Showing posts with label Joico. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joico. Show all posts

Empties #15


This is an illuminating concealer, so it doesn't conceal in a regular way of adding coverage, but instead it has these light reflecting particles that brighten the skin. It's subtle, but it does work and helps counteract shadows. It's really expensive for the quantity you get and I actually didn't even use it that often, instead I saved it only for special occasions, but it ran out so fast.
Repurchase: Yes.


I love this, truly, but there is this one little thing - it breaks me out. It's a wonderful cleansing oil that removes makeup well and it's not too expensive, plus it also smells absolutely divine to me. I ended up using it as a shaving oil and it worked so great, especially because it emulsifies when water is added and washes off completely (so no greasy razors). This orange version isn't sold here, instead there is a gold version sold in Műller.
Repurchase: I would, purely for the scent.

Waterproof makeup remover
Hated this, apart from the packaging. It's not effective enough and felt odd around the eyes (and nothing ever irritates my eyes or skin). I was glad when I finished this and I had to really hold back to not just throw it away.
Repurchase: No.

CADEA VERA Hautverfeinernde Clear-up Strips
These are one of those nose strips that pull the blackheads out of your skin and they were ok. They worked decently, but weren't miraculous. I like that there is quite a few of them in one pack.
Repurchase: I'll try something else first, but maybe.


I adore this. I always rave about that Kérastase mask, well, this is the second treatment that I treasure just as much. While Kérastase one does the whole deal, this is the product that excels at nourishment. When my hair is super dry, coarse and drab, this works like magic in restoring it. 
Repurchase: Already did.

I had such high hopes for this. As someone who's been suffering from dandruff for years, I always wish that the next treatment will cure it, but unfortunately this one didn't work at all. I love Kérastase, it's my favourite hair brand, but this was a disappointment. It's a nice idea - a shampoo with exfoliating particles and an applicator with a nozzle that makes sure the product is deposited on the scalp, but it didn't manage to remove my dandruff nor cure it or prevent it. Baking soda mixed with any regular shampoo removes dandruff much more effective than this. It wasn't even a particularly nourishing shampoo, so this was an expensive fail.
Repurchase: No.


I've told this a few times before, but this is basically a dry shampoo for those who hate dry shampoos. It's not as effective as the real deal, but that doesn't matter to me as my hair pretty much never gets greasy and I just need something to refresh it and give it back some volume. It feels like a can of nicely smelling air, but it actually manages to give back a bit of volume without being an actual texturizing spray, so there is no powder residue or a hairspray feel. It sounds like it's nothing special and it really isn't, but for some reason I just really like this. By the way, it smells like raspberries.
Repurchase: Already did.

BALEA Trend It Up Dry Shampoo
Lovely Berries
This is a limited edition item, they basically just released a new scent of their regular dry shampoo. It was not my favourite as it was very white and it didn't really make my hair as fresh as Batiste. It's decent, but nothing special. The scent was of strawberry candy.
Repurchase: It was a LE, but I probably won't be buying a regular version.

A standard, but a lovely heat protectant. It's in a form of a silicone serum with small shimmer that actually makes your hair look more shiny. I liked it because I could use it on dry or wet hair and on dry hair, it also acted as a taming product. I don't find it heavy at all, but it is a thick serum, almost like Orofluido, so I can't be certain that it won't weight down thin hair, but when I used it on other people's hair, it always worked just fine. I also love the packaging with a pump. 
Repurchase: Yes.


A very liquid shower gel, but it still foamed ok. The scent was similar to Milka chocolate with strawberries, though this one had an artificial note in it, so it's not as good as the body butter's. I much prefer their new Orange and Rhubarb version.
Repurchase: No.

It's so ironic that they called it a cream because this is basically liquid and as such it's very difficult to use. It doesn't foam at all unless you use a mesh, but at least it smells nice - not exactly like honey, but it's a nice warm, sweet scent.
Repurchase: No.

REXONA Dry Deo Stick
Clear Aqua
My standard deodorant and the only one that actually didn't stop working before I had a chance to use it up. This was the first time I got Clear Aqua version and it smells like Nivea/just clean. I have the pink version now and I like the scent more.
Repurchase: Already did.


EBELINE Nagellack-Entferner
I just love these pot nail polish removers. This one is one of the cheapest one around here and I like that it's a bit shorter than Bourjois' as well as the foam is softer. There is a regular remover inside it, so there are no greasy fingers like at Bourjois', but this also means that it can be a bit drying. It also gets dirty far, far quicker, but I still like it.
Repurchase: Already did.

ESSENCE Studio Nails 4in1 Profi File
I don't fuss about my nails at all, so I just buy this nail file because it's cheapest and I'm used to it. It has four different textures that vary in roughness and it's good enough for me.
Repurchase: Already did.


Yves Rocher Hydra Végétal 24h Intense Hydrating Gel Cream
This is good. I compared it with L'Occitane's Pivoin Sublime Perfecting Creme side by side and they are similar in terms of that velvet finish they leave behind, though YR's is a bit greasier and doesn't feel quite as high quality as L'Occitane's, but for an average user they are very close. It's has a similar medium thickness consistency, it sinks in fast into the skin and leaves a velvet finish, but it's not as dry to the touch as L'Occitane's. This is a great base for makeup. As all YR stuff it smells so lovely - this one has a nice floral scent similar to lillies of the valey.
12.11 €, ingredients here.
Purchase: Yes. It's my favourite product out of these samples.

Yves Rocher Sebo Végétal Mattifying Gel Cream
The texture of this is a sort of a mix between a serum and lotion consistency that goes on quite wet/moisturising at first, but then after a minute it turns into a more satin-matte finish. It's not as good as L'Occitane versions of mattifying lotions because those contain either more or better powder particles and silicones. This one also contains alcohol on the fourth place, but I got no dry patches during the day, which is a good sign. The scent is great, just like freshly picked apples.
10.39 €, ingredients here.
Purchase: No.


Yves Rocher Nutritive Végétal Creamy Repair Mask
A super thick mask that is actually way thicker than Origins Drink Up or Balea Power Maske, but promises the same. It's like a very thick moisturiser that you're supposed to apply in a thick coat, leave for 5 minutes and then take the excess off with a cotton pad. I never do it like that, but I just apply a thicker coat and leave it on overnight. This product should work great for dry and dehydrated skin. The scent is strange - it has that fresh fruitiness like the rest of the product, but it's overshadowed by a stale, musky scent, so it's like walking into a cellar where the apples are kept.
 12.11 €, ingredients here.
Purchase: No. I might consider it if my skin was very dry and nothing else helped.

Yves Rocher Anti-Age Global Complete Anti-Aging Care Eye
A thick and very moisturising eye cream, which I'm surprised it comes in a tube since it's so thick, but I'm sure it works. It doesn't just sit on the skin, but most of it manages to sink in quite fast and it nourishes the under eye area well. It smells like margarine which is fine to me.
32.37 €, ingredients here.
Purchase: I really like it, but the price is too much for me.

Yves Rocher Sérum Végétal Wrinkles & Firmness Ultra-Plumping Serum
A light milky serum that sinks in fast, yet manages to hydrate the skin well even without any additional care afterwards. I had a few samples, but I could already see some positive effects on my skin, not in terms of wrinkles, but just in general of how my skin looks. It also works well as a base for makeup. It smells great - comfortingly professional, like walking into a salon. There is alcohol on the 8th place among the ingredients, but this is low enough for me and you can't smell it at all.
27.50 €, ingredients here.
Purchase: I would love to have it, but it's expensive.


Yves Rocher Sublime Skin BB Cream
Light
This is just a horrible BB cream. It reminds me so much of those cheap tinted moisturizers from 00's. It looks patchy/blotchy on the skin, no matter how much you try to blend it or what moisturiser you use under it. And when you start to blend it in more, it starts to flake off this little rolls. The coverage is really minimal, so it's not even worth putting it on. The only pleasant surprise is the shade. I just automatically assume that the lightest shade is ridiculously dark, but this one would easily fit someone who wears Healthy Mix 51 or NW 15-20. It's very pink toned, but I like that because it brightens up the skin a bit. It has that classic makeup scent which you'll recognize if you bought any makeup in the 90's.
15.92 €, ingredients here.
Purchase: No. 

Yves Rocher Serum Végétal Wrinkes & Lifting V Shaping Care
A very thick cream, similar in texture to the Creamy Repair Mask, however, it takes even more time to absorb. It's sits on the skin, so I would use this as a night moisturiser only, but it should be great for dry skin. It has a pleasant powdery YR-cream-like scent.
27.50 €, ingredients here.
Purchase: No. 


Yves Rocher Elixir 7.9 Youth Energy Day Care
A light moisturiser with a gel-lotion texture that sinks in fast and leaves a velvet finish on the skin. It's lighter than intense Hydra Végétal 24h Intense Hydrating Gel Cream, but has a very similar effect, except it's a bit more sticky after application. It has another one of those high-end-ish slightly fruity scent that reminds me of apples.
28.95 €, ingredients here.
Purchase: I liked it, but the Hydra Végétal cream is cheaper.

Yves Rocher Muguet en Fleurs eau de toilette
Lilly of the Valley
 Smells exactly like lilies of the valley. It's a great scent for spring, but it has such poor staying power. 
20.79 €
Purchase: No.

Yves Rocher Cerisier en Fleurs eau de toilette
Cherry Bloom
The cherry trees were blooming here when I tested this, but as far as our trees go, the blossoms have no scent. However, when I tried this, it was instantly recognizable as the cherry blossom scent. It's a very gentle floral cherry scent that I find so delightful, but the projection is minimal and so is the lasting power. I give it an A+ for the actual blend of notes, but a D for longevity and strength.
20.79 €
Purchase: No. 

In general I'm very impressed by Yves Rocher skin care. I've never tried their face creams before, but they feel so nice, they all smell lovely and just feel like they are expensive. Thanks to Katja for hooking me up with so many samples.

  
Have a great day!

New In #27 and a Surprise Giveaway


NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
Siberia
If you've seen my birthday wishlist post, you know that this was one of the things I really wanted to have. My awesome cousins surprised me with this for my birthday as well as some other über generous bits. Aren't they the best people ever? I've already done a review of this here based on a very generous sample that my follower Tamara sent. Basically what's most important to me is that the shade is super light as I am approximately the shade of a freshly painted white wall, though this is a very yellow foundation and my skin is neutral. The coverage is medium-full and this blends so well on the skin, leaving behind that similar luminous matte or maybe rather luminous satin effect that Catrice's Nude Illusion does, but it never sits ugly in my pores, which I greatly appreciate.


I already shared this on Instagram and Pinterest, but here is it for those who haven't seen it yet. Thanks to Tamara again, we came to a discovery that Bourjois Heathy Mix Serum's pump works just fine with Sheer Glow (oh, did I mention that a 40 € foundation comes without a pump? Only one of the most irritating things ever, but they do sell the pump separately for 4 € - their generosity is unsurpassable). Sheer Glow's neck is taller, but the circumference is the same, so it twists on tightly. The straw needs to be shortened and that's it. Plus the Bourjois' cap fits as well. I hope this helps to any of you hasn't got a pump on Sheer Glow/Matte.
€41.19 on HqHair


L'OREAL L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick
101 Rose Melody
I'm a huge fan of these despite the hefty price tag for a drugstore gloss. I already have Rose Symphony, which is my favourite lip gloss ever and I wear it a lot. Considering I'm definitely not a lip gloss girl, this means something. The texture of these is amazing, it's so creamy and not at all sticky. They also smells divine, like peaches, which only like my favourite scent ever. Rose Melody is a natural nude shade with pink tones in it (a more beige version of this shade is Nude Vibrato) and it's semi-opaque. 
About 14 € in our drugstores, but cheaper in Boots International at about 9 GBP (12 €).

ESSENCE I <3 Trends Nail Polish
The Nudes: 02 I Nude it 
I've seen this on Taya's blog and liked it straight away, then my cousins surprised me with it because I had no idea this collection reached our little town (I swear I looked every day that week, but arrived at an empty stand yesterday). It's an opaque cream nude shade with what appears to be tiny duo chrome gold-green shimmer, but I can't really see it when it's on the nails. It's a lot lighter than my skin tone, but I'd still classify it as a nude. The formula is opaque with two coats, it could be just one if you apply thick coats, but the first one is usually streaky and needs fixing.
1.99 €

DOVE Purely Pampering Nourishing Body Oil with Shea Butter and Warm Vanilla
a.k.a. DOVE Verwöhnendes Körperöl mit Shea Butter und Vanilleduft
The last part of the gift I got for my birthday. I've heard a lot of good things about Dove oils, for one Kate (Gh0stparties) raves extensively about these. This version has very fine gold shimmer in it, so it gives that illusion of Victoria's Secret glowy legs, especially if you're tan. The texture of this oil surprised me a lot. It's actually not runny and super thin, instead it's so thick that the "blob" keeps shape on the skin, but it's not a heavy oil at all and most of it sinks in quite fast. Still I wouldn't be so confident to get dressed right away as it does leave a light, greasy layer on top. It think it's wonderful for basically any skin type and for any season, but it will look especially good on summer tanned kin. The scent of this is nice as well, it's a warm vanilla-cosmetic scent and not overly heavy. Oh, and I also tried using this as an illuminating base for makeup under a mix of Sheer Glow and Lasting Finish Nude - it looked sooo good, but my skin is dry/dehydrated at the moment.
Müller, 7.99 € (150 ml)


I've already mentioned this in my recent monthly favourites, I actually bought this for my birthday because I wanted to use my absolute favourite things and this is definitely one of those products. I just wholeheartedly adore this mascara because it actually keeps my lashes curled all day. It also lengthens the lashes significantly giving me that super lashy look. It's an amazing mascara and I hope they never change it.
Feel Unique, 30.60 € (I always wait for some sort of a discount)

ESSENCE  Eyeliner Pen Waterproof
01 Deep Black
Ou-em-gee Essence you can't use a smudgy formula for a waterproof liquid eyeliner. Okay? Otherwise, good job. Since I had no usable liner after the L'Oreal disaster (I still hate you. A lot.), I set upon finding any semi decent liner to do the job until I repurchase one of my favourites and I've discovered we actually have quite a few of them in our drugstores, but all with weird nibs, except surprisingly the Essence one. The formula is super black and nicely fluid making it easy to do a crisp, even line. The nib is about the size of L'Oreal's Super Slim, however, the design needs some improving to allow for super thin lines. It lasts a long time on my normal lids, but it smudges at only a sight of water and contact with fingers (you should have seen me once after I rubbed my eyes. I almost died laughing. Thankfully I was at home because I had to take of all my makeup). Overall I'm happy with it for the price, but it's not as good as more some expensive ones (though definitely a billion times better than L'Oreal's So Couture). I'll see how long it'll take for it to dry out. 
DM, 2.79€


Montagne Jeunesse Sheet Mask with Tea Tree Oil
a.k.a.Tuchmaske mit teebaumöl
I got this after seeing it in Sanja's Empties. I've never tried a sheet mask before, so it was my first time looking like a deranged killer with a chainsaw. First thing that hit me was the strong hospital smell and I mean it genuinely smells like sitting in a ward waiting for a doctor's appointment. It's not a bad smell at all, but for me powerful memory inducing. The second little snag is that the sheet mask is too big for my baby face meaning it had to be folded and creased on some parts, but I still managed to make it work somehow. The sheet is super saturated with product, but it doesn't drip, so that's well executed on Montagne's part. As Sanja said there may be a bit of tingling, however, I must say that I haven't felt much of it apart from the cold wet cloth touching my  face. I left it on for 10 minutes as per instructions and once I removed it, I rinsed the remains off my face. As far as instant result go, I can't report a miracle transformation. Perhaps my skin looked a bit brighter, but I think that's it. Also, I thought I'd just use the mask and be done with skincare for the day, but after 5 minutes my skin started to feel a bit too tight for my liking and I had to use Nuxe's oil.
Ingredients here.
Müller, 1.49 €


IT'S A 10 Miracle Leave-in Product
This is super popular and highly-rated across the pond, so I really wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Much like the here more familiar Uniq one, it promises to do everything apart from iron your shirts (if only…) and I must admit I'm always very apprehensive about such products. The texture is quite unexpected. As you can see it's in spray form, so I presumed it's a liquid product, but it is in fact sort of a lotion/almost-mousse texture. I was most looking forward to the promise of reducing frizz, but I'm not too sure about it doing anything to the general look of my hair, however, my hair does feel silkier than without it, plus it's a nice light heat protectant. So far I like it. 
eBay, 13.33 € (without shipping)

A repurchase, since I find my hair is a bit too damaged at the moment for my liking. I've used this for about a year before and it worked so absolutely brilliantly long term. It's a light lotion that doesn't weigh down the hair and I use it after washing when it's still damp. It contains protein that strengthen the hair, therefore helps prevent damage. This is especially good if you want your hair to grow long.
Feel Unique, 17.61 €

TIGI Bed Head Small Talk
Travel size
I've been considering trying this for at least a half a decade and I quite happy they finally started selling a travel size, though even this little bulb contains 125 ml of products. I used to use Tigi's Curls Rock Amplifier religiously (still the best natural curls definer I've tried) and this is like a sister product, but designed for volume. It promises to add volume, give life to limp hair as well as define, separate and control. It's a light cream, so similar to leave-in conditioners and in typical Tigi fashion, it smells strongly of blueberry candy. To be honest, in that one use I've done on damp hair, I haven't noticed much effect. Volume levels were the same as without and it didn't help control the hair much. I do, however, like this on dry hair. It smoothes and defines the strands and also masks the dryness, but without being heavy on the hair. I'll keep using it and report after a while.
Feel Unique, 5.93 €


A repurchase, I don't know which one in a row, but I don't recall being without this in the past few years. It's one of those treatments that just does its job brilliantly and I'm super picky when it comes to hair care products. 
Feel Unique, 17.34 €

TIGI Bed Head Urban Anti-dotes Conditioner 
Sample size 50 ml
It's been a while since I tried a Tigi conditioner, but this one is the lightest in terms of texture I've tried. It's still thicker than an average cheap conditioner, but unlike Joico Hydrator, which is similarly light, this didn't wow me, though it is good. I still think a lot of people with moderately dry hair that isn't coarse would like it, it's just my hair that as usual needs more. The scent is super fruity, like children's multivitamin drinks, so to me quite pleasant. 
Feel Unique, 5.93 €


Best mask in the world ever! Well, at least when it comes to my hair, of course. I expect a lot from hair treatments and conditioners, since my hair is so stubborn and this mask performs brilliantly. I'm always amazed at the results. I once said that this makes my hair "normal people's" hair, which is all I ever wanted - just average hair, nothing more. My hair feels a lot less coarse, actually it makes it feel silky and even a bit soft, which is a mini miracle when it comes to my hair. 
Feel Unique, 31.01 €
But I feel like I have to emphasize something because I get so many of questions - if you have non-problematic or fine hair with only slightly dry ends, you obviously don't need such an expensive treatment. There are plenty in the drugstore. If you have hair like mine that is prone to drying out very fast, you'll notice a huge gap in the quality between salon brands and drugstore, otherwise I doubt it. 

*KÉRASTASE Nutritive Bain Satin 1
Since I write a lot about Kérastase and people that handle this brand in Slovenia noticed that, they sent me a thanks in the form of this shampoo and Forme Fatale (great people, right), the latter I chose to give away to one of my Slovene readers (sorry to international readers, shipping cost are high here). It's no secret Oleo-Relax shampoo is my favourite, but when I was deciding which products to get when I was first researching the brand, Bain Satin 1 was a strong contender to try out. I'm a huge fan of the Nutritive line and I'm really looking forward to trying this shampoo. This one is designed for normal to slightly dry hair, 
Na voljo v specializiranih salonih npr. v salonih Simple. Cena je verjetno odvisna od posameznega salona.
Look Fantastic, 18.36 €


GLISS Oil Nutritive Shampoo
An average shampoo. It's nice for the price, but definitely not as brilliant as L'Oreal's Elvive, which is about the same price. It smells fruity (I think tropical/mango, but not in a classic way), foams a lot, cleans well and that's it. It's not particularly moisturising and neither drying, actually it's very similar in effect to Aussie's Miracle Moist shampoo and just as that one it leaves the hair tangled and hard to comb through. A good enough shampoo for most hair types.
Ingredients here.
DM, 2-3 €

GLISS Ultimate Repair Shampoo
I think this one is better than Oil Nutritive, though both perform similar enough. It left my hair less stripped, but all the other qualities are the same. The scent of this is similar to laundry detergent.
Ingredients here.
DM, 2-3 €


BRITNEY SPEARS Fantasy the Naughty Remix
100 ml
I already mentioned all three fragrances I got in my Birthday post and I said that this version of Fantasy is very similar to the original, only fruitier. I think that most people won't notice the difference between the two, though this one is admittedly a bit lighter. It's another fruity-gourmand scent with juicy kiwi notes and sweet puffs of vanilla. Notes on Fragrantica.
All Beauty, 23.12 €

AQUALINA Pink Sugar
50 ml
This is growing on me more and more. I got a sample of this about a year ago and it left me very underwhelmed, but now I love with each spray more. My cousin says it smells like burnt sugar and I will admit that the first burst of cotton candy sugariness is like a punch in the face that some people won't be able to tolerate, but to me the tamer underlying vanilla note prevents it from being too over the top. It's a very popular fragrance for a reason and it is the sweetest fragrance I own. Notes on Fragrantica.
All Beauty, 17.70 €

KATY PERRY Royal Revolution 
30 ml
Out of the three, this is the most office appropriate and least in your face. It's sweet, yet fresh, but still has that depth that also makes it a nice choice for a night out. It reminds me of a very nice smelling shampoo and I like such scents because I don't always want to smell like a bakery. The bottle is sheer perfection and I've seen a few days ago there'll be a spring inspired pink version as well. Notes on Fragrantica.
All Beauty, 16.17 €



AVON Advanced Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil
Petra from Adjusting Beauty made my jaw drop when she sent me a gift for my birthday (thank you again!) and this oil, which is she loves, was in it (her review here). In contrast to other cheaper oils I've tried, the texture of this in much thicker, but not as thick as Orofluido's or Macadamia Natural Oil's one, yet thicker than Kérastase Ultimate Oil. I've been using it a lot recently and I quite like it. It doesn't tame the hair as well as Orofluido when I use it on damp hair, but it's a nice quick fixer when my hair feels too dry or unruly (I really like it for my dry ends). It smells nice as well. It's like a mix of their "regular" green serum, which smells a bit like apples, but in a hair salon way, and some deep oriental note. For the price it's lovely and I like that it comes with a pump.
Ingredients here.
Avon, regular price 6.50€.


AVON Ultra Color Indulgence lipsticks
Red Tulip, Plum Verbena, Chocolate Rose 
Samples
Petra also included these cute mini samples of the newly launched lipsticks (I LOVE samples). These are one of those moisturising lipsticks that usually have sheerer pigmentation and a very glossy finish. While these have more of a shiny finish, the pigmentation is quite impressive though it needs perhaps an extra layer for full opacity. These smell very summery like watermelons (the old Maybelline lipsticks had a similar scent). 
Red Tulip is a classic red with an impressive pigmentation and Petra did wonderful swatches here.
Plum Verbena is a cool plum shade and I'm particularly happy to get this colour because recently I can't get this lip colour out of my mind and this is the closest thing I have at the moment. It's Chanel's Rouge Allure in 108 Determineé and I can't find it in my local Müller, so I can't at least test it and see if such a shade would suit me and I might find a cheaper dupe for it (if you know this shade and are aware of similar colours, please let me know. I will be forever grateful). A mix of Plum Verbena with Chocolate Rose looks similar if I wear it dabbed onto the lips, but it is cooler and lacks that rose tone.
Chocolate Rose is brown with red-plumy tones. I'm not a fan of this shade on me because it is straight up dark brown, but it looks great on Petra, who swatched it here (she swatched even more shades here). 
Avon, full size regular price 8.50€


E.L.F. HD Powder 
Sample
Petra found on my Pinterest Wishlist board that I'm interested in trying this (you've got to admit that's dedication) and made me a sample. It's a silica based powder that is highly rated on Makeup Alley, with people claiming there are definite similarities with the more expensive MUFE HD powder and that this creates a "soft focus" effect, blurs the pores and imperfections. Petra informed me that she dislikes this powder as she finds it's not fine enough, so I wasn't expecting much, but surprisingly I like it, I like it a lot. I applied it over my "worst" foundation, Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude which settles into pores, lines and just looks weird on the skin, and this powder fixed it. All of it. It got rid of that fake foundation finish, hid those craters of pores that foundation sunk into and set the makeup in place without the powdery finish. Now, I wouldn't be so rash to say it's better than my Bourjois Java powder, mainly because doesn't have that illuminating pink tint, but they are very similar.
E.l.f. UK, £6.95

L'OREAL True Match foundation 
N1
Sample
Petra also made me a sample of True Match that I've been dying to try out for ages, well at least this shade in particular. I'll start of by saying that I really like the texture of this. It's so light and super blendable, yet it covers well (medium) as well as it's buildable. It really is as good as they say. However N1 unfortunately looks orange on me. It's as light as Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum 51, but the orange tone in it appears to be amplified on my skin. Thankfully I got a sample before I bought the full size, otherwise it'd be a huge miss buy. Does anyone know if W1 is lighter?
15 € in our drugstores (which don't stock N1), 12 € on Feel Unique.


IT'S A 10 Miracle Hair Mask
Sample
My 10 ml sample was way too small for my hair, so I can't really say much about it. It was a classic hair mask with a hair salon scent. I'm not sure whether it was due to not using enough or just the mask in general, but my hair didn't feel silky when I was rinsing it off and it didn't comb as easy as usually, but you have to keep in mind that I use heaps of conditioner/mask on my bellow mid back hair. Otherwise my hair felt quite nice when it was dry, but it could be because I used the corresponding leave-in treatment.
Ulta, full size 30 $

PHYTO Phytosquam Intense
Sample
A new dandruff treatment by Phyto that is quite unique as far as my experiences with anti-dandruff products go. I've tried all of Phyto treatments before and so far they were the best ones, however, didn't completely help me get rid of the problem, just alleviated it. This product is one that you apply on dry scalp, leave for 5-7 minutes, then add water to emulsify it and rinse off. Regular Phyto's shampoos are very runny, but this is closer to how average shampoos are like in terms of texture. It's a thick gel that I had a hard time distributing evenly on my hair, simply because I was working with a sample bag, but also because I have very thick, long hair, so it's not easy getting product on the scalp. I think the full size has a nozzle, so that should work a lot better. One bag had a lot of product inside, 12 ml, but I used up all and I still could have a few ml more to completely cover my scalp. When it was on my scalp, I didn't feel anything, so no tingling or anything similar. Once I added water it emulsified well, like a normal shampoo, which is surprising since Phyto's shampoos, don't foam well. Once I rinsed it off, my hair felt super squeaky clean, which is not something I'm terribly fond off, but that's just because I have dry hair. Where I managed to get a thick coat of the treatment, it did remove most of the dandruff that is stuck on my scalp (about 85 %), while where I only had a light coat, a lot of the dandruff was still left, which leads me to believe this is a product that would be empty very fast. But results are promising. It removed the persistent layer of dandruff and let my scalp breathe a bit. The itching was still a problem, but for the first day there was significantly less of it. I would buy this.
Feel Unique, full size 22.44 €

CAUDALIE Huile Divine
Sample
I'm a huge fan of Nuxe Huile Prodigeuse, which is a cult product in the beauty community for over 20 years. Caudalie released a similar product a few years back, and I've always wondered how it performs. I use Nuxe on my face, so I tested Caudalie's as a face moisturiser as well, but my skin didn't like it as much as Nuxe's. It's ok, but my skin didn't look as good as with my old favourite. The texture is very similar, so a light, dry oil that sinks in quite fast. The scent is more "green" or floral and a bit fresher, however, both are lovely and summery. 
Feel Unique, 50 ml 23.80 € 


KÉRASTASE Forme Fatale GIVEAWAY
SLOVENE ONLY
Kot sem napovedala že prej, imam za slovenske bralce kot presenečenje mini nagradno igro. Slovenski zastopniki za znamko Kérastase so mi kot zahvalo velikodušno poslali dva izdelka, Bain Satin 1 šampon in gel za feniranje Forme Fatale. Slednjega že imam v svoji kopalnici in sem o njem že spisala oceno, ki jo lahko najdete tukaj. Forme Fatale je gostejši gel za volumen, ki se ga nanese na mokre lase pred sušenjem s sušilcem, najbolje z veliko okroglo krtačo, da se izoblikuje ogromno volumna. Po mojih izkušnjah se najbolje odnese na tankih laseh brez volumna, medtem ko na mojih suhih povzroči friz, ker "dvigne" lase. Vse izkušnje z izdelkom, ki sem ga preizkusila tako na mojih gostih, suhih laseh kot na tankih laseh brez volumna so opisane v prej omenjeni objavi. 
Vse bo potekalo kot vedno preko Rafflecopterja, samo izpolniš obrazec in že sodeluješ. Samo ena kategorija je nujna, ker hočem preprečiti neveljavne vnose, odgovor na preprosto vprašanje, ne sprašujem pa vas seveda za točen naslov, če bo slučajno kdo zmeden. Res si želim, da bi nagrado dobila ena zvesta bralka, ki si Forme Fatale res želi, zato ne pričakujem, da se giveaway povsod deli.  Pa da še dodam, na sliki je moj Forme Fatale, vaš bo novi neodprt, ki stoji v beli škatli zadaj. Veliko sreče!


Have a great day!

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!

Forever Repurchased #2

 SECHE VITE Dry Fast Top Coat
Best top coat ever! Believe me I am not a patient woman, especially when it comes to drying time of nail polishes and with this my nails are dry in less than a minute. I wouldn't know whether it prolongs the manicure or prevents chipping, since my nails are very strong and hard, hence why my nail polish always lasts very long (my nails don't bend, so the polish doesn't crack and therefore chip making me one of the laziest people when it comes to changing my nail polish), but it does make the nail polish looks shinier. Its only weakness? It thickens up before you have the chance to use it up.
There were a few weeks when I was without it because I was waiting for the parcel with a new bottle to arrive - longest weeks of my life - just kidding, but I did miss it a lot. The most important thing to me is that I can do what I want as soon as possible and not wait eons for my nail polish to dry. This does just that. Sold!

I don't talk about this gem nearly enough which is crime since it's one of the absolute best hair treatments I've ever found. On my scale of hair treatments it comes second right behind Masquitense. Texture-wise it's nothing special, just your run of the mill slightly thicker treatment and the scent is nothing to write home about, but it injects some serious boost of moisture and transforms the dries of mops into decent hair. It makes my hair super hydrated, silky and soft, I tell you this is far superior to anything from the drugstore. There are proteins and keratin in it, so I wouldn't advise this to be used regularly or even on undamaged hair, however, unlike the Reconstructor it can be used alone as it's not as potent (so no additional conditioner needed).


Yes, it's just a regular shower gel, but good lawd does it smell spectacular! It's the scent of my favourite bubble gums from my childhood -   Hubba Bubba in Peach flavour, so that super sweet peach candy scent. It's divine and it always brings a smile to my face. And it costs 0.99 €, what more could you want?

I know, I talk about this ALL the time, but I love it. I've been using it as a face moisturiser for the last three years and I just love how soft, radiant and healthy my skin looks and feels. It's my holy grail.
I'm sure that there are other oils that are probably just as good, but this one feels like it was made for my skin.
Just look how adorable is the current collector's limited edition packaging.

Have a great day!

New In #10

My first solid cleansing balm and I absolutely love it. The scent is so weird, but the texture is perfect and after a month of use my skin looks great. Just to warn you, they only offer a 30 ml pot and that is why I bought it, to dip my toes into the solid balms pool first. This small pot costs 10€, but after a month I still have about a half, maybe a bit less left. I'll do a proper review.

I was on a search for a dark berry matte lip cream and though this isn't matte, it's the perfect colour. This is such a great autumn/winter shade that will appeal to fans of deep colours such as Kate's matte lipstick in 107. Review with swatches will be posted soon.
It cost 7.49€ on Feel Unique. You can find a review and swatches of another shade called Stellar here.

I needed a lip liner to match Rimmel's 107 and this looked closest on swatches I found online. It's not the prettiest colour as it is too brown for my liking, but it works nonetheless. Again, swatches will be posted.
 It cost 3.74€ on Feel Unique.

I got this as a gift in December from my cousin (thank you) after it was on my wishlist for over a year. It's a stunning, brightened pinky-coral that is in the same colour family as Bourjois' Fraise Remix and Maybelline's Shocking Coral. I also love wearing it as a stain (I'm wearing it like that here). The quality is, as expected, excellent. There will be a full review of this.

L'Oréal Super Liner Perfect Slim Intense Black
I just got it and I already love it. Talk about precision - this eyeliner has such a thin and fine felt tip that allows me to draw the thinnest line if I want to. The formula is super black and it lasts all day on the lids without smudging or fading. It's very similar to the L'Oreal's Super Liner Carbon Gloss eyeliner, but with a matte finish and a more precise applicator. My one concern is how long will it take to dry out. I'll do a proper review and report about that after a couple of months of use.
It was 7.86€ on Feel Unique. This isn't sold in Slovenia (Obviously. I wonder what pathetic excuse they have this time).

Since I was seriously impressed by the Think Pink shade, I got another more neutral one. It's less pigmented, but still such a lovely blush. I'll post swatches, but you can find a review for Think Pink here.
These cost 3.79€ in Müller.

One of the lipsticks that is about to be discontinued. I already reviewed it here.

Essence Pure Skin Purifying Nose Strips
Years ago I tried the Nivea's version and apart from the feeling of ripping your face off, I found them useless. I heard some good things about these strips from Taya, so I decided to give them a go. The principle is the same - you stick them on clean, wet skin and leave them to work for 10-15 minutes before removing them. They smell weird, like that red stick glue everyone had in school (Pritt, I hated it). The instructions say to re-wet the strips before peeling them off, but instead of pulling the blackheads out, it separates and leaves sticky blue goo on the skin that needs to be washed off. In terms of results, I didn't notice any effect at all.
They cost 1.89€ for three nose strips in a pack.

I finally got this after one pot got lost in the mail the first time I ordered it. I haven't tried it yet, but the pot is only 3/4 full. I used to use the old Oatmeal & Honey shampoo and conditioner (I was buying the 750 ml sizes) and they were some of my favourite hair products. They were repackaged as well as reformulated (I heard for the worse. For shame!) and they added the mask, but as far as I can tell so far at least the scent is still the same. It smells like Christmas - gingerbread, cinnamon, honey and clove. I'll do a review when I test it out properly.
I paid 13.08€ for 200g on Feel Unique.

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Hydrating Conditioner
My standard repurchase, but this time I went for a salon size 500ml that comes with a pump. My review is here.
It was 11.24€ on Feel Unique, which is a bargain.

Dove Intensiv Reparatur 1 Minute Kür-Spülung a.k.a. Intensive Repair
I've used up most of my conditioners this month, among them Dove's Oil Care mask that I've repurchased numerous times. This time I decided to try the blue version for a change. It's a bit lighter than the gold one and it also doesn't have the two colour "toothpaste" look, yet it's still a thick and creamy treatment. It has similar results, maybe it's a touch less moisturising, but it really is a minute difference. It has the typical Dove-ish scent, though I find the gold version smells better. It's a great drugstore treatment, though I'll stick with the Oil Care one, but if they didn't have it in stock, I wouldn't dismiss the blue one.
It cost the same as the other one, 3.99€, in Müller.

Joico K-Pack Intense Hydrator
Another repurchase. This is my favourite conditioner ever (and as that featured on my All-Time Favourites page). The texture is creamy and it has a bit of an odd scent that is difficult to describe in any other way than chemical. It truly hydrates the hair and I can feel it when I'm rinsing it off that it's not just that silicone coat. The current colder conditions along with the central heating being on all the time are causing my hair being even drier than usual and this does the job of keeping it moisturised, especially the ends don't dry out as fast.
It's not the cheapest hair product at 20€ for 250 ml, but if you have really dry hair, give it a go.

Herbalife Hand and Body Gel 
I have this in a generous 50 ml sample size that I got for Christmas. It's a very creamy shower gel/hand wash that foams nicely despite being SLS free and smells like fresh apples. The texture reminds me of Dove showel gels, but more gel like. It's quite nice actually, just don't ask where you can get this because I haven't got the foggiest.

La Petit Marseiliais Peche Blanche & Nectarine
As a fan of anything peach scented, I couldn't resist grabbing this in E. Leclerc despite the very retro packaging. It's supposed to be for dry skin, but I think the formula is too thin and not particularly moisturising. It smells like fresh nectarines from the bottle and under the shower it develops a slight artificial sweet note along side the nectarine. If you like peaches and nectarines, this is nice.
It was a bit over 2€.

Rexona Clear Pure Crystal Dry Deo Stick
I've never repurchased a deodorant in my life and I'm not sure if I had this before, but it smells so familiar. I immediately liked it. It smells great (fruity), but not overpowering and has a nice texture. I works for me and keeps BO at bay, but I don't sweet much. One thing that does bother me is that it leaves white marks.
It was about 2€.

Nyx Butter Gloss
I got these as a gift for my cousin. I didn't try or swatch them, but I did snap a few photos before giving them to her (she doesn't mind). The three colours are Peaches and Cream, Apple Strudel and Maple Blondie. I saw them swatched on my cousin's hand and they all look pretty much the same to me, especially if taken into consideration that they are glosses. I was updated that they are really good and smell amazing.
I got them on Cherry Culture.

Have a great day!