Nivea Cleansing Oil Soothing Grape Seed Soothing Cleansing Oil for Sensitive Skin 150 ml Review

Ingredients:

Paraffinum Liquidum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Isododecane, Ethylhexyl Stearate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol.

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 available in my country and didn't see it available anymore on Notino either

- Doesn't emulsify easily, feels a bit thick and sticks to skin, difficult to wash off and the more you have makeup or sunscreen the more it all just mashes into a thick goo layer on my face

- Definitely needs a good second cleanser to remove the residue off face

- Annoying around eyes because easily fogs vision

- Takes a while to use and wash off

- Not particularly enjoyable product



+ Cheap

+ A little goes a long way, it took at least 9 months of active use to finish

+ No fragrance, no scent

+ No irritation, not even around eyes

+ With a good purifying second cleanser, no residue or clogging issues

+ Removes makeup/sunscreen, but is not particularly great

+ Not drying, but also not soothing

* Nivea Cleansing Oil reminds me of Mizon's Great Pure Cleansing Oil. Probably because both have mineral oil? That one was also a pain in the arse to remove sometimes and left easily goo residue. I haven't repurchased Mizon since I finished in 2020. Why am I less irritated with Nivea's Cleansing Oil? Probably because it is a third the price of Mizon, has no sharp scent and I already had figured out how to deal with a more difficult oil cleanser.

Price: 

I paid 5,90 € / 150 ml

Bought from: 

Notino

Buy again? 

Maybe I could if it became available and is still as cheap.

Worth the money? 

Nivea Cleansing Oil Soothing Grape Seed Soothing Cleansing Oil for Sensitive Skin is not particularly enjoyable or special product to use but it does its job and is affordable, irritation and fragrance free. I would recommend going for an other cleansing oil if you can afford to pay for a more elegant formula that emulsifies easily.

Empties Since July

Empties from July to August so two months. I couldn't bring myself to tackle samples despite my goal to finish them. Also took photos a bit early, but you gotta seize the moment when you have time! Been so busy and tired so all beauty stuff has been secondary.

Face

Etude House Camellia Sheet Mask

Can't remember details so I guess the fit and scent were ok!

Brow Knife

These little knifes are so handy for brows or other facial hair... I did try shaving my facial peach fuzz and it was relatively easy with a new sharp knife and didn't get irritation. Maybe should do it again, the result is nice, but I am afraid of irritating my skin! I have a few knives left and going to purchase more.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash

My staple. Going to repurchase, haven't yet, I try to finish other cleansers first. 

Dr Lipp Nipple Balm Mini

Pure lanolin. Good stuff! Used this for lips and other irritated spots. Very effective. Had this in my coat pocket when travelling as well, a little goes a long way. Treatment and lip gloss in one. I have another mini somewhere... then I am going to purchase a lanolin product again, not sure from where, maybe just from pharmacy.

Lumene Nordic Hydra Aerating Gel Mask

Irritated my skin and got cysts! Wasn't really hydrating either. Maybe I am allergic to birch, the product has birch sap. So just tossing this almost unused old mask since I can't use it.

The Ordinary Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15%

Expired, definitely. It had changed smell and feel on skin. Luckily there was only little bit left on the bottom (the serum is maybe 3 years old?). I have a habit of leaving a little bit of product to expire. Probably "just in case I need this serum as a backup" but it makes no sense and I am trying to stop it. But EAA 15% was nice Vitamin C serum for my skin! Despite it being only a derivate I felt my skin improved. But if you want a real science backed Vitamin C, go for Ascorbic Acid. I could repurchase EAA15%.

Body

The Body Shop Shower Gel Mango

Fruity, summery, tropical. I like TBS shower gels and currently I am thinking of purchasing more. Mango was nice but I wouldn't purchase it myself, this was gift. I think I am more into floral scents.

Rexona Maximum Protectiom Sport Strength x2

My staples! I have one more backup but will have to repurchase soon...

Hair

Philip Kinsgley Elasticizer Egyptian Jasmine & Mandarin

Great product for dry and processed hair! This scent was too strong for me though. The original one is unscented.

Less Is More Herbal Tonic Scalp Treatment

Got this as a gift long time ago. Tried it a few times, but it just made my scalp and hair slimy and flat. Had a herbal scent. Now I just use the bottle as a water bottle to spray my hair.

Loton Micelarny Shampoo

So old! Bought in Poland when travelling before covid. This was better than the hotel shampoo, but otherwise nothing remarkable.

Head&Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo

I do love these huge 1 liter bottles! Don't have to repurchase very often and don't have to clutter the shower with several different bottles. Good basic shampoo.

Shopping from July to August

Here we go, beauty shopping from July to August so two months. Altogether 78 €. Last year at this point I had spent already 746 €, this year I have spent altogether 347 €. About half of last year! I wonder if I will overspend during the holidays now or something... It is still 4 months left of 2022.

But, I did buy lots of vitamins now, so I did spend maybe closer to 50 € on magnesium, multi vitamins (A, C, B6, B12, biotin, zinc, iodine, folic acid etc) vitamin D and calsium. 

In the past few days I've seen contents of beauty advent calendars 2022 and I am not too impressed. I will not ask for Lookfantastic calendar at least (my partner usually buys it for me as a christmas gift if I want it), mostly such boring unnecessary stuff this year. Other calendars that are already revealed like Cult Beauty and SpaceNK look nice but I am not sure if they would be worth it to me currently because they are triple the price of LF. Looking forward to seeing what Feelunique and Skincity will be like. Interesting to see if any calendar available to me makes the cut this year!

Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Skies Eau De Toilette Limited Edition 50 ml

Ordered this fragrance from Cocopanda. Daisy Love Skies EdT is a limited edition released in late 2021 I think. I was interested in the notes from the beginning (salt, moss, cream with raspberry), but just a few weeks ago went to the store to sniff it. They had the sampler but no more products to sell. 53 €

I do not have the original Marc Jacobs Daisy Love but I did order a small bottle of Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Eau so Sweet in the beginning of this year and I do enjoy how sugary and raspberry it is! Daisy Love Skies is definitely not as sugary. It is more "basic", smells like an airport tax free, a mix of things, slightly suffocating while having that oceanic note. I know this description sounds so cheap, but it makes me feel some of that freedom when travelling and exploring!

Sorry about the blurring in photos... this bottle is impossible to photo without reflections. Didn't expect the flower to be so huge. It's amazing and probably my favorite bottle because of the ridiculousness, but it also collects dust easily.

A-Derma Dermalibour+ Barrier Cream

Bioderma Cicabio Pommade

These were on sale and I had been wanting to try Bioderma's Cicabio Pommade. I wonder if I got a dud, because it feels very oily and separated. Will have to experiment with it, but at least as a hand cream for super dry hands the result was surprisingly silky. 25 €

Comparing two of my Max Factor Facefinity blushes, I bought Nude Mauve last year.

Indirect sun.

Direct sun. Nude Mauve is more glowy.

Blurred swatches, probably more what they would look like on face. But Nude Mauve has this pink sheen that doesn't translate to photos really.

Max Factor Facefinity Blush 40 Delicate Apricot

The Curl Company Curl Cream Mini 50 ml

Both of these were gifts...  also got The Curl Company Hair Oil, but I left it for my mom. I tried it too and it was nice, thin oil, not too strong scent. I think the cream has a stronger scent, it's not bad but I don't particularly like it either and it lingers. However otherwise the cream is great! Boosts my curls just like Philip Kingsley's Elasticizer (39,95 €/150 ml) but at around 10 €/200 ml. I feel it is a bit heavier than Elasticizer though, but my hair slurps it in easily. I do have very processed hair now, dyed about 3-4 times and a curl permanent! 

The Max Factor Blush in Delicate Apricot is delicate indeed. Very natural, slightly brightening, but very very sheer. Like the other Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in Nude Mauve. Excellent blushes if you are afraid of applying too much! Because it is impossible with these. Good shades too.

Current Favourites

As always, I choose my current favourites whenever and however I like. Sometimes it is a repeat product and sometimes something I am using currently but would not repurchase. Actually it's been a while since I've chosen any! I think it is time to do this again because I can feel my shopping need stir inside me. 

The end of the year after mid summer really does something weird to me, I start to crave for new stuff, I feel bored with my life and myself, maybe? And especially now it feels bad because the world situation and Europe's situation are so sad. :( With the war, glooming unpredictable Russia, other politics, covid, inflation, food price going up, euro getting weaker...

The Ordinary Pycnogenol

Pycnogenol, which is maritime pine bark extract, just works for my skin. My skin looks better (brighter, smoother, less acne, more even color) when I use it. I have been using this on and off for about 3 years. Pycnogenol has antioxidant inflammatory benefits, both topically and orally used. I wonder if I should hunt down pycnogenol supplements as well! 

Burberry Her Eau de Parfum

I was disappointed when I bought this fragrance in the beginning of this year. Too much fake strawberry and plastic sweetness. However, now during summer and warm weather it meshes a lot better with my skin! I feel it is now warmer and not as sharp. I also just might like sweeter things during the summer.

Missha Aqua Sun SPF50+ PA++++

This is the new 2022 version. Finish is quite shiny, but it just makes my skin look quite good and works with all my foundations. My skin looks good even after I've washed it off, it doesn't seem clogging or irritating at all. Also feels moisturizing. I can use it with or without a moisturizer.

Filorga Time-Filler Absolute Wrinkle Correction Cream

My skin doesn't always get along with Filorga products but I did like this probably discontinued cream! At the same time felt nourishing and protecting, but light, almost like a gel cream.

My Gym Card and Polar Pacer Running Watch

Ok, this is not skincare or makeup. :) 

But if you are like me and cycle through phases where you do more and less exercise you must have noticed that skin always looks better when intensive work outs are regular (~3 times a week minimum)! For me at least, because I am prone to hormonal acne. Working out seems to balance me.

I bought Polar Pacer watch to help me understand my work out sessions better and I think it really works. It's a lot faster than older models of Polar watches I've had. Also I need to charge it only once a week so far. Finally started to go to gym regularly too, I think it compliments home exercise very well! I feel I have already made a lot of progress in 3 months. 

Avant Skincare Sumptuous Glycolic Acid Hand Balm 50 ml Review

Ingredients:

aqua (water), ethylhexyl stearate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, sorbitol, cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate citrate, stearyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, cera alba (beeswax), parfum (fragrance), cetearyl glucoside, xanthan gum, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, bht, citric acid, glycolic acid, glucose.

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 moisturizing or hydrating; I feel like my hands were almost more dry after applying

- No brighter or otherwise better skin on my hands

- Not enough Glycolic Acid according to ingredient list to actually do anything (second last ingredient) and it comes after Phenoxyethanol that can be used at max 1%

- The shea butter they also mention as a softening ingredient is less than 1%

- I find this is a quite useless product

+ Absorbs fast and well, not really residue after applying, good for day time use

+ Mild fragrance, not really good, but not bad either, does linger a little bit

+ Nice texture, light white cream (not a balm like the name suggests)

* I've had a few Avant products, they all came from Lookfantastic Advent Calendar. They all are overpriced in my opinion, but I really did like Avant Moisture Surge Overnight Treatment! It had that luxury feel for me, both texture and scent. So I am surprised that Avant Hand Balm is so bad. 

* I am convinced Avant products are super cheap but they are slapped a huge price tag to drive the subscription box values up. Avant products mainly come from different blind boxes or calendars. 

* I will try to finish this hand cream because it doesn't irritate my skin but it's difficult when I just want to reach for other stuff!

Price: 

65-95 € / 50 ml

Bought from: 

Got from Lookfantastic Advent Calendar

Buy again? 

No.

Worth the money? 

Avant Skincare Sumptuous Glycolic Acid Hand Balm is definitely not worth the money, so incredibly overpriced. I don't find it luxurious or even a good moisturizer. I wouldn't buy it if it costed 1 €, because it doesn't brighten, soften, hydrate or moisturize my skin. It has a nice texture and not bad (but also not nice) scent, but it is not nearly enough. Definitely not for people with dry hands.

Nivea Sun Kids Protect&Sensitive Sun Spray SPF50+ 200 ml Review REFORMULATED

Ingredients:

Aqua, Homosalate, Alcohol Denat, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dibutyl Adipate, Panthenol, Copernícia Cerifera Cera, Sodium Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonate, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sucrose Polystearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium EDTA.

Ingredients for Nivea Sun Kids Sensitive Protect Sun Spray SPF50+, the reformulated sunscreen:

Aqua, Alcohol Denat., Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Isopropyl Palmitate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Adipate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium EDTA

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:

- Used on face only a few times, was shiny and once my cheek got irritated afterwards, but didn't burn my eyes, still wasn't exactly good as face sunscreen



+ Not much scent

+ No white cast

+ Didn't break out my body or irritate

+ Easy to apply, light white lotion, absorbs quickly

+ Claims to be water resistant

+ Didn't notice it staining any clothes but this is just my observation (I don't exactly swim in sunscreen so there would not be a lot to be rubbed off...)

+ Bottle didn't leak when carried in a bag, no big pumps so the size fits nicely for travel too

+ Easily available in basically all supermarkets, no online ordering

+ Affordable

* This is Nivea Sun Kids Protect&Sensitive Sun Spray SPF50+, the old formula that has been reformulated since beginning of 2022. I was sure I had written a review for this one, especially because I am fairly certain this is my second bottle too, so I have even repurchased! But no!

* I did write 2019 in my sunscreen compilation post: "Nivea and Garnier Kids are my favorites out of these (body sunscreens). But I must say Nivea is easier to remove and absorbs maybe better? Even though there is no prominent white cast with Garnier, it still leaves more of an layer if you go looking for it, also it might bunch up on my neck for example when I sweat. Probably Nivea does too, but I can't notice it. But Garnier is so darn difficult to remove so I bet it survives beach trips amazingly. I think Garnier smells better than Nivea even though they are not strong scents and they are not disturbing at all."

Price: 

About 15 € / 200 ml

Bought from: 

Supermarket

Buy again? 

Yes, I would, and I did, and probably will buy the reformulated one at some point.

Worth the money? 

Yes, I think Nivea Sun Kids Protect&Sensitive Sun Spray SPF50+ is worth the money. It is a good sunscreen for just about everyone, no matter age or skintone, and it is fragrance free and easily available and affordable.

Lumene Lähde Nordic Hydra Hydration Recovery Aerating Gel Mask 150 ml Review REFORMULATED

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Propanediol, Betula Alba (Birch) Juice, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloudberry) Seed Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Allantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Trehalose, Urea, Eriophorum Spissum Flower/Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Copper Gluconate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Pentylene Glycol, Serine, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Phosphate, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Citronellol, Parfum (Fragrance), (Ci 42090) Blue 1, (Ci 60730) Ext. Violet 2.

Ingredients of the new version Nordic Hydra Oxygen Recovery 72H Hydra Gel Mask that I do not have:

AQUA (WATER), BETULA ALBA (BIRCH) JUICE, PROPANEDIOL, GLYCERIN, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, RUBUS CHAMAEMORUS (CLOUDBERRY) FRUIT JUICE EXTRACT, VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS (BILBERRY) FRUIT JUICE, VACCINIUM VITIS-IDAEA (LINGONBERRY) FRUIT JUICE, PHENOXYETHANOL, XYLITYLGLUCOSIDE, PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, ANHYDROXYLITOL, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, XYLITOL, ALLANTOIN, TREHALOSE, UREA, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, DISODIUM EDTA, SODIUM BENZOTRIAZOLYL BUTYLPHENOL SULFONATE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, ERIOPHORUM SPISSUM (NORDIC COTTONGRASS) FLOWER/STEM EXTRACT, MAGNESIUM ASPARTATE, ZINC GLUCONATE, SERINE, TRIS(TETRAMETHYLHYDROXYPIPERIDINOL) CITRATE, ALCOHOL, CITRIC ACID, ALGIN, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, GLYCERYL POLYACRYLATE, PULLULAN, SODIUM HYALURONATE, COPPER GLUCONATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, SORBIC ACID, LINALOOL, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), (CI 42090) BLUE 1, CI 60730 (EXT. VIOLET 2). 

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:

- On several occasions just burned my skin when I applied the mask: sometimes less, sometimes so much my skin turned red and I had to wash the mask immediately off. I tried several times because I was unsure if my skin was just sensitive at the moment.

- One time I tried using the mask as an overnight mask because the instructions say you could do it: the next day I had a huge cyst on my cheek, in a place where I never get pimples. And let me tell you, those big under skin pimples THEY HURT and it took a week for it to go away. And then three weeks for the PIE to go away. UGh!

- At this point I just have to say this mask is not hydrating or recovering my skin, for whatever reason, maybe I am allergic to something in it - birch juice? The ingredients do not look bad, quite the contrary!

- Strong perfume-y scent that lingers, but it is not particularly bad scent to me

- Leaves skin sticky and doesn't necessarily layer well with other products

- Not necessarily hydrating, basic creams feel better, which is weird because the mask has one job and it is to hydrate



+ I love weird jelly textures and the mask feels and looks so fun to scoop a piece out. And the wobble when you shake the tub!

+ Multi use mask: overnight or a 10-minute pick me up

+ Easy to spread on skin and wash off, gel texture that melts

* I think this version of Lumene Lähde Nordic Hydra Hydration Recovery Aerating Gel Mask is discontinued and the new version is called Nordic Hydra Oxygen Recovery 72H Hydra Gel Mask. Such monster names. 

* I suspect I might be allergic to birch but I do not know if birch juice topically can cause allergic reactions. I have no idea what else it could be. So this is the reason the mask was left unused after the beginning. At least I bought it on sale!

* I think Lumene as a brand is good when it comes to makeup but not so with skincare.

Price: 

I paid 10 € on sale, normal price about 20 € / 150 ml

Bought from: 

Supermarket

Buy again? 

No.

Worth the money? 

Lumene Lähde Nordic Hydra Hydration Recovery Aerating Gel Mask was not worth the money for me! And considering how the world is full of face mask options maybe people with sensitive skin should look elsewhere. But if your skin is not severely dry or sensitive and you are not allergy prone and you like fragrance, the price is not too bad on sale and the jelly texture is a delight.