Current Favorites

I choose my favorites however and whenever I like! 

Avene Cicalfate+ Repairing Protective Cream

Calming evening moisturizer after acids/retinoids etc. Feels protecting, doesn't clog my skin. Unscented. Not for day time use because it is quite heavy and leaves whitecast (due to zinc). 

Really trying to lean on to classic skincare that will not be discontinued in a year or two. I have already repurchased!

Btw the cult classic La Roche Posay Cicaplast didn't work for me, so I almost wrote off all protective creams. But this Avene and also A-Derma Barrier Cream are great. I just also bought Uriage Bariederm Cica Cream, looks like a very similar product (zinc, copper, mineral oil based, magnesium sulfate...).

Dr Levy r3 Cell Matrix Mask

I am not a mask person because you have to dedicate time for them. But I do admit, that Dr Levy mask really calms my skin. I usually try to keep it on for half an hour. But I have forgotten and had it on for an hour as well and there's no harm. It is white thick cream so it stays on well, no dripping or mess, I can comfortably do other things.

I got this mask from Skincity Advent Calendar. I never would have bought it myself - 80 € for 50 ml! But it is a great mask and I'll do my best to finish it before it expires.

Maybelline Sky High Mascara Cosmic Black

A great mascara. This is actually all I wanted Clinique's Lash Power to be. Easy to apply for natural or fuller lashes, doesn't flake or smudge and easy to wash off. 

Waterproof Sky High Mascara is also amazing, super waterproof, super smudge proof (tested in snow storm). But it just won't budge when you try to actually remove it! So the normal Sky High is better for everyday wear.

Wishtrend Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water

Finally got around to testing this toner/essence/whatever! Very nice, very gentle, yet I feel it is effective. I use it on a cotton pad in the morning. I think I'll repurchase the bigger bottle. This mini came from Skincity Advent Calendar.

Because I don't need this product to perform any serious exfoliation action, 5% mandelic acid is better for me than, let's say, 10% from The Ordinary. Wishtrend is such a no-brainer and easy to use, no fear of overdoing it.

Morocconoil Treatment Light Oil

Would have bought the original oil instead of light but that value bottle was already sold out! But no fear, the light version feels and smells the same. It has the same ingredients as well, probably just in different amounts. I do think it doesn't quite perform the same as OG for dry hair, but for me this works great.

I really like how Morocconoil Treatments apply and smell. It doesn't feel too oily, absorbs nicely to hair, also the scent is not overpowering, it is just nice and warm. For the most damaged hair, this hair oil is not enough (like when I had a curl permanent) but for my current situation it is a great addition!

Empties Since May

Two months of empties (and trash)! I really did try. I just noticed that I'm not really finishing any toners or serums.

Face

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Cleansing Oil

I have repurchased, great cleansing oil. 

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil

Great cleansing oil but I feel not as effective and doesn't rinse off quite as clean as Elizabeth Arden. Less oily feel if you prefer that. Could repurchase though.

Cerave Blemish Control Cleanser

I used this for both face and body and I think it is a good cleanser, felt effective enough. I will repurchase at some point.

Medik8 Clarifying Foam Cleanser

My skin really liked this one. Will repurchase at some point. Herbal tea tree smell. 

Medik8 Micellar Mousse Cleanser

Good cleanser, smells slightly citrusy but not too strong. But results are the same as with Garnier Micellar Gel which is so much cheaper.

Exuviance Overnight Transformation Complex

I have repurchased. Great gentle exfoliating and calming cream for both day and night. Very light yet still moisturizing. (Not enough on its own during winter though.)

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10%

Good exfoliator! Gentle but effective. Still, next I would purchase the 5% one so it's even more gentle and carefree to use.

Ultra Violette Clean Screen Fragrance Free Gel SPF30

I am considering repurchasing for winter. Maybe a bit too heavy for summer. Some white cast but not too bad under makeup.

Body

Rexona Maximum Protection Antiperspirant Sport Strength x4

My staples. Ugh, so annoying to sweat so much. But this is a good antiperspirant.

Vaseline Advanced Repair Unscented Hand Cream

Unscented, moisturizes ok, not enough during the winter though on its own. Well priced, I think 2 euros. Might repurchase!

Neal's Yard Wild Rose Hand Cream 

From some advent calendar. Moisturizes well but smells so strongly of rose! The scent doesn't fade at all. So in the end could use maybe half because it was making me feel slightly sick.

Hair

Nizoexpert Daily Care Shampoo

Good shampoo from pharmacy. I have repurchased. Feels effective enough, doesn't destroy hair. Still maybe a bit more drying than the Vichy sulphur shampoo I just bought.

Shopping from May to June

Overall, not too bad two months, from May to June. Mainly necessities. Except Primavista powders. Haven't got time to browse new releases or research anything. And this is a good situation. Plus I just bought a trip to Prague (been there once before during winter, now I want to see what the summer is like!).

I spent altogether 165e. But this year I've already spent 699 € on cosmetics/beauty products, yikes.

Primavista Long-Lasting Primer UV Beige SPF 50 PA+++

Primavista Bright Charge Powder SPF16 PA+++ in 01 Beige Ochre (refill)

Primavista Ex Matte Powder For Very Oily Skin

About 50 €, from Amazon JP. I had a mini of Primavista primer before and liked it! Works well under makeup and good for summer, doesn't melt on my face. Slight whitecast.

The powders are new to me but they seem nice, silky. I have liked all Japanese powders I've tried before. The shade 01 Beige Ochre is just right, light warm yellow. I often buy only refills for powders because they are cheaper without the case. If I like the powder, I will consider the case as well (like with Jane Iredale).

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Cleansing Oil

Rexona Maximum Protection Antiperspirant Sport Strength x4

Moroccanoil Treatment 25 ml

From Notino, 62 €. All are repurchases, or well, my first mini of Moroccanoil hair oil was from Lookfantastic Advent Calendar many years ago. My hair has felt a bit dry lately so I wanted an oil and I liked how this one felt and smelled so got another mini. But it is half used already so maybe should've gotten a bigger bottle! But it is expensive.

Elizabeth Arden Cleansing Oil is just so good. I hope they never discontinue it. 

Aco Intimate Care Cleansing Wash

Lactacyd Flytande Tvål Soap

Vichy Dercos Anti Dandruff DS Shampoo

Some necessities from pharmacy, about 53 €! I read lots of people recommend Lactacyd as gentle all over body soap so I'll try it, also Aco is a repurchase, I do like it, it's unscented and really gentle.

Vichy Dercos Anti Dandruff is actually a great shampoo and fell in love with from the first use! It has sulphur derivate and salicylic acid. The fragrance masks the sulphur smell well to me, but my partner sometimes says he gets a whiff of sulphur that lingers on my hair after washing. But, I've been using sulphur on my acne before so I've gotten a bit nose blind to it (it smells so bad I have no idea how it's possible).

Vichy shampoo doesn't dry my hair, it is easy to apply because of the slippy consistency, easy to wash off, my scalp feels better afterwards, less oily, maybe? Or maybe my scalp is in better condition during summer anyway? Maybe hormones? Who knows. I usually work the shampoo into my scalp and let it sit for about 3 mins and rinse off.

I also started to wash my armpits with Vichy shampoo (again, let it sit like a mask for about 3 mins) and it actually works like a miracle... Definitely helps with the constant sweating during summer.