TIRTIR Mask Fit Aura Mini Cushion SPF30 PA++ 

I got this mini for my bag because cushion foundations are so quicky and easy to use. I managed to get a perfect shade match at this formula, so just like Missha's Radiance Cushion, it's kind of an eraser for me and I can apply it only on parts of the face, so where I need it and it just blends in, looking almost invisible.  The red version is far more popular, but I read that one is a high coverage matte formula, the type that usually doesn't look great on my dry skin, so I picked this silver one which has a glowy finish. Coverage is light-medium and finish is natural looking - like my skin, but better with a "moisturiser glow". It has come so handy in the last weeks since I got it. My only concern is that it will be empty soon, since this is quite small. 

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This is one of unsung heroes of the past six or so months. I use this every day in the morning as my face moisturiser. It's light, it nicely hydrating for my dry skin and works as a base for makeup. For my body I prefer the Cream version, which is richer, but this is an excellent basic face moisturiser with ceramides and hyaluronic acid and a very handy pump. Some may also appreciate it's not scented and it's suitable for sensitive skin. 

This is a very likeable shampoo, although it's too expensive for drugstore, but despite it being sulphate-free, my hair feels properly clean with it. It foams very well on the first wash and doesn't feel drying at all on my very dry hair. As far as shine goes - this is a shampoo, it washes off and like most shampoos you shouldn't expect much from it. But the 5 minute treatment from this line is nice and better yet, for the shine, serum does the biggest part of the job, since it has shimmer in it. 

This is quite nice. I won't say I like it quite as much as Elizavecca's Cer-100, but for the affordable price this is quite good. I has decent frizz control and adds some shine to my bland hair. The texture is nicely thick and it's nourishing enough. It does have that minus that a lot of drugstore quality masks have and that is that my hair becomes dry quickly and the top layers of my hair coarse in about two days.  

I recently got Balea's shine spray in aerosol, which is decent, but this is better. It adds a good amount of glossy shine on the hair and it's a product for "faking healthy hair" for a while. This one has some hydrolised keratin and it's lighter than Schwarzkopf gotbB got Gloss version, so it's likely suitable for thin hair as well. I made a video with it here.

I hide this one away for special occasions, especially now that the price of it skyrocketed, but it's such a unique warm powdery, caramel-sweet scent. I've been trying to find a dupe, but nothing comes close from the stuff we have here. It's not too young, it's not too old, I also don't see it as an office scent, though it's not strong and I don't associated it with candy because this isn't sweet on me. It's not heavy, there's nothing sharp in this, it's just comforting, but not in a gourmand way. I can't describe it better, but it's one of my favourites. I treated myself to a backup in case someone comes to a horrible idea it's time to discontinue it.

MISSHA Radiance Perfect Fit Cushion SPF50 PA+++ | 19 Ivory | - a quick and easy foundation to apply. Medium coverage with a glowy finish. Aside from SPF if also has niacinamide high on the list, then centella asiatica, several extracts and oils, adenosine, and ceramides. |video|

ESSENCE Baby Got Blush Stick | 30 Rosé all Day | -  a peachy pink cream blush that I apply and blend with fingers in seconds. |video|

PUPA Vamp! Sexy Lashes Mascara | 011 Sexy Lashes | - I've been using this mascara for months. I didn't like it as much as Vamp! silver mascara, as when it was new it was too wet and messy, but when it dried it became almost as good as that one. It's very volumising and now defines ok. But it doesn't hold the lashes curled well. I still use regular formulas on most days to avoid the removal of waterproof formulas. |video|

MAX FACTOR Color Elixir Moisture Kiss Lipstick | 005 Simply Nude |  - my perfect nude shade. |video|

NYX PROFESSIONAL High Definition Finishing Powder | Transparent | - usually I use Hourglass Ambient powder because I have to use it up, but this is new and I'm trying it out. I only use powder on my eyelids and under my eyes, so my glasses don't remove the foundation. This one is ok, nothing special so far. 

ALVERDE NATURKOSMETIK Creamy eyeshadow and highlighter 2-in-1 10 Champagner - I'm still searching for a new liquid or cream blush. I saw this is one of the best sold highlighters on DM and swatches look nice. Plus it's cheap. 

REVOLUTION Bubble Balm Creamy Highlighter Icy Rose - another creamy highlighter. I think this one is glowier than Alverde, but I'll have to check in person. I'd prefer something more natural looking. 

VT COSMETIC S Essence Sun Pact SPF50+ PA+++ - an SPF in a cushion form. I'd like it for reapplications during the day. 

NIVEA Protect & Moisture Invisible Finish SPF 50 - I hope this is as light as sunscreens for the face. I'm fed up with sticky sunscreens for the body, which makes me no want to use them. Plus this is a big bottle of potential decent lightweight face sunscreen. But why is this 17,45 € in Slovenia, while Germans can get it for 12 €? Unfair. I won't buy it without a significant discount.

APLB - Bifida Niacinamide Ampoule Serum - This is an intriguing brand. They have many versions of nice looking serums, this one contains bifida ferment lysate, niacinamide and cica water (that's the 37.2% mentioned on the bottle), and it also has Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Squalane,  Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin and several extracts. 

APLB - Glutathione Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ - a sunscreen with plenty of nice ingredients. Glutathione supposedly brightens. 

BALEA Beauty Expert Triple Effect Booster - a very interesting product by Balea. It combines retinal in 0.1% strength (the same as Geek and Gorgeous A Game 10) with Tranexamic Acid (brightening, fading dark spots) and Acetyl Glucosamine (also for brightening). Other ingredients include niacinamide, squalane and almond oil. They probably should have made a version with less retinal for first time users, I don't know why they went straight only with 0.1%.  

COLOR WOW Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer - I use Nivea which is my favourite, but I'd like to see how more expensive products work for me. 

SOME BY MI Galactomyces Glutathione Daily Mask - a pack of 30 sheet masks with impressive ingredients. 

NINE LESS B-Boost 1% Kojic Acid Serum - a brightening serum with Tranexamic Acid, Kojic Acid and Niacinamide, plus it has peptides.  

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-cica Water Fit Sun Serum SPF50 - I hear this is a very pleasant sunscreen. 

IUNIK Propolis Vitamin Sleeping Mask - This has 16%  propolis extracts and centella asiatica leaf water. It's meant to boost skin's radiance. 

SUNDANCE invisible Protect Sun Spray SPF 50 - this can also be used over makeup. I'll give it try and I hope it's better than Garnier's one I tried a while back. 

Texture: thick, but very creamy.

Coverage: light-medium.

Finish: Moderately glowy, eventually more flat matte.

Staying power: This doesn’t set and it easily wipes off when you touch it. 

Shade: 20 is a very light cool toned shade. Too light for me. 

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This has a very creamy formula that glides easily on the skin, but it's a difficult formula to blend. Sponge just ruins it, while with fingers it's better, but it never looks particularly good up close. It just sit on the skin, looking obvious and especially on the area around the nose it looks bad. I don't know, maybe it looks better on oily skin, but it's quite a creamy foundation that doesn't set. Bourjois has a much better formula - if only they had the right shade. 

Essence describes the finish as natural matte, but this is more of a greasy formula that doesn't set, so the finish more on the glowy side when freshly applied and it time it just looks flat matte. 

Coverage is lighter than I expected, maybe light-medium, I can see my pale freckles still shine through. 

Staying power is bad, as this just wipes off in contact hours after application. I never tried setting this with powder, as it looks enough of a disaster on its own on my skin. Essentially, my dry skin doesn't like this at all and it’s a formula I’m a bit embarrassed to me seen with in public, but I saw plenty of people praise it on Tik Tok, so it works for some people.

I got shade 20, which is too light even for me, but based on Essence's swatches there are several such similar pale shades. 20 is even lighter than Catrice Invisible Cover 012C and is compared to that one more neutral/cool toned.   

Texture: creamy, medium thick for a concealer

Coverage: medium-high

Finish: Glowy at application, but turns very matte on dry skin.

Staying power: Very long-lasting 

Shade: 002N isn't the lightest compared to some other brands. It's not neutral, but yellow. 

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They describe this as a hydrating formula with a glowy, natural finish and medium coverage. Formula is similar to their Liquid Camouflage one and though I expected this being a nice hydrating formula for dry skin that you have plenty of time to blend, you have to be quick if you're using fingers. It's best to blend it with a sponge to spread it more evenly before it sets. Coverage is quite high, I'd say medium-full, though it doesn't completely cover my darkest freckles.  

While this looks ok freshly applied, which is when I took my before/after pictures, by the end of the day this looks terrible. I don't remember a concealer ruining my day quite so much as this one, nor one that would make me run to buy a bunch of anti-ageing skin care, but this concealer makes me look so old. It emphasizes every small wrinkle I had no idea I had. It looks so dry under my eyes and it cracks. I don't love it freshly applied either, as it's an odd formula somehow looks glowy, but at the same time drying, flat and obvious under my eyes. It doesn't feel hydrating on my skin. 

Staying power is really good even without powder. Most of it was on my skin at the end of the day, just very dry, flat and unlikeable on my dry skin. 

Shade 002N looks yellow on me and obviously off, but it was the lightest shade on the stand.

This is just another formula from Catrice that doesn't suit me. Sadly my skin I just doesn't get along with their base products. 

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This is meant to be a type of lipliner and Essence shows it in their pictures are applied on its own just on the edges of the lips, but I dislike this 90's trend and I got it as an all-over colour. They mention this shade being a muted pink tone, which on me is far from it and that it leaves a natural looking stain, which on me looks bright magenta. 

The colour of the packaging has nothing to do with the actual shade of this. It's much darker on the lips, a medium-deep berry on me. The formula is as they describe watery and it feels feather light on lips. Essentially it's like using a sharpie that's very pigmented and the tip allows you to be very precise. However, I never got an even application with this. It tints the dry parts of the lips darker, just like stains normally do. 

It sets very quickly and if you made a mistake, this can't be easily wiped off. Staying power is great and there is no transfer (except on paper straws). As the colour is wearing off, the lips and skin under it get stained with pH reacting tint that Essence puts in a lot of their products. That tint on me always looks the same, a strong cool magenta. The swatch I had on my hands did not come off for three days, but I think on the lips it lasted about a day, longer on dry parts, so you have to wear a lipstick the next day to cover the uneven lips. Since it's just a lightweight product, this isn't at all moisturising, but you can easily put a gloss or a lip balm over it.  

If you enjoy that pH reacting tint and don't mind this looking uneven, you might like it, especially since it's very long lasting, but bare in my that if you slip during application, this won't come off easy.

Just to warn you so you don't make the same mistake as me - this is not a retractable balm (due to the very soft formula). This is super glossy, close to a proper lip gloss. It's nicely nourishing and feels very comfortable.

 Shade Pitaya is very pigmented with one swipe, you get a semi-opaque look that doesn't need much building up. It's a medium neutral-cool pink, I think it doesn't suit my skin tone best. In typical Essence style I think they added their trademark pH reacting tint to it, as when the lip balm disappears from the lips, my lips are still tinted pink. I wish they stopped doing that so often, but at least the tint is far more even than at the line n'  stain, since it's so moisturising. I tried this on the cheeks too and it looks quite nice.

Catrice changed up the bottles and shade range (though Caught on the Red Carpet is still there. They always keep this shade).

 Shade 004 needs at least two coats to look even, but you may need three. It's a very pale off-white peach shade. 

031 is almost opaque with one coat with a smooth formula, but it's best to apply two. Electric Turquoise is a "Tiffany" green-blue and it stains the nails like crazy, so a base is needed. 

Catrice's Quick Dry Top Coat is quite good, so I tried the slightly cheaper Essence's to compare. Formula is lighter than Catrice's, but maybe it will thicken like such top coats normally do. I tested it after the promised 45 seconds over two coats of Catrice's Gel Affair and it's dry to the touch, but still very prone to dings or smudges. It takes a while for the nails to be completely dry. So far every time I used this I ruined my manicure, even if I waited for 5-10  after application, so I find it a frustrating top coat and I'm going to stick the better Catrice one. 

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This is quite good. Thicker than Laneige lip mask, which sometimes I prefer because it sticks on the lips better and for longer. It’s nicely nourishing for very dry lips and it has the scent of Kiki candy (soft taffy candy scent). It’s tinted and gives the lips a nice light shade of pink. I use the silicone applicator from the Laneige mask, I think this product is missing such a tool, I don’t like dipping my fingers into lip balm pots. 

Coverage: Medium

Finish: Natural

Quantity: 6.8 ml

My Shade: 00 Ivory

This has been my favourite formula for many years because it's one of those concealers that looks very natural on the skin and it blends seamlessly whether I'm wearing a foundation under it or not. It covers about a medium which is enough for me and the sponge is really helpful because at most times I don't need anything else to blend (unless there is a lot of product on the sponge). Using this really feels like an eraser due to the applicator. It doesn't slip into lines or have that matte, ageing effect, so it looks much better on the skin than high coverage concealers. I wear 00 Ivory and Brightener (swatches of both).

Coverage: Medium

Finish: Natural-glowy

Quantity: 9.6 ml

My Shade: 00 Ivory

One of my new finds for dry skin. Formula is thin, it layers well, it blends into the skin, looks natural for a concealer, yet covers quite a lot for such a lightweight formula. I'd say the coverage is about medium, it's not full, but it covers circles well and red spots reasonably well. I quite like this for blemishes because it looks a lot less cakey than pretty much all concealers I've tried, though it doesn't stay on as well as matte formulas and it can slide off. I got the lightest shade Fair and it fits me well. The packaging has a pump dispenser, which is precise and can squeeze out the smallest amount, however, I have concerns it may break, as it stopped working momentarily a few times.

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Coverage: Medium, medium-full

Finish: satin-matte

Quantity: 13 ml

My Shade: 49 Ivory

This is not a typical glowy formula that Bourjois' Healthy Mix line is known for, so when I first tried in on my dry skin in the winter, I was taken aback how matte it looks and how difficult to blend it is on bare skin. But it grew on when my skin got less dry in the summer months and it looked nicely fresh. The finish on less dry skin still isn't the typical Healthy Mix glowy, instead it's more satin. Due to that I feel this formula may fit most skin types, while very dry skin needs some prep or a glowy foundation under it. It has a good level of coverage (medium, or medium/full with layering) and it doesn't look like obvious makeup. The applicator is unique, but I end up blending the concealer with a sponge or a brush, as the rolling metal applicator is only nicely cooling, but not effective at blending or spreading the concealer evenly. Quantity-wise you get a lot, however, this is not a tube that allows to squeeze out only a little of concealer. I wear shade 49 Ivory.

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Coverage: Medium

Finish: natural

Quantity: 7 ml

My Shade: 10 Light Honey

This is similar to Essence's Camouflage + Healthy Glow formula, which is/was the hydrating version of their more popular Camouflage + Matte (I'm still unclear whether it's discontinued or not). This is one of the cheapest formulas in the drugstores, but it's regardless quite good. It's got a medium, buildable level of coverage, a natural finish that doesn't turn too matte on me in time and it blends easily on a larger area. I often use this one instead of foundation when I'm in a hurry. 10 Light Honey is a passable shade for my skin, but I'd prefer if it were lighter. Essence only has four shades of these.

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Coverage: Medium-full

Finish: satin

Quantity: 8 ml

My Shade: 005

I'd rather put their PhotoReady Candid version here instead, but I believe it's being discontinued. This is a coverage + brightening + skin care combining formula with caffeine and vitamin C (Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate). I prefer the ingredients list of Candid, as it has niacinamide high on the list, but in terms of performance I like both and they work similarly on me. Formula has a good pigmentation and a medium-high coverage without looking heavy. Finish is satin on me and it doesn't dry to a matte obvious finish on my dry skin. It covers my redness under my eyes and on the sides of the nose ok and it can cover an inflamed blemish too without looking too cakey. Staying power is great on me. This has a sponge applicator that Revlon say is antibacterial and I like it because it reminds me somewhat of Maybelline the Eraser except this is smaller. 005 Fair is a bit too dark for me, but it still works without looking very off.

Coverage: Medium-full

Finish: matte

Quantity: 5 ml

My Shade: 110 Nude Ivory

Since my skin is dry, my selection reflects that and I don't like wearing the most popular matte high-coverage formulas such as Catrice's Liquid Camouflage, L'Oreal's Infaillible More Than Concealer or Tarte's Shape Tape, but from such formulas Milani gets my vote, as it's one of rare formulas that doesn't turn very obvious on my skin. I've even worn this for no makeup looks in the summer. It has a lot of coverage, about medium-full, it blends ok for a matte formula and it sets matte. I try to stick to thin coats at this one, otherwise it looks dry on my skin. I don't even wear the lightest shade and it's pale enough for me.

I bought this online and the only help I had was Essence's official swatches, since no one on blogs or socials does comparisons anymore and I ended up with a shade that's perhaps too light for me. Essence's swatches are little help, as all of the light shades looked about the same. Honestly I didn't really expect much from this foundation, though I hoped it would suit me because it looked like a nice foundation for quick on-a-go applications, but so far I've only found one good stick foundation (from Bourjois), as they usually don't blend well into the skin. The same thing is true for this one. It's a very creamy formula, but neither with fingers or a sponge have I had luck blending it nicely. It always ends up obvious and it's just sitting on the skin, especially on the sides of the nose. Essence describes the finish as natural matte, but this is more of a greasy formula that doesn't set, so the finish more on the glowy side. Coverage is lighter than I expected, maybe light-medium. Staying power is bad, as this just wipes off in contact hours after application. My skin doesn't like this at all and it’s a formula I’m a bit embarrassed to me seen with in public.

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A repurchase. This has been my favourite formula for many years because it looks natural on the skin, it blends seamlessly whether I'm wearing a foundation under it or not. It covers about a medium which is enough for me and the sponge is really helpful because at most times I don't need anything else to blend (unless there is a lot of product on the sponge). Using this really feels like an eraser due to the applicator. It doesn't slip into lines or have that matte, ageing effect, so it looks much better on the skin than high coverage concealers. I wear 00 Ivory and Brightener.

This is more of a glowy primer than a proper highlighter, so it ended up not what I was looking for. Compared to my favourite Oriflame The One IlluSkin liquid highlighter, this has a weaker glow. It reminds me more of Bourjois' Healthy Mix Primer, in fact I could call them dupes in a way, expect Bourjois has a more neutral tone to it (not that it show when blended). By the way, this is similar to products like Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter and its many dupes, the difference being in the texture not effect. CT is a thicker product that doesn't set, while Revuelle is light. Shimmer is very fine, so this looks like natural shine on the skin. It becomes dry-to-the-touch and feels lightweight. I tried my best to take a picture of it on the face, but it's very weak and my cameras don't pick it up - like I said this is more of an all-over glowy base. This has a dropper, which doesn't work due to the thicker texture, so you end up scrapping the product off. There's a pink shade available too.

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A repurchase. This basically replaced my old favourite I <3 Extreme Waterproof, thought they are essentially the same mascara, just with a different brush, which to me makes all the difference. It adds plenty of volume, even more length and defines the lashes, though when it was new, it was definition where it performed poorly. It holds my lashes curled well.

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A repurchase. This shade is close to my natural lip colour. It's a touch deeper and pinker, but a good shade for a "no makeup" look and for shaping the lips. Staying power isn't the best.

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This was a gift with purchase and it's only a mini size that's about the size of an eyeshadow. It's an ok powder, very similar to the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless one I've had for years. It mattifies and sets the makeup, but it makes the foundation look less natural like most powders. This promises to blur fine lines and minimize pores - like almost all powders this just highlights texture on me, but I have dry skin and I dislike it when makeup looks like obvious makeup even from close up.

I bought this online and the picture was different (still is), so I thought I was buying the new serum they also have in DM. That one has Bifida Ferment Lysate as the second ingredient on the list, so it should be somewhat similar to the famous Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair. Sadly this Peptides version has alcohol second on the list, so I feel cheated to be honest, but I didn't want to fuss and return it. It's a thick serum that leaves a velvet feeling on the skin. Ingredients of this version are much less impressive than the version I wanted (why they all look so similar, I have no idea), but it has Bifida Ferment Lysate still high on the list, Hyaluronic Acid and Adenoside. For something called with peptide on the box, I see none on the list, while the version I wanted has plenty. Their "pro-retinol" is just Retinyl Palmitate that weak version of retinol that's in many products. This is way too expensive for what it is.

Travel Set

Top notes: velvet plum, sugar violets

Heart: vanilla orchid, whipped amber

Base: sheer sandalwood, fresh vetiver

A familiar scent, kind of like some of my favourite fragrances were mixed into one. It reminds me of BBW Twilight Woods, Pupa Vamp! PINK and Avon's Mesmerize Black, or something like if you mixed those together. It's an oriental powdery-floral-sandalwood scent, quite nice, but I still love the original Cheirosa 62 more. I tried two of their shower gels (original yellow Brazillian 4-Play and coral Bom Dia) and they really weren't anything special for the high price, but this shower oil is a delight. It's not an oil, but an oily gel and it feels richer than their other shower gels. If you ever had one of those gel-to-oil makeup removers, this shower oil has a similar texture. The scent also lasts quite a while on the skin. The body butter is very thick and rich - a butter in a proper sense of the word. It's like The Body Shop Body Butters that I love and takes some effort to massage it in. It leaves a velvety film on the skin that makes it feel soft. The mist is nicely strong, but I wish it lasted a bit longer.

A repurchase. I use this after every hair wash and it's so far the best leave-in conditioner I've found. It's true to the claim of long lasting hydration, it leaves my hair somewhat softer and it dries smoother.

I got this mini for free with purchase. I already have the full size, which is one of my favourite hair products. It doesn't create the glass hair effect on me - nothing does on my hair type, but it's still very effective. It's actually similar to the their Smoothing Lotion, but this one also protects the hair from getting frizzy when in contact with humidity. It's very light, but it hydrates and it makes my hair smoother. It needs to be activated by heat.

This is one of the current best sellers and it was picked as the unisex fragrance of 2024 (by Fragrantica). I got it as a gift for someone, but was able to give it a test. I believe this brand is from Dubai. I used to have an antibacterial gel from BBW called Spiced Apple Wood and this is very, very similar, I'd say it's over 90% similar. It's mostly woody, spicy and I smell something fresh, which must be bergamot, though it reminds me of green apple. It's soft and smooth, not sweet - honesty all those descriptions about apple pie I read on Fragrantica are completely off. But I get why it's popular, it's very lovely. While I agree it's unisex, to me this is a lot more of a male fragrance, albeit being quite different from typical male scents, which I mostly dislike. Women can pull it off, but it's not very feminine, cosy or sweet. It's something for those who love the male version of Rabanne One Million, but this is softer. They describe it as a powerful scent, a silage monster, which I disagree. While it's not subtle, it's not one of those Shiseido Ginza Night Eau de Parfum Intense like scents that fill the room and stay there for ages. It stays on the skin for a very long time and it's not fading quickly, after about 9 hours it's still present and well detectable, then it's in a more faded version for at least 3 hours.

This is described as "The madeleine accord blends with the woody notes of sandalwood, whipped vanilla, and musk " Some say these smell exactly like madeleines, there's a lot of vanilla and I smell whipped cream. I think sandalwood is keeping this from smelling completely like freshly baked goods. It's a cosy gourmand with a more "perfumey" base.