Product of the Week #16

I've mentioned before that though I'm not much of an eyeshadow person (UD's Naked Basic sort of changed that), I wear black eyeshadow close to the lash line to create the invisible eyeliner effect. Recently, I dug out from my stash L'Oreal's Super Liner Carbon Gloss eyeliner because I wanted a more intense line (I would use my Essence gel eyeliner but I discovered it had dried up). I do not have the steadiest hands or any proper eyeliner skills really, but even I can do a pretty decent job with this liner. I like the applicator which is a semi-soft felt tip that provides a comfortable application, but it's not super thin which means really fine lines are a bit difficult to do, but not impossible. I had Essence's Black Mania version before and that one felt clumsy and a bit scratchy, so I wasn't a fan of it. But I've had L'Oreal's Super Liner for a really long time and the applicator hasn't lost shape. It has a deep carbon black formula that has excellent pigmentation, glides smoothly and leaves no gaps during application. And it's very long lasting too. Provided I don't rub my eyes during the day, it can last all day without smudging or flaking. One thing that does bother me is the glossy finish it has, so I put some black eyeshadow over it to make it matte. It costs about 10 € in any drugstore and I will repurchase it when it runs out.

Washed out crappy picture, I know. This is before mascara, I have no eyeshadow on, only the eyeliner:

What is your favourite liquid eyeliner?
Have a great day!

Urban Decay Naked Basic Palette

I already said in my favourites that if I was allowed to own just one eyeshadow palette, this would be it. I'm not much of an eyeshadow person, mostly because my eyes are hooded and I see no point in applying anything else than an eyeliner, but Basic palette has been a part of my every day routine since I got it. For me this is the perfect palette, especially for an natural, polished every day look. There are several different possibilities of combining the colours, but my favourite way of using it is: W.O.S. as a base, Naked 2 on the lid, Faint in the outer corner, Crave as a liner and Venus in the inner corner. 

Excuse the lousy swatches, but the colours are accurate despite the blueish tint of the skin. The ones of the finger tips are better:

The quality of the eyeshadows is very nice. I'm a fan of matte eyeshadows and these are smooth, blend really well and are nicely pigmented. They remind me a lot of Catrice's matte shade I own called 350 Starlight Expresso, but they are less buttery than ArtDeco 551, which is a matte skin tone shade.

Venus is the only non-matte shade in the Basic palette. Both Venus and Virgin (Urban Decay Naked) are highlighting shades with an iridescent finish. Virgin is pinker than Venus, yet on the eyes the difference is undetectable and both are excellent shades for highlighting the inner corners. In fact they are best I've found so far because they are both quite subtle and nice for every day (though Mac's Vanilla pigmented is super lovely as well).

Foxy and W.O.S. are the two blending shades. I like how they included two such colours in the palette since I used them the most (I have mentioned in my everyday makeup post that I use MUA's 16 every day). Foxy is yellow toned, while W.O.S. is pink toned, however, the difference on the eyes is to my eye minute.
ArtDeco 551 is almost a spot on dupe for W.O.S., while MUA matte eyeshadow in 16 is pinker, but again the difference is not that visible on the eyes, after all, they are blending shades.

Naked 2 is a light taupe shade and my favourite. I've been on a search for such a shade for years, but most were either too warm or too grey.
Naked from the original palette is less grey and warmer, while the only other similar shade I own, MAC's Wedge is more brown and much warmer. All are excellent crease colours, however, I mostly use them as lid colours. 

Faint is a dark cool brown shade which is very pigmented.
Revlon's Rich Sable is darker and cooler, as is a similar shade from Sleek's Storm palette (the one next to black). Buck from the original palette is much warmer.

Crave is a matte black and very pigmented. I use it as a liner.

Nxy's Black is even darker, while the black eyeshadow from a Sleek palette is very similar to Crave. Creep from the original palette is a dark smokey grey with shimmer.

The packaging is great, well made and with a really handy big mirror. The palette is about the size of a smartphone, so a nice size to carry around. The only odd thing I noticed about the eyeshadows is the weird scent. I only notice it when I use the mirror in the palette because they are close to me, but it's not bothersome.

I got mine on Look Fantastic for 19.50 €, but regular price is about 23 €. I don't find it too expensive for such a great collection of quality matte eyeshadows that I used every day. I'm really happy that it's a part of my collection.

Have a great day!

October Favourites

Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 107

I'm digging the dark lips look at the moment and I wore this burgundy lip colour either as a stain, full-on or something in between on most days since I got it. It's quite a statement shade, but I think it really suits my colouring and more importantly it makes me feel that little bit better when I wear it. It has one of the most comfortable matte formulas I've tried, though the staying power could be a bit better. I still need to find a lip liner that works with this shade because it is a difficult colour to apply straight from the tube.

Urban Decay Naked Basics palette

I'm not much of an eyeshadow person, but I used it every single day since I got it and I actually use every colour in this palette which is unheard of for a two-tops-eyeshadow-girl like me. It's such a gorgeous combination of matte shades that are great quality and can be used for natural, everyday look or a more intense, smokey eye. If I would be allowed to own only one eyeshadow palette, this would be it. I haven't posted a full review yet, but it should be up soon.

The Body Shop Honeymania Body Butter

This is one of the best body butters I've tried in terms of texture: it's properly buttery, not too hard, easy to apply, not too greasy and deeply moisturising. The scent is an interesting and nicely blended mix of soft honey note with a fresh wildflowers scent, which at times I absolutely love and then sometimes I'm less enthusiastic about it, but the quality of the body butter is undeniably fantastic.

Essence Stay Matte Lip Cream 02 Smooth Berry

I've gushed enough about this shade and Essence's lip creams in my product of the week post, but in short: it's super pigmented, lasts amazingly well on the lips, smells nice and the colour is gorgeous. Pure love.

Bourjois Cream Blush 01 Nude Velvet

Quite a recent addition, but it's pretty damn good. My favourite cream blush so far was Maybelline's Dream Touch blush and Bourjois version feels very, very similar, but slightly more siliconey and in a more practical packaging. Full review will follow.

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer

It's one of my favourite concealers, especially for the under eye area. It's been in my collection for a while and I admit I've been neglecting it since I discovered Maybelline's the Eraser. Though it might not be as good as Maybeline's, I still rate it very high, especially because it has quite a lot of coverage and is slightly illuminating.

Can Can eau de parfum by Paris Hilton 

This is such a sweet syrupy scent, yet so cozy and warm. Can Can is like a more grown up version of Fantasy that is still girly, but without notes of vanilla or chocolate. I love wearing this is the autumn, it just fits into this season so well. If you like sweet scents that don't break the bank, give it a sniff (it's not available in Slovenia as far as I know).

Have a great day and happy Halloween!

Nubian Heritage African Black Soap

African Black Soap has supposedly been used for centuries to treat eczema, blemishes, psoriasis ans oily skin. I don't really suffer from any of those "ailments", but there is a little hype behind this soap and since it's really affordable, I decided to get one for myself and use it as a morning face wash.

It looks like a regular bar soap, but bigger, black and with bits of oats. The scent is fantastic - it smells like fruity bubble gum.  It is the creamiest bar soap I've ever tried, lathers so well and forms a thick, velvety and soft foam that feels so good to massage into the skin. And it's all rainbows and unicorns until you need to wash it off. Then that awful squeaky clean feeling appears - my pet peeve. Also, if the tiniest drop of soap gets in the eye, it hurts like a *insert bad word here*. Though it's black, the foam is not that dark and washes off completely with no residue. Surprisingly, my skin doesn't scream for a moisturiser afterwards. Actually it feels quite comfortable and I had no dry patches since I started using it (Dove sensitive soap caused dry patches with one use). As I said, my skin isn't acne prone, it's more combination dry, but I do get an occasional spot. This soap didn't help prevent any new spots nor treat them or help the skin heal faster. In short, it's just an average non-drying cleanser with no special bonus advantages. Its makeup removing abilities are also limited.

It's a nice bar soap, but maybe more suited as a body wash, mostly because of the eye hurting part. It's not drying, smells great and is quite cheap for a big bar of soap. It's nothing revolutionary, but still worth trying out. I got mine on iHerb for 2.5 € (141 g).

Have a great day! 

Badger Cuticle Care

Cuticle Care is my first product from Badger and such product in general. I've never ventured into specialised nail care as I never had any particular concerns about my nails and cuticles, and I was quite happy using regular body/hand creams or just a regular chapstick. I have very healthy and hard nails, but about a month ago my cuticles became painfully dry, so I decided to give Badger's little helper a go. 

The balm is solid, actually very hard from the beginning and becomes much softer once the top layer is gone. Under the heat of fingertips it melts into an oil, but it's a thick oil that doesn't absorb quickly, so I prefer to apply it before going to sleep. I wasn't blown away by results. Honestly, TBS Honeymania body butter helped a lot more with dryness, which has now thankfully gone. Badger's Cuticle Care did leave my hands more moisturised, but it wasn't quite enough for my cuticles no matter the amount I used and it didn't help prevent any hangnails. I do, however, like it a lot for dry elbows and even more for my very dry soles. But the scent, oh the weird scent, is the thing that makes me dislike it. It's a strong lemongrass herbal scent (rosemary? Other reviewers say ginger), exactly the type of scent I genuinely dislike.

The product is packed in a small metal tin, which holds 21g of product and is a nice size to throw in a bag. It's quite a difficult packaging to operate with when your fingers are greasy from the balm. I've had it for a few months and I've used about 1/4 or 1/3 of the product (every day use).

It's a cuticle care product that could easily be called a multi purpose balm. I like the idea, but with a different, more pleasant scent. I'll used it up, but won't repurchase. It costs about 4€ on iHerb.

Have a great day!

OPI Malaga Wine

This was actually my very first red nail polish years ago. It's an interesting red because I notice it changes colour depending on the light. Under artificial (indoor) yellow lighting it looks deep wine-burgundy with more purple hues (leaning to vampy territory, but still not too dark), while under natural light it's a more medium cherry red. It used to be my most worn nail polish, but my bottle is ancient by now so the consistency has changed. From the beginning the formula was a pleasure to use, despite that it needed two coats for full coverage (it has a more jelly finish). The brush is wide, but still comfortable to use on my narrow nails.  

Have you ever tried this shade? 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!