Showing posts with label alverde. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alverde. Show all posts

Empties #9

I must say that I completely get why Batiste is so popular and it has fast become one of my favourite formula of dry shampoos. It's not white (except if you apply it on one spot too close), it really refreshes the hair well and it doesn't leave too much of the powdery residue. I had the massive 400 ml can of Tropical version, which smells like coconut bread or coconut pastry and personally I'd prefer something more Rafaello like, but it's all right.
Repurchase: Batiste dry shampoos in general - yes (currently I have the Wild version). Tropical version: Maybe.

I've often sang praises about this hair hero and for good reason. It has come to a point where the mere though of being without for a single wash is almost unbearable. I am being dramatic or what? But in all seriousness, I find it a brilliant product that nourishes my hair, keeps it hydrated longer, reduces frizz and it has made my hair a lot more healthy since I started using it - a fact even my hairdresser noticed. I should also note that it's extremely light-weight, so I would recommend this to pretty much all hair types. I've been using it after every wash without fail on damp hair and one bottle lasted me about a year - at about 12 € per bottle (on Beauty Bay) I consider this a bargain.
Repurchase: Already did.

Now this is what every shampoo should be like. It's the one shampoo that I consider as being exceptional and well worth the price. My hair is dry, as I've often complained, and this is like a shampoo plus conditioner in one in a sense that it leaves my hair clean, yet nourished, untangled and smooth. The scent does become a bit annoying with frequent use because it is one of those that has a sharp, potentially headache-inducing note in it, but it's worth putting up with it. I currently have Elixir Ultime version and Oléo-Relax is much better for my hair type.
Repurchase: Without a doubt.

As I've said in my Hair Oil series, I find there is very little difference between this one, Macadamia oil and Orofluido. All three are seriously good and I believe the main difference is just in the scent as well as the price. This one has my least favourite scent out of the three because it's sort of a generic fabric softener type of scent and I much prefer the rich, oriental version of Orofluido (which is also cheaper). 
Repurchase: Maybe, but I prefer Orofluido.

A nice, simple and affordable shower gel that smells very lovely tropically fresh (I described it before as similar to a grapefruit scent, but sweeter). Out of all summer LE by Balea this one is my favourite so far. 
Repurchase: It is a LE and I have enough of shower gels at the moment, so I suspect not.

I love these Alverde oils and I use them for so many things. This is my second or third bottle of this scent, which is a coconut muffin type of smell and it's ok, but I've grown a bit tired of it. One of the best features of this oil is the packaging, which is just perfect due to the brilliant pump.
Repurchase: Already did, but a different version.

I'm quite sad I've used this up. This is my favourite cleanser so far because it just suits my skin so well and it looks its best when I use it. It's a balm with scrubby particles and it cleans well, removes makeup and leaves the skin moisturised, so the dry patches are the thing of the past. It smells wonderful, the texture is nice and I love that it comes in a tube, which makes it very hygienic. The only bad side is that it's expensive. I have three other cleansers at the moment and none live up to it.
Repurchase: Yes.

I actually liked this one. It worked ok for a spray deodorant and it smells pleasantly generically fresh, but I've used up this little 50 ml bottle in about a week or two. Currently I have the Pearl & Beauty version.
Purchase: Maybe.

I'm a huge fan of tropical scents, with Escada's yearly LE's being my favourites, but this YR version was the one I never truly loved. It's a very simple, fresh, yet sweet scent that doesn't last particularly long and it does smell like a tropical drink with a prominent note of mango, while the passion fruit is more subdued. Both mango as well as passion fruit are my favourite scents in products, but in this combination it just didn't really work for me. 
Repurchase: No and I believe it's not available any more.

This was a blind buy for me because it was 50 % off at the time of the purchase. It was never my favourite scent, but it's still a lovely, everyday fragrance. It's a mix of fresh bamboo, juicy apple and floral notes (gardenia, freesia) with subtle sweeter notes of coconut and vanilla that get more prominent with time. I think the bottle is adorable and I'll keep it as decoration.
Repurchase: No.

Since 2007 there hasn't been a day when I was without this shower oil. I keep repurchasing it and I buy these eco-refills with 500 ml (that's two regular bottles) with which fill my old bottle. It's a fantastic shower oil and it provides a true pampering experience in the shower due to a super luxurious oil texture that transforms into a thick, creamy foam when water is added, not to mention that it smells bloody fantastic. It is a great product for those with dry skin as I find I never need to use a moisturiser afterwards. You should try it at least once in your life.  
Repurchase: Yes.

This is just a simple, super thick ointment with panthenol (B5) for treating any type of damages on the skin from cuts, grazes and wounds. It was fine, nothing more to say about it.
Repurchase: I found something cheaper, so probably not.

ESSENCE 4 in 1 nail file
I buy these all the time. It's just regular nail file with four different textures that vary in roughness. It does its job and it does it well.
Repurchase: Already did.

I never liked this for it's original purpose as I find it not moisturising enough for my cuticles and I am not a fan of the strange herbal-lemon scent, but I did love this for my very dry soles.
Repurchase: Probably not.

BALEA Hygiene Reinigungstűcher
I bought a few packs of these before even trying them out first and I'm not a fan of them. They are nice and thick, but they have a strong hospital-disinfectant scent and Preven's don't. They do their job, but I probably won't repurchase. 
Repurchase: Probably not, I prefer Preven's ones.

 MAX FACTOR Khol Eye Liner Pencil
20 Black
I used to like this one and before the gel/khol hybrids such as Supershock by Avon came on the market, it was one of my favourite khols, but now I find it not black enough, too smudgy and not long-lasting. It has nothing on my favourite black eyeliner UD's Zero.
Repurchase: No.

Things that are discontinued:
TIGI Curls Rock Curl Booster
After years of collecting dust, I'm finally tossing this away. I never got this product. Is it a hairspray that's just super wet or is it like a replacement for mousse? I tried using it in so many different ways and it did nothing. Curls Rock Amplifier, on the other hand, I loved and I've gone through several bottles (if you'd like to define your natural curls, try it). 

BALEA Body Spray Aqua
I used this on hot days as a refreshment and it worked a treat. I also sprayed this on my face, when my foundation/powder looked cakey. I really liked how the spray did a very fine mist and it never just dripped. However, I'm still not sold on the whole water in a can fad, so I've refrained from purchasing the more expensive version from pharmacy brands.

BALEA Hawaii Deospray
I really liked this version of scent and I've owned several cans, but it's now discontinued. These Balea ones are, as described, just deodorants, so fragrance in a can, rather than actual antiperspirants such as Nivea's, but they always have some nice scents.

I loved the scent of this - it was a good peach scent, but I didn't find it moisturising enough for my legs as the skin was dry again in the morning. It was simply too light. I presume the still existing coconut version is similar.


After almost four years of blogging and more that a million views, the day has finally come and I have created a Facebook page, Instagram as well as decided to finally start using my Twitter account (which is also four years old). If you'd like to follow me on any of these social media, feel free do to so and if you decide to check them out on a later date, the links are also in the side bar. I can't promise you I'll be particularly interesting, as the tittle of my biography could be named: The Unexciting Life of the Unremarkable Woman,  but you might see new posts faster than now. Out of all social media, I still love Pinterest most and I'll probably be most active there.

Have a great day!
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New in #18

L'OREAL Nude Magique Eau de Teint
100 Porcelain
After my cousin bought this foundation and kindly let me test it, I had to get it for myself as well. I was concerned that the lightest shade would be too dark for me and it is indeed a bit too warm and dark, however, due to the supremely light is-it-a-tinted-moisturiser-or-a-foundation texture, I can make it work. This has a finish that looks like you already used powder on top and is so light only an occasional patch due to the drier matte texture reveals your wearing something. I'm glad I got this for the summer months. I'll do a proper review. 
Feel Unique, 12.99 €.

MAYBELLINE Fit Me Concealer
15 Fair
I have heard rumours of this being very similar to NARS Radiant Creamy concealer. They are so wrong. There is no comparison between the two except the packaging is similar. Maybelline's is much lighter and more liquid, it's not as creamy and the shade, well, the shade is a disappointment. 15 is supposed to be the lightest one and it's not all that light and unfortunately it has some very unflattering orange hues. So far I'm not loving it, I mean it's decent and the coverage is ok, but I've had better. There will be a review. 
Feel Unique, 7.79 € (Slovenes can get it on Salma).

 During one of my strolls through E.Leclerc, a new brand caught my attention called Inell. It's ridiculously affordable and from what I could see from the ingredients, it has some very decent products. Here's what I got:

INELL Eau Micellaire
Micellar water 
The first thing that caught my eye was a massive micellar water that bears a striking resemblance to Bioderma as well as Garnier's bottle. It holds an impressive 500 ml of micellar water and costs only 2.29 €. My jaw dropped to the floor so hard it landed somewhere in the Pacific and after a quick glance of ingredients (Poloxamer 184 on second place, the same ingredient as in Garnier's and L'Oreal's versions), I promptly put it in my basket. I'll do a comparison of Garnier's and Green Line's micellar water in a future post, but so far I can say there is very little difference and you should grab it if you see it.
E.Leclerc, 2.29 €.

INELL Démaquillant Yeux Spécial Waterproof
Eye makeup remover waterproof
You have no idea just how much hate my current Nivea's dual phase remover has stirred, so when I saw this little affordable guy that again shares similar ingredients to my favourite Maybelline one, I didn't hesitate to take it as well. The packaging is so much better than all the rest, but I'll show you that in the review. I've used it a couple of times and I'm not convinced yet, but it is better than Nivea's.
E.Leclerc, 2.03 €.

INELL Mousse Nettoyante Hydratante 
Hydrating Cleansing Mousse
Many, many years ago I used L'Oreal's Happy Derm mousse in a can and it was my favourite cleanser, but I can't find it any more, so I was delighted to find something similar and for so much cheaper. Basically, the texture of it is like a whipped cream in a can, so a dense mousse that is very different from that diluted crap everyone except L'Occitane is selling. Best of all, it smells exactly like that cleansing oil from L'Oreal, the scent that I adore and describe it as beach like, even though it doesn't really smell all that typically beachy. I'll do a review when I'll be using it long enough, but so far this gets my two thumbs up and it's become a part of my morning routine.
E.Leclerc, 1.51 €.

I was told in the comments that Inell is a brand from E.Leclerc, so it's only sold there.

LE PETIT MARSEILIAIS Masque Nutrition
Nourishing hair mask shea butter and honey
Ulmiel from Did some say nail polish? pointed me into direction of Le Petit Marseiliais hair products with her recommendation. I could only find this mask from the line for dry hair, though I had hoped to try more things. First of, this smells divine to me, it's a very good, albeit a strong, honey scent. I've tried it twice so far - it's super thick (a very good sign for me) and the results were very satisfactory. I'll do a proper review after a few uses, but I think I may have discovered a new drugstore gem.
E.Leclerc, 5.18 €.

GARNIER Fructis Wunder Öl 
Miraculous Oil 
I bought this to use on others when I do their hair, but naturally I'll test it out myself as well. It is a very light and runny hair oil that is the closest in texture to Elixir Ultime. It smells a bit blah to me, like Nivea with a slight fruity twist or some baby cosmetics. I may have expected too much from it. In the mountain of drugstore hair silicone-oils, judging purely from ingredients, absolutely none apart from this one and one other whose brand name I don't recall is anything particularly special. Given that the argan oil is supposedly not only in trace amounts since it's placed third on the INCI list, I presumed it was pretty much on pair with the professional salon brands ones. It is not. I may be thoroughly spoiled by Orofluido and the likes (I've tried most of the popular ones which you can read in my Hair Oils Series), but yes, there is a difference between high-end and drugstore treatment that I guess most people won't notice on their hair, but on my dry hair there just is. I will do a proper review for this.
Müller, 10 €. 

ALVERDE Cellulite Körperöl
Anti-cellulite body oil
After two empty bottles of the Coconut version of Alverde oil, I picked up a different version as I have grown tired of the scent. I chose this based on recommendations from my readers (I remember Kristina recommending me this), it seems that this is the most popular one and based on the scent itself, I can see why. It has a wonderful lemon-citrus scent that is familiar to me as one of  Alverde's scrubs has the same scent. It's marketed as anti-cellulite product, but since I have none to speak of or at least one that I would care about, I won't be using it for that purpose, but like all other oils for a multitude of uses. It has the same light texture as the coconut one and in terms of performance there is no difference between them whatsoever. It's great what else can I say.
Ingredients here.
DM, 6 €.

REXONA Clear Pure Crystal Dry Deo Stick Anti-Perspirant
A repurchase as I implied in my latest empties. This is the only deodorant so far that hasn't stopped working on me and after my recent disappointment with Garnier Neo (well that was money well spent!), I ran off to the nearest supermarket and bought my trusted Rexona again. It just works so well, though the white marks are a bit of a pain, but I can deal with it.
2 - 3 €, Tuš.

NIVEA Anti-perspirant Pearl & Beauty 
I always double my deodorant meaning I use a stick or a roll-on one and then spray on top. It's my technique to make sure that deodorant don't lose their mojo on me too fast and it keeps me fresh longer. I used Pearl & Beauty sometime during my teens, you might remember the utterly ridiculously claims they had about how it contains pearl extracts that make your armpits nicer (I'm still laughing), but I remembered liking the scent, which was the original reason I bought it all those years ago. Of course, when it stopped working I moved to the next one. It smells so lovely - powdery floral and just very feminine. I really like it and it works fantastically in combination with Rexona as it keeps me dry and fresh super long. By the way, this one leaves white marks as well.
DM, 2.99 €

YUMMY Strawberry Shower gel, Body Butter and Hand Cream
These products smell like Milka strawberry yoghurt chocolate. Yes, I'm serious. I get the strongest craving for chocolate when I use these. Anyway, the shower gel is huge with 500 ml of product, the body butter is a nice thick one as I like them and the last item is the hand cream, a beauty item I practically never use. I'll do a proper review of the set.
I was sent these from Click2Chic, but this set costs 14.99 €.


By the way, I went to Austria recently, so naturally, there will be a second part of the New In and I dare say a more exciting one. 

Have a great day!
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Forever Repurchased #1

I'm starting a new category of posts that will feature products I've repurchased and/or I keep repurchasing. I  realized I actually have a ton of such products, I guess I'm a creature of habit or just very loyal to products I love. I already have five posts ready that I'll post in a very sporadic fashion and each will feature a handful of products.

What a mouthful! This is product I've been using for three years and it's like a light oil that it's excellent for dry hair (I mean a silicone-oil in a spray, much like Orofluido Sahara, but lighter or got2b Öl-La-La). I use this every time before I use either a curling iron or straightener and spray it all over the hair concentrating on the ends since they are the driest part. It sprays a fine and even mist, so it's very easy to get it evenly on the hair. Because of its oily texture, it instantly smooths the hair, gives tons of shine and makes it look very healthy. In the typical Tigi fashion, the sweet apple-pear candy scent is lovely as well. One bottle actually lasts me very long, so it's not that expensive in the long run. 
By the way, prices really vary for this. I find that Beauty Bay, All Beauty and Online Beauty Buys (on eBay) sell it cheapest.

There is nothing particularly exceptional about this oil, however, it's packaged in the most practical manner and it's very affordable. I use it for moisturising the body, hair, taking off make up and shaving. It's a light oil, though still greasy, but it doesn't take ages to sink in. The only thing I'm getting tired of is the coconut muffin scent, I'd like it more if it smelled like the pure coconut oil, so next time I'll take a different version (there are three more scents).

I must be getting really boring talking about this product again, but I've been repurchasing it for three years and I've gone though countless of bottles. It's the best make up remover that feels like water and removes make up fast and efficient. Garnier's is lovely as well, but slightly less effective.

This body butter was first released as a part of LE, but I think they recently made it permanent which I've over the moon about. It is my favourite body moisturiser ever. It smells like ripe peaches/peach yoghurt - a scent I adore and they recently started selling the body mist as well, which I'm dying to get my hands on. It has a hard consistency, but it still applies nicely and it's definitely one of the most moisturising body products I've tried so far. Love it!

Have a great day!
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Empties #2


One of the best self tanners I've tried. It's a very natural looking tan that is quite deep with the first application and lasts about 4-6 days. The lotion has a sweet marzipan scent, however, the older the product gets the more it gets that typical self tanner scent. I like that it's a lotion and quite moisturising, though this means the skin remains tacky for a while. I did an in depth review and comparison with St. Tropez mousse here. 
Repurchase: Yes and already did.

A thick body moisturiser that smells a bit like chocolate cake. It sinks in fast, however, I noticed that  sometimes it start to flake off the skin. My only real complaint though, is the annoying packaging. It gets really difficult to get the product out towards the end, however, I have seen that they sell the pump version as well.
Repurchase: I'm not sure. It's a good product, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me. I prefer Dove's moisturiser.

Balea Shaving Gel Caribbean Dream and Milk'n'Peach
 I've been buying these since forever because they are really good and affordable. Caribbean Dream is a current LE which has an artificial coconut scent and I believe Milk n' Peach has been discontinued, but it had a sour pear scent. Both were not my favourite scents.
Repurchase: Yes, but not these two scents. This time I went for the original.

 Balea Dry Shampoo
I genuinely dislike this dry shampoo. It didn't make my hair fresh at all, it left a white powdery residue and had a very sharp scent which left me coughing for a few minutes and I always needed to open a window after using it. I much prefer Batiste and Sysos.
Repurchase: No chance.

Pyhto Pyhtopolléine universal elixir
I honestly loved this scalp treatment. I raved about it a few months ago because it was the only thing that ever worked on my stupid dandruff and completely purified my scalp. Unfortunately, it stopped working. I'm really bummed about that, however, it still makes the hair look really healthy and moisturised. It's really expensive for such a small bottle, but it was fantastic and I was prepared to pay more for it.
Repurchase: Not sure. I would in a heartbeat if it hadn't stopped working for me. Maybe I just need a break from it? 

Alverde Häaröl Mandel Argan
I raved a lot about this silicone free oil. I used it every time my hair felt dry (which I am happy to report is happening far less frequently since I started using Sexy Healthy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner - wonderful stuff I tell you). Its forte is helping with the dryness, but it also tames frizz and give shine. It's lighter than other oils (coconut or olive oil for example), but it is better suited for those with dry hair.
Repurchase: Yes, however, there is still one bottle somewhere in the house plus I have the big coconut body version, which works the same and it comes cheaper per ml.

Dove Oil Care hair mask
I was not impressed by this version of Oil Care mask. It's not as moisturising as the one in the tube (Dove Hair Therapy Oil Care Nährpflege 1 Minute Kur-Spűllung a.k.a. Nourishing Oil Care Express Treatment Conditioner), which is one of my  favourite drugstore hair treatments and I've used up at least a dozen tubes of it.
Repurchase: Nope, the tube version is much better.

Garnier Fruity Passion shampoo
I didn't like it as a shampoo because it was too drying on my hair, but the scent is divine. It's a proper sweet passion fruit scent and one of my favourite summery scents. I used it as a shower gel. Ingredients here.
Repurchase: Yes, but I will use it as a shower gel.

My staple waterproof mascara remover. It's oil based, so I use another oil-free remover or wash afterwards. I don't even know how many bottle of this I've used up (or Bioderma. Both are my essentials). 
Repurchase: Yes and already did.

This is great for someone who is lazy like me. It's so fast and easy - no cotton pads, just a pot with a big sponge soaked in nail polish remover. It smells nice, like fruit and vanilla, also it leaves your fingers and nails quite moisturised, so it is better than your run-oft-the-mill nail polish remover.Regular price is exaggerated, however, I found a discount so I immediately put it in my shopping cart. I was hoping that more cheap knock offs would be available by now, but there is a tutorial on how to make one yourself on Pinterest.
Repurchase: Yes and already did, however, only when it has a discount.

My favourite top coat and I have been using it for years. The nail polish is dry to the touch in about 30 seconds, which is perfect for a girl like me who has zero patience (I still don't touch stuff for a few minutes just to be sure, even though I probably could). Also my manicure lasts ages with no chipping, but keep in mind that I have very strong and healthy nails. However, by the end of the bottle this get incredibly thick, so  had to throw the rest away and buy a new one.
Repurchase: Yes and already did.

 It's an essential item in my bathroom and I use for so many things - body, hair, as a makeup remover and for shaving. It smells like a coconut creamy dessert or a coconut muffin, basically a mix of coconut and vanilla, but not too heavy or excessively sweet.
Repurchase: Yes and already did.

Montagne Jeunesse Strawberry Soufflé Face Mask
It's been a while since I used it, but I wasn't impressed by this moisturising mask. There was no noticeable effect apart for sparkles, which were stuck on my face after I rinsed it off. And I don't want to look like flippin' Edward Cullen. It did smell nice, like strawberry candy. There were some mini beads in it, but those had no particular effect.
Repurchase: No.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser
I liked this cleanser, it's my second favourite so far. It's a rich, thick cream that feels quite luxurious, smells like Airways gums and removes makeup nicely (I still use a separate eye makeup remover), however, my skin doesn't look as nice as when I use Balance Me. I like it but it's expensive, mostly due to high shipping costs.
Purchase full size: I might.

L'Occitane Ultra Rich Body Creme
Oh, I like this a lot. It's such a lovely, rich and thick moisturiser, but not greasy and sinks in fast. Fantastic for really dry skin. The scent is also really lovely.
Purchase full size: I'll probably pamper myself to a full size one day.

L'Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate
A light, very siliconey body moisturiser. It leaves quite a velvety feeling on the skin and smells so nice, but not as nice as the shower oil.
Purchase full size: Nah, I already had a travel size. I like both oils from the Almond line better.

Essence Sun Club Oil Control Paper
An essential even though my skin isn't particularly oily. These oil absorbing sheets aren't anything special, but they work fine and are cheap. I've been buying them for years.
Repurchase: Yes and already did.

Have a great day!
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Favourite products from DM


DM is my go-to shop for essentials and basic product that I use in everyday life. I've recently repurchased a ton of stuff that either ran out or are about to and I realised that most of these basic products I buy are DM's and not Müller's. I meant to do a post with Müller's products as well only to find out there are hardly any in our house. I don't even know why, as both have a comparable quality of products. Maybe it's because DM has more intriguing and fun LE's? Or maybe because they have a great website with all of their products, which I will admit I love checking out now and then, making a list of the things I might be interested in. Most of the products are so affordable and you can have some great guilt free shopping there, but it can be a trial and error experience. Since I have so many things at this moment, I decided to do a post of my favourites and things I repurchase again and again.
If you're not familiar with what DM is, in short it's a German version of Superdrug (and Műller is something like Boots or Ulta). Their shops are in most countries of central and south east Europe. They have several of their own brands, with loads of affordable products.
Blue text are links to individual reviews and you can try labels for Balea, Alverde and Sun Dance.
Balea shower gels
Just simple, generic shower gels, not particularly moisturising nor drying, but they have a great selection of scents and so many nice LE's. Most cost only 0.85€. Currently I have only LE's.
Fiji Passionfruit LE - a fresh passion fruit scent.
 Hawaii Pineaaple LE - a very authentic pina colada scent.
Brazil Mango LE - a sweet fruit candy scent.
Sweet Wonderland LE - an amazing cocoa scent.
Balea's Traum Geschöpft LE - best peach scented shower gel so far. Already discontinued.


Balea creme soap peach&nectarine
A peach and nectarine slightly soapy scented hand soap. I adore the scent and refuse to buy any other, much to annoyance of others. I've bough at least six refills so far.

Balea deosprays
Performance-wise they are as average as they can get, however, their scents are lovely and there are always new intriguing LE's. I layer deodorants anyway, use roll-on first and then top it with a deospray that I respray during the day to freshen up the scent. They cost less than a €.
Cocos & Nectarine deodorant - a soapy version of creamy coconut and nectarine scent.
Balea Hawaii deospray LE  - a candy papaya and frangipani scent. My second favourite and my second can so far.
Sweet Wonderland LE- cocoa scent. I have the full size and the travel version.
Balea's Traum Geschöpft LE - best peach scented deospray and my favourite. Sadly, I only have the travel version and it's already discontinued.

  It's an essential item in my bathroom and I use for so many things - body, hair, as a makeup remover and for shaving, because it leaves the skin crazy smooth and moisturised. It smells like a coconut creamy dessert or a coconut muffin, basically a mix of coconut and vanilla, but not too heavy or excessively sweet.  It comes in a glass bottle with a pump and costs 3.95€ for 100ml. I'm on my second bottle.

Balea shaving gel
 I've been buying these since forever, because they are really good and affordable. The Isana ones (Müller's brand) are so bad compared to these. Balea's are proper gel ones that transform into a really thick foam. My favourite LE was the Kiwi one.
Regular one has a floral-powdery scent.
 Caribbean Dream LE - an artificial coconut scent.
Milk n' Peach - (not in the picture) a sour pear scent.

A huge 500 ml tube of a light body moisturiser with a fantastic peach scent for less than 2€. There is also a coconut version in permanent assortment.


A light hair oil with no silicones, just argan, almond, soy and walnut oil with some vitamin E. The one in the picture is almost empty, but there are two more lying around the house. I use it every time my hair feels dry. A great product for about 3€.

The original name is Gespenster-Schreck spray and it claims to banish all the scary ghosts and monsters, which is just so adorable and is one of the coolest product for children. It's basically just a mini spray with a very calming scent of lavender and a bit of camomile. I have two actually. I spray my pillows with it and just enjoy the calming aroma before I fall asleep (and I've seen no ghosts or monsters when I used it. It must work then). It's very affordable for 100ml bottle, but I don't recall the exact price.

Ignoring the ingredients, which are basically a nightmare for anyone who is more into such stuff, it's the most comfortable sunscreen for face I've tried. It's light and doesn't leave my skin too tacky, works great under foundation, but the finish is still suncreen glowy, however, nothing like with regular sunscreens. 50ml costs only 2.95€

Admittedly, these are the oiliest pads I've used. However, I did get used to that, but I need to use a cleanser to get rid of the mess the oil leaves. They remove waterproof mascara completely, so if you need something effective, but really cheap, they're fine. Maybelline eye makup remover waterproof is much better, though. However, it costs twice as much.

Das gesunde plus tea tree oil
Basic tea tree oil that can be used for so many things. I use it as a spot treatment and adding it to shampoo to treat dandruff. 30 ml bottle costs 2.75€.

 Ebeline bobby pins/hair grips 6 cm wavy in black
You'd think you can find such basic stuff everywhere, but the last time was buying them, I nearly lost it. Müller has only some really weird ones and H&M was out of stock (but theirs are just like this ones, only slightly more expensive), I finally found exactly what I need and want in DM. They come in different colours and sizes. The fact that the plastic end doesn't fall off, which makes the pin super scratchy, is a sign of quality for me. They cost 1.85€.

Ebeline hair claw clips in black
Such a basic product, but I swear the Ebeline ones in a six pack for 3.29€ are the best around. I mean the ones with smooth sides and rounded square top, the other ones with a more rounded top which are smaller are not as good. I tried others from other brands (Y.e.s. from Müller, H&M) and they break after a few uses. I was literally tossing one per day away, it made me so angry. These are the best I've found so far, but it's so hard to get them sometimes because they are out of stock so often.

Ebeline round ionic ceramic brush 60 mm
This wasn't cheap, but it is really good. The orange strip turns yellow when it's too hot for your hair. I use this every time I blow-dry my hair for a sleek result. It was around 10€. They have some good hair brushes in general and they come in so many sizes and shapes. Müller's brand Body&Soul has a similar brush.


Ebeline cotton pads
Such an essential, but these are the best ones I've tried. I had a few other brands and they were just awful compared to these, I couldn't wait to use them up. I buy the biggest packaging.

Ebeline cosmetic cotton buds 
A staple for any makeup application. Müller's brand Duchesse has similar ones, but they didn't have them when I was buying them.

Balea foot file
The ones from Müller and this one are virtually identical. It's a basic foot file and I've bought over a dozen of them through the years.

Balea gel heel shields
There are not nearly as soft and comfortable than Scholl Party feet ones, but I have two pads on the back of each of my shoe because I have very narrow heels and most shoes without straps just slide off my feet. I have these cheap ones under the Scholl ones. 

Denk Mit disinfection line
A great line with several different products for disinfection. I buy the spray and wet wipes. I've bought so many over the years and there are several sprays of this disinfectant in our house.

Denk Mit screen wipes
Just your basic wet wipes for screens. Cheap and effective.

I like their cleaning wipes in general, there are so many versions, and I also buy the all-purpose wipes in blue packaging and their dust cloths, but I don't have any currently. When I was living alone in Ljubljana, I bought most of the cleaning supplies in DM, simply because their shop was so close to my then-home and they're brand is really affordable.

Of course, there have been some disappointments, I just bought one a few days ago (Sundance Getöntes Fluid mit Soforteffekt LE), but most of the products are really good for the price. I'm not a fan of their hair products, Alverde hair oil being a notable exception and also their Power volume mousse is quite nice, but the rest didn't leave a memorable impression. Their hair stuff is just too basic for my needs and doesn't do anything for my hair. I find their makeup line S-he boring and their Jessa line is pretty much rubbish, at least the stuff I tried (worst glue on pads ever). Skin care is also a bit of a hit and miss, I haven't really bonded with any of the products, but my mom likes the Q10 anti-aging daycream SPF 15 and has used up several pots. I'm also not a fan of the Ebeline nail polish remover because it is very drying.

Honestly, I've been shopping there since my early teens and I've probably tried less than half of their products as they are so many. I have found some fantastic affordable staples that I just keep repurchasing and there are so many things I have yet to try. I should also try more of the Müller product, I don't know why I haven't so far.

And some blog love:
Summer posted about her favourites from Balea on her blog here.
Posts about favourite Balea and Alverde product on Makeup&More here, here  and here (in Serbian).
Snow posted her Balea favourites here.
Also Erika from Fatalna.si and Taya speak highly of Balea Aqua Serum. Taya has tons of short reviews of DM's products. Just search for labels Balea, Alverde,...

So that's my selection. I'd love to hear your recommendations or if you already did a similar post you can link it (but no shameless excessive self-promotion).

Have a great day!
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New In July


Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth face balm
I don't have a habit of buying expensive cleansers and I paid 22€ for it, so that's the first. It's a cleansing balm in a tube which means it's fluid compared to other balms which mostly come in a pot. I've been using it for a week now and I quite like it. I will do a full review in the future. More about it and ingredients list here.

Diorskin Nude BB Creme in 001
I was given a generous sample of this in June and after trying it for a few days, I took the plunge and bought it when I had a discount code on Feel Unique. I love light foundations/BBs with a skin-like finish and this is exactly that. I got the lightest shade which is a great match for me (it's pink toned and lighter than Bourjois HM Serum). I wrote about my first impressions here, but I will do a proper review.

Balea Shaving gel
 I've been buying these since forever, because they are such good quality and cheap. The Isana ones (Müller's brand) are so bad compared to these. Balea's are proper gel ones that transform into a really thick foam and they have some good conditioning agents in it, because it leaves the skin so soft with a similar effect that silicones in a hair conditioner have in a sense that it gives a false effect of hydrated and silky skin. I usually buy the LE ones, I wanted the Caribbean Dream LE that smells like coconut, but they'd run out. This one smells floral-powdery.

Alverde Coconut oil 
A repurchase. It's an essential item in my bathroom and I use for so many things - body, hair, as a makeup remover and mostly for shaving, because it leaves the skin crazy smooth and moisturised. I did a review here.

 Balea Cocos & Nectarine deodorant
Everything with peach or nectarine gets me excited, especially when the packaging is so pretty. I expected it to be something like the Traum Geschöpft LE, the peachy goodness it was, however, though it has that similar nectarine note in it, it's a lot fainter and creamier due to the coconut. There is also a shower gel with this scent, but I couldn't find it in my local DM.
Maybelline Eye makeup remover special waterproof
Another repurchase. I don't even know how many bottle of this I've used up (or Bioderma. Both are my essentials). It's inexpensive and an effective makeup remover that I use it everyday to remove waterproof mascara and it does it's job.


Balea eye makeup removing pads waterproof
These are so oily! Honestly, I never had pads or wipes that would be so soaked. They feel very greasy and it is like putting vegetable oil on my face plus they smell like it too. They do remove waterproof mascara completely, however, I need a separate remover to get rid of mess the oil leaves. I'll use them up, but the Maybelline remover is miles better.


L'Occitane Repairing Shampoo for Dry & Damaged Hair
 I had a sample of this a while back. The conditioner and the mask didn't impress me so I didn't even plan to use it, but when I did, I remember feeling such a noticeable difference that I was genuinely impressed by it. I remember drying my hair and thinking holly smokes what did I use because my hair felt so nice, so it was on my wishlist ever since. It's meant for dry hair and it has 5 essential oils in it (angelica, lavender, geranium, patchouli, ylang-ylang). Ingredients here. 

A sample of Angelica Hydration Cream
This is soo lovely! The perfect moisturiser for Summer. I have combination skin and this feels amazing. It's light, yet super moisturising and sinks into the skin in a minute leaving the skin fresh, moisturised with a radiant semi-matte finish. I find it a perfect base for makeup up. The scent is flowery fresh. I would purchase it, but I'm a bit bothered about the price and that's in a pot.

A sample of Immortelle Precious Serum
 It is marketed as anti-ageing product and it is a super, super light serum that sinks into the skin in seconds. The scent is a bit wild-flowery annoying and strong, but I can get past it. I would have to use it longer to really talk about results, but it does leave the skin hydrated. Ingredients here.

A sample of Vanille & Narcisse Eau de Toilette from the La Collection de Grasse
It's a lot more flowery than I expected it to be. From the beginning I smell mostly a strong flower note, daffodil in this case, mixed with vanilla. In a few hours only the sugary, warm vanilla remains. It is quite strong and lasts a long time. I'm not a fan of it, I much preferred their old Vanilla, but my mom loves it. 
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Product of the Week #6


I've been waiting for Alverde Aroma Pflegeöl Kokos to arrive in our DM's and I finally spotted it in their "new releases display". It smells like a coconut creamy dessert or a coconut muffin, basically a mix of coconut and vanilla, but not too heavy or excessively sweet. It's not my favourite coconut scent, but it's ok nonetheless. I love using oils and I use them for body, hair, taking off makeup, etc. This is quite a light oil, but still greasy, it's a lot like their Argan Mandel hair oil. I really like using it for hair, because it works the same as the Argan one, but this is a bigger bottle and you get more product for the price . It's a nice body oil, because it sinks in relatively fast for an oil. It comes in a glass bottle with a pump and costs 3.95€ for 100ml.

Ingredients
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil*, Glycine Soja Oil*, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Parfum**, Cocos Nucifera Extract*, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil 
*ingredients from certified organic agriculture
**from natural essential oils
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