Shopping from May to June

Right, the first 4 months of this year I'd been doing very well with spending and suddenly comes May and I explode! During May and June I spent about 194 € altogether. Before May I spent about 123 € in 4 months. To be honest I did get a new job and had birthday so I felt that I deserved a treat... or several... So maybe I just post these now before the end of the June and hope that seeing everything deters me from shopping more!

TOP Idol, Kindred, Relapse: BOTTOM Sigil, Incarnate, Vertex.

Picture screencapped of Lethal Cosmetics Palette Designer. I love that tool! I have probably spent hours making different color combinations during the last year. I find it relaxing.

   TOP Idol, Kindred, Relapse: BOTTOM Sigil, Incarnate, Vertex.

Poor Unearthed couldn't fit into this palette. But I think I'll switch them around when I feel like it a lot. The sleeve is nice and protective but there was still some fall out with most of the shadows, especially Relapse. But the shadows are quite soft so no wonder.

Such a cute palette with surprise petals! They can't be seen when looking from straight ahead.

All the shadows came in individual sleeves as shown. Just couldn't wait to pop the shadows into the palette!

Lethal Cosmetics Custom Palette: Cluster Palette,

Eyeshadows: Idol, Kindred, Relapse, Sigil, Incarnate, Vertex, Unearthed

Depotting Tool

My birthday gift for myself! I chose colors that I do not have and are partly out of my comfort zone. For my new bright and glittery eyeshadow obsession, you see. Safe choices were the peach one Kindred and the grey brown Unearthed that wasn't able to fit into the palette anymore!

My order was a bit over 50 €, I got a few euros off with a first order coupon (10%). So it was quite a pricy palette by my standards, about 38 €. Relapse wasn't in stock and got backordered and they told it would take 1-2 weeks for them to ship my order. They estimated it would take about a month for me to receive it. It took exactly 3 weeks including weekends. No customs because Lethal Cosmetics is based in Germany.

Everything was packaged really nicely, truly felt like gift. The palette had a plastic cover and wrapping. The individual eye shadows were in sleeves and also inside an extra paper wrapping. 

The shadows are quite soft. What I have tried so far, they are pigmented and I am careful when dipping my brush in. But they are also easy for me (totally not pro) to blend, I feel it is effortless to create an impactful look. I have used these colorful shimmers as "one and dones" and they look really pretty just on their own, maybe not the most elegant look but they seem to be long lasting and catching the light really nicely. They are a bit messy to apply so I've had to learn to do my eyes before the rest of my face so I can wipe the fallen glitter off. But I do not notice the look getting messy during the day.

Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation in 1W 

Dior describes 1W for "fair skin with warm yellow undertones". I swatched 0W and 1N at the counter as well, 1N was definitely too orange and 0W too light. Actually the jump from 0W to 1W looked quite big and I wish there was an in-between, or a more muted yellow. But, it seems the formula is sheer and blends into skin effortlessly, so the match doesn't have to be perfect. 2W was too dark however. 1W looks very yellow straight out of the bottle, but matches well once on face as a sheer layer! I would say it is for fair-light skin, it looks darker in real life than in the photos I saw online. So if you are truly fair and warm toned, maybe go for 0W. 1W starts to look too yellow on me if I layer it more than once. Maybe I'll try to add a drop of something else, like white, blue mixer or pinker foundation and it'll tone it down, if I want to layer Dior. But I think the point of Dior F&B is the sheerness. 

Why did I buy another foundation and why Dior's F&B? I saw the ingredient list and alcohol is the third ingredient. I saw many people complaining that it is drying or enhances dry patches sooo... I figured it would be great for my combination skin for summer! Doesn't feel drying on me. Actually I was hoping it would feel dryer than it does. Anyway, it just disappears in and dries quite fast and requires very little blending so it is almost effortless to put on. I just use my fingers. It doesn't crack or slide during the day and wears nicely, even if I sweat. But, if I sweat and touch my face/have eyeglasses/mask it comes right off and looks very messy! Absolutely not as bullet proof as I hoped a high alcohol, face and body foundation would be.

So far I have to say I am pleased with my overpriced foundation purchase, even though there was a small issue with the shade and the lasting power because I expected more. But it is the easiest foundation to apply from the ones that I own and suits fast mornings when I can throw it on in 30-60 seconds. But Lumene's Skin Tint comes very close in my mind despite it being very different product, it is fast and easy to apply as well and wears nicely. If only I would have the right shade of that one, lol. I bought light instead of medium back in the day.

I didn't want to edit this picture in case I lost the true color of the blush! It is difficult to photo.

Finger swatch, had to do about 4 layers. Tried to blend it towards the end but it just almost disappeared.

Catrice Cheek Lover Oil-Infused Blush - 010 Blooming Hibiscus

This was called a dupe for Nars Orgasm but I can't compare since I don't have Orgasm. The golden shimmer is simply divine! The color is more pink on me than in the pan and on my face looks more pink than the swatch. So it is loveliest when applied lightly and it is easy because the blush needs a lot of layering, it's very sheer. Too bad the golden shimmer is not super visible unless heavily applied. Maybe I do need that proper golden highlighter. I wish Catrice would release similar blushes to this but with more peachy or plum tones. But, I think they should change the formula a bit too, I feel this is breaking me out a bit. So I can't quite decide if this impulse purchase was worth it.

Dermatica Subscription Tretinoin 0.025 % + Niacinamide 4 %

First full price bottle, about 28 € I think? Dermatica's customer service was excellent and they stood behind their promise to pay the custom charges in case EU customers got some. I had to pay almost 10 € customs and handling charges and contacted them, they requested proof, I sent the proof and they paid the whole sum back in a few days. I think I may have sounded quite annoyed in my emails as well, now looking back, but I was annoyed and the language barrier doesn't help. (English is my second language and my mother tongue is very to the point and lacks polite add-ons.) Anyway, just wanted to say, I keep complaining about Dermatica but it seems they really do try to make the service work well.

Neulii BHA PHA 5.5 Peeling Pad

About 20 € including shipping. Urgh, I think these pads used to be closer to 10 € including shipping back in the day before corona! But I felt I wanted another jar, and by cutting the pads into four pieces, they do last me forever. I do love how convenient the already soaked pads are and the essence is at the same time effective and very very gentle!

By Terry palette after two uses. The shades are quite soft so they make a bit of a mess.

Schwarzkopf Got2B Glued Water Resistant Spiking Gel 

Depend Everyday Eye Brow Knife

BaByliss Tweezers

RefectoCil Oxidant 3% Creme

RefectoCil Natural Brown No. 3

LA Girl HD Pro Conceal Green Corrector

By Terry Brightening Cc Palette Beach Bomb

I ordered from Lyko again. I was happy with the selection, speed and packaging the last time I ordered, so I return to browse their website from time to time. 

Now it was all about my eyebrows that I have had an obsession with. Funny because I used to do nothing to eyebrows except pluck, and just about 1-2 years ago started to actively seek ways to do them naturally, easily and fast. And here we are, buying oxidants and dyes... I am lazy and not a morning person so I figured that my next step is to actually dye the hair to get a small lift for the look even if I only brush in clear gel that can't turn into clumpy mess for hold. And for that I bought Schwarzkopf Got2b Gel. I have heard a lot of good things about RefectoCil dyes so I chose them. As for tweezers and brow knife, I lost my previous knife and the tweezers look like the grab tweezer shape I love but they are so difficult to find!

I have been eyeing the blue color correctors and thought to try the green one first because they are cheap and easily available. And I have had good luck with green ones before for cancelling the surface redness. This time around I'll mix a bit into foundation to see if it neutralizes them at all and I can use green on its own anyway.

And the impulse purchase of the day... dun dun dun... is By Terry face palette. It was only 16,80 € and the real price is around 49 € - and it is a brand new release as well. I think someone messed up when putting in the price. Or Lyko just has a lot of dead stock they want to get rid of but a discount of 60-70 % seems a bit too good for that purpose. My whole Lyko order cost me about 49 €, including the palette. Lol. You see, I couldn't resist even though I have never entertained the thought of buying By Terry products before. I have already reviewed the palette a bit here in my random favorites post.

Nivea Sun UV Face Sensitive SPF 50

Garnier Ambre Solaire Anti-Dryness Super UV SPF50+

Got these sunscreens from my mom. Interesting to test new sunscreens! What I tried so far, Garnier is indeed emulsion like it claims to be, and it is very moisturizing on my skin during this hot summer. Too much, almost. I do not need a separate moisturizer. No whitecast, no fragrance. I like it, but I like the UV Fluid more! But it is difficult to find at the moment for some reason.  

Nivea is a cream, and it is very moisturizing as well. No white cast, no fragrance. Takes longer to set than Garnier one. The new sunscreens seem to be very good these days!!! If only they would be geared more for oily skin as well! This summer I have been sweating like a pig and I would survive completely without any moisturizers or hydrators, even when on tretinoin!!! This Anti-Dryness Super Uv from Garnier hasn't irritated my eyes yet. Haven't used Nivea very much so far. They are definitely not matte, they leave the satin, shiny finish, but not greasy. 

Current Favorites

This is how the palette looked like after two uses. A bit dusty, the shades are quite soft.

By Terry Brightening CC Palette Beach Bomb

I just bought this palette but I already can tell I will use it a lot this summer! Especially the brown bronzer shade, it is really on point. Other shades are nice too, they are not as cookie cutter as I thought, the peachy one really packs a punch and the orchid-pink is not too bad even though can't call it flattering either. The shades blend easily and they are very pigmented. The first time I tried the palette, I gave myself a clown look by accident, for some reason I thought "Brightening CC" would mean sheer. 

Because the palette was mispriced (?) I bought it cheap so I might not be as critical as I would be otherwise! But the palette absolutely STINKS of rose and no one around me found the scent pleasant. I kept it opened on the balcony for two days and that helped a lot (one day wasn't enough). My balcony did smell of rose strongly in the beginning! Just a warning for everyone.

Based on Beach Bomb palette, I am intrigued by Sunny Flash palette as well. I hope it will be available for cheap one day (one can dream!).

Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia

I have a mini bottle that came in a Gucci perfume set I bought a few years back. I thought that Gorgeous Gardenia was ok, but nothing special back then, I couldn't quite connect with the scent. But it has definitely grown on me now that I revisited it! It is very calming, versatile, sheer "adult" fruity-floral, suitable for everyday wear, this has sweetness that doesn't aggravate migraines. Definitely considering buying a bigger bottle after the mini is finished! Also, the bottle is very pretty, and I like pretty things.

Eyebrows in general:

Schwarzkopf got2b Glued Spiking Glue

RefectoCil Oxidant Cream + Eyelash and Eybrow Tint

I haven't really acknowledged my eyebrows before. Of course I have plucked them ever since I was 13-16 years old but that's it. Now I have been experimenting with different shapes and products.

Got2be is strong and I do highly recommend it for stubborn eyebrows that naturally grow downwards! I was able to create the super laminated wolf look as well and it stayed all day. I had to use quite a lot of gel though and even add more after an hour. But that's not a look I want to go for, just wanted to test it. I can easily get fluffier brows that stay all day as well. All depends on how much gel I put and how I brush my brows. Very versatile! To be honest I should've bought this glue earlier than I did.

The same goes for the eyebrow tint, I should've tried it earlier. Makes me and my brows look sharper instantly. They are so much easier to shape too when I can see them better. Just a notice, Natural Brown does go to black fast if you have medium brown brows - next time I'll keep the tint on for 4-5 mins instead of 8 mins and maybe the result is more dark brown. 

RefectoCil tint is extremely easy and fast to use, I am so surprised, and I definitely recommend them.

Plus... Sparkly and Colorful Eyeshadow

I can't believe it! I wanted all matte just 1-2 years ago, thinking that it is easy and classy look! And yes it is, but now I am trying all my shimmery/glittery eyeshadows on their own and I am loving them! Give me all the spark.

The same goes for colorful eyeshadow. I feel bored of browns for some reason. I love neutrals so this is weird. I don't even have colourful, brighter eyeshadows so I have a huge itch to purchase some to play with... This is killing me, not being able to try more color. Yet I still feel like I am being very specific about the colors I want and I haven't seen a palette I truly desire.

Yves Rocher Shower Gel Lily of the Valley / Muguet 200 ml Review

 Ingredients:

AQUA/WATER/EAU, AMMONIUM LAURYL SULFATE, DECYL GLUCOSIDE, CENTAUREA CYANUS FLOWER WATER, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE, COCAMIDE MIPA, TETRASODIUM EDTA, SALICYLIC ACID, CITRONELLOL, GLYCERIN, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT, POTASSIUM SORBATE.

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:

- A bit pricy (but almost always on sale)

- Only available from Yves Rocher's own webstore

- I actually wish the scent would linger more after shower



+ The scent does remind of me soapy, soft, elegant lily of the valley (not super authentic but lily of the valley is a tricky scent!)

+ The scent is very neutral and definitely is not strong or headachy, doesn't linger

+ The shower gel makes me feel clean but not dry or squeaky

+ Lathers easily, but it's light, not thick or foamy in case you prefer that

* I must be only person in my age group that hasn't ordered anything from Yves Rocher catalogs and played with their campaign stickers etc. I hear people talking about Yves Rocher in a nostalgic way, but for me, the whole brand is "new". Of course the fame of YR makes me curious.

* I ordered Yves Rocher Lily of the Valley Shower Gel and the fragrance last year. The fragrance was a disappointment because it doesn't last. But the shower gel lived up to the expectations.

* I am interested in a few other shower gels as well, but I don't feel such a big urge to pull the trigger on them. Maybe one day! I also would like to try their cleansing oils.

Price: 

8,50-12,90 € / 200 ml, usually on sale like everything on Yves Rocher's site, so sale price is "normal" price

Bought from: 

Yves Rocher webstore

Buy again? 

Maybe.

Worth the money? 

If you like the scent you gave chosen! Yves Rocher shower gels are a good formula for me, but a bit pricy if you don't enjoy the whole experience, like the lather or scent. For me Lily of the Valley was worth it, a bit of a forest moment in the shower!

Shopping from March to April

Shopping from March to April, so two months. Everything cost me together about 90 €. Cult Beauty order was about 60 € so most of the spent money was a splurge. So far I have spent this year about 123 € during 4 months. It's not actually bad, since I allocated myself a budget of 50 € a month, 600 € a year for 2021. 

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Luminous Blush - Snapdragon

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter Mini - Vanilla Quartz

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter Mini - Moonstone

Here we go. I went and purchased the Becca products I had had my eye on from Cult Beauty, because Becca is going to close this year in September. I chose two mini highlighters instead of one full size because I'll never finish them anyway (probably) and now I got two shades to play with! I am still very tempted to buy more though, both blushes and highlighters! I really like their texture.

It took about a week (7 work days) for the Cult Beauty order to arrive from UK, I ordered after the Brexit obviously. They prepay the duties and I didn't have to pay any extra or deal with customs. Good stuff! I would highly recommend Cult Beauty to other European customers. Well packaged with paper stuffing in a sturdy box.

Dermatica Subscription Tretinoin 0.025 % + Niacinamide 4 %

My second Dermatica bottle. Was 50% off because I subscribed on Black Friday. I thought they would send a notice before charging my card (like: you have requested your next treatment to be dispatched on 1st of March and we are confirming this schedule and we will charge your card today/tomorrow, if you wish to cancel your subscription blah blah....). But nothing, my card was charged 3 days before the scheduled renewal date (1st of March), I wouldn't even have noticed otherwise but I have an app that notes me in real time when I am charged. I think all subscription based services can be risky because they are not always transparent and they require the customer to be always on top of the game. The email of dispatching my order came 2rd of March.

It took a million years to receive my treatment though, and I had to claim it through customs office as it came from UK EVEN THOUGH they claimed already that they ship from Ireland to avoid issues. It was approx 4-5 WEEKS until I had my bottle and it was already expiring that week. I don't know if this was very unlucky incident or if this will keep happening. Anyway I am not squeamish and I will use expired products but still, I will cancel the subscription for a while if there's no improvement. Too bad for my skin though! There's nothing wrong with their product formula, it works, it is pleasant.

Nizoral Ketoconazol 20mg/ml Shampoo

Nice treatment shampoo! If you are prone to oily scalp/oily dandruff with possibly fungal infections. I've read people use this as a mask on face for "fungal acne" as well and I do too (even though I don't know if I have "fungal acne", but I do have some scalp problems for sure so I wouldn't say it's impossible). 

Ketoconazol helps with malassezia. It helped with my forehead/hairline bumps just in a few days so I would recommend it! I keep using it whenever I have flareups, I feel it is the only thing that really helps my scalp problems and persistent small bumpy acne on my face.

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Water Essence 50 ml Review

 Ingredients:

Water, Methylpropanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Sodium Pca, Xanthan-Gum, Trehalose, Panthenol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium-Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Pteris Multifida Extract, Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Disodium Edta, Polyquaternium-51, Tromethamine.

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:

- The pipette doesn't work perfectly, sometimes it picks up the essence well, sometimes not at all, then the pipette always dispenses a different amount so you are forced to play with it

- The glass bottle is a little clunky and heavy to handle, not for travelling 

- Availability, not too keen on ordering from Korea or anywhere outside of EU due to pandemic, slow and expensive shipping, and new customs regulations

- No long term effects or long term hydration (but this is the usual with most topical products so don't expect too much)



+ No scent

+ Doesn't seem to break me out or clog my skin

+ Doesn't pill, so far has worked with all my other skincare and under makeup well

+ Easy to layer if you wish but usually unnecessary (thicker serum texture)

+ Hydrating, feels nice under or on top of tretinoin treatment, but hydration level feels moderate, doesn't really "plump" skin but leaves it soft, personally I don't notice much tackiness

+ Very pretty glass bottle

+ Essence is a bit thicker, and takes a bit time to absorb compared to watery essences, but it gives it a nice slip to spread even a small amount to whole face without tugging

+ Zero irritation for me, a safe essence with many nice hydrating and calming ingredients

* I think the best feature of Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Water Essence is the texture and formula that doesn't pill, compared to The Ordinary's Hyaluronic Acid Serum (60 ml/12,20 €) for example. So this one is very suitable for morning use or layering. But when it comes to effectiveness, I feel like TO's HA Serum works better for me, even if it is a bit annoying and reserved for evening time or I mix it with something else. I feel the hydration level is somehow deeper with The Ordinary even though Isntree Essence boasts 8 different types of hyaluronic acid? I probably should test by applying these products half and half on my face for a few days!

* I have been using the essence maybe for about 2 months and I still have 2/3 left! So overall I'm estimating that one bottle of 50 ml would last for half a year if you keep using it constantly.

* I feel like I should be more excited about this essence based on performance, feel, packaging and ingredients but I just am not? 

* I am interested in Isntree as a brand, their products look nice and ingredient focused and they share lots of information about their products. Seems like you could get a bunch of nice basics from them! Too bad availability is what it is.

Price: 

Anything between 15-30 € / 50 ml, I paid 15 usd

Bought from: 

Jolse

Buy again? 

Maybe. But it is not an urgent need.

Worth the money? 

While Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Water Essence is nice and works well, it hasn't been miraculous. For the USD15 (~13 €) that I paid for this essence back in the day, I would repurchase, but currently the price would come to 20-40 € for me and I am not that much in love. It hasn't changed my skin in any way and I don't seem to miss it when I use something else so far. But it is a safe crowd pleaser essence that is easy to use and I think pretty much anyone could use and like it good enough! Just look out for deals.

Current "Disappointments"

Disappointment is such a strong word but you know what I mean! I also may change my opinion (I am known for that) and some of these are first impressions, but regardless, they are something that let me down on my (high?) expectations. Complaining does make you feel a bit better, right?

Dermatica Subscription and Brexit

It's been almost A MONTH (including weekends) that my new treatment was shipped. It is still not here. I ran out of my last bottle 3 weeks ago or so. My skin had a freak-out for a moment but it's getting better again. I wonder if anyone else has experienced a sudden unhappy skin after using tretinoin almost everyday for 2 months and suddenly stopped?

Anyway. Customs have had the Dermatica package for a week, almost, too. Plus Dermatica said on their email that they would start shipping EU orders from Ireland to help people with the customs issue. Well, the tracking number that was given to my package by customs indicated it was shipped from Great Britain. I didn't have to pay any customs however this whole process just takes super long time! Not to mention the shipping from GB to EU, a few weeks. I did a Cult Beauty order a while ago and that package came from GB to me in a week and no issues with customs as they had taken care of them beforehand, whatever it means. That was a pleasant post Brexit experience!

If the shipping takes this long in the future, I'll have to see if I find a better option to get tretinoin. There has been nothing wrong the product itself, it has been very effective and absorbs quickly. Great bottle design too.

Benefit Cheekleaders Bronze Squad Palette

I just really like Benefit's style and had been drooling over the box blushes, so you bet I jumped on this palette when it was only 35 €. After playing with it a few times I just don't feel the love. 

Coralista felt pretty low pigmented and barely showed up on me without piling it on, then it just felt and looked powdery. The shade felt very one dimensional, and it did not remind me of coral. Gold Rush was nicer, and while I thought it wouldn't bother me that the gold is just overspray because I knew it, but it still bothered me a lot! As the shade mixed with warm gold looked like statement blush but without the gold it is just... not so bold or unique but still pretty. Well I did notice I do like warm gold on my face so I might go and pick a golden highlighter later on! Hoola and Hoola Caramel are both surprisingly dark and pigmented compared to the blushes. Very, very orange-ish too and difficult to blend, as in, I really had to work on it and I still felt it was unnatural - maybe it was just the shade though. But because they lean orange, especially Hoola Caramel, they can be used as blushes. Cookie feels very nice and creamy and the shade is ok.

The palette feels very clunky and heavy to hold and after holding it for like 5 minutes, I felt my hand was a bit numb. The palette looks charming but it's not very practical. I also did not like the brush that came with the palette, it is such an awkward shape, but again, maybe it is just me and my novice skills. I felt the palette also broke me out a bit, as the new bumps were exactly where I had placed the product.

Overall, I felt like I could have survived well without Cheekleaders palette.

I also read that Benefit uses different formulas for their blushes depending if they are the individual boxed ones, minis or palette. So it means they all look and feel different. Wtf! I checked Temptalia and her individual box Coralista swatches look completely different than my palette! Also the swatches for Hoola look more neutral compared to what I experience! How incredibly annoying!

Becca Closing In September

I couldn't believe these news! For me, personally, this was a huge disappointment as I adored their aesthetics and their blushes and ufo packaging. They actually felt sturdy, I am so going to save my ufos after I'm done with their contents and make them into tiny magnetic palettes or something.

Clinique Cheek Pop Warm Up Palette

I absolutely LOVE the formula of cheek pops! So pleasant, so pigmented, so easy to apply and looks very natural.

But. The only shade in this palette I really like is Ginger Pop. And even Ginger Pop looks quite pink on me, more than what I thought. It's still pretty and unique to me! The two other shades, Nude Pop and Cola Pop, are not for me, at least based on a few times I tried them. Nude Pop is so nude I can barely get it to show up on me! I piled it on probably 4-5 times to get it to show and by that time it was a powdery caky mess. Am I doing something wrong? Maybe Nude Pop is meant for super pale people and as a warm light skinned person it is just a no go? I did however use it to tone down Ginger Pop's pinkness when you mix them. There's also something about Cola Pop I do not like. It just looks wrong. Not flattering at all.

At this point I can just admit that the Cheek Pop palette wasn't so smart purchase but I also finally got to try the formula and "calibrate" my brain about Cheek Pop shades so that I can avoid now the unsuitable ones. I think the ones I would go for now are Fig Pop and Black Honey Pop. 

However, Cheek Pops are not available in my country or online so this is another rant altogether!

Deciem The Chemistry Brand Hand Chemistry Pro-Repair Skincare for Hands Smells Horrible

Smells so incredibly bad and the smell lingers all night! Not super strong or migraine triggering smell but it makes me gag, it makes me physically feel sick. I had high hopes for this hand cream treatment but I just can't get over the smell. I have been using it by not breathing while applying and immediately putting something else with stronger fragrance on top! But this smell came as a huge surprising disappointment to me. I rarely feel sick because of scents, I just usually don't like them but that's it. Even more disappointing because the cream itself absorbs incredibly quick and would be ideal for several applications throughout the day but I can't do it!

Korean Sunscreen Gate

Everyone has probably heard of this fiasco. Many popular Korean sunscreens turned out to be significantly less protective than what they claim. They haven't been tested or not tested properly. It is unbelievable how shady the whole situation is - the manufacturers, the brands, FDA, the claims, aftermath, etc... Especially Purito and their Centella Green Level Sun SPF 50+ that was independently tested finally as something like SPF 20. But it wasn't only Purito's problem, there are several sunscreen that underperformed and I bet you can find lists and speculation if you google!

So it seems that if it is too good to be true, it is! Sunscreen that immediately sinks into skin and doesn't feel like sunscreen? Yeah, we should be wary. I also read that many Korean mineral sunscreens that don't leave the strong whitecast are probably significantly less protective as well, going as far as if they claim SPF 30-50 it could only have SPF 10-20. I have been using Korean sunscreens and a few mineral ones and I do think they had significantly less whitecast than the one I tried from nearby store (in Europe). 

This has shaken my world view as I really thought that sunscreens would be regulated better. I am now side eyeing all sunscreens, no matter where they come from. Many sunscreens seem to fail after market tests, no matter if European, American, Asian! I am still interested in Korean sunscreens and for me SPF 20 or 30 is fine - as long as it is marketed as 20 or 30, not as 50+!

Avant Skincare a Scam?

Reading Reddit really opens your eyes. I stumbled by accident to this conversation and I had no idea! Apparently, Avant Skincare and its sister companies (Symbiosis London, etc...?)  are made to look like expensive, luxurious prestige brands but they might be actually made very cheaply and sold en masse to subscription boxes etc. to up their value. That is their core business model. They might even be shell companies for money laundering, wtf. You should search the thread, it is on r/boxycharm, you can find it searching Symbiosis Skincare.

If this is true, I feel so betrayed!!! Such elaborate scam, it feels untrue. True or not, I feel annoyed and can never look at Avant products the same way, or the companies that put them into subscription boxes.

Urea Moisturizers Reviews and Swatches

Just wanted to share quickly some urea moisturizers I've been using. Urea is absolutely wonderful ingredient and I will not give it up ever. No doubt I will try more urea moisturizers in the future! The swatches don't show the texture or consistency all that well but here they are in case they are useful. I'll try to describe them a bit.

L300 Intensive Moisture Body Lotion

Doesn't disclose the amount of urea but it is the second ingredient so I guess 5-10 %. Feels effective and quite cheap, the bottle is around 6 € / 400 ml. Feels like a gel lotion. Feels light, but takes a while to dry, still leaves a film on skin. Haven't used on face. Great for legs etc for large surface areas because it is so easy to spread and the film is not bothersome then.

SVR Xerial 10 Lait Corps

10 % of urea. Excellent day time hand/face moisturizer. Feels creamy, but absorbs reasonably fast, no clear film or oiliness. About 18 € / 400 ml. I bet this would be great for legs etc as well, easy to spread as well, even though the consistency is creamy, it is light. I would rather use this one than L300 one.

SVR Xerial Fissures et Crevasses

5 % of urea. Feels a bit heavier and clearly oilier than SVR Xerial 10 Lait Corps. Feels very effective on dry hands and dry tretinoin face. Leaves skin shiny and a bit oily, doesn't dry down. Not good under makeup but great night time moisturizer. About 10 € / 50 ml.

Eucerin Urea Repair Replenishing Face Cream

5 % of urea. Great face moisturizer. Feels light, absorbs well, doesn't leave a film or pill. Again a lotion consistency, not creamy at all. Around 13 € / 50 ml. Very elegant. Great for combination skin type. Not super moisturizing.