New in #41

CATRICE Stylo Eyeshadow Pen

020 G'Old Mc Donald and 040 Brown to Earth

Before buying anything from the newest Essence/Catrice update, I swatched all the Catrice and Essence cream eyeshadow pens, compared them with my other ones I have at home (Kiko's, Golden Rose) and though they aren't as intense as Kiko's, I was very impressed by the staying power. I decided on two shades that I knew I'll use a lot, since I use such cream eyeshadow all the time as bases. I grabbed a simple beige gold G'Old Mc Donald and a bronze Brown to Earth, which is a cooler version of Kiko's Golden Bronze. These are lovely, especially Brown to Earth and work great as eyeshadow bases. I've worn them on their own once and they get slightly patchy with time due to a shimmery and creamy texture, but last all day with some creasing after several hours.

Müller, 4.29 €

ESSENCE 2 in 1 Eye Shadow & Liner

03 light me up and 06 she's got the mauve

Essence has a better shade range of cream eyeshadow than Catrice for my taste, but I picked up only two in colours I didn't have yet. Light me up is a light beige shade with a satin, slightly shimmery finish and She's got the Mauve is a taupe-violet shade with a satin finish. I find these better than Catrice's if you plan to wear them on their own (as a base both work fab). They are waxier and look smoother on the eyelids due to less shimmer. They also wear nicer, but can get a bit patchy with time. Like Catrice they crease at the end of the day when worn on their own, but are still there. Out of all the shades, so including Catrice's, She's got the Mauve lasts the longest. I'm really impressed by both versions of pen/stick cream eyeshadows and they are my favourite purchase out of the new Essence/Catrice things. 

Müller, 2.99 €

ESSENCE Stay All Day Translucent Fixing Powder

I've heard a lot of good things about the previous version of Essence loose powder and went to buy it a couple of years ago only to discover it had been discontinued. They finally released a new version and I bought it immediately because I have nothing like it. I'm not a fan of powders, so far I only like two (Bourjois Java and Physicians Formula Glowing Nude) and I have conflicting feelings about this one. It applies really nice, doesn't look too powdery, but mattifies, however, as at most powders, it's how it wears off, or maybe I should say how it affects the rest of the makeup to wear off that doesn't please me, but it's different with every foundation. At some it looks ok and at some it's awful. Still, I am glad I bought it because it'll come in handy.

4.39 €, Müller

CATRICE Illuminating Blush

040 La Vie En Rose

I'm still a huge fan of I'm Nuts About You, which is one of the original shades, though they've gone through a design revamp and I have to express my concerns that the shade doesn't look the same to me in the pan. La Vie En Rose is a new shade and it looked like a warmer version of Nuts to me in the shop, kind of a muted peachy shade with some mauve-brown parts. It is in fact the lightest out of all illuminating shades and it's almost like a mix between Nuts and Coral Me Maybe. On the cheeks it's muted peachy shade, I'd say it's a warmer peachier version of Nuts About You and a shade that will combine well with any look on warm skin tones. Unlike the other two I own, this one has a soft illuminating effect.

Müller, 4.29 €

ESSENCE Velvet Stick

02 Peony Star

I've seen swatches of these from German bloggers, who attended their event and this shade didn't really intrigue me because it looked too grey on everyone. However, when I saw it in person, I thought it looked a lot warmer and pinker (they don't have testers for these). It swatches lovely, a nice pinky-mauve shade, but on my lips it's different. Actually almost the exact shade of my lips, but cooler and greyish. The texture is waxy, not truly matte and not particularly long-lasting. I'm not sure about this one yet.

Müller, 2.19 €

ESSENCE Longlasting Lipliner

02 Sweetheart, 06 A Girl's Dream, 07 Plum Cake and 10 Berry on my Mind

I love these liners and I have two from before, Lovely Frappuccino and Yummy Berry. I've been saying that I'll buy more of these someday and that day finally arrived. I got the newest shade 10 Berry on my Mind, which I imagined being a lot darker based on the press release pictures, but it's a medium, muted plum shade. I also got the old shades: a medium warm Barbie pink 02 Sweetheart, a muted red 06 A Girl's Dream and medium greyish mauve shade 07 Plum Cake, which is another too grey and draining shade on me. I love A Girls Dream because it's great for pairing up with Golden Rose Velvet Matte in 12 and all other similar shades.   

1.59 €, Müller

ESSENCE The Gel Nail Polish

63 itsy bitsy blue bikini

A pastel blue shade in a gel formula, but for a gel one it is outstandingly annoying. It's the same pastel "regular"-like formula that I've grown to hate over the years. It's a brighter blue than Ocean Porcelain by L'Oreal.

Müller, 1.69 €

ESSENCE Jewellery Nail Stickers

I didn't even see these on the press release, but they immediately caught my eye on the stand. They are definitely too large for my nails and I have zero talent for nail art, but I'm hoping for the best with these.

Müller, 1.39 € 

*ESSENCE Soft Touch Mousse Concealer

10 Soft Beige

I was checking this one out several times in the shop, but the lightest shade looked so dark and then I read a very bad review about it, so I decided to stay away from it completely, but I was sent this one a few days ago. Actually, the match really isn't that bad. It just kind of works for my skin tone, so I was very happy to discover that. It's a mousse product, so soft and fluffy to the touch, but very matte on the skin and it hides pores like L'Oreal's Infallible Matte foundation. The coverage surprised me too, it's actually not that bad, about medium-full. This one should be great on oily skins, but on driers ones (including mine) it'll emphasize and possibly cause flakes. I expected a bad product based on reviews, but it's actually quite decent, just don't get it if you have flaky skin.

3.29 €

*CATRICE HD Multi Talent Powder + Makeup

020 Natural Beige

The irony that when I buy two new face powders, I get another send. This one promises more coverage than a usual powder. You can use it as a light dusting with a fluffy blush to set the makeup and mattify or apply it with a sponge (not included) for adding more coverage. 020 looks very light, it feels smooth when I swatch it and mattifies well. I tried it with a sponge and it does add a touch more coverage, but this power really emphasizes flakes on my skin. I like that is has a big handy mirror, though. I'll hold back on reviewing this until the summer when my skin less dry.
5.29 €

*CATRICE Supreme Fusion Lipcolour + Care 

070 Remarry Berry

Whenever I hear dark berry plus moisturising in one sentence I get nervous and images of lipstick smudged all over the face flash before my eyes. But you know what - it's not nearly as soft as I imagined it to be. It still has shine, but you need to build it up and there is enough wax in it to stop it from migrating too much. At the same time, I don't think it's as moisturising as for example Revlon's Ultra HD. The shade is very much to my taste, a cute dark berry shade with a medium-full pay-off. I can easily apply it as a stain or build it up to a semi-opaque layer.  5.29 €

*ESSENCE Silky Touch Blush 

100 Indian Summer

I had no idea Essence even had this shade. Often products look so different on their press releases, I completely miss things, but I would pick up such a shade myself. It reminds me a lot of the old ,quite popular shade for us Snow Whites by Lancôme called Miel Glace, so it's sort of a very muted peachy shade. On me it's almost too peachy, but still nice. It's surprisingly nicely pigmented for such a shade, well at least as far as my pale skin tone is concerned and looks nice on the cheeks, however, staying power is very poor. 

 2.79 €

REVLON Parfumerie Nail Polish

Ginger Melon

I wanted this shade for such a long time and I finally snatched it because it was 50% off. It's from a collection of scented nail polishes, which actually intrigued me because of the gorgeous bottle design. I have Bordeaux from before, which doesn't have much of a scent, but the colour is beautiful. Ginger Melon is a bright coral-pink shade, the closest similar shade I have is Essie's Cute as a Button, but that one less pink. The scent at this one is a lot more intense than at Bordeaux and even as you're applying it, it smells like melon candy. The scent is strong and very noticeable for about a half a day, but by the next day it's almost gone.

Müller, 3.50 €

 *MAX FACTOR Voluptuous False lash Effect Mascara

Max Factor's False Lash Effect range of mascaras is known for their oversized brushes, but this one takes the cake. It is humongous and I seriously cannot imagine it fitting short lashes. The design is unique with a mix sort of plastic plates and normal bristles all twisted into a spiral shape and a spiky dome design on the top designed to reach small lashes. The design definitely works for achieving definition and depositing enough product on each lash, but I wish it were smaller. It's a mascara that surprisingly performs well from the start, which is uncommon for a mascara with a plastic wand and it manages to create a nice amount of volume. I think it's far better in that respect than their previous launch, Velvet Volume, but I again find the brush too harsh on my eyes. It of course doesn't hold a  curl, since it's a regular formula.

DM, 14.29 €

JOHN FRIEDA Frizz Ease Secret Agent Perfecting Creme 

Just like Dove's Quench Absolute Serum (which is now nowhere to be found in any drugstore) and got this purely because it was half off. I didn't read any reviews before buying it, but I trust John Frieda, so I gave it a shot. It's a cream that you use on dry hair and it contains avocado oil quite high on the list. It promises to tame frizz, hydrate the hair and hide split ends, so all the usual things. It's a proper cream texture, but smooth due to silicones and it applies nicely without leaving wet parts. I've had it for well over a month and I'm sure about it. It does smooth the hair and gives shine, but the problem is that the effects don't last. Maybe I'm too spoiled by Dove, but I expected more - more shine, more hydration and a stronger anti-frizz effect. It should suit well normal or slightly dry hair that requires some frizz taming. I think this may be in the process of discontinuing or repackaging as the rest of JF line, hence the discount.
Ingredients.

4.99 €, Müller 

NEUTROGENA T/Gel Total Shampooing

I asked in my previous New in for dandruff remedy recommendations and an anonymous reader recommended me this (thank you so much!). I ordered it the next day on Salma as I didn't feel like checking if we even have it here. I don't think I've seen it, but I'm not sure. It's an intensive anti-dandruff treatment, so it's only available in 125 ml bottle. I used it the same day it arrived and for the first time in years, since I've used the last drop of Phytopolleine, my scalp was finally pretty much completely clear of any dandruff build-up. It smells like burnt rubber (the same as PyhtoSquam) and foams well, it also isn't as drying as some other dandruff shampoos, but it also isn't nourishing. My scalp does still itch, I assume because of dryness and not dandruff, so I've been using oil to moisturise my scalp (Phytopolleine would come so handy now) and dandruff still reappears after a few days, but I'm very impressed by this and so happy it at least removed the dandruff, for the first time after so many fail product. I truly hope it lasts.

Ingredients.

Salma, 8.20 €

MATRIX Biolage ScalpSync Exfoliating Treatment

I had a severe dandruff build up on my scalp and I had no idea such products even existed, but I didn't hesitate to order it. Basically this is an scalp exfoliator that contains two doses of product, so the whole bottle should last you only two treatments. I used up about a quarter, then I thought it was already too much. You are supposed to apply it on damp scalp, really massage it in and then rinse off, following with an anti-dandruff shampoo. It worked. It rid me of that dandruff layer, which is a minor miracle in my books. It's hard to squeeze the bottle, even though it's soft, but because the product is so thick, it's not that easy to work with. It has a very handy nozzle design with which you can apply it on the scalp. It's expensive for the suggested amount you should use at once, but I really like it.

Ingredients.

Salma, 8.90 €

L'OREAL PROFESIONNEL Série Expert Absolut Repair Lipidium

I've had this mask on my wishlist for years and it's really not that expensive, despite being only 200 ml. It's very thick, so just the way I like it and has a very strong, kind of strange clean scent, but it's a type of scent a lot of people will like. It nourished my hair nicely, it's not as good as Joico's Hydrator, but I like it. This one goes on my recommendations for dry hair list.

Ingredients.

Salma, 10.40 €

ORIFLAME Volare

Eau de Parfum

I've wanted this for ages, but mostly due to the bottle, since it's just stunningly gorgeous and everyone stops to take a look at it when they see it. It was a limited edition bottle for Valentine's two years ago, but I think they made it permanent, the fragrance itself is old. The scent is also often described as a dupe for Lancome's Tresor, which supposedly smells peachy and I love peaches. Well, this one doesn't and it's the most grandma-ish fragrance I've ever smelled. It's not a 90's or 80's like fragrance, it's just so old smelling with intense notes of roses and powder. There is some sweetness to it from the pralines and I get the more masculine cedar undertone, but roses are the dominant part of this fragrance. The bottle is actually hard to open due to such a design, but I don't really care. More reviews on Fragrantica.

Notes: 

Top: violet leaves, juicy pear and galbanum 

Heart: peony, gardenia and rose petals

Base: praline, leather and cedar

Salma, 15.30 €

 *BOMB COSMETICS Baths

I got a ton of these bath bombs and melts (cocoa butter based) to try out and take pictures how they look for Click2Chic. I haven't tried all yet, but so far my favourites are Diva Fever (has blue holographic shimmer) and All That Glitters (with purple shimmer). 

All That Glitters

As the name suggest it's a bath bomb that contains glitter. It smells sweet, warm and fruity, like berry and cherry candy, also like there is a hint of vanilla in it too. It fizzes like all bath bombs and turns the water into a cute pink shade. The core is white and together with the three balls on the top it represent the the moisturising butter part, which feels so creamy and fluffy to the touch. The oil disperses into small drops that glitter on the water and among them are scattered bigger chunks of magenta glitter (that bottom left picture is take with flash, so you can see oil, but the glitter chucks are more visible in person). The latter sticks to the skin because of the oil and it's a very nourishing bath so great for dry skin. 

Diva Fever Bath

Another bath with glitter which it's not visible on the exterior, but it actually has very cool blue holographic flakes plus shimmer scattered in the bath water and though my camera didn't manage to capture them, they were the most dazzling of all bath effects. It turns the water pink, much like All that Glitters and the heart is almost like paper, but it's not really and it's the last to dissolve. It's a classic bath, with no butter or oiliness, so it's easy to clean the tub. It smells really lovely, nothing that I can point out, it just smells like a fancy body lotion. Notes describe ylang ylang and sandalwood, so it's floral and woodsy. The scent lingers on the skin and in the bathroom. It was my favourite so far.

Urban Princess

Another glittery bath bomb, but least fascinating one. It's a standard bath bomb, so no added butter inside and it doesn't add any colour to the water, nor any foam, it just fizzes for a few minutes. Those gold glitters on the top are the only special effect in the bath, but they aren't that visible since the water is clear. The rainbow on the top doesn't melt, it quickly falls off in the water and the water doesn't affect it. It smells a bit coconuty, in a clean sense, so like a cosmetic product with a coconut scent - just a simple coconuty, creamy, softly clean scent.

Miss Fancypants

A cupcake shaped bath mallow or melt with a polka dot heart, which is just the cutest and it has the best scent out of all - a nice berry fragrance. I haven't used it yet, but I assume it's a simple milky white oily bath with cocoa butter that melt slowly, so great for dry skin. I'll have pictures of how it looks on the other blog.

Top Cat

This is seriously the most adorable bath ever! I just love the cat design and I think that the head part doesn't melt, so you can keep it. It's another mallow, so an cocoa butter based bath, but I haven't used it yet. It has a gentle sweet-floral scent of with neroli and sweet orange essential oils.

Click2Chic, 2.99 € each

*BOMB COSMETICS Three Little Birds Gift

I also got one of the gift packaging that has five products inside:

Apple & Raspberry Swirl Blaster - looks like a green-white ice cream scoop with hot pink cream and sprinkles. It smells like Šumi apple candy and turns the water spring green with green sprinkles. The hot pink cocoa butter part forms an moisturising oily layer on top and smells like Hubba Bubba Cherry bubble gums, but doesn't affect the colour of the water. 

Pink Rhubarb Encounted Mallow - a hot pink cupcake design with white cream. It's a cocoa butter based bath that doesn't fizz, just slowly dissolves, turns the water milky white and is very moisturising. It has a love it-hate it scent of rhubarb that is the strongest out of all scents, but sweet-bitter refreshing.

Flutterby Butterfly Blaster - a green bath bomb with the butterfly. I haven't used it yet, but it smells like green apples.

Springtime Fantasy Soap - this one has a strong, very fresh green scent of grass and to me it smells just like when you're harvesting grapes and throwing them in the grape crusher - that green scent that fills the room (those with vineyards will know that I'm talking about). It foams like a regular soap and it's not as drying, though it still leaves that squeaky clean feeling. I've been using it for about a month and there is still 90% of it left.

 Daisy Daisy Buttercup -  the cutest pink cupcake design. It's another mallow, so an oily bath and leaves no colour (just milky white). It smells like soap with roses.

Click2Chic, 14.99 €

 *GARNIER Neo Deodorants Intensive Antiperspirant

Garnier released a new addition to their pre-existing Neo line. They finally added aerosol versions, but this time played with the distribution system. The call it the soft flow circular diffuser which looks very futuristic and it's a bit gimmicky (not sure what's wrong with the regular system), but fun to use. These could not have come at a better time, since there seems to be an all-around drought of deodorants at this time among my friends and family (mine actually broke), meaning I had also other people testing these and reporting the results to me. I picked Fresh Blossom, the men picked Light Freshness, Shower Clean and Pure Cotton, so the unisex, clean scents and Floral Touch went to another female "participant". I'm not much of a sweater, I've never been and this one works fine for me, it doesn't stop sweating, but it smells nice. Male "participants" had very harsh words about this. It doesn't stop sweating one bit despite the anti-perspirant claim of 48h efficiency (they take the writing on the can a bit more seriously than me), so this was a big fail in their book. At least they smell nice, but don't get it if you need a proper anti-perpirant.

Shower Clean (teal) - just as the name says, it smells like clean skin and bathroom after a shower. Great scent and unisex.

Pure Cotton (blue) - a classic clean laundry scent. Powdery and fresh. Again a unisex scent.

Light Freshness (light blue) - a light sweet powdery scent, clean inspired by ocean breeze. Love this one. 

Floral Touch (purple) - a stronger floral scent with note of peony, roses and freesia. Very feminine and quite perfumey. 

Fresh Blossom (peach) - the sweetest in the bunch. Lightly citrusy fruity-floral, sweet and uplifting. Most my type of scent and very girly.

*ESCADA Agua del Sol

Eau de Toilette

Sample

Escada has a new summer fragrance like every year and I've been a fan of these for so long, as they are so my style of fragrances. This is one of my absolute favourites so far. They usually have a fruity note that sticks out, but here it's such a nice blend of tropical fruits, and there is none of that usual fresh base, instead it's more warm. I wasn't that impressed with the ones they did in the last few years (from the Cherry one onwards), but this is worthy of a purchase. Interestingly Escada described the scent as icy, but I find it too warm for such a description. Reviews on Fragrantica.

Notes:

Top: mandarin, Asian pear ice cream, frozen raspberry sorbet, Italian citrus peel and pink pepper. 

Heart: rose petals, apricot and a fruity cocktail. 

Warm base: tonka bean, sandalwood and white musk. 

I got the bag as well and I assume they'll have it as a part of promotion. It's one of those cooling bags, which makes it stylish and useful. 

Fragrance Samples

Hillary Duff with Love

A very spicy scent. I knew it was spicy, but I didn't expect it to be so sharply spicy. The base is very warm and vanillary, but the spices take the spotlight. I notice very little of that mango that is described in the notes and it only provides the initial freshness. I think this fragrance is already discontinued, but there might be a few bottles left in some places. I wouldn't purchase it for myself. Reviews on Fragrantica.

Demeter Ocean

Too masculine for my taste. It pretty much smells like a fresh, but slightly woodsy mens cologne. It's aquatic, citrusy and with pine notes. I don't think it smells like the ocean, at least from the start. It then mellows into a more salty scent. Again something I wouldn't buy. Reviews on Fragrantica. By the way Demeter = Library of Fragrance.

Demeter Chocolate Mint

Burnt cookies and toothpaste. That's what I get at first. The chocolate note gets a lot better in a few minutes and gets more authentic, It's close to the After Eight scent that for example TheBalm Meet Matte Hughes copies so well, but I'm missing a stronger chocolate note. Reviews on Fragrantica.

Victoria's Secret Sexy Little Things Noir Tease

As far as I'm concerned this is a dupe for Viva La Juicy. They smell so similar. It's a lovely sweet scent, a basic gourmand vanilla in the best possible way. Very likeable. Reviews on Fragrantica.

YANKEE CANDLE Wedding Day Tart

I was actually just wondering how this smells. We don't have many Yankee Candles where I live, but I'd love to at least have more tarts, so I ordered it online. Wedding day is a simple soapy rose scent. Not that awful granny-ish rose scent like in their Fresh cut Roses, but a lot more toned down and more clean. It's nothing special, but nice.

Salma, 2.24 € 

Have a great day!

Paco Rabanne Olympea

Pretty much every time Paco Rabanne releases a new fragrance, it becomes an instant hit. They seem to have a knack for making fragrances that appeal to a majority of people and I'm one of them. Their Black XS was my first signature fragrance and I wore it throughout my late teens, I liked Lady Million as well and One Million is by far the best men fragrance ever - I hooked up two of my male friends on the latter. Olympea intrigued me from the moment I saw the press releases. I have this fascination with the ancient Greco-Roman world and culture since childhood, so the ads and the bottle are just gorgeous to me. The moment Olympea hit the shelves I was sold and it was love at first spray, but I shuddered at the original price of it in our drugstores. I never buy fragrance there, unless there is at least -30 % discount, so I promised myself to postpone getting it until I find a good deal online. I buy about 90% of my fragrances that way, usually a couple of years after the original release when the prices really drop. 

Olympea is a very untraditional Paco Rabanne scent as far as I'm concerned. They tend to make more spicy scents, peppery mostly and they always include patchouli, but you won't find either in Olympea. Firstly I'll say that this fragrance develops a lot different on my skin than on the testing paper. It starts with this gorgeous sweet burst of a gourmand scent that is eerily similar to the Monte dessert. It's a hazelnut-chocolate-vanilla mix and I swear that initial burst is pure heaven on my skin. There is only vanilla in this fragrance from those notes, but somehow it creates such a scent together with my skin. It smelled a lot more floral on paper, so that was a great surprise to me. Close to skin I can also smell a more citrusy note from the start, the green mandarin I assume and I can also detect some more neutral woodsy elements. It then sometimes transforms into a predominately jasmine fragrance, but a more toned down version than Lush's Lust and Thierry Mugler's Alien. However, sometimes, I can barely smell any jasmine and it's just a simple, warm vanilla-woodsy-cashmere scent. I prefer the latter, since jasmine is not my favourite note in fragrances. The lasting power is excellent, which is not that surprising given the notes and the fact it's an eau de parfum. I can smell it faintly at the end of the day and it lasts so well on clothes. The scent itself is relatively strong, but not overpowering. 

Notes

Top: green mandarin, water jasmine, ginger flower

Heart: vanilla, salt

Base: sandalwood, cashmere and ambergris.

More about the notes and additional reviews on Fragrantica.

The bottle is stunningly beautifully, but there is a difference between the 30 ml and the 50 ml/80 ml. The latter two have these beautiful rose gold laurel crown design and the 30 ml has just shaped laurel leaves out of glass. I think that if you've already put so much effort into a design, do all the bottles the same. I would prefer to have those bottles if you're deciding to buy this fragrance, it's just more eye-catching. I love the entire peachy colour scheme and the wings on the box, I'll surely keep it as decoration. 

Dress and hair accessories from eBay.

Mine is from Fragrance Direct, an online shop where I've already ordered a few bits before (among other things a Mac Mineralized Skin Finish Natural when they had it). They have some great deals that include fragrance (such as the new Escada Agua Del Sol and Giorgio Armani Si Rose Signature), makeup (W7 In The Mood Natural Nudes Eye Palette 3,21 €, Rimmel Apocalips Matte Lip Lacquer 2,56 €, also a lot of the already discontinued products if you're looking for your favourites - for example L'Oreal Colour Infallible Eyeshadow 2,56 €), nail polishes (Essie's for 3,84 €, Rimmel's Velvet Mattes 1,93 €) hair care (Orofluido Hair & Body Limited Edition Beauty Set 100ml 23,11 €) and body care (The Body Shop Chocomania Body Butter 50ml 3,84 €). You can find their shipping costs here.

Olympea 30 ml 43,66€; 50 ml 59,07€ and 80 ml 77,05€

Have a great day!

Wet n Wild Comfort Zone palette on the eyes, Kiko Rebel Romantic LE lipstick in 01 Lusty Peony on the lips.

*The product was sent to me by Fragrance Direct. I chose the product myself.

Best Products in 2015 Part 2

Best makeup products in 2015 and best buys under 5 € got their own posts and now for the rest of the stuff I got in this year that impressed me. If you'd like to read last year's such post, you can find it here.

DEBORAH Smalto Gel Effect

01 Pink Pulse

This is one of the best nude nail polishes ever, certainly as far as the formula is concerned. It's such a pretty nude shade with a cool undertone that makes my hands looks so polished. The formula is one of those new "imitating gel manicure" ones, a discovery of the year to me (pastels got like a million times better), which is so smooth and easy to apply, so there are no streaks even though it's an opaque cream finish nude and it also has a great glossy finish. It's no wonder everyone keeps stealing this one from me.

L'OREAL Les Blancs Nail Polish

858 Ocean Porcelaine

I love my mints that much is true, but this year I wanted to find the perfect light blue nail polish and after some exploring online, I found the one - L'Oreal's Ocean Porcelain. It's so gorgeous, just the right kind of pale blue as it has a white base so it ends up looking almost a bit grey. The formula isn't a typical pastel one because it's much thinner and it needs three coats for full opacity. The bottle only contains 5 ml, so it's not the best value and it's running out fast, but I love the shade so much.

ESSIE Nail Polish

Bahama Mama

Essies tend to land in these type of posts almost every year and it's not just because of the shades, but also because they have some great formulas (except Mint Candy Apple and Fiji. Those are nightmares coming to life). For years I admired Bahama Mama, it's definitely my type of shade, but I wondered if it will look the same on my nails than on Pinterest images and I only took the plunge after I had a 50 % off coupon. It is perfect, just as I imagined it, that perfect mix of warm purple and deep red and it looks so beautiful on the nails. It's my favourite shade out of all Essies.

ESSIE Nail Polish

Summit of Style

This is a very recent addition of mine, you would have only seen it on my Instagram if you follow me there, but I had to include it because this is what I wanted to find for years. I didn't know this nail polish even existed, but it's a part of luxeffects line (I think it's permanent, though I'm not sure) and I haven't seen it in our drugstores, but it was in a beauty box (My Beauty Box Slovenia) and it was love at first sight. It's a glitter nail polish with bronze small glitter particles and large hexagons. It's more of a top coat with medium dense shimmer, which you can built up. Of course, it is the type of nail polish that is excruciatingly hard to remove, but it's worth it.

How it looks on the nails here.

YUMMY Rhubarb and Orange Shower Gel

When it comes to shower gels, I'm a simple girl. The only thing that matters to me is that it smells nice. Yummy shower gels are nothing special when it comes to the formula (like Balea ones), but I adore the scent of this one. It's so refreshing, like a nice glass of tropical fizzy soda. Everyone I asked said it smells like Radenska Ace Tropik (one of those orange multivitamin drinks), so basically it's something like Escada summer edition fragrances.

L'OCCITANE Immortelle Oil Make-up Cleanser

I tried a few cleansers this year, but this one has the best effect on my skin and so far it's my favourite oil cleanser. It's the only one that didn't cause me problems after a longer use, in fact, it keeps my skin in a very decent condition plus it removes my heavy-duty waterproof mascara aside from all the rest of the makeup. I'm not a fan of how foggy it makes my vision, though that is a given at all oil cleansers and it's very expensive, but it's in my top three cleansers so far. I'll try their Shea Butter one next because it's cheaper that this one and I hope it works the same.

CREATEURS DE MONOI Face Cream

This has been my moisturiser for several months now. It's nothing special, just a basic face cream with a medium thick texture and a lovely Yves-Rocher-like scent, but it agrees with my skin and doesn't cause me any problems. It's a good moisturiser to use under foundation as well.

L'OREAL Elvive Extraordinary Oil Oil-in-Cream

This leave-in conditioner is quite unique in terms of texture because it actually feels like a hair oil in a cream form and coconut oil is on the second place among the ingredient, which is completely unexpected for a brand like L'Oreal. This fixes my dry ends without the high silicone content (though there are silicones in it) and without making my hair greasy or limp. It can be used on either dry or wet hair, which is just awesome, plus it smells lovely. I wish this was sold here, but so far I can only get this version on Boots, however, they have the version for normal hair already on Salma. The shampoo from this line is also amazing.

LE PETITE MARSEILLIAIS Huile Elixir Karité & Argan

This may just be one the best pre-wash treatments for super dry hair I've ever tried. It's a combination of soy oil, argan oil and shea butter oil, so it's super greasy and heavy, which is what makes it brilliant. I use this every time my hair feels really dry and I apply it generously all over. How long I leave it on depends on how much time I have, it can be just 10-15 minutes, but I get best result if I leave it overnight. This completely transforms my hair back into a normal state and it feels so nourished. So far I've only seen it in Leclerc, which is a bummer, but at least it lasts a while.

By the way, coconut oil works just fine before you go on a frantic chase to find this and you don't have a Leclerk around.

TANGLE TEEZER Compact Styler

Black & Gold

To be fair all such hair brushes are just fine, whether you get the original Tangle Teezer or a cheap knock-off for 5 €. They all do the same job, but the reason I like this one is because it's smaller than most. This won't matter to a majority of you, but if you have small hands like me, it's a big plus. The plastic cover is brilliant and it makes it actually travel friendly plus the gold/black design is very expensive looking. I also feel like it's better made than most such brushes I tried, so I know I'll have it forever considering how careful I'm with all my stuff. The prices for this brush really vary, so don't be one of those who buys it for 20 € because you can get it much cheaper.

SAPPHIRE 8 in 1 Complete Curling Wand

This is a very, very expensive curling iron, but I'm a big fan of it and use it all the time. The set includes eight barrels, so it's a very versatile hair tool. I used Remington's Pro Soft Curls for years, but now I prefer this one, even though I get same results if I use 2.5 cm barrel. Remington's is great if you're looking for something on a budget, but since I have both, it's the little things that make me use Sapphire. It doesn't have the annoying clamp, it's lighter, it heats up way faster, you can see it heating up, and of course there are eight different barrels to choose from, so it offers a ton of variety, though I tend to mostly use the 2.5 mm one. 

AQUALINA Pink Sugar

I found this impossibly boring when I first got a sample of it and I chucked it in my purse where I keep emergency samples next to the coins. Then on some random day, which seems ages ago and just reminds me how bloody long this stupid year was, I was sitting in the office getting ready to go grab a bite and me being me, I can't go out without a fragrance "like a total savage", so I dug out my emergency stash and drenched myself with this. I was immediately transported into this fantasy candy land with candy canes, cotton candy and rivers of vanilla essence. This fragrance is seriously so impossibly sweet, but dammit I adore it. I don't know what made this shift, maybe I changed so much, but I got home and ordered this straight away. Unsurprisingly given the notes, it's a proper silage monster and lasts very long on the skin. If you want to smell like a candy store, this is for you.

HUGO BOSS Ma Vie

I used up a considerable chunk on my perfume stash this year. I set myself I goal before I purchased a new fragrance and I've done it. I was dreaming about this fragrance ever since it launched and I'm so chuffed I finally got it. It's such a beautiful, fresh and floral simple scent that just makes you smell nice and elegant. Boss fragrances aren't the most exciting scents, but I love most of them. I also love the bottle and I keep it displayed on my vanity.

BEST COLLECTIONS

KIKO Rebel Romantic 

(August  2015 with some bits still available)

I think this is the best limited edition collection in history made by a drugstore-priced brand. They really nailed it with the rose gold and the packaging feels seriously high end, especially the lipsticks. The latter are absolutely amazing in every respect and are the best creamy lipsticks I've ever tried. Kiko should really think about making at least the lipsticks and the mirror permanent.

ESSENCE Merry Berry 

(November - December 2015)

Hands down the best collection Essence ever made. It is truly outstanding and people went crazy for it, me included. I got two nail polishes, two lipsticks and a hair fragrance, but there was plenty more. The colour scheme was beautiful, though incorrect on the press release, especially as far as the Red Rocks shades was concerned since it's not at all a red, but a Mac's All Fired Up like magenta, which just made it even more awesome. However, for me the real winner was the 03 pink & perfect nail polish, which is one of my favourite shades ever. The bottles of the nails polishes are outstandingly beautiful and I wish Essence changed their packaging of The Gel Nail Polishes to these. The lipsticks were actually quite nice quality, much better than the regular ones. More of this and less of the average performing products please Essence.

CATRICE Lumination 

(July - August 2015)

I'm the person who just walks past limited editions, but this one made me pause. I only have the blush from this collection and it's a complete stunner. I often speak of Illuminating blush in I'm Nuts About You, my favourite blush, which isn't actually illuminating at all, but this one called Flushed-Fiction is about the same shade, yet actually glowy. How I wish they would make permanent! The collection also included some pretty highlighters, a bronzer and a few lipsticks, all in some very attractive shades.  

And that concludes my favourites of year 2015. You can find all such posts under the best buys label or at the end of the All-Time Favourites page.
What were the stand-out products for you this year?

Have a great day!

New In #36

MAYBELLINE Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara

I heard this was close enough to Benefit's Roller lash, but even if it's not I wanted to try it, since it has plenty of positive reviews. We only have regular formula in Slovenia and I had the hardest time finding the waterproof one, until it magically appeared on Look Fantastic. It has a plastic brush that is shaped almost as a curved comb and it has short bristles on one side and longer on the other. I did not like this at all from the start, it stuck the lashes together, so it looked like I only have half of them, but then one random day, it became soo good. It gives me massive lashes, not perfectly defined, but good enough and it hold the curls amazingly well. Do I like it more than the 3 € Essence I love Extreme mascara? Actually I find these two perform the same on me, so the deciding factor would be the price where Essence clearly wins. But if you don't have Essence and you have the same stubborn lashes as me, try this, it's amazing.

Look Fantastic, €11.26

MAYBELLINE Color Sensational Matte Lipstick

 975 Divine Wine

It's a bit ironic I ordered this online a day before I saw the news they are finally available here as well. But, I haven't seen this shade in our drugstores. A lot of people have been urging me to try these, since my love for matte lipsticks is well known. I chose Divine Wine, I don't know why, as I utterly adore Laetitia and I fear that'll be the reason I won't end up wearing this one that often, but I just love vampy shades on me. First thing that surprised me was how creamy it was, almost slippery in fact. The finish isn't as matte as at Laetitia or Milani's Mattes, at least at first, it then settles into a more matte finish. The colour is a deep brownish burgundy that is very similar to Mac's Diva, but a smidgen more brown (I'm not calling them dupes, my standards are very strict when it comes to that word. Picture of swatches here). Laetitia is much different as its base is berry. So far I can say, it's a really good matte lipstick, but Milani's (it's bellow) impressed me far more. 

Look Fantastic, €9.85

ESSENCE Longlasting Lipstick Nude

05  Cool Nude

I think just about everyone around here owns this lipstick, but I avoided it because I always found it too cool-grey when I swatched it on the back of my hand. I decided to give it try anyway and see if it works for me. I'm still not sure about it. I don't think it quite works for me to be honest. It does indeed have that grey tinge on me and I wish it were warmer. Formula is a typically Essence one -  light, almost excessively creamy and doesn't last long. 

Müller, € 3.49

REVLON Colorstay Foundation Normal/Dry Skin

110 Ivory

I was on a mission to find the lightest shades of foundation in our drugstores because apart from Nars Siberia and Rimmel's Lasting Finish Nude (the latter I still dislike), everything in my stash is too dark for me. I had an extensive research online and found an astonishing amount of utterly useless reviews that made me incredibly angry at the beauty community (where are pictures, swatches, maybe even before/afters? Come on! I hate it when my time is wasted by giving me so little information on a product), but there was one bright spot on the internet, Godfrina and her Kalter Kaffe blog, who made a fantastic series of reviews of the lightest foundations. It's all in German, though and my German is plainly said rubbish, but I got the point. I found three candidates: Revlon's Ivory, Manhattan's Easy Match in Soft Porcelain and Deborah Radiance Creator in 00. I took samples in the drugstores of all three (I always carry pots with me) and this one was most impressive. It has medium coverage, a lovely satin finish and lasts so well on the skin. This isn't my first encounter with Colorstay. The version for oily/combination skin was my second ever foundation and I really didn't like it, but mind you I was 15-16 at the time. This version suits me so much better. The colour is amazing and even though it's a bit pink, it blends so nicely into my skin. 

I got this one first because there was 30 % off in Műller (where it's over 15 €!). I also got Manhattan's Easy Match, while Deborah's Radiance Creator is a shade darker than these two (it matches me ok-ish, but I love the finish of it as it's true to its name. I'll probably get it one day).

Müller, 10.91 € (-30%)

MANHATTAN Easy Match Makeup

Soft Porcelain

The other foundation I got for my winter pale skin. You may think I'm excessive for buying two foundations, but I am so sick of wearing foundations that are too dark and I'm saving the Nars' Sheer Glow for special occasions because it's too expensive to wear it every day. In terms of shade, Soft Porcelain is about as light as Revlon's Ivory, but it's warm toned, though compared to the very yellow Siberia, it looks neutral. What hit me first was that this is incredibly similar to Rimmels' Match Perfection in everything to texture to how it smells, only the shade isn't as intensely pink and this one has a more satin finish. Both Revlon's and Manhattan's foundation will get proper reviews, I'm almost done, but if you're on a hunt for a very pale foundation, check them out. 

DM, 9.99 €

BALANCE ME Cleanse & Smooth Face Balm

Finally we are reunited. I've already gone through two tubes of this, it's my favourite cleanser ever, not just because I love the texture, but also because it suits my skin so well and keeps it in nice condition. I was trying to find a suitable replacement that wouldn't cost as much and I also experimented with some high-end stuff, but I really regret that I took the detour. All that happened was that I had to struggle though a plethora of mediocre cleansers that just didn't work for my skin (L'Occitane Immortelle oil is the exception here, but it's again very expensive). I have to note that I got three tubes of this so far and each one was slightly different. I don't know why that is, but this one is definitely the thickest and I'm not too happy about it. It's a balm cleanser, but much waxier and thicker that Emma Hardie's one and it also contains mini scrubby particles. It's the type of cleansers that doesn't completely melt on your skin, unless you keep it in a really warm place. As soon as I started using it, my skin got a lot better. I was using The Body Shop's Silky Oil before because I was trying to use it up, but my skin doesn't like that one too much, despite the fact it's lovely to use and does its job very well. Balance Me and Nuxe oil are my power combination - I should really learn to stick to it.

Look Fantastic, €22.56

HUGO BOSS La Vie

edp 50 ml

You have no idea how long I wanted this fragrance. Actually since it launched here, two or so years ago.  But I set myself a goal of using up old fragrances before I got a new one. I used up seven! Mind you they were all over five years old and embarrassingly already a bit off, but I did it. And like a Christmas miracle this fragrance was -45% off in Műller, so there was no better time. I could have gotten a bigger size for about the same price on Salma, but given my track record with fragrances, it decided it's wiser I stick to smaller sizes. I love this fragrance, I actually love most Hugo Boss fragrances (apart from Orange), even though they are considered generic and super boring. Just like Nuit Pour Femme, it's another fragrance I love, this one is again what I call an office scent, or a scent that is appropriate for any occasion because it just makes you smells clean, yet very sophisticated, however, this one has to me almost like tropical vibe (no such notes inside though) . It's stronger than the black version, with notes of cactus flower, pink freesia, jasmine, rose buds, warm woods and cedar. I'm also a huge fan of the bottle. It's simple, elegant, and I love that it's pink.

Müller, 39.99 €

PALMER'S Swivel Stick

One of my staples. I've been using it regularly for about three or four years now. This is the one of the strangest lip balms I tried, it's shaped as those glue sticks, so you look weird applying it, but it's very moisturising, not waxy and it just feels nice. It has a sweet cocoa butter scent, so it's quite pleasant, but I don't notice it any more after all these years. Great product that lasts forever.

Feel Unique, 3.10 €

THEBALM Mary-Lou Manizer

I finally have it! I wanted it mostly because Petra sings such praises about this and I trust that woman. It's a gold toned highlighter with an intense shine that is almost at the point of being too golden for me, but it's still fine. I didn't get it the first couple of times I used it, but I just had to get though the top layer. Now I already love it and thinking of getting Cindy as well. It gives just a lovely glow that super glamorous, but actually not that different in terms of intensity to the discontinued Jemma Kidd cream highlighter. 

By the way these theBalm products were sent to me, but not for review purposes. It's more as a thank you for me helping the distributors with some things. I don't consider them PR products that's why there is no star.

Müller, 23.99 €

THEBALM What's Your Type? Mascara

"the body builder"

I honestly had no idea theBalm even has mascaras. I've never heard anyone talking about them. I got the volumising one, "the body builder", I don't have the box, but I think there is an actually body builder on it. The brush is so…retro. It's really the most standard, basic brush that every mascara had in the 90's/early 00's, which to me isn't a bad thing at all. It's a regular formula, quite thick and wet when you first open it. It gives a nice amount of volume, but it's currently too wet for any definition. It's not bad, but I've tried better ones, however, I have a feeling it will improve a lot once it dries a bit. 

THEBALM Put A Lid On It

Eyelid Primer

It's been years since I had an eyeshadow primer. In fact, I only bought one in my life, Urban Decay's Primer Potion when I was 17-18, but I never repurchased it after I used it up. I've been using Max Factor's Facefinity All Day Primer also as an eyeshadow primer and it works brilliantly, but I'd like to see how this one works. I love the packaging, the squeeze tube is the best form to hold an eyeshadow primer (I had the original packaging of Primer Potion and when I cut it, there was at least a third product left), it's slightly yellow tinted, but it doesn't leave any colour on the lids. It goes on very smooth, not completely dry siliconey, so it's a bit thicker than UD's. It dries relatively quickly on the lids, but you can feel that you added a layer on which the products will stick better. With this primer my eyeshadows look perfect at the end of the day. There is zero creasing and everything still looks nicely blended. Maybe they fade a bit, but it's difficult to say given that I check in artificial light by then. I really like this.

THEBALM Autobalm California Face Palette

I also didn't know this existed, I think it was meant as a LE last year and it's not on their official website, but it's sold in Müller (where it's cheaper) and on Feel Unique. I immediately loved this. It has a mini matte peachy-pink blush, a champagne highlighter, a warm taupe crease shade and a deep reddish brown liner shade. The quality is the same as at their Nude'Tude palette and their blushes, so it's brilliant. This is definitely what I'd take with me because it has the colours I would use, all of them and it's so cute. It's in a form of a driver's licence and it even has some map designs, which obviously appeals a geographer like me. I've been really enjoying using this, since I got it.

Müller, about 17€

*MILANI Matte Lipstick

Darling

I adore this. It is one of the most impressive lip products I tried recently. First off, I love the matte formula. It's a bit thicker than most I tried, but I like that because it's a true matte finish. It actually reminds me of Mac's Retro Matte. The colour is stunning, it's very close to of one of my favourite lip pencils Catrice I got you Babel, so it's a medium peachy-pink. I also lasts really well for a light shade. I'd really love to get my hands on more of these. Swatch of it here.

Click2Chic, 6.83 €

*JORDANA Matte Lipsticks

10 Red, 28 Natural, 48 Pink Passion and 60 Plum Obsession

Jordana is a new brand that is now sold on the online shop where I'm a blogger, so I got a lot of stuff to swatch for the website. I selected the shades myself based on what I though you might like and those that will fit into my Christmas posts there. Jordana products were partially selected based on great rating on Makeup Alley, so there are some good stuff and matte lipsticks appear to be very popular - now that I've tried them, I get why. For a very affordable price you get a fantastic, properly matte, fully opaque lipstick. Granted the packaging is cheap, but they didn't save on the actual products. This is the type of lipstick I expect for a budget product. I don't care about the packaging, the formula is way more important and these are miles better than Essence's Longlasting lipsticks or something from Makeup Revolution/Freedom Makeup and the likes. I selected four shades:

10 Red - a warm red

28 Natural - a warm beige-peachy nude

48 Pink Passion - light pink that I read is supposedly very similar to Mac's Please Me

60 Plum Obsession - cool violet pink (I just had a feeling people will really like this and even I like it, despite not being a "me" shade.

I really like the formula of these. It's nicely pigmented, a bit thicker, but still applies nicely and lasts well, which isn't as surprising considering they are matte. 

Click2Chic, 2.60 €

*JORDANA Twist & Shine Moisturising Balm Stain

10 Fresh Fig and 09 Gorgeous Peony

These again have a very high rating on Makeup Alley. I chose two of the more new shades I believe, Gorgeous Peony, which is a light muted pink, so a very every day appropriate shade. Fresh Fig will appeal to all of those who like a bit more colour. It's a semi-transparent burgundy shade, so a gateway "vampy" shade for those who fear proper versions of such shades. These have a lip balm-like texture, meaning they are moisturising, but at the same time quite waxy, so they stick on the lips quite well.

Click2Chic, 4.20 €

*JORDANA Modern Matte Lipsticks 

01 Matte Bare and 12 Matte Style

These are the other (newest) versions of matte lipsticks by Jordana. How do they compare to the others ones? Well, I think both formulas are very similar, but these do feel a bit more quality, especially when it comes to the packaging. I chose two shades:

01 Matte Bare - a rosy-brownish medium nude. 

12 Matte Style - gorgeous blue toned red. I chose this one first out of all.

These are again such great matte lipsticks. I guess I could compare them to Catrice's matte shades. They glide nicely on the lips and have a nice staying power.

Click2Chic, 3.79 €

*JORDANA Best Lash Extreme Volumising Mascara

I've heard so much about this mascara. Many people love this and even though I prefer my mascaras waterproof, I wanted to review it for you. Even the first use gave me a nice amount of volume, so I can't wait for it to thicken up a bit and I'll see its true potential. The brush is a classic one, but more defining than that TheBalm mascara. 

Click2Chic, 5.00 €

*JORDANA Easyliner in Rock n' Rose

This was again chosen due to the high rating on Makeup Alley. So many people love this particular shade and I wanted to properly swatch it. I was a bit taken aback when I saw it in person - it's very brown. It' more of a taupe brown, but it has some hint of rosey tones. Actually the name says it all. The texture is a bit like Essence's Longlasting lipliners, so a great balance between being soft enough for it to transfer easily, but not too fragile, so it would break constantly.

Click2Chic, 3.00 €

*L'OCCITANE Pamplemousse-Rhubarbe Hand Cream

I have a thing for L'Occitane's hand creams. They really are something worth splurging on. I used to have the Almond version that I loved because it sank in in seconds and this one has the same type of texture, but a much stronger and fresher scent. I'm still on the fence about the latter. It's like a mix of refreshing grapefruit, sweet rhubarb and spices (clove, which I'm not a fan of and nutmeg). I know this scent from somewhere, I just can't remember from where.

A whole collection with this scent exists including a fragrance, shower, gel, body lotion, perfumed soap, hand cream and a lip balm.

L'Occitane, 7.60 €

*L'OCCITANE Jasmin-Immortelle-Neroli Body Lotion

I really like the scent of this. I've tried a few jasmine scented products and this is the best one. I still have Lush's Lust somewhere, which is sooo strong, almost headache inducing jasmine, but this one is fresher, more sophisticated and despite being a strong scent, so much easier to wear. The texture of the lotion is light and moisturising enough for an average person, but not enough for very dry skin. The scent is strong and it lingers, so you can use it even as an improvised fragrance and I think it will work fabulously in combination with the actual fragrance from this line.

A whole collection with this scent exists including a fragrance, shower, gel, body lotion, perfumed soap, hand cream and a lip balm.

L'Occitane, 23.40 €

*L'OCCITANE Miel Mandarine Lip Balm

Me and L'Occitane's lip balms share a long history. I had so many of them, but stopped purchasing them since they stopped making good scents (honestly, it all went downhill after the cherry blossom one, but I will check out the new honey one. Fingers crossed its the same yummy goodness from before). This one is a bit lighter than I remember their lip balms being. It's also tinted orange, which actually isn't the first time as their old orange version was similarly tinted. The scent is actually very subtle for L'Occitane. It's a mix of honey (if anyone remembers their awesome old honey balm in a tube from somewhere around 2006-07) and citrus notes, like that orange version I talked about.

A hand cream in this scent exists as well.

L'Occitane, 7.60 € 

H&M Owl and Cat Lip Balms

I wanted such lip balm for so long, well, this or a hand cream, it really didn't matter as long as I get an owl design. When I saw these in H&M I basically ran to the register with them. The lip balm inside is just the most boring one in history. It's the most basic, bland waxy lip balm with no particular scent. You're really paying just for the cute decorating item, but I love these. The owl exists in a bubble gum pink version. If you can't find these either at the register or the beauty/accessories department, check the children's section.

H&M, 2.99€

CADEAVERA Belebende Reinigungstücher

I haven't bought makeup wipes in such a long time, which is ridiculous considering how much swatching I do. I got these because they were the cheapest. These smell like the rest of the Young line, so like lilies of the valley, but with a fruity twist. They aren't super soft, but not harsh and I often have a problem with makeup wipes being too structured and rough. They managed to remove my base, eyeshadows, eyeliner and lipstick, but only about a half of my waterproof mascara, though considering these aren't oily, it's not a surprise. I takes a bit of rubbing to get of the swatches, so I think next time I'll try some different ones.

Müller, 1.45€

Samples:

I got a generous bag of samples at Look Fantastic at my last purchase. I was later told these are the exact contents of their beauty box from the previous month.

MONU Firming Moisturiser

For dry skin

25ml

I expected this to be thicker, but its texture is quite pleasant and not at all heavy like Emmy Hardie's face cream. I haven't used this much because I really don't like the strange herbal scent.

Look Fantastic, full price  €31.95 for 50 ml

ELEMIS Hydra-Balance Day Cream

Day cream for combination skin

20ml

A light, fast absorbent hydrating face cream for combination skin. It's quite nice, especially under foundation and it smells exactly like Emma Hardie's Moringa Balm.

Look Fantastic, full price  €58.95 for 50ml

NUXE Réve de Miel Hand and Nail Cream

15 ml

I heard many praises about this and even though I'm not a hand cream person, I really like this. I find it quite light, but that means it absorbs very fast and I can't stop smelling my hands afterwards. It's nothing like honey, but just addictive. I would consider getting a full size.

Look Fantastic, full price  €15.45 for 75 ml. It's probably cheaper in pharmacies in Slovenia.

PERCY & REED Volumising No Oil Oil

30 ml

I'll talk about this in my New In: Hair edition, but I love this and would buy a full size.

Look Fantastic, full price €19.95 for 60 ml

MURAD Age Reform AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

30 ml

A gel cleanser with some small exfoliating particles that it's quite creamy, but still foams well. It's a nice cleanser, but not 50 €-nice.

Look Fantastic, full price  €47.95 for 200ml

LOOK GOOD FEEL BETTER Eye Shading Brush

A flat shader brush that is synthetic and quite dense. It's ok, but doesn't pick up eyeshadows as well as brushes with natural hair, so I actually use this more for blending because its quite thick and works well in my crease. I ended up using this daily and really liking it. This is brand that was formed to help women combat the visible side effects of their cancer treatment, so some of the profits is meant for charity. I can't find this particular brush on Look Fantastic, but they have several other ones.

Look Good Feel Better on Look Fantastic

Have a great day!