Lookfantastic Advent Calendar 2020 Review

Everything in the calendar except Thisworks Deep Sleep Body Cocoon that I already gave away before taking the photos.

The advent calendar cost 95,00 €. Lookfantastic claims the full value is about or even a bit over 500 €. Last year, 2019, the calendar cost 89,00 € and the value claimed was 455 €.

I think this year the calendar sold out during the pre-order and we made the order in September. I received it in late November. I like it that Lookfantastic doesn't charge your card before the calendar was actually shipped, as it took so long.

The calendar had 25 boxes, 8 make up, 10 skincare, 1 haircare, 6 bath and body care. The products were lightly wrapped in pink silk paper. No product explanation cards this year.

The 2019 calendar had 25 boxes - roughly 8 make up, 11 skincare, 2 haircare, 4 bath and body care.

I am so happy they didn't include bath bombs or similar this year! Overall I am impressed by the items, but at the same time, a little disappointed... or bored could be the right word? For some reason I expected to get an eyeshadow palette as well. Or some other, bigger palette. Or serums, oils. I don't know. Something super different I guess. I think I feel this way because they tend to put the same brands to calendars/boxes (well they do carry those brands so obviously).

Most Exciting Things

Natasha Denona Blush Glow Duo - All Over Glow #1 Light and Golden Coral

Something I could have bought myself as well! I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the first box to find out Natasha Denona. Golden Coral is perfect shade! I didn't realize I would be so mesmerized by a golden shift but it is so, so pretty. I tried it as an eye shadow as well and it lacks pigment for that but the shade is SO PRETTY I'd like to find an eye shadow with the same shade. Recommendations?

Luxie 522 Tapered Highlighter Brush

I love Luxie! After I got two Luxie eye brushes from last year's advent calendar, I ordered two sets more from them. They are very soft.

3INA Cream Eyeshadow 

Wow, super pretty bronzey gold shade. Dries extremely fast, barely have to time to blend it with my unprecise stubby fingers! At least now during the winter when I am less oily and sweaty, it is super long lasting. 

Avant Harmonious Rose Quartz Revitalising & Firming Mask

I really liked the Avant moisturizer I got from the calendar last year despite expecting it to break me out etc. initially. So, I have high hopes for this moisturizer as well. It says it's a mask but the instructions tell that you don't have to wash it off. Maybe it is a similar heavy and nourishing texture as the other moisturizer, I certainly hope so!

Ok+ Things

Philip Kingsley Mayan Vanilla & Orange Blossom Elasticizer Deep Conditioning Treatment

Ugh, the exact same product as in last year's calendar, this time with vanilla/orange blossom fragrance. The product is ok conditioner but my hair is not damaged enough to see any difference between this one and a cheap drugstore conditioner. Anyway I love orange blossom scents so there's that!

Rituals Rice and Sakura Body Scrub

Nice! Pampering body scrub. I like Rice and Sakura scent from Rituals and my old body scrub is ending soon so I am definitely happy with this one.

ECooking Vitamin C Serum

Looks very interesting! I like using vitamin C products. It's funny the product description says that it might prickle and it might not be for sensitive skin, but it has Ascorbyl Glucoside and based on ingredient list, maybe only at 5 % or so, my uneducated guess. So for me it will be a nice gentle serum and I am really looking forward to trying it. I personally have liked all the vitamin C derivates I've tried, including Ascorbyl Glucoside. 

Illamasqua Loaded Lip Polish in Vogue

I like this formula! I have one Loaded Lip Polish in Melba that I bought on sale. Sadly that shade was too light for me in my opinion and I have been using it once in a while as a thin layer. Vogue is a better shade, old rose pink. It also looks better as a thin layer though. But pinks are not usually too flattering on me, but if the shade has to be pink, this muted pink is definitely the way to go. It's nice to try out a shade I wouldn't have bought myself and I had nothing that resembled Vogue beforehand.

Omorovicza Silver Skin Saviour

Oh, interesting! A mask with glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, niacinamide, colloidal silver... I am so lazy at using wash off masks though. I feel I never get good enough results with wash off masks for them to be worth the bother. Maybe this one will surprise me.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara

Mascaras are always welcome! Must admit I have never heard of Lash Brag before. But it is interesting to try something from ABH. It is a popular brand afterall. 

Eve Lom Cleanser

Exciting! I love balm/oil cleansers and this is a cult favorite. I hope I will like it. The brand recommends to use it with a muslin cloth but I read somewhere that it also emulsifies without.

REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic

I like that REN used lactic acid instead of glycolic acid! Glycolic just never quite works for me. This tonic looks really promising, it maybe has around 5% lactic acid and it also has Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate!

ESPA 24-Hour Balancing Moisturiser

Expensive looking thing. Haven't heard of Espa before. I feel at the same time suspicious and curious about this moisturizer.

Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleansing  

Looks nice! I like Caudalie. I'm pretty sure this will work for me as gel cleansers usually do.

Ok- Things

Elemis Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream

I am not a fan of Elemis. At least this is not the same moisturizer that's been twice already in the advent calendars (and didn't work for me). Expensive bleh product that is one of the big ticket items, again. But now that I am using Differin or tretinoin (if I can get more) every day, things don't seem to break me out anymore, really. So I think I can use this cream as well. If I remember right the other Elemis cream had a really nice scent, even if it was too strong and long lasting for my liking.

Rodial Dragon's Blood Deluxe Cleansing Water

Ingredients look nice and for once the bottle is a proper size and not a tiny sample. But, in the end, micellar water is micellar water. And I rarely use micellar water these days.

Mio Clay Away Body Cleanser

I find it hilarious that the instructions say to use the cleanser "all over the body!" and then afterwards "not for face". Excuse me, I thought my face was part of my body... As a brand I am not interested in Mio, it looks childish somehow, maybe it's the illustration and color, the font? But I actually think the cleanser might be good, looking forward to try it.

Filorga Time-Filler Absolute Wrinkle Correction Cream

Earlier I would have been sooo excited to receive something from Filorga, but I have gotten over my Filorga lust after buying the mini trial sets and realizing that the products are not anything too amazing and maybe overall not for me right now. However, the ingredient list is impressive and long with this cream and I bet it will feel luxurious and have the lux scent that Filorga products seem to have, so I will happily use it!

Molton Brown Shower Gel Rhubarb Rose

I like Molton Brown, their scents are always so different from what I usually buy myself. Rhubarb rose felt very juicy initially when I tried it out, but the rhubarb is quite sharp. Sharper than I would like. So now when I use this shower gel I only smell sharpness and nothing else and I'm not a fan. The shower gels are also not very good at actually washing my body (I never feel clean enough). So I love the fact that the calendar had Molton Brown shower gel but I don't actually like this flavor and even the last gels I've gotten I've used only for the scent, not for the purpose of washing myself as they are not good for that.

Lord & Berry Magic Brow Brunette

What can I say, a brow pencil? The shade looks nice and universal for brunettes. Will use at some point, but I am lazy with my brows too. I like brow gels better.

+ Thisworks Deep Sleep Body Cocoon (already gave that away)

Meh Things

Glov Eye Sleeping Mask Navy Blue

Ugh! Yes, the fabric is soft, but I don't use sleeping masks. Personally, I feel this is a product type I don't want to see in cosmetic calendars. Maybe I could use the mask one day when travelling but... you know... when are we going to travel next time, in 2025???

Sleek MakeUp Hydrating Primer

Primers are nice but I don't use them these days anymore. Unless it is a special occasion. Sunscreen has replaced the primer for me.

Diego dalla Palma Eye Pencil 01

I get the feeling that everyone but me is using black eyeliner. I might try this liner. After that it maybe goes unused. Except that I am planning to dye my hair black, so maybe I will finally have enough contrast to pull off super dark eye looks!

Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum

I think tanning products don't belong in cosmetics calendar. Too many differing opinions around them. Personally I am way too lazy, plus it would require me to have different foundations... and the constant exfoliation I do would wipe the tan off in days so it needs to be constantly added.

Thisworks Deep Sleep Body Cocoon

I have a feeling I will not like this. I dislike lavender and chamomile scents. However I do like vetiver and I really hope it overpowers the other two. If it doesn't, I might have to trash the moisturizer in case it makes me feel nauseous.

Empties Since October

My empties since October, so 3 months' worth of finished products. I was 99% sure I would have finished 5-10 products more, because I had so many half empty ones. Seems like there's only so much one person can use! I don't know why that is a surprise to me every single time.

Face 

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

Ok, but I think I won't repurchase, at least not at the normal price. It did remove makeup, but I feel it didn't remove it as well as some other cleansers, it didn't remove grits, if any residue was left on my skin it broke me out (it doesn't rinse out clean), it didn't turn properly into oil like advertised and I just think considering The Ordinary's price level it is pricy.

Garnier Micellar Wash Gel

One of my staples. Using and repurchasing all the time.

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet Mini

I do like this moisturizer, it is my second mini tube (first one came from advent calendar). Very light but very moisturizing, absorbs well. I'll repurchase at some point! I think my second tube didn't have as strong fragrance as the first one, but maybe I just got used to it. 

The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5%

I really like this multi tasker serum! It is moisturizing and calming after my skin got used to it, it felt warm in the beginning. Helped mostly with the redness. Already repurchased.

Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1%

Good, good stuff.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Sun Defence For Face SPF 50

Finally this is gone. I think this sunscreen is for very dry skin, it is super creamy. Not for me, didn't really work under any foundation (made everything break and not stick properly to skin), no white cast but still some layer, finish is not really oily but it is slimy, leaves shine. Slightly breaking me out, or at least my skin always looks worse after I've used it.

Missha Time Revolution White Cure Blanc Tone-Up Sun Protector SPF50+ / PA+++

I am a bit ashamed to say this cream was probably like 3-4 years old. And I even liked it - so how come I forgot it and let the rest of it expire? It has been discontinued now, but it was moisturizing and left no white cast. I actually did use the rest (1/3?) as a moisturizer only (don't think the sun protection was too good anymore) and it was still very moisturizing, made my skin smooth and didn't break me out so I guess sometimes it is ok to use expired stuff if you dare. I actually think I might have an unopened back up bottle somewhere, too!

Laneige Water Bank Mineral Skin Mist Sample/Mini

Krhm, another oldie. I bought this in 2017! I wanted to try mists. But I guess they weren't my thing really. I don't need refreshment during the day, I am lazy. I'm not sure if I felt this mist was breaking me out or not, probably not badly but it also didn't do anything I guess. This mist had a strong perfume like fragrance, that still strangely disappeared within a minute! 

Kilig Double Moisturizing Eye Cream

Wasn't for me. Nice and lights and absorbed well, but it was irritating to my eyes which is not ideal for an eye cream. I used the rest on my face (nowhere near eyes). It was ok, not very moisturizing for that. Felt irritating a couple of times when I had put Differin first. 

Emma Hardie Moisture Boost Vit C Cream Mini

Felt clogging during summer, ok during winter. Very unlikely I'll ever repurchase, this came from Lookfantastic advent calendar. Old lady scent. Not bad, not super moisturizing, at least not so that it would warrant the name moisture boost.

Lumene Nude Perfection Glow Foundation SPF15 in 1 Classic Beige Kultahiekka

Tried my best to use this discontinued glow foundation... it is just not for me. Trash it goes. It is too dark and orange for me and it is very noticeable. I think it oxidizes a lot. It is for very dry skin, I felt it was too oily and just sat on my skin. The coverage is sheer (quite nice actually) and it wasn't buildable. I think it also broke me out. So in my opinion it is no wonder it is discontinued, but Lumene tends to use the same foundation formulas and just re-name/brand them so I'll have to be careful not to buy a similar foundation from them again!

Isadora Build-Up Extra Volume Mascara Waterproof Mini

Good mascara! The mini is discontinued though I believe. Haven't seen it around. I have a back up. Very waterproof and don't remember it smudging, at least not too much. Very hard to wash off, though. So that's why it is not ideal for everyday. Excellent mascara for travelling due to the minuscule size and waterproofness! I could get the the normal size as well maybe in the future if I need a waterproof mascara. But I do like my minis.

Body

Rexona Maximum Protection Antiperspirant Sport Strength

Good antiperspirant! Have many backups already for the next year. I hope I will not become "immune" to it yet. I feel my antiperspirants always stop working after a while - I've heard body might learn to resist them, of course I don't know the truth but I experience it!

Tosowoong Sun Block Natural Pink SPF 35 PA++

Actually a facial sunscreen but clogged me so bad. Smells so strong. So difficult to remove. So much whitecast. I used this on my hands when I went out but it was so annoying I didn't even finish and it is old and the trash can calls for it.

Hair

Philip Kingley Scalp Shampoo for Flaky and Itchy Scalp Sample (not in picture)

Ok, I think. I used two times from the sachet. Smells lightly like apple to me, texture like thick gel. Based on this sample and how pricy the shampoo is, unlikely that I'll purchase. Didn't feel like a miracle scalp cleansing shampoo but felt pleasant.

Shopping December

I am happy with my purchases during November/December, but I am incredibly annoyed about the shipping times. Ha. I never remember just how long it takes during christmas/black friday! Most of the stuff I had to wait for 3-4 weeks without working tracking numbers! Everything I bought cost me about 140 €. 

Also, more bad news for the new year on top of COVID19: Brexit has been completed and stuff from UK will get stuck in customs. But I guess it doesn't matter. When summer comes, everything from outside the EU will get stuck in customs in my country, no matter if it's only a 3 € purchase. All this might help me to stop shopping though! Because I always feel so bitter when paying extra. However some UK beauty stores have already said that nothing will change and they will take care of the duties - I wonder what that means. If it's true, I really appreciate the gesture as I was looking forward to shopping more for example on Cult Beauty.

SVR SUN SECURE Blur SPF50

SVR SUN SECURE Fluide SPF50+

SVR SUN SECURE Extreme SPF50+

SVR SEBIACLEAR Crème SPF50

SVR XERIAL 10 Lait Corps

SVR XERIAL Fissures & Crevasses

+ 3 Free Samples SEBIACLEAR Sérum, [A] Ampoule Lift, [PEPTI]BIOTIC

First time ordering from SVR's own website. The sale felt too good to pass... mainly because of the sunscreens! I am all set for the next year sunscreen wise as well! Unless everything else except Sun Secure Blur breaks me out. Ah, then I wish I would've just bought a pile of Blurs... 

Xerial line is SVR's urea lineup. They also looked nice based on ingredients, Fissures and Crevasses nourishing cream for cracks actually looks like I could throw it on my face as well... it has 5% urea. Also shea butter, babassu oil, and mineral oil, of course glycerin, so it sounds very much barrier repairing to me? If someone out there thinks I'll ruin my face by throwing hand and feet creams there, please tell me now... because I am way too curious.

My order cost about 55 €. The products were 30-40% off. Free shipping for orders over 50 € in the EU for most countries at least.

They say they ship orders within 48 h, if made during weekend or holiday, within 72 h. It took 2 working days to ship and I received my package in 14 working days. They do not notify you again when they ship, there was a link to the tracking number (that did work) on the order confirmation email. The package was pretty battered up when I finally received it. But all the products were fine.

Dermatica Prescription Tretinoin 0.025% / Niacinamide 4%

I am surprised that I found a site like Dermatica and they actually ship to my country! But, I have already read worried comments if the service is going to be UK only after Brexit is completed at the end of this year. So I guess it won't come to me as a surprise if they stop my subscription soon.

It took 16 working days to receive my package and it did not have a tracking number. Usually I guess it takes about a week to mainland Europe. Right now Dermatica is unable to ship outside UK because of the new COVID19 mutation restrictions. Also when and if they resume shipping, I wonder if the package will get stuck in customs and I will need to pay extra.

The first trial month is free, but you have to pay for shipping, which is a reasonable £2.90/3,2€. For Black Friday, the second month was offered -50% as well. 2 days after completing the consultation, the shipping was charged on my card and later that day I also got my treatment prescription, Tretinoin 0.025% / Niacinamide 4%, which is pretty much what I expected and I am happy with that. They included a treatment plan for 3, and 4+ months, and it was the same prescription and they said that it would continue the same unless I have a follow up consultation that indicates that my treatment needs to be changed. I don't imagine I want to go higher to 0.05%/0.1% tretinoin (which I believe are the other strengths they offer) any time soon. If everything goes fine, I consider continuing the subscription (unless Brexit kills it for me anyway) and maybe after a year suggest 0.05%.

The consultation meant answering to some questions about skin type, concerns, and uploading three photos of your face, from both sides and front. You could also ask some questions or write comments about your skin. They also want you to confirm that you use sunscreen, you are not pregnant and you use contraception. They also wanted to confirm the subscription by text message you had to reply to. I told them that I'd like tretinoin for anti-aging and mild but persistent acne concerns. For my concerns I had told them open pores, fine lines and dull skin, the first signs of aging. When they got back to me by email about my treatment, they addressed acne as my main concern instead of anti aging, probably because I identified it myself and because of my pictures (visible small spots). Also I clearly don't have hyperpigmentation. 

Benefit Cheekleaders Bronze Squad Palette 

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Multi-Purpose Soothing Repairing Balm 

Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm

Feelunique order from Black Friday. This cost about 50 €, the Benefit palette cost only 35 €! That is the price for one normal size box blush so I do feel like it was a great deal, including Gold Rush (on my wishlist), Cookie and Coralista! I'm not a bronzer person so I'm not too interested in Hoola/Hoola Caramel but I looked at the swatches and I think I could easily pull off both colours shade wise if not too heavy handed. For some reason I find this Benefit palette exciting and Benefit products very cute!

For winter and for retinoid use, I also bought LRP Cicaplast Baume and Eucerin Aquaphor, they were also -30 % or so. They are cult classics, so... we shall see if I like them.

Feelunique shipped the order after 3 working days and they had sent an email earlier telling that it might take some time to ship due to large amount of orders. It took 12 working days to receive the package. The tracking number did not work.

Whamisa Deep Rich Toner Gift Box

Catrice Kaviar Gauche Highlighter C01 Glow Couture

Essence The Highlighter Luminous Glow 01 Mesmerizing

Head&Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo 1L

Tangle Teezer  Back-Combing Hairbrush Pink Embrace

Invisibobble Hair Ties POWER Pretzel Brown and BASIC True Black

Christmas gifts! 

Whamisa toner was such a surprise. I didn't expect anyone to buy me skincare, let alone Korean skincare. The packaging and bottles are just so, so pretty, like jewels. I hope the toner is going to work for me!

Highlighters are also very pretty and very different in tone, Essence is golden and Catrice rose pink. Catrice is glittery.

H&S is something I use anyway, I don't have to buy shampoo the next year. 

Bepanthen Balm

A-Derma Lip Balm Stick

+ Free A-Derma Dermalibour Repairing Cream Mini (because I bought the other A-Derma product) and 2 samples Cerave and Vichy

Bepanthen is a basic repurchase. It is great for small wounds and scratches and for irritated and dry skin. A-Derma's lip balm was at the same time an impulse and needed purchase - I wanted a stick form lip balm on my bedside so that I don't have to stick my fingers into a jar in the middle of the night if my lips feel dry/I have forgotten to put lip balm before bed. Also there was this small Dermalibour Repairing Cream that you got if you bought anything from A-Derma so I chose A-Derma lip balm instead of another balm. The lip balm is not actually very good. But I really ended up liking the cream. It is thick, it has mineral oil, it feels occlusive and pleasant. It doesn't give you instant relief for e.g. irritated skin (like Bepanthen for me), but it works well overnight. For extremely dry hands it feels nice too, it doesn't sting. I never would have bought it on my own but I might consider it now.

Rexona Maximum Protection Sports Strength x4

Repurchases. Ordered from Notino because they had a free shipping campaign. Cost me about 20 €. I guess I am all set for the next year. :) And now I have to stop looking for a new and better antiperspirant and hope that I will not become immune to Rexona too soon. Notino's Black Friday sales were pretty lackluster so usually better compare the prices and order during free shipping. Shipping was quite fast (a week maybe to receive?) and everything packaged well, just like last time I ordered from them.

Current Favorites

Eucerin Urea Repair Face Cream 5%

Absolutely no complaints, a great light moisturizer that plays well with all my other products. Such a safe choice. No scent either. My partner also likes this, as did my mom when I introduced it to her during christmas. Might have to order more soon, there's only about 1/4 product left in the tube. I wonder if the night version is as good?

Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1%

Great stuff, I have probably said that before as well. I have been using Differin now for what, 2 years? It has worked well always, but 2 months ago I decided to start using it everyday instead of every other, every third, or once in a while. I know I know I have commitment issues... anyway, turns out Differin works even better when used everyday in the evening (+ peeling pads or konjac or scrub in the morning). Who would have known?! (insert shocked Pikachu or something here.) I didn't purge or anything, no flakes... Just about 4-5 weeks in I peeled. I mean, for a couple of days SO MUCH DEAD SKIN SLOUGHED OFF. Nothing painful, no redness, tightness etc. Then, I had a lot smoother skin. That's it. I love my new smoother skin that has lasted ever since.

The Ordinary Amino Acids + B5

When I reviewed this serum thing a long time ago, I liked it but didn't really know if I needed it or what it was for really. But now I've been using it after putting on Differin (and before moisturizer) and I must say I do notice difference when I use it or not! Definitely keeps skin more supple. Funny stuff. I might even repurchase when I run out.

Hylamide SubQ Eyes Serum

I haven't had this serum for long, but it leaves my under eyes so soft. Incredibly hydrating, milky, emulsion like texture that absorbs well. I can use it alone or under other eye creams, it seems to work both ways. 

Nivea Q10 Plus C Anti-Wrinkle+Energy Eye Cream 15 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Methylpropanediol, Ascorbic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tapioca Starch, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Ubiquinone, Creatine, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Phosphate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol.

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:

- Good only 6 months after opening, for me that is a short time, but I still use it for a year and haven't noticed signs of expiration. Probably the vitamin C starts to degrade.

- Doesn't make much difference to dark circles, eye corner wrinkles etc, no miracle product in any way (but that is ok). Just saying because Nivea's marketing says that this eye cream makes you look more energized, less tired, firming skin etc.



+ Not too heavy, not too light, just right cream consistency, not oily at all, still easy to apply without dragging skin even if putting on a super small amount

+ Absorbs fast, doesn't cause milia even if layered

+ Easy to squeeze a small amount from the tube, very fine tip

+ No scent

+ No eye irritation

+ Doesn't pill, works well under eye make up

+ I thought after I started using this eye cream that my dark circles looked slightly better, but who knows!

+ I like the price point of this eye cream considering it includes nice ingredients (who knows at what % though!): vitamin C, Q10, shea butter, panthenol, of course glycerin

+ Easy availability at super markets

* Nivea is an easy brand to like, they are affordable, easily available, they have many product lines that cater to almost all skintypes, or that is what I feel. I haven't come across a terrible Nivea product yet.

* Nivea has a new Nivea Q10 Plus C Energy Sleep Cream, which I also would like to try. Ingredients are similar to the eye cream so I believe it could work for me. 

Price: 

6-14 € / 15 ml (big difference where you get it from! Notino was cheap, local super markets are more expensive)

Bought from: 

Notino

Buy again? 

Maybe, yes. I did already, actually!

Worth the money? 

Yes, good value even at 14 € / 15 ml, of course half price even better. Good, basic eye cream that suits most of people I feel, even those with a bit more oily eye contours (I used to be oily there but as I get older I get more dry). The 15 ml lasts me about a year which is longer than they promise that the product is good for.

Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate 15 ml Review

 Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Propanediol, Sucrose, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Trehalose, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Cholesterol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dextrin Palmitate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitol, Sodium Polyaspartate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Benzophenone-4, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Disodium Edta, Bht, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Red 4 (Ci 14700), Yellow 5 (Ci 19140).

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:

- Definitely needs a moisturizer on top to seal the hydration in, but this is a concentrate after all (I just read somewhere that some people use this alone and wonder why it is not enough)

- Slightly breaks me out during summer/when I am not using Differin or other stronger retinoid, so I guess it is pore clogging



+ Leaves skin very, very smooth, a bit of a light film that is ever so slightly tacky like hyaluronic acid products usually are

+ Very hydrating for a long time (just not moisturizing so I absolutely need to seal with a moisturizer on top quickly)

+ No scent

+ "Absorbs" quickly (doesn't completely disappear), the texture is gel that melts to skin

+ Haven't noticed pilling but honestly haven't tried the concentrate with everything I have

+ Includes small HA pearls that burst when rubbing to skin - a gimmick but they break instantly and are not scratchy or anything

+ I really do enjoy jelly texture and pink colour and packaging for full size looks stylish! (Things that I appreciate even though they are very superficial, hah.)

* Clinique's Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate is yet another one of those products that I've owned a while and always tried and then put away because I feel my skin is starting to break out in small bumps. But, also, again I noticed that when I am using Differin every day (and other physical exfoliation) it suddenly works for me. So, maybe you need dry/normal skin instead of oily to use this.

* I really do like overall the products I've tried from Clinique - except the non water/oil proof mascara that smudged like CRAZY. I just think Clinique's price point feels a bit high for me unless it is a random purchase here and there.

Price: 

about 8-9,50 € / 15 ml

about 36-41 € / 48 ml

Bought from: 

A gift

Buy again? 

Probably no. Unless I see it for super cheap price and I make my skin super dry with retinoid use.

Worth the money? 

When it works, it just works, when it doesn't, it breaks me out. It is pleasant enough for a hydrating concentrate serum but I am not sure it is worth the price for me because my skin is finicky. But so much nicer to use than The Ordinary's Hyaluronic Acid serum, for example, since that pills and doesn't give that smooth base for skin. For dry and rough skin I can see how this concentrate would be worth the money.

Budgie The Apple Cider Scrub 125 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate,* Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Hydrated Silica, Acetum, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, PEG-9, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Hexylene Glycol, Citronellol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate. 

*Acrylates Copolymer is not a microplastic because it does not have an abrasive, cleaning or polishing effect on the product. The acrylate copolymer has a thickening / gelling effect in the product and is added to the product to keep the silica / pumice (naturally abrasive granules) on top and not to drain to the bottom of the package. The acrylate copolymer is hygroscopic and soluble in water. Microplastics are insoluble in water and do not swell or form gels.

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 as purifying as promised or I thought, not a peeling scrub, and it is still drying for hair ends

- For me, doesn't work alone, I definitely have to wash my hair with shampoo before or after using the scrub, otherwise my scalp and hair feel oily and dirty in a day

- No long term effect - scalp/hair feels more clean for a day

- Budgie is only available at Kicks stores

- Drying to hair ends so I wouldn't use anything like this for super distressed hair. Even my hair is not a huge fan and I need extra conditioner. My hair's dyed but not bleached.



+ Smells nice, fruity, not overpowering at all

+ Quite easy to lather and massage to scalp, not a thick treatment but almost like a gel with some grains

+ Quite easy to wash off too, doesn't leave those grains/product feel/scent on hair

+ Helps to clean up scalp somewhat, not when used on its own though

+ Overall, nice, easy quick refreshing treatment to use! (Just not a true oily scalp/hair problem solver.)

* The Apple Cider Scrub is Budgie's bestseller. My mom absolutely loved this scrub and she said her hair and scalp felt really good and airy afterwards. Which is weird because I couldn't notice such a difference. Maybe I've been scrubbing my scalp more anyway? 

* The scrub lasted me a long time, about a year, and sometimes I used it just on my bangs/front scalp. Then it wasn't drying for hair and spot targeted the oily forehead - everyone probably agrees that the whole person looks dirty if bangs look oily/dirty! And they do get dirtier faster because they have more contact with my oily face.

Price: 

14,90 € / 125 ml (but often on sale)

Bought from: 

Kicks

Buy again? 

Maybe!

Worth the money? 

Budgie's The Apple Cider Scrub is not a life changing scalp scrub and definitely not the first thing to go for if you have bad problems (Nizoral is good for me when I have real problem) but it is a quick refreshing scalp product! Probably works very well for normal scalp and for others as nice momentarily pick-me-up. Price is ok during sale, I think almost 15 € is a bit much, but I find around 10 € is something I can justify.

Eucerin Urea Repair Face Cream 5% 50 ml Review

 

Ingredients:

Aqua, Urea, Glycerin, Caprylic-Capric-Triglyceride, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Triisostearin, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, Glyceryl Stearate, Benzyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Methylparaben, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol.

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 enough for a dry skin on its own even though that's the marketing claim (this kept me from getting it as well, thinking it might be too much)

- Not occlusive so dry skin people might want to try something else, also I use something thicker and more occlusive for the night

- For some reason almost all other Eucerin urea products are available in my country, EXCEPT the face cream that I have to order elsewhere



+ Lightweight, lotion-y, absorbs very fast, leaves skin smooth but otherwise not much product feel

+ No pilling, so far has worked well with everything else I've used it with

+ Moisturizing enough on its own for a combination skin, I think even an oily skinned person could like Urea Repair in small amounts because it is so fast absorbing 

+ Not clogging for me

+ No scent

+ Nice boring and safe, bland moisturizer, I think (almost) anyone could use it

+ Skin feels "healthy" (I don't know how else to describe it!), no irritation

* Here comes the moisturizer that I wish I just had bought and tried earlier instead of keeping it on my wishlist! I kind of thought it would be thicker, oilier, what have you, because it says for dry skin. But I have been wanting to try urea moisturizers because people rave about them. But, Eucerin's Urea Repair Face Cream is very pleasant and light, crowd pleaser moisturizer, really!

* Even my partner likes Urea Repair and has started to use it daily to keep his new facial eczema spots better under control. We have been using the moisturizer for about a month (not every day), maybe? There's still plenty left in the tube but I guess one tube 50 ml will last me with this use (not everyday, sometimes twice, sometimes once a day) about 5 months.

* I don't know if I prefer Eucerin Urea Repair Face Cream or, e.g. The Ordinary's Natural Moisturizing Factors+HA. They do feel different, but they both are nicely moisturizing, not too heavy. So I can't say which one is my favorite and will happily use both of them. I get bored when I use the same cream for a long time!

* Maybe soon I should try out Cerave moisturizers/cleansers, I hear a lot about them but when I look at the pictures of them I just feel meh and haven't purchased them yet! Just like this Eucerin moisturizer that turned out to be such a nice safe choice!

Price: 

10-18 € / 50 ml: I paid 9,96 €

Bought from: 

Lookfantastic

Buy again? 

Yes. I'll look for sales!

Worth the money? 

Yes, works well with many other products, works for many skin types except probably very dry. I think I wouldn't pay closer to 20 € for this moisturizer however. It doesn't do anything extra for me, but it is great basic cream that makes my skin feel healthy. Definitely recommend to try it out at some point!