essence all about matt! fixing compact powder

I've been putting off posting a review for this powder, in fact it's been in my drafts for three months now, but the first months of use left me with such a bad impression that the review would be very negative, so I waited for warmer months when my skin is a bit oilier compared to the rest of the year because I hoped it would perform better then. Before I found my beloved Bourjois Java powder, I purchased this to try first and to serve as a replacement for MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish, which I've grown to dislike because it always gives me either cakey look or nothing when I use a small amount. Essence's powder comes highly recommended and is a darling in the beauty community praised for its great mattifying abilities and affordability. However, I have found it anything but fantastic.

For the first few uses I though it was an ok powder, but with each use my displease grew. It does what it claims to do - mattifies and it does that quite well, however, my problem is with how it does it. I find it has several sides - one of how it looks over a foundation, one on bare skin and on a summer version of my skin.

On a "normal" version of my skin, over foundation it just makes the makeup look so flat and it's so obvious on the face. I don't even find it all that transparent, since I can see a slight white cast on my skin when I look at it closely and I'm not the one to use a ton of product. For me it just ruins the foundation by making it cakey and it's obvious from the space that I'm wearing something. I want my natural skin texture to show, so this does not work for me. Even if I use a super fluffy brush the effect is the same and if I try to use a very small amount of powder, it doesn't mattify nor set the makeup well. In general it mattifies well if you apply enough, but I get shiny in on my T-zone after about four to five hours.

In hotter months it is a different story for me. It works a lot better, doesn't look that obvious on the skin than in colder months and sets the makeup in place as well as mattifies, however, the makeup still looks a bit flat.

On bare skin, however, it looks great. I sometimes like to powder my skin when I'm not wearing foundation or I'm just wearing sunscreen to keep the shine away during the day and it look really nicely matte, but not flat.

This is a well loved product in the beauty community and many oily-skinned people love this, so please don't let my opinion discourage you from an affordable drugstore powder. I've actually tried it on other people and it looked very decent from which I've drawn a conclusion it must be my skin that doesn't comply with this powder. At Bourjois Java powder I see myself in the mirror after a few hours and I'm shocked at how great my skin looks, but with this it's just meh. I think the loose version must have been better, but essence discontinued it (obviously. It's what they do. Amiright?).

It was 3.29 € in DM.

Have a great day!

Empties #9

  BATISTE Dry Shampoo Tropical

I must say that I completely get why Batiste is so popular and it has fast become one of my favourite formula of dry shampoos. It's not white (except if you apply it on one spot too close), it really refreshes the hair well and it doesn't leave too much of the powdery residue. I had the massive 400 ml can of Tropical version, which smells like coconut bread or coconut pastry and personally I'd prefer something more Rafaello like, but it's all right.

Repurchase: Batiste dry shampoos in general - yes (currently I have the Wild version). Tropical version: Maybe.

SEXY HEALTHY HAIR Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner

I've often sang praises about this hair hero and for good reason. It has come to a point where the mere though of being without for a single wash is almost unbearable. I am being dramatic or what? But in all seriousness, I find it a brilliant product that nourishes my hair, keeps it hydrated longer, reduces frizz and it has made my hair a lot more healthy since I started using it - a fact even my hairdresser noticed. I should also note that it's extremely light-weight, so I would recommend this to pretty much all hair types. I've been using it after every wash without fail on damp hair and one bottle lasted me about a year - at about 12 € per bottle (on Beauty Bay) I consider this a bargain.

Repurchase: Already did.

KÉRASTASE Nutritive Bain Oléo-Relax Smoothing Shampoo

Now this is what every shampoo should be like. It's the one shampoo that I consider as being exceptional and well worth the price. My hair is dry, as I've often complained, and this is like a shampoo plus conditioner in one in a sense that it leaves my hair clean, yet nourished, untangled and smooth. The scent does become a bit annoying with frequent use because it is one of those that has a sharp, potentially headache-inducing note in it, but it's worth putting up with it. I currently have Elixir Ultime version and Oléo-Relax is much better for my hair type.

Repurchase: Without a doubt.

MORROCANOIL Treatment Original 

As I've said in my Hair Oil series, I find there is very little difference between this one, Macadamia oil and Orofluido. All three are seriously good and I believe the main difference is just in the scent as well as the price. This one has my least favourite scent out of the three because it's sort of a generic fabric softener type of scent and I much prefer the rich, oriental version of Orofluido (which is also cheaper). 

Repurchase: Maybe, but I prefer Orofluido.

 BALEA Carambola Lambada Dusche

A nice, simple and affordable shower gel that smells very lovely tropically fresh (I described it before as similar to a grapefruit scent, but sweeter). Out of all summer LE by Balea this one is my favourite so far. 

Repurchase: It is a LE and I have enough of shower gels at the moment, so I suspect not.

ALVERDE Aroma Pflegeöl Kokos

I love these Alverde oils and I use them for so many things. This is my second or third bottle of this scent, which is a coconut muffin type of smell and it's ok, but I've grown a bit tired of it. One of the best features of this oil is the packaging, which is just perfect due to the brilliant pump.

Repurchase: Already did, but a different version.

BALANCE ME Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm 

I'm quite sad I've used this up. This is my favourite cleanser so far because it just suits my skin so well and it looks its best when I use it. It's a balm with scrubby particles and it cleans well, removes makeup and leaves the skin moisturised, so the dry patches are the thing of the past. It smells wonderful, the texture is nice and I love that it comes in a tube, which makes it very hygienic. The only bad side is that it's expensive. I have three other cleansers at the moment and none live up to it.

Repurchase: Yes.

NIVEA Anti-Perspirant Stress Protect

I actually liked this one. It worked ok for a spray deodorant and it smells pleasantly generically fresh, but I've used up this little 50 ml bottle in about a week or two. Currently I have the Pearl & Beauty version.

Purchase: Maybe.

 YVES ROCHER Mango and Passion Fruit eau de toilette

I'm a huge fan of tropical scents, with Escada's yearly LE's being my favourites, but this YR version was the one I never truly loved. It's a very simple, fresh, yet sweet scent that doesn't last particularly long and it does smell like a tropical drink with a prominent note of mango, while the passion fruit is more subdued. Both mango as well as passion fruit are my favourite scents in products, but in this combination it just didn't really work for me. 

Repurchase: No and I believe it's not available any more.

KATY PERRY Purr eau de parfum

This was a blind buy for me because it was 50 % off at the time of the purchase. It was never my favourite scent, but it's still a lovely, everyday fragrance. It's a mix of fresh bamboo, juicy apple and floral notes (gardenia, freesia) with subtle sweeter notes of coconut and vanilla that get more prominent with time. I think the bottle is adorable and I'll keep it as decoration.

Repurchase: No.

 L'OCCITANE Almond Shower Oil

Since 2007 there hasn't been a day when I was without this shower oil. I keep repurchasing it and I buy these eco-refills with 500 ml (that's two regular bottles) with which fill my old bottle. It's a fantastic shower oil and it provides a true pampering experience in the shower due to a super luxurious oil texture that transforms into a thick, creamy foam when water is added, not to mention that it smells bloody fantastic. It is a great product for those with dry skin as I find I never need to use a moisturiser afterwards. You should try it at least once in your life.  

Repurchase: Yes.

AVENE Cicalfate

This is just a simple, super thick ointment with panthenol (B5) for treating any type of damages on the skin from cuts, grazes and wounds. It was fine, nothing more to say about it.

Repurchase: I found something cheaper, so probably not.

ESSENCE 4 in 1 nail file

I buy these all the time. It's just regular nail file with four different textures that vary in roughness. It does its job and it does it well.

Repurchase: Already did.

BADGER Cuticle Care

I never liked this for it's original purpose as I find it not moisturising enough for my cuticles and I am not a fan of the strange herbal-lemon scent, but I did love this for my very dry soles.

Repurchase: Probably not.

BALEA Hygiene Reinigungstűcher

I bought a few packs of these before even trying them out first and I'm not a fan of them. They are nice and thick, but they have a strong hospital-disinfectant scent and Preven's don't. They do their job, but I probably won't repurchase. 

Repurchase: Probably not, I prefer Preven's ones.

 MAX FACTOR Khol Eye Liner Pencil

20 Black

I used to like this one and before the gel/khol hybrids such as Supershock by Avon came on the market, it was one of my favourite khols, but now I find it not black enough, too smudgy and not long-lasting. It has nothing on my favourite black eyeliner UD's Zero.

Repurchase: No.

Things that are discontinued:

TIGI Curls Rock Curl Booster

After years of collecting dust, I'm finally tossing this away. I never got this product. Is it a hairspray that's just super wet or is it like a replacement for mousse? I tried using it in so many different ways and it did nothing. Curls Rock Amplifier, on the other hand, I loved and I've gone through several bottles (if you'd like to define your natural curls, try it). 

BALEA Body Spray Aqua

I used this on hot days as a refreshment and it worked a treat. I also sprayed this on my face, when my foundation/powder looked cakey. I really liked how the spray did a very fine mist and it never just dripped. However, I'm still not sold on the whole water in a can fad, so I've refrained from purchasing the more expensive version from pharmacy brands.

BALEA Hawaii Deospray

I really liked this version of scent and I've owned several cans, but it's now discontinued. These Balea ones are, as described, just deodorants, so fragrance in a can, rather than actual antiperspirants such as Nivea's, but they always have some nice scents.

BALEA Bodycreme Sunny Peach

I loved the scent of this - it was a good peach scent, but I didn't find it moisturising enough for my legs as the skin was dry again in the morning. It was simply too light. I presume the still existing coconut version is similar.

After almost four years of blogging and more that a million views, the day has finally come and I have created a Facebook page, Instagram as well as decided to finally start using my Twitter account (which is also four years old). If you'd like to follow me on any of these social media, feel free do to so and if you decide to check them out on a later date, the links are also in the side bar. I can't promise you I'll be particularly interesting, as the tittle of my biography could be named: The Unexciting Life of the Unremarkable Woman,  but you might see new posts faster than now. Out of all social media, I still love Pinterest most and I'll probably be most active there.

Have a great day!

New in #18

L'OREAL Nude Magique Eau de Teint

100 Porcelain

After my cousin bought this foundation and kindly let me test it, I had to get it for myself as well. I was concerned that the lightest shade would be too dark for me and it is indeed a bit too warm and dark, however, due to the supremely light is-it-a-tinted-moisturiser-or-a-foundation texture, I can make it work. This has a finish that looks like you already used powder on top and is so light only an occasional patch due to the drier matte texture reveals your wearing something. I'm glad I got this for the summer months. I'll do a proper review. 

Feel Unique, 12.99 €.

MAYBELLINE Fit Me Concealer

15 Fair

I have heard rumours of this being very similar to NARS Radiant Creamy concealer. They are so wrong. There is no comparison between the two except the packaging is similar. Maybelline's is much lighter and more liquid, it's not as creamy and the shade, well, the shade is a disappointment. 15 is supposed to be the lightest one and it's not all that light and unfortunately it has some very unflattering orange hues. So far I'm not loving it, I mean it's decent and the coverage is ok, but I've had better. There will be a review. 

Feel Unique, 7.79 € (Slovenes can get it on Salma).

 During one of my strolls through E.Leclerc, a new brand caught my attention called Inell. It's ridiculously affordable and from what I could see from the ingredients, it has some very decent products. Here's what I got:

INELL Eau Micellaire

Micellar water 

The first thing that caught my eye was a massive micellar water that bears a striking resemblance to Bioderma as well as Garnier's bottle. It holds an impressive 500 ml of micellar water and costs only 2.29 €. My jaw dropped to the floor so hard it landed somewhere in the Pacific and after a quick glance of ingredients (Poloxamer 184 on second place, the same ingredient as in Garnier's and L'Oreal's versions), I promptly put it in my basket. I'll do a comparison of Garnier's and Green Line's micellar water in a future post, but so far I can say there is very little difference and you should grab it if you see it.

E.Leclerc, 2.29 €.

INELL Démaquillant Yeux Spécial Waterproof

Eye makeup remover waterproof

You have no idea just how much hate my current Nivea's dual phase remover has stirred, so when I saw this little affordable guy that again shares similar ingredients to my favourite Maybelline one, I didn't hesitate to take it as well. The packaging is so much better than all the rest, but I'll show you that in the review. I've used it a couple of times and I'm not convinced yet, but it is better than Nivea's.

E.Leclerc, 2.03 €.

INELL Mousse Nettoyante Hydratante 

Hydrating Cleansing Mousse

Many, many years ago I used L'Oreal's Happy Derm mousse in a can and it was my favourite cleanser, but I can't find it any more, so I was delighted to find something similar and for so much cheaper. Basically, the texture of it is like a whipped cream in a can, so a dense mousse that is very different from that diluted crap everyone except L'Occitane is selling. Best of all, it smells exactly like that cleansing oil from L'Oreal, the scent that I adore and describe it as beach like, even though it doesn't really smell all that typically beachy. I'll do a review when I'll be using it long enough, but so far this gets my two thumbs up and it's become a part of my morning routine.

E.Leclerc, 1.51 €.

I was told in the comments that Inell is a brand from E.Leclerc, so it's only sold there.

LE PETIT MARSEILIAIS Masque Nutrition

Nourishing hair mask shea butter and honey

Ulmiel from Did some say nail polish? pointed me into direction of Le Petit Marseiliais hair products with her recommendation. I could only find this mask from the line for dry hair, though I had hoped to try more things. First of, this smells divine to me, it's a very good, albeit a strong, honey scent. I've tried it twice so far - it's super thick (a very good sign for me) and the results were very satisfactory. I'll do a proper review after a few uses, but I think I may have discovered a new drugstore gem.

E.Leclerc, 5.18 €.

GARNIER Fructis Wunder Öl 

Miraculous Oil 

I bought this to use on others when I do their hair, but naturally I'll test it out myself as well. It is a very light and runny hair oil that is the closest in texture to Elixir Ultime. It smells a bit blah to me, like Nivea with a slight fruity twist or some baby cosmetics. I may have expected too much from it. In the mountain of drugstore hair silicone-oils, judging purely from ingredients, absolutely none apart from this one and one other whose brand name I don't recall is anything particularly special. Given that the argan oil is supposedly not only in trace amounts since it's placed third on the INCI list, I presumed it was pretty much on pair with the professional salon brands ones. It is not. I may be thoroughly spoiled by Orofluido and the likes (I've tried most of the popular ones which you can read in my Hair Oils Series), but yes, there is a difference between high-end and drugstore treatment that I guess most people won't notice on their hair, but on my dry hair there just is. I will do a proper review for this.

Müller, 10 €. 

ALVERDE Cellulite Körperöl

Anti-cellulite body oil

After two empty bottles of the Coconut version of Alverde oil, I picked up a different version as I have grown tired of the scent. I chose this based on recommendations from my readers (I remember Kristina recommending me this), it seems that this is the most popular one and based on the scent itself, I can see why. It has a wonderful lemon-citrus scent that is familiar to me as one of  Alverde's scrubs has the same scent. It's marketed as anti-cellulite product, but since I have none to speak of or at least one that I would care about, I won't be using it for that purpose, but like all other oils for a multitude of uses. It has the same light texture as the coconut one and in terms of performance there is no difference between them whatsoever. It's great what else can I say.

Ingredients here.

DM, 6 €.

REXONA Clear Pure Crystal Dry Deo Stick Anti-Perspirant

A repurchase as I implied in my latest empties. This is the only deodorant so far that hasn't stopped working on me and after my recent disappointment with Garnier Neo (well that was money well spent!), I ran off to the nearest supermarket and bought my trusted Rexona again. It just works so well, though the white marks are a bit of a pain, but I can deal with it.

2 - 3 €, Tuš.

NIVEA Anti-perspirant Pearl & Beauty 

I always double my deodorant meaning I use a stick or a roll-on one and then spray on top. It's my technique to make sure that deodorant don't lose their mojo on me too fast and it keeps me fresh longer. I used Pearl & Beauty sometime during my teens, you might remember the utterly ridiculously claims they had about how it contains pearl extracts that make your armpits nicer (I'm still laughing), but I remembered liking the scent, which was the original reason I bought it all those years ago. Of course, when it stopped working I moved to the next one. It smells so lovely - powdery floral and just very feminine. I really like it and it works fantastically in combination with Rexona as it keeps me dry and fresh super long. By the way, this one leaves white marks as well.

DM, 2.99 €

YUMMY Strawberry Shower gel, Body Butter and Hand Cream

These products smell like Milka strawberry yoghurt chocolate. Yes, I'm serious. I get the strongest craving for chocolate when I use these. Anyway, the shower gel is huge with 500 ml of product, the body butter is a nice thick one as I like them and the last item is the hand cream, a beauty item I practically never use. I'll do a proper review of the set.

I was sent these from Click2Chic, but this set costs 14.99 €.

By the way, I went to Austria recently, so naturally, there will be a second part of the New In and I dare say a more exciting one. 

Have a great day!

New in #16

MAX FACTOR Facefinity All Day Primer SPF20

I've heard several bloggers say good things about it, so I grabbed myself a bottle in Müller. It's a face primer with SPF 20 that promises to prolong the wear of make up. So far I like it a lot, it really does what it promises and it also keeps oil at bay, but I'll do a review once I properly test it.

By the way, I find it works great as an eyeshadow primer as well.

12.99 €, Müller.

BOURJOIS Rouge Edition Velvet 

02 Frambourjoise and 05 Olé Flamingo

I bought two more shades after being seriously impressed by the formula of Velvets. These two have a much better formula to work with than 08 Grand Cru and again have that perfect velvety matte finish. Frambourjoise is a beautiful rose-pink and Olé Flamingo a super bright hot pink. There will be a review with swatches.

12.99 €, Müller/DM.

MANHATTAN Eyemazing Liner

My L'Oréal Super Liner Perfect Slim eyeliner is on its last legs and I was planning on repurchasing it, but then I saw Paddy mentioning Eyemazing in one of her reviews as her preferred choice for a liner. While I love L'Oreal's version, since it's not sold in Slovenia and Manhattan is more accessible to me as well as cheaper, I didn't hesitate in tracking it down. It has a very similar design with the thin felt tip that allows a lot of precision. I've only used it once and while it's a nice cheaper alternative, it's not as good as L'Oreal's. I'll do a quick comparison of the two soon.
5.99 €, DM.

REFAN 34 

Imitation of Lancôme La Vie Est Belle

This is a spectacular scent! It smells like an expensive box of pralines with a fruity filling (black currant and pear), but not completely gourmand because of the floral notes (iris, orange blossom, jasmine) and patchouli. The combination of the latter with the sweet notes reminds me of a much sweeter version of Paco Rabanne's Black XS. It's a strong scent with a fantastic staying power and one of my favourites at the moment. If you like sweet scents (like these), give the original a sniff when you see it.

Notes and reviews of the original on Fragrantica.

5 € for 15 ml in Refan.

Christina Aguilera eau de Parfum and Shower Gel

Though it's been out for years and many people adore it, I never paid much attention to this scent. I was very pleasantly surprised when one of my friends gifted me a set with a small 15 ml bottle and a shower gel as a thank you for helping her. I honestly did not expect to like it as much as I do. It's brilliant! I would describe it as a very expensive smelling soap, an oriental-floral scent and in general very feminine and warm. It sort of reminds me of a warmer vanilla version of Chanel N°5 as I find it has the same soapiness in it with jasmine standing out. The shower gel is fabulous as well and it has the same scent, so it makes a regular shower a more glamorous experience.

Notes and reviews on Fragrantica.

GARNIER Hautklar Fruit Energy Peeling-Gel

a.k.a.Pure Active Fruit Energy Daily Energising Gel Scrub 

I bought it as a more quick-to-use cleanser to include in my morning routine, since Balance Me needs to be removed with a washcloth. My skin hates gels because they dry it out and patches appear, so this is my first gel cleanser in a really long time.  The formula feels pleasant due to a more thick texture and the exfoliating beads in it are very gentle, while the pomegranate scent is lovely and refreshing. I haven't been using it for long and I want to thoroughly test it before I write a review, but so far I'm sad to report that despite being pleased with it from the start, I have noticed my skin getting drier. 

5.19 €, Műller.

DAS GESUNDE PLUS Panthenol Schutz- und Pflegesalbe

Panthenol protective ointment 

This is just a run of the mill panthenol treatment for cuts, dry patches and other problematic areas. It has the same super thick texture as Bepanthenol and Avene's Cicalfate, except that I think this version isn't antibacterial. The tube is much bigger than the two and it's much cheaper. I plan to use it regularly on my legs because I have a lot of damage there and I want to speed up healing. It should also be good to use on old spots.

2.29 €, DM.

GARNIER Deodorant Neo Fresh Blossom

I am disappointed with this deodorant. I don't sweat much, but this just does not work on me. A not so funny anecdote: I wore this to my graduation ceremony held in a stuffy hall on a hot day and I could just feel a drop of sweat roll down which never happened to me with any other deodorant. Good thing that I was wearing black! Fresh Blossom version smells like you'd expect, florally fresh. I like the applicator and the fast-absorbing cream formula that doesn't leave traces, but what does that help if it's rubbish. Rexona Clear Pure is miles better despite white marks. 

3.49 €, DM.

NIVEA Anti-Perspirant Stress Protect

I bought a travel size to try in DM after being disappointed by Garnier's Neo. I actually like it for a spray deodorant, though I usually go for roll-ons. It's almost instantly dry to the touch after application and the scent is very freshly clean. It's definitely more effective than Neo.

1.49 € for 50 ml, 2.99€ for 150 ml, DM.

SUN DANCE Transparentes Sonnenspray mit Tropicduft SPF 30 LE

Transparent spray sunscreen with a tropical scent SPF 30

It was the tropical scent that got me. As the name suggests it's a transparent sunscreen with the texture similar to a dry oil, so it gives that shine to the skin, but also doesn't sink in completely. The application is a breeze and it's a great sunscreen if you don't have anyone to do your back. It smells like papaya and oranges, so sourly-juicy sweet or for anyone that's familiar, it smells really close to Mango Mambo shower gel (or last year's Brazil Mango). 

4.49 €, DM.

BALEA Trend it up Lovely Berries Dry Shampoo

Limited Edition. It's temporarily replacing their original formula.

This is so white! It's one of those dry shampoos that leaves a lot of fine powder in the hair which you can feel when you run your fingers through it, however, this also means that it absorbs oils well and gives tons of texture/volume. It smells like strawberry sweets and the scent lasts decently on the hair. It's nice, but only if you're blond or you have light hair especially if your hair gets very oily and you need to spray a lot of dry shampoo. I use it only to refresh the hair, so I spray small amounts and from very far away to avoid it looking too white. Do not spray this close because it's very, very hard to blend in and it leaves a matte, grayish cast.  

2.49 €, DM.

ESSENCE Studio Nail 4in1 Profi File

I buy these all the time. It's just regular nail file with four different textures that vary in roughness. It does its job and it does it well.

1.59 €, Müller.

*GREEN LINE Micellar Cleansing Water

Micelarna čistilna vodica

Another micellar water is joining the drugstore ranks with Green Line launching their version. Green Line is a Slovene brand, so I'm not sure how accessible it is apart from here and probably in the Balkans. I've only used it once and so far I like it. It works great, but it's heavily fragranced (I like that, though). There will be a review once I properly test it.

I was sent this before its official release, so I don't know the price yet.

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil
Collector's Edition

A repurchase of course. If you're a regular on this blog then you know how much I adore this oil and I've been using it every day as a face moisturiser for the past three years. I'm so happy that I got such a good price for it and I adore the limited edition packaging. I still have my old bottle, so this is going to the back of the shelf until I use that one up.

24€, Feel Unique (it's still on offer).

Actually this is only part one of my New in. I still have a couple of packages coming and I didn't feel like waiting any more, besides it's a too long post already. The second part should be posted soon and it will feature my Boots purchases.

Have a great day!

New In #13

 Lancôme Hypnôse Star Waterproof mascara

Müller had a 20% off some high-end mascaras and I couldn't pass up the chance to repurchase one of my favourites. This time I got the Star version of Hypnôse which is in a glamorous shimmery packaging and has a different wand, however, the formula is the same as the original waterproof one (I actually wanted the Doll version, but the only one there was already opened, used and put back in a box. Who does that!?). I'll do a post where you'll see the difference between the original, but so far I'll say I prefer the original wand. 

Regular price in Müller is 33.99 € (27.19 € with that discount).

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream 31 Ivory

The lightest shade is a bit dark for me, but the formula is very similar to Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in terms of coverage and how almost invisible it looks on the skin, but the finish is different, it's more satin/matte. There will be a review, but you can read a review of the CC Eye cream here.

It's priced probably around 14 €, I'm not sure because I bought it with a coupon.

H&M Lip Tint Raspberry Red

I grabbed this at the registers in H&M because I liked the colour and I was curious about the formula. There are several shades, I remember a couple of pinks and a red, this one is a warm, pink-raspberry shade. These are like liquid lipstick that are very pigmented, but staying power is not that impressive. Review with swatches will be posted.

Priced 3.95 €.

Revlon Parfumerie Scented Nail Enamel Bordeaux

Look at that adorable packaging! It's supposed to be scented and after reading a few reviews I expected a heavy scent, but I barely smell anything at all. The colour is beautiful and the quality of the polish is nice. I'll post swatches.

6.99 € in Müller.

 essence Cookies & Cream TE shimmer pearls

I've been on a search for a new powder and I'm considering maybe taking a plunge and buying the famous Guerlain Meteorites. Whilst researching online, I found a review comparing essence pearls (not sure which TE was it) with Guerlain's (not is a sense that they are dupes) and the reviewer said that it's a lovely highlighter, so I picked them up also to see how I get along with the concept of powder pearls/balls. I only purchased them a couple of days ago, but first impressions are good. It's a very subtle highlighter, nothing exceptional, but cute and nice to have if you manage to still find them. I'll post a review with swatches soon.

3.59 € in DM.

Maybelline Colorama Bleached Neons 242

This shade immediately caught my attention in the shop and I have nothing similar in my collection. It's a bleached (muted) neon coral-pink that is quite a statement shade. I'll post swatches. 

2.49 € in Müller.

essence all about matt! fixing compact powder

I'm so fed up with my Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural and as I said, I've been researching online for my next powder. Honestly, I'd never even look at essence powder in a shop, but a lot of people seem to love it and it's cheap so when I had a discount in DM I just tossed it in the shopping basket. It's has a high rating on Make up Alley, but I suspect it's more due to the affordable price than it being absolutely fantastic. First impressions are ok, I like it better than MAC's, but I've only been using it a few days. I'll update you on how I like it in time, I think I need to get through the top layer first to see how good it actually is.

3.29 € in DM.

 Pantene Expert Collection Anti Age conditioner

I haven't bought anything from Pantene in about a decade. I never liked the brand and their ridiculously retouched advertising campaigns make me angry, but I heard good things about this conditioner and I can't resist trying a supposedly nice drugstore treatment. I've only used it once and I need a bit more testing before giving my assessment, but so far I'm not impressed.

7.49 € in Müller.

Sebastian Professional Potion 9

One of my readers alerted me that there was a 20% off code on Look Fantastic (thanks Sunshine!) and I couldn't pass on buying Potion 9 and Bumble and bumble Pret-a-Powder. Potion 9 is a leave-in conditioner and styling product in one. I am very, very impressed by it and it's my favourite thing out all the stuff I bough recently. I was so pleasantly surprised when I saw the ingredients and it's fantastic for my super dry hair even though it feels almost weightless. There will be a review.

Regular price 11.75 € for 50 ml on Look Fantastic. There also a larger size available.

Phyto 9
Nourishing day cream with 9 plants

This is a very hyped up moisturiser for hair that is silicone free and after reading a ton of very favourable reviews I expected a lot, but I was disappointed. I'll do a full review, however, I can say that this is not enough for my dry hair and it feels weird, like applying a face/body moisturiser.

15.85 € in Leposana (Leclerc), which is a lot cheaper than online. I love that shop!

 Bumble and Bumble Pret-a-Powder

I don't know why, but I really, really wanted this. It's an interesting concept of a dry shampoo, volumising powder and style extender in one that really appealed to me, even though I use dry shampoo only occasionally, usually on the 3rd or 4th day after I washed the hair and only to make it smell nice and refresh volume, not because it's greasy. There will be a full review with more details, but I'll just say that is smells absolutely divine and gives a lot of volume. 

I paid 21.16 € with a code on Look Fantastic, regular price is about 26 €.

Redken diamond oil shampoo and conditioner samples

Shampoo: I had a 10 ml sample that I used up in one wash. It smells so lovely, it reminds me of something, but I think it's something tropical. The texture is somewhat creamy, but not hydrating. I find it leaves my hair too squeaky clean, but I can comb through it after washing. I wouldn't market this as shampoo for dry hair, but it should work for other types of hair.

Conditioner: A bit too thin and runny for my liking. It has the same scent as the shampoo. 10 ml was not enough for my hair, so I couldn't properly test it, but it certainly wasn't moisturising enough for my hair.

Ingredients of both shampoo and conditioner here.

 Balea Summer 2014 LE Carambola Lambada and Mango Mambo

Like last year, Balea released a tropical inspired LE that includes shower gels, body lotions and a deodorant.

Carambola Lambada shower gel - I think this is my favourite out of all tropical scents by Balea. It's fresh like a grapefruit scent, but with some sweetness. Lovely!

Mango Mambo shower gel - the same mango scent as last year. Super sweet, like a cocktail or candy (Haribo bears).

0.99 € in DMs (Did anyone else notice that they are 14 cents more expensive than last year?).

 Balea Dusche & Creme Cocos and Nektarine

I repurchased one of my favourite shower gels.This smells so flipping amazing, it always makes me smile.

0.99 € in DM.

Garnier Ultra Doux Honey Treasures Reconstructing Shampoo

An average drugstore shampoo with a creamy formula. It doesn't strip the hair nor nourish it and it leaves the hair quite tangled. It foams a lot, which I'm really enjoying because I've been using sulphate free shampoos for a long time now and I've developed this contempt for them. It smells very generic, soapy clean but a bit sweet, though nothing like a proper honey scent. It's a shampoo for those who just grab something at the drugstore and don't really put much thought into hair care because they don't need to. I'm disappointed, but what can you really expect from a shampoo this cheap.
Ingredients here.

2.89 € in DM for 400 ml, there is also a smaller size available.

Nivea Double Effect Auger Make-Up Entferner

I couldn't find my regular Maybelline remover in DM, so I picked up this one. It's the same concept, a two-phase oily make up remover that I use for removing waterproof mascara. It's less oily than Maybelline's and this one doesn't make my vision blurry either, but it's less effective and it takes a lot more rubbing to get the mascara off, hence why I'm not impressed. I like the packaging of this one more because it has a flip lid. 

Ingredients of Maybelline's and Nivea's side by side here.

4.29 € in DM.

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair mask

I've said on several occasions that I genuinely dislike this hair mask and I still do. However, my mother adores it (go figure) and I bought it for her as a Mother's Day gift after she ever so "subtly" implied with an empty pot in her hands that her favourite mask had run out. It usually happens this way, I give her something I don't quite like and then I end up repurchasing it for her because she loves it (I bought three of Deborah lipsticks in a row). The bow is the maximum extent of my decorating abilities.

15 € on eBay from this seller (much cheaper than elsewhere).

Have a great day!

Empties #3

Balance Me cleanse and smooth face balm

I love this cleanser and so does my skin. It's a balm cleanser in a liquidy form with small oatmeal scrub particles. I love the scent, it works great and keeps the flakies at bay. The only bad thing is that it's expensive. Original review here. 

Repurchase: Yes.

Mavala Double-Lash

I got this a long time ago because I wanted to strengthen my lashes and stop them from falling out so much. I had no results whatsoever the first time. Then I stopped using it for a while and started using it months later, however, again I saw no positive changes. My eyelashes did stop falling out, but that happened when I wasn't using this for a long time. Original review here. 

Repurchase: No.

Balea Eye Makeup Removing Oil Pads Waterproof

These remove the most stubborn waterproof mascara, but they are too oily. I need to use a separate remover to get rid of all the oil. I prefer the Maybelline remover.
Repurchase: No.

Balea Makeup Removing Wipes 3 in 1 for dry and sensitive skin

These are too harsh compared to my favourites from Speedy Care. It hurt my skin when I was using them.
Repurchase: No.

 Nivea Soft

I buy a pot or a tube of this every now and then. It's a standard cream that is quite light and refreshing. Honestly, I buy it because I love the typical Nivea scent.
Repurchase: Maybe.

Skin Doctors Ingrow Go

This is a liquid lotion that smells horrible and contains a lot of glycolic acid that should help with ingrown hair. I have the worst ingrown hair, literary the worst (even if I just shave and/or scrub everyday, flm), and this doesn't do squat for me, neither to prevent them nor help them get out. Waste of money.
Repurchase: No.

Skin Doctors Hair no More

A spray that is supposed to inhibit/stop the hair from growing. There were promises of having to shave less often and the hair becoming finer. All a load of crap. It does smell nicer as the Ingrown go.
Repurchase: No.

Yves Rocher Noix de Coco Malaysian Coconut Silky Lotion

This feels and smells the same as the silky cream, it's just a bit runnier. It's ok, but not for dry skin. The scent is barely coconuty, it's more of a milky scent that is similar to Lush's Sympathy for the Skin.
Repurchase: No.

I Love... peaches and cream body lotion

A very decent lotion that is nicely moisturising. The scent is a great as well - peach mixed with cream.
Repurchase: It's really nice, but no.

 L'Oreal Ever Rich Mask

A great drugstore treatment for dry hair. It's quite light for a mask, however it still manages to moisturise well. The scent is a sweet caramel one and it's quite strong. Original review here.
Repurchase: Yes.

L'Oreal Ever Rich Shampoo

This made a great first impression, however, with every use my enthusiasm was fading. I mentioned before that I have awful dandruff, dry and itchy scalp, so I'm trying the whole sulphate free thing (and I'm not liking it, to be honest). The shampoo is really creamy, foams nicely, is sulphate-free, smells nice and doesn't leave my hair dry. Sound nice, right? However, my scalp hates this. I think it's building up on my scalp and that's why it's ridiculously itchy literary right after washing my hair. Strangely, I had much better experience with the Ever Pure one. One more thing, it's so thick that towards the end, it get really difficult to get it out of the tube.

Repurchase: No.

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque

Me and this mask do not get along. Almost everyone loves it, but I find it painfully average. It leaves my hair dry and abnormally frizzy. There are so many better cheaper products as well as salon treatments. Original review here. 

Repurchase: No.

Redken Extreme Anti-Snap

This is a protein leave-in treatment that helps prevent breakage and split ends. There is 250 ml of a very light lotion with a sort of artificial sweet fruity scent in the bottle. I've had mine for about a year and I used it almost every time I washed my hair. As far as results go, I noticed my hair was more tamed and it was definitely less damaged. Why I love this is because I started using this right after having my hair cut and my hair was in such great condition that I didn't feel I need to get my ends trimmed for a year (honestly, it saved me a lot of money since I pay 30€ for a simple trim. The joy of having long hair, greedy bastards). I got it cut when it got too long since it reached the end of my back.
I often get a question how do you get the hair to grow faster. Well, first off, everyone's hair supposedly grows at the same rate, however, if your hair is damaged and breaks off easily, you have the felling that your hair doesn't grow or it's growing really slowly. If you're one of those people, I highly recommend giving this a try (also anything with protein). Ingredients here.

Repurchase: Yes. But since it's not that good to use protein treatments for too long or you might risk making more damage, I'll buy it in a year or so.

 Balea Shower Gels: Fiji Passionfruit, Brazil Mango, Hawaii Pineapple

Though some people find Balea's shower gels drying, me and my skin actually like them. These three were a part of this summer's limited edition and they all smelled great - one like fresh passionfruit, one like Haribo candy and one like Pina Colada.
Repurchase: I would if they weren't limited edition.

L'Occitane Angelica Face Toner

A run-of-the-mill hydrating toner. Smells similar as the hydrating cream - herbally fresh and I like it. It leaves the skin slightly sticky. There are cheaper ones that are similar. Ingredients here.

Purchase: No.

L'Occitane Sublime Essence Skin Perfector

The texture is thick for a serum, but not greasy. It feels super light on the skin and gives that silicone like feeling, despite that it doesn't have them. It's leaves a great velvety matte finish, like using a super light primer. I think it's not hydrating enough on it's on in the winter for dry skin, but it should be enough for combination, normal and oily. The scent is nice, flowery (rose perhaps) and closer to something by Vichy than L'Occitane. Based on two samples I can't really report on results, but it did help to make my forehead smooth again. I really like it. Ingredients here.

Purchase: Yes.

L'Occitane Angelica Ultra Matte Fluid

When I was a teen with oily skin, their previous versions, the Lavender and Red Rice fluid, were my staples and I adored both. This is very similar. It has pretty much identical light, yet hydrating texture that leaves a matte finish, again like using a light primer or powder. L'Occitane excels at this. It has the same fresh herbal scent of the angelica line that I like. It's on my wishlist together with their Hydrating cream. Ingredients here.

Purchase: Yes.
I must say, L'Occitane's skin care works wonderfully for my skin. I had a bad skin moment and these samples made it all right again. Their products deserve more praise and attention that they get.

Sante Shower Gels: Grenadine Spirit and Coconut Dream

How this get to be sold?! Saying they are awful is an understatement. Both smell horrific and there is nothing dreamy about that coconut scent. Both have a revolting alcoholic rotten scent and the texture is ridiculously runny. Thankfully, I only had samples.
Purchase: No Way. 

L'Occitane Sublime Beauty Cream BB Cream SPF 30 

The texture is light and runny, very Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum like. It feels light on the skin and I wouldn't say moisturising, which considering it's a BB cream, is a bit odd. So this not for dry skin, rather better suited for normal to oily skin. It leaves a satin finish and it's slightly dewy, but not from the moisture like other BB's. It lacks that silicone feeling, which makes it not blend that well on dry skin. It's the type of product that I have a feeling might cling to dry patches. It's pretty much immediately dry to the touch, a feature I love. Coverage is light, maybe light to medium. It has the same flowery scent as the serum, but it's stronger, so not the best product for those sensitive to fragrance. I had samples of both of the shades they offer, light and medium. Look at the swatches. In what universe is that light? Yet another western company released only dark BB shades as if everyone in Europe spends their entire lives sunbathing in friggin Ibiza. Light is slightly darker than Bourjois BB in 21, but close, while medium is very dark. Ingredients here.

Purchase: Until they stop screwing around and make actual useful shades the answer is no.

Have a great day!