New In #91

Afrodita Balea Cantu catrice CV Dove essence FA featured gliss Got2B L'Oreal Lavozon Moroccanoil New In Nivea Pantene Schabens Sundance TiGi

New In #91

Admin   May 22, 2020   Comment  

ESSENCE Blushlighter Gradient Powder Blush

03 Cassis Sunburst

This came out in the last Essence line update and it's available in four shades. I'm a sucker for glowy blushes, with L.O.V. being my favourites and Essence is made by the same company, so we already know they are experts at making luminous formulas without the look of chunky shimmer. And indeed as far as the size of the shimmer goes Essence nailed it. Shimmer is very fine and gives a very natural looking radiance, however, it's not very strong and for extra glow I still use a separate highlighter on the tops of the cheekbones. Pigmentation is good, but I suspect people with a darker skin tone will have to layer this one a lot, though at times I get almost too much pigment. It has to do with the fact that only the left side is properly "blushy" and the other is mostly just a highlight, so it matters from which side you swipe the brush when picking up the colour and it's can be difficult to get the balance just right for pale skin. Formula is not very tightly packed, meaning it's quite a dusty, at least now that's new. It doesn't blend as smoothly as L.O.V. blushes, so it needs some extra time. The formula overall is nice, though it's not the best blush you can get, but if you’re looking for something like L.O.V. blushes in terms of how it looks on the skin, this a good one for the price. I'm not sold on the shade, though. I expected a mauve-pink shade based on what I've seen online, but this is actually peachy pink shade, so not very unique. All the rest looked peachy-orange or brown, so I’m missing a neutral-cool pink-mauve shade in this range.

Müller, 4.29 €

CATRICE Clean ID Lip Oil

I originally went to the drugstore to get Clarins' Lip Oil, but since the stands are empty and I have no idea how things work now plus I didn't want to bother the SA, I abandoned that plan and got this instead. I wanted a thick, balmy lip gloss that would last a long time on the lips and nourish at the same time, so I remembered I liked the feel of the Clarins tester I once tried. Reviews for this are mixed with people who love it and some who find it sticky and gloopy, I'm more neutral about it, though I'm more one the "like side". It's thicker than an average lip gloss, yet not sticky. It feels nourishing on the lips and after most is gone, there is a nice layer of it left, however, I expected it to last longer, since it's thicker. It adds good level of a glass shine on the lips, but I don't like it's only available in a clear version. For one it's already cloudy looking in the bottle after a couple of weeks of use and my lips are not pretty enough for just a clear gloss, I need something to even them out. It’s got a chemical sweet scent.

Müller, 5.09 €

CV Cica Anti-Redness Beauty Skin Shot

CV has a new range of these small Beauty Shot products in 15 ml bottles. One is for oily skin, this one is for calming, there one with vitamin C and one is anti-age. I bought this purely because of ingredients because it has glycerine and niacinamide as the first on the list after water, plus centellia asiatica which my skin likes. This is an pastel green emulsion and it's meant to counteract redness, however, I don't find it effective and I don't even have a lot of redness, so don't count on this working in terms of neutralising ruddy cheeks. The emulsion is not something you'd apply in second because you need extra time to blend it in otherwise you're left with streaks. For a product for sensitive skin, I also find it odd they included fragrance, even though it is nice to my nose. It's not particularly hydrating on my skin, as when I apply this on its own, it sinks in fast, then after 15 minutes my skin feels tight and I need to add extra layers of skincare, so this won't replace any hydrating serums, but maybe it’s enough for combination/oily skin. Packaging has a pipette and it's just useless for such a thick formula, so scrape the product of it instead. In terms of effects, it’s too early to say and I can’t tell you if it works for its original purpose or sensitive skin. 

Ingredients.

Müller, 4.59 €

BALEA Vital Konzentrat Gegen Pigment Flecken

(concentrate against pigmentation marks)

Another product I picked up because it has niacinamide high on the list, but it also has a small amount of a version of vitamin C (ascorbyl  tetraisopalmitate) and pinolumin which reduces redness, calms down the skin and fades age spots. Reviews for this are not great, but based on what managed to gather is that people expected this to fade pigmentation marks fast and personally I don't expect miracles from any product. It's a small bottle with only 20 ml of product and this is not a very light, serum type of product, meaning you don't only use a little at once, so this might not last long. The texture is like a medium thick cream, so a type of product I'd use as one of the last, but mostly as the actual last step in my routine. I have been using just this in the evening for a week and my skin just started to look a bit better in terms of texture, but I can’t say much more about it in terms of results. I can't review this in terms of how it fades age spots, but my blemish marks are fading somewhat faster than usual, so maybe it's actually working.

Ingredients.

DM, 3.99 €

BALEA Teint Perfection Magic Teint Crème

(Skin Perfection Magic Skin Cream)

I knew this was a gamble, but glowing reviews swayed me even though I have successfully managed to avoid the hype for many years because I knew exactly what's going to happen. I had such a product before from Garnier and it ended up the same. This is the type of a tinted moisturiser that contains colour in mini beads and those burst when you rub them into the skin and release the colour. Garnier's was too dark and though I was sure this has the same tint inside, there were a few reviews that said they were very pale and this works for them. It's a medium thick cream that starts of slightly grey and you have to rub it in quite a lot for the colour to start to appear. The tint is very sheer, so coverage so low, I don't even notice that much of a difference in redness or unevenness. Colour is too dark for my pale skin tone, so even though it's sheer, this looks like a poor match on me. I could use it as a sort of a all over liquid bronzer, but it all fall apart on my neck and we also come to the second problem: When I try to blend this in nicely so I would have an even application, I just can't get it right and it makes me look like I have dirt on my face - maybe it's my skin or the fact need extra blending due to the mismatched shade, but I've tried it with an extra base and on completely clean skin, but I can't get this to work for me. I can see what it's popular and I know it works for less pale skins than mine, just check the reviews on meindm.at and disregard mine, but this was sadly a miss purchase for me and it wasn't that cheap for Balea.   

Ingredients.

DM, 5.49 €

BALEA Teint Pefection Wimpern Serum

(Skin Perfection Lash Serum)

This has mostly great reviews with some saying it works fantastically, but there are a few that say it does nothing and some scary reviews even say it made their lashes fall out. I hope the latter doesn't happen to me. I wanted to try the Etude House serum, but I'm not risking ordering online now and the price of Dermaluxe makes my eyes water, so this gets the first go. The only other lash serum I tried was from Mavala and it did nothing. Honestly I don't expect much from this, but I remain hopeful it will have some effect. I've done the before pictures with a measuring tool (not included) and I'll report back maybe when the bottle is finished or before if I see something. This is a gel type of product that feels like nothing on the lashes. I was concerned this will be obnoxious to use, but it's very easy to apply with the eyeliner-like brush and doesn't affect my vision. 

DM, 6.99 €

SCHAEBENS Cell Therapy Hydrogel Maske Anti-Age Booster

This has - you guessed it - niacinamide high on the list. I'm so full of surprises. But it also has allantoin, camelia extract plus some glycolic and malic acid albeit only in the middle of the list, so it's not a strong exfoliator. I loved the results of this one.

Sheet: A proper, non-stiff hydrogel mask in two parts and of course super slippery as you might expect, but as it warms up/start to dissolve, it clings better to the face and even shrinks. It was too large for my face, especially the top part, but like I said it shrank. It’s transparent.

Essence: There’s plenty of it and it’s a light, non-sticky formula.

Scent: a strong chemical scent that is noticeable all the time it’s on the face. It didn’t bother me much, but it might some. 

Effect: This had an immediate effect of more even and just nicer looking skin. It’s pretty much what you get with brightening Asian sheet masks, so I’ll definitely be repurchasing this one despite the price. My lines were less obvious and the skin had a healthy radiance to it. The essence absorbs completely and fast after the mask is removed. I need some extra moisturising care after this one for my dry skin because it’s not enough on its own.

Ingredients.

Müller, 2.95 €

AFRODITA COSMETICS Why Mask 4D Collagen Sleeping Mask

The reason I got this was peptides, which are on a decent position on the ingredients list. I didn’t expect an amazing result, only some decent nourishment and it’s alright in that respect. It’s like a regular semi-thick moisturiser, but more slippery feeling and it’s clear on the face like such products are. It’s heavily scented with a scent that some might find calming, but to me it’s a bit too spicy, like of like mixing lavender and patchouli, but I don’t think it’s this combination. I applied this in a thick layer (used about a half of one compartment at once) and by morning it was mostly absorbed with a layer of moisturiser still left. Afrodita mentions a visible reduction in lines, but mine stayed the same. It’s fine for the price, but nothing special. For visible results I preferred the Schaebens Hydrogel mask. 

Ingredients.

DM, 1.59 €

SUN DANCE Sensitiv Lippen Pflege Stift LSF 50

(Sensitive Lip Balm SPF 50)

I had this already, but I have no idea where mine went. For a basic lip balm with a high SPF this is very nice. Formula is not overly waxy and feels nicely nourishing on the lips, plus there's no bad taste. It manages to cling on for a while too. 

DM, 1.69 €

LAVAZON Sonnnenfluid Matt LSF50

(Sun Fluid Matte SPF 50)

I wanted cheap, very easily accessible sunscreen that I can use when I'm at home where it doesn't matter if I'm shiny or if I have white streaks. Lavazon has a few and I picked this one because it has no alcohol. Of course this is nowhere near as elegant as my A'Pieu sunscreen, neither is it as nice as Nivea's Mattifying version which costs more than twice as much, however, it definitely beats Nivea's Anti-Age Q10 version that's sitting in my drawer and I'm reluctant to use it use because it's not kind to my eyes (the greasiness I could get over, but that thing shifts all over the place). It's not light, more like a classic sunscreen and when you start to rub it in, it's very white, but that goes away with some extra blending. It's shiny, not even remotely matte, but I have seen worse, still I don't think this is a choice for those with any oiliness in the skin as even I have to powder it, but as great pluses I can say that it stays in its place, it doesn't feel greasy on the skin and it doesn't appear to be bothering my eyes. It's not the nicest sunscreen, but the price is acceptable and it's perfectly fine for me to wear at home.

Ingredients.

Müller, 3.99 €

MOROCCANOIL Intense Hydrating Mask

A repurchase. This is one of my favourite hydrating hair treatments, it's actually very similar in terms of effect to (I think discontinued) Kerastase Masquintense Thick, meaning it makes my hair feel silky and soft unlike other treatments (my hair is never soft like an average person's due to a thick texture, I mention this often). This has argan oil high on the list, so it's not somewhere down below the first 5 ingredients like at most who brag with some ingredients then you find them in the middle or even at the end of the ingredient list. I was planning on getting the 500 ml version, which is still my dream because I really don't want to save this one so much like I did the last one, but even with a discount this is so expensive.

Click2chic, 34.29 €

MOROCCANOIL Hydrating Styling Cream

I imagined this so differently - that's why it's so important when people review this to mention texture, it tells everything. I though this is a medium thick type of cream with that silicone feel that can be used on dry hair too without leaving the hair wet. This is actually quite liquid, so better suited to be used on damp hair right after rinsing off the conditioner to add an extra boost of moisture. Due to being so liquid I can't really use this to tame the frizz like I planned, instead it just some extra hydration, so pretty much the more creamy equivalent of Sexy Healthy Hair Soy Three Wheat leave-in (though that one has a tiny bit of protein too). I can use it on dry hair and it sinks in fast, but once it's gone, there's none of that silicone smooth feeling like at Olaplex n.6 or discontinued Dove Super Quench Crème Serum. I use this on damp hair as one of my first steps (I apply a lot of leave ins and it's still not enough). When I'm drying my hair this feels strangely slightly sticky and at first I was sure this was going to be a disaster because I want my hair silky smooth, but once it's dry that feeling is luckily gone. I'm not sure how I feel about this one yet. I think I'll have to go through the whole tube to make up my mind about it, but I expected a more impressive result.

Click2Chic, 11.10 € for 75 ml

TIGI BED HEAD Blow-Out Golden Illuminating Shine Cream

After I bought the Moroccanoil Hydrating Cream, I tried to recall a product that would have a similar silicone crème texture of Olaplex n.6 that I'm looking for, but it's cheaper and I remembered - Tigi After Party. It was one of my first ever hair products and I've never repurchased it because there was always so many other things to try (plus I got tired of it because one tube lasted me years and that damned packaging drives you crazy). I found this one randomly while checking Spletična - it's After Party with gold glitter. Texture is the same, as is the scent, they just changed the name, colour of the packaging and added tiny shimmer (original After Party still exists. I got this because it was what they had on Spletična and I was just ordering a birthday gift). It's got exactly the texture I like, so a silicone cream that I can use on damp hair and dry hair because it doesn't leave the hair wet and it effective at taming frizz. Oils like Orofluido do a similar job, so normal people don't need more stuff, but I'm not normal and I find these types cream and sometimes be more effective at taming the frizz for longer. It's tinted yellow, but it's not showing on my very blonde hair, but also the shimmer isn't that visible on me, though this gives shine just like other similar products. The packaging is equally terrible as at AP. It's got a pump, but the vacuum pull does not work best, when I got it got stuck a few times and you couldn't get out anything. I resorted to pushing it manually from the bottom and it fixed it, but man did it stir up memories. Plus it's so ugly, but that's my opinion. The product is lovely, so it's a shame about the packaging. So far it was only problematic for the first uses and it's been working ok since. 

Spletična, 12.20 €

BALEA Professional Collagen Power Struktur Elixier

Like all the rest of DM product, I found this on their website, where it has a high rating and it also has surprising nice ingredients. This has hydrolysed proteins high on the list, so it's basically something along the lines of a poor man's Joico K-Pack line or Redken's Anti-Snap, but scaled down at least compared to Joico with it's Quadramine complex. I'm in no short supply of protein treatments at the moment (well, I only have Joico stuff, but several products), still I picked this up because I was curious if it's any good - who wouldn't want to know about an very affordable protein treatment and if it's any good. It's a silicone free formula with glycerine as one of the first ingredients, so it combines some moisturising action too with the protein. All proteins are in hydrolysed version which is the most effective version of protein and they are quite high on the list. There also hyaluronic acid which benefits the scalp and supposedly hair too. Formula is like a thin gel-like formula and it's a leave-in product. It can be applied on damp or dry hair, but on dry hair it's similar to Moroccanoil Cream, so it sinks in and it feels like nothing. II don't notice it makes my hair any smoother and it dries into my usual super frizzy mess if I don't use any extra products. I've been using it for a few weeks and I can't say I see a visible improvement, still it's a nice way to add proteins because it's very light and it doesn't interfere with other products. 

Ingredients.

DM, 3-4 €

PANTENE PRO-V Intensive Repair Conditioner

A repurchase. This is my favourite drugstore conditioner (currently seriously rivalled by Cantu mentioned below). Since I've discovered it last year, I've gone through a few tubes already and I've tried several other products, which just consolidated my belief that this is the very affordable best brand I can get in our drugstores. I buy the 300 ml tubes they have in DM and Interspar, while Müller only has 200 ml ones. 

Interspar, 3.49 €

PANTENE Pro-V Hair Superfood Conditioner

Another repurchase. Both Repair and this one are so good. Superfood is even thicker than Repair, but they end up working the same on me, though this give me this faux feeling it's better because it's richer. 

Interspar, 3.49 €

CANTU Shea Butter for Natural Hair Hydrating Cream Conditioner

This brand is fairly new here and so far it's also the only one for natural hair we have, so one designed for curly, wavy hair or coils which tend to be a lot drier than straight, fine hair. As you might now my hair is very dry and coarse since forever (since I was 12 when my hair suddenly got curly and way before all the colouring) and few products actually nourish my hair for more than a day, so I had hopes that one for natural hair will finally be enough for me. After one use I can say this is pretty much HG miracle, but also not quite as great as I hoped - I'll explain. In terms of actual nourishment this worked astonishingly well. My ends on which lately even deep treatments didn't work despite having a haircut, finally feel like I used something. They feel nourished and finally not dry straight after a wash - and I'm writing this on day three. Just for that this will stay in my cupboard probably forever (provided it continues to work as effective in the next washes). However, this leaves the feeling of heaviness after rinsing it off, like the product hasn't been washed off properly (I know I did. Kerastase Chonologiste and Joico Moisture Recovery do the same), so I wouldn't recommend this to those with thin hair, even though that feeling actually went away completely by the next morning, leaving my hair surprisingly soft and it's stayed like that until I washed a week later. Lately only Olaplex overnight managed to do that. However, rubbish when it comes to taming the hair and leaving it silky, that's because it has no silicones which my hair needs to look normal (I've been through a yearlong silicone-free phase once and it's not for me). My hair dried very puffy, with a ton of volume and it was just all over the place, plus the feeling of heaviness and I didn't use any of my other leave-ins I normally use to get a more sleek look, so when I went to bed I was sure my hair is going to be a mess in the morning. But I just put in a tight bun like I always do and my the morning my hair had a fresh blow-out look with little frizz. There was no dryness and like I said it was soft, but it lacked the silkiness, still I'm super happy with this. I also didn't have to smoother my hair in extra leave-ins in the morning, which is unheard of and in the next days I only added small amount of leave ins, some Joico K-Pack serum and Balea's oil mentioned below. The packaging has 400 ml, which is superb and it smells strongly of Pina colada. It's not a super thick conditioner so it's easy to apply, it's similar to Pantene in that respect. I will get the Leave-in Cream from this brand. 

Müller, 8.99 €

SCHWARZKOPF GLISS Protein + Cocoa Butter 4-in-1 Moisture Mask

Normally I don't get excited by Gliss masks, as while they are good, in fact brilliant for most, they more on the average side for my hair. However, the 4-in-1 claim made it sound similar to Fructis Hair Food mask which can be used on dry hair as a leave-in conditioner as well. That one was nice, but not as nourishing as I hoped (I had Banana), this on the other hand has cocoa butter high on the list, so I thought it might be better. It turns out you can use this as a leave-in on damp hair, while it's not silicone-y to be smooth enough for dry hair.  The 4 uses are as a pre-wash treatment, mask, conditioner and leave-in, so basically it's just a hair mask that can double as a leave-in treatment, why differentiate between mask and conditioner is just beyond me. Texture of this of average thickness for a mask, it's not super thick like the purple one with Omegaplex, so it's much easier to apply. I used this as a mask and leave-in conditioner. My hair was drying so slow with this on, but unlike with Cantu conditioner, it dried straight and frizzy free, however, by the morning, my hair was curly-ish, frizzy and nor soft, so basically it performs like an average drugstore mask on me and I'm not super impressed by this. It’s probably amazing on those who have normal hair with some dryness, but I need more. I love the colour of the packaging, it’s so me. The scent is creamy with a bit spice or something. 

DM, 6.99 €

BALEA Schönheits Geheimnisse Reichhaltiges Cocosöl 

(Beauty Secrets Rich Coconut Oil)

I got this because it's silicone free. This means it's more nourishing and heavier than silicone-oils, it also means it makes the hair lank and feeling dirty just like all natural oils when you use them every day, but such oils are the only way I can deal with the excessive dryness of my ends. Silicone-oils are more temporary and foremost a staying product for me, but I use coconut oil on most days and I just can't stand the smell of it anymore. This surprised me a lot. Based on ingredients I thought this will be lighter, but it's nicely rich, yet not too heavy and it doesn't leave the hair looking overly greasy like coconut oil does. Actually I thought this was a light oil in a spray, but this has a pump and I'm much happier that it turned out that way. The scent is the same as in their Langhaar Mädchen Haaröl, which I use as heat protection, so a vanilla-coconut scent that's super basic, but way better than coconut oil to me. I hope they keep this and it's not just a summery limited edition because I intend to continue buying it.

Ingredients.

DM, 2.99 €

DOVE Oil Care Nährpflege Spülung

(Oil Care Nutritional Care Conditioner)

Dove used to be one of my absolute favourite hair brand, but now we only have two sets of shampoo and conditioner here. What happened to their hair care? When I was checking ingredients on Müller's online shop, this has argan oil high enough on the list, so I just picked up a bottle not even bothering to check if ingredients on the ones we have are match. They don't. Argan oil is at the very bottom on the list on my version and I'm wondering if it's like with Nutella where Slovenes and Eastern European countries get the rubbish stuff "adapted to the local consumer's taste" as if we desire the inferior stuff (though it makes no sense, since I got it in Müller) or it went through a recent reformulation. Now I don't expect much from it, but let's hope it's enough for my hair. I'll report back.

Müller, 2.99 €

BALEA PROFESSIONAL Kopfhaut-Balance Ansatz-Balsam

(Scalp Balance Balm)

This is a moisturiser for the scalp and I was immediately intrigued because I've been suffering from dandruff and dry scalp most of my life and I've tried everything to fix it. It has a very handy long and precise nozzle, which helps at application, but it's still very hard getting it all over the scalp, impossible really because this isn't liquid, it's a medium thick cream and I just give up before I manage to get it all over. There definitely less dandruff when I use it, but I use it in combination with the conditioner, however, my scalp is still itchy at times. I'll continue using it, as so far this line is very promising. This is also meant for the ends since it has some keratin, but it feels like nothing on my ends and I won't waste it for that. 

DM, 2.49 €

BALEA PROFESSIONAL Kopfhaut-Balance Spülung

(Scalp Balance Conditioner)

This isn't meant just for the scalp, but I will only combine it with a more nourishing treatment for the bottom part of my hair. It's creamy, yet light for a conditioner, still with my length and thickness it takes some time and acrobatics with flipping my hair around to get this on most parts of the scalp. I doesn't leave my hair greasy or heavy, in fact I have plenty of volume left, but you know I can't say if it's going to be the same on oily scalp. Just like the balm, this is very promising when it comes to my scalp condition. I'll report back when the tube is empty.  

DM, 1.79 €

ILIRIJA Hydrogen Cream 3%

I got two more of these developers. Since my hair is bleached and coloured, I swap the developers in the box colours with this one which is more gentle. I used this with Subrina Spectra Demi-permanent colours, specifically shade 8/10 Ice Blonde and Garnier's Color Naturals 9.1. 

DM, 1.29 €

L'OREAL PARIS Magic Retouch 

Medium to Dark Blonde (for Blondes with Dark Roots)

I got this a day after I did my roots, so I don't know if it works on dark hair yet. I missed with the shade. The light blonde one looked too yellow for my ashy colour and I compared a strand of my hair with the picture on the bottle, which perfectly matched, but this is a shade or two too dark. At least it's an natural to ashy looking colour, so I might be able to create an shadow roots look. If not I'll go pick up the light blonde one too, because so far I like the formula. It's natural looking on the hair, it's not like a hair spray or a dry shampoo that it could feel like something on the hair and it doesn't come off on bedding. We'll see in a week or two how it deals with the roots, mine come in blazingly fast.

DM, 6.19 €

SCWARZKOPF GOT2B Bye Bye Babyhaar Bändiger

(Babyhair Tamer)

Years ago John Frieda has a similar product which was so good, but it was discontinued. I saw this on meindm and I immediately knew I had to track it down. This stuff is pretty amazing for frizz and flyaways, it does the job so well and fast. It's like a hair gel in a mascara form, but it doesn't feel stiff or heavy. This has a plastic wand, while John Frieda has the classic one and I think this one is better. This also smells like peaches which is an extra plus.

Müller, 7.99 €

FA Magic Oil Indulgingly Caring Shower Gel

Blue Lotus Scent

I love this one, but it was hard to track down when I only went to grocery shops - since it's Fa, I thought it was everywhere. It's not that special, though the formula is thicker than average, but the winner for me is the aquatic floral scent. 

DM,  2-3 €

NIVEA Care Shower Love Splash

A repurchase. I feel in love with its refreshing orange peel bitter citrus scent. The formula is nice too, not drying, the gel is thicker than most and nice to use. 

DM, 2.59 €

BALEA Duschschaum 

Pure Energy 

I've had Balea's shower mousses before and they were amazing. This is not as rich and firm as I remember, or maybe I'm mixing it up with the Dove one which is just fabulous, but argan version I had smells terrible. Still it's a nicely fluffy foam that's nice to use. The scent is more lime than mint and not as intensely citrusy as I expected, it's kind of subdued for such a scent.

DM, 0.99 €

BALEA Bodylotion Urea

Last month I praised the entire Urea line and I said I plan to get the lotion too, which finally happened a few days ago. This leave the same silky smooth film on the skin as the hand cream, so I'm quite happy with it. Formula is medium thick lotion, similar to a Nivea Q10 one I have, so not as rich as BBW Ultra Shea. It's not a lotion for those who dislike when a product needs time to sink in and it needs extra buffing to get rid of the white streaks, but I use it at night, so I don't care. I've been using it every day since I got it, we'll see if it manages to do such a dramatic difference on my driers areas as the Nivea lotion did.

DM, 2-3 €

BALEA Rasiergel

Iced Berries

I wanted the new peach version that I've seen on IG, but they didn't have it. I'm actually quite happy with the scent of this one. It's a very sweet candy version of forest berries, it's definitely one of my favourites they've made. I currently have the coconut one, which is so bland compared to this, I plan to finish it soon. 

DM, 1.99 €

BALEA Bodygel Aloe Vera

I saw this was reduced and last year when I got sunburned I couldn't find a cheap enough aloe vera gel that would have it high on the list or be 100%. This only has 10% aloe vera, so you get what you pay for. As you might expect it's a pretty basic gel and luckily it doesn't feel too sticky for such a product plus there's no alcohol in it, though it's fragranced. 

DM, 0.89 €

BALEA Fuss Maske

I wanted to get the version with the socks from Balea or either Scholl, but I recoiled in horror when I saw the prices for something that's meant for single use. So I got this mini packet instead and I'll make my own socks. My feet are very dry, so I'm hoping for the best. I'm also regularly using Balea Urea 10%. 

DM, 0.79 €

DOVE Nourishing Secrets Restoring Ritual 48h Anti-Perspirant

With coconut and jasmine flower scent

A while ago I switched from this to FA, which I got because it was cheap and I'm used to switching deodorants after finishing one because they tend to stop working on me. FA turned out to be the worst one I've tried so far. I did not work for long, so I went back to this one, which is proving itself to very reliable. For a time I loved the coconut scent, then despised it, now I don't notice it, but all the time this never failed me.

Interspar, about 3 €

Have a great day!

New in #78

Balea Bath & Body Works Bourjois catrice deborah Dove essence fragrance Got2B Joico L.O.V. max factor New In Oriflame Schwarzkopf

New in #78

Admin   March 23, 2019   Comment  

 *ESSENCE You Better Work! Volume & Curl Mascara

I'm a big fan of I <3 Extreme waterproof formula, so I had high hopes for this new mascara that also claims to be waterproof. There are two versions, one for length with a plastic wand and mine is a volume & curl version with a classic, but curved brush. I'm was immediately impressed with how nicely the brush combs the lashes in how much volume this mascara makes. It's definitely one of the nicest ones when it comes to effect, however, I'm unhappy about it not holding a curl. I spent quite some time curling my lashes and applying mascara, so I want it to last, unfortunately by the time I'm finished with the rest of my makeup, my lashes drop. For some reason Essence used a new formula for their waterproof version, one that is more wet than I <3 Extreme, which on me drops the lashes. I've tried gently curling them again and it worked, but I don't want to do that every time I use this mascara. It's hard to remove without an oil remover like a proper waterproof formula and I don't get any smudging with it, but still the fact it doesn't hold a curl is disappointing, especially since the general effect it's very pretty. I hoped it'll get drier in these weeks I got it, but unfortunately so far it hasn't changed, so I'm sticking to my trusted favourite I <3 Extreme. 

3.29 €

*ESSENCE The Dip Eyeliner Waterproof

This is an almost super eyeliner. I'll obviously compare it to my trusted favourite Catrice Liquid Eyeliner, which I use every day and I consider the best eyeliner I've tried. Formulas are both matte and Essence one actually dries even faster. Both are very black, but Essence one applies a bit sheerer on some points, which isn't that big of a deal because you can easily go over it. It lasts a bit less than Catrice, yet still very long for an eyeliner and I pretty much get a whole day with this with some minimal fading. However, my eyelids aren't greasy at all, so I couldn't say how it performs on oily eyelids. Formula-wise it's a nice one, definitely of the best, though not quite as good as Catrice's. My main complaint here is the applicator which is shorter and thicker than Catrice's, so drawing a nice line is much harder and I'm saying that as a person who's been using an eyeliner every day for years now. It limits you do only thicker lines and flicks are not easy to do, so I'd definitely pick Catrice's formula over this despite the slightly higher price. I already went back to Catrice also because the applicator feels softer and more pleasant.

2.78 €

ESSENCE Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

My lovely fellow Slovenian blogger Sandra, whose blog you must check out, gifted me this, after she was also the reason I put this on my wishlist, since she praises it so much. She says that it's a mascara that can hold her lashes curled despite the fact it's a regular formula and I'm always on board to try such mascaras especially after a long string of disappointments. The volume this creates with just one coat is very impressive. This is definitely a mascara for those who want big, long, voluminous lashes. In that respect it's actually the same as the original Princess Lash, but the formula is noticeably less wet, which works in my favour as this doesn't make my lashes drop like a stone. In terms of holding my lashes curled, it can't compare to the waterproof I <3 Extreme version, but it keeps them lifted enough, about half way. I haven't experienced any eye irritations or it smudging, but I've received a few messages with reports of that happening to them. So far I like it, it gives tons of volume, doesn't look clumpy and the dry-ish formula is a plus for me as well as it doesn't weigh my lashes down.  

3.49 €

*DEBORAH Milano Il Fondotinta City Defence

00

Newest foundation by Deborah that according to the press release attached to it was developed with the intention to protect the skin from polluted air and blue light that electronic screens emit. It promises medium coverage, a hydrating effect, lightweight feeling on the skin and a semi-matte finish. I finally got sent the lightest shade by Deborah, which are usually very light, unfortunately that is not the case at this foundation as it's a shade darker than Catrice's HD Liquid Coverage 010. Shame because I actually really like this formula. I always mix it with The Body Shop Drops, so I make it work. It reminds me of Maybelline's Fit Me Matte + Poreless, except it's more hydrating and better suited for me in winter. Finish is indeed a similar non-flat semi-matte as at Fit me and the coverage is light-medium (instead of the promised medium), but the formula is more creamy, similar to some tinted moisturisers. It doesn't emphasise pores and it doesn't look too bad over lines, though I still apply less of it there. I like it a lot, but it's a shame about the palest shade because all this mixing every morning is getting a bit old.

15-16 €

*CATRICE Golden Dust Highlighter Drops

01 Spacegold

I've got a similar product from Catrice which is meant to be a primer and this just feels like they used the same formula, except they changed the colour and size of the shimmer. It's very weak, barely visible on its own on the cheeks, but it can be used all over or mixed in a foundation for an overall glow. I've got to say that I don't get why both Catrice and L.O.V, so Cosnova, insists on using these bottles with pipettes for these thick formulas because they don't work and I need so scrape the product off the applicator. Overall I just don't find this worth is it, at least when it comes to my taste in highlighters. 

5.39 €

*CATRICE 1 Minute Face Perfector

010 One Fits All

I used to have Essence's mousse concealer that I used as a pore minimizer and it worked a treat. This is a more cream-meet-mousse type of formula and it does a similar job, though not quite as effective. It hides/fills up more prominent looking pores and creates an even surface, but this also promises to hide wrinkles and it fails very miserably at that because it manages to make them so much worse, so it ends up quite ageing. I'd stick to only areas where you want to hide pores and want a matte look. Instead of making it clear or much more sheer, Catrice made an "universal" shade that is very dark and I need to be careful not to use a lot, blend it in well and put some coverage over it. I noticed it doesn't cooperate with all foundation formulas. With some it looks quite bad and there are some that this just make it so much better plus it prolongs staying power. It's really a mixed bag with this one, but for me the main minus is the shade. 

6.39 €

 *ORIFLAME The One Colour Stylist Ultimate Lipstick

Pink Flair, Cranberry Brush, Coral Ideal, Sunset Show and Trendy Coral

This is Oriflame's newest lipstick formula and it's available in 24 shades, which they arranged based on their suitability for cool, warm and neutral skin tone in the last catalogue. I was offered a set of these based on my undertone and since I'm neutral I got these five (if you don't know your undertone, I have a guide type of post here). All have an intense pigmentation, but in all the rest categories they differ so much that I could call them different formulas. Finishes range from semi-matte finish to creamy and the thickness of the formula varies too, but overall these are thicker than most lipsticks I've tried.  They didn't glide on the lips smoothly from the start, but they got smoother when I got through the top layer and I'm not bothered by that because it means they stay in place better with no smudging around. My five shades they picked for a neutral undertone are not entirely what I'd pick based on how well I know what suits me. Having said that I think they absolutely nailed shade Pink Flair which is the perfect mix of pale pink and beige nude - this is definitely THE shade for a pale neutral skin tone. Cranberry Blush is another fantastic shade for a neutral undertone, they again hit the that perfect spot of a muted berry that isn't too cool. I can't be 100% about Trendy Cocoa, but it looks like it would fit deep neutral skin tones well, but the shade is not for me. The coral and the red are the ones I have issue with, as they are such typical warm tone shades and there's actually no corals in their warm selection of colours. Coral Ideal is a less punchy orange I've seen in most ranges, yet for a coral on a neutral undertone, I'd definitely pick something with pink based on my experience. The choice for a red, Sunset Show,  surprised me as well as it's quite a bright, warm red and I think something like Russian Red would be a better choice. I'm really like shade Pink Flair and it's so going to be my go-to shade and Cranberry is a great one too. Staying power again differs so much for this range, Pink Flair is weakest and gone in a few hours, Cranberry, Coral and Cocoa last averagely well, while Sunset Show has an insane staying power for a classic lipstick, it survives eating intact and I got 9h with it before I took it off, at that point it was evenly faded and still vibrant.

Oriflame, regular price 11.90 €, but as is usual from Oriflame should be often on offer.

*MAX FACTOR Color Elixir Lipstick

610 Angel Pink

Max Factor was kind enough to send a bunch of bloggers and Instagramers their own personalised lipsticks with a name engraved on the cap. I was sent one of the lightest shades called Angel Pink, which I based on the base on the lipstick I thought it was going to be so my colour until I actually tried it on the lips and my very early teenage years came flashing back when we all wore that Labello Pearly shine (swatches of this shade and Oriflame lipsticks is my IG in a highlighter Beauty Updates story). It's a very similar pale pink with tons of frost - really not my thing, so I went to check other shades and though most shades are frosty maybe Rosewood looks ok enough that might get it and swap the cap. The formula is a pretty standard creamy lipstick that glides on the lips with ease, isn't drying and feels comfortable. Staying power isn't its forte, but we are dealing with a very pale shade in a creamy form.

9.69 €

*MAX FACTOR Creme Puff Pressed Powder

I use powders very rarely, mostly just in the summer on odd days when my skin is a bit shiny, but right now any foundation I wear comes off as matte to semi-matte since my skin is dry, so I can't say much about this powder's effectiveness. It didn't make my foundation go all patchy with time due to drying out the skin, so that's a plus. It's transparent as described, so it can be used on all skin tones. I'm going to get back on you with this in summer because right now I have no use for this, but I it's got that I got it because my only mattifying powder is very old. 

7.89 €

*MAX FACTOR 2000 Calorie Mascara

This is probably the first mascara I ever heard of and I still remember the old TV ads, but I never tried this version and my first mascara from MF was actually their Masterpiece mascara with one of the first plastic wands. I had the red version of Calorie, the curling one, which is probably my most hated mascara so far because it was so wet and messy. It's also the reason for avoiding the original and now I see I shouldn't be judging it so harshly. I like it. It's not amazingly volumising as it promises or like the Essence mascaras in this post, still it's a very good performer and it combs the lashes nicely, creates a nice fanned out effect and no matter how much I apply it, it doesn't got clumpy. The formula is not super wet, still it doesn't hold a curl, but it also doesn't weight my lashes completely down. In this respect Lash Princess and this mascara are similar. I can see why this is still sold after so many years, it's a nice gold classic. 

9.99 €

*ESSENCE Shine Last & Go gel nail polish

04 Millennial Pink

Essence decided to revamp their main nail polish line and switch from those cute hourglass bottles to these much less aesthetic ones. The formula however, hasn't changed at all, which isn't a bad thing because I always liked it. Two to three coats are required at this colour, it applies nicely enough with not much annoying streaking and these last fine on me. Millennial Pink is a pale pastel warm pink.

1.69 €

*CATRICE More than Nude Nail Polish

02 Pearly Ballerina

 Though I liked the look of these in the shop, seeing the price made me gasp for a moment. Not that's it's very expensive, but still this is a Catrice nail polish, pretty packaging or not. Formula is sheer and with three coats you get an about 80% coverage. These shades are meant to have a brightening effect and indeed that blue tiny shimmer in Pearly Ballerina gives it that effect. The base is a pale pink and together with the shimmer it ends up looking a pale lavender. The cap is in two parts, the rose gold cap is just a cover for a smaller handle.

4.79 €

 *BOURJOIS 1 Second Eyeshadow

02 Brun-ette a dorée and 06 Abracada brown

I really don't want to be too harsh here, but as soon as I've seen these I knew they were a bad idea. I've tried these 1-swipe-and-go concept with the Catrice version, which is less ambitions and only consist of two colours and this type of application just doesn't work as designed. First of the packaging is ridiculously bulky for 3g of product (those LOV eyeshadows below have 5g for comparison). The shape of the applicator is granted better than Catrice's and it does work to a degree, of course it all fails when it comes to the edges, so a separate brush is a must or at least some fixing with fingers. 06 Abracada brown is not as tragic actually and you can get a gradient application with some extra blending, however, it's most due to the well pigmented bottom shade, while the other two are much poorer performers. The 02 Brun-ette a dorée is a palette to avoid. I've genuinely tried hard with this one, even using regular blushes, but pigmentation is poor. I'm sorry, but I just can't say much positive about this, especially after trying to swatch these nicely for quite a while for pictures this morning. I'll post them on IG stories when I edit everything and maybe do an extra shot on the eyes. I only got these on Thursday, so give me some time play with these more, but overall I see it as a failed concept like their ombre lipsticks. 

 *L.O.V. The Galaxy Eyeshadow & Liner

500 Rosé exposed, 510 Precious copper, 520 Champagne sparks, 530 Magenta shimmer and 540 Dazzling emerald

I received a massive parcel filled with LOV products on Thursday just as I was about to post this post and I delayed it because of it, so my impressions about all the LOV products are very fresh and when I play more with these, I'll post my regular Beauty updates on IG stories. These are creamy eyeshadows with a glitter finish. In terms of texture they are like Maybelline's Colour Tattoos, so creamy, yet more powdery looking on the eyes. LOV named them as eyeshadow and liner type of product, but I don't see these working as a liner, except maybe Magenta Shimmer. Shades for the bottom row on the picture (500, 510 and 520) have a sheer base and are more about the glitter finish, so I would classify them as toppers. They can be used on their own of course, but you'll see mostly shimmer with these. The other two shades are much more pigmented. Dazzling Emerald, a smoky deep green with gold shimmer, can be built up to almost full coverage, but it's not easy to apply it evenly, while Magenta shimmer, a deep reddish-purple-brown with purple shimmer is a top performer with an opaque finish. Other three shades are Rosé exposed, a sheer pink with silver shimmer, Precious copper, sheer orange copper with gold shimmer, and Champagne sparks, a beige gold with gold shimmer (very similar to Essence's Metal Chrome eyeshadow 02 Ironic). I wore Champagne sparks yesterday which it's quite sheer, it lasted all day, but faded somewhat and there was some creasing. 

9.99 €

*L.O.V. GLITTERunexpected Sparkling Eyeshadow Palette

I've only swatched this and nothing more. Four shades are densely packed glitters and a creamy formula and the last pink shade is a "dry" satin eyeshadow with some larger glitter. Fame, a yellow-orange-ish gold, is a top performer with a foiled effect. Bright, a white with gold glitter, has a strange chunky texture. Bold, a mint green glitter, has the least amount of pigmentation and it's not the best. Dazzle, a smoky grey-purple with silver shimmer, is a bit chunky and doesn't have the best pigmentation, but can be built up. Daring, a deep purple with blue glitter is similar to, but better than Dazzle. Sparkle is a light pink with glitter that could be more pigmented. I'll report back when I use it more.   

14.99 €

*L.O.V. BLUSHment Blurring Blush 

n.30 beautiful minds empower other, n.50 yes she can and n.60 be the next She.E.O

I was most happy to receive these because I've been in "blush funk" and have been using only theBalm Instain Blush Houndstooth for months now. These are lovely, definitely some of the best drugstore blushes I've tried so far. They are baked blushes with super smooth texture and great pigmentation. These are actually the texture I wanted Max Factor Crème Puff blushes to be, especially shades 05 and 05 which have tiny shimmer that looks like a healthy glow on the cheeks. Shade 30 is a warm taupe-ish mauve, a strange looking shade in the pan, but it ends up a mute almost peachy shade on me. It has a satin finish and no shimmer like the other two. 50 is a very pale warm pink and even though it swatches very pale, it's quite pigmented and I can get enough colour fast even with a fluffy brush. The glow this shade creates is absolutely beautiful. 60 is a bright pinky coral shade. I haven't worn it on the cheeks like the other two, but swatching revealed it also has shimmer like shade 50.

9.99 €

*L.O.V. the GLOWrious Deep Metallic Highlighting Palette

Like I said I only got this on Thursday and I'm hoping this will get better when I get through the top layer, but I swatched this for the pictures today and I wasn't gentle with it, but this is so far quite poorly pigmented. Metal Glam and Rosy Radiance are useful, I just need to apply several layers with a thick fluffy brush, but I can't get Prismatic to work. It's a sheer peach with almost no glow to it. The other two shades are beautiful colours, Metal Glam is a lovely golden champagne with tiny glow-like shimmer and Rosy Radiance is a subtle rose gold with the same lovely shimmer as Metal Glam. I love the latter most and I can deal with applying more than I'm used to, but overall for this price, I'd expect the same pigmentation Essence's excellent Go for the Glow's first shade has. We'll see how this fares with time and more use. 

16.99 €

 *L.O.V. PERFECTitude Hyaluronic Serum Primer

This is more of less just pretty to look at in the packing and nothing much more, though ingredients are actually quite decent, since hyaluronic acid is high on the list. It promises a glow effect and appearance of tightened pores but it's basically pink glitter in a hyaluronic serum. It has no silicones, so no smooth feeling, instead the texture feels like that Hoffer Hyaluronic Serum I think a lot of us tried and stopped using. It sinks fast into the skin and after my skin is screaming for something more moisturising over it. No silicones also means no effect on pores whatsoever, for hiding pores try that Catrice primer I mentioned above. The radiance is none existent. It has glitter particles which are sparse once rubbed into the skin, so no lovely lit-from-within look that you see at primers that promise a radiance/glow effect. This is more a skin care product with glitter and it might be enough for normal-oily skin. 

13.99 €

 *L.O.V. Luxury Oil

Nowhere on the bottle, apart deep on the ingredients list, does this state it has gold particles in it. And LOV even used an matte bottle for this, so I don't get why they are hiding what looks like an obvious selling point, but what do I know. It's a shea butter based oil, something I haven't had before and it's not a dry oily, but it's also not super greasy. It takes some time to sink in completely, yet I've had greasier oils and once it sinks in it leaves almost a satin/silicone-feeling finish. The gold particles completely disappear when rubbed into the skin and I don't see any extra radiance, though the oily by itself adds shine. I find gold in skin care items excessive and gimmicky, though LOV claims has an antibacterial effect and it stimulates collagen production - I don't have the time to investigate further on such claims. Oil has an expected combination of beachy tiare flower scent mixed with cherries. I don't know if that's it, but that's how my nose recognises it and it's quite nice. I've only used it twice as a last part of my skin care routine and on my hair, so far I don't see anything special about it, but obviously I need to use it a lot longer to say definitely how I feel about it.

16.99 €

VERSACE Crystal Noir eau de toilette

I've wanted this for ages, possibly a full decade and I fully intended to finally treat myself with a bottle for my birthday, yet it was out of stock for months every time I was in the drugstore. I finally found it with a decent discount and grabbed the last bottle. This is what I call a spicy clean scent. It's like a super fancy fabric softener or a fabric softener mixed with a nice spicy fragrance. I think the "clean", soft part I'm smelling is a mix of gardenia, coconut and musk, while the spicy bit all the top notes, so ginger, cardamom and pepper. After all these years I still find it so unique among fragrances, there just aren't many clean yet spicy scents, they always drag patchouli into spicy scents which I hate. It also lasts so long on the skin. I've had a sample of this that I only used drops of and a little dab on the wrist lasted all day and it lasts ever longer on clothes. 

Top notes: ginger, cardamom, pepper 

Heart: orange blossom, peony, gardenia, coconut

Base notes: sandalwood, musk, amber

Müller, 31 €

ORIFLAME Amber Elixir eau de parfum

I had such high expectations from this, but for now I’m not convinced by it. I find it a bit bland and nothing at all as I’ve read in the reviews. I expected this rich scent, but it’s very soft, though its cosy and comforting start feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket, it later get this strange sharp floral note (it’s the same as in Posses the Secret) and that note persist all day (it’s a very long lasting scent). It just smells like an old perfume to me and not like a modern amber. Maybe I’ll change my mind in time.

Notes:

Top: mandarin, red grapes, black currant

Heart: peony, heliotrope, almond

Base: amber, musk and sandalwood

Notino, 12.90 €

DOVE Deeply Nourishing Shower Gel

I was so happy to see this in DM. I'm not sure if we had this big size for long, but I've never seen it before. I'm a big fan of this creamy formula and every time I get a bottle, it's gone within two-three weeks like every shower gel in the house, so a big 500 ml bottle should finally last a bit longer. And it wasn't even that expensive for the size, especially since the regular size costs over 2 € here. 

DM, 3.49 €

BALEA Rasier Gel

Sweet Passion

I don't think I ever managed to catch the same LE twice. I like this one, it's a very sweet tropical scent with more prominent notes of passionfruit, while pineapple is not very noticeable. I've been buying these for many years and I don't plan to switch.

DM, 1.99 €

SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL Blondme Premium Developer 12%/40 Vol.

I talked about the bleach powder and a 6% developer in one of the previous New In posts and now I got the 12% which I original planned, but Amazon didn't sell it at the time I got this line. 12% together with the bleach promises to lighten up 9+ shades and I hear from reviews that this bleach is actually capable of doing that, but we'll see. I'm not in a hurry to colour just yet, I merely took an opportunity of the women's day offer to stock up. I detailed my experience with this line in the previous new in and said that this is such a fantastic bleach that caused no visible damage and didn't dry my hair. The bleach also contains bond builder, which is a similar thing to Olaplex, a must at all bleaching processes. The developer contains mineral oil quite high on the list and it maintains the good condition of the hair. I'll report with the result when I go about colouring my hair, but I don't think it'll be soon. 

Notino, 11.90 €

SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL Blondme Blonde Toning

Steel Blue and Sand

At bleaching a toner is a must and I grabbed two to mix. I got Steel Blue which is Schwarzkopf's slightly blue-intense grey toner that counteracts brassy-orange tones (their more popular Ice is designed for counteracting yellow tones) and I got Sand, which is their neutral blonde shade. I got these because I read in a review this combination creates a nice medium blonde shade, though I was originally thinking about getting Ice instead of Sand. These can be mixed with a 2% or 6% developer. 2% just deposits the colour and should be used on bleached hair, while 6% add some extra lift and they recommend to use on natural hair, but I only have 6% and I'll probably use that one.

Notino, 11.20 €

JOICO K-Pack Intense Hydrator 

A repurchase. This is one of my favourite hair treatments and one of the rare of that has a great effect on my thick, dry hair. I currently have Moisture Recovery Balm which is much, much thicker and though it's nourishing, it's not as good as this and because it's harder to wash off, it can leave the hair feeling "heavy". Intense Hydrator has a medium thick texture that doesn't feel heavy, yet it does so much for the hair. I saw Notino sells a massive 1000 ml version for about 35 € and I'm seriously considering taking it because this is much better than L'Oreal's Absolut Repair Lipidum that I have in a 500 ml pot. 

Notino, 14.30 €

GOT2B #Oh My Nude Tame it Softly Dry Lightweight Oil Mist

Ever since got2b Oil-liscious spray disappeared from our drugstores, I've been saving mine like crazy and when I was checking the ingredients of new products in the shop, this looked like a similar thing (silicones + oil and no alcohol). It had a discount recently, so I grabbed one to compare them and see if I can stop saving Oil-liscious for only special occasions and I can confirm it's the same thing. It's just like the name says a dry lightweight oil in a spray from. I called Oil-licious version my shiny, healthy hair faker often in on my blog and that's what this is as well. If dry shampoo is a quick saviour for oily hair, this is a such a product for dry hair. It gives great level of shine, tames frizz and just makes the hair look more polished. It's pretty much like a regular silicone oil, just lighter and faster to use, so best for finishing touches when you already used hair spray or wax and you don't want to touch you hair much anymore. The difference between the two is the oil they used, Oil-licious had a small amount of argan oil, while #oh my nude has a slightly larger amount (but still very little) of olive and moringa oil, but at both of these it's the silicones doing the actual job of taming. Another difference is the scent, Oil-licious has a lovely lipstick type of scent and #oh my nude has a more musky-sweet scent that's not my favourite. This is worth checking out no matter your hair type.  

DM, 2.99 €

Sandra send me all these samples (thank you). She knows how much I love BBW mists and since we both have to do blind purchases online, she sent me hers to test. She also added some of her other favourite products. 

BATH & BODY WORKS Fragranced Body Mist

Maui Mango Surf

This smells similar to DM's mango summer LE shower gels they tend to release every year. It's a very fresh, uplifting and sweet mango scent. It gets more floral in a few minutes, I think it's ylang-ylang I'm smelling and not hibiscus, which tends to be fresher. It's just a very classic tropical fruity summery mist. It starts our strong, but quickly become more of a subtle, skin scent on me that's less fruity and more gently sweet floral. 

Top: mango, guava, hibiscus

Heart: sea notes, driftwood, mai tai cocktail

Base: sandalwood, ylang-ylang and musk

Honolulu Sun

Partly similar to At the Beach, but a fresher version of it. There's a touch of citrus from the start, but it's overall more of a coconut musky scent like At the Beach, however, as an addition it has fresh, green notes and more of a seaside feel to it from the start, but later it smells the same as At the Beach to me. It's too musky for my taste. 

Top Notes: Fresh Island Coconut, Ocean Air Accord, Pacific Palm, Sun-drenched Citrus

Heart: Creamy Coconut Milk, Exotic Island Nectars, Pink Passionfruit

base notes: Driftwood, White Sand Musk

Sea Island Cotton

A typical clean sheets scent. It's so fresh and clean, and to me this is completely a unisex scent. Nothing from the list of notes stands out, apart from powder notes, but the freshness must come from other notes and musk. I like it a lot. It's like a shower and clean clothes in a bottle.  

Top: pear leaf, bloody orange, tangerine, clear floral accords, cotton, "a breeze of fresh air", green pear and tangerine

Heart: lily-of-the-valley, orange blossom, water cyclamen, cotton blossom, freesia and jasmine

Base: white musk, powder, sandalwood and vanilla 

Fiji Pineapple Palm

First burst is pure pineapple and that note is the heart of this fragrance, while the rest is barely noticeable. Lime and palm leaf make it more green, than the usual pina colada type of scent and I get no coconut milk in this. If you like pineapple this is for you.

Top Notes: Lime, Palm leaf, Pear nectar

Heart Notes: Star jasmine, Tiaré, Mango pulp, Pineapple

Base notes: Mango wood, Coconut milk, Caramel, Birch, Musk

Tahiti Island Dream

This is completely different that the other four and more along the lines of Oahu Coconut Sunset, but not that similar, I just means that both are much warmer, less fruity fresh. There is some fruitiness to it, but mostly it's about heavy florals and vanilla/amber/sandalwood combination. If I classify the others as daytime mists, this is a night time scent with much more punch to it as well as staying power. It's almost syrupy sweet, and I think that what I'm smelling is the jasmine-frangipani combination, or it could be kiwi flower, though I don't know how that smells on its own. The base notes make it a warm scent and it time it settles into a more subdued floral-vanilla. I get no typical coconut/sunscreen/Pina colada vibe from this, it's not even properly beachy and it will suit those who like stronger sweet scents (at least from the start).  

Top notes: coconut nectar, mandarin orange, pear and kiwi flower

Heart: jasmine, water lily and frangipani

Base: vanilla, musk, amber and Australian sandalwood

BATH & BODY WORKS  Nourishing Hand Cream

Twisted Peppermint

The scent of blue Orbit chewing gum with just a hint of vanilla. It's a nice fresh scent that I enjoy, peppermint always makes me feel better. Texture is surprisingly nice, medium thick and absorbs completely in about a minute, however, I wish it just a bit more nourishing, so more like L'Occitane's Shea Butter. I like any hand cream that absorbs fast, so I might check BBW's other scents. This was a LE. 

L'OCCITANE Almond Shower Scrub

I had version in a pot many years ago and this the the version in a tube. There isn't a trace of that famous L'Occitane Almond scent and it's not the strongest of scrubs, while I like mine very harsh. It's averagely strong and that will appeal to many.

L'OCCITANE 5% Karite Foaming Face Cleanser 

This feels so nice on the skin, I'd massage it forever. It's nicely creamy, feels luxurious and it washes off completely unlike many creamy cleansers I've tried. However, it irritates my eyes so much and it left my skin too squeaky clean for my dry skin to handle, so it's not for me. 

RITUALS Himalaya Scrub Sweet Almond & Indian Rose

Unlike the L'Occitane scrub, I loved this. It's a great salt scrub that's just the way I like them, so one of the harsh ones and it's got oil that isn't as obnoxiously greasy as Afrodita's. I like it, though the scent is nothing special. 

THE BODY SHOP Vitamin C Glow-Protect Lotion SPF30

This isn't half bad for a sunscreen that's easily available and I don't have to order from Asia. It's a quite thick cream, yet it doesn't take long to sink in enough to not feel greasy and heavy. It works under foundation well and the SPF is enough for me because I don't spent a lot of time in the sun. I love the orange scent most, it's so refreshing and juicy. The vitamin C content is rather low, but I look at it as a sunscreen and not some fancy skin care. 

Have a great day!