Phyto 9

This is marketed as a nourishing day cream with 9 plants for ultra-dry hair and since my hair is very dry, I had very high hopes for it. I liked all Phyto products I've tried so far and this has a high rating on Make Up Alley, so I was surprised that it left me cold.

Texture: It's like a face moisturiser, but for the hair and similar to Nivea Soft for example in a sense that it's not super thick, but also not watery.

Application: It has no silicones which means it lacks that slip that would make the product glide easily. Instead the application feels odd, like I'm applying a real moisturiser on the hair. It doesn't completely "melt" on the hair, so it tends to leave white bits which look like large pieces of dust if you look closely.

Scent: Almost none, but if I really put my nose to it, it smells like hay.

Effect: It can be used on damp or dry hair. On dry hair it does smooth down the flyaways and fixes dry hair, but once the wetness goes away, it all sort of pops up again. The dryness is still there especially if the hair is super dry. When my hair was seriously dry and I applied Phyto 9, it did nothing, it was like I haven't applied anything at all. Coconut oil or Orofluido are much, much more effective.  

On damp hair before blow-drying I noticed no difference in reduction of frizz nor in hydration levels, but keep in mind that I tried it only on my and my mother's super dry, frizzy hair. Maybe it performs better on someone with more moderately dry hair.

Packaging: A metal tube with a flip lid. It's small with only 50 ml of product and given the length and thickness of my hair, I have to use a lot, which means it won't last long.

Ingredients: As I said it's silicone free and it has 9 oils/extracts: marshmallow root extract, apricot kernel oil, macadamia oil, burdock extract, marigold extract, St John's wort extract, rosemary extract, white willow extract and sage extract. 

Price and availability: I got mine for 15.85 € in Leposana (E.Leclerc Ljubljana). It's available in pharmacies, on Look Fantastic, Feel Unique and HqHair, but it's more expensive.

I have to say that this product is a disappointment for me. It has a strange texture that doesn't glide nice on the hair and it doesn't sufficiently hydrate or nourish my hair. The tube is small with only 50 ml and if I used this every day on my long hair, it'd run out in probably less than three weeks. However, I'm not saying that it's really bad, maybe on someone else's hair this is fabulous, just not on mine.

Have a great day!

Best from Pharmacy Brands

My first experience with pharmacy brands happened many years ago with one of the dandruff shampoos and in these years I've tried a fair share of other products as well - from the famous Avene's Cleanance K and La Roche Posay's Effaclair Duo to the luxurious Nuxe Baume Prodigieux Lip Gloss - and I've found a nice amount of favourites and staples. I have a lot of faith in products from the pharmacy being a lot better than those from the drugstore and are probably as good as some high-end ones just for a more reasonable price. They are easy to get a hold of where I live, since we have a lot of pharmacies nearby and quite a few online shops (by the way, my favourite pharmacy is Leposana (E. Leclerck Ljubljana), where things are quite a lot cheaper than in my local pharmacy, especially if you have their loyalty card). 

 Phyto Phytheol Intense 

Dandruff treatment shampoo (100ml)

This has the weirdest texture of a shampoo ever. It's very thin and runny, also the packaging is beyond annoying because it's metal and you can't squeeze it resulting in having to pour the product out, which is particularity irritating when it's on its last legs. So why am I including it here? It's simple - because out of mountains of anti-dandruff products I've tried, this with combination of Phytopolleine had the best effect so far. It didn't cure it (I've actually lost hope for that, it's been going strong for 13 bloody years and I've tried everything, even went to a dermatologist), but it was the only product that actually removed that stubborn layer of dandruff that is stuck on my scalp and I finally felt like my scalp could breathe again. I'm sure that on someone whose scalp isn't so persistently dry that it flakes, rather has more "normal" dandruff problems this should solve it.

La Roche-Posay Kerium 

cream-shampoo anti-dandruff (250 ml)

Again another anti-dandruff shampoo, but this is not the intensive treatment rather a maintainer with salicylic acid that chemically exfoliates the scalp. But why I love it is because it's super gentle, yet really creamy and perfect for my mega dry hair. Most shampoos leave my scalp itchy after use because they dry it out, but with this I never had those problems at all. I've gone through a half a dozen tubes and though I'm trying other treatments for dandruff, I keep coming back to this. This and Kerastase Oleo-Relax are my absolute favourite shampoos. 

 Alpecin Medicinal Forte Intensive Scalp & Hair Tonic 

(200ml)

Technically I didn't buy this in a pharmacy, I buy them in Müller, but it is a healing type of product so I'm including it here. Again I bought this originally as a dandruff treatment, but it didn't yield much results in that department, however, this is a miracle for itchy scalp. Whenever my scalp feels itchy this soothes it instantly. I have to warn you that is has a very powerful, herbal schnapps scent so beware of any comments about reeking of alcohol, but hey at least your scalp will feel great. Another thing is the packaging which is rubbish since it lacks some sort of a nozzle with which you could apply this directly on the scalp, rather it's just pouring out uncontrollably and that's why (please don't laugh at me for this) I use a syringe (without the needle, obviously) so I can get the product directly and evenly on the scalp. I'm currently using my eighth bottle.

Phyto Phytopolleine 

Botanical Scalp Stimulant (25ml)

As I already said in the Pytherol review, this is a little miracle product that completely purified my scalp. It's eye-wateringly expensive at 29 € for a stingy 25 ml, but I bought two in a row. Sadly, it seems that it stopped working on me as all anti-dandruff products do (please tell me I'm not alone in this), so I'm having a bit of a break from it and I'm hoping a fresh bottle in a few months will be effective again. This really was the only product that came close to getting rid of my stubborn dandruff and because it's an oil, it also leaves the hair feeling really nourished .

 Bioderma Sensibio H2O micelle solution 

(100ml, 250 ml and 500 ml) 

It wouldn't be a best from pharmacies post without this. I've been a fan of it for about three years and I've gone though countless bottles. Sure there are drugstore dupes nowadays, but I don't find them as effective in completely and quickly removing all the makeup even though they are really good.

La Roche-Posay Nutritic Intense In-depth Nutri-Reconstituting Cream 

(30 ml)

This is a saviour for very dry, flaky skin. It actually feels relatively light, but it's intensely moisturising and it transforms the flaky skin literally overnight. Sadly, it breaks me out, which breaks my heart, but my mother adores this. She's not the one to pay more than 5 € for a moisturiser, but since I gave her this one, she bought four in a row and says it's absolutely worth the money and even puts an effort into tracking it down, would you believe it. If you're suffering from dry, flaky skin, do yourself a favour and grab this next time you're in a pharmacy.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum 

(30 ml)

When I first tried to seriously deal with my dehydrated, flaky skin years ago, this was like a little miracle in a bottle. It's fantastic for such skin, even for one that has a greasy T-zone. It balances the skin out by intensely moisturising it, but its super light texture doesn't cause problems for oily skin. It is a serum, so it should be used with a moisturiser on top, personally I love the combination of this with Nuxe dry oil. 

Eucerin Aquaporin Active Light 

(30 ml)

My second favourite moisturiser right behind L'Occitane's Angelica Hydrating Cream. It's based on aquaporins, which are a sort of plumbing system for cells and it moisturises the skin while still being light enough to be used under make up. I actually got this based on a few samples the sales lady gave me and I was so impressed I ran to the pharmacy as soon as I finished the samples and I've repurchased it three times so far. 

 Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse 

Multi-purpose Dry Oil (50 and 100 ml)

If you're an old follower on my blog, you'll know that I've been using this every day for three, yes three, years already. This is a staple in my skincare, much has changed, but this stayed. This is one of those products I can hardly imagine being without. It keeps my skin super soft, radiant and healthy looking. It's a dry oil, so it actually doesn't feel that oily and it sinks in in minutes. It's a multi-purpose oil, so I use what's left on my hair and it keeps it in good condition. It can also be used as a body moisturiser and it gives that great glow in the summer. The scent of it is fantastic as well. By the way, I would recommend the 100 ml version because it comes with a spray pump, while the 50 ml size just has a hole and it's irritating to get the product out because you have to shake it vigorously.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or

Multi-purpose Dry Oil (50 and 100 ml)

The shimmer infused sister or the original. This gives that amazing Victoria Secret glow on the body (best on legs and collarbone) as well as that glowy, summery look if used under a foundation. I love using this on my hair, because it's not too greasy even though it's silicone free and it gives a lovely shine to the hair.

Bio Beauté by Nuxe Lip Balm 

with apricot butter (15 ml)

I've been loving this more and more since I got it. I have a favourite lip balm, Palmer's Swivel stick and for years I haven't used anything else (I bough a few, but hated them), and this Nuxe one is getting just as much use as Palmer's. It's a lip balm-lip gloss hybrid that moisturises the lips and gives a nice glossy finish that is not super shiny, which I really like. It smells amazing, exactly like home-grown pears. It costs 10€, but there is a massive amount of 15ml in the tube, which should last a long time.

Avene Cicalfate

Antibacterial Repair Cream (40 ml)

A staple in any household. This is just one of those panthenol (provitamin of B5) treatments I've tried and they are all about the same, but this one is the one I have currently. Cicalfate is very similar in texture to Bepathenol (from Bayern, the Aspirin company) in a sense that it's a very thick cream that doesn't spread that easy. But these are little saviours for any type of wound or that blemish you squeezed just a bit too hard. It's antibacterial and it helps the wound to heal faster.
Another panthenol treatment that is actually very different is La Roche Posay's Cicaplast (original one, not the new B5 version). That one feels like a silicone primer, so some may like it more to use it on the face. 

What are your favourites from the pharmacy? 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 #2

Xen-Tan Dark Lotion

One of the best self tanners I've tried. It's a very natural looking tan that is quite deep with the first application and lasts about 4-6 days. The lotion has a sweet marzipan scent, however, the older the product gets the more it gets that typical self tanner scent. I like that it's a lotion and quite moisturising, though this means the skin remains tacky for a while. I did an in depth review and comparison with St. Tropez mousse here. 

Repurchase: Yes and already did.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula

A thick body moisturiser that smells a bit like chocolate cake. It sinks in fast, however, I noticed that  sometimes it start to flake off the skin. My only real complaint though, is the annoying packaging. It gets really difficult to get the product out towards the end, however, I have seen that they sell the pump version as well.
Repurchase: I'm not sure. It's a good product, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me. I prefer Dove's moisturiser.

Balea Shaving Gel Caribbean Dream and Milk'n'Peach
 I've been buying these since forever because they are really good and affordable. Caribbean Dream is a current LE which has an artificial coconut scent and I believe Milk n' Peach has been discontinued, but it had a sour pear scent. Both were not my favourite scents.

Repurchase: Yes, but not these two scents. This time I went for the original.

 Balea Dry Shampoo

I genuinely dislike this dry shampoo. It didn't make my hair fresh at all, it left a white powdery residue and had a very sharp scent which left me coughing for a few minutes and I always needed to open a window after using it. I much prefer Batiste and Sysos.
Repurchase: No chance.

Pyhto Pyhtopolléine universal elixir
I honestly loved this scalp treatment. I raved about it a few months ago because it was the only thing that ever worked on my stupid dandruff and completely purified my scalp. Unfortunately, it stopped working. I'm really bummed about that, however, it still makes the hair look really healthy and moisturised. It's really expensive for such a small bottle, but it was fantastic and I was prepared to pay more for it.
Repurchase: Not sure. I would in a heartbeat if it hadn't stopped working for me. Maybe I just need a break from it? 

Alverde Häaröl Mandel Argan
I raved a lot about this silicone free oil. I used it every time my hair felt dry (which I am happy to report is happening far less frequently since I started using Sexy Healthy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner - wonderful stuff I tell you). Its forte is helping with the dryness, but it also tames frizz and give shine. It's lighter than other oils (coconut or olive oil for example), but it is better suited for those with dry hair.
Repurchase: Yes, however, there is still one bottle somewhere in the house plus I have the big coconut body version, which works the same and it comes cheaper per ml.

Dove Oil Care hair mask

I was not impressed by this version of Oil Care mask. It's not as moisturising as the one in the tube (Dove Hair Therapy Oil Care Nährpflege 1 Minute Kur-Spűllung a.k.a. Nourishing Oil Care Express Treatment Conditioner), which is one of my  favourite drugstore hair treatments and I've used up at least a dozen tubes of it.
Repurchase: Nope, the tube version is much better.

Garnier Fruity Passion shampoo
I didn't like it as a shampoo because it was too drying on my hair, but the scent is divine. It's a proper sweet passion fruit scent and one of my favourite summery scents. I used it as a shower gel. Ingredients here.

Repurchase: Yes, but I will use it as a shower gel.

Maybelline Eye Makeup Remover Waterproof

My staple waterproof mascara remover. It's oil based, so I use another oil-free remover or wash afterwards. I don't even know how many bottle of this I've used up (or Bioderma. Both are my essentials). 
Repurchase: Yes and already did.

Bourjois Nail Polish Remover 1 Second

This is great for someone who is lazy like me. It's so fast and easy - no cotton pads, just a pot with a big sponge soaked in nail polish remover. It smells nice, like fruit and vanilla, also it leaves your fingers and nails quite moisturised, so it is better than your run-oft-the-mill nail polish remover.Regular price is exaggerated, however, I found a discount so I immediately put it in my shopping cart. I was hoping that more cheap knock offs would be available by now, but there is a tutorial on how to make one yourself on Pinterest.
Repurchase: Yes and already did, however, only when it has a discount.

Seche Vite Top Coat

My favourite top coat and I have been using it for years. The nail polish is dry to the touch in about 30 seconds, which is perfect for a girl like me who has zero patience (I still don't touch stuff for a few minutes just to be sure, even though I probably could). Also my manicure lasts ages with no chipping, but keep in mind that I have very strong and healthy nails. However, by the end of the bottle this get incredibly thick, so  had to throw the rest away and buy a new one.
Repurchase: Yes and already did.

Alverde Aroma Oil Kokos

 It's an essential item in my bathroom and I use for so many things - body, hair, as a makeup remover and for shaving. It smells like a coconut creamy dessert or a coconut muffin, basically a mix of coconut and vanilla, but not too heavy or excessively sweet.

Repurchase: Yes and already did.

Montagne Jeunesse Strawberry Soufflé Face Mask

It's been a while since I used it, but I wasn't impressed by this moisturising mask. There was no noticeable effect apart for sparkles, which were stuck on my face after I rinsed it off. And I don't want to look like flippin' Edward Cullen. It did smell nice, like strawberry candy. There were some mini beads in it, but those had no particular effect.
Repurchase: No.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser
I liked this cleanser, it's my second favourite so far. It's a rich, thick cream that feels quite luxurious, smells like Airways gums and removes makeup nicely (I still use a separate eye makeup remover), however, my skin doesn't look as nice as when I use Balance Me. I like it but it's expensive, mostly due to high shipping costs.

Purchase full size: I might.

L'Occitane Ultra Rich Body Creme

Oh, I like this a lot. It's such a lovely, rich and thick moisturiser, but not greasy and sinks in fast. Fantastic for really dry skin. The scent is also really lovely.
Purchase full size: I'll probably pamper myself to a full size one day.

L'Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate

A light, very siliconey body moisturiser. It leaves quite a velvety feeling on the skin and smells so nice, but not as nice as the shower oil.
Purchase full size: Nah, I already had a travel size. I like both oils from the Almond line better.

Essence Sun Club Oil Control Paper

An essential even though my skin isn't particularly oily. These oil absorbing sheets aren't anything special, but they work fine and are cheap. I've been buying them for years.
Repurchase: Yes and already did.

Have a great day!

My Current Hair Care - Part 1

My hair is not the easiest to deal with. I have naturally very dry, curly, frizzy, coarse hair that needs a lot of heavy-duty conditioners and oils. Also I have very thick and long hair with lots of volume. It's in my genes, in fact everyone in my family has hair like that. When I was in my early teens my hair dried up like a sponge and got really hard to work with. So I do use a lot of products on my hair and most drugstore products just don't work well for me, I learned that the hard way. I used to be just-Fructis/Dove/L'Oreal/Gliss-girl, but my hair and scalp was in horrible condition. I tried a lot of different products in the past decade and in the last two years I finally found what works best for me. For my hair more is better. Most of the products mentioned I've repurchased numerous times and are some of my favourites so far. This will be in two parts. I'll talk about serums, styling products and tools in the second part.

I use a lot of oils on my hair. A few times a month use oil as a pre-wash treatment. I use anything I have at hand, regular olive oil will do, I even use whatever body oil is lying around (such as Weleda lavender one), but the best oils for dry hair are macadamia and coconut oil. I get them at the supermarket. I apply it all over the hair, including the scalp, focusing on the ends and leave it on for at least an hour (the more the better). So far I've never been left with greasy, limp hair no matter how much I used, but keep in mind that my hair is very dry and it just soaks up everything. If your hair is not as dry, use just a few drops mainly on the ends. Alverde mandel and argan oil as a pre-wash treatment is light enough for someone with hair like that. I then proceed with shampoo and conditioner.

Another oil I use is Phyto Phytopolléine universal elixir. I've already raved about it in one of my monthly favourites post, so I'll just copy my review. It is my mini super expensive miracle worker. I've been suffering from dandruff for more than 10 years, used almost every shampoo on the planet and nothing really worked (dry hair and scalp, fantastic combination). This completely purifies my scalp, no other product I've tried was that effective. It's a heavily scented oil (it smells of rosemary and lavender, beware that the entire room you're in will smell like it) that you massage on your scalp before washing your hair. The instructions say to keep it on for 20 minutes, but I leave it on for a lot longer. It costs an arm an a leg - over 20€ for a small 25ml bottle, but one did last me about 8 treatments. I've repurchased it already and I got mine from eBay, because it's a lot cheaper than in our pharmacies.

The shampoo I've been using for a year now is La Roche Posay Kerium for dry hair. It's one of the rare dandruff shampoos that does not dry out my hair. I can even comb through it with ease. It's very creamy and thick and has a pleasant medicinal scent. I've used a least a half of dozen bottles so far. I buy it in pharmacies for around 11€.

Alpecin Medicinal Forte is a clear liquid that smells very strongly of herbal schnapps, but it works. It's great for relieving an itchy scalp. I used to use it every day, but now I use it only when my scalp is acting up. I bought my seventh bottle in a row last week. They need to change the bottle though. The application system is really bad because there is no nozzle, just a hole. I buy it in Müller for 5-6€.

Currently I have four different conditioner/masks/treatments in rotation because I use gallons of this stuff and I don't want to buy new ones every 3-4 weeks. Most drugstore conditioners are not moisturising enough for my hair, so I do prefer saloon brands. The main difference between them is that if I use a drugstore conditioner, my hair gets really dry the second day, even though the conditioner might seem really moisturising. I then have to resort to Alverde Mandel and Argan oil to get some moisture back into my hair. I also always leave the conditioner on my hair for a lot longer than it says on the packaging. I honestly can't imagine the product working it's magic in just a few minutes and I notice a massive difference if I leave it on for longer. I leave it on for at least 10 minutes, often for more than an hour (I always wash my hair in the evening).

Joico Moisture Recovery Treatment Balm for thick and coarse hair is some heavy-duty stuff. It's probably the most moisturising treatment I ever had. If my hair is feeling particularly dry, then I resort to it. Even I have to use a moderate amount and I'm always very generous when applying conditioner. It smells really nice, fresh but a bit sweet and it's super thick. This is my first tube. Another fantastic product from Joico is their K-Pack Intense Hydrator Treatment for dry, damaged hair, which I had before this one. The only gripe I have is the scent which is a bit odd. These two are the best treatments I ever had and trust me I tried a lot of them. I buy Joico from feelunique.com, it's also a sold in selected saloons.

Tigi S Factor ''Serious'' Conditioner is another seriously moisturising stuff. I've already reviewed it here and I remain impressed. I bought my 750ml pot last September and I still have some left. It's so thick you don't need much. Earlier this year I tried the vinegar treatment which is so highly recommended on MUA. It completely wrecked my hair. Nothing has ever dried up my hair like it. This mask worked like magic and completely transformed it into normality. It does contain a lot of silicone, hence the very silky feeling afterwards, but it's still one of my favourite treatments. Read my original review if you want to know more.

Dove Nourishing Oil Care also known under lots of other names, but the important thing is that it's a tube with gold writing. It's one of the two drugstore treatments I use and I've repurchased it a half of dozen times. This is the most moisturising drugstore product I've tried to date. It's very thick and smells very nice (''Dove like''). I buy it in Müller for 4-5€. I did a short review here.

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration mask was an unexpected and pleasant surprise from the drugstore range. I honestly didn't expect much because it feels quite light, but it is moisturising enough even for my hair. However, the best feature is the heavenly scent. It's smells like tropical paradise, something like sweet tropical fruit with coconut. I adore it! I'm currently using my second pot. This is light enough for someone whose hair is not as dry as mine. I also really like the shampoo from this line.

Some other conditioners I liked are Redken All Soft, John Frieda Brilliant Brunette and Fructis masks. I repurchased the latter two numerous times.

This completes the first part of my hair care. I'll talk about other hair care products I use in the next post (it'll be up soon). Thanks for reading my long rambling! There is more to come.