Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++ No. 21 Light Beige and 23 Natural Beige 20 ml and 50 ml Review

Ingredients:

I found actually two/three different ingredient lists online.

Water (Aqua), Cyclomethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Arbutin, Mineral Oil, Glycerin, Polyethylene, Talc, Phenyl Trimethicone, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Sodium Chloride, Iron Oxides (CI 77491 ), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Methylparaben, Dimethicone, Propylparaben, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Caviar Extract, Algae Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Ceramide 3, Fragrance (Parfum), Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol.

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Clogs my skin, more when I wasn't using Skinoren/Differin. No big cystic breakouts or inflamed things but always small bumps after using the bb cream. I almost wrote off this product completely. But now when my skin gets enough exfoliation and care, the clogging is minimal. Still not ideal for everyday use.

- Limited shade range.

- The neutral gray undertone of the bb cream is great, but it also does make face look a bit colorless/lifeless compared to foundations with more color to them. So even though it blends in very well despite looking scary at first, it is not going to be "glowy healthy" look.



+ Wears very well throughout the day. Very natural, no clumps or streaks even if I sweat somewhat (haven't tried in super sweaty conditions though) and doesn't break down much anywhere too noticeably (sides of nose, between eyebrows, chin a bit after a long wear) or escape from my oily nose.

+ For these lighter shades the gray undertone works very well, I love how it will not lean to orange, yellow or pink on my skin! Such a safe choice.

+ Natural skin texture, not matte or glowy.

+ Sun protection.

+ So far has seemed to work both with mattifying and glowy primers/sunscreens.

+ Moisturizing enough on its own, I can skip moisturizer for the day usually. I can use this to conceal my under eyes, too (usually they dry from concealers/mineral sunscreens moderately/badly). Just notice this one will not cover or stay put like a true concealer, if you put too much bb cream it will crease.

+ When my skin is "ok" (well, quite a broad term) I can get quite a flawless, almost poreless end result with super minimal effort (just apply and blend with fingers the cream wherever I see fit).

+ The pump works very well in the 50 ml tube.

+  There is some fragrance as well but it is something I barely notice and it doesn't linger. Actually I can't remember what this BB Cream smells like right now! I must go and actually smell it at some point!

* The consistency seems to be a bit different between 21 and 23, 21 feels runnier. It is the one I have as a 20 ml tube. It is also the one I bought first and I've had it for a while, so maybe it has started to go bad. 23 is in a pump bottle and is thicker cream.

* I can get away with wearing 21, but that requires some work because of the white cast. It needs to be blended well to neck, not too thick, and I need to bring in some color from other products. 23 looks quite scary dark at first, but blends in very well. I think my shade is more 23 overall in Korean products. (Could also be 22 if it sometimes exists and is warm/neutral.) I am glad I haven't bought more Korean foundations in the meantime, I would have gotten all in 21 because according to swatches, it always looks like it is my shade!

* I wasn't a super big fan of this bb cream at first when I tried the 21 back then. I couldn't understand the grayness/paleness, the skin clogging, also it is heavier than what I thought a bb cream should be (I though it should be more like a tinted moisturizer). When I later tried it again, it was a surprise I actually liked it enough to buy the shade 23 that looks more brownish. This just really highlights how our skin and preferences change! I think, it was the longevity that this bb cream stayed on my oily T-zone that won me over. I do always set my makeup with powder btw. It is a must.

Price: 

7.16 USD incl. shipping on ebay / 20 ml

4.67 USD + shipping on beautynetkorea / 50 ml

Bought from: 

Beautynetkorea

Ebay seller roseroseshop

Buy again? 

Yes, very likely, the shade 23 if it still exists when I've finished the tube and I haven't found anything similar but better before that.

Worth the money? 

Yes, no wonder Perfect Cover BB Cream is such a popular product. It is cheap for what it is! 50 ml full size tube is a generous size and I reckon it lasts me a long while, a year, or two? Shade range is a bit weird though, despite the lighter shades being gray so that they suit several undertones, shades are still very limited. If you can find close enough shade for you I recommend trying this BB cream. I find it very good for oily skin, but the downside is, that it is pore clogging and might feel heavy if used liberally.

Empties Since November 2019

Two months' worth of empties. Decided to get rid of trash before the new year! Clean slate!

Face

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash x 2

A staple. So gentle yet so effective (just stings eyes so I'm careful when washing eye makeup). Affordable too. Always a repurchase. Forgot to include the other finished bottle in last empties post because we have re-purposed them for our hand soap. The bottles are so sturdy and their pumps are very good, they can be re-used several times!


Skinoren Cream 20%

A new product in my routine that I would like to keep a staple for a while! Effective, calming. I would say an overall game changer. Already opened another tube and repurchased two more. Forgot to include in the last empties post.


Differin Adapalene Gel 0,1%

Another new product in my routine and a game changer in a way. Smooths my skin so well. Already repurchased two back ups. Forgot to include in the last empties post.


The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane

I just love squalane. It is so versatile and such a safe product for me. So affordable, as well. Repurchased two bottles already.


Sheetmasks + Samples

I used some samples during a trip so obviously I didn't carry the trash back to home. Didn't particularly like any of them: Purito's All in One Snail BB Cleanser, The Face Shop Rice Cleansing Foam, and It's Skin Mango White Cleansing Foam (the best out of the bunch). This Innisfree My Real Squeeze Ginger sheet mask was so bland I barely remember using it.

Body

Skinfood Mint Sparkling Foot Scrub

Smells nice, this scrub is more for the relaxation and spa feeling, it doesn't actually do very much. Probably discontinued. Wouldn't have repurchased anyway.


Cien Men Antiperspirant x 2

Oh, what a surprise (not)! Basics gonna basic. Nice enough and cheap.

Hair

Numis Med Urea Shampoo

Well, truth to be told, my partner finished this one. He didn't complain. In fact, he never said a word about the shampoo, he just quietly started to use it after I complained to him about it. It made my hair feel stringy and didn't clean my scalp.

Lookfantastic Advent Calendar 2019 Review

Handy information cards about the products! Well, not really needed as I can google but nice to have now that the items are already scattered around the house. 

Overall, I am pleased with the Lookfantastic Advent Calendar 2019! Earlier I said it may be better than the 2017 one. But in the end, I think they are pretty similar. I have discovered new things in both of them, some really good ones that I wouldn't have bought myself, and of course also things I consider unwanted. These calendars are a great value, especially if you are new to makeup and skincare. But also, I really didn't need any of this, so if you already have a lot, this all may be a bit extra... Also because I am a slow person, I have just recently only tested some of the 2017 calendar products! And some things I felt iffy about when opening the boxes, like Dr. Lipp, I have learned to love later. I still use the 2017 calendar box for storing my makeup, too! It's been very good and sturdy for that. This new calendar, I don't know, while it's bigger the boxes are individual so it is not that ideal for storage.

This Calendar was a christmas gift for me. Would I purchase, or ask for the calendar again for 2020? Maybe it would be time to try another advent calendar, like Glossybox or Feelunique, to avoid getting the same products all over again. Or skip a year like I skipped 2018 (I feel like it was the right decision, no remorse). I just like how Lookfantastic calendar can't go badly wrong and they don't immediately reveal what is in the boxes so it is possible to be surprised every day! But that only works if the calendar has a good reputation already.

The advent calendar cost 89,00 €. Lookfantastic claims the full value is 455 €.

25 boxes - roughly 8 make up, 11 skincare, 2 haircare, 4 bath and body care.

Most exciting things 

Morphe Always Golden 9A Eyeshadow Palette

What a way to start the calendar! I have heard a lot of Morphe before and not always good things. But I love this palette! The shades are perfect for me and they look a lot better in person compared to photos. Also I didn't have any nude palettes so definitely an all around win. The palette also feels quite luxurious despite it being "an average price" (14 €). I actually almost purchased another bigger palette from Morphe, but decided it didn't have enough interesting boring nude shades after all. But if they release something like that, I'll be there!

Luxie Brushes 121 Mini Tapered and 141 Mini Round

Just. Pure. Love. Soft for sensitive eyes. Made me search for more Luxie brushes and actually purchase two more sets (Essential and Mini Detail Eye) because there was such a good sale going on.


First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads, 28 Pads

I had been looking at these pads earlier! Interesting to see if they are worth their price, seeing that the ingredients seem basic (but nice and safe). The 2017 calendar had Ultra Repair Cream from FAB.


Bioeffect EGF Serum

So exciting! I have heard a lot about Bioeffect before. I would never purchase it myself and I don't think I am their target group (right now at least) but I will use every single drop of this serum and stare at my fine lines everyday to see if anything looks more plump. That counts as a hobby, yes?

Oskia London Renaissance Cleansing Gel

Intriguing! Oskia is a very pretty brand. If I had money, this brand is something I would notice. The 2017 calendar included Oskia's Renaissance Mask mini.


Molton Brown Fiery Pink Pepper Bath&Shower Gel

Yay! I was hoping for Molton Brown again. The 2017 calendar had the Gingerlily one that I ended up loving.


Filorga Meso-Mask

Yay, some Filorga. I have wanted to try something from them for a while. I think it is one of Filorga's bestsellers?


Sleek MakeUP Highlighting Palette Solstice

Very pretty, I must say I was surprised. The finishes of the highlighters are quite glittery (haven't tried the cream one yet though). I rarely touch highlighters however and I wouldn't have chosen these shades necessarily. I would have gone for the more golden/copper shade palettes! But still the only shade I don't like is the pink/lilac one (those shades make me look sick).


Illamasqua Lip Liner in Raw

I don't have many lip liners so this was definitely a great addition. Nice versatile nude shade that disappears into my own lip color. A bit hard though and not as long lasting than my cheapo Essence ones, that was a surprise. Quality and price don't always go together.

Ok+ things

Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara

Mascaras are always useful. I don't really care which mascara I use as long as it doesn't smudge too bad or irritate my eyes. I think Eyeko Mascara is a tubing mascara, so maybe it'll be smudge free.


The Delilah Cosmetics Brow Groom Eyebrow Pencil 

Very stylish pencil. Nice shade. Actually this pencil and the shade feel a lot better than the Model Co Eyebrow pencil from 2017 Calendar (it felt oilier). Now that I have played more with eyebrow products I feel I can rate them better too.



Caudalie Vinopure Clear Skin Purifying Toner

I was excited to see some Caudalie, then I noticed the toner has alcohol and it is probably not suitable for my routine right now. I will try it anyway!


Rituals The Ritual of Ayurveda Natural Dry Oil for Body and Hair Nourishing

Interesting! I don't think I ever would have purchased a dry oil like this, but it feels very nourishing indeed and absorbs nicely. The scent is very sweet, I feel neutral about it.

Neals Yard Wild Rose Hand Cream

I like hand creams even though I have a couple already! They are quite a safe thing to get and use. This one looks very nice too, a lot of oils, including rose hip seed oil.

Emma Hardie Moisture Boost Vit + C Cream

Interesting, a new brand for me. The ingredient list on the tube doesn't match the one I found online! Shea butter is second on the list so I don't know if it's too much for my skin.

Ok- things

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer 

Hair treatment, why not? I will definitely use it. But not exactly something I needed or wanted. I tried it once already, but didn't really notice a huge change in my hair. Maybe my hair was smoother.


Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream

A full size jar! Sadly, I got a sample size from 2017 calendar, and I think it's breaking me out. Good value though. This is going to someone else as a gift.


Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist Rose Gold Edition

So pretty bottle. I want to save it and use it for something else too. But for the last box, 25, I was expecting something else! Something bigger, fancier, Idk? Also I have one Queen of Hungary Mist from the 2017 Calendar. It is actually even a prettier (pink) bottle! Not fungal acne safe so I have to use it in the moderation.


Avant Moisture Surge Overnight Treatment - Shea Butter, Sweet Almond, Moringa, Rice 50 ml

Sounds very nourishing. Just worried it will trigger something (fungal acne) or clog my skin because of all the oils. It is crazy expensive full size product though.


The Living Proof PHD 5-in-1 Styling Treatment 

Ok product and smells really nice. But I am so lazy, I rarely style my hair! Except for the sea salt spray.

Meh things

Rodial Dragon's Blood Lip Mask

I have never tried a lip mask. So it's interesting. But I also think they are a gimmick and I would never pay 6-8 € for one lip mask!


Mellow Matte Liquid Lip Paint in Tehran

I rather like how this product applies and feels on lips. I just think the shade is off on me and it doesn't wear out evenly. I could consider other shades of this same lip paint (it's comfortable), but none of them appealed to me either.


PRAI AGELESS Travel Throat & Decolletage Crème 15ml

For some reason I find the concept of neck/throat/decolletage etc products hilarious. Especially for these prices. Like, I just use my facial serums and creams... or if I want to save, body creams. I don't think my throat knows or cares which one it is. I might learn to appreciate them more when my neck ages more though! Right now my neck is as oily as my face so it doesn't really enjoy extra stuff too much. (Gets clogged, like my face.)


Lord and Berry Eyeliner in Black

Nice looking product. I just rarely use eye liner, and when I do, it's not black. Black is so harsh on me. I am going to try this one to see how the formula lasts on my oily eye lids though before deciding if I am going to gift it away.


Bubble T Salted Caramel Bath Fizzies

I don't have a bath tub. I can use these for a foot bath of course but still quite a bleh, cheap box.

Natura Siberica Alladale Hand Cream 75 ml Review

Ingredients:


Aqua, Octyldodecanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Cirsium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Rhodiola Rosea Root ExtractWH, Geranium Sibiricum ExtractWH, Pinus Pumila Needle ExtractWH, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil*, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Dehydroacetic Acid, CI 77492, Limonene, Linalool.

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Not a heavy duty hand cream

- A bit gimmicky marketing even though I like their brand image



+ Pleasant slight earthy/herby scent

+ Feels smooth, absorbs ok, I don't have to wait for it to sink in for a too long time (5-10 minutes maybe?)

+ Good looking protective packaging and tube

+ Price and quality meet nicely

* I must admit I didn't remember I had bought Natura Siberica hand cream along the shower gel over a year ago! I just discovered it when I was doing inventory/cleaning my drawers.

* I like Natura Siberica's brand image, message and their prices for the basic stuff. They also have more expensive products.

Price: 

? I can't remember, probably about 3 € / 75 ml

Bought from: 

Natura Siberica store

Buy again? 

Maybe! I don't know if it still exists though. But I would definitely try another hand cream from Natura Siberica in case I wonder again in their store.

Worth the money? 

Yes. There is absolutely nothing that annoys me about this cream, it works, it's reasonable cheap (depending where you purchase), the packaging and tube looks cute, it doesn't have a sickly sweet fragrance (I don't hate fragrance but it's nice to have options).

The outer package was sealed with stickers on both ends.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 15 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Acacia Decurrens (Mimosa) Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia (Rose) Flower Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate-13, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polyisobutene, Fragrance (Parfum), Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Citronellol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Cuminum Cyminum Seed Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Limonene (N).

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Fragrance is strong so not for sensitive people. It dissipates somewhat after the tube has been opened for some days.

- Not terribly hydrating/moisturizing, which is weird considering this is an anti-age product and includes all sorts of stuff. Also I have combination skin so it's weird that this moisturizer felt almost drying for me.

- Sadly, I think this is breaking me out. Not hugely (in cystic acne), but noticeably and immediately (bumps, white heads...), and it gets worse the more days I use it in a row. I can only guess what is causing it, some of the extracts, or maybe all the fungal acne triggers (Glyceryl Stearate SE, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter etc)?



+ Even though the floral fragrance is strong, I quite like it! There is something familiar about it.

+ Absorbs fast, actually feels like skin is smoother/tighter afterwards. No pilling, good under makeup.

+ Doesn't feel heavy or pore clogging, not oily at all, light pleasant consistency.

* I can't believe how much this Elemis moisturizer costs! Maybe I am a bit poor but this is really making me wonder what is so amazing about the ingredients. Elemis website claims that it reduces wrinkles, well, it might so I can't comment to that (except that it doesn't even include retinoid derivates or anything that is associated with anti aging except vitamin E?). I have "only" forehead lines right now.

* Pro-Collagen Marine Cream is somewhat a cult classic, I imagine? Elemis bestseller? It has been interesting to try it out. But I hope it will not be anymore in any advent calendars or product sets I buy/get. I just got a full size jar in 2019 Lookfantastic Calendar as well.

* I don't think I belong in the target group for Elemis products. They do look fancy though!

Price: 

Sample size 35 € / 15 ml

Full size 85-100 € / 50 ml

Bought from: 

Got from Lookfantastic Advent Calendar 2017 and 2019

Buy again? 

No.

Worth the money? 

Difficult to say! But not for me. Too much money for a moisturizer that breaks me out. But I can't say for long term effect or the effect on older skin, or what's it like for person who is not prone to acne. The product feels pleasant, I guess that's all I can say!

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink in 65 Seductress, 70 Amazonian, 75 Fighter 5 ml Review

Ingredients:


soon!

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Outside light.

Inside light.

Thoughts:

- Creates kind of a film on top of the lips that is visible/thick, not a natural lips look. Harsh edges.

- Will stay slightly sticky for hours, sometimes less, sometimes more.

- I think the shade selection is not very varied, despite the collection having a lot of colors. I feel many shades are just a little off or not that easy to wear for a "non makeup person" aka me. But the shades are very on trend and I like that.

- Lips will look somewhat dry and it will highlight lip texture, even if you don't feel the painful dryness. So it's definitely not blurred, moist, natural plumped lip look!

- I wouldn't use these lipsticks several days or weeks in a row everyday, as the removal requires some work and that on top of the drying effect I feel my lips get a bit raw

- Not as long lasting if you try to sheer it out a bit for a more natural look.

- Better not touch the lips or smack them while the lipstick is drying, otherwise it will make it patchy/cakey. It takes maybe up to 10 minutes to be touch proof.



+ "Super Stay" really lives up to its name and it truly is mind boggling. First lip product ever I actually have to remove in the evening. And by remove, I mean concentrate on removing it, because otherwise the rest of it will stay even throughout the night...

+ Super Stay Matte Ink can even last through eating. And eating quite greasy foods, too. It does wear on my inner lower lip area but not much elsewhere.

+ Even though Matte Ink is somewhat drying, especially on my lower lip, it is not super drying (like some lip tints I've tried *coughTonymolycough*).

+ Wears well, doesn't really "flake", but in the afternoon it usually starts to look cakey.

+ Doesn't immediately dry or tint, so I have time to fix errors in application.

+ Pretty and sturdy design, makes you want to collect them all! The tube is the same color as the lipstick so easy to find the one you want to use with a glance.

* For me, it is important that I don't have to worry about my makeup all day long. I guess I am lazy. Or I just don't want to use my brain capacity for that. Anyway, it is weird I just now tried Maybelline's Superstays, considering I have heard/read people talking about them a lot. Maybe the product design looks slightly intimidating (for a person new to liquid lips) even though it is very trendy and pretty?

* I tried Maybelline's Super Stay Matte Ink Crayon as well before I dared to go for this liquid lipstick. I think the Crayon is easier to approach somehow. It dries matte as well despite being all creamy when applied, it is easy to apply either sheer or opaque. It is nowhere near as long lasting as liquid Matte Ink. I probably would have purchased another Crayon as well (I have Lead The Way, I like the look of Enjoy The View for example) but the stores near me have such a poor shade selection they didn't have anything else I wanted.

* I am not sure which one is my favorite shade out of these three. I bought Seductress first, and it is very versatile, almost nude. But it is quite pink/mauve on me, more than I would like. Amazonian is a great color, I wish it would be slightly less orange leaning. But I tried mixing Seductress and Amazonian (a dab of both at the same when wet on my lips and then sheered out with a qtip) and it was nice! I must try it again. Fighter is quite orange, I like it, it suits me and makes my eyes pop, but it is a bit striking for everyday.

The foot is okay, a bit big. Not my favorite but not bad. It tends to pack the color at the tip which is a little hassle. But I have learned to not start with outlining my lips.

Price: 

11-12 € / 5 ml, usually on sale at around 8 €

Bought from: 

Grocery store, Lookfantastic

Buy again? 

I did purchase Amazonian and Fighter very soon after testing Seductress! If Maybelline releases more coral/orange/peach things for the spring, I might be tempted again... 

Worth the money? 

For me, absolutely yes. It is amazing to have some peace of mind that your lipstick is not going to bleed or make a mess. It is a compromise between comfort and longevity... I think it is in balance here. I understand why Maybelline's Super Stay Matte Ink has a cult favorite reputation. It is worth trying, at least once, if you can find a shade you think you can make work.

Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream Mini Sample 7 ml Review

Ingredients:

Water\Aqua\Eau , Glycerin , Butylene Glycol , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Squalane , Cetyl Esters , Dimethicone , Methyl Gluceth-20 , Polyethylene , Glycereth-26 , Polybutene , Sucrose , Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract , Sigesbeckia Orientalis (St. Paul'S Wort) Extract , Algae Extract , Molasses Extract\Saccharum Officinarum\Extrait De Mélasse , Sapindus Mukurossi Fruit Extract , Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 , Whey Protein\Lactis Protein\Protéine Du Petit-Lait , Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 , Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2 , Caffeine , Phytosphingosine , Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 , Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 , Yeast Extract\Faex\Extrait De Levure , Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein , Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum , Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer , Glyceryl Polymethacrylate , Sucrose Stearate , Caprylyl Glycol , Peg-8 , Sodium Hyaluronate , Simethicone , Polysorbate 20 , Carbomer , Sodium Hydroxide , Dextran , Hexylene Glycol , Sodium Citrate , Phenoxyethanol , Mica , Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Sometimes burns my eyes/my eye area when I apply it, it's a little strange because I try to be careful

- First time I applied the cream for the night, I felt my eyes were a bit swollen in the morning. The swelling never happened again.

- Haven't noticed it helping my dark under eyes in any way, hasn't brightened/evened out any part of my eye area

- This is not a negative, but this eye cream is not nourishing type at all, so if you have dry eyelids it's not necessarily for you



+ Doesn't clog my eye area, no milias, or other irritation (than the burning when applying sometimes)

+ Feels very light and absorbs in 10-20 minutes (after this I can't feel it much anymore on my eyes)

+ Feels hydrating/moisturizing, actually quite a perfect balance between lightness and moisture! Zero oiliness feel. Ok for oilier eyelids, as this one doesn't add any heaviness.

+ Doesn't affect eye primer/eye makeup on top (I do let it dry for 10-20 mins before adding primer)

+ No fragrance

+ No shimmer, white cast, etc.

+ Easy to apply without dragging the eye area

* I have been using my free 7 ml sample size now for a while. Several months, maybe 3? Difficult to say how much is left. But the tube feels significantly emptier. I used to not use eye cream at all, because everything seemed to disagree with my eyes (irritation, make eye area more dry, or the cream never absorbed and I felt it all day long, getting bumps on eye area etc.) or I didn't like their look (shimmery, etc.). So I must say Clinique's Pep-Start Eye Cream is the first one I have kept in my routine, even though it doesn't do much else than moisturize. EDIT: I think the tube lasted me overall 5 months, but I didn't use it everyday.

* I just bought a mini 5 ml Paula's Choice Ceramide Eye Cream with retinol and vitamin C, will be interesting to see how it will turn out to be. I'm going to use it for my night routine. I want to start doing anti-age treatments for my eye area as well.

* I can't comment if Clinique's eye cream reduces puffiness, as I very rarely have any around my eyes (that's why I was alarmed when I had the first time I used this cream). I think my bigger problem is the very dark under eyes. But I think there might not be any solution for them and I should just accept them, sleep more, continue taking my iron supplements and move on.

Price: 

24-36 € / 15 ml (full size)

Bought from: 

Free sample

Buy again? 

No, probably not. But I would use it if someone gifted me one. Also if I can't find another eye cream that delivers bigger results, I might repurchase until I do. So is it maybe then?

Worth the money? 

What can I say, it's not amazing. It is ok? I believe you can find a moisturizing/hydrating eye cream for a lot cheaper if your eyes aren't fussy. I don't know if the peptides do anything in this one. But the consistency is very nice, it is fragrance free, it is not wildly expensive, so I see it being worth it if you struggle finding an easy-to-use eye cream for oily/easily clogged eye area (like me). Also it spreads very well so you don't need to use much. I honestly think the full sized one would last me a year. But I'll update when the 7 ml one is finished!

Black Friday Shopping

Black Friday gives me a little anxiety. Should I find those best deals right now? From where??? What am I missing? Wait a minute, what do I actually need? So I ended up purchasing things I actually don't really need this time and ended up just trying out new stores. Also now that I've been browsing more online stores, I've noticed they have sales all the time! So if I feel there's something I missed, I can always try the Holiday sales later on! And then the spring sales! :) However I am going to stay more focused now and make a list of things I've been looking at.

Paula's Choice CLINICAL Ceramide-Enriched Firming Eye Cream Mini

Exuviance Start Kit - Sensitive/Dry Minis

First time ordering from Skincity. I like trying out new stores to see what's up with their customer service, speed etc. My Skincity order came within 3 working days (5 days total)! That's incredibly fast considering it was Black Friday sale and free shipping. I would consider ordering again, especially if I wanted something fast. Also this is my first anti-age product for my eye area! And my first test product from Paula's Choice. If I like it, I might try other PC minis too. Exuviance is something interesting I've seen, but I have written the whole brand off because of the price.

Items were on the top of paper stuffing with a pamphlet. Nothing was moving around.

Dermalogica Redness Relief Essence Mini

Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash Mini

Free shipping and small sizes with some discount? Yes please... I had been pondering Redness Relief Essence for a while. It has Oat Kernel Flour and Oat Meal Extract that I find attractive, but it also has essential oils etc. possible irritants. I read some reviews and it has gotten quite a luke warm welcome. I still haven't received my order and it's been 10 working days (15 days total). I am getting worried and I am not sure if I would order again from Dermahub. But I can't know if it's usually this slow, probably not. EDIT: In the end it took about 16 working days (20 days total) to receive my order. But seeing the pile of samples that came with the order, I don't mind! I got 10 sample packets, and they included e.g. Daily Microfoliant. I am the most curious about Renewal Lip Complex and Stress Positive Eye Lift though. 

Everything was well packaged, paper stuffing. Some pamphlets and sale codes (that are going to expire in a couple of weeks and require a purchase of a certain amount).

Max Factor Crème Puff Matte Blush - 55 Stunning Sienna

Maybelline Superstay 24 Matte Ink Lipstick - 75 Fighter

Maybelline Superstay 24 Matte Ink Lipstick - 70 Amazonian

My first time ordering from Lookfantastic, too! Because they had lowered free shipping campaign plus a sale. I got some christmas gifts for family and for myself things I had tried to find in stores near me without luck. I already know I like Superstays and Max Factor's Stunning Sienna is probably a perfect color for me. I just tried Fighter, and it is very fierce orange-brown and it absolutely pairs well with blue eyes! Such a strong lip, and everyone kept noticing only my eyes even though I had zero eye makeup! Muted blue eyes usually never get noticed. Shipping took what felt like forever, 13 working days (18 total!). So if I order again from Lookfantastic, it better be something that I don't need within a certain time frame.

The items were at the at the bottom of the box, with a lot of paper stuffing on top of them (and one paper underneath). I didn't notice anything moving around. 

Colourpop Ultra Blotted Lip in Halo Effect

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Hanky Panky

Colourpop Pressed Powder Shadow in Hear Me Out

My friend ordered from Colourpop and it took a month to get the package! Not a good idea to order internationally just before christmas I presume. She said it took a week before they even shipped it. Anyway, Hanky Panky is very versatile shade and I'm happy I took something so "boring"! The same goes for Hear Me Out. It's actually lighter than I thought. Halo Effect is more red than I thought as well. It was described as "warm nude with a hint of coral". There is some coral yes, also red, but I have no idea how this could possibly be nude. But, luckily, when I paired this one with a yellow-orange eye (Running Late), and some coral blush, I had accidentally re-created a look I was excited about by some Korean Youtuber whose name I can't remember anymore (I rarely watch Youtube). And I must say it was very striking and suited my skin tone very well. The blurry effect of the Ultra Blotted Lip is very interesting, a bit like how Peripera tints turn out on lips.


Dermosil Kaura/Oat Hand Cream

Got this from my mom. She can't use it because it's so heavily fragranced. And I agree! The scent is not bad at all, there's just so much of it and it lingers... It doesn't seem to be very moisturizing one either. I have to keep adding it on hourly. (But it also is winter, so dry hands.)

Current Favorites

Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off

My product had been stored for probably closer to 2 years so I don't know if the consistency is what it should be, but it hasn't completely dried out. For my face, I find it's too difficult and scratchy, but for my lips I love it! It's gentle and effective lip scrub and I've been using it almost daily now for some weeks.


Luxie Mini Tapered Brush 121

So soft, so effortless to use. So easy to blend. Doesn't scratch or hurt my sensitive eyes at all. So much control, perfect size. Ok, someone with many brushes and good technique probably wouldn't sing their praises like this but as a not experienced person with only a couple of brushes this seriously changed my life.


Lumene Eye Contour Brush 10

My first favorite brush, so soft and dense at the same time. So easy to blend, too. Good for bigger areas, I love the versatile angled shape. This and Luxie brush are very different and they work differently but I love them both! After this brush I realized I really need to invest in good brushes.

Sorry, both brushes are a bit dirty. Just used :) 

Shopping and Gifts

Lookfantastic Advent Calendar 2019

Got this as a Christmas present again. I had one in 2017 and decided that I wouldn't buy one myself, it wasn't worth it. But I am more than ready to receive one and enjoy the excitement of opening the boxes even though I know I probably truly like only half of the things. And who knows, maybe there will be a new favorite. I at least learned a lot about cosmetics through the 2017 calendar! I have already opened a couple first boxes and I am very happy so far. Maybe this year's calendar is better than the 2017 one?! :)





Colourpop Build Your Own Palette

It took so long to get my Colourpop BYOP palette! Shipping took from Colourpop to my country only about 5 days, but then the customs and the postal service in my country had the package going around for 11 days. Good thing I had tracking number. The shadows are very pretty and a generous size. I must say I really enjoy doing my own arrangement of singles in the palette. The shadows are more pigmented than what I am used to and it is a bit challenging! I ordered the next shadows: You Got It, In Frequency, Martian, Koi, Criss Cross, Cut-Outs, Running Late, Side Tracked, Bratty, Bump This, Wait For It and Wake Up Call.

Well packaged in bubble wrap. The individual shadows had plastic and cardboard around them. Colourpop's boxes are always the cutest with colourful prints!

Yikes, a flash photo in dark. Probably not exactly accurate colours!

Essence Spice It Up Eyeshadow Palette

Ooh, impulse purchase while doing grocery shopping! I can't decide if I should hit myself or what. It took so "long" in my mind for the Colourpop palette to arrive, so when I saw this one at the store for 12 €, I just took it... "Yup, pretty, my colours, thank you". Anyway, good thing is, this palette had super warm orange-ish browns and a yellow and glitters in many flattering shades that I didn't even realize I would like so much.

The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane x 2

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser 

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA 

Hylamide High Efficiency Face Cleaner

Hylamide Booster, C25

Oh, Deciem, I was almost out of squalane and the -23 % sale got me. Me, low-buy?! I think I have ruined it now, at the end of the year... I hope I don't need to order much or anything (!) in 2020 though. Hylamide products are something I've been curious about but never pulled the trigger. Booster C25 is 25% pure Ethyl-Ascorbic Acid. I love Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution from The Ordinary already so I wanted to try this too. High Efficiency Face Cleaner sounds like an interesting cleansing oil with with unusual oils!

Again, good packaging. Everything was in tightly, nothing was moving around. I actually feel Deciem has improved their packaging or this time no one was stomping on it during the transit. Quite often in the past the packaging has been looking a bit dead, having even holes in it and things moving inside. But despite that I have never had missing or ruined items. Because it is the sale month, it took several days for them to ship. 

Head&Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo 1000 ml

I saw the 1 liter bottle for the first time ever and it looked so comical I had to take it... Maybe a bit big to handle but whatever, there's a pump and this will probably last a year. It is my staple product so there's no worries that I wouldn't finish it!


Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash

My current bottle is nearing the end so bought a new one! 4,75 € per 200 ml is not a bad price even though I was hoping that they would have been on sale.


Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink in 65 Seductress

This one was on sale (still cost me 8,62 €) and I've wanted to try one because of the hype for a while. I've used it a couple of times now and even if the shade choice wasn't what I was hoping for, I think Maybelline really has struck gold formula wise. I am so impressed by the longevity and comfort that I'm going to get more of these!


EDIT:

Lumene Powder Brush No. 01

My old powder brushes (1€ ones off ebay!) are showing their age and I had been interested in getting another Lumene brush. It is so pretty and I think it's a perfect size and denseness for pressed powder pacts, but I might end up using it for blush too. I still want to get some soft eye brushes, and maybe a fan brush, then I'm all set (I want to replace my Essence brushes that are too scratchy for my eyes). I am thinking getting more Luxie, or Zoeva. But I do have some sets on my wishlist from BH Cosmetics as well... I wish there would be a brush bar somewhere. You could go and touch and test hundreds of brushes at the same time.


Essence Stay 8h Lipliner in 02 Tea Time

Maybe it wasn't a good idea to swatch all my lip products. I noticed all the gaps and how weird my lipliner shades are. I am wondering though now if I should've gone for the shade 01 Because Duh. I think store lighting is something that totally misguides me. But I think these cost around 2 € so they are a good price to get another to play with. I want to be that person who learns to do and use lip makeup effortlessly!


Catrice Brow Colorist Semi Permanent Brow Mascara in 015 Soft Brunette

This is amazing for a lazy person like me. The mascara brush is so small, cute, precise, great shape for eyebrows. This shade is super natural as well. I could have gone for a darker shade as well I believe. For my lifestyle and eyebrow shape, I can quickly just brush this on and call it a day... the gel dries almost instantly. My brows look fluffier and tinted, but very naturally. This cost around 4,5 € and it was hidden between other products on the stand but I'm glad I randomly picked it up.


ANOTHER EDIT:


Colourpop Ultra Blotted Lip in Halo Effect

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Hanky Panky

Colourpop Pressed Powder Shadow in Hear Me Out

My friend wanted to try some Colourpop stuff too and asked if I wanted to get something in the same order. So these were definitely impulse purchases even though I have wanted to try some of the super shocks. At least I think they were -20-30%. Some neutral colors for once!