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.

CLARINS Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner

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!

New In #15

Did you know that Boots started shipping to Slovenia and some other European countries? We can finally get Collection 2000 concealer, Seventeen's Mirror Shine lipsticks, Origins, aerosols and all the light shades of foundations importers refuse to sell on our market. I jumped at the chance when they were running the famous 3 for 2 offer and placed my first order there. They accept Paypal and shipping is expensive at 10€, but it's through the DPD service so packages are tracked. My order arrived in four days and I'm really happy with my purchase as well as Boot's service. 

Real Techniques Blush Brush

It took me way too long to buy this considering it's such an essential tool. It's a fantastic brush - a really fluffy tapered brush that is not too big, which I'll use for pigmented blushes, bronzer and powder. 

£9.99 (12 €) in Boots.

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm 210 Unapologetic

Unapologetic is one of the many shades that are not sold in Slovenia and the only shade I wanted from the matte range (we have five shades. Disappointing). It's a super bright pink with coral undertones. I just got it, so I haven't worn it yet, but there will be a full review.

 £7.99 (10 €) in Boots.

Bourjois Java Rice Loose powder 

I got this based on a recommendation from Sara (Passing Fancy). I was looking for it in our drugstores, but I guess it was sold here only for a limited time. I heard it's a lovely, illuminating setting powder that is a bit similar to the Hourglass Ambient powder. There will be a full review once I thoroughly test it out. 

 £9.99 (12 €) in Boots.

Essie Nail Polishes Spin the Bottle

I've official found the most perfect nude nail polish for my skin tone and the formula is not too difficult to work with. If you're in the market for a nude nail polish, go check it out soon because it's a LE. Post with swatches will follow within the next couple of days.

 9.90 € in DM. 

Panasonic EH2351AC Heated Eyelash Curling Wand

I finally got it. It actually didn't take that long to arrive from Korea, only two weeks. First impressions are all right - it's not that hot that it would burn the eyelids and as I read from all the reviews, it really only works after the lashes have already been curled and mascara was applied, so it only makes a slightly better curl and makes it last longer. If you want I can do a more in-depth review.

18 € on eBay from this seller.

Shiseido The Makeup Eyelash Curler

I wanted to try a high-end lash curler to see how it compares to my Tana's (which I can't find in Müller any more, so I guess they no longer sell it). This one is almost as popular as Shu Uemura. I need some more time to really test it, but so far I can say it's good, I'm just no convinced it's that much better than Tana's which is/was half the price. However, both are miles better than Manhattan's or other cheaper versions and are best I've tried. I'll do a comparison one day. 

Regular price 24 € on Feel Unique.

Garnier Miracle Cream

This was on my wishlist since British Beauty Blogger raved about it and later I heard that this is a dupe for Origins Vitazing. It's a white face cream that releases a sheer tint when rubbed into the skin. I've only tried it on the hand and it starts of looking scarily almost orange, but sheers out and gives a natural looking touch of colour/tan. It also has SPF 20. There will be a review once I test it out.

11.99 € in Müller. 

SunDance Getöntes Sonnenfluid SPF 30 
Tinted sun protecting fluid

After the last year's mattifying version, which I really like, Sun Dance made a tinted version. The shade of it is actually quite light and the tint is sheer, so the shade doesn't matter much, but it does mean there is not fear of leaving a white cast. I also liked it because this version is alcohol free and it felt light when I tried it on the hand. Haven't tried in on the face yet, but there will be a review one day. 

3.69 € in DM.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor 

I ran out of 3 Minute Miracle and I immediately repurchased it. I love this, probably more than the Dove's Oil Care one that I always rave about. You know I'm really fussy about conditioners because my hair needs more than average person's do and this one is a drugstore gem. It gives great results on my super dry hair and it smells amazing like bubble gum. 

 £4.99 (6 €) in Boots.

Batiste Dry Shampoo Wild

My massive 400 ml can of Tropical version is running out and I wanted to try a different scent of Batiste since there are so many. I picked up Wild because I heard it has a nice oriental scent. I'd describe the scent as chocolate-vanilla-musk-woody one in a perfume version, not the gourmand kind. Lovely! The closest scent I can think of is Black Star by Avril Lavigne once it develops if I remember that scent correctly.

 £2.99 (3.6 €) in Boots

VO5 Give Me Texture Dry Texturising Spray 

I picked this up quite randomly, though I did hear some good things about it. It's supposed to give texture and body to the hair. I've literally just tried it and I can say that this is how I imagined texturising sprays to be (very different from the L'Oreal's #TXT and far better). I'll report back when I use it a few times.  

 £3.79 (4.7€) in Boots.

Garnier Fructis Oil Repair 3 Shampoo

Damn, this is good! I didn't expect anything much since it's a drugstore shampoo, but Garnier meant business with this one. It looks like an average Fructis shampoo that has that lovely, typical Fructis apple scent, however, the formula is fabulous. It transforms into a dense, creamy rich foam and leaves the hair nourished, while still cleansing very well. After rinsing it off there is no dryness or that awful über squeaky clean feeling that I hate, however, it's only small fault is that the hair is left a bit tangly. If you have dry hair and you want something on a budget, this is a great shampoo to try.

Ingredients here.

2-3€ in Müller.

Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo

Since I love the 3 Minute Miracle, I decided to try one of Aussie's shampoos as well. I'll do a separate review once I've had enough time using it. It smells divine, just like 3 Minute Miracle, so that yummy bubble gum scent.

6.10€ on Feel Unique.

Balea Rasiergel Summer Garden 

Mango scent

This is my favourite version of Balea's shaving gel ever. It's smells like candy in mango flavour. Yummy! And it's teal, one of my favourite colours. The quality is again excellent. I should stock up on this version because it's LE. Balea make it permanent please!

 1.99 € in DM.

Tesore d' Orientare Orchidea deodorant

I randomly grabbed this when I needed a new deodorant. It smells like soap - very clean and a bit floral (I just read on Fragrantica it's supposed to smell like J.Lo Miami Glow. Really?!). I'm not loving the scent, but it's not annoying either (yet). It performs like your average spray deodorant, so it's more about preventing/covering body odour than stopping the sweat.

 3€ in Interspar.

Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil Beauty Scrub 

This is new on the market, but I already heard a few raves about it. I've only used it once and I already love it, but I'll report back when I use it a few more times. It smells the same as the Body Ultimate Beauty Oil.
4.99 € in Müller. 

Riffi Body Brush

Another blogger inspired purchase, this time by Jana from Small Bits of Loveliness. I've been planning on buying this for ages, but always forgot. I bought the smallest one I could find to fit into my hand and I really like this one. The bristles are just prefect - soft, but not too soft. This dry body brushing business feels really nice and I've been doing it before almost all my showers (it only takes a few minutes). It's kind of addictive. It exfoliates the skin, assists in improving vascular blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, but you should google it you want to read more about it because that is all I know. 

5.49 € in Müller.

Ulala! Detangler Hair Brush

I've had my Tangle Teezer for about 7 years and it still serves me well, but it is falling apart. I wanted something with a handle because I have small hands and TT is a bit big to hold, but instead of buying something online I just took one in DM. This is just a generic version that I've seen in several places, only someone put their name on it (Beauty Bay has pretty much the same version). The bristles aren't quite as soft as at TT, but that doesn't really matter on my thick hair, though it might on fine hair (I'd get a TT in that case. Macadamia's version is nice as well I hear).

8.75 € in DM. There is also a pink/black version.

essence show your feet super soft shoe insoles
EU 36-38

I've been looking for these for a while and they finally arrived in our neck of the woods. These are padded insoles that you can put in any shoes to make them more comfortable and have a sticker on the bottom so they won't slide out. I'm a size 36/3(UK)/5(US) and these fit perfectly in all my shoes. They feel nice and soft, however, they make the shoe 1/2 or 1 size smaller, so these are nice if you have shoes that run just a bit big, but if they fit well, it can get a bit pinchy. There is a violet or pink version that is bigger (fits 39-41).

2.99 € in Müller.

Have a great day!

Unsung Hero: Shiseido Perfect Rouge Glowing Matte PK224 Sugar Babe

I've had this post ready in my to-post folder for more than a half of year now. I've actually talked about Shiseido Sugar Babe in several posts and there is even a picture of it on my All-time favourites page, but I never posted a picture of how it looks on the lips. Anyway, enough delaying, so here it it. I wore it loads, not just last year, but in general since I bought it. It became my everyday shade and I basically wore it everywhere until I my changed up my routine with Catrice Matt About Pink. It is my favourite nude shade that doesn't make me look dead, but has that hint of brightness to it.

The colour is just stunning. Sugar Babe doesn't look anything special in the tube or even swatched on my hand, but it looks gorgeous on the lips (strangely, I had the same experience with Catrice Matt about Pink). It's a light pinky coral melon colour that looks great on warmer skin tones. It might look a more plain pink on someone who has a medium skin tone, so test it on the lips before buying it.

As much as I love this colour, the formula is rubbish for a high-end lipstick. It is a lightweight matte formula and actually not at all drying which is a huge plus, but isn't smooth enough which makes the application look uneven. Even if your lips are properly exfoliated and smooth, it sort of clumps up and you're left with more colour/product on certain areas. I am a fan of matte finishes and some much cheaper brands made great quality light shades of lipsticks in a matte formula, so resent Shiseido for not making more of an effort, especially since they charge so much for their products. It's is semi-transparent and I need a few swipes to get the intensity going. It lasts well on the lips and even survives drinking, which is rare for paler shades. There is even some subtle stain going on after a few hours, but doesn't last long.

The packaging is really well-made and probably the best quality in my collection. It feels a bit heavy, but the lid stays shut even after being tossed around in my bag. Though it has that classic feel to it, the design is unique with a rounded square profile. 

So yes, the formula is not the highlight of this lipstick, but it never stopped me from wearing it. The colour is just too beautiful to be ignored and I have searched far and wide to find this precise colour. When I use it up, I will repurchase it. I bough it in Müller for about 25€.
If you're looking for something similar, but not matte, try Maybelline's Colour Whisper in Coral Ambition (it's less pink).

Have a great day!

Things I'm Loving Right Now - Summer Brights

With Summer finally here, I started reaching for some brighter shades of lipstick. I purchased four more in the past weeks (having a bit of a lipstick craze at the moment), mostly Catrice which turned out to be very good lipsticks.

My choices for this summer are (coloured text is a link to previous review and swatches):

1st row from left to right in the first picture and on swatches:
- Revlon Matte 004 Pink About it
- Beauty UK 10 Passion
- Shiseido Glowing Matte PK 224 (a new one, I tried taking swatches but they turned out horribly. But in short, it's a great mix of light coral and pink, a nice everyday shade)

2nd row:
- Catrice Ultimate Colour 210 Pinkadilly Circus
- Catrice Ultimate Colour 100 Lobster Love
- Catrice Ultimate Shine 210 Kiss Kiss Hibiskus

3rd row:
 - Essence 55 Coralize Me!
 - IsaDora Jelly Kiss 47 Coral Punch
 - Maybelline ColorSensational Popstick 020 Tropical Pink

As I said before I purchased four new lipsticks - in the 2nd row from left to right are all from Catrice: Ultimate Colour 210 Pinkadilly Circus, Ultimate Colour 100 Lobster Love and Ultimate Shine 210 Kiss Kiss Hibiskus; and in the 3rd row is Maybelline ColorSensational Popstick 020 Tropical Pink.

All three Catrice lippies are very pigmented. Ultimate Colours have a satin finish and last very well on the lips (survive eating and drinking quite well actually, another shade I own is Frozen Rose). Ultimate Shine one is also very pigmented but has a more glossy finish. Pinkadilly Circus is a medium pink shade. Lobster Love is a bright coral red shade. Kiss Kiss Hibiskus is a bright watermellon dark pink shade (supposedly a dupe for Mac's Impassioned). Catrice lippies cost 4,19 € in our drugstore and I highly recommend checking them out, the quality is really impressive.

Maybelline ColorSensational Popstick 020 Tropical Pink is one of their new ''see-through/transparent '' type of lipsticks. My pictures of the lipstick in the tube are horrible (my camera hates corals it seems), in real life it's not that orange, it's more of a coral pink shade (this is a much better picture click). It's more of a stain and looks very transparent on the lips. It smells amazing, sort of tropical fruity and moisturises very well. It costs around 10 €.

In other news, I got a package from Korea yesterday with my new BB cream. I purchased Holika Holika Peach Girl BB cream SPF37 PA++ in shade #2, which is still a very light shade (actually almost identical to Skin79 Pink Label). It comes with a very cute coral cream blush and a mirror in the lid. So far I've worn it once and I like it a lot. It has a bit of a dewy finish and more coverage than Skin79 Pink Label. A more detailed review and swatches will follow as soon as I test it properly.

Thanks for reading!