New in #32

CATRICE Absolute Nude Eyeshadow Palette

010 All Nude

This was the first such palette by Catrice and it has been out for quite a while, however, I was never really interested in it, until I saw that there is going to be a new chocolate version, which made me think of this one and the Rose one, so I just wanted to give them a try.  Nude version contains a collection of neutral eyeshadows, ranging from light to dark in different hues and all are shimmery, but I love especially the medium shades, as they are great one-wash colours. I'm very pleased with this palette and I've really been enjoying wearing it since I got it; I've been wearing it more than the Rose version, because it suits my colouring better. I'll have swatches of both palettes in a proper review.

Müller, 5.29 €

CATRICE Absolute Rose Eyeshadow Palette

010 Frankie Rose to Hollywood

A palette that clearly drew inspiration from the massively popular UD Naked 3 palette, so it has a collection of six rosy, taupe and purple shades.  I'm a huge fan of the Absolute Matt version, which inspired in me a lot of trust into these palettes by Catrice, but the day I bought it, someone told me that this is a terrible palette quality-wise, so I was concerned before I actually tried it that I made a huge miss buy. Well, it's a great palette. In respect to quality I really like it, especially that matte taupe shade is fantastic. However, two pairs of eyeshadows look almost identical on the lids, so it's not the most diverse palette in the world. But otherwise, I'm happy I got this.

Müller, 5.29 €

L'OREAL Infallible 24H Matte Foundation

10 Porcelain

There is a huge hype surrounding this foundation and I had my doubts whether it's really as amazing as everyone is claiming to be. Well, it is. I adore this foundation. This looks absolutely flawless over pores. I've never tried anything like it, not even a primer. In the past year almost every foundation started to emphasize my pores for some reason, but this kind of just camouflages them. It's so amazing to see how the pores look so diminished with this foundation, I'm a huge fan. Otherwise it's a medium coverage foundation with a matte finish, so it is an obvious foundation, but I don't mean that in a bad way, just that the matte finish and coverage makes it apparent you're wearing makeup. This will look weird over patches, just to warn you. I got the lightest shade 10 Porcelain which is not exactly porcelain-like, but it's similar to Healthy Mix Serum's 51 only it has a pink undertone. There will be a proper review of this. 

Salma, 10.90 €

ESSENCE Lash Mania False Lash Mascara Waterproof

I love my Lancome Hypnose mascara, but it's very expensive, so I wear it only when I want to be a bit more made up, while the rest of the time I wear either Essence Princess Lash, which is unfortunately not waterproof but I love the effect, or Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde waterproof, which I'm not terribly fond of because it's very average. I decided to get a new cheap waterproof mascara, though I'd really love to get my hands on Maybelline's Lash Sensational in waterproof, but for now Essence's will suffice. I found this one on their website, checked online for reviews (which were all in German) and they reassured me it's worth a try. I've quickly became a fan of the formula. The brush is plastic and huge, so it's clumsy and it deposits tons of product with one coat, just like Princess Lash and I <3 Extremes. This means that definition isn't its forte from the start, but it gets better and better as the formula thickness over time. The amount of volume it gives is huge, it hold curls amazingly well for such a cheap mascara and it's very difficult to remove. I'll post a proper review very soon, as this is in the process of being discontinued.

Müller, 3.29 €

ESSENCE Lash & Brow Gel Mascara

This is very popular and highly rated on Makeup Alley, however, I won't be using it for its original purpose (I don't care about brows at all). You might remember that I spoke about John Frieda Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer, which has been on my wishlist for ages, but it's out of stock on Boots International for a really long time, and while Ojon's Tamer Wand is only a bit more expensive, I am very reluctant to shell out 16 € for such a product plus the extortion that they call shipping (and the pound to euro rate has been abysmal in the past six months. Thank you economy!). So I had a brain wave to try this for that purpose. It's a gel with hold, which is quite possibly very similar to the JF or Ojon's formula. I can report that it works well enough, but it's not as good as the real deal. It also still leaves the hair soft and none of the gel residue is apparent. It's good for now, but I still want the John Frieda or at least the Ojon one.

 Műller, 2.19 €

ESSENCE Lipliner

12 Wish Me a Rose

You know how I often say that I don't like these? Well I have seven of them already. I have no words for myself *queue the meme "I'm not even mad that's amazing"*. Wish me a Rose was an Andrea's enabled purchase because she swatched Mac's Please me and Wish me a Rose side by side, and they are indeed very, very similar. Even I'd call them a dupe and I'm very strict with that word. It's a light-medium neutral pink that I think would suit so many people, either as a nice neutral shade like on me or a pinky nude on people with medium skin tones.   

DM, 1.19 €

BOURJOIS La Laque

7 Lycheers

Bourjois released their version of gel inspired formula and I think everyone saw that happening from a mile away. Their selection of shades is pretty basic and cute, but Lycheers grabbed my attention because I have nothing similar and I find it quite unique. When I came home I noticed how similar it is to my beloved Rouge Edition Velvet in 07 Nude-ist - no wonder I liked it straight away. It's a retro rose shade - a dirty medium pink that will fit perfectly into autumn. 

Müller, 7.19 €

ESSENCE Studio Nails 4 in 1 Profi File

I've been buying these for years. They are cheap and they do the job. There are four different textures ranging from a very harsh surface to a buffing smooth one.

Müller, 1.59 €

OROFLUIDO Beauty Elixir

Salma had it for a reasonable price with a discount, so I just got a backup and even so, my bottle is running very low anyway. I love this hair oil and I haven't been without a bottle of it for years. I find it one of the best on the market for dry hair as it doesn't just behave like a regular smoothing serum, but it also adds a bit of extra nourishment that my hair desperately needs. I'm also still in love with the gorgeous oriental scent it has. 

I've reviewed a lot of more expensive hair oils a while ago in my Hair Oil Series if you're interested. 

Salma, 15.90 €

 BALEA Luxury Verwőhndusche

Red Love

Indulging Shower Gel

I was so excited about this range ever since I saw it on Facebook, mainly because it said it smells like peach and coconut. I already had the bath salt, which was lovely (it turned the water into an intense red-pink shade. I'll post pictures one day) and I was delighted when I saw that the shower gel arrived on our shelves as well. It's a very thick shower gel that is deep red with shimmer, so it looks very glamorous. It's very different from their regular shower gels and it's closer to Dove's formula, though it's even thicker and doesn't foam as well as those. The scent is the same as of bath salt, so peachy, but with a deeper, more sexy/sultry note, which actually makes it better suited for colder months than summer.

Ingredients here.

DM, 1.79 €

SUN DANCE Transparentes Sonnenspray 50

Transparent Sunscreen SPF 50

Last year I got the transparent sunscreen in a can, which ended up being a huge oily, schnapps-reeking disaster that lasted three days in total for four people. This year I got one in a classic spray pump, but again a transparent one as the regular sunscreens are just too greasy, which puts me off applying them all together. This one has tons of alcohol in it, but I don't care as I'm only planning to use it for those few days on the beach, also because at least I'll use it because it's light enough on the skin, though still a bit oily, and finally because the Garnier transparent one, which is without alcohol is over 10 € and is just too much (I mean seriously?!). It smells like classic sunscreen and I don't smell alcohol in it, but others do. The spray pump is very hard to press, which is very annoying

DM, 5.79 €

SUN DANCE Selbst Bräunungs Tonik

Self-tanning Toner

 This immediately caught my attention on their website, I mean a self-tanning toner in the drugstore is not something you see often. It is like a regular toner, so not like Clarins' one which feels like a lotion, instead this is like an actual water-like toner that would work even for greasy skin. It sinks in really fast, leaves the skin dry to the touch and doesn't feels sticky, so thumbs up for that. It has a warm vanilla scent that is ok as well. It says to exfoliate the skin first, which I do before the first application as I always do before tanning, then simply apply the toner with a cotton pad all over the face including ears and neck for an even effect. It says the colour should develop in 2-6 hours, but that is very optimistic. On my super pale skin it takes four days for me to I get a nice amount of colour and that's a good thing, because gradual tanning provides a lot more natural results and decreases the chance of streaks. It doesn't smell much of self-tanner, though the more days in a row you use it, the more you might notice it. I heard though that some people with sensitive skin find this product a bit irritating, but it works completely fine on my skin. 

Here is a side by side of me before tanning and after four days. The lipstick is Max Factor's Redefined Rose.

Ingredients here.

DM, 3.49 €

NIVEA Pearl & Beauty Anti-Perspirant

My old faithful. My last bottle was sent to me by Nivea when they saw I couldn't find it in Interspar (such a kind gesture), but now I got mine in DM. I love this deodorant because it actually works for a spray deodorant as it has powder particles in it, but it's not super white, though I still need to be careful with black clothes. It also smells fantastic, soft and so lady-like. 

DM, 2.89 €

OMBIA COSMETICS Express Nagellackentferner

Express nail polish remover

This reminds me a lot of the Ebeline version, meaning it's a basic nail polish remover in a pot, except that the foam inside hasn't got a round hole, but it's just cut in a form of a cross. It removes nail polish well enough, though not as easily as for example the Bourjois' one and it doesn't leave the fingers greasy, however, just like Ebeline's one, this means that it can dry out your nails and skin. The foam is harsher and feels of a lesser quality than both Ebeline's and Bourjois'. It has a sweet scent, possibly of almonds. I like it for the price, but it's nothing special.

Hofer, about 1.8 €

ESSENCE Arriba! TE Hair Chalk

02 Macarena Mint

I dreamt of having this ever since Ana from Beautysaur showed how well this works on her dark hair. It's a very silly thing to purchase, but you know it's also very fun. There were two versions, a pink and a green/teal one, and I grabbed the last one on the stand. This has an amazing colour payoff, especially if you use it on slightly damp hair or like I did it, over a sticky hair spray. With the sticky hair spray base, it lasted all day without fading and it didn't rub off on anything. I'm pleasantly surprised by this and I kind of a want my whole head in this colour. This was a LE, so it's quite possibly gone from most places, but Essence has four colours of hair chalk in their permanent line, though they are in the process of being discontinued. They have a colour just like it, so if you want it, you need to hurry. 

 Müller, 4.39 €

ESSENCE #secret party TE Drink Markers

01 Don't Drink and Dive

This is another silly purchase, but we always end up fighting whose glass was which, so this was a purchase to end all glass related disputes. I'll also put one in my bag as it should certainly come in handy. I don't know where you can get anything similar other than on eBay (I want the moustache ones)

Müller, 2.19 €

ESSENCE Nauti Girl Nail Stickers

01 Hey Sailor

I really liked the Nauty Girl collection. You might have noticed that I largely ignore TE's and LE's (I just genuinely dislike the idea of limited items), but this summer Essence did an excellent job. The sailor inspired nail stickers are super cute and will surely pair them up with a navy blue nail polish. Similar designs here.

ESSENCE Nauti Girl Cosmetic Bag

01 Anchors Aweigh

My cousin got this for me, so thank you. It a nice medium size bag with a zipper that is very basic, but I'll surely replace my mint green one with this one in these summer months. Such a cute design, right?

LANCOME O d´Azur edt

Sample

I am a very shallow person, I'm sure you've noticed by now, so I actually got this sample purely because I love the bottle of the full size parfume. Yeah, so you've learned something about my priorities, but I just love perfume bottles as decoration (this was the main reason I got Katy Perry's Royal Revolution). Anyway it's a nice summery fragrance that smells high-end and I like it, but I'm not completely I-must-have-it-right-now in love with it. It's fresh, floral, aquatic and a bit sharp from the pepper. This a scent I image someone wearing in the office, but the staying power is weak.

Notes on Fragrantica.

Salma, 0.77 €

LOLITA LEMPICKA Elle L'aime edp

Sample

This has been on my radar for quite a while because I loved the notes according to Fragrantica, then I forgot about it, later Živa wrote about it and rekindled my interest. I couldn't find it in our drugstores (not surprised), but they do have it on Salma and they have samples (yay!). Živa was spot on with her description, it is reminiscent of the über popular Bronze Goddess, but with a slight citrus twist. It's beachy, coconuty with neroli and jasmine plus some lime that keeps it from being too cloying. I'm a huge, huge fan, however, staying power is very weak. 

 Salma, 0.73 €

RIHANNA Nude edp 

Sample

I tried this in Müller once and I liked it, but I wanted a proper sample before deciding if it's the scent for me. It's tropical and sweet, but not in an Escada way, instead it's a deeper scent. I can definitely smell guava, which I normally don't like in fragrances, but I guess that combination with a pear note makes is more likeable to me. I swear I can smell vanilla in it, but there is none, so I guess the combination of other notes makes it so sweet and gourmand like. I'm not sold by it or maybe it just doesn't appeal to me in this heat as it's not exactly light. It's lovely, but I won't be buying a full size, I think.  

Notes on Fragrantica.

Salma, 0.63 €

DOLCE & GABBANA The One Desire edp

Sample

I got this as a gift with purchase on Salma. I'm not impressed by the original The One and this one isn't my favourite either. It's sweet with predominant notes of caramel and vanilla, but that lychee note from the start is so odd, almost like it's too sour or even rotten. It later disappears, but I don't like how this is working with my chemistry. In general it's a very generic and forgettable scent to me.

Notes on Fragrantica.

*PA DOLLY LOVE False Eyelashes HS-37
Born Pretty Store offered me to try some more of their false lashes after I posted a review of their Pa Dolly Love HS-43. HS-37 are much, much more dramatic as they are not only longer, but also thicker. I chose these because they have more of a rounded design, instead of tapered and I've never tried lashes like that, so I want to see what effect these have on my eyes. These again come in a box of ten and are on clear a string.
Born Pretty, 3.99 $ (my discount code for 10 % off is MKOH10).

Have a great day! 

Products worth the splurge #2

 DIOR Diorskin Nude BB Creme

I am a fan of bases that give that skin-like finish and Dior's BB does exactly that. The coverage is light and it looks like you have no foundation on your skin, but it still blurs imperfections as well as somewhat diminishes the circles. My favourite bit is that it's immediately dry to the touch meaning it sets super fast to a semi-matte finish. It goes on so smoothly and blends so well that it's one of the best products to apply in hurry. Rather surprisingly the lightest colour is actually pale enough for me, which is a rarity especially when it comes to shades selection in my country, although 001 is pink toned. Basically, this just is the best BB I've tried.

 NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

Snow Whites like me know how ridiculously hard it is to find pale shades of foundation and concealers. Chantilly is the lightest shade I ever found and it's actually neutral, so it fits me perfectly when I'm at my palest. The formula is super creamy and the coverage is almost full, so it can be used under the eyes as well as on spots. It's no wonder it's one of my favourite concealers.

BALANCE ME Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm

Whatever is in this stuff is just amazing, since out of all cleansers I've tried so far, this is the one that makes my skin look its best. Since I started using it, I had zero dry patches and before they were my perpetual nemesis. It's a balm cleanser, but one with small oatmeal scrub particles that provide gentle exfoliation, and it removes all but "industrial strength" waterproof mascara while leaving my skin feeling clean yet moisturised.  I'm currently trying some more affordable cleansers and I'm already missing this one.

 OROFLUIDO Beauty Elixir

This was the first silicone-oil that I tried and despite trying loads of the competition, it still remains firmly at the top of my favourites. What I love about it is that the texture is quite thick, which really works well for my thick, dry, coarse hair and I need to use only a small amount, so the bottle lasts me ages. I use it on damp as well as on dry hair and it tames flyaways, gives shine and in general makes the hair more manageable. It also smells bloody amazing, I'd describe it as a rich oriental vanilla-amber scent, but I have notes of the fragrance posted in my original review.

 THE BODY SHOP Body Butters

My love for TBS body butters began at 16 when I visited the shop for the first time during my stay in Berlin. I remember feeling very overwhelmed at the bountiful selection of differently scented products and I quickly grabbed one of the premade gifts for Christmas that included bits from the Shea butter line. Since then I may have developed a sort of an addiction and I've tried quite a few scents. They really are so good. I haven't come across a scent I wouldn't like, the texture of them is so lovely (though it depends on the version) and they are so moisturising. My favourite is Vineyard Peach, which I bang on about all the time. Also currently in my stash is the one from the Honeymania collection, which has a spectacular texture. I highly recommend you try one the next time you're around their shop.

Have a great day!

Empties #5

Herbal Essence Bee Strong Conditioner

This is surprisingly good for a drugstore conditioner and it's so affordable at only 2.45€ per bottle. I love the effect of it, the scent is nice and it moisturises my dry, coarse hair very well. My only real gripe is the packaging because when it's about to run out, you need Hercules' strength to get the rest of the product out (hence why mine in cut in the middle). I know there is a pot version available, which I'd prefer, but it's not sold in my country.

Repurchase: Yes.

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Moisturising Conditioner

An absolutely lovely conditioner that I have been repurchasing for years and have rarely been without a tube of this in my bathroom. In fact, I currently have a 500 ml bottle of this with a pump.

Repurchase: Yes.

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Express Treatment Conditioner

(a.k.a. Dove Oil Care Nährplege 1 Minute Kur-Spülung)

I used up another one of these - I must have gone through at least a dozen tubes so far. This is one of my favourite drugstore treatments for dry hair. It's very thick, which I love, works great on my dry hair and it smells gorgeous. I recently bought the blue Intensive Repair version to try and it's nice as well, but I still prefer this one.

Repurchase: Yes.

Tigi Bed Head Masterpiece Massive Shine Hairspray

This was my only hairspray for years. I used to love it, but since I discovered Lee Stafford's Hold Tight, I find it a bit sticky from the start and doesn't hold as well as I would like. It can also feel a bit crispy, especially when you really go to town with it, while at Lee Stafford that doesn't happen to me. That being said, this is still a great hairspray and my second favourite. It smells like pineapples (like the (old) Dumb Blonde line), so obviously I like it. 

Repurchase: Probably not, only if Lee Stafford's Hold Tight gets discontinued.

L'Oreal Elvital Volume-Collagen Push-Up Spray

I actually bought this only for the packaging. I needed a better, preferably a spray bottle for Alpecin Medicinal Forte that needs to be applied on the scalp. The nozzle looks right, however, the I find it so hard to squeeze.
So on to the actual product. It's a volume spray that is supposed to be applied close to the the roots. It's a liquid that pretty much feels like water and can be used on damp or dry hair. Due to it's lightness, it doesn't weigh down the hair at all. I notice no additional volume, which is not surprising considering that it has no hold at all. It has a high alcohol content, which is never a good thing in my book, and it also contains sollutable collagen - in all honestly, I have no idea how collagen would be creating volume. It has a chemical scent that is nothing special nor does it last. There are far better volumising products.

Repurchase: No.

The Body Shop Coconut Oil Hair Shine

I wanted to like this, but I just can't. Though the ingredients are nice and there are no silicones, it feels too waxy. As a dry ends treatment on dry hair, it feels too heavy, waxy and it doesn't even give much of a shine. As a pre-wash treatment, it doesn't do much of anything either, particularly compared to proper coconut oil. This has a very hard consistency, especially if it's left in bellow 22°C degrees, so it's hard to scoop it out. You need to warm it up a lot between the hands and then it turns into a waxy oil. I place it on a radiator before use and it feels much more creamy, almost buttery and therefore easier to work with. It smells strongly like hazelnuts to me. The tin is nice and great for travel, I just wish there were a better product inside.

Repurchase: No.

Orofluido Shine Spray

It does what it's supposed to and nothing more. This is a typical shine spray with a high alcohol content as so many of them, though it didn't dry out my hair. As it's expected, it gives lot of shine, but doesn't weight down the hair. Orofluido packed it with their delightful fragrance, so I loved using it as a hair fragrance. It's nice, but I prefer Orofluido Sahara because it also provides care on top of shine (but it is much heavier than this). 

Repurchase: No, but it's nice for those whose hair gets weighted down by products and just want shine.

Rosal Milk and Honey Lip Balm

This is a very waxy feeling lip balm, but still moisturising, though you can feel how it mostly just coats the lips. This waxiness makes it less appropriate for wearing it under a lipstick. The scent is more of a honey and milk meet plastic and beeswax, but not in a bad way. 

Repurchase: No.

Labello Soft Rose Lip Balm

A very average lip balm, but one that a lot of people have/had and some really like it. It really doesn't stand out in any respect, neither the scent, colour or effect.

Repurchase: No.

Balea Sweet Wonderland Lip Balm

I used this only once and I'm tossing it. The scent is a weird, chocolate-chemical one, nothing like the yummy smelling shower gel from this LE. The texture and the moisturising power are below average.

Repurchase: No.

Yves Rocher Noix de Coco Malaysian Coconut Lip Balm

Apart from the scent, which is one of the best coconut scents I tried, it's just not worth it. It's not really moisturising and the packaging is very impractical. The opening is way to small, so the only way to get the product out is with a lip brush and I just can't be bothered. 

Repurchase: No.

Essence Matte Top Coat

I actually ended up using this a lot also as a base. It may sound odd to use it in such a way, but I like it because it dries in less than 10 seconds. The bottle didn't last me that long and what was left got completely unusable.

Repurchase: Not sure if they sell it any more, but I liked it.

Essence Profi-Nail File 4 in 1

I bought several of these so far. There are four different textures: one to trim, one to clean, one to smooth and one to polish the nails. I like it, it does what it's supposed to, does that well, and it's affordable. I still have one that I use all the time.

Repurchase: Not sure if they sell it any more, but I'm sure Essence has a similar one and I will purchase that one.

Have a great day!

Orofluido Update

I ordered a new bottle of Orofluido and as I opened the box I immediately noticed that the colour is more amber than it just to be. I checked the ingredients and they did in fact change them. Argan oil is now the third ingredient on the list, which is a positive change from before. Basically, they reduced the amount of silicones in favour of argan oil. However, they did add Benzophenone-3 also known as Oxybenzone (8. place on the list) which functions as a photostabiliser and sunscreen. There is a bit of controversy surrounding this ingredient, but since it's in a hair product I'm not concerned. I don't apply it on the skin anyway.

Old ingredient list:

New ingredient list:

As for the texture, scent and results, there is little difference, but it is slightly improved. I compared the new and the old formula of which I still have a few drops left and they feel and smell the same. However, I find that my hair stays moisturised longer than with the old formula. The rest is pretty much the same. You can read the review here.

This is one of my favourite hair products, hence why I repurchased it even after testing other (more) popular hair treatments (even though Elixir Ultime is growing on me, but that's just because of the gorgeous scent, the formula is way too light for me). Oh, and if you're wondering why I purchased it now, when I still have so many other mini sized bottles of other treatments, it's because it had a nice discount on cheapsmells and I paid 14€ for it + 3€ for shipping.

Here is kind of a bonus pic of my first acceptable attempt of a four strand braid. It's a month old picture and the braid is a bit messy. Honestly, it took me way too long to learn it. I watched a few how-to youtube videos, but they only left me more confused. Only when I wasn't concentrating at all where each stand should go, I finally did it. And I've been doing these braids a lot last month. They are a nice change from my usual fishbraids and normal braids. Here is my original inspiration and a tutorial.

Thanks for reading!

Hair Oils Series: Conclusion

Time for a round-up. I want to point out that the differences between all apart from Osmo are really small.  If you checked out the pictures of my hair in individual reviews, you'll see there is little if any difference in how my hair looks. A bigger difference is in how your hair feels. Here is my ranking of the five hair treatments I tested.

Winner: Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment

2nd place: Orofluido Beauty Elixir

3rd place: Moroccanoil Original

4th place: Kérastase Elixir Ultime

5th place: Osmo Berber Oil

For me the winner is Macadamia with Orofluido not far behind. Macadamia provided the sleekest, shiniest and most moisturised results, also it is the best defrizzer. Orofluido and Moroccanoil are almost dupes in results, but differ in price and scent. Also Orofluido leaves your hair with more volume. The same applies to Elixir Ultime which made my hair feel very light, silky and bouncy, but left my ends dry. Osmo made my hair feel a bit greasy at first, but dry in a few hours. However, I still love my combination Orofluido Elixir + Sahara best and I'll stick to it.

Some general information about these treatments.

1. Please don't fall for the extravagant over-the-top advertising. These treatments are very good, but nowhere near the miraculous as they are described by the advertisers. It still baffles me why such high prices  of some these treatments. What am I actually paying for? Silicones are cheap and argan oil can't be that expensive if Alverde's Mandel Argan oil is only 3.5€. The only thing left are the fragrances. The nerve of some brands! On the bright side one bottle does last a long time. Please check the prices in online shops first before spending your money in a salon (Macadamia is around 20€ on eBay, while it's around 35€ in Simple salons).

2. These are described as treatments, I prefer to call them styling products, or better, smoothing serums. Even though they contain oils, the amount of them is small and I'm bothered by the first few ingredients: cones. You can use them as a pre-wash treatment and most brands suggest you do so, but I'd never use a product with silicones for several reasons. First, silicones coat the hair and don't nourish it, just conceal the problems. Second, too expensive. Why would I use the pricey oil and then wash it off. I don't think so. Third: pure argan oil, macadamia, coconut and even olive oil work better than these serums as pre-wash treatments. Not to mention how much cheaper they are. I just use regular oils instead. 

3. Don't over do it. A few drops is enough. A 100ml bottle should last you a long time. Mine lasted two years because I wash my hair once or twice a week and I only used it after washing my hair. But I do find that by using more product on wet hair before blow-drying, I get better results. My hair is then sleeker and less frizzy, specially when using Orofluido and Macadamia. I don't want to use too much silicone products, so I use Alverde Haaröl Mandel Argan which is silicone free for when my ends are dry.

4. They tend to be heavier than their silicon serum predecessors. If your hair is oily, they might be too much. However, they are marketed for all hair types, so if you want to make them work for you, the key is in the amount used and distribution. Kerastaste is the lightest and most appropriate for oilier hair. I heard L'Oreal's Extraordinary oil is quite light as well and Mythic Oil was also way to light for my hair when I tried it once at my hairdresser (all are from L'Oreal btw). The rest are quite thick and heavy. Osmo is really heavy.

5. Most have a strong fragrance. All the ones I tried have quite a heavy perfumey scent, so if you're sensitive to that, try to get a sample first or try it at your hairdresser (if they have it, of course). 

There are exceptions in the hair oils world that don't contain silicones. One of them is Alverde Mandel Argan, which actually deserves to call itself oil. Pure oils like argan, macadamia, coconut and olive are heavy and it's difficult to use them as styling products without leaving your hair greasy. I prefer to use them only as pre-wash treatments. Alverde is a great product for those who want a silicon free product for their ends. It's still an oil, but a lighter version. It won't make your hair as silky as those with silicone, but it will actually nourish your hair. I consider it an actual hair care, not just a smoothing serum like the rest. For that reason I didn't include it in this test and because it's drugstore. I use this on dry hair only, I prefer to use silicones on wet hair before blow-drying.
Ingredients: soybean oil, emollient derived from coconut oil, argan oil, walnut oil, almond oil, burdock oil, two Vitamin E variants, Vitamin C, sunflower oil, and six fragrances derived from essential oils.
Ingredients-wise this is a fantastic product. And best of all, it's cheap. It's around 3.5€ in DM's. It's not the best for oily hair, but if your ends are dry give it a go.

I hope this helped if you're on the fence of which one to get. There are so many on the market for such different prices that it's hard to choose which one is for you.  I would still suggest you go and try it at your hairdresser if they have it, or get the sample size bottle first. I'm sorry for such long posts. I try to keep them short, but I always end up writing so much. It's just that I have so much to say, especially when it comes to hair. Thanks for reading!

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Hair Oils Series: Orofluido Beauty Elixir

This is probably the most raved about product on my blog. It's been featured in numerous favourite posts and I purchased almost all the products from this line. What's so special about it is the absolutely gorgeous oriental vanilla-amber scent. I also love the Orofluido Sahara, which is a lighter version of elixir in spray form and the shampoo is nice as well. Two products that left me unimpressed are the conditioner (to light) and shine spray (too much alcohol, Sahara is better). My bottle lasted me two years and believe me, I used it a lot.

Packaging: A clear glass bottle with a gorgeous oriental design on the front. I think it looks most luxurious out of all, a real decoration on your vanity. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with a pump. It's available in 50ml and 100ml version.

Ingredients (Updated ingredients here): Three cones followed by argan oil, cypress oil, fragrance, isopropyl palmitate (emollient and thickening agent, also anti-static), linseed oil, another fragrance and two dyes. It's most similar to Moroccanoil as it also contains argan and linseed oil.

Scent: One of my favourite scents ever. It's an oriental vanilla and amber scent, strong but not overpowering. Much to my displeasure, it doesn't last on my hair.

Top notes: bergamot, orange flower

Heart notes: amber, red pepper, lily-of-the-valley, cyclamen

Base: amber, vanilla, patchouli, sandalwood

Performance and Results: It has a thick texture that is similar to Moroccanoil and Macadamia Natural oil. As with Moroccanoil, I can use quite a lot on wet hair and never have the feeling that it'll make my hair greasy and limp. During blow-drying it makes my hair incredibly sleek, combats frizz and gives a lot of shine. A few drops on dry hair after blow-drying just adds that finishing touch, again gives shine, smooths it down and helps the ends from feeling dry. I said before it's very similar to Moroccanoil, but it's not in any way far behind Macadamia Natural Oil as well. The only advantage that Macadamia has is that it keeps my ends moisturised longer. I do, however, find that this one leaves me with more volume, others sort of kill it a bit (with the exception of Kérastase, but that one is lighter). 

Where to buy: I bought mine through StudioMa (only for Slovene costumers). It's also sold in some hair salons (Simple) and several online shops including eBay (try this seller), Feel Unique, Cheap Smells, Beauty Bay. Slovenske strani: Mična gospodična, Lepo telo.si.

This is a product that deserves to be praised. It doesn't get as much publicity as Moroccanoil, but it performs the same, is cheaper plus it smells so much nicer. I do find this one leaves me with more volume than Morocanoil and Macadamia. It's appropriate for all hair types, but if your hair is really dry perhaps try Macadamia Natural Oil instead and if it's oily go for something lighter like Kérastase. Even after trying so many other treatments from other brands in the 20€+ range, I will repurchase it.