Makeup

COLLECTION Lasting Perfection Concealer

1 Fair

Boots closed their International site (why?!) so I stocked up on everything I need, this included. I actually have Catrice's Camouflage concealer in 005 for full coverage, but the shade is a bit too yellow for me, while this shade is paler and pink so it suits me better. It's also a dupe for Nars Radiant Concealer, at least on my skin and I know some won't agree, but I see no difference between them. Along with the other two I mentioned, it's one of those concealers that cover a lot. It covers almost everything, except very red blemishes  might need another layer and it gives the skin almost a doll like effect because it erases so much. It can look cakey on dry skin, so I tend to use it sparingly, especially under the eyes where I reduce the amount to a little dot of product and blend it in well. It's got a good staying power and it can last you almost all day, though I haven't tried it on oily skin yet, but it's in general highly praised. I tend to use this only on more visible imperfections like red blemishes or if I'm very tired, so it's my in-case-of- emergency-concealer, but on a daily basis I much prefer Bourjois Radiance Reveal and Maybelline the Eraser.

Boots International, £4.19

H&M Makeup Sponge

There was a massive hype about this very affordable makeup sponge a while ago, but I managed to resist it despite the adorable unicorn packaging. Lana from Lana Talks surprised me with a lovely package for my blog's 7th anniversary where she included this sponge, so I can finally give it a whirl myself. Just like my fellow bloggers reported this is a super soft and bouncy sponge, one of the softest I ever tried and it reminds me a lot of the Nanshy sponge. It expands just like it should and it blends well while being very comfortable to use. You probably won't be able to find a better, more comfortable sponge for the price, so I highly recommend it if you like applying makeup with sponges. However, for me it doesn't beat my beloved oval brushes.

H&M, 2.99 €

MAYBELLINE Super Stay Matte Ink

15 Lover and 20 Pioneer

These were far from love at first try and I just did not get the hype about these, but I'm warming up to them. What bothers me is their thick formula that stays sticky for the first half hour. But they stick to the lips like glue and remain 95% on the lips after 12+ hours, several meals, drinking and my constant annoying holding my hand over my lips while behind the computer, so I'm impressed. The formula somewhat differs between the two shades I have, Lover applies much smoother and more even, while for Pioneer more patience is needed and you definitely need a lip liner because the thick formula doesn't allow as much precision as I'd have wanted. They need about 10 minutes to set and initially feel like a heavy, sticky layer one the lips, but that goes away in time and too me they feel comfortable on the lips. Finish isn't a perfect matte as they still retain a bit of a shine, but they look matte enough. Whether these are nice for dry lips, I really can't say. Due to the layer feeling and based on my gut feeling I'd say no, but I've heard reviews saying these are nice on dry lips. They are very heavily scented with a coconut-like scent. Lover is a berry-mauve shade that's in the same colour family as Sephora Marvellous Mauve, while Pioneer is a perfect cool toned red with a pink-cherry base, just what I was looking for a while and it reminds me of L'Oreal's Blake.

DM, 7.99 €

*MAX FACTOR Honey Lacquer

Honey Rose

The press release that came with this was like usual quite exaggerated, but the tip of the ice berg was that it makes you lips "selfie ready", so it was specifically created for a "the generation that expresses themselves on social media".*rolls eyes* I will hold back my opinions about this. The name describes it as a lacquer, so a very pigmented gloss that's close to a lipstick, however, it's not quite in the same family as Rimmel's Apocalips, L'Oreal's Lip Paints and many others, as it's still more like a gloss than a very pigmented liquid lipstick. The packaging is beautiful with the gold details and these smell, as well as feel on the lips, like their old Silky Glosses, so they have a very comfortable formula and a cosmetic vanilla type of scent. My shade is a very pale cool toned pink which reminds me of a popular shade in the late 00's Mac's Underage Lipglass. It's a likeable product despite the annoying marketing, but I'd pick a different shade, since this one is hard to pull off on anyone. 

9.49 €

AVON True Colour Perfectly Matte Lipstick

Awakening Rose

My third matte Avon lipstick, this time courtesy of Lana. At first glance it looks like the most tamed, natural shade in my small collection, however, it is quite bright on the lip and completely different than in the tube. It's a brightened peachy shade with some pink tones, a classic spring shade. Formula is the same at other two shades, a comfortable and smooth formula with an almost matte finish and a lovely sweet scent of Kiki soft candy.

Avon, 8.5 €

ESSENCE Soft Contouring Lipliner

05 melt your heart and 06 under my skin 

Quite surprisingly Essence decided to discontinued their lipliners which were a part of the line for probably the longest out of all their products (impressive considering they usually last no more than a year) and they switched them with these called Soft Contouring. The first version of their lipliners was very creamy and smudgy, so they really weren't my favourite even though so many people loved them, but I see these new ones as finally a massive step forward. They are now more firm and precise, so they don't move and you don't need to constantly sharpen them either, however, they are still soft and smooth enough that they can be easily applied all over the lips. I'm pretty happy with the change because now they remind me of my favourite Bourjois formula, except these are much cheaper, however, if you loved the old creamy, smudgy formula, you'll be disappointed by these. 06 under my skin is a natural mid toned peachy-pink shade that I just adore as it truly is one of the most beautiful everyday shades and it'll work with shades like Milani Darling lipstick, while 05 melt your heart is a cool toned red, but not a bright version. Staying power is still not the best, that's their only minus, but these are worth checking out, especially shade 06.

Müller, 1.19 €

L-R: Max Factor Honey Rose, Avon Awakening Rose, Maybelline 15 Lover, Maybelline 20 Pioneer, Essence 06 under my skin and Essence 05 melt your heart. 

Nails

ESSENCE the Gel Nail Polish

98 pure beauty

This isn't a new shade based on my brief exploration, so I'm surprised I never noticed it before on the stand considering it's so beautiful. 98 pure beauty is a cool toned pinky-mauve nude, so one of those special looking nudes with a more modern twist. It looks beautiful on my pale skin tone, while I gave it to someone that's more tan than me and it was already looking too pale for my taste. Formula is thick and opaque, but could be easier to apply.

Müller, 1.69 €

SECHE VITE Dry Fast top coat

A repurchase, not that my current bottle is empty, but I really don't like being without this, so I'm stocking up. It's just the best top coat ever. I'm not a patient woman and with this my nails are dry in a minute. It also helps even out the nail polish application if you mess up and it helps a lot against chipping. It has a bad side which is that it thickens when you use up about a half and though I have a thinner, it's not a fool proof  solution, but nothing is as good as this top coat.  

Boots International, £9.00

Skin care

BIOBAZA Face Cleansing Micellar Oil

Though my initial excitement about this oil faded after I got the first full size which proved to be very different than the sample I based my purchase on, I still decided to buy it again because it works really well with my skin. It's a classic oil cleanser that emulsifies into a milky emulsion in contact with water and it removes most of the makeup, though unfortunately it falls short at mascaras. My skin is completely behaving with this, meaning no crazy stages or spots, so that's already better than at most other oils I tried, but it's not the most effective makeup remover. 

DM, 12.95 €

BANILA CO. Miss Flower & Mr Honey Essence Oil

And another repurchase - it's been a month of repurchases for me. This has become one of the most valued skin care items in my routine. Ingredients are amazing - it contains collagen, niacinamide, honey, propolis, several oils, adenosine and I hear also a mild and stable form of vitamin C, but there is also alcohol relatively high on the list, though I don't notice it. I mentioned in one of my favourites that this is a better version of Estee Lauder's ANR for me, as it works very similar, so my skin is clearer, more even, the texture is more refined, but the extra pluses of this serum are the healthy glow and improved elasticity. Though you only need a drop of product, the reason my bottle is already empty is because when I received it was opened in the parcel and over a half leaked out. At least I was refunded, but guess what, the new bottle was also opened and leaked everywhere. Does Banila have the worst product control ever, or am I just so unlucky? It's also so hard to find this product, at least in stock.

Cosmetic Love, $17.82 (took 41 days, missent to Canada and stopped at customs despite being under 22 €, meaning I had to pay 5 € for nothing again. Yay! Shopping from Korea has become so much fun).

*MIXA Soothing Moisturiser Light Pro Tolerance

Something new in the drugstores: Mixa added two moisturisers for very intolerant skin. I got the light version and there is another for dry skin, though this light version isn't very light, so those with oily skin I really don't think this is for you. It promises is doesn't irritate even the most sensitive skins and that is also soothes any irritations. My skin isn't sensitive at all, so I can't tell you for sure if those claims are right, but I do love their Micellar Water and think it's one of the best I ever had, so quality-wise this is a brand that's worth checking out. The moisturiser has a thick gel-lotion type of texture that doesn't absorb fast into the skin, instead it's like it forms this protective layer on the skin. I used this when my skin was very dry, so dry in fact, it absorbed abnormal amounts of my other skin care, but this lingered on the skin for a long time, hence why I don't find it as a good base for under makeup, but a better night moisturiser. It has no scent and the packaging has a pump.

TONYMOLY Panda's Dream White Cream

I have the sleeping pack which I really love and use it daily, but I forgot to add it to my favourites three months in a row. I had a sample of the White Cream before and I loved it, actually planned on getting it instead of the sleeping pack next time, but now I'm not so sure I will. I have a review of this already, but now I'm updating you because my skin is current drier than the first time I tried this cream. It feels too dry for me now because it leaves an almost cream-to-powder finish, so a proper matte finish and it should be wonderful on oily/combination skin. Now it almost feels chalky to me and my foundation didn't apply as smoothly over it as over the sleeping pack, also I felt that when I woke up in the morning, my lines were more intense. This has a similar effect to a sunscreen in a sense that it's a white cream that doesn't completely blend in, so in that way it brightens the skin and makes it more even. I still like it a lot, but for summer months. I got a ton of samples as a GWP on Cosmetic Love. 

BIORE UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50+ PA++++ (2015 version)

Yet another repurchase. I've avoided wearing sunscreens because they are all so greasy and shiny on the skin, but this is so different. Again I bought the 2015 version which is supposedly lighter than the new 2017 formulation. It's got a light formula that applies with ease, like a lotion/serum and right from the start it doesn't leave a greasy sunscreen type of filter on the skin, it's again more like a serum, which after a minute or two sets to a velvety smooth finish. You can feel it under the fingers, but otherwise it's super light, like you're not wearing anything. It's got zero white case, but it does have a bit of a shine which is more of a K-Beauty dewy shine and not greasy sunscreen one. Though it's protecting me well on normal days (no new freckles and pale foundations still fits me), I was a bit red with it once at the beach, so this is not the best for long exposures, but for a regular every day wear, it's great.

eBay, $9.89 (seller animetropolis, again arrived so fast in 9 days)

BIORE UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF50+ PA++++ (2015 version)

I actually ordered the 2017 version, but I got the old one, which is completely fine, I don't mind. I got it because it's a 90 ml bottle, while essence only has 50 ml and I used it up too fast. Now after trying both I notice absolutely no difference between then once they are on the skin. Both leave that velvety primer, but dry to the touch type of finish and both work excellently as a base for makeup. The main differences between the textures are that the gel isn't a gel, but a very watery lotion and that' it's white (essence is yellow), but it again leaves no white cast. Gel smells more alcoholic, but both have a lemon cake type of scent. Both are great.

eBay, $10.99 (seller animetropolis)

ETUDE HOUSE Sunprise Mild Airy Finish SPF50+ PA+++ 

(Samples  10 pcs)

This was a sunscreen frequently mentioned as one of the lightest one, plus that is also has a nice matte finish, it's a mineral sunscreen and affordable. I only bought samples because I was just interested in what it's like, since I've stocked up on Biore. It's very liquid and light, like a serum and similarly to Biore's gel it's white. I'm very pale, so I notice no white cast, though as I said it's a classic white sunscreen that needs to be blended well. It's not greasy or suffocating, it doesn't need long to dry and I find it a lovely sunscreen. It's got a strong alcoholic orange scent, which doesn't bother me and the finish is satin with a bit of a sunscreen shine that doesn't look greasy, just healthy. It works well as a base under makeup and I've noticed no flaking.

Cosmetic Love, $1.82, full size is about 10$.

ETUDE HOUSE Black Hydrogel Eye Patch

I got this mostly because it's cute and it looks like a Catwoman mask, but I've tried Etude House's Laugh Line Patch and I find their products are quite good. I haven't used it yet, but it's a black hydrogel mask that promises a firming, brightening and moisturising effect, but I'm sure the cooling effect of the hydrogel is great for tired eyes too. When I use it, I'll have a review on Instagram Stories.

Cosmetic Love, $1.59

ETUDE HOUSE Bubble Pore Cleansing Patch

Another absolutely adorable cat themed patch. It's a bubble mask, so a spin-off of those popular bubbling face masks like from Elizavecca that promises to clear out the pores. I'll update you on stories. 

Cosmetic Love, $1.27

ETUDE HOUSE 0.2 Therapy Air Mask 

Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid

I got this based on recommendations, Hyaluronic acid mostly because of Adjusting Beauty, but I heard good things about these in general. The Collagen one promises to hydrate and add elasticity, while Hyaluronic Acid one promises a powerful hydrating effect. I have yet to try the Collagen one and I'll update on Stories when I do.

Hyaluronic Acid

Sheet: the sheet is only 0.2 mm thick, so it's one of those almost invisible ones, but it's also very comfortable and soft. It's a bit big for me like most sheet mask and again on the lower part, since I have a petite face. 

Essence: like at most mask it's a light, toner-like essence that leaves a slight tacky layer. There's a lot of essence as is the norm at Asian masks, so I used the rest as a toner in the next days.

Scent: veeery alcoholic. Seriously, the fumes of this almost get you drunk and it's a very chemical smelling alcohol. I really wasn't a fan of it.

Effect: I expected hydration and that's what I got. It felt very hydrating and it left my skin looking nice, just in general healthy. Still that alcoholic scent makes me nervous.

Cosmetic Love, $0.64 (each)

THE SAEM Natural Skin Fit Mask (Disney Edition) 

Grapefruit

I'm sure you'll be shocked to hear I got this because of the packaging as well. However, Saem is supposedly a nice brand and I'd love to try as many brands of sheet masks as I can, so I'll find the best ones so me (my faves so far are the relatively expensive and hard to get Papa Recipe, but I also love My Beauty Diary, The Face Shop and Secret Key). I saw at least two versions and this one promises to moisturise plus give skin elasticity - by the way, it exists in a non-Disney packaging as well. I'll update you on Stories.

Cosmetic Love, $0.59

BALEA Tuchmaske Born To Be Lazy

So far I've only tried Balea Vital sheet mask which was ok, but nothing special. I got this one purely based on ingredients, since they looks quite nice, with almond oil and hyaluronic acid high on the list. I wanted to see how it performs compared to Asian masks which I love and unfortunately this is one of the worst masks I've tried. 

Sheet: one of the most uncomfortable sheets I've ever used. It's a combination of being too thick and too large, so I almost gave up and wanted to take it off as soon as I can. 

Essence: It's got a milky essence, but there is so little of it that adherence on the skin is poor. So together with a thick sheet, very little essence and poor, large fit for me, this basically feel of my face within 10 minutes.

Scent: As I opened it I was immediately hit with very strong sour apply candy scent, which I don't mind at all, but if you're sensitive to fragrance I'm just telling you this is the strongest scented masks I've tried (comparable to Secret Key). 

Effect: despite such annoying sheet material and poor essence, my skin did look presentable in the morning, softer and nourished, so it wasn't a complete waste of time. All Balea needs to do is add more essence and maybe change the sheet to one of those thin ones.

DM, 0.99 €

BALEA Tuchmaske mit Aktivkohle-Vlies

Sheet mask with active coal

Even though I heard from my fellow blogger Uniquapoly that this isn't that special or particularly impressive, I still wanted to give it a go due to a high salicylic acid content. It's meant for unclear skin, so not exactly suited for me, but it might come in handy when my skin freaks out. I'll update you on stories.

DM, 0.99 €

I'll have body products and hair care in the next new in soon. Have a great day!

Actually I lied in the title. It's not every single pen liner I've ever owned because I gave one away just a few months ago, but I can still tell you what it was like plus it's been properly reviewed (Beyu Statement Eyeliner, fits into "Won't knock your socks off, but it's fine" category ) and I left out the Kardatrashian one, since I hear their brand tanked (haha) or at least I can''t find it anywhere (great liner though, for the "Best so far" category),  but all the rest are here. I keep them for reference, even though a great majority are too old to use, but I felt one day they'll come in handy for a proper overview post. I'm one of those people who wears eyeliner almost every day. Come rain or sunshine, apart from on a random lazy Sunday, I'll always sport a thin line on the top of my lashes, mostly with no flick and when I feel more confident that today will be the day when I finally make something decent, I'll try with a flick - which always ends up completely different on the other side. Eyeliners make my eyes appear more awake and open, so as someone who has relatively small, bland eyes and who wears glasses which make her eyes look ever smaller, eyeliner is my best friend - even better than mascara. Naturally I'm on a never ending quest for the perfect liquid pen eyeliner and as you can probably tell from the pictures, there has been a significant amount of them in my collection. So let's delve in.

Yeah, it doesn't look as good on the other side. 

BEST SO FAR

L'OREAL Voluminous Superstar Eyeliner 

Finish: semi-matte

Applicator: felt

Quantity: 1.7 ml

Price: €10.19 

This one is very close to being my favourite eyeliner ever, but I just wish the tip were more precise and smaller, though it's the best one to draw flicks with. The formula is super black, matte enough and it lasts well on the lids, but the best thing about this liner is how long it lasts. It's quite possible that because of the spade shape of the applicator it manages to keep the tip saturated with colour for much longer than others, so it's one that stays fresh for several months. I haven't seen it on our stands the last time I was in Müller, but I'd repurchase it.

L'ORÉAL Super Liner Perfect Slim Intense Black

Finish: semi-matte

Applicator: felt

Quantity: 2 ml

Price: 6.95 €

The formula of this one is exactly the same as in Superstar and you get a more precise applicator, plus I just found it in our drugstores (I only had to wait four years for such a miracle to happen). However, due to the applicator being so much longer than others, the tip loses colour faster, so you can use only the base of the applicator after a couple of months, but that part stays saturated with colour for basically forever (mine works after five years). This is the only eyeliner on the list that I've repurchased.

MAYBELLINE Master Precise Eyeliner

Finish: matte

Applicator: felt

Quantity: 1 ml

Price: 5.95€

This is also about the same as both L'Oreal eyeliners, particularly when it comes to the formula and the tip is very much like Perfect Slim's as you can see on the pictures. It's got the same pluses and faults, but all together it's a reliable liner and one of the rare ones I'd repurchase. It's also sold in Slovene drugstores, so that's an additional plus for me.

BORN PRETTY Smooth Liquid Eye Liner with a Panda Design 

Finish: matte

Applicator: brush

Quantity: N/A

Price: discontinued? It was $9.99

I've never found a perfect liner, so one that's my absolute HG and I'd always repurchase (clearly, given my stash of used up different liners), but this one came closest. Yeah, it looks like a toy and I think most wouldn't even take it seriously if they saw it, but it has one of the best applicators (it's a brush one) because it's small and precise, but not so small that it'd dry too quickly, The formula is properly black and it lasts great on the lids. So far it's my favourite, but I haven't seen it in a while. It's possible other liners Born Pretty sell are similar.

WON'T KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF, BUT IT'S FINE

COLLECTION Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner

Finish: matte

Applicator: felt

Quantity: 7.8g (data from Superdrug website, it's not on the liner)

Price: £2.99

The main fault of this one is that the formula is more sheer than at others and it's not intensely black. The applicator is not the ideal shape and it's stiff, but you can still work with it. Basically this is just a very average eyeliner that I'd get only if there wasn't anything else on a budget.

ESSENCE Eyeliner Pen Waterproof

Finish: matte

Applicator: felt

Quantity: 1 ml

Price: €2.75

This has a much better formula than Collection's, but a similar stiff/scratchy applicator. It's nicely black, but it's not waterproof as promised and it took only a month for the tip to get so dry I couldn't do precise flicks anymore. If you don't want to spend much and aren't too fussy, this one is ok.

MILANI Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eye Liner 

Finish: semi-matte

Applicator: felt

Quantity: 1 ml

Price: $8.00

This one could almost go to the best category, since it's about the same as L'Oreal, but the tip of the applicator got dry too fast for my taste, so I wasn't able to be precise anymore and it's not the best shape anyway because it's so long. But otherwise the formula is lovely - intensely black and long-lasting. 

WE HAD ISSUES...

ARTDECO High Precision Liquid Liner

Finish: semi-matte

Applicator: brush

Quantity: 0.55 ml

Price: €16.99 

This is was one of those liners where I'm still not sure what the hell happened. I bought it after I was seriously impressed by the tester in the shop (I applied it on the back of my hand and it lasted through several washings), but when I opened mine at home, it just wasn't the same thing. The formula was diluted, not as black and I could never manage to do both eyes in one go, plus it crumbled when you went over it trying to make the line darker. And it sucked hard for about two months and then it had a sudden personality transplant and started working almost perfectly. The Jekyll and Hyde among liners.

STILA Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

Finish: shine

Applicator: brush

Quantity: 0.5 ml

Price: €18.40 

Oh, Stila why hast thou disappointed me so? A lot of people love this liner and I've heard numerous recommendations, so I was incredibly excited to be trying this liner because I was convinced it's perfect in both terms of formula and the shape of the applicator. But nope, this just wasn't it and I was consistently disappointed by it from first use. The tip of the applicator was very flimsy, on mine it also came already a bit frayed, so I could just forget about ever doing a flick that wasn't semi-sheer and uneven. It's also one of the rare liners in this bunch that is completely dried up and I have much older liners which work.

WET N WILD Proline Felt Tip Eyeliner

Finish: semi-matte

Applicator: felt

Quantity: 0.5 ml

Price: €4.49 

Again another one where I just don't get what is its deal. It started out beautifully, it's one of the most intensely black ones plus long lasting and precise. I was 100% sure it'll be my HG, but then it just rebelled. The tip stopped getting enough colour and now when I try to draw a flick, all I get are some sheer streaks of colour. The base of the applicator though is still heavily saturated and works perfectly, but that ink is just not getting to the tip, no matter how long I store it upside down or shake it like an idiot.

CLIO Waterproof Brush Liner

Finish: semi-matte/shine

Applicator: brush

Quantity: 0.55 ml 

Price: $10.06

About the same story as with Stila - it was heavily recommended and I expected a lot, but it was a disappointment from the start. Formula is ok, standard very black and lasts well, but this is dries up mid process (including on bare skin which is how I always test liners) and I need to revive it on my hand before I proceed. It's just so tedious to use and I gave up on it.

WORST

BEYU Liquid Fine Liner 

Finish: matte

Applicator: felt

Quantity: 1.1 ml

Price: €8.99 

I loved this from the start because it is super precise and you can do the tiniest, cutest flick with it, but within days or a week, it was too dry to use. Mine is so sheer now and has been for a long time that it's just useless. Good concept, but it doesn't work well in real life. 

CATRICE Glam & Doll Super Black Liner 

Finish: semi-matte

Applicator: felt

Quantity: 1 ml

Price: €3.29 

Disappointing from the moment I tried it. This has the worst formula I've ever tried because it's like someone watered it down. The applicator isn't that good either, so this was one of those "why did I buy this?" products.

L'OREAL Super Liner So Couture 

Finish: no idea

Applicator: felt

Quantity: 0.28 g

Price: €9.99 

This just fills me with rage. I love L'Oreal liners because they are consistently good, but this such an annoying one. I don't know if I'm cursed or what, but I got my first one in DM, came home full of anticipation and nothing, it was completely dried up. Now, I understand that happens since a lot of buyers are just uncultured animals who open products and put them back on the shelves like a bunch of morons, but I went to exchange it (it was actually placed back on the stand and I got a different one from the front. That's just the worst selling ethics I've ever seen). The second one worked about a day and then it was the same story as with the first one - it just completely dried up. 10 euros down the drain. Yay.

MANHATTAN Eyemazing Liner 

Finish: satin with some shine

Applicator: felt

Quantity: 1 ml

Price: €5.99 

One of my first liners and it's not horrible at all - it actually still works after five years, but the formula is sheer and it's not intensely black. Also staying power isn't as good as its competition. Essence's is better for a budget liner in our drugstores.

YANQUINA Waterproof Eyeliner 

Finish: semi-matte

Applicator: felt

Quantity: 2.5 g

Price: $1

This made me laugh at loud when I first tried it. Not because it was shockingly bad, but because it performed like a liner that costs ten times as much. It was black and easy to apply precisely, so it rivalled other more expensive liners. Unfortunately, by day two, it was completely useless, though I recently discovered the base of the applicator still has plenty of colour when I swatch it. It's cheap as chips on AliExpress and eBay.

So these are all my pen eyeliners I've tried in an overview type of post. L'Oreal is the most reliable when it comes to liners (though that So Couture one), but they aren't cheap. Essence is cool if you want to try such eyeliners and not spend much, but don't expect it to last long. Most of the hyped-up ones (Stila, Clio, Wet n Wild) were a disappointment, as I said, I must be suffering from an eyeliner curse of sort, there's no other explanation (and before you say I must have ruined them with an eyeshadow - I didn't. I always try them on bare skin and in general skip eyeshadow a lot). Anyway, I've recently made a switch to dip eyeliners, more precisely to Catrice's Liquid Eyeliner. It's the one I'm wearing in the top picture and I've been using it every day for the past month. So far I'm impressed and it's actually the reason I made this post because I think I'm done experimenting with pen liners and I plan to stick with Catrice's for a quite a while.

Have you found your perfect pen eyeliner? I hope this was helpful.

Makeup

COLLECTION Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer

I think this is still one of the best drugstore concealers, especially when it comes to high coverage. I've used up a few of these, though they aren't easy to get. I have the shade Fair which is appropriately light and fits me ok. It covers a lot, so I use this one for spots, stronger redness and under the eyes when I feel I look extra tired. But it can look obvious on dry skin that's one of its rare minuses. The packaging is a minus too because while I like the doe foot applicator, the cap breaks every time.

Repurchase: Yes.

BOURJOIS 123 Perfect CC Cream

The best BB/CC cream I found, though this is basically a classic foundation and it's very similar to my favourite Healthy Mix Serum. They both have light-medium coverage and an great natural no-makeup makeup finish, the main difference is that this one has a more satin finish, while Serum is more dewy. The only minus for me is the shade range which tragically overlooks very pale skin tones, so I couldn't use it on its own, instead I ended up mixing in with lighter foundations and recently with lightening drops by TBS. It has one more mini minus and that is that if you store it in a way that the applicator points down, once you open it, the product just starts to spill out and refuses to stop no matter how you turn it. If you're looking for a great drugstore base, I recommend you check this one out. 

Repurchase: I would love to, but all the shades are too dark for me. Maybe I will.

CATRICE Beautifying Lip Smoother

One of the most comfortable lip products ever. It's like a pillow for the lips. I liked it a lot, but I very rarely wear lip glosses so this has gone bad before I had a chance to use it up.

Repurchase: This shade isn't sold any more, but still I won't be buying new shades. I know I'd end up not using it again.

Skincare

QUEEN HELENE The Original Mint Julep Masque

I bought this massive tube a few years ago based on rave reviews on Makeup Alley. It's a great, simple clay mask in a traditional scary green shade and it really does work in getting your pores clean, but it's not a miracle worker. I heard some people say it works on their blackheads, but it doesn't on mine, it just makes the skin look more fresh and healthy. It's great for oily to combination skin, but I wouldn't use this on dry skin because this becomes very tight and removes all oils. My biggest complaint about this is that it's so thick, I could not get it out of the tube once I used up about a half. I literally had to jump on the tube to get a few centimetres out and I just do not have patience for that.

Repurchase: Maybe.

BALEA Beauty Effect Eye & Lip Serum 

This serum didn't do much. I didn't find it very hydrating and it left a sticky coat on the skin that was still there in the morning, then it even started to flake. I regret spending money for this, but the Power Maske from this line is really good.

Repurchase: No.

URIAGE Thermal Micellar Water Combination/Oily Skin 

This was just another micellar water in my seemingly endless stash and it didn't stand out. Average, but good performance in terms of removing makeup, only mascara occasionally posed a challenge, it feels like water and isn't irritating. It's meant for combination/oily skin, but I didn't notice a difference between other micellar waters.

Repurchase: No.

FIRST AID BEAUTY Exfoliating Pads 

I already spoke about these in my skin care post where I said that they are too gentle for me, so I didn't see any effect, but I hear these work with sensitive skin if you need something with AHA. 

Repurchase: No.

Body

SOAP & GLORY Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub

I really loved the texture of this one. It's a sugar and salt scrub, so it'll be harsh for those more sensitive, but I like my scrubs to be strong. It was nicely balmy, so my skin wasn't dry after a shower and it completely rinsed off. But as much as I love the texture, I'm not fond of the scent. It was barely passable to me from the beginning when it smelled like maple syrup, but the older it got the more it started to smell like a mix of coffee with a self-tanner, and I'm not a fan of either. I have two more S&G scrubs in my stash, Sugar Crush and Flake Away, both are lovely.

Repurchase: No, but yes to other S&G scrubs.

AFRODITA 100% Spa Sugar Scrub

Good for scrubbing, but this is just way too greasy to deal with. A thick layer of slippery oil just sticks to your skin and you need either a stripping shower gel or a bar soap to get it off. It's a hazard to use this in the bath.

Repurchase: No.

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Or

I'm embarrassed to say I had this since 2012, but it only recently started to just smell a bit off, so I quickly used it up. I adore the original version and I've gone through several bottles, but a product with glitter is harder to use up. It's a drier oil than the original, it's hardly greasy on the skin and it has a ton of tiny shimmer plus even a bit of a bronze tint that did make my skin a bit darker. It's a product that it's mostly for summer, but I realised I don't like shimmer on my skin because it's emphasises my imperfections, plus the shimmer always ends up everywhere, regardless what type of the product it is. I used this mostly on my hair when it was very, very dry. 

Repurchase: No, I'm sticking to the original only.

BALEA Rasiergel

Frische Kick

A boring empty, I bought so many of these in a row. This one had a lemon cake scent and the one I have currently has a strange coconut scent. 

Repurchase: Yes

KNEIPP Herbal Bath Pure Bliss

This looked like blood when I poured it out the bottle. It was a thick, dark red liquid and it turned the water into a light shade of pink. It has a strong scent that for me was a type that I liked and didn't like because it was to me an unfamiliar warm floral scent that was a bit strange.

Repurchase: No.

Hair

TIGI S Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray Heat Defender

I swore by this in the past when my hair wasn't in such good condition as it's now, or at least until I found products that are great defrizzers (Dove, Potion 9, Percy & Reed). It's basically an light oil, similar to Orofluido Sahara and it protects against heat tools, plus gives tons of shine, it makes the hair look healthier and it even feels a bit nourishing. Now I don't need that much extra on my hair (most thanks to Dove), so I can afford to buy something cheaper (Balea) and save some pennies. If you have very dry hair, I really recommend this.

Repurchase: Yes.

KÉRASTASE Forme Fatale Voluptuous Blow-Dry Gel

This was a miss purchase for my hair type. I just got too into the idea that since it's from Kérastase it'll surely be a less drying volumising product, but you can't have one without the other. This made my hair both too dry and too frizzy, but it gave a ton of volume when blow-dried with a round brush. I used it on very thin hair, quickly greasy hair and it worked so much better. There was no frizz, just a good amount of volume.

Repurchase: No.

EBELIN Polishing Nail File

I bought a few of these in a row. They are cheap and do their job. It has three sides that aren't that rough, one is completely smooth and it meant to polish the nail, which gives it a great shine.

Repurchase: Yes.

ESSENCE Nail File

A file with four sides varying in roughness. Again a product that I've bought several in a row, though this time I bought a crystal file by Ebelin as well.

Repurchase: Yes.

Samples

L'OCCITANE Divine Youth Oil - This smells like real floral honey, I love it. It's a light oil that needs time to sink it, but my skin liked it. Too bad it cost such a ridiculous amount of money. Full price 90.50 €, ingredients. Purchase: No, too expensive for the ingredients it has.

L'OCCITANE Shea Ultra Rich Comforting Cream - A very thick moisturiser that feels the same as their 20% Shea body lotion and hand cream. My skin got a bit less clear when I used this, but it could have been hormonal. Full price 30.50 €, ingredients. Purchase: No

AFRODITA Why Mask S.O.S - a mask meant for skin that needs calming, but based on ingredients it looks to me as a good mask for spotty skin (contains zink and clay). I've tried a few Afrodita's masks and this one is the only one that stands out. It's a mask that doesn't dry on the skin, but it's still a wash-off mask and it contains a good amount of niacinamide which brightens the skin and that's precisely what I noticed. The skin just looked more healthy and glowy. Very likeable. Repurchase: I might.

L'OCCITANE Almond Milk Concentrate - I've had this before, in a pot as well. It's a light, but very velvet feeling moisturiser with a lovely milky almond scent. It's popular for a reason. Full price 43.70 €, ingredients. Purchase: No

L'OCCITANE Shea Ultra Rich Body Lotion - Another thing I had before and I liked. A super rich body moisturiser with a nice neutral nutty scent. Full price 25.40 €, ingredients. Purchase: Maybe, it's really good.

I always like to try new felt tip eyeliners and last time I was ordering from Boots I noticed how highly rated this liner is as well it's inexpensive, so I added it to my shopping cart. To be fair, I do not get what all the raves are about. It's not by any means a bad liner, but it's certainly not amazing. It's kind of average, but in a good way and nice for the price.

The nib is quite big or maybe I should say thick, especially compared to most other eyeliners I've tried. The material used is that classic felt that is used in sharpies and it's the same kind than at Essence. It's a hard nib and doesn't bend, which would allow a more comfortable and precise application, but you can still get a nice line with it. You'll see that the line with this liner is thicker that at others I've swatched, that's the consequence of the larger nib. The formula isn't as black as most I tried, not even as Essence's. It's not as intense, though on the lids it's hard to tell. It's easy to create a flick, but it's not as precise when it comes to making an even line mostly because it doesn't bend, so it takes a lot more patience.

Staying power is better than I expected based on the fact it's not as pigmented as the others, but it can get through the day on my normal lids. The wings rub off, but the main line remains.

I'm not in love with it and I actually think that even Essence's is better, so I don't get rave reviews, but it's a decent liner for the price, mostly due to nice staying power. In the strangest twist of events ever, after posting a rather harsh review of ArtDeco's liner (to be fair it was fully justified if I judge its performance from only the first few months), I've been reaching after it far more that the Collection's one. The nib is softer and more precise, so it's easier to use. Collection's one is nice if you're on a budget, but it's not the best one out there.