products were super easy to add to my existing routine.

My AM routine is super quick and easy to do. After cleansing with – Roc Skincare Vitamin c cleanser (gifted ), I go in with the Nivea Luminous 630 Anti Dark circle Eye cream, I then pat gently pat on my serums in: Inkey List Q10, Ole Henriksen Banana Bright and the Nivea Luminous 630 Anti Dark Spot Serum, I have listed these in order of application. The Nivea serum has a powdery smell and feels great on the skin. It doesn’t pill (my full review will come after 4 weeks of use)

Next is the most important part- sunscreen! I work from home however I sit close to a window so I make sure to apply (and reapply) sunscreen daily. I switch between the Nivea Luminous 630 Anti Dark Spot SPF50 OR Supergoop SPF50. The Nivea SPF has a matte finish, at the moment my skin needs more moisture hence why I reach for the Supergoop sunscreen which I absolutely adore.

That’s it! After this I just go about my day until it’s time to take it all off (current evening routine coming soon)

My quick and easy routine feature the brand new Nivea Luminous 630 Anti Spot collection. My full review on the collection will be after 4 weeks when I have had enough time to test it

See you soon.

Some Affiliate links used

Nivea Shine Control SPF50 Review

The Nivea sun range from the drugstore is one of my favourite SPF ranges, I have tried a few from them, Q10 SPF, Mousse SPF, Moisture Lock SPF and so far I have loved them

Today’s post is a full review on the Shine Control SPF 50 sunscreen with 0% sticky feeling.

What the brand says:

NIVEA SUN UV Face Shine Control Cream SPF 50 provides immediate and effective sun protection. The light formula offers a long-lasting and instant mattifying effect. The cream absorbs excess oils from your skin’s surface. Your skin will be protected against UVA / UVB induced skin damage and High Energy Visible Light effects such as premature skin aging. Your skin will feel light, non-greasy and non-sticky. The skin compatibility of this sun cream has been dermatologically proven. The product also has an eye-friendly formula and is ophthalmologically proven as well.

Light formula with instant and long-lasting mattifying effect

Absorbs excess oil from skin surface

Light skin feeling, non-greasy and non-sticky

Ultra Spectrum Protection – protects from UVA / UVB induced skin damage and High Energy Visible Light effects, such as premature skin ageing

Experience

Type of sunscreen– chemical

What I liked: the cream textured sunscreen feels light on the skin without a greasy or oily feeling/residue. It takes some rubbing into the skin but the aftermath is good. It provides a semi-matte finish which I surprisingly like (I don’t like matte finishes) but it also leaves my skin glowing and somewhat hydrated. Of course, I love the high sun protection factor with newer and better chemical filters. The formula also has Vitamin E for some antioxidant protection.

It has 0% sticky feeling

Is it invisible on dark skin? YES, 100% invisible on the skin

What I didn’t like: I noticed it works best when you don’t have a lot of moisturiser underneath this. When I use a bit too much moisturiser and layer this on, the Nivea SPF piles like crazy. This didn’t happen often though, only when I would use too much product underneath

Verdict

Another excellent and affordable sunscreen from Nivea and the drug store. I recommended this to a friend with oily skin so I naturally I had test it out to ensure I recommended a good product!

Highly recommend for oily skin because of the mattifying effect, and it will also work well just layered on serum if you have extremely oily skin. I have normal to combo oily skin and I really like this too.

I love this and I would 100% repurchase

Nivea Shine Control SPF50 is £8 at Boots

Nivea Q10 plus Vitamin C Skin Sleep Cream Review

Nivea’s ionic Q10 range got an upgrade last year! The new Q10 plus C range has the same benefits of Q10 now with added pure Vitamin C. Q10 is a naturally occurring coenzyme in the skin that aids in regeneration and repair. It is an antioxidant that combats oxidative stress which results in healthier looking skin. Adding pure Vitamin C then, another powerhouse antioxidant known for skin brightening and antioxidant properties means a match made in heaven.

I first came across the range at a PR event and instantly I was interested. I was gifted a few products from the range and including the Q10 plus C Anti-Wrinkle + Energy Skin Sleep Cream. The cream targets tired skin and fine lines. It promises a fresher complexion that is radiant and smooth.

Experience

I have been using this as a night cream for the last few months, I’m just about to finish the tube ( I have a backup). I use it every night and I’m sure it’s been a good 2 or 3 months now.

This is a lightweight cream that feels moisturising on the skin with no oily residue or feeling. It doesn’t have any particular strong scent, its pleasant and smoothes easily over the skin. It layers well over serums and under oil, I have experienced no pilling or irritation.

Does it work? YES. My skin has been more radiant and healthier looking. It also looks more even-toned. I still have pigmented spots but the overall appearance of my complexion is much healthier. As for targeting wrinkles, I don’t have any so I can’t comment on that. For tired-looking skin, I would say my skin looks fresher. Ignore my dark circles and bags, this is my skin after my AM routine after using the sleep cream at night. I have no makeup on!

Verdict

I am really really surprised by this little drugstore sleep cream. It is well formulated and well packaged to protect the Vitamin in C as vitamin c is quite unstable. I can see where the vitamin c has oxidised as it has been exposed to air (in the cap and its orange). The sleep cream comes in a metal tube with a narrow nozzle. I’ve also been using this on my hands (excess after my PM routine and my hands have been looking fresh, PS use any excess products on your hands, chest etc)

Will I recommend? YES if you want an easy and inexpensive way to introduce Q10 and Vitamin C in your routine I would definitely recommend. I always suggest antioxidants in your routine, the more the better and especially in the morning as they will work with your SPF to protect from pollution and environmental aggressors. I have combined the sleep cream with oils, acids and I have had no issues with it.

My only wish is that they state the percentage of Vitamin C in the cream however looking at the ingredient list, Ascorbic acid is the 5^th ingredient and the list isn’t too long. This means it is in there at a good conc to be effective and I can definitely tell!

Nivea Q10 plus Vitamin C Skin Sleep Cream is £12.99 at Boots

Nivea Face Q10 Anti Age and Anti Pigment Review

Sun protection for dark skin is near and dear to my heart. Over the last few years, I have committed myself to find as many suitable SPFs as possible for dark skin. I have a Dark skin SPF edit and tested out a few Asian SPFs as well (Missha, OMI, Etude House etc). I am now going to the drugstore like Boots & Superdrug where products are easier to find to test their SPFs.

Nivea Face Q10 Anti Age and Anti Pigment SPF 50 promises 0% white residue on the skin, high UVB UVA protection, anti-ageing properties from Q10 and a light texture and feeling on the skin.

Experience

After using the Moisture Mousse SPF 50, I was very interested in other sun protection Nivea had. The Q10 SPF is a lightweight lotion which feels very moisturising on the skin. I haven’t experienced any irritation or clogged pores with this.

This SPF has a very similar scent to the Moisture Mousse and any other Nivea sun product. It’s light, pleasant but lingers. The cream does leave a face a little shiny but not greasy or extremely oily looking. I use this as the last step in my skincare routine, on top of my moisturiser. I think if you had extremely oily skin you could probably skip moisture. It feels lightweight on the skin. It doesn’t sting my eyes.

Is it invisible on the skin? Yes. The initial application looks like it would leave a white cast but after this absorbs into the skin, it’s 100% clear on the skin. No flashback. The SPF doesn’t pill but I noticed when I use a lot of it I find pills after it dries down during the day. I/m not a huge fan of this because I do like like slaughter on SPF and use a lot of it. It doesn’t pill though when I use my yourGoodSkin SPF on top of it during the day.

Verdict

This is a very good find from the drugstore. Nivea Face Q10 Anti Age and Anti Pigment is 100% invisible on dark skin and affordable. It’s lightweight, moisturising and provides high sun protection. It also has Q10 as an added bonus. Q10 is an antioxidant and also helps to maintain healthy skin.

I will repurchase but I do prefer the Mousse more. There are a few more SPFs from Nivea I want to test before moving onto another brand.

So bummed I finished the tube without a picture but it is 100% invisible on dark skin: no blending etc needed

Nivea Face Q10 Anti Age and Anti Pigment is £8 in Superdrug

Nivea UV Face Moisture Mousse SPF 50 Review

As you know, I am very serious about sun care and I am always looking for an affordable SPF that is clear on dark skin. I didn’t like the Inkey List Zinc Moisturiser and I was still waiting for my Yes Style sunscreens so I needed to pick up something in the meantime. I was browsing through Superdrug and came across this Nivea UV Face Moisture Mousse SPF 50. After a quick test patch in store I decided to pick it up (also because it was on offer)

Nivea UV Face Moisture Mousse SPF 50 promises to leave 0% white residue on skin and provide effective UVA/UVB protection. The formula is supposed to be lightweight whilst providing moisture to the skin.

Experience

I use this as the last step in my skincare routine in the AM. I use a fair amount over my face and neck. I have experienced no irritation with this. This is a chemical based sunscreen with active ingredients Homosalate.

The texture is a mousse which feels lightweight on the skin. You have to shake well before each use and it dispenses a good amount fairly easily. I 100% agree that it leaves 0 white residue on my skin. I have layered this on and I get no white cast. I use just a little bit more than the amount in the picture below

The mousse can look and feel a little oily on the skin so I do not think oily skin to extremely oily skin will like this. Infact on the Nivea website, they recommend it for normal skin. I have normal to combination oily skin and I really like this because I personally do not mind my skin looking dewy/shiny. I do not wear makeup to work and I would rather my skin looked dewy/shiny than matte/dry. When I layer this on, I would sometimes blot my tzone to reduce shine. With its oily feeling, I still haven’t experienced it clogging my pores (I double cleanse in the evening)

I usually layer this on top of serum and moisturiser but I also tested it without a moisturiser and it provided enough moisture to last the whole day. That also gave a less shiny look. I think if you have oily skin and wanted to try this you could skip your moisturiser and use this by itself. In the picture, I have used it over a serum only.

Verdict

This is a very good drugstore sunscreen that is 100% clear on dark skin and with high UVA UVB protection. This is my first time using a mousse texture and I must say I really like it. The Nivea UV Face Moisture Mousse SPF 50 is lightweight and suitable for normal skin and I would say even dry skin. Oily skin can experiment with this too but I would say skip your moisturiser. The mousse tends to leave skin a little shiny so if that is something you don’t like then I would say skip this. The only con is the pump can get a bit messy after you use it but that can easily be wiped.

I really like this and I would recommend it. It is affordable and easily accessible.

Nivea UV Face Moisture Mousse SPF 50 is £9 at Boots*

I am working on a sunscreen edit that will summarise all the SPFs that are 100% invisible on dark skin! I am also working on testing Asian sunscreens suitable for dark skin.

*affiliate link used. If you decide to make a purchase through my link, I will earn a small commission which goes towards the upkeep of the blog (and allows me to keep bringing you excellent content) but the price remains the same

Nivea Regenerating Night Cream Review

Nivea is a very popular drugstore brand and it’s easy to see why. They have affordable products that are very effective and the Nivea Regenerating Night Cream is one of those products. I have been using this for a while and raving on about it to other people so its time for an official review! Let’s get into it, but first

Why Should I use a Night Cream? (Can’t I just use my normal body moisturiser?)

Before we dive into my review lets discuss: is a night cream really essential? Yes! Yes and YES. Your skin does extensive night duty when you sleep. It’s when the skin repairs and replenishes itself so it’s important to cleanse properly and feed it the right nutrients!

The Nivea Regenerating Night Cream is formulated with Pro Vitamin B5, Hydra IQ and Vitamin E to deeply moisturise and regenerate the skin. It leaves the skin feeling fresh and soft in the morning.

Note- I have the one for normal to combination skin. They also have a formula for dry & sensitive skin.

My skin type- normal to combination oily but more on the normal side. Oily areas- tzone.

Experience

The Nivea Regenerating Night Cream is very rich and has a thick consistency which means a little goes a very long way! It’s very smooth and easy to apply: spreads easily and absorbed quickly.

I love this cream because it moisturises my skin. It’s as simple as that, it just works! My skin is soft and well moisturised in the mornings! For a night cream, you want something slightly richer than your day cream and this is exactly it! It rich enough to moisturise but doesn’t feel greasy or look oily.

Over the time I have been using it and it has been a good few months, it’s worked well with the different washes/ serums I use. It’s also left my skin very soft. I have been using this for a while and I still have a long way to go! You literally need a tiny amount.

The price point is very very good, it’s only £4.05 (P.S it’s on offer for £1.99). I love this and will definitely recommend and repurchase.

Nivea Regenerating Night Cream is available from Superdrug

Want more Nivea reviews? Check out

Nivea Caring Micellar Water Review

Reviews on other drugstore brands

Garnier Pure Active, Garnier Time Bomb Tissue Mask

B Pure Sensitive Micellar Wipes, B. Pure Micellar Oil

Boots Botanics Micellar Water

No7 Micellar Water

Last minute Christmas Shopping? Read THIS

Top Skincare under £5

A good skincare regime will help you put your best face forward- healthy, radiant and well moisturised! Prepping your skin before makeup does a lot to ensure your makeup looks its best, no matter how many high end products you use!

Don’t fall for the hype! Your skin care products do not have to cost an arm or a leg. I have found as long as you have a good routine (cleanse, treat, protect and moisturise) you can get away with using drugstore stores which can give you the same or dare I say better results! Research is key when trying out skincare products, whether it’s a well-known brand or not, make sure you read as many reviews as possible or speak to a professional. For optimal results, make sure you are buying products for your skin type e.g. only buying products for normal/combo skin types if that’s your type.

I have for you 16 great skincare products under £5! That’s 16 products covering a lot of categories like creams, makeup removers and treatments. I have included all the products I have used and you will have reviews in my review index, so much sure you check them out!

Face Wash

A staple in your skincare routine to wash away make up residue, dirt etc. a good one will gently cleanse your face without stripping it of its oils. I have tried loads but my top 3 are:

Garnier Pure Active Anti Black Head Deep Pre Wash, £4.28

Simple Refreshing facial Wash £3.39

Simple Triple Action Face Wash, £3.75

Day cream

After your morning cleansing, it’s a good idea to follow with a light day cream with SPF to help protect from the sun and provide moisture and hydration underneath your makeup. Try these budget friendly picks

Simple Vital Vitamin Day Cream SPF 15, £4.99 Waitrose

Superdrug Vitamin E SPF 15, £2.99

Night cream

They say night time is when your skin renews itself. A rich night cream is perfect for providing optimal moisture and aiding in that process. Make your beauty sleep go further with these night creams

Simple Vital Vitamin Night Cream, £4.99, Waitrose

Nivea Rich Regenerating Night Cream, £4.35 Superdrug

Toners

Essential to balancing skin pH and removing any makeup residue. My picks are

Simple Pore Minimising Toner, £4.79

Formula Daily Care Toner, £3.50 M&S

Makeup removers

This is probably one of the most important steps in your skincare regime. I have included wipes in this post but feel free to check out my micellar water post for great drugstore alternative and under £5

B.Pure Micellar Water Cleansing Wipes, £1. Superdrug

Garnier Simply Essentials, £2.99 Superdrug

Face masks

Perfect pampering treats. There are face masks for a wide range of problems: dry skin, blemish prone, detox etc

Garnier Pure Self Heating Sauna Mask, £1.29 Superdrug

Simple Deep Cleansing Face Mask, £3.99 Superdrug

Masker Aide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask, £5. M&S

Exfoliators/scrubs

Deep cleansing for brighter clearer skin. These are perfect and within budget too

St Ives Apricot Scrub, £4.19 Boots

Garnier Pure Active Exfoliating Scrub, 2.33 Amazon

Phew! That was a lot. The drugstore has tons of effective skincare products. Don’t knock it off till you try.

Did I miss your favourite drugstore brand? Let me know below

NEW! NIVEA Caring Micellar Water Review

It’s no surprise I am obsessed with micellar water ( I have a whole post dedicated to it, read it here). If you take a look through my REVIEW INDEX there are a few reviews on there! I have tried many brands so far: Garnier, Simple, L’Oréal and now Nivea. I even have Micellar face wipes

I picked up this product in Superdrug a while back and I have been testing it out ever since. This particular one is for normal skin types but I remember seeing one for sensitive and dry skin types too. It says it’s a 3 in 1 care cleanser for face and eyes and comes with Vitamin E. The description on the bottle says

It removes eye makeup gently without rubbing and cares for beautiful eyelashes
Cleanses deeply and effectively removes makeup
Moisturisers and leaves skin feeling cared for. Skin feel refreshed and looks healthy and beautiful

It’s perfume free

What did I find?

The NIVEA Caring Micellar water is probably the best I have used when it comes removing eye makeup! It’s really easy and effortless. I usually let the cotton pad sit on my closed eyes for a few seconds and swipe! And in one swipe a lot comes off, I should add I usually use 2 mascaras or a primer + a mascara, in total I will have about 4 coats on. It also really leaves your skin soft and refreshed. My skin doesn’t feel dry at all.

I basically love everything about this! The size is my only problem lol but it seems 200ml is the standard size anyway.

I actually prefer this over the Simple Micellar water and the Garnier

I hope you check it out, its on sale for £1.99 RRP £3.99 from Boots

Which products do you use to take off your make up?

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September monthly products

Hey wonderful people! This is a list of stuff I got over September. I will have reviews up soon. Let me know if you have used any of these products or recommend some new ones to me! I am always on the hunt for something new to try J

I used lemon juice (Yes guys lemon juice) as a toner for a while, to help brighten my skin and help with my hyperpigmentation. It worked but I got bored of using it and wanted to try something new. I decided to pick up the Nivea pure and natural toner 0.33p (yes lol, but it’s been discontinued that’s why it’s so cheap) from Superdrug. Not a great fan of the smell but it gets the job done.

Garnier has always been my go to brand for skin care! I picked up their pure active anti-blackhead deep pore wash, £1.75 (a mouthful right?). This has salicylic acid which is known for its anti-blemish/breakout properties. I’m loving the results already.

ORS curls unleashed sulfate free shampoo and rinse out conditioner. I went to the ORS event during the Vogue Fashion night out and got these two baddies in my goody bag. A full review will be up soon on BrownBeautyTalk but one thing I have to say now is: I LOVE the SMELL! Lol. Check out my product collections series for the full product list for curls unleashed.

Superdrug body spray, £0.99. I love getting these and throwing them in my hand bag to use throughout the day. It smells really good and lasts all day.

Small stippling brush, £1.50 from Primark. I have been looking for a small stippling brush for a while now and I randomly saw this in Primark and got it! (I didn’t know they sold brushes). I really like it, I use it to apply my highlighters or use to blend my under-eye concealer.

Beauty UK gel fix nail polish £1 each, from Superdrug (please check my Facebook page for a lot of nail colour swatches)

Barry M nail paint, buy one get one half price, £2.99 each

Dermalogica products, separate post coming soon, I went to their event launch for these products yesterday

And finally my notebook, I got these to write my ideas, stories etc down as well as to plan my blog posts. Got it covered by CJAJ09, check her out on Facebook

That’s all the products I got this month, why not share yours with me

Love

Sarah