More Inell Skincare bits: Mousse Nettoyante Hydratante and Démaquillant Yeux Spécial

I already spoke about the incredibly affordable micelar water by Inell (the house brand of Leclerc), but I have more skincare bits to talk about.

Mousse Nettoyante Hydratante

Hydrating Cleansing Foam
Ingredients
1.51 € in E.Leclerc.

This product was one of those unintended, spur of the moment purchases that turned out pretty bloody brilliant. I have been searching for a nice, quick and gentle cleanser to use in the morning, but I wanted to avoid gels because they tend to dry out my skin. I have mentioned before that I used L'Oreal's Happy Derm mousse in my teens and it was one of my favourite ever cleansers until it disappeared from the shelves. After years I have finally found a dupe for it and this is it.  

I am not impressed by those "mousse" cleansers that produce some pathetic watery foam, but this is a whole other thing. The texture of this cleanser resembles a super light whipped cream, but in a foam way. It cleans well, feels super comfortable, doesn't dry out the skin and is in general a very fun product to use. The packaging is just as one of those whipped creams in a can and it has the same dispenser. It smells amazing to me, pretty much identical to L'Oreal's 15 Second Miracle Cleansing Oil which is one of my favourite scents ever. It's so difficult to describe it, maybe as powdery-floral, but to me it smells like the beach for some reason.

For me this is the perfect morning cleanser and it's so affordable. If you stumble upon it in E. Leclerc, I highly recommend it.

Démaquillant Yeux Spécial Waterproof

Special Eye Makeup Remover Waterproof
Ingredients
2.03 € in E.Leclerc.

I wear a waterproof mascara on a daily basis so my lashes stay curled and I need a good oily remover to get every last scrape of it off at the end of the day. My favourite such remover is from Maybelline, but recently I have been trying some removers from other brands. One was from Nivea, which I don't like, and the other is this one, which didn't quite impress me either.

It looks and it is a regular two phase remover that feels a bit oily on the skin, but it's not as greasy as using an actual oil. Texture-wise it's somewhere between Maybelline's and Nivea's meaning it's not as oily as the first one, but not so light as the second. It removes mascara and other makeup quite well, though it does require a bit of rubbing to get all the mascara off, but what bothers me at this remover is that it leaves me with a strange sensation in the eyes. Not irritated in a sense that my eyes would water or become red, but it's like a strange cooling sensation. I consider myself a very hardy person when it comes to beauty products and none so far (*knocks on wood*) has ever irritated my skin, but this is the product I would not recommend to someone with sensitive eyes. Similarly to Nivea's, it doesn't leave my eyesight foggy, while Maybelline's does.

Despite it's shortcomings, I must praise the packaging. It has the most practical lid I've encountered at these dual phase removers and it's the only one where the product doesn't run everywhere, so I am keeping it to put in other removers.

It is a very affordable remover, but I can't get pass the strange feeling it leaves my in eyes. I'm sticking to Maybelline's for now or I might try L'Oreal's next.

Have a great day!

Inell Eau Micellaire (Micellar Water)

Inell, the house brand of E.Leclerc, offers a remarkably similar bottle of micellar water as the much more renowned Bioderma and the beloved Garnier's drugstore version, but it holds an impressive 500 ml of product for a mere 2€. Obviously, I could not pass up the bargain and I immediately began to wonder how it compares to the, lets face it, quite excellent competition. For those who might not be familiar with micellar waters, they are makeup removers that have a super light texture which resembles water. I currently have Garnier's and Green Line's micellar waters to compare, so it's a battle of the drugstore versions today, but I have already compared L'Oreal's versus Bioderma a while back.

The first thing that caught my attention was that just like Garnier's and L'Oreal's micellar waters, Inell's one also contains Poloxamer 184, which is the ingredient responsible for dissolving makeup. However, that also means that if you found either of those two versions irritating, it might be the same case with this one as well (Bioderma's and Green Line's micellar waters don't have this ingredient). I personally had zero problems with it, but I was informed by one of my readers that it is not the best choice for skin with problems (in that case it was atopic dermatitis. Thank you Irina for sharing that).

Inell's has identical light, almost water-like texture as all the rest and leaves a clean, yet not stripped feeling on the skin. Much like all the others it quickly and effectively removes makeup, the base is pretty much gone with one cotton pad, but eyeliner will require more, so a grand total of three pads is usually sufficient for removing an every day amount of makeup. It's is the same with Garnier's, L'Oreal's and Green Lines, only Bioderma is quicker and more effective. Of course, it won't remove waterproof mascara as an oil-based remover is needed for that task.

As opposed to the rest with exception of Green Line, Inell's one has a slightly stronger chemical scent, but it's not offensive.

In all honestly, I notice no significant difference between the three and I use them interchangeably. All, including Innel's, are a brilliant drugstore buy. If you're lucky enough to live in a country with E.Leclerc (France, Andorra, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Slovenia), then I wholeheartedly recommend you to pick Innel's one up based on the price alone (2.29 € for 500 ml).

Have a great day!

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!

Garnier Pure Active Fruit Energy Daily Energising Gel Scrub

Is that the longest name of a product, or what? It's been a while since I used a gel cleanser, even though they used to be the predominant version of cleansers I used, however, since I have discovered that they are the cause for my recurring dry patches, I swapped them go for more moisturising, less stripping options. Recently, I did find myself in need of a quick, morning cleanser and since Amelia recommended it in one of the videos as well as mentioned that it's similar to the new Origins Vitazing scrub, I gave it a go.

By the way I have the German version that is called Hautklar Fruit Energy Belebendes Peeling-Gel, but it's the same thing.

Texture: It's a thick gel with micro beads that aren't too scratchy. Most gels I tried were usually thinner, but this one feels nice, almost slightly cushiony.

Performance: Basically it just cleans well, though I wouldn't use it on it's own to remove makeup. The skin is left clean, fresh and matte, the gel washes off completely, so there is no residue left and it doesn't irritate my eyes. The exfoliating beads are very gentle and I wouldn't describe this as a scrub in the real sense of the word.

The first day when I used it as a part of my night routine and then just applied Nuxe oil, I was very pleasantly surprised at how great my skin looked in the morning - radiant, healthy and with a completely clear forehead like someone ironed it. I was like: damn, am I having a good skin day or what? It just looked good and I would sport a no-make up look if it weren't for a few old blemish marks on my chin. Unfortunately, with more uses my skin started to get drier with a dry patch forming on my cheeks as usual any time I use gel cleansers for a longer period of time. So I'm currently using it sporadically to avoid potential dry patches, but it's a great quick refreshing cleanser for the morning. I also think that I might only be able to use it in the warmer months, since in the winter my skin is a lot more prone to drying out.

Scent: It smells fabulous - freshly fruity like pomegranate.

Packaging: A simple squeeze tube that works as it should. I like that it's clear, so I can see how much product is still in.

Price and availability: 5€ and available pretty much everywhere, I've even seen it in smaller supermarkets.

I think it's a nice, simple cleanser for those with oily or combination-oily skin and it does it's job as well as smells delicious. However, I have since found a better morning cleanser (and much cheaper) for my skin that I use daily and I will discuss it in my future New in post.

Have a great day!

Green Line Clear Active Micellar Cleansing Water

The micellar waters fad is not yet over and Green Line released their version recently, which I was kindly offered to test, and I tell you, it's surprisingly good. For those unfamiliar with Green Line, it's actually a Slovene brand.

Texture: Similarly to the rest of the micellar waters, it has a light almost water-like texture, though this one feels closer to a toner than the rest. 

Effectiveness: In short - it performs very well. I wore a full face of makeup with SPF underneath and a good primer to give it a good test and it removed the base in pretty much the first go, but it needed extra pads for the eye makeup (black eyeliner and eyeshadow) and Bourjois Velvets on the lips. It took three pads to get my face clean which is the same as with Garnier and L'Oreal's version. Much like other micellar waters, it won't remove waterproof mascara, but I tested its removing powers with a regular version (which I had to borrow, but it was essence I <3 Extreme Crazy Volume mascara) and it did its job. It doesn't irritate my eyes or skin, however, neither do any of the other micellar waters I've tried.

Scent: This might be a nuisance to some, but unlike other micellar waters I've tried, this one is scented with what I presume is the scent is of orange flower water and I've grown rather fond of the fragrance. Personally, I don't mind scented skincare, in fact, I prefer it, but people sensitive to fragrance might find it problematic.

Packaging: This is where I won't be too kind, but I'm certain that during the rich human history we have invented  these things called flip top caps, which have made our lives much easier by not needing to screw the caps off any more. What I'm trying to say is that a flip top would be much more practical. The bottle doesn't spill or waste product, for which I'm very grateful since I had the displeasure of being continuously annoyed by the L'Oreal's bottle. The bottle holds 200 ml, which is not an impressive amount especially compared to some of the competition and the packaging could use a more modern update, but that's just my preference.

I think it's a great micellar water and it's a nice budget offering. It removes makeup well and leaves the skin feeling clean, refreshed and not at all tight, but very comfortable. I really been enjoying using it the past month. The plain looking bottle might be the reason you'll miss it in the drugstores, but it's a worthy buy nonetheless, especially for those you found other drugstore micellar waters irritating and need something new. 

I've already seen it being sold in DM for about 4.5 €. I'm not sure in which countries Green Line is available, but I'm guessing it's available in the Balkans.

V poplavi micelarnih vodic se je na trgu pojavila še ena in to domače znamke Green Line, ki sem jo imela priložnost preizkusiti in me je precej pozitivno presenetila. Kot praktično vse druge micelarne vodice je lahka skoraj kot voda, čeprav je že malo bolj podobna toniku. Ličila odstrani učinkovito in hitro, po mojih izkušnjah so dovolj tri vatke za dokaj močan makeup, ampak vodoodporne maskare ji pa ne uspe odstraniti. Meni ne draži oči in kože, čeprav moja koža ni niti malo občutljiva. Vodica ima še kar močen cvetlični vonj, ki je meni kar všeč, lahko pa je problematičen za tiste, ki so na dišave občutljivi. Glavno pomankljivost zame predstavlja pokrovček, saj bi namreč z vidika lažje uporabe želela takšnega na poklop. Micelarna vodica je na voljo v količini 200 ml, kar ni ravno presunljivo veliko še posebno v primerjavo s nekatero konkurenco.

Vsekakor gre za dobro micelarno vodico, ki dobro odstrani ličila in pusti kožo osveženo ter ne neudobno zategnjeno. Videla sem jo že v DM, kje stane okrog 4,5 €.

* I was sent this to review / Izdelek mi je bil poslan v oceno.

Have a great day!

Garnier Miracle Skin Cream

Miracle Skin Cream is one of the latest releases by Garnier and it's already been dubbed as the Origins VitaZing dupe. It's a day cream with SPF 20 that releases a sheer tint when applied on the skin, so it's like a tinted moisturiser kind of product. 

Right from the tube, it's a standard white cream with a light, Nivea Soft-like formula, which contains small beads that burst when the product is rubbed into the skin. The initial tint looks quite scarily orange on my porcelain complexion, however, it sheers out into a more natural looking tan colour. It gives my NC10-15 skin a much deeper colour/tan, so I'm closer to NC20-25 after application. It does look natural and not orange, but it must be blended in very well, otherwise a few orange patches might remain and particular attention needs to be paid to the edges of the face and hairline. It's also difficult to remove an orange patch that you might have missed when it sets. Due to my paleness I need to be careful that I use small amounts and thin layers at a time, so I don't end up with too much tint and therefore the appearance of a floating head because it's too tan for my body. The coverage it gives is minimal and it manages to just even out the skin, but it does make the skin look more perky and healthy. The finish it leaves is very natural and it gives the skin a bust of radiance without looking too shiny, however, without powder my T-zone tends to get oily through the day.
In general it does make the skin appear nicer when you wear it, mostly due to that evening out bit, but I noticed no particular long-term results after about a month of regular use.

The SPF 20 is enough for me on a daily basis and it protected my skin well so far, so I had no sunburns or new freckles appearing despite spending a lot of time in the sun. It has a strong citrusy-floral scent that I like. You can find ingredients here if you're interested.

I'm wearing it here with concealer under the eyes, on the tip of my nose and on the chin where I have some scarring left. I'm wearing Bourjois Pudre de Riz (which I loooove at the moment) over it and I have Revlon's Unapologetic on the lips. I hope you can see how some freckles still show through, I know I should have taken a better close up.

I bought mine in Müller for 11.99 € (where are the prices going?!).

It's a nice tinted moisturiser kind of product, though it's obviously not self adjusting like they claim since it has a slightly too warm and dark tint for my neutral skin (as if any product is capable of self adjusting. Give me a break). It's a product I wear when I want more colour on my face, especially when I use a self tanner on my body. I'd recommend it to those who aren't porcelain pale as me, but around NC20-30 (Healthy Mix 52 and up) because the shade will suit you perfectly in that case. Personally, I prefer the SunDance tinted sunscreen because the tint is lighter, more neutral and the formula is much easier to work with, but I still like using Miracle Skin Cream, though it takes more time and effort to blend it in to avoid orange patches. I'd say it a nice product for lazy make up days or warmer months since it just evens out the skin, however, it also works as a base for foundation.

Have a great day!

Current Skin Care

It's been a really long time since I last posted about my skin care routine and because I'm really happy with the state of my skin at the moment, I think there is no better time for an update. A lot has changed and a lot stayed the same, but basically since I revamped my skin care, my skin is a lot more balanced, I'd say very close to normal with my T-zone being just a bit oily sometimes, however, the dryness I was experiencing before mostly in winter months is gone. 

Previous skin care routine posts can be found here, here and here.

 Make up Removers

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

A nice drugstore micellar water, definitely my favourite budget one. As all I've tried so far, it feels like water and leaves no residue. I don't find it as effective as Bioderma since I use more cotton pads and product to get my skin completely clean, but the final result is the same. I use Garnier and Bioderma interchangeably.

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution

A staple in my skin care since 2011. It's the best micellar water I've tried and I'll keep repurchasing it. It removes make up fast and leaves no residue behind - all in all it's a fantastic product for my skin. I buy it at a local pharmacy.

Maybelline Eye Make up Remover Waterproof

(Augen-Make-Up Entferner Spezial Waterproof) 

This is another product I've been buying for years. I wear only waterproof mascara because I have the most stubborn eyelashes that refuse to stay curled (and are a pain to get them curled), so I have to use oily removers. This one is a standard two-phase make up remover that removes waterproof mascara, but it does leave a greasy residue, though it doesn't make my vision cloudy.

Coconut Oil

I use it as a make up remover occasionally and I actually prefer it to Maybelline's remover because I notice how good my skin looks the next day, but it's a lot greasier and makes my vision super cloudy. It also works great as a moisturiser.

Cleanser 

balance Me cleanse and smooth face balm

I'm on my second tube so far of this balm cleanser with oatmeal exfoliating particles. It cleanses the skin while leaving it moisturised and I know that this is the main reason I'm dry patches-free, since regular gel/mousse cleansers left my skin super tight and dry, therefore dry patches appeared. This makes my skin look and feel nice, the only downside is the price.
I use washcloths to remove it.

Toner/AHA treatment

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner

This is the product that keeps my skin, mostly forehead, smooth and clear. Though it contains gycolic acid, it's still moisturising, so it feels more like a lotion and it's super gentle (doesn't sting one bit, even if I have a small wound). Though, I'm a bit apprehensive about using AHA's so often, I haven't had a bad reaction, my skin did not become more sensitive and if I stop using it for a while my skin reverts to it's previous state with a bumpy forehead. I tend to apply it only on my forehead and chin, occasionally all over the face. I also cut the cotton pads in two and I only use a few drops per use. It's super expensive, but this is becoming a staple in my skin care routine. The only other product that made my skin look the same way is the much more expensive Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair.

 Moisturisers

L'Occitane Angelica Hydration Cream

My favourite moisturiser so far. It's sinks in fast, it's super hydrating, leaves a smooth, semi-matte finish and the skin feels almost velvety to the touch. It's the best moisturiser I've found for wearing under make up. The skin looks so healthy after using this and in general the skin improves over time in terms of hydration levels. My second favourite moisturiser that I've used up several tubes of is Eucerin Aquaporin Active Light.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse

If you're an old follower on my blog, you'll know that I've been using this every day for 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, 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. 

Extras and non-every day items 
I don't use face mask that often because I can't be bothered. 

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

 This has a really high rating on Make up Alley and it's really affordable for such a massive tube. It's a standard clay mask that is super thick and it draws out impurities from pores, but I dare not apply it on my cheeks because it completely dries out my skin. If you have really oily, problematic skin you'll love it. 

Neutrogena visibly clear 2-in1 wash mask

I've been using this since probably around 2006, so I've gone through a lot of tubes of this. I try a different mask every now and then, but I always come back to this one. It's another clay mask with salicylic acid, however, unlike Queen Helene one, this one doesn't dry out my skin at all. It can also be used as a cleanser, but it feels odd to me. It's inexpensive for the amount you get, smells nice and it's widely available. 

Origins Drink Up Intensive

Since my battle with dry patches is over, I don't use this much. In fact, I don't even find it all that good. It just feels like a thick, sticky moisturiser that smells like canned fruit salad (not peaches as most people say), which does moisturise very well, but my skin doesn't feel amazing after use as though I've applied something really special. Actually, I did have an emergency when Queen Helene mask really dried out my cheeks and made them rough, but this wasn't enough to fix the dryness.

REN Resurfacing AHA Concentrate

This serum is nothing revolutionary, but it does help those pesky blemish marks to fade faster. It doesn't remove them overnight, but long-term this is very effective. Also if I get a few spots this sometimes helps overnight, then sometimes it doesn't.

Sun Dance Mattierendes Sonnenfluid SPF30

(Mattifying sunprotecting fluid SPF30)

I barely spend a few minutes outside a day, so I don't wear sunscreen every day and I mostly wear BBs or foundations with SPF anyway. I like this one because it's really light, not greasy and it's really affordable.

Avene Cicalfate

This is just a basic antibacterial repairing treatment for any cuts, wounds, etc. I don't use this a lot on my face as I don't need to, but if it just happens that I squeezed a zit, I apply this to make it heal faster. 

Balea Soft & Clear Anti-Pickel Gel

This is rubbish, but it's the only spot treatment I have. I don't get a lot of spots and if I get them, I'm not that bothered. It's one of those on-spot gels with tons of alcohol and salicylic acid that in theory should make the spot dry out faster, but this one doesn't work.

Labello Fruity Shine Peach

Not the most moisturising lip balm, but it smells divine and the colour it gives is cute.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick

I don't suffer from dry lips at all and I think the reason for this also comes down to this swivel stick. I've been using it for years and it's my absolute favourite lip balm. I apply it as the last part of my routine and I wake up with my lips in perfect condition. I almost never use a lip balm during the day simply because I don't need to. I also love this for treating any rough, dry areas. 

Bio Beauté by Nuxe Lip Balm wit Apricot Butter 

This is another great lip balm, but with a more glossy finish. It smells great (pears), moisturises enough for my needs and the tube contains a generous 15 ml. 

And this is it. Basically I use balance Me cleanser, Clarins toner, L'Occitane moisturiser, Nuxe oil and Palmer's lip balm (or Nuxe lip balm) every night, and balance Me cleanser with L'Occitane moisturiser in the mornings. I'm looking for a morning cleanser that is quicker to use and I'm still missing Estee Lauder's Night Advance serum which is amazing.

Have a great day!

L'Occitane Angelica Hydration Cream

Meet my favourite moisturiser. Last summer the lovely sales assistant at L'Occitane treated me to a generous sample (generous even by their standards) of this moisturiser, which she put in a mini pot. It lasted me quite a while, so I had a good chance of testing it out and I feel absolutely in love with it. I've been very loyal to Eucerin's Aquaporin Active Light moisturiser, but this one is even better. Due to the eye-watering price, this persisted on my wishlist since that summer, but my birthday came along a couple of months ago and I finally got my hands on it.

Texture and effect: I adore this moisturiser - it's so light yet really hydrating. It feels like a standard cream with a lighter texture. I think it should work for almost any skin type, even oily, only really dry skin might need something more. It sinks in the skin in under a minute and leaves a smooth, semi-matte finish and the skin feels almost velvety to the touch. Due to that it's the best moisturiser I've found for wearing under makeup. The skin looks so healthy after using this and in general the skin improves over time in terms of hydration levels.  

Scent: I've really grown fond of the scent. It's a herbal fresh scent that is not too strong. I don't know why, but it reminds me of summer, though it's not a summer scent. 

Ingredients: 

Packaging: That's my only real gripe. Sure the pot is really pretty and looks expensive, but I would prefer a squeezable tube since it's annoying to put fingers inside the pot and then the moisturiser is stuck under the nails, something I don't like. The pot is made of heavy, matte glass and the lid is metal. 

Price and availability: At 37€ per pot in L'Occitane it's definitely not the cheapest moisturiser around, but I truly love it. However, if you want a cheaper alternative try Eucerin Aquaporin Active Light (15€), which is also absolutely brilliant.

This is my favourite moisturiser so far for my normal/combination skin. I love everything about it, from texture, effect and scent, my only complaint is the unpractical packaging, but I can live with it. I suggest you try a sample first, they are ever so generous at L'Occitane if you ask them and I have found some brilliant products due to that.
By the way, if your skin is very oily and you need something mattifying in the morning, I also love their Angelica Ultra Matte Fluid of which I spoke here.

Have a great day!

Balm Balm Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm

My skin loves cleansing balms. Before I started using them, dry patches were my eternal nemesis, but I haven't had a single one in months and my skin is definitely more balanced out. This is my solid cleansing balm and my second cleansing balm in general, the first being Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm. Despite the not so good first impression for which I lay the blame entirely on the awful scent, this has become one of my favourite cleansers ever.

Texture: It's a solid balm that is so smooth and soft. I scoop out about a fingernail sized amount and while massaging it into the skin, it just melts into an oil. It stays solid even in my always-warm bathroom, unlike the Balance Me, which was always so runny I really needed to be careful when pouring it out of the tube (there was never any squeezing required at all), but Balm Balm melts only on the actual skin. 

Performance: It cleanses the skin well and breaks down the make up, including the waterproof mascara. It's one of the rare cleansers I've used that tackles the stubborn layers of waterproof mascara I wear, but it doesn't remove it completely as I still wake up with a bit of panda eyes if I don't follow up with Maybelline's Makeup Remover Waterproof. I remove the balm with a wet flannel that also provides some gentle exfoliation. My skin is left soft and balanced in a sense that the drier areas are moisturised and the T-zone cleansed. It makes my skin more normal and never leaves it tight or oily.

Scent: Keeping in mind that scents are subjective, I find it awful. It smells strongly of incense and citrus, so the overall effect is like being in a church on a holiday at the moment when the priest is swinging that smoke thingy (yes, that would be the technical term) while you're sitting next to someone wearing a D&G Light Blue. I genuinely dislike it and it kind of lingers, but thankfully the longer I'm using it the less I notice it. But honestly, they could have an unscented version.

Packaging: It comes in Balm Balm's standard, brown glass 30 ml jar that they sell all of their other balms in. It's dainty and cute, though I'd prefer it came in a bigger size as well. However, I like that they offer a small size because is handy for anyone who wants to try balm cleansers first, before committing to pay 40+€ per pot (looking at you Emma Hardie) or need something small for travelling. I've had it for over a month and used up about a half or 2/3, but I'm not the one to pile on skincare.

Ingredients: Looking at the ingredients, I must say this is so simply made. Some sunflower oil, shea butter, beeswax, jojoba oil, marigold extract, frankincense extract oil and grapefruit peel oil. It looks like it's easy to make at home if you're into such things, but it would take a lot of experimenting to get the quantities right.

Price and availability: I bought it on Feel Unique for 10€ (30 ml).

I love the texture and the performance of this balm cleanser, but it's a crying shame that it smells so strong, especially since the scent is not exactly pleasant. Also they could offer a bigger version of it as well. But all in all, it's a fantastic balm. I still love the Balance Me and considering it's cheaper per ml plus it smells so much better, I'd probably still choose it over this one. Though, I must admit I prefer the texture of Balm Balm's one as it feels so luxurious to use, so I would repurchase it.

I wish someone came up with a balm like this one in bigger size and for an affordable price (so not something that costs one month's food budget), maybe even with such a lovely scent that Balance Me has. 

Have a great day!

L'Oréal Skin Perfection Serum

This product was on my radar for a long time before I bought it and I read nothing but great reviews about it. Naturally, I expected a lot from it, but I must say I was sorely disappointed. The serums contains LR 2412 (sodium tetrahydrojasmonate), an ingredient it shares with Lancome Visionnaire and Vichy Idealia Life Serum, which is supposed to harnesses jasmine's ability to self-regenerate. Personally, I don't buy the marketing ploys and I rather put my trust into the honest reviews of the beauty blogger community. The serum promises to correct and improve visible skin quality by tackling problems such as large pores, red marks and uneven texture, however, in my experience it just doesn't deliver.

Texture: I actually like the texture of this serum. It's a light silky lotion that isn't runny and feels light on the skin. It sinks in fast and the skin is dry to the touch due to the high content of silicones, so the finish it leaves is akin to using a very light primer. Due to that I find it's a nice base for make up. The serum has a golden and pink pearl in it, which looks nice, but doesn't show up on the skin. It's hydrating enough on its own for combination skin and personally I don't feel like I need an additional moisturiser, though I do apply it. One thing that does bother me is that when I want to apply a moisturiser on top, I have to do it before it dries, otherwise the serum layer starts to flake.

Performance: Honestly, I saw no positive long term results whatsoever. In fact, my skin looked a lot worse than usual. I don't consider my skin's condition as being bad, but the longer I was using this the worse it got. It didn't happen overnight, but with everyday use my skin gradually got less smooth, my forehead became very bumpy and there were even some spots in places where I don't usually get them. I stopped using it for a few weeks and during that period I tried to fix my skin, which I did with L'Occitane products and my skin looked ok again. I still decided to give this another go, but again it gradually started to get worse, so I just stopped using it.

Scent: The scent is quite fresh and green. It reminds me a bit of satsuma or orange peels.

Packaging: Yes, the packaging is pretty. I'm not a massive fan of pink, but the pink ombre effect looks very cool. The glass bottle with a pump feels well made and looks great on a vanity. The pump works great as well.

Price and availability: I got mine for 15.99 € in Müller.

I just was not impressed by this serum. Though the texture is nice, it is just not working for me and it only makes my skin worse. The high alcohol content doesn't help the case either. My research also led me to a discovery that Lancome's Visionnaire and Vichy's Idealia Life Serum not only look similar, but also have similar ingredients (Vichy's doesn't have alcohol, though. So it's the best out of the three). I had a much better experience with the L'Occitane Sublime Essence Skin Perfector that I was trying during the "break period". 

My fellow Slovene Bloger Sanja (Sparkle with Laughter), however, had the completely opposite experience (her review is here), so I guess I'm one of those whose skin just doesn't like this. 

Have a great day!

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Yes, there is another new kid on the block. Garnier joined the micellar waters race with their budget version. I must confess, I had no idea that it existed and I was surprised to see it on a shelf in E.Leclerc (French supermarket). The bottle is quite big and holds 400 ml of product which is twice as much as L'Oreal's version, but the price is about the same, 5.29 €. There is no secret that L'Oreal owns Garnier (and tons of other brands), so it's actually not that surprising that these two micellar waters share a very, very similar ingredient list. There is a difference only in the position of one ingredient on the lists - poloxamer 184. This is recycling at it's finest since as you probably know, L'Oreal often "borrows" formulations from their subsidiary brands and offers it under another brand and name (such as L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadows and Giorgio Armani's Eyes to Kill Intense or GA's Maestro foundation and L'Oreal's Nude Magique Eau De Teint to name a few).

I already compared L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution with Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Solution here and though they feel very similar, the Bioderma one is much more effective. I actually reach much more for Bioderma than L'Oreal's hence why it's almost run out. This time I compared only Garnier's and L'Oreal's. I wore a full face of makeup with Rimmel's Perfect Match foundation and concealer, highlighter, blush, contour, eyeshadow, L'Oreal's liquid eyeliner, Lancome's Hypnose waterproof mascara and Rimmel's 107 lipstick, which is a dark berry, so it was a proper test. I used each on one side of the face.

Again the texture and feeling is exactly the same. All three feel like water. There is no residue left, just clean and refreshed skin. Neither of them break me out or irritate my skin in any way. Both L'Oreal's and Garnier's have a slight chemical scent, but it's faint.

There was no difference between the two when removing the make up at all. There was the same amount of make up on the cotton pads and it took three cotton pads of each to have the face completely clean. Neither removed waterproof mascara, however, nor does Bioderma. I removed mascara with coconut oil.

Basically these two are pretty much the same product for me. However, you get more product for a similar price at Garnier, not to mention a much, much better packaging. L'Oreal's comes in the new revamped square top packaging that spills product everywhere (seriously L'Oreal, fire the one that approved this). Garnier comes in their traditional, but more rounded version of their toner/cleansing milk/body lotion packaging with the same flip top. Neither are as effective as Bioderma, but they are nice drugstore alternatives and worth checking out.

So far I've only seen Garnier's version in E.Leclerc for 5.29€, but L'Oreal's is sold in every drugstore and 200ml costs 4-5€ (depends where you buy it). 

And the ingredient lists for anyone who wants to compare:

Have a great day!

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

I am the worst when it comes to face masks. I always forget to use them and then remember it's been a month(s) since I used one or I use them only when I need to treat something. Plus, as someone who wears glasses, I find the whole leave-for-10+-minutes-thing utterly annoying. Therefore, I have neither used many nor do I own a lot of them. For years my choice for a clarifying mask was Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2 in 1, which I still love, but I saw how cheap Mint Julep Masque was and I read some nice reviews, so I decided to give it a go.

Packaging: First off, the tube is huge. Massive. Think something like John Frieda shampoos and conditioners. There is 226.8 g of product in it, which I'll probably use up sometime around 2055. For comparison, the Neutrogena one has 150 ml. It has a twist off cap, but I would prefer a flip one.

Texture: This is super thick. I mean thicker that toothpaste and actually difficult to squeeze out. It wasn't like that from the beginning, but after about a month it really became a chore to get it out of the tube. Despite the thickness, it's not that hard to apply and spread on the face. It looks just like that stereotypical face mask colour from all the cartoons and films: a dark mint green and it dries to a much lighter green. I can assure you that you'll scare everyone who should see you wearing it, or at least make them laugh hysterically. It says to leave it on for 15 minutes. It semi-dries in that time and certain areas are still damp, while other areas get super tight. For it to fully dry, I find I need to leave it on for at least 25 minutes.

Maja from Pink Maskara did a comprehensive review including pictures of her wearing it here. That's dedication to a blog people! Click on the link and follow her because she really deserves it, also her skin is different than mine, so it will help to get another perspective. I actually bought the mask because of her. The same goes for Sanja and her version.

Scent: It smells all right. Minty, obviously and something like Orbit green gums. I prefer Neutrogena's.

Results: It's an average clay based clarifying mask. But that exactly what I expected for the price. I never notice much difference after using them since I skin is quite clear and healthy (I don't tend whine about my skin. Having someone in my family go through a horrible acne experience puts everything in perspective). Some reviewers report a drastic reduction in blackheads, but I don't notice any difference nor have I noticed a reduction in pore sizes. And I can't report about whether it dries up/heals breakouts as I haven't had any since I bought it. Clarifying masks draw out impurities and that's why it's nice to use it once in a while, even if your skin isn't oily or spotty and that's why I use them. I did find it too drying on one or two occasions, but mostly it was fine even for my combination-dry skin. Honestly, don't find it as nice for my skin as the Neutrogena one. The latter doesn't dry as much, but my skin still feels clean, more healthy and radiant. It is a but more expensive, but easier to get and better suited for someone whose skin is drier.

Price and availability: You probably won't get a better deal than this mask. 226 g cost less than 3€. Mine is from iHerb since it's not sold here, which means an additional 4$ (3€) for shipping. It's great for someone on a budget.

Clarifying masks are such a staple product no matter your skin type. If your skin is very oily and spotty, give this a go. Actually every one who is on a budget or just doesn't want to spend much on a clarifying mask might want to give it a go (and it's a lot cheaper than those in packets). It is basic and affordable, I can see why people love it and yet it is not my favourite.

Have a great day!