Showing posts with label Eucerin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eucerin. Show all posts

Best from Pharmacy Brands


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

 Phyto Phytheol Intense 
Dandruff treatment shampoo (100ml)
This has the weirdest texture of a shampoo ever. It's very thin and runny, also the packaging is beyond annoying because it's metal and you can't squeeze it resulting in having to pour the product out, which is particularity irritating when it's on its last legs. So why am I including it here? It's simple - because out of mountains of anti-dandruff products I've tried, this with combination of Phytopolleine had the best effect so far. It didn't cure it (I've actually lost hope for that, it's been going strong for 13 bloody years and I've tried everything, even went to a dermatologist), but it was the only product that actually removed that stubborn layer of dandruff that is stuck on my scalp and I finally felt like my scalp could breathe again. I'm sure that on someone whose scalp isn't so persistently dry that it flakes, rather has more "normal" dandruff problems this should solve it.

cream-shampoo anti-dandruff (250 ml)
Again another anti-dandruff shampoo, but this is not the intensive treatment rather a maintainer with salicylic acid that chemically exfoliates the scalp. But why I love it is because it's super gentle, yet really creamy and perfect for my mega dry hair. Most shampoos leave my scalp itchy after use because they dry it out, but with this I never had those problems at all. I've gone through a half a dozen tubes and though I'm trying other treatments for dandruff, I keep coming back to this. This and Kerastase Oleo-Relax are my absolute favourite shampoos. 

(200ml)
Technically I didn't buy this in a pharmacy, I buy them in Müller, but it is a healing type of product so I'm including it here. Again I bought this originally as a dandruff treatment, but it didn't yield much results in that department, however, this is a miracle for itchy scalp. Whenever my scalp feels itchy this soothes it instantly. I have to warn you that is has a very powerful, herbal schnapps scent so beware of any comments about reeking of alcohol, but hey at least your scalp will feel great. Another thing is the packaging which is rubbish since it lacks some sort of a nozzle with which you could apply this directly on the scalp, rather it's just pouring out uncontrollably and that's why (please don't laugh at me for this) I use a syringe (without the needle, obviously) so I can get the product directly and evenly on the scalp. I'm currently using my eighth bottle.

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

(100ml, 250 ml and 500 ml) 
It wouldn't be a best from pharmacies post without this. I've been a fan of it for about three years and I've gone though countless bottles. Sure there are drugstore dupes nowadays, but I don't find them as effective in completely and quickly removing all the makeup even though they are really good.

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

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

(30 ml)
My second favourite moisturiser right behind L'Occitane's Angelica Hydrating Cream. It's based on aquaporins, which are a sort of plumbing system for cells and it moisturises the skin while still being light enough to be used under make up. I actually got this based on a few samples the sales lady gave me and I was so impressed I ran to the pharmacy as soon as I finished the samples and I've repurchased it three times so far. 
Multi-purpose Dry Oil (50 and 100 ml)
If you're an old follower on my blog, you'll know that I've been using this every day for three, yes three, years already. This is a staple in my skincare, much has changed, but this stayed. This is one of those products I can hardly imagine being without. It keeps my skin super soft, radiant and healthy looking. It's a dry oil, so it actually doesn't feel that oily and it sinks in in minutes. It's a multi-purpose oil, so I use what's left on my hair and it keeps it in good condition. It can also be used as a body moisturiser and it gives that great glow in the summer. The scent of it is fantastic as well. By the way, I would recommend the 100 ml version because it comes with a spray pump, while the 50 ml size just has a hole and it's irritating to get the product out because you have to shake it vigorously.

Multi-purpose Dry Oil (50 and 100 ml)
The shimmer infused sister or the original. This gives that amazing Victoria Secret glow on the body (best on legs and collarbone) as well as that glowy, summery look if used under a foundation. I love using this on my hair, because it's not too greasy even though it's silicone free and it gives a lovely shine to the hair.

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

Avene Cicalfate
Antibacterial Repair Cream (40 ml)
A staple in any household. This is just one of those panthenol (provitamin of B5) treatments I've tried and they are all about the same, but this one is the one I have currently. Cicalfate is very similar in texture to Bepathenol (from Bayern, the Aspirin company) in a sense that it's a very thick cream that doesn't spread that easy. But these are little saviours for any type of wound or that blemish you squeezed just a bit too hard. It's antibacterial and it helps the wound to heal faster.
Another panthenol treatment that is actually very different is La Roche Posay's Cicaplast (original one, not the new B5 version). That one feels like a silicone primer, so some may like it more to use it on the face. 

What are your favourites from the pharmacy? Have a great day!
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Empties #6

It's been only a month since my last empties post and again I managed to accumulate a double post worth of products. Again this will be in two parts otherwise I might lose your attention somewhere in the middle. As always blue text are links to either original reviews, additional information like prices, ingredients, more pictures and swatches.
I had the shade number #2 which was a bit too dark for me if I wasn't self-tanning. This is a very rich and thick BB with medium to full coverage that is fantastic on dry skin. If you're the one with parched skin and dry patches, this is great. Applied with a big buffing brush such as E.l.f. Powder brush it makes your skin look flawless. The staying power of this BB is really good, it pretty much lasts all day, in this respect it's bested only by Estee Lauder Maximum Cover in my stash of foundations. It also has a mini beautiful cream coral blush in the lid and a mini mirror. I like light-feeling foundations and I dislike ones that take more than a minute to dry/set like this one, so that was my main complaint. I did like it because of the coverage, staying power and it was great in colder months, but tackiness is a turn off.
Repurchase: Perhaps.

I used up both tubes of my absolute favourite concealer for under the eyes. It feels light and looks like skin while still covering enough to hide my under eye redness. Some may not like it because it has more of a medium coverage or they may find it too creamy, but I truly love every bit of it. I even love the sponge because it really cuts down the blending time.
Repurchase: Yes. I already went to Croatia in search of it only to find they don't sell it there any more, so I'll have to resort to eBay. 

Normally I don't like cleansing foams at all, but this one is seriously good. It feels so soft and it's absolutely lovely to use, however, the floral scent is too strong for my liking. So far this is my preferred choice for a morning cleanser, however, I'd like to find something cheaper and better smelling.
Repurchase: Perhaps.

Wonderful product. My skin loves this cleanser. It's gentle and feels rich, it cleanses the skin while leaving it really balanced. The texture is perfect as far as my preferences go, my complaints are that it only comes in a 30 ml version and the frankincense-churchy scent mixed with D&G Light Blue, but scents are subjective and my cousin informed me I was out of my mind and that it smells fine.
Repuchase: I would, but I get more bang for my buck if I buy Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm.

I don't think I can go without it in my skincare. It's a toner with glycolic acid that keeps my skin, mostly forehead, smooth and clear. Even at the "delightful holy women's days" (can you detect the sarcasm?) my skin is pretty much always clear. It feels moisturising despite the high alcohol content due to the glycerine in it. This has become a staple in my skin care routine.
Repurchase: Already did.

I love this moisturiser, this was my third tube so far. It's light, yet really hydrating, it sinks in fast and it's a great base for makeup. The scent is very gentle, a typical pharmacy cream one. 
Repurchase: Of course.

Quite an attractive sight, isn't it? This massive 400 ml pot only lasted me two "sessions". I love the idea of a wax that hardens and you just rip off, but unfortunately this isn't very effective. Ever if I went through the same area several times, it only removed about 1/3 of hair. Also there could be more spatulas included. The scent is a bit weird burnt-plastic-like, but nothing too annoying.
Repurchase: No. I'm wondering if there are better versions or is this as good as it gets?

Part 2 a.k.a. Empties #7 will follow soon.
Have a great day!
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Updated Skincare: Skin79 & Eucerin Review


A couple of months ago, I did a post on my skin care routine (click). I mentioned two products I had samples of that impressed me. I replaced the Saubär cleanser with Skin79's BB Cleanser and since I ran out of my beloved Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair serum, I bought Eucerin's Aquaporin Active Light moisturiser instead. 

I took a picture of the blurb on the back of the BB cleaner's packaging, so I won't go into details about it. Basically, it's a cleanser that starts to form oxygen bubbles after application. If I understand correctly from my Google research, the science behind the oxygen in products is that it kills bacteria. The cleanser comes in a quite big packaging (at least it seems a bit big for 100ml product) with a nice pump. I use three pumps of product and spread it evenly on my face, but avoid areas around the eyes and mouth. It starts off like a thick gel consistency which begins to foam in about 30 seconds. You can feel a slight tingle while the bubbles are forming. When the bubbles create a nice thick foam, I massage the product all over the face (also over the eyes and mouth. So far the product never got into my eyes, nor has it ever irritated them). The foam is really thick, similar to that of a shaving gel. I really like that part.


It's a nice cleanser that doesn't dry out my skin and I really like the thick foam it forms. It reminds me of L'Oreal's HappyDerm mousse cleanser that I love. It's a bit of a nuisance that you have to wait for the bubbles to form, still no biggie. But I don't notice my skin getting any better in terms of clarity, radiance and that sort of things. It is just a cleanser though. I don't expect miracles from it. I bought it on eBay from this seller (I ordered a few packages from them and they're really reliable). Click on the picture to read the blurb and ingredients.

When I ran out of Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair, I decided to get Eucerin Aquaporin Light to replace it. I had some samples before and I really loved it. It's so light, but super moisturising and sinks in really fast. It reminds me of Vichy's Aqualia Thermal serum except Aquaporin is thicker. It's the perfect base for make up, I much prefer it to the La Roche Posay Cicaplast. Really a lovely moisturiser. But I do miss EL ANR, though. 

Thanks for reading!
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