Alpstories Bath Salt, Organic Shampoo and Damask Rose Floral Water

Besedilo v slovenščini je na koncu objave.

Alpstories is a Slovene brand that found inspiration for their product in the Alps and they offer a range of products that are free of parabens, mineral oil, articifical colours, sythetic fragrance, silicones and aren't tested on animals. 

Bath Salt

400 g

When I saw that you can customize your own product on Alpstories, I got really excited. I just love the idea so much, though I would prefer if they also had an option of mixing very gourmand scents of products, but classic essential oils are just fine. I needed and wanted a bath salt, so that's the product I decided on, but you can also mix your own shower gel, body milk, liquid soap, massage oil and oil. There are two ways to get the right mix for you, one is by finishing a little quiz that asks you about your skin and habits, and the second way is to decide on the mix of the ingredients yourself. I did the quiz and I got a mix of pelargonium, lavender and ylang yang. I decided to add a bit of camomile in it, since you can add your ingredients later as well, but now I saw that they must have recently added the option of coconut scent, which I'd pick in a heartbeat (and cherry too). Then you proceed to the label part, which to me was terribly exciting. You can pick any colour you want for logo and then also add your own text as well as pictures that you can upload yourself if you wish. I decided on a very simple lavender theme with my blog's logo. I enjoyed making the label so much and next time I might make a mint green version.

The bath salt is sea salt with added essential oils. It takes some time to dissolve due to the size and the scent is very intense - mine turned out to be a relaxing herbal scent. It says you should put a lot of the salt in the bath and one pot contains 400 g of it.

I think this would make an excellent personalized gift. My mix cost 10.38 €, but it all depends on the ingredients and the quantity of them. Ingredients in mine here, also the other side of the label here.

  

Organic Shampoo

12.80 eur, 200 ml

I genuinely did not expect to like this. This was a surprise part of the package sent kindly by Alpstories and I was concerned because I have a bad track record with natural/organic shampoos and I tend to be a bit more brutal in my hair reviews (nothing makes me angrier than a product that ruins my hair). Nonetheless I gave it a try and I honestly haven't tried a SLS/SLES/silicone free shampoo that would actually behave like a normal shampoo - but this one does. It foams well, it cleans well and it doesn't leave my hair a dried up, tangly mess. It's not nourishing, nonetheless I really appreciate that it's not stripping. It has sort of a pharmacy shampoo scent that is a bit more bitter and herbal, but it's not annoying. It's quite a basic shampoo that would probably suit many hair types, though I can't assess how well it would perform on very greasy hair. I don't like sulphate free shampoo in general because they don't clean well enough, but this is really good one, though I would prefer if were a bit more nourishing. It also doesn't irritate my scalp, though it didn't help to fix my dandruff problem at all. Ingredients here.

Damask Rose Floral Water 

10.20 eur, 250 ml

There is this hype about rose waters in the beauty community, particularly about the Melvita one and you have to admit that this one and Melvita's share some similarities when it comes to the packaging, but Alpstories one is more affordable. I was excited to give a try due to all the benefits I heard such waters bring. It's a toner in a spray that you apply after cleansing to refresh the skin and you can also use it liberally during the day or even over makeup. The spray pump isn't the best. I've bought some very inexpensive products with a better pump, so price shouldn't be an excuse. The mist isn't fine enough and the product lands on one part of the skin, so it feels too wet and not well distributed. But I can get past that because I actually prefer to spray this on a cotton pad and apply it like that, especially in the mornings before moisturiser and foundation. I do have a problem with the scent. For one I'm not a fan of rose scented products in general, but this one is to my nose even worse because it has this strong sour/vinegar note to it and I can't bear it. I literally stop breathing when I apply this to avoid smelling it, but thankfully it dissipates very quickly. As far as long term result go, I can't say I noticed anything special. The skin feels refreshed right after application and that's it. I notice no particular hydration or other skin benefits and at times I even feel it might be a bit irritating on damaged skin (it definitely doesn't soothe at all). As I said I use this in the morning for a quick refreshment, but I wouldn't miss it in my care. 

They sell their products in Slovenia and Croatia, but they have an international online shop as well.

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Alpstories je slovenska znamka, ki je našla navdih v Alpah in ponujajo izdelke, ki so brez parabenov, mineralnega olja, umetnih ter sintentičnih barvil, silikonov, poleg tega pa ne testirajo na živalih.

Kopalna sol

400 g

Že ko sem gledala Youtube videe nekaterih Britank, ki so govorile o kopalnih soleh Bathory, slednje namreč lahko namešaš kakor si želiš, me je ideja zelo pritegnila, ampak sem enostavno predvidevala, da kaj takega zagotovo ni pri nas. Pa sem se motila. Alpstories mi je sprva izgledala kot vsaka povprečna spletna trgovina z naravno kozmetiko, nato pa sem opazila možnost ustvarjanja lastnega izdelka. Pohvalno. In ne ponujajo le kopalne soli, ampak tudi mleko za telo, masažno olje, tuš gel, tekoče milo in olje. Da namešaš izdelek se lahko odločiš za eno izmed dve poti - začneš sam od začetka ali pa rešiš kratek kviz, ki te sprašuje za osnovne stvari o koži in navadah. Jaz sem se odločila za slednje in mi je ponudilo mešanico pelargonije, ylang ylanga in sivke. Sama sem se odločila še dodati kamilico za vonj, zdaj pa sem videla, da so dodali možnost vonja kokosa, ki bi ga seveda izbrala takoj, zanimiva pa mi je še češnja. Da lahko ustvariš še svojo nalepko me je čisto presenetilo in takoj sem začela delati razne kombinacije barv ter slik. Slike lahko naložiš tudi sam in tudi jaz sem naložila sliko "mojega logotipa". Končna kombinacija je sivkino inspirirana, naslednja pa bo zagotovo mentolno zelena.

Sama sol je navadna groba morska sol kateri so dodana eterična olja, zelišča in parfumi. Sol se počasi topi v vodi in ima kar močen vonj - moja kombinacija je zelo sproščujoča mešanica pelargonije, ylang ylang, sivke in kamilice. Sol je na voljo v velikosti 400 g, embalaža pa je plastična z kovinskim pokrovčkom.

Meni se zdi ideja individualno namešanih izdelkov z nalepkami zelo primerna za kakšno posebno darilo. Moja mešanica je stala 10,38 €, je pa znesek popolnoma odvisen od sestavin in količin le-teh. Sestavine moje soli tukaj, ter še druga stran nalepke tukaj.

Organski šampon za lase aloe vera

12,80 eur, 200 ml

Nisem pričakovala, da mi bo ta šampon všeč. Na splošno nisem ljubiteljica "naravnih" šamponov ali pa takih brez SLS in SLES ter silikonov, ker se v preteklosti niso kaj pretirano izkazali, pa čeprav imam prhljaj in naj bi menjava na take šampone pomagala, je bil končni efekt skupaj ničen. Še bolj me pa moti, da so taki šamponi ponavadi enostavno čudni, se ne penijo in ne očistijo dobro, ampak tale je pa očitno izjema. Sploh ne bi verjela, da je brez sulfatov, saj se obnaša čisto kot normalen šampon, ki se dobro peni in očisti lase. Celo ne diši tipično močno zeliščno, česar res ne maram, ampak diši bolj kot kakšen šampon iz lekarne z dodatkom grenkega zeliščnega vonja. Učinkek je nad pričakovanji, saj mi las ne pusti izsušenih in zavozlanih, čeprav ni pretirano negovalen, pa vseeno cenim, da nimam občutka, da bo potrebno uporabiti ogromno balzama. Zdi se mi primeren za večino tipov las, ker je kar osnovni šampon, čeprav ne znam povedati kako bi se obnesel na zelo mastnih laseh. Glede prhljaja nisem opazila nobenih sprememb, pač pri mojem sulfati in silikoni očitno niso problem, mi pa šampon ni iritiral lasišča, kot nekateri naravni šamponi (Lavera). Kar se tiče naravnih šamponov, je med temi, ki sem jih preizkusila do zdaj, ta najboljši, bi si pa glede na moj tip las želela, da bi bil morda malo bolj negovalen. Sestavine tukaj.

100% organska cvetna vodica damaščanske vrtnice

10,20 eur, 250 ml

Rožne vodice so dosegle najvišjo raven popularnosti v zadnjih letih z Melvitino rožno vodico v centru dogajanja in ne morem si pomagati, da ne bi opazila kako podobni sta si s tole od Alpstories, predvsem vizualno, seveda pa je slednja cenejša. Melvitine verzije nisem nikoli preizkusila, ampak sem slišala, da naj bi imela zelo pozitivne učinke in seveda me je zelo zanimalo kako se bo ta od Alpstories obnesla na moji mešani koži. Je pravzaprav tonik v spreju, ki ga naneseš po čiščenju ali pa kadarkoli, lahko tudi čez ličila, da se znebiš preveč očitnega pudrastega videza. Sam sprej ni pretirano dober, ker ne naredi dovolj razpršene in fine meglice, zato vodica pristane samo na enem delu obraza in pusti moker občutek. Sama se znajdem tako, da tonik raje nanašam z vatko, še posebej zjutraj namesto micelarne vode in pred nanosom kreme, za namene hitrega čiščenja in osvežitve. Me pa zelo moti vonj. Že tako in tako nisem ljubiteljica vrtničnih vonjev v kozmetiki, ker sploh niso podobni pravi stvari, ampak tale ima še dodatno kislo noto, ki jo težko prenašam. Dejansko neham dihati, ko špricam ta tonik, da se izognem vonju, ampak se vsaj zelo hitro razdiši. Glede dolgotrajnih učinkov ne vem če sem res opazila kakšne pomembnejše rezultate. Koža je bolj osvežena po nanosu, ampak to je vse. Kakšne dodatne navlaženosti nisem opazila, mi pa občasno, če je kje kakšna ranica kožo celo malo iritira, saj malenkost peče, pa sploh nima alkohola. Uporabljam jo zjutraj za hitro osvežitev, ampak jo ne bi pogrešala v svoji negi. Sestavine tukaj (pod ingredients)

Alpstories izdelke lahko dobite v trgovinah Misli Zdravo in nekaterih lekarnah. Seznam lahko najdete tukaj, poleg tega pa imajo še spletno trgovino.

Have a great day!

*Products were sent to me.

L'Occitane Pivoine Sublime Perfecting Cream

(Besedilo v slovenščini je na dnu objave.) 

I'm a fan of L'Occitane skin care since my teens, particularly their skin care ranges that are suited for combination/oily skin (currently it's Angelica, but it used to be Red Rice and Lavender) and last year I also found my favourite ever moisturiser in their Angelica line. The latter appears to have been reformulated and I haven't tried the new version yet (a few ingredients are missing, but it very similar from what I call tell), but when I first tried Pivoine Sublime (Peony) Perfecting Cream, the similarities between my favourite and this one didn't escape me. Indeed the texture and finish it leaves is very similar, however, visually Pivoine Sublime moisturiser is outstandingly beautiful and it doesn't end there, the scent is divine as well, quite possibly my favourite ever skin care scent.

The texture is like a classic cream, but closer to one of those gel-cream hybrids one, so it feels very moisturising, yet it sinks into the skin within a minute and it leaves a dry to the touch velvet-satin finish, which to me makes it an excellent base for makeup just like the Angelica one. This is the type of cream that could work for so many skin types, maybe just not for very dry skin, as I'd at least put an additional hydrating serum or oil under it. I should also mention that both the Angelica Hydra Vital and the Pivoine Sublime creams have silicones, but the Angelica one has less of them.

As I said times before the scent  is amazing. It's such a lovely floral scent - it smells of peonies, of course - I just adore it and it makes the morning and night routine such a pleasant experience. There is also a fragrance available with this scent, which I promptly put on my wishlist.

Usually I'm not a fan of creams in pots for hygiene reasons, but this pot so beautiful. I keep it as decoration on my shelves. Unlike the Angelica version, it has a metal foil protector, while the former had a plastic one which turned out to work a bit better I think.

Now for the most pressing question - is it as good for my skin as the (old) Angelica one? I said in my review for the latter that it makes my skin look healthier. I've been using the Peony version for about a month now and so far I don't find that it works quite as well for my skin, despite the similarities, but I did stop using acids, so the conditions aren't the same. It's close enough though, especially if my favourite has gone under a significant reformulation and it's firmly at the second place of my all time favourite moisturisers, and yes, despite the steep price (the scent sells it to me, to be honest). L'Occitane is usually very generous with samples, so if I are considering trying moisturisers from Peony and Angelica lines, I'd get a sample of both. Both are priced about the same and both are excellent moisturisers, so it really depends on the individual preferences which one to choose. 

Pivoine Sublime Perfecting Moisturiser costs 38.10 €. You can find more information about the Pivoine Sublime line as well as my review and swatches of the lip balm from this line here.

L'Occitane sem odkrila v mojih najstniških letih in ena izmed prvih stvari, ki sem si jih privoščila, je bil sivkin matirajoči losion, ki je bil izjemen. Danes tega losiona ni več, saj ga je zamenjal Angelikin, ampak L'Occitanovi izdelki za nego za obraza so ostali eni izmed moji najljubših in tisti, ki jim še najbolj zaupam (čeprav mi cene niso najbolj všeč). Lani sem se popolnoma zaljubila v Angelikino kremo za obraz, ki je daleč najboljša krema kar sem jo uporabljala, ampak izgleda da so zadnje čase nekaj menjavali sestavo, nove pa še nisem preizkusila. Ko sem prvič preizkusila novo kremo iz Potonikine linije, sem opazila izjemno podobnost med staro Angelikino in to. Mi je pa lonček Potonikine kreme precej lepši (prava dekoracija v kopalnici ali mizi) in pa tudi vonj je izjemen, prav verjetno moj najljubši vonj kreme od vseh, ki sem jih imela možnost preizkusiti.

Tekstura kreme je dokaj klasična, ampak je ena izmed teh "modernih" tekstur, ki je skoraj nekako kot hibrid med gelom in kremo, posledično se hitro vpije v kožo in ne pusti mastnega sloja na koži. Mojo mešano kožo dovolj nahrani in pusti na koži satenast finiš, koža je tudi zelo hitro suha na dotik. Meni so take kreme še najbolj všeč za pod puder. Obe Angelikina (nova in stara) in tale vsebujeta silikone, ampak Potonikina jih ima višjo koncentracijo in ti so odgovorni za žametni občutek na koži. Krema se mi zdi primerna za večino tipov kože, saj odlično deluje na moji (z)mešani koži, le za suho kožo bo premalo in bo potrebno uporabiti še kakšen vlažilni serum ali pa olje.

Vonj je izjemen, o tem trobim že cel mesec v več objavah in še parfum iz te linije sem takoj dala na listo želja. Krema seveda diši po potonikah, torej ima prijeten cvetlični vonj. Meni je vonj izdelkov, ki jih uporabljam zelo pomemben in tale krema mi res polepša vsakodnevno rutino.

Običajno nisem ljubiteljica krem v lončkih zaradi higienskih razlogov, ampak lonček te kreme je čista umetnina, pravzaprav je celotna Potonikina linija paša za oči. Krema je poleg kovinskega pokrovčka zaprta še z aluminijasto folijo, ki sem jo jaz kar obdržala, ampak Angelikina krema ima dodatni plastični pokrov, ki se izkazal za malo bolj praktičnega.

Pa mi je Potonikina krema tako všeč kot stara Angelikina? Po pravici povedano sploh ne vem. Obe sta tako podobni, sploh kar se tiče teksture in finiša, mi je pa seveda vizualno Potonikina krema veliko lepša, da o vonju sploh ne govorim. Vseeno se mi zdi, da je bila moja koža ko sem uporabljala Angelikino verzijo malo lepša, je pa res, da sem trenutno prenehala z uporabo izdelkov s kislinami tako da pogoji niso popolnoma enaki. L'Occitane je običajno zelo radodaren s testerji (izjemno pohvalno. So redki v Sloveniji), poleg tega imajo zelo dobre prodajalce, ki radi pomagajo, tako da preizkusite obe kremi in se sami odločite katera vam bolje ustreza.

Izboljševalna krema za obraz Popolna potonika stane 38.10 €. Več informacij o celotni liniji Popolna Potonika in objava od balzamu za ustnice iz te linije najdete tukaj. Kolikor sem gledala po tujih L'Occitanovih straneh sem samo pri nas našla komplet minijev, ki vsebuje tudi 8 ml lonček kreme, samo ga na spletni strani ni več na zalogi, je pa zagotovo še v kakšni trgovini. Meni je padel v oči predvsem zaradi mini parfuma in mini kreme, ker so mi take stvari izjemno prikupne.

Have a great day!

*This moisturiser was sent to me as I already noted in my New in post.

Bocassy Paris Serum

Bocassy is a brand that brought two countries together, our neighbour Croatia and France, and they offer a range of moisturisers, cleansers, toners,.. so basically a basic skin care range, but with natural ingredients, no parabens, colourants or silicones. I've never heard of this brand before I was offered to try their products. It's sold in Müllers, but I don't spend a lot of time in front of "natural" skincare sectors so it eluded me completely, which is shame because I really like this serum. 

The decision for accepting to try this serum was made immediately after I saw the ingredients. Apart from being free of "nasties" as some people call them, it contains olive oil, shea and cocoa butter, vitamin A, E, d-panthenol, comfrey root extract and anise seed extract. I stopped reading at vitamin A and it was then that I decided to try it. 

The serum reminds me more of a very light moisturiser or a lotion rather than a serum, so I really like using this on its own in the morning under foundations as it gives me enough moisture, but sinks in quickly. Because it doesn't just sit on the skin, there is no problem applying another moisturizer or, as I do, an oil on top. Bocassy says it's appropriate for all skin types and I'm inclined to agree. The serum has a pleasant sort of apple-ish scent, but a bit warmer. My skin feels moisturised after use, doesn't scream for more moisture and it looks fresh. As far as long term effects go, I  notice that my skin looks more fresh and healthy. It doesn't affect any existing blemishes nor prevent them or make the skin tone more even, but the pores look less "gaping" and the skin looks better in general. That's the reason I really like this serum, just that it makes my skin look healthy.  

The glass bottle looks minimalistically modern and chic, but without unnecessary embellishments (basically very French). The pump is the only tiny weakness because it's not precise enough and lauches the product across the room if you're not careful, but you get used to it fast. I use two pumps of product at once and I notice that the more product I use, the better the skin looks. That part isn't my favourite because firstly, I'm very frugal with products in general and second because it will run out a lot faster than I would hope for. One pump is enough for my face, but the results then aren't as apparent.

The serum costs 24.92 € for 50 ml and it's sold in certain Müllers (in Slovenia those are Čopova, BTC, Rudnik, Koper, Celje and Maribor Europark) and I believe in Croatia, it's also available in DM. Would I buy this again? I would. I really like it. But it's expensive for my budget considering how fast it will run out and the nearest place I can get it from is 80 km away, which is a bother. But if it's in your budget and you're interested in natural skin care, I'd definitely give it a go.

SLO

Hrvaška in Francija sta združili svoje znanje o naravni kozmetiki in ustvarili znamko Bocassy, ki ima vse za osnovno nego obraza. Njihovi izdelki ne vsebujejo parabenov, barvil in silikonov. Preden so mi ponudili, da preizkusim njihove izdelke, za to znamko še nisem slišala, sicer je na voljo v Műllerju, ampak jaz "naravnega" kotička kaj dosti ne raziskujem, kar je škoda, ker me je tale serum prijetno presenetil.

Sestavine so bile tiste, ki so me prepričale, da poskusim tale serum. Poleg tega, da ne vsebuje "spornih" sestavin, je seznam sestavin kar prijetno pogledati. Vsebuje namreč olivno olje, karitejevo ter kakavovo maslo,  vitamine A, E, d-panthenol, ekstrakte gabezove korenine in janeževih semen. Mene je najbolj pritegnil vitamin A.

Serum me spominja bolj na kakšno lahko kremo ali pa losjon, kot pa na pravi serum in zato ga lahko brez problema uporabim individualno ali pa zjutraj kot podlago za ličila, ker dovolj navlaži, ampak se hitro vpije. Zato ker ne sedi na koži, lahko uporabim še kremo ali pa moje Nuxe olje in mi ni preveč. Bocassy pravi, da je serum primeren za vse tipe kože in bi se kar strinjala s tem. Diši nekako po jabolkih, ampak je kar topel vonj za razliko od večinoma svežih verzij vonja. Po uporabi je koža navlažena, nič ne zateguje in izgleda sveža. Kar se tiče rezultatov daljše uporabe, opažam, da moja koža izgleda predvsem bolj zdravo in manj utrujeno. Nič ne vpliva na kakšne mozolje, niti jih ne prepreči, tudi ne izenači kaj dosti tena, ampak pore in koža na splošno izgledajo bolje. Zato mi je serum tako več, ker naredi kožo videti bolj zdravo.

Steklena embalaža izgleda minimalistično in moderno, pač tipično francosko. Pumpica je edina mala slabost, ker ni pretirano natančna in če nisi previden, ti špricne serum praktično čez celo sobo, ampak se jo hitro navadiš kontrolirati. Sama porabim dva potiska pumpice izdelka, ker opažam da so rezultati veliko boljši, če uporabim več izdelka. In ravno slednja lastnost me moti, namreč sama sem dosti stiskaška bo pride do porabljanja kozmetike in dejstvo, da bom porabila serum dvakrat hitreje mi ni všeč. En potisk s pumpico sicer da dovolj izdelka za nanos, ampak rezultati niso enaki.   

Serum stane 24,92 € za 50 ml, na voljo pa je le v nekaterih Müllerjih (Čopova, BTC, Rudnik, Koper, Celje in Mariborski Europark). Bi izdelek ponovno kupila? Bi. Ampak je drag za moj žep,  sploh glede na to kako hitro se porabi, poleg tega pa je najbližji Műller, kjer ga lahko dobim 80 km stran, kar je nadležno. Ampak če si ga lahko privoščite in vas dobra naravna kozmetika zanima, je definitivno vreden nakupa.

Have a great day!

L'Occitane Immortelle Oil Make-up Cleanser

(Slovenski prevod spodaj)

A couple weeks ago L'Occitane added a few new products to their Immortelle range. Aside from the Precious BB Cream, Precious Mist and 28 Day Divine Renewal Skin Programme, L'Occitane created another makeup cleansing oil, which I believe is still one of only two available on Slovene market. Shea Butter one was the first (review from Passing Fancy here) and now they released the Immortelle version, which is enriched with immortelle essential oil that helps smooth the skin with each use and has anti-ageing properties. I am no stranger to cleansing oils and I've tried a few already, all proved to be the best and most convenient waterproof makeup removers. I wear a heavy duty waterproof mascara very often, so I need an equally heavy duty remover to get every last scrape off at the end of the day and this one certainly does its job.

In terms of texture, Immortelle Oil Make-up Remover has a practically identical one to The Body Shop and L'Oreal's ones, so it's a very light, liquid oil, which emulsifies when water is added. I start by applying it on dry face, massage it in well so the makeup dissolves, then I add a bit of water, massage again and  rinse it off. Out of all the oils I've tried so far, I think that this one rinses off best, meaning there is little of that filter left on the skin. The oil has the same scent as the rest of the Immortelle line (or at least like the cleansing foam), so a wildflower scent that is between moderate and strong. When I was using the Cleansing Foam, I didn't like the scent from the start, but it grew on me. 

I tried this oil with my best waterproof mascara, Lancome Hypnose and a full face of makeup including Bourjois' Velvets to give it a proper test. It removed every scrap in the first go, however, I did need a lot of massaging between the lashes to completely dissolve the mascara, but that's no different to dual phase removers. I was quite impressed because I was sure I won't remove literally everything, but when I used a separate duo-phase remover on a cotton pad, it came back clean. It's nice to know that I can be confident that my face is really clean before going to bed. My complaint would be that it makes the vision foggy, but that's just something I have to put up with if I want to wear waterproof mascara and remove it completely at the end of the day. The skin is left moisturised, however, I still apply moisturiser which is what I do with any of these oil/balm cleansers. 

One thing that this cleanser very pleasantly surprised me is in what condition my skin is after an extended use. All oil cleansers I've used so far, broke me out a bit and it kind of put me off them for a while. I had to use them only a couple of times a week to prevent unwanted spots, but with this oil I actually find my skin is looking a lot better. I've mentioned in my New in post that my skin has been looking really good at the moment and I have even passed up on wearing foundation on several occasions. This oil could be the reason for it or at least it's not interfering with my other skincare.

It comes in a plastic packaging with a pump that works just fine and doesn't leak. The pump also locks if you turn it.

The oil is available in L'Occitane shops and on their official L'Occitane websites. It costs 22.40 €. From other shops online I'm only aware of Feel Unique and Look Fantastic selling some L'Occitane products (by the way, their Angelica Hydration Cream and Almond Shower Oil are amazing).  

Prejšnji teden so se liniji Immortelle pridružili novi izdelki: Žlahtna BB krema, 28 dnevni božanski tretma za obnavljanje kože, Žlahtna meglica in Olje za odstranjevanje ličil. Slednje je že drugo takšno L'Occitanovo olje, prvo je del karitejeve linije (ocena  Passing Fancy tukaj), to v liniji Immortelle pa je obogateno z eteričnim oljem suhocvetnice in obljublja, da z vsako uporabo naredi kožo bolj gladko. Kolikor vem sta to še vedno edina takšna izdelka na voljo pri nas, tako da očitno edino L'Occitane ni pozabil na nas. Sama imam že kar nekaj izkušenj s takšnimi olji, saj kot pogosta uporabnica vodoodpornih ličil nujno potrebujem dobro čistilno sredstvo, da jih ob koncu dneva popolnoma odstranim. Čistilna olja so še najhitrejša, pa še vatk ne porabljam brezveze. Tole olje se zelo izkazalo in učinkovito opravi svojo nalogo.

Čistilno olje je zelo lahko in tekoče, je že skoraj kot voda in kaj hitro spolzi z rok. Pravzaprav se v tem smislu prav nič ne razlikuje od The Body Shopove in L'Orealove verzije (obeh seveda ni na voljo pri nas, tako da če iščete dobro alternativo bo tole kar pravo). Olje nanesem na suho kožo ter ga dobro vmasiram, še posebej med trepalnice da karseda učinkovito raztopi vodoodporno maskaro. Ravno pri maskari je potrebo malo več truda, ampak ne če gre za navadno formulo. Olje se ob dodatku vode rahlo speni, kar tudi olajša spiranje izdelka. Od vseh olj, ki sem jih preizkusila, imam občutek, da se tole še najbolj spere in je manj tistega filtra na koži. Olje ima isti vonj kot preostala linija, torej vonj suhocvetnice, ki meni diši kot kakšne travniške rože. Vonj sicer ni zelo močen, ampak tudi ni mil. Včasih sem imela čistilno peno iz te kolekcija in mi od začetka vonj ni bil všeč, ampak sem se ga hitro navadila in mi je postal kar malo všeč.

Olje sem zadala težek test, saj sem uporabila moja najbolj obstojna ličila med njimi Lancome Hypnose vodoodporno maskaro in Bourjoisovo Velvet šminko. Olje je odstranilo vsa ličila v prvem čiščenju, ampak sem ga morala kar nekaj časa masirati med trepalnicami, sicer pa to ni nič drugače kot pri dvofaznih odstranjevalcih. Olje me je kar pozitivno presenetilo, namreč zdelo se mi je kot da mogoče maskare pa vseeno ni popolnoma odstranil, zato sem šla čez z vatko in dvofaznim odstranjevalcem ter ugotovila, da na na trepalnicah in ne na koži ni ostalo nič. Je pa ena lastnost olja oz. kar vseh olj, ki me moti in sicer da precej zameglijo vid. Po čiščenju je koža nahranjena, vseeno pa kot vedno uporabim še kremo. 

Čeprav sem preizkusila že nekaj olj, sem kar malo izgubila upanje, da bom našla tako ki mi po daljši uporabi ne bo mašilo por. Ampak očitno sem ga, namreč tale tudi po daljši uporabi ne povzroča nobenih težav. V moji zadnji New In objavi sem napisala, da sem trenutno kar zadovoljna s stanjem moje kože in sem kar nekajkrat uporabila le malo korektorja pod očmi. Nisem prepričana, če je razlog za to prav to olje ali kaj drugega, ampak meni je najbolj pomembno, da mi ne povzroča nobenih nevšečnosti. 

Embalaža je plastična kar pomeni da je lahka in odporna. Pumpica je super in zelo praktična, v redu bo tudi za potovanje, saj se zaklene.

Olje je na voljo v L'Occitanovih trgovinah, mogoče tudi v nekaterih Müllerjih in Maximarketu, ampak ne vem točno. L'Occitane ima tudi spletno trgovino. Olje stane 22,40 € za 200 ml.

The rest of the new products / Ostale novosti

Žlahtna BB krema Immortelle SPF 30 / Immortelle Precious BB Cream Teint

39.70 €

Žlahtna meglica Immortelle / Immortelle Precious Mist

13.20 €

28-dnevni božanski tretma za obnavljanje kože Immortelle / Immortelle 28 Day Divine Renewal Skin Program

101.00 €

Have a great day!

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm

I always told myself that this balm was certainly over-hyped to console myself at the look of the price tag. I mean it's just not normal that anyone would ask for such a price for any skincare item (an euro short of 50 €), but hey that's just my two cents. But damn it, the texture of this is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. I got the small, but still generous 50 ml size in a nice set together with a 15 ml size of Amazing Face Age Support cream, a shockingly good cloth and handy travel zip bag for 25 € on Feel Unique (it's still available for 28 €). 

Texture: It's a solid oil and its melting temperature appears to be lower than that of Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm or Balm Balm Frankincense Cleansing balm as the top layer is mostly in a liquid state in my bathroom. As soon as this is rubbed into the skin it turns into oil, so it's very easy to massage the product into the skin. I don't need much of it, about a pea size or two is enough for me. By the way, I've been using it since December and I've used up about a third, a half at most of, the pot, so it should last a while.

Effect: This removes everything and I mean it. Even my Lancome Hypnose waterproof mascara, which is ridiculously hard to remove. However, it does leave my vision foggy, so cleansing has to happen right before going to bed. Just like other balm cleansers it needs to be wiped off with a cloth to avoid a greasy layer of product on the skin, since merely water obviously won't remove oil. The skin is left clean and comfortable, however, though there is this moisturising layer left behind, I have on occasions suffered from dried out cheeks, which did surprise me as this never happened with other balm cleaners. This just means that I need to use a good moisturiser after cleansing. In terms of long term effects, I'm not convinced it leaves my skin in such good condition as Balance Me's, particularly because of that occasional dryness of certain areas and also my skin hasn't been as clear as with Balance me's or Good Things Manuka Honey cleaners. I could get around both of these occasional problems because the texture of this is to die for, but honestly, for a full price of this product I expect a lot of things and since something cheaper does a better job, I'd seriously reconsider splurging for this again.

Scent: I expected a heavy herbal-natural scent, which I normally dislike, but this pleasantly surprised me with a gentle tangerine-ish natural fragrance.

Packaging: is so badly made considering the price. I'm a weakling, but even I managed to crack the lid while screwing it back. But otherwise it's a standard pot just like those for face creams.

The Cloth: this is it brilliant. A million times better than regular wash cloth or simple muslin cloths (the one you get with the Balance me cleanser is ridiculously rubbish compared to this). It's dual sided with a "harsher" exfoliating muslin side and a gentle microfibre one. I used to have a similar just microfibre cloth from Müller, which was quite expensive at 5 €, so it was particularly painful when someone in my household mistook it for a dusting cloth, but it's one of those that takes the makeup off by itself due to a dense structure. I need more of these cloths because they are amazing.

Amazing Face Age Support Cream: This is a very rich and thick moisturiser. It reminds me of universal creams such as Nivea in terms of texture and of how well it moisturises, but it doesn't leave that heavy, greasy layer on the skin. I haven't used this much because my skin doesn't require such a rich moisturiser, but it does come handy when my skin feels dry. It has a strong floral, but pleasant scent.

I am torn about this cleanser. I adore it for so many reasons such as the texture, its makeup removing capabilities and scent, but I was taken aback when I noticed dry cheeks after a couple of months of use (though I fixed it fast) and I wasn't too thrilled about occasional spots either, though my skin is still clear on most days and forehead completely smooth at the moment. If it were lets say 20 € for 100 ml, I'd rave about it, but at such high price I want more and I still think Balance Me's balm is better. I'd say give this a try if you find a good deal on it because it is worth trying out (this set is particularly nice) - I am really glad I gave this a go. I would highly recommend the cloths though. They sell them in a pack of three on Feel Unique.  

Have a great day!

Konjac Sponge with French Pink Clay

(Besedilo v slovenščini je na koncu objave) 

Though I'm a beauty blogger, I'm slightly ashamed to admit that these konjac sponges escaped my notice completely. I'm dubious about these "miracle do-it-all" products such as these and when it comes to skin care I prefer not to experiment too much. I was offered to try one sponge and I remembered Jana praising one of these, so I accepted. I was recommended the version with French Pink Clay which is meant for tired and devitalised skin after describing my skin as normal/combination but at times partly dry and prone to dry patches. There are several versions designed for different skin types and you can see them here. 

The concept behind konjac sponges is that they're made from fibres of a konnyaku potato or konjac plant native to Asia. They are supposedly 100 % natural, vegan, cruelty free and biodegradable. The sponge comes packed in a plastic bag and it's bone dry, so it's hard as a rock. You're supposed to wet it and then gently squeeze out the excess water by flattening it between the palms, so you don't damage it. Once it's wet, it's so squishy and soft, it's like jelly and actually fun to use. No soap is required, unless you plan to use it to remove makeup. It does feel like there is a light layer of something soapy on the sponge and the lightly textured surface provides a gentle exfoliation. Both of these features appear to be responsible for an incredibly silky feeling on the skin, almost like a silicone primer was applied. The skin is so smooth and there is a light layer of something moisturizing left behind. I really like to use this in the morning because it's so fast and convenient, it takes seconds to wash my face. I prefer to use it without any soap, but I have tried using it with it and I didn't really like it, as it took forever to get the sponge free of soap again, plus it didn't perform any better than without soap. I would, however, not consider this as a stand-alone cleansing method, especially if you wear makeup often. I still like to use a "proper cleanser" at the end of the day to make sure that my skin is completely clean. When it comes to long term performance, I must say I haven't noticed any particular effects and my skin is just the way it usually is.

After washing, I rinse it off and put it on a radiator (though, you're supposed to hang it in a dry place) so it dries completely and reverts to its hard state. I disinfect it by pouring boiling water over it, however, I have noticed that this process is slowly removing that soapy layer and  after a month of use that silky feeling isn't really present any more. The sponge is supposed to last 1-3 months before you have to change it.

I wasn't going to address this originally because I've only had experience with this particular sponge, but I was informed by Tamara from Cherry Colours on Instagram that there are much cheaper sponges that could be found on eBay, so a little debate formed there and was later contacted by our importer to explain to me why these particular sponges cost so much. I find it important to share these information to perhaps help someone decide in which direction to go. These particular sponges are cruelty free, vegan and comply to the highest EU regulations, which sets them apart from other similar products since as we know, the origin of products on eBay can be sketchy (especially from China). The plants used to make these sponges grow in an area under UNESCO protection (Jeju island) meaning the pollution levels are regulated and minimal. The konjac fibres used are the highest quality and their company esteems themselves on high work ethic. So basically the decision of what to get is completely yours based on what you find more important.

In general I do like this sponge. It's quick and easy to use, it provides gentle exfoliation and I loved that silkiness that it left behind in the first few weeks of use. These cost 11.99 € where I live and 7.99 GBP on the official website.

Konjac gobice so narejene iz posebnih gomoljev, ki izhajajo iz Azije in so 100 % naravne, veganske in biorazgradljive. Sama imam gobico s francosko roza glino, ki je namenjena utrujeni ter občutljivi koži in ta dobro ustreza moji kombinirani dehidrirani koži, ampak obstaja več verzij gobic, katere lahko vidite tukaj.

Gobica je zapakirana v plastično vrečko in ko je suha, je trda kot kamen. Potrebno jo je namočiti, da se popolnoma prepoji z vodo in nato nežno iztisniti odvečno vodo. Ko je mokra je kot kakšen žele - tako mehka in pravzaprav zabavna za uporabo. Dodatno milo sicer ni potrebno, ampak če nosiš ličila je vseeno priporočljivo uporabiti še kakšno čistilno sredstvo, ki pa se ga z gobico porabi veliko manj kot brez. Na gobici je nekakšen rahlo milnat, skoraj sluzast sloj (v dobrem smislu, seveda) in poleg tega pa ima gobica še luknjičasto strukturo, ki omogoča nežen piling kože. Kombinacija obeh lastnosti prispevata k na dotik zelo svileni koži, pravzaprav je na koži kot nekakšen silikonski sloj, tako gladka je. Meni gobica najbolj ustreza za uporabo zjutraj, saj je zelo hitra za uporabo in mi ni potrebno uporabiti čistilnega sredstva. Sicer se jo preizkusila tudi z gelom za obraz, ampak kar se tiče učinka nisem opazila nobene bistvene razlike, samo tega svilenega občutka praktično ni bilo, pa še trajalo je da sem spravila ves gel z gobice. Vseeno pa sama ne bi imela to gobico kot edini "čistilec", saj ob koncu dneva vedno uporabim še (trenutno) čistilni balzam, da sem tako prepričana, da je moja koža popolnoma čista. Kar se tiče dolgotrajnega učinka, nisem opazila nobene pretresljive spremembe v stanju moje kože. Po čiščenju je gobico potrebno popolnoma posušiti. Jaz jo dam kar na radiator, poleti pa bi jo verjetno obesila nekje, kjer ni prevlažno. Gobico imam že kakšen mesec in ta milnat sloj je že skoraj izginil, deloma tudi zato ker jo razkužujem v vreli vodi. Gobica naj bi zdržala 1-3 mesece preden jo je potrebno zamenjati (staro pa se da zanimivo uporabiti kot gnojilo za rože).

Na Instagramu pod mojo sliko te gobice se je razvila zanimiva debata glede teh gobic, saj me je Tamara iz Cherry Colours opozorila, da obstajajo verzije gobic, ki so zelo poceni in se prodajajo na npr. eBayu. Prvotno sicer o temi nisem imela namena razpravljati tukaj, ker sama pač nimam nikakšne izkušnje z "eBay gobicami" torej jih ne morem primerjati, ampak jo bom vseeno vključila zraven. Zastopnica gobic za naš trg, Maja, se je zelo potrudila predstaviti razloge zakaj naj bi bile prav te gobice boljše kot cenejše različice in ker sem prelena, da bi samo kratko obnovila vsebino sporočila, jo bom enostavno citirala. Morda bo to komu pomagalo pri odločitvi. 

"Vsi gomolji vzgajani za izdelavo naših Konjac gobic rastejo na otoku Jeju, ki je pod UNESCO-vo zaščito, kjer je onesnaževanje okolja nadzorovano in tako minimalno. Konjac vlakna, ki jih uporablja The Konjac Sponge Company so najvišje kvalitete in tako prehranske kakovosti ter ročno predelana v gobice. Vse sestavine (dodatki francoskih glin, bambusovo oglje) imajo znano poreklo, vrhunsko kakovost in zelo pomembno, so vse 100% naravne. Vse gobice izpolnjujejo tudi najvišje EU standarde varnosti in kakovosti in so prestale vse mikrobiološke teste. In še ena značilnost naših gobic, visok nivo etike, vse imajo certifikata Cruelty-free in Vegan ter so izdelane v The Konjac Sponge Company tovarni kjer skrbijo tudi za visok nivo etike na delovnem mestu. Gobice, ki se preko eBaya prodajajo za 1-3$ so večinoma Kitajskega porekla. Kot pri drugih vrstah izdelkov, to sicer zagotavlja nizko ceno, a na račun popolnoma nenadzorovanega okolja v katerem nastajajo in popolnoma nereguliranih pogojev delavcev, ki kitajske izdelke proizvajajo. V nekaterih primerih pa vsebujejo tudi dvomljive dodatke, npr barvila, parfume in konzervanse. Čeravno smo danes vsi pozorni na ceno, sem mnenja, da višja kakovost same gobice skupaj z naravno in etično  filozofijo produktov The Konjac Sponge Company, odtehta razliko v ceni."

Meni je gobica precej všeč, še posebej zaradi tega svilenega občutka, ki ga pusti na koži, čeprav zdaj ko je gobica že starejša, tega učinka praktično ni več. Je enostavna in hitra za uporabo, edino kar je manjša nevsečnost je da jo moraš nekje posušiti, torej ne more biti ves čas shranjena med ostalim izdelki za nego kože. Gobice stanejo 11.99 €, več informacij, spletno trgovino ter seznam prodajnih mest lahko najdete tukaj tukaj. 

Have a great day!

*The product was sent to me // Izdelek mi je bil podarjen.

Super Facialist Rose Hydrate Calming Creamy Cleanser

Quite a while ago I purchased two budget creamy cleansers, one was Good Things Manuka Honey Creamy Cleanser and the second was this one. It's the more expensive one of the two, but they are very similar with the main difference being basically just the scent.

The texture is thicker than Good Things' one, but it's still very much the same, so a cream that you apply on the skin, massage it in and remove with water or better with a wet flannel. It leaves a film of product on the skin if it's not wiped off. It cleans ok, though I prefer to use micellar water before using this as I want to make sure my skin is completely clean, but this does help remove the remnants of mascara and other eye makeup. It's a moisturising cleanser and the skin doesn't scream for a dose of moisture afterwards nor are there any dry patches forming. It's a very comfortable cleanser to use, but I can't tell you how suitable it is for sensitive skin, since my skin isn't sensitive at all.

As the name suggest it smells like roses and by that I mean that classic, cheap, granny, floral slightly sharp-ish scent that I genuinely dislike. It's nothing like a real rose scent to me because I love the scent of fresh roses, but I put up with this one nonetheless.  

I've almost reached the end of the tube and this just doesn't work as well on my skin as the Good Things one. The latter one kept my skin in such good condition that I hadn't had a single spot during using it, but with Super Facialist the story was very different. It's not like my skin was super spotty or anything, but it just wasn't as clear and healthy looking. I'm actually looking forward to using it up and moving to the next one. Obviously, that's just how my skin reacted to it and it doesn't mean it will work the same on every one. 

Ingredients:

I'm not a fan of this cleanser. It cleans well and keeps dry patches at bay, but my skin didn't like this as much as the cheaper Good Things one. That one is probably my favourite budget cleanser at the moment purely due to its effect on my skin, but it's still not as good as my all-time favourite Balance Me. Rose Hydrate is still one of the better choices among drugstore cleansers for those who have dry or dehydrated skin.

I bought mine on Boots International for £7.99 (10 €).

Have a great day!

The Body Shop Silky Cleansing Oil

Praised for it's makeup removing capabilities, Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil certainly intrigued me greatly as a regular wearer of waterproof mascara and I wasn't disappointed. It was on my wishlist since the first press release and a couple of months ago I finally had a chance to snatch one for myself on my trip to Celovec/Klagenfurt. 

Texture: This is a very, very light and liquid oil, it's almost light as water and can quickly run off your hands. It doesn't emulsify much, certainly nothing like Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel or L'Oreal Skin Perfection 15 Second Miracle Oil, instead it stays oily with only the slightest bit of foam forming.

Performance: It removes a large bulk of makeup in one go, even a waterproof mascara, though bits can still linger between the lashes. It does need quite a while and gentle rubbing to get the mascara off, though the rest is much easier. I use a washcloth to remove it as it leaves a filter on the skin if it's just washed off. It does make the vision blurry as most oils I tried, which I admit, I find annoying. I've tried using it as an everyday cleanser, but like at all oil cleansers I've tried, my skin isn't as clear and in good condition as when I use balm or creamy cleansers. I prefer to use this as a makeup remover and then follow up with a creamy cleanser, so the double cleansing method. I liked it when I went on a holiday because I didn't need to take separate makeup removers and cleansers with me, but on long term, it's not the best thing for my skin if I use it on its own as a cleanser.

Scent: It has a very gentle scent that isn't particularly reminiscent of camomile, but it is a nice scent nonetheless.

Packaging: It gets an A+ for packaging from me. The pump is very handy and efficient. The bottle is plastic, so there's no worry it might break and there is no leaking, which is the last thing you want when dealing with an oil.

Ingredients: 

Price: it costs about 13 € for 200 ml in The Body Shop in Austria.

I love this as a makeup remover because it's fast, efficient and it even manages to take on a challenge of removing my super stubborn Hynôse waterproof mascara. I do find that I need to follow up with another cleanser to keep my skin in check, however, I think that those who don't have problems with oil cleansers with like this on its own.

Have a great day!

More Inell Skincare bits: Mousse Nettoyante Hydratante and Démaquillant Yeux Spécial

I already spoke about the incredibly affordable micelar water by Inell (the house brand of Leclerc), but I have more skincare bits to talk about.

Mousse Nettoyante Hydratante

Hydrating Cleansing Foam
Ingredients
1.51 € in E.Leclerc.

This product was one of those unintended, spur of the moment purchases that turned out pretty bloody brilliant. I have been searching for a nice, quick and gentle cleanser to use in the morning, but I wanted to avoid gels because they tend to dry out my skin. I have mentioned before that I used L'Oreal's Happy Derm mousse in my teens and it was one of my favourite ever cleansers until it disappeared from the shelves. After years I have finally found a dupe for it and this is it.  

I am not impressed by those "mousse" cleansers that produce some pathetic watery foam, but this is a whole other thing. The texture of this cleanser resembles a super light whipped cream, but in a foam way. It cleans well, feels super comfortable, doesn't dry out the skin and is in general a very fun product to use. The packaging is just as one of those whipped creams in a can and it has the same dispenser. It smells amazing to me, pretty much identical to L'Oreal's 15 Second Miracle Cleansing Oil which is one of my favourite scents ever. It's so difficult to describe it, maybe as powdery-floral, but to me it smells like the beach for some reason.

For me this is the perfect morning cleanser and it's so affordable. If you stumble upon it in E. Leclerc, I highly recommend it.

Démaquillant Yeux Spécial Waterproof

Special Eye Makeup Remover Waterproof
Ingredients
2.03 € in E.Leclerc.

I wear a waterproof mascara on a daily basis so my lashes stay curled and I need a good oily remover to get every last scrape of it off at the end of the day. My favourite such remover is from Maybelline, but recently I have been trying some removers from other brands. One was from Nivea, which I don't like, and the other is this one, which didn't quite impress me either.

It looks and it is a regular two phase remover that feels a bit oily on the skin, but it's not as greasy as using an actual oil. Texture-wise it's somewhere between Maybelline's and Nivea's meaning it's not as oily as the first one, but not so light as the second. It removes mascara and other makeup quite well, though it does require a bit of rubbing to get all the mascara off, but what bothers me at this remover is that it leaves me with a strange sensation in the eyes. Not irritated in a sense that my eyes would water or become red, but it's like a strange cooling sensation. I consider myself a very hardy person when it comes to beauty products and none so far (*knocks on wood*) has ever irritated my skin, but this is the product I would not recommend to someone with sensitive eyes. Similarly to Nivea's, it doesn't leave my eyesight foggy, while Maybelline's does.

Despite it's shortcomings, I must praise the packaging. It has the most practical lid I've encountered at these dual phase removers and it's the only one where the product doesn't run everywhere, so I am keeping it to put in other removers.

It is a very affordable remover, but I can't get pass the strange feeling it leaves my in eyes. I'm sticking to Maybelline's for now or I might try L'Oreal's next.

Have a great day!