Showing posts with label Clarins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clarins. Show all posts

Empties #13


This was a nice drugstore makeup remover, however, it's not as good as Bioderma. It feels the same, so like water and it's also unscented, but it just wasn't as effective and I needed to use a lot more of it. But considering the price, it's a great drugstore buy.
Repurchase: Yes.

This was one of the two drugstore creamy cleansers I tried when I was searching for a decent, budget-friendly replacement for Balance Me Cleanse & Smooth Face Balm, but unfortunately this didn't wow me at all. It's a standard creamy cleanser that cleans well and keeps dry patches at bay, but my skin didn't like this as much as the cheaper Good Things one. The strong granny-ish rose scent wasn't appealing either.
Repurchase: No.

I did not like this at all. I picked it up quite a while ago when I couldn't find my regular remover from Maybelline and I was struggling to use it up. It's a classic two-phase oily remover that's meant for removal of waterproof make up, however, the two "phases" wouldn't stay mixed after shaking the bottle for more than a few second. It's not particularly oily and that's probably one of the problems as it proved to be much less effective than my usual one and it required a lot more rubbing to get the mascara off (and even then I wasn't convinced it removed all). There are better drugstore ones.
Repurchase: No.


Pure Melt has such a unique texture that starts off as a thick gel, which when massaged into the skin turns into a thick oil and when water is added it emulsifies. It does a great job of removing make up, especially when it comes to waterproof mascara (it is an oil based cleanser after all). There is a slight filter left when just rinsed off with water, so I prefer using a washcloth to completely remove it and as most oil-based cleansers it makes my vision very foggy. I liked it because it removes makeup very well and has a unique texture, however, my skin didn't look as good as when I used other cleansers and my forehead became bumpy again. 
Repurchase: I don't think I will.

My favourite ever moisturiser and I will miss it so much. It's light, yet intensely moisturising, sinks in super fast and leaves a semi-matte, velvet finish on the skin, so it's a perfect choice for under make up. If only it weren't so expensive…
Repurchase: Yes.

This was such a hit and miss. Each of the strips worked differently (there were three). I followed the instructions exactly for the first one meaning I re-wetted the strip before peeling it off, but instead of pulling the blackheads out, it separated and left sticky blue goo on the skin that needed to be washed off.  I used the second one as I'd normally use any other, so just peeled it off after 15 minutes and it worked very well giving the strangest feeling of satisfaction when looking at all that gunk on the strip. The third one again malfunctioned and did a mix of the previous two experience - it worked on some sections, but still left the blue goo on some areas. These smell weird, like that red stick glue everyone had in school (Pritt, I hated it). I'm going to try strips from some other brand. Any recs?
Repurchase: No.


This is my favourite foundation and it has been for years. I love it because it looks incredibly natural on the skin and gives a light-medium coverage. The shade is very yellow, but it still blends well in my skin tone. I'm on my third or fourth bottle.
Repurchase: Already did.

LIP SMACKER Coca Cola Cherry and Coca Cola Vanilla
I found these lying somewhere in the drawers as I must have completely forgotten about them probably due to them being unremarkable or just because of my general indifference to most lip balms. Cherry version smells just like the real stuff in the bottle, so that candy sour-sweet scent, while Vanilla smells close to the original Coca-Cola. The formula is creamy and moisturising, and I can't deny they're not good lip balms, but I barely used them because I always use Palmer's Swivel Stick or Labello Peach.
Repurchase: No.


Average. That's the best way to describe this shampoo. It foams marvellously and it smells great as well, but it's not moisturising, in fact, it stripped my hair a bit, but not dramatically. It's a nice shampoo for those whose hair isn't particularly dry and it might even work for those with oily hair, but I can't be sure. I just really loved the bubble gum smell.
Repurchase: I don't know, maybe.

I often raved about this in the past and it was in my top 5 favourite drugstore hair treatments post. I have very dry, thick hair that demands a lot of moisture and quality products, and this just delivers. The bubble gums scent is a huge plus as is the packaging. I'm happy that they finally started selling these in Slovenia, so I don't have to keep ordering online.
Repurchase: Yes.

(old packaging)
You may know that I'm a huge fan of Kérastase, especially of their Nutritive line which just suits my dry, coarse hair like nothing I've ever tried. Nectar Thermique is my favourite heat protectant because I really notice the difference on my dry hair. It feels more nourished and even silky after blow-drying. When my hair feels especially dry (usually it's in winter), I apply this more generously than usual and it fixes the problem. This is the old packaging and I must say that getting the last bits out was a chore, but I already have a new one, which is in a soft squeeze tube.
Repurchase: I've already got a new one.


I think it's safe to call this my HG and to this day it remains to be the only stick deodorant that I've repurchased (several times now). Every deodorant so far stopped working on me before I used it up, but this one is really doing its job. It keeps me fresh, but keep in mind I don't sweat a lot, the most important thing is that it keeps BO at bay. This with Nivea Pearl & Beauty one are my power combination.
Repurchase: Yes.

I really, really like this deodorant. It smells so lovely - powdery floral and just very feminine. It's far better than any of those Balea deodorants, which are just fragrance because this one has powder in it that absorbs moisture to a certain degree.
Repurchase: Yes.

I enjoyed this a lot. It looks like a cheap scented shower gel, but it actually lathers well and feels expensive. It has the same scent as the fragrance, which sort of reminds me of a vanilla version of Chanel N°5 as I find it has the same soapiness in it, probably from the jasmine note.
Repurchase: Maybe.


When I got this scent, it wasn't like I expected it to be. It's not a Rafaello type of coconut scent, but less sweet and has that touch of artificialness especially from the start. Otherwise it's a lovely coconut scent, in fact the closest to the real thing I found. It has a nice staying power and it's very inexpensive. I liked it especially for mixing with other fragrance to add a coconut note to the scent (vanilla-coconut-amber was a particularly nice combination). I've had this bottle for a really long time, too long in fact and the liquid turned grey, which was my cue to just use it up already.
Repurchase: Maybe.

Loved this. It's one of my favourite scents ever and one of those that could be worn on any occasion. I get a nice burst of peach from the start and then it settles into a nice clean-but-sophisticated/ fabric softener kind of scent. I purchased the La Rive Moon dupe of the same fragrance and it smells pretty much the same.  
Repurchase: Yes.


I will probably always have a bottle of this in my collection, you just cannot ever really let of the scent that was for a time "a signature scent". It's a scent for sweet tooths with a combination of kiwi and lychee notes over an even more gourmand vanilla with white chocolate base. It's the definition of űber girly and yet when someone wearing this walks by me, I can't help myself thinking: ''Man, does she smell great.'' Great fragrance and you can get it for a very reasonable price online.
Repurchase: Yes. I already ordered The Nice Remix version, which is very similar. 

Have a great day!
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Clarins Gloss Prodige 03 Rose


I'll start by saying that this was given to me to review, since as you may have noticed, it's not a colour I'd normally wear, at least not any more. I used to love such pale nudes when I was really young, but now I find that I need some colour on the lips to keep me from looking too washed out, but such pale shades look really good with a smoky eye. 


I have no idea why Clarins chose to name this shade rose as it is nothing rose like, unless they meant yellow roses, but this lip gloss isn't yellow despite of how it may look in the tube. It's a very warm nude shade and I presume the yellow tones in it are meant to counteract the red tones, so the gloss actually looks nude on the lips (MAC has/had Spring Bean Lustreglass that works in the same way). It's very similar to Mac's Florabundance and Underage in terms of how it looks on the lips, so it's like it slips into every line and crevice under close inspection, but surprisingly it appears relatively even when looked from afar. The finish is more of a creamy glossy shine rather than mirror one.


The formula is very, very similar to their Instant Lip Perfectors, perhaps just a bit thicker and it's stickier, but it's so incredibly comfortable on the lips, like a little cushion for the lips and I think that it even nourishes the lips like an expensive lip balm. Staying power is nothing special when it comes to how long the glossy finish lasts, but the creamy layer stays a lot longer.


It smells so good, like candy, Kiki soft candy to be more specific. I love any candy scent, so this is a big plus for me.

The packaging is beautiful with the gold cap, but I'm not a massive fan of the applicator as it is big and therefore on the clumsy side.


If you're a fan of nude glosses and have quite reddish lips, this might work better for you than classic nude glosses. The formula of these is so lovely and comfortable, but in other aspects it's still a normal gloss.

I've seen that these costs 18 GBP on Boots International, but forgot to check the price in our shops. It's probably somewhere around the 20 € mark.

Izdelki Clarins so na voljo v Müller drogerijah, Maximarketu, Nami, Beautique drogerijah in Kompass shop-ih.

Have a great day!
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Empties: Samples Edition


CLARINS Instant Eye Make-Up Remover
I like this a lot. You may be aware that I wear waterproof mascara to keep my lashes curled all day, so I need a good oil-based remover to get it off. I've been using two pretty rubbish ones for the past several months (they just won't run out!) and using this for the first time was like a choir of angels came singing under a double rainbow with a unicorn flying over it (too much?). It's a duo-phase product as most oil-based removers and it smells really lovely, like roasted chestnuts and linden tea. Unlike most other cheap ones I've tried, when I shake this so the two parts mix, the lighter part actually stays suspended and both fluids are mixed meaning they don't just separate after a second as most do. This removes my eye makeup with such ease and what I really, really appreciate is that it doesn't make my vision foggy like every other duo-phase remover does and it doesn't leave my skin quite as greasy as the others. I'd definitely purchase a full size if it weren't so expensive, though I find I need to use a lot less that other removers. It's on my wishlist.

CLARINS Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover 
Another remover I liked, this one for sensitive eyes. Though I wear contact lenses, my eyes are far from sensitive, so I can't report whether it irritates the eyes of those who are more sensitive to some skin care. However, I can say that it takes of makeup with ease (regular mascara plus eyeliner) and that it smells like a hospital. It doesn't leave a greasy residue behind, but it's not as light as micellar waters. Nice stuff.


CLARINS Multi-Active Day 
Early wrinkle correcting lotion
SPF 15
This is a lotion targeted at young women and it promises to guard against UV damage and visibly correct early signs of ageing. It's a light day moisturiser that smells like a man (I'm just getting weirder by the minute, aren't I?). Despite the SPF it doesn't feel greasy on the skin, but it does need a bit of time to completely sink it. It's a lovely moisturiser, just the way I like them, but I can't say much about its "anti-ageing"/repairing properties, since I only had a sample. The full size comes with a pump.

CLARINS Tonic Body Treatment
Apparently this is Clarins' #1 selling body oil. It promises to help firm, tone and improve elasticity of the skin as well as reduce the appearance stretch marks. I don't any have any of those, but I can say that it's quite a thick oil, in fact, it reminds me of the L'Occitane Almond Supple skin oil, so it's intensely moisturising, but it due to being a dry oil, it sinks in quite fast. A little goes a long way, so this small vial lasted me a lot of applications. The only thing I wasn't a fan of, is the strong herbal scent (most prominent I think is rosemary), but that is a completely subjective thing. 


CLARINS BB Skin Perfecting Cream
I received samples of the lightest shade called Fair. Again it's like someone is having a laugh at pale people's expense. This is not by any definition fair. Why is it so bloody hard to comprehend what fair means?! I looked orange with this and that makes me angry more than it should. I'm guessing the shade is close to NC30 or Healthy Mix 54.
Venting and shade aside, it's a classic tinted moisturiser or BB if you want to call it that way. The consistency is like a medium-thick moisturiser and it has light coverage that can be layered to light to medium coverage. On my normal skin the finish is just regular skin-like with a bit of healthy dewiness and you can't tell that you're wearing anything, provided the shade fits you. I love how it doesn't settle into and emphasize pores as most foundations started to do that on me recently. It has an SPF 25 (titanium dioxide). In short: the texture and finish are lovely, this will appeal to those who want to just even out the skin a bit, but the shade is a complete fail.


L'ORÉAL Paris Revitalift Magic Blur 
Instant Lift Smoother
Blurring + Anti-Age Moisturiser
I really like this. It's more on the thicker side, however, feels super light on the skin. There is a huge amount of silicones in it, so it leaves a matte satin-velvet finish and it's immediately dry to the touch. It's a primer-meets-moisturiser type of product making it an excellent base for makeup, though it's not particularly moisturising (neither drying, of course). It's similar to L'Occitane Angelica Ultra Matte Fluid, but less moisturising and cheaper. I don't find it all that blurring, at least it doesn't disguise my pores, though so far I haven't found a primer that would. I think this is a great product for those with oily skin, as it might help keep oil at bay quite well. I might buy full size, I actually just saw it in a local super market for 15 €.

CAUDALIE Polyphenol C15 Overnight Detox Oil 
I love using oils on my face, actually I've been using Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse for three years now. First off this Caudalie one smells terrible and it's so strong. It's a weird earthy-herbal scent, I really dislike it, but it's the type of smell that I know some people will really like. This dry oil promises to help tired skin regenerate itself overnight and to detoxify the skin. It's quite a thick oil, so those 6 recommended drops feel a bit to much for me. I've been using it a few days and my skin turned for the worse and when I switched back to Nuxe, it was ok again. I'm afraid my skin doesn't like this very much and neither does my nose, but I have heard some raves about it.

That Beauty Flash Balm and the lip gloss in the first picture will have separate reviews.

 Izdelki Clarins so na voljo v Müller drogerijah, Maximarketu, Nami, Beautique drogerijah in Kompass shop-ih.

Have a great day!

*Clarins samples were gifted to me.
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New In #24


RIMMEL Lasting Finish Nude Foundation 
010 Light Porcelain
You wouldn't believe how much I'm struggling with this foundation. I bought it because I ran out of Match Perfection in the same shade, which is one of the lightest colours I ever found, but I disliked the formula, so I mostly used it for mixing with other foundations to make them lighter. I hoped the new Lasting Finish Nude foundation has a more tolerable formula, so I could just use it on its own, but I just can't get this to work for me 90% of the time. Figuring out a method of application that would make this look decent on the skin is more difficult than defusing a bomb. On the first day I applied it with a Real Techniques Expert Brush and then went out - I actually had my cousins say that my foundation looks so weird, like I have a band-aid on my nose. Literally my nose looked all patchy with redness shining through and it looks normal without foundation. I find that out of my brushes only E.l.f. Powder Brush works with this and I can use just a small amount of foundation, which means I can only get a light-medium coverage, instead of medium-full, which it's fully capable to do. God forbid you put powder on this, it will look intolerably cakey and it will ruin your day. I had to take the entire makeup off one time in the middle of the day, good thing I carry makeup wipes with me. I'm currently on the-mixing-it-with-different-foundations stage of testing. 
I just don't get along with Rimmel foundations. They feel a bit gross on the skin and look so obvious, but I just adore the their 010 Light Porcelain shade because it's such a great match for me. I will try working with this foundation further and do a review.
Feel Unique, €10.39

URBAN DECAY Naked2 Basics Palette
It had to happen. I'm a huge fan of the original Basics palette and I use it almost every day as it's just the perfect palette for me. I squealed like a little girl on helium when I first saw the press release for the Naked2 Basics and it instantly went on my wishlist. I patiently waited for a discount and then placed an order for this pretty palette. I love it. Simple as that. I love all the colours, they combine so well, the quality is again amazing. So happy I got this. I was thinking of doing a little comparison with the Catrice Absolute Matt palette.
Feel Unique, €28.60


CATRICE Longlasting Lip Liner 
040 ...And the Cherry on the Top and 150 Vintage Rose
I had a sudden urge a few weeks ago that I "desperately" need lip liners, since I had only a few and even those I disliked apart from the Bourjois one. I asked on Instagram which lip liners you recommend and Catrice was by far the most recommended brand, so I grabbed four in the shop literally three hours after posting that picture. I took two classic liners that need to be sharpened - a dark red one and a nude one. They are harder than Essence's, something I like, but not as hard as Bourjois', which means staying power isn't impressive, especially of the lighter shade. Swatches and pictures have already been taken, so expect a post about these shortly.
Müller, 2.29 €

CATRICE Ultimate Stay Lip Liner 
040 Love the Way you Plum and 080 Mauve Me, Tender
I grabbed Love the Way you Plum based on Taya's recommendation as I needed a better match for my Rimmel's 107 lipstick and Apocalips in Eclipse than Rimmel's Black Tulip. It's perfect. It matches both beautifully, so I'm very happy I got it. I got the other one Mauve Me, Tender because I wanted to try a bit of a darker version of the 90's trend, but without going brown (which is so not my colour), but this is just too purple on me. You'll see in the review how it looks on me, but I'm not a fan. These are twist up pencils, however, the quality of the packaging is shoddy at best and these break off ridiculous easy.  
Müller, 2.49 €


CATRICE Absolute Eye Colour Mono 
790 I Wear My Plum Glasses At Night
One of the new shades for autumn I believe. I'm a fan of Catrice's matte eyeshadows and I fell in love with the shade, so I had to get it. It's a taupe with strong purple tones - basically a plum toned Starlight Expresso (also by Catrice).
Müller, 2.89 €

CLARINS Beauty Flash Balm
 I was send a very generous sample of the famous Beauty Flash Balm (remember when Lisa Eldridge started the hype? I've been itching to try it since) along with some other samples, which I'll discuss latter. It's a primer and you have to be very careful to really apply the smallest amount as a tiny dot can be distributed on a large area. It's not particularly silicone-y and it reminds me a bit of the Max Factor Stay All Day primer, but it's more moisturising and more spreadable, so essentially you get to use a lot less product. I'll do a review. 
Na voljo v Mueller, Nama, Maximarket, Kompas Shop in Mercator Beautique

CLARINS Gloss Prodige 
03 Rose 
Why is this shade named Rose? I don't get it. Anyway, I was sent this as well, you might surmise that, since it's not the colour I'd pick from the counter, at least not any more. It's not as nude as it looks and the coverage is more on the sheer side, however, the formula is excellent. In fact, it reminds me a lot of their Instant Lip Perfector in a sense, that it's again that buttery, very comfortable formula to wear, but it is a thick gloss. It smells fantastic, like candy (Kiki soft candy). 
Na voljo v Mueller, Nama, Maximarket, Kompas Shop in Mercator Beautique.


THE BODY SHOP Vineyard Peach Body Mist
Finally! *angels singing* I have been lemming this body mist for ages. I even went to Celovec/Klagenfurt primarily to track this down and received a shock when I was told it was out of stock due to popularity. I finally found a seller on eBay that was willing to send this overseas, but I did pay a lot for shipping, though still it's less than for petrol to Celovec or Gradec again. I'm a massive fan of the Vineyard Peach collection and I utterly, utterly adore the scent. I have the corresponding body butter and scrub as well, so I am one happy bunny right now.
eBay, 8 € (without shipping).


KÉRASTASE Specifique Bain Exfoliant Hydratant Anti-Dandruff Moisturising Shampoo
If you don't know yet, I've been suffering from dry itchy scalp and dandruff since I was 11 and nothing ever helped, while my dermatologist refuses to prescribe me anything. Anyway, this is the latest shampoo I'm trying out. Kérastase in my favourite brand, so even if this doesn't help with my dandruff, at least I have a great shampoo. This is one of those exfoliating shampoos that has beads in it and it should help removing that coat of dead skin on the scalp (sounds delightful right? Welcome to my life). I've only used it a few times, but I think that the applicator is simply genius because I can get the shampoo directly to the scalp and the exfoliating beads actually reach my scalp. It smells nice as well.
Feel Unique, €17.68

KÉRASTASE Nutritive Nectar Thermique
My HG heat protection for my dry hair. I reviewed this a few days ago, click here for review with a giveaway  - the prize is another heat protectant Kérastase Discipline Keratin Thermique Creme.
About 20 € (depends where you buy it), available in some salons and online shops.

BUMBLE AND BUMBLE Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer
Too many people raved about this and I can't resist a new hair product, especially an all-in-one heat protection. Based on the name, I expected something like Orofluido Sahara, but this is closer to a very light lotion. Honestly, I'm a bit underwhelmed. It may be that I'm too spoiled by Kérastase, but for the Bumble and Bumble price, I pretty much expect the same type of miracle product. It's a nice heat protection that much is certain. It's easy to apply because of the spray and can be used on damp or dry hair (I advise moderation on dry hair), however, it doesn't control frizz well (I tested it on me and on someone else), it doesn't hydrate the hair as well as Sexy Healthy Hair leave-in or Kérastase Nectar Thermique, though it is moisturising and it smells very blah, like a classic soap scent mixed with porcini mushrooms (SLO jurčki) and cream. I have been using it a lot though because it's a fast way to apply heat protection, but it does make the hair feel wet, unlike the Tigi S Factor one. I need more time before I say my final verdict, but it should pop up in a post one day. By the way, I used it here.
Look Fantastic, €24.70

PALMER'S Coconut Oil Formula Strong Roots Spray
Sunday Girl recommends this for soothing an itchy scalp and though I have my Alpencin Forte to help me with that, I wanted to try something else, since Alpencin smells like herbal schnapps and is hard to get now. Palmer's also hydrates the scalp, which is something I need, since my scalp is very dry. However, when it comes to alleviating itchiness, it's not nearly as effective as Alpencin. It smells a lot nicer, like coconut with mint and the application method is a lot better, still it's not as effective and it can make my hair greasy, which if you know how dry may hair is, is not something I'm used to at all. However, I haven't used it on damp hair yet, just on dry. I'll keep using it and report in time if I have more to say. 
Feel Unique, €4.93


REFAN N.135 imitation of Lancôme Pôeme
Oh, the smell of the 90's. This was my mother's fragrance for a certain period. It's a difficult fragrance to describe, since like all the "before 2000's fragrances", it has a ton of notes, so it's not like now when you can clearly smell a certain note due to there being so few. It's a strong and warm scent, but it's nothing like cookie vanilla celebrity scents, though it does have vanilla in it, rather it's more of a balsamic, floral and even a bit green scent. Basically, it smells very expensive and classy. In fact, it's similar to Roberto Cavalli's Just Cavalli, but the latter smells more modern and better in my opinion.     
15 ml  5.80 €

NIVEA Powder Touch Anti-Perspirant 
I screwed up. I planned to repurchase the pink version called Pearl & Beauty, which is wonderful - it smells lovely, actually works for a spray deodorant (I layer it over my trusted Rexona) and leaves little white marks despite having powder in it. However, they didn't have it in the supermarket, so I picked up Powder Touch instead, thinking surely it's just as good. It's just horrible when it comes to white marks! This actually sprays white powder and my armpits are like covered with flour. Holy smokes! It also doesn't smell the best. I mean it's ok, but Pearl & Beauty smells a lot better. Oh, what am I going to do with it…
Interspar, 2.99 €


ECOTOOLS Bamboo Tapered Blush Brush
Since my Bobbi Brown Blush Brush and Art Deco Blush brush are both ancient, I thought it was high time to get something new, but still on the budget. I have several Ecotools brushes and I think they are excellent, plus their blush brush has an excellent rating on Makeup Alley, so this is the one I've chosen. I am very happy with this brush. It's super soft, softer even that Real Techniques brushes, which I thought was impossible. It is tapered and flatter on one side, but most importantly it's not too big for me, which I'm frequently concerned about when buying brushes. It picks up the blush well and applies it nicely on the cheeks. I really like it.

iHerb, $6.99


TWEEZERMAN Mini Slanted Tweezers
Green Tea
I have been searching for a pair of super precise tweezers that would grip even the tinniest hair and pluck it out. Tweezerman's are a cult favourite and the minis are very small, so I expected great precision. The are quite precise, though not amazingly so, however because they are very, very sharp, they cut through about half of the hair instead of pulling them out. I'm not terribly pleased, but as far as precision goes they are the best I've tried so far and way superior to the clumsy Ebeline version. These come with a plastic holding tube.

Look Fantastic, €16.25



JESSUP 5 pc Eye Makeup Brushes
I was really curious what these will be like. I'm not going to say that I didn't expect much for the price as I have very cheap brushes that are so good and I've been using them for years. These feel very well made. There are many sets to choose from, but I chose a set of 5 eye brushes for start. I'd say four are excellent as they are super soft, but one, the pointed one, is simply too dense and I don't know how to use it yet.


One is a classic dome brush, though to big to fit in my "crease", so I use it for blending. The other three have a flat surface, but are cut differently - straight and slanted. These are excellent for blending concealer. They kind of changed my world a bit as they make it so easy and flawless. They are also great for applying a base colour on the lids, or applying powder under the eyes so the concealer won't crease. In general, I'm very, very happy with these.

eBay, 4.75 € 


ECOTOOLS Six Piece Essential Eye Set
I got this as a birthday gift for my cousin, but I'm posting a quick picture here nonetheless. The handles are short and based on a quick unpacking we did in the restaurant, they looked really nice, dense and soft - basically classic great quality Ecotools brushes. There is a
large eye brush for applying a base shadow over the lid, an angled crease brush for definition to the outer corner, a blending brush, a highlighting brush and a smudge brush.
iHerb, $7.99

CLARINS Samples
As I said before I got several generous samples of Clarins skincare and I'll planning on doing an empties type of post soon where I'll talk about the products. So far I am in love with the Instant Eye Make-Up Remover - brilliant stuff.

Fragrance Samples
I received a slew of fragrance samples, which I so chuffed about because I adore fragrances. I'm planning a sort of a Christmas guide on fragrances maybe later in the month or in December, though I can post it sooner if you wish. I'm loving several scents - Reveal, Sheer Beauty and Forbidden Euphoria all by Calvin Klein as well as Just Cavalli.

I also ordered NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Copenhagen over a month ago and the package hasn't arrived. There is quite a bit of angry emotions brewing under my, in general, cool exterior. I hate dealing with all the back and forth messaging on eBay, but it happens way too often. Too many parcels just get lost. I really wanted that lip cream. At least I got a refund.

Have a great day!
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Products worth the splurge #3


URBAN DECAY Naked and Naked Basic Palettes
The famous Naked palettes. Even though I don't really talk often about eyeshadows or palettes, I'm sure you're probably sick of hearing about these two, but they are so worth it. I pretty much wear just these two palettes  all the time (and that L'Oreal eyeshadow plus a few Mac shades), especially the Naked Basics one. The quality is spectacular, they are properly pigmented, have a lovely buttery texture (even the matte ones!) and the colours are so beautiful, the perfect neutrals.
I've tried several budget palettes lately and honestly, I'd rather save up and buy one of the Naked palettes instead.

SHISEIDO The Makeup Eyelash Curler
Eyelash curler is a tool I find essential in my makeup arsenal. As you could see in the How to Curl Stubborn lashes post, my lashes, although they are very long, are very straight, so to avoid it looking like I have no lashes or a lazy eye when looking from the front, I need to curl them. There are two eyelash curlers I like, one are from Tana and the second are these Shiseido one. I find that Shiseido's fits my eye shape a bit better and really creates a nice, not-crimped curl. I also like these because it's easy to get replacement pads. I've tried several budget eyelash curlers and all were rubbish because they pinched, but these a fantastic.


This a very gentle, chemical exfoliator with glycolic acid and my skin loves this. It keeps my skin in good condition by removing the dead skin cells, so my skin is clear and smooth. I've noticed the biggest improvement in my forehead area, it's pretty much baby smooth all the time now. Despite being an AHA product, 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). 


L'OCCITANE Almond Cleansing and Soothing Shower Oil
My adoration for this shower oil has been persisting for years and this is my ultimate pamper product. It's an amazing, super-luxurious feeling shower oil that smells divine and transforms into this thick, rich foam when water is added. It's a great product for those who suffer from dry skin and can be used instead of a shaving gel as well. As I've said before I buy 500 ml eco-refills, but there is a travel size of this available for those, who just want to try it first.


JOICO K-Pak Intense Hydrator
I'm an advocate of investing in a few more euros into hair care, even though most people don't even remotely care about their locks as much as me. K-Pack Intense Hydrator is not budget product, though it's not too expensive either if you know where to look, but it is a superb product that injects some serious moisture to the hair and transforms even the driest tresses into decent hair. It makes my hair super hydrated, silky and soft as well as it has keratin and protein in it, so it also helps strengthen the hair. If you have more demanding hair like me, I highly recommend you check it out.

Have a great day!
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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
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.

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.

(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 
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
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
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.

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. 
 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. 

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.

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.

(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.

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

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. 

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!
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