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!

Shopping from October to November

Oh no... too many purchases. I guess end of the year is the worst time for me? Too many sales. Black Friday, Christmas, New Year. But I think what I should do is, now that I am starting to navigate the whole skincare/makeup world with a bit more confidence, to start to bulk buy my favorites during the end of the year sales. And then ignore all websites for the rest of the year.

Everything I bought during October and November (so 2 months) cost me about 240 € (the calendar was a gift). Only things that I actually "needed" here were Deciem order (moisturizer, pycnogenol, eye serum), Zoeva brushes and Eucerin/Bioderma moisturizers and konjac sponges. 

Lookfantastic Advent Calendar 2020

Christmas gift for me! I have such a sweet partner. He also likes opening the boxes with me. It has become now our christmas tradition. I hope there are lots of things I haven't tried yet inside! I have opened a couple first boxes already and I am very happy with the contents, all things I could have bought myself as well!

I think Lookfantastic had some problems with their calendars and shipping. They were sold out during pre-order, in September/October already? And never came back in stock. Also they kept putting off the shipment date. It finally shipped maybe around 10.-15. of November and I received it on 20th. But they did not charge the credit card before shipment so that's something. I'm assuming because of corona it is harder to put things together in a timely manner.

This year I think most of the advent calendars have looked a little bleh. Cult Beauty's looked nice but was crazy expensive. Glossybox also looked nice and reasonably priced, around the same as Lookfantastic. 

Dior Rouge Blush 601 Hologlam

I don't know if I should regret, actually. Hologlam is very unique and I love that, but it also is impossible to swatch. It is basically a glittery highlighter! Don't be fooled by the swatches online, at least my "blush" barely has any base color (peach/coral/pink, whatever it is supposed to be). However the glitter is fine and even instead of rough chunks and when the light hits it, it is sooo pretty. 

I am disappointed in Dior's packaging. The case feels cheap clunky plastic to me. There is no glamour or luxury feeling. I guess I had to pay to learn that sometimes it is just stupid to expect something extra from a product that costs more because of the brand.

NYX Professional Makeup Sweet Cheeks Creamy Powder Blush Glow Boom & Bloom

NABLA Eyeshadow Refill Unrestricted

NABLA Eyeshadow Refill Absinthe

NABLA Eyeshadow Refill Entropy

NABLA Eyeshadow Refill Water Dream

This order was from Beautybay. They were -30% and my Nabla eyeshadow single wishlist screamed to be bought. I shouldn't have taken the NYX blush probably, but it was so cheap and an unique shade. I already have the blush in Citrine Rose and it is very lovely, both the shade and formula! I could easily collect all of them - maybe I will buy Fig later, but I kinda want it as a matte version instead of glowy.

Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation in Olive 0

Alima Pure  Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow Black Orchid

+ Free Samples

Well. There was another sale on Jolie webstore and Alima Pure's pressed foundation I bought in Sesame, was such a good match and doesn't clog my skin, that I jumped for Satin Matte Foundation as well. I originally thought my shade would have been Olive 1, but after looking at the pictures and swatches I found (not too many!) and using Sesame that says it suits Olive 0, I decided for 0. 

Olive 0 seems to be spot on for me, at least initially! It seems to slightly oxidize to more reddish shade. Also darker than what you see it in the pot so Olive 1 would have been definitely way too dark for me. I think Sesame is a more yellow leaning than Olive 0. But it seems both of them go almost seamlessly on my skin, but I haven't piled them on lots, I wonder if oxidization would show up better then? They are both very finely milled as well, Satin Matte Foundation is almost creamy.

I bought Black Orchid eyeshadow to use as a blush, actually! It is described as a rusty plum and it looks very natural on, both eyes and cheeks.

ZOEVA Graphic Brow Fix Arsenic Brow Gel

ZOEVA Graphic Eyes+ Taupe Eyeliner

ZOEVA 109 Luxe Face Paint Screen Queen Brush

ZOEVA 129 Luxe Fan Screen Queen Brush

ZOEVA 104 Buffer Screen Queen Brush

ZOEVA 228 Luxe Crease Screen Queen Brush

My first order straight from Zoeva's own website. And I haven't had anything from Zoeva before anyway. They were having -50% last chance sale on some items. I needed some new face brushes so I took a few, people have been reviewing them positively... I wanted some bigger brush set but they were all sold out already. 

My order cost exactly 40 €, so I got free shipping. I kind of regret the brow gel and eye liner! I didn't need them. But they could turn out to be perfect, who knows. At least I am very impressed by how the products look, their packaging, attention to detail and also how my order was secured and how fast it came, 4-5 working days from Germany!

The sample sachet was shipped in separate box. Yes, you read that right. Big, separate box from the rest of the order. This is just incredibly stupid and inconvenient for the nature, for the company, and for me, having to go pick up separate packages twice from the post office.

Some ad leaflets that came with the order. Actually it was fun to flip through the "magazine", made the items look more special.

Eucerin Dry Skin Replenishing Face Cream 5% Urea

Bioderma Hydrabio Gel Cream

Real Techniques Miracle Powder Sponge

3INA Makeup Mini Konjac Sponges

Clinique Cheek Pop Palette Warm Up - Nude Pop, Ginger Pop, Cola Pop

+Sample Philip Kingsley Flaky Itchy Scalp Anti Dandruff Shampoo

Lookfantastic order, 77 €. I reallllyyy wanted the Cheek Pop palette! Everyone keeps talking about Cheek Pops but usually they are not available in my country. I'm going to wrap it as a christmas present for myself. I have so many other new things to play with right now that I can experiment with this one later!

The moisturizers are something I've had on my list for a while, but just now I'm in a situation where I am finishing older moisturizers and can have new ones, plus wintertime is a great time to try urea one, I believe it is going to be super moisturizing. RT's powder sponge could work with more difficult powder products that are not ideal with brushes. And, I have thrown all my old konjac sponges away so new mini ones are great!

Last time I ordered from Lookfantastic, it felt like it took ages to arrive and I thought that this sure is not a place to order from if in hurry. This time shipping was faster, about 7 working days. BUT! They shipped the free sample in a separate box!!! And a big box at that, too! What the hell is wrong with them, wasting resources like that? It is just a sample. 

Another beef I have with Lookfantastic is that they constantly curate their selection of products. For example, Eucerin's Urea Repair is not available from them anymore, so you can't plan ahead your shopping cart. Of course this means they also have many cool things in limited amounts they wouldn't have otherwise, exactly because they curate things. Annoying regardless.

EDIT: I have started to use Eucerin's Urea Repair in the evening after putting Differin on bare skin. Urea Repair feels nice, no scent, absorbs well, I don't notice any new breakouts so far. My cheeks feel soft in the morning (dryest part of my face). It is not exactly "super moisturizing" as I thought, so dry skin folks probably find it a bit too light alone. The consistency is lotion like instead of heavy/balmy.

The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% x2

Hylamide's SubQ Eyes

Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA

Deciem had the same sale last year too, all November everything -23% and that was the last time I ordered from them. I hope they make this a continuing yearly thing so I could time all purchases for this month! Pycnogenol is a repurchase, I really think it makes a difference and I just decided to take two so that I wouldn't have to order it soon again. NMF+HA is a repurchase yet again. Hylamide's SubQ Eyes is something new and different I'm going to try for my aging eye contour. My order cost about 36 €.

I must admit I still have unfinished products from last year's order! Year is such a short time!

Ducray Hidrosis Control Antiperspirant Roll-On 40 ml Review

 Ingredients:

Water (aqua), aluminum sesquichlorohydrate, pentylene glycol, PPG-15 stearyl ether, steareth-2, steareth-21, dimethicone, BHT, cetrimonium chloride, citric acid, lysine, Oryza sativa (rice) starch (oryza sativa starch), propylene glycol, sclerotium gum, triethyl citrate, zinc ricinoleate.

I try to mark the sunscreen/active ingredients 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:

- Ducray Hidrosis Control takes  longer to dry than e.g. Rexona Maximum Protection. Rexona is more balm like, Ducray more wet. Takes about 10 minutes.

- Barely keeps me dry/non smelly through the night. Can't apply in the evening and just go in the morning like most strong antiperspirants.

- Even after walking a little, I can clearly smell sweat if I put my nose closer to my armpit.

- My armpits start to itch if I sweat a little.

- Not for doing sports, definitely! I wouldn't choose this antiperspirant for a work day either, I would feel uncomfortable and there are other options.

- Not a product you can buy from supermarket while you get groceries.



+ Even if I start to feel uncomfortable quite soon after applying, the sweat smell is not very sharp and doesn't hover around me.

+ Does help with wetness somewhat.

+ Haven't noticed (yet at least) that this would ruin clothes.

+ No scent. Maybe this plays a role with it not being able to hide sweat smell. But it is a nice thing if you don't want antiperspirant to overpower actual perfume you want to wear.

+ No alcohol.

+ No irritation.

+ Does work better in combination with Absolut Torr (applied once a week) and then Ducray applied every day. So not totally useless. 

* I try to smell myself objectively and I also make my partner to smell me and my armpits at different lengths so that I am not imagining things.

* I do still prefer Rexona's Maximum Protection. I feel like even Lidl's Cien Men Aqua Antiperspirant works better than Ducray Hidrosis Control Antiperspirant, but that's probably only because it has a scent that can cover sweat smell. 

Price: 

10-13 € / 40 ml

Bought from: 

Pharmacy

Buy again? 

No.

Worth the money? 

No, not for me. I'm not sure who could benefit from Ducray's Hidrosis Control Antiperspirant. It is definitely not for those who actually sweat. And I do not even have any condition that causes sweating. I am just naturally disgusting. :) And those that do not sweat as much, do not search for special antiperspirants like this one, and they probably want something with scent. You can find the same effect or better for cheaper. Like Lidl's Cien Men Aqua. And that one costs under 1 €!