These are new at Revlon. 21 shades exist, but we got 7 here, mostly natural shades and two bright ones. Formula changes during wear time - it starts glossy, then slowly set to a satin finish that's not dry, but also doesn't transfer (though there can be some small traces), but it's generally mask-proof especially after it fully sets. You can also speed up dry time to satin by just applying one layer on one of the lips and press them together, so you have a lighter layer of product, which is still fully opaque because these have a strong pigmentation, though the darker two 019 My Own Boss and 012 Seal the Deal are a bit sheerer than the rest. These also change colour as the dry, especially 009 Speak up goes from a light-ish mauve-nude to a medium mauve. The only two that don't really change are magenta 012 Seal the Deal and red 019 My Own Boss. Once these are on, they are on, that means they don't budge - they don't smudge, bleed, crack or peel and at the end of the day when I take off my makeup, which for me is about 12 h after application they still look great. They last through drinking, eating messy fruit like soft peaches and other things, though I haven't eaten anything super greasy, which will likely start to break them up. This also means that you need an oily remover at the end of the day to get all off. But I'm not surprised to see such great staying power at Revlon, since Overtime liquid lipsticks last just as well as these. Though they are glossy at the start and then dry-to-the-touch, they never felt drying or tight to me, so they are more comfortable than matte liquid lipstick and you still get that same super staying power. My pick is 007 Partner in Crime which I wear when I want something that lasts through everything and I don't have to check on it during the day because I know at the end it'll be there.  

Click2Chic and drugstores, 12,19 €

New lipsticks at Oriflame and when I saw the name, I was almost certain I won't like them, but these turned out to be so good. They are most similar to Revlon Kiss Cushions, except here I can get a gorgeous every day shade. These have a soft, plush applicator and the formula is so amazingly comfortable, as it's pleasantly creamy on  the lips and feels like an good lip balm. Pigmentation is good, but you need to have a saturated applicator for fully opacity, otherwise you get more of a stain look, which is great too. The very first thing I noticed at this is a lovely sweet cocoa scent, but it's only present at application. These leave a stain on the lips, especially the red shade, so they have a longer staying power than a lot of lipstick/gloss hybrids. I love these, but one things that worries me is how much it's in these pen/twist up packaging, since in my experience there isn't much similar products. Luscious Taupe is wrongly named, since it's not a brownish-grey shade, but a lovely natural pinky-mauve that is in the same colour group as Revlon's Birthday Suit. Magnetic Red is a neutral-cool red.

Oriflame, 13,90 € | currently 9,99 €

I mentioned this in the wishlist part of my monthly favourites, updates & wishlist post. Anny has testers on the stands, so I had the chance to try the shades before buying and this was the closest match to my skin tone. I'm very pleased with this nail polish - everything, the colour, how it applies and how much it survives. It was worth the higher price. Colour is a nude powdery pink, very close to my skin tone in depth, just in a more pink version of it. Application is super smooth and easy, it needs two coats for an opaque look. It survives washing a large amount of dishes intact, but I've said a million times that my nail are naturally strong, so that might not just be the nail polish formula that's so resilient alone. Anny has a big selection of shades, so I might get a shade more.

Müller, 10,49 €

CATRICE ICONAILS Gel Lacquer 

*I realized this is discontinued now* I was on a hunt for new nude nail polish (I got this before Anny) and I had something quite light on the nails when I was shopping, so I grabbed this one, thinking it's going to be a good match, but it's too light for my liking. First application was a nightmare, formula appeared too thick and I needed three coats for a an even look. Second application was better, more smooth, though the formula is still quite thick. Compared to taupe shade 112 I reviewed in last New in, this one doesn't feel like a smooth gel formula, but closer to old school pastels.  It lasts like all nail polishes, so over a week on me. Shade is similar to Essie Fiji, the latter is a bit lighter and less pink, but on a darker skin tone than mine they likely look the same. 

Müller, 2,89 €

Balea's latest (probably LE?) hydrogel eye patches. These have caffeine right after water and glycerine on the ingredient list, plus hyaluronic acid, cactus water and Irish moss powder. I haven't tried them yet, but all of these hydrogel patches work about the same - cooling & refreshing on tired eyes with the added benefit of hydration. High content of caffeine might help with the puffiness if you're troubled with that (I'm not) and hyaluronic + cactus water hydrate.   

DM, 0,99 €

A regular repurchase. I've been using this for a few years every day and I credit it as the product that helped fix the texture of my skin. Before I was unhappy with almost all foundations or other base makeup, but after this most look good. It's a light toner-serum product with 95% ferments (galactomyces) and rest are niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, allantoin, adenosine and a handful of fillers. 

Notino, 22,50 €

Another repurchase. My previous bottle ran out so unexpectedly, since there's not much indication how much it's inside and I went to pick a new one in DM the very next day because I don't want to be without this for long. I had a mini break from this just for some health related reason and my skin didn't look as good then as when I was using this regularly. Propolis products tend to make my skin look more healthy with a nice glow. This is a light serum that absorbs quickly and is easy to layer over.

DM, 18,99 €

Something new from Afrodita Professional line, which is sold online and is used & sold in beauty salons, so these are Afrodita's high end products. Multiactive Beauty Filler Shots have a high concentration of active ingredients and promise fast results. They are suitable for all skin types and ages, and they can be used with device based treatments. 

An intense hydrating concentrate for dehydrated, tired skin, though every type of skin will benefit from this one. It contains low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (20-50 kDA), which is capable of getting deeper into the skin. This also has panthenol for calming & repairing the skin, urea, glycine (amino acid), niacinamide,... Texture is like a light serum and is quickly absorbed into the skin, but leaves a slight layer on the skin. 

Afrodita web shop, 34,90 €

A vitamin C concentrate with 10% Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate. It promises to even out skin, brighten, reduce pigmentation (age spots) and pairs well with SPF creams to increase protection. Texture is a light milky serum-lotion and leaves a slight oily layer on the skin, but on my cheeks it's absorbed fast. From the three I started using this first, but it hasn't been that long, so I can't report about the result yet, only that my skin is currently in nice condition. I prefer vitamin C products with Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate because in my experience I've had good results with it, while I've had more rare success with ascorbic acid. Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate is more stable, but needs more time to work. Afrodita also launched a vitamin C serum with the same version of the vitamin, but with a smaller concentration. That serum will be/is sold in drugstores and supermarkets, and will also be much cheaper. By the way, the vitamin C used in these products originates from Japan.

Afrodita web shop, 59,90 €

A power shot with pure oxygen that boosts collagen production, energy and improves texture of the skin. This is something so new to me that I don't recognize a lot of ingredients, but it contains (a complex?) Fiflow BB61 that acts as a dermal filler, gas carrier (gets oxygen to the cell) and an anti-aging agent. One of the ingredients is perfluorodecalin, which is used in wound healing products because application of oxygen can “activate the inflammatory cells of the immune system that help healing.” (Reference: ScienceDaily.) It also has the same peptide carnosine as is in their Protective Serum SPF 30. Formula is the most liquid of the three, it's almost like toner, but like the Hyaluron it leaves a slight layer on the skin. There are a lot of tiny bubbles in the formula, but on the skin it doesn't feel any different than a regular serum.  

Afrodita web shop, 34,90 €

Afrodita sent me most of the Young & Pure line meant for unclear skin, but I see it as a nice set of products for most skin types. I already have this mask, it was actually the first product from this line I tried and I've raved about it. It's described as a cleansing gel, scrub and mask in one, but I mostly use it as a mask. It has no scrubby bits worth mentioning and as a cleansing gel it's best for second wash or when the skin is bare. As a mask I leave it on for a while, usually an hour and since it's clear I can go about my business without looking like a green/white/random clay colour weirdo (that's why also boys/men with unclear skin might be more ready to use it). I have very few breakouts, but those couple of times I did since I got this, this helped heal them faster. 

Afrodita Cosmetics web shop and drugstores, 4,79 €

Another cleansing mask, but again not a typical clay one (their Why Mask SOS Calming, which I used to buy is their clay mask that also has zinc oxide and niacinamide - another good buy for blemishes). This one contain charcoal, which is popular now in products for unclear skin. It's called a black and white mask because after you start massaging it in on dry skin, the charcoal granules activate and it turns from white to black. I haven't tried it yet.

A simple toner with niacinamide 2nd on the list, witch hazel and no alcohol, which is even nowadays not that common in those for unclear skin. It's hydrating and light, absorbs almost instantly on my skin. I can't say I've noticed anything special after using this, but from the stuff in our drugstores, this is one of the best offerings, whether you're on a budget or not.

 Afrodita Cosmetics web shop and drugstores, 5,39 €

Another product with lots of niacinamide. It has a thick gel type of consistency, yet it's very light and on my skin sinks in fast. I was concerned it might peel when I apply SPF on top, but skin care can be layered over it with no problems. A nice moisturiser for oily-combination skin.  

Afrodita Cosmetics web shop and drugstores, 5,39 €

A spot gel that has no alcohol, so true rarity, instead it focuses again on the power of niacinamide and witch hazel. I haven't had spots, so I couldn't test this yet. 

Three versions of this exists, aside from Extraordinary Oil also Dream Length (or Dream Long) and Color Protect (or Color Vive/Color Glanz, L'Oreal has different names on various markets). I picked this one for dry hair. These formulas are essentially L'Oreal trying to pass the 2-in-1 shampoo & conditioner concept as something new, though I will say that it does indeed feel like something new, as such formulas tend to be very much like regular shampoos, so liquid, while this feels more like their cleansing conditioner, except it has SLS as the first ingredient. Texture is as thick as a conditioner, it also feels like that at application despite the soap, so it's not easy to get it all over the hair like regular shampoos and I use up a lot at once on my long hair. It doesn't foam on the first wash and barely on the second, so I find it doesn't clean the scalp as well as a traditional shampoo, but my hair is clean. It leaves my hair less silky when I'm rinsing it off compared to my favourite Extraordinary Oil classic shampoo or even Aveo Totes Meer one, but it's a similar effect to other shampoos for dry hair. I prefer the classic Extraordinary shampoo which actually feels "more than a shampoo", like a conditioner was added to the formula, but I'll use this up regardless. 

Müller, 5.99 €

My regular repurchase and I always have one in stock, but when I opened my last bottle, it didn't feel the same and it didn't leave me with as much silky feeling. I went to check ingredients and compared it with my old one, and it's the same, plus both say New formula, so maybe I just didn't notice the last one was different too, since always mixed it with L'Oreal's purple shampoo. Or my hair got drier and I need something even richer, I don't know.

DM, 3.29 €

I already raved about this in my August favourites. It's one of the best drugstore hair masks I've tried, on the same level as Cantu conditioner. I loved it so much that I went get a backup after using this twice and I got two because these pots are quite small for my amount of hair. It leaves my hair feeling silky, detangled and it's nourishing enough for my very dry hair. It also works quickly, since I've also used it just for a minute after a conditioner that left my hair not as silky as I want. In combination with Moroccanoil All in One leave-in, my ends don't dry out for several days, which is an achievement for a drugstore formula. Though I feel a bit cheated they have only have these in 160 ml pots, as their Repair mask has 300 ml. 

Müller, 3.39 € 

A repurchase. This is a life saviour when a random lame conditioner I'm trying to use up messes my hair. They tend to leave it so tangled it's snapping when I'm combing through it and drying, but an generous amount of this adds that necessary slip. It also gives shine, nourishes and tames. It's just an excellent product for dry hair.

Müller, 7.19 € 

An enzyme scrub for the scalp from a new Müller brand. It's meant for scalps that get oily, but it's not often you see such a product, so I gave it a try. Before this I've only had scrubs with particles, either salt/sugar or something else. This didn't work as effectively as I hoped. It worked similarly to a basic cleansing shampoo, but it didn't have a lasting effect and I didn't get any expected tingling, which led to believe it's too weak to have a good enzyme peeling effect (though I in general rarely feel enzymes, acids or similar peelings). But the main issue is that this is a rich lotion type of texture, not a liquid, which means it's hard to apply on the scalp despite the nozzle and you use up a lot at once, I think for me it was 1/4 or 1/3 of bottle for one use. Maybe it will work on someone who finds acids/enzymes more effective on their skin.

Müller, 5-7 €

I wanted to explore more of the Miracle line and I saw Pantene has their first purple shampoo. I was expecting a lot considering I love the mask, but this is merely ok. It's not as rich as the shampoo from the Repair line and the tint is paler than L'Oreal's, so it's not really strong enough for me, or at least for the not fully lightened part of my hair. It foams enough, doesn't feel drying, but it's not nourishing, formula is actually similar to L'Oreal's except more gel like when you squeezed it out. I'm sticking to L'Oreal. 

Müller, 4.75 €

This was the second Miracles product and I expected more. For one, it's not an oil, it's a basic leave-in conditioner, so it's not like a silicone-oil such as La Croa Protect spray as I expected based on the name (though the ingredients list should have clued me in). It's a very light leave-in that on my hair feels like nothing and does nothing. I was hoping the silicones might help smooth my hair, but this is too light, made for thin hair that is weighed down fast. It's a nice light heat protectant though.

Müller, 4.99 €

I've been buying Extraordinary version for many years, but tried almost no other version of L'Oreal shampoos. This was the only mini in Müller, I guess is the most popular one. The scent of this reminds me of the 90's or 00's shampoo and suspect this is an old or original formula - I like it, it's a classic. This produces a very rich foam and like most shampoos it cleans well - what else - and it doesn't leave a residue behind. It's not like Extraordinary (was), so especially suited for dry hair and it doesn't leave the hair as silky, it's just a regular non-drying shampoo. It's ok, but I won't buy full size.

Müller, 1.49 €

A repurchase. The whole Joico brand has a new look now. This in combination with K-Pak Reconstructor does miracles right after my hair was coloured, restoring it to its more normal state. But this alone is an amazing product, it makes my hair feel great, it's full of proteins and aminoacids, so great for damaged hair. 

Notino, 18,50 € 

Amazing mask, though I expected this given my experience with Kérastase and the exorbitant prices. My hair is so dry and never really soft due to its thick texture, but this makes it feel so silky, softer and just genuinely incredible. I was a tiny bit worried it might not be enough, due to one review that said for dry hair Magistral is better, however, it's definitely nourishing enough and I didn't even have to use a lot. My hair feels like new with this, though I'm not impressed with its ability to control frizz, but that's work for leave-ins and styling at every mask when it comes to my hair. This contains maleic acid, creatine (both care for hair bonds) and ceramides. 

Notino, 30,50 €

My favourite mask so far was Kerastase Masqueintense Thick, which I repurchased a few times, but this is the new version of Nutritive masks made for severely dried-out  hair and it's been on my list to try for a long time. It's another amazing mask, Kerastase masks transform my thick, dry hair into something more light, airy and silky to the touch, but I don't find Magistral is any better than Masqueintense Thick or even Resistance. To me they feel they all feel same, which isn't a bad thing, though I expected Magistral to be a bit richer. Like Resistance I'm not impressed by its ability of frizz control, but my hair is admittedly a tough challenge. 

Notino, 32,50 € 

KÉRASTASE Resistance Serum Thérapiste 

A repairing hair serum for weak, over-processed and damaged hair that is at the same time also a heat protectant. It's in two parts and when you squeeze the pump, you get the same amount of a clear serum and some milky serum-lotion. This is somewhat similar in texture to Olaplex n.6 or Tigi After Party/Blow-Out Cream, or at least something like if you mixed those two with a silicone serum, so it's also a styling product that tames frizz, makes the hair look more polished and shiny. On damp hair after washing, I was hoping for more frizz control, but it can't cut it on my hair, so I prefer to use this on dry hair as a taming product. My hair is less brittle in the first days after washing, then like always it gets too dry and it's breaking again. It's a light, "dry" type of a product, so suitable for all hair types. This contains ceramides, aminoacids (Glycine, Arginine, Proline, Tyrosine, Glutamic Acid, Serine) and Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, so it's got a lot of good stuff. It's not revolutionary, as Olaplex n.6 and a few other protein leave-in do the same job, but I like the texture of it.

 Notino, 29 €

An overnight beauty sleep nourishing hair serum for dry hair that Kerastase promises works overnight in 8H. This is incredibly expensive (full price is even more expensive than for what I got it) and reviews are so positive, so I expected a miracle product. But I'm just not sure. Either my hair is too much of a challenge or I just haven't found the best way to use it, but on my hair a few days after washing when my hair is very dry, this just isn't quite enough. It was the main reason I got this, for those days, but I prefer Lazartique Nourishing Dry Oil for such situations. Texture is a light lotion, I was expecting a more silicone-y consistency that would work better with my tangle-prone hair. Kerastase says to apply one pump and it is easy to spread even on dry hair, but I need several pumps for my hair. So far I like this best as a leave-in conditioner after washing my hair. In such a case it makes it feel like I used a Kerastase mask even if I used a cheaper mask/conditioner. 

Notino, 37,90 €

I've had my eye on this for a while. I love Subrina Colour Refresh and they are my favourite way to temporary colour my hair, but their violet shade is more on the pink side, while I really wanted a proper lavender shade. This is just a mini 30 ml, but they have tubes with 200 ml. I haven't tried it yet because I have huge roots and I want to use this once my colour is more even and pretty. I hope this is as pigmented as Subrina, so I can use only a small amount mixed with a conditioner for a nice pastel. Ingredients of this are great like all Moroccanoil stuff, I'm a big fan of the brand and have several products 

Click2Chic, 7 €

I got one of the new cool Excellence shades. I usually get 8.1, but though this one looks almost scary grey, it might be more effective (I mean more long-lasting) on my hair that I can't really lighten to a pale yellow in one go. I love Revlon's Colorsilk 70, but I couldn't get it this time (wasn't in stock). Unlike the regular Excellence Crème this one contains a purple shampoo and mask, which base on my experience with their Purple line, I'm sure it's great. I'm kinda bummed they don't have 9.11 because I love the shade 9.1, but it's a bit too light for covering my golden yellow (there's a 9.12 in Preference line, which is sooo expensive and I don't like the formula). I haven't used it yet because I'm giving my hair a longer break from colouring and am sporting massive roots, but I'll report back when I do.

Spar, full price is 7 €. I only buy these with a discount.

Fragrance family: floral-watery citrus aromatic

Top notes: Green marine accord, wild rosemary, grapefruit

Heart: Water jasmine, sweet cicely, lily-of-the-valley

Base: Tonka bean, musk, patchouli

There are two scents in this collection, the other one, Blazing Warm, is a floral (golden button flowers), citrusy-woody scent. Wild Hearts smells like a unisex fragrance to me from the start. It's aquatic, herbal, fresh and clean. I get strong herbs from the start (rosemary and cicely), which then fade and it becomes a more feminine fragrance. It's still a clean and fresh scent, but softer, more musky and floral. It's a typical non-sweet, summer fragrance to me, something for fans of scents like L'Eau par Kenzo. Strength is moderate, as is the staying power. Bottle is made from recycled glass. 

Top notes: bergamot, green leaves, peach

Heart notes: aquatic notes, lily of the valley, rose

Base: amber, musk, sandalwood

This is a tester size which my cousin gave to me, but the full-size bottle is very D&G The One inspired. Farmasi sometimes writes in their catalogues, which perfume their stuff is most similar to and this is supposedly like Dior's J'Adore. I don't recall how the real deal smells, since it's been too long since I tested it, but notes are similar, except Farmasi has less of them. It's a clean white floral. In my view a typical office-friendly, fresh scent, very feminine, classic and to me similar to the scent of face creams, shampoos or fabric softeners. It's timeless in my eyes and suitable for all seasons. All I smell is flowers, mostly rose, but it's a lot more complex that and well blended. Quality is great for a cheaper scent. It's strong (for some 1 spray will be enough), it develops nicely and lasts surprisingly well, after about 6-7 hours I can still smell it on my wrist and that was the last time I checked, but I'm sure it lasted longer. 

AVON Pur Bianca and Incandesce 

My cousin also gave me these two more scents. I remember both of these from my first Avon catalogue I got. Pur Blanca is a clean floral that’s fresher than Farmasi, but again a type of face cream scent or more like washing powder/fabric softener. Incandescence is a bright, sweet floral with notes of Orchid, Lily-of-the-Valley, Cyclamen, Tulip and Peony. Both of these are purse sizes with a roll one, but I prefer the new mini sizes they have currently, which are a spray. 

These got a new look, as well as four new scent. Previous packaging was a peachy one and now they got a new colour of the bottle and new labels. Eight are still old scents and those are Juicy Jasmine (floral with some peach), Strawberry Sorbet (like the name says & like those Haribo strawberry softies), Rose Garden (my old fave and one of rare rose scents I like), Cherry Blossom (my and fan favourite, a powdery floral scent), Fresh Elder (perfect summer scent, smells like Hugo drink in candy form, so elder-lime-mint), Perfume Drops (also an old favourite, just a nice perfume-y scent), Moroccan Treasure (oriental-ish with some orange) and Sensual Vanilla (just vanilla, but people love this one). New ones are:

Balance Code - an unisex, fresh basic scent inspired by Mediterranean. Nothing special to me, but something Subrina's collection needed, just something neutral (though Breezy from the Kids collection fits too and I find it more likeable for my taste). Formula is creamy and contains some olive oil.

Carpe Diem - a rich scent of greenery and florals, very much like a garden in bloom. Inspired by the Far East, with matcha tea extract.

Chill Out - an oriental scent that if I remember the scent correctly is very similar to Lush Lust, so a strong jasmine note + more oriental stuff or kind of the smell of Lush shop - it's been a decade since I've been in one, so forgive me if I'm wrong. Formula of this one is oily and applied on dry skin, it forms a rich emulsion, which becomes a lot more watery on damp skin. It contains hemp oil.

Siesta - the only tropical scent now, since Pina Colada, Mango Heaven and Tropical Escape are gone (I'm gonna miss those. Their Pina Colada was so good). It's a passionfruit scent, very similar to those Balea summer LE's that have been gone for a while. It contains coconut oil. 

Drugstores (Tuš, Muller, DM with a limited selection, Ilirija), supermarkets (Interspar, Merkator, Tuš,… ) and click2chic, 1,96 €

A new collection by Balea that in my opinion came about three months too late. Having said that this scent doesn't really remind me much of summer. It says it smells like sea breeze, but I disagree. It's is very floral and it in a way smells typically Balea. I think I smell just tiare flower in here, so it's technically summery, though that type of scent never reminded me of beaches and sunscreen. The scent in Sunny Side is very strong, but it doesn't last on the skin like for example Subrina's do. Formula is thin, typical for Balea. I had several things on my wishlist, since this collection consist of a deodorant, shaving gel, hand sanitizer and more, but I took them of my list. 

DM, 1-2 €

I already wrote about this in August favourites. It's surprisingly good for a deodorant, so not an aluminium based anti-perspirant. It doesn't keep me completely dry when it's hot, though my Dove stick one doesn't either completely and it has aluminium, but it keep me smelling fresher than Dove does at the end of the day. I have it's a roll-on because I've been used to dry sticks since my late teens and I hate that wet feeling, but I got used to it and I'm glad something without aluminium works. There are two versions, this one smells powdery fresh.

DM, 4,19 €

A new version of the pretty much legendary 48 hand cream. If you live here and in countries of Western Balkans, it's likely you've heard about this one, since it's been sold forever and you can buy it everywhere, even the most forsaken hardware shops. Our grandmothers used it and I still hear some occasional raves on Instagram, since it's loved by those with dry hands. Original is quite rich and leaves a layer, since it's a protective hand cream for those who work with different substances and it has a soapy scent. The new one is lighter and absorbs quicker. Unlike the original it contains shea butter and coconut oil, while the antibacterial effect is due to a silver complex and CPC or Cetypirirdinium Chloride. 

Ingredients: aqua, butyrospermum parkii butter, glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, sodium cetearyl sulfate, cocos nucifera oil, cetyl alcohol, saccharide isomerate, stearic acid, palmitic acid, panthenol, phenoxyethanol, decylene glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, cetylpyridinium chloride, silver, bht, parfum, coumarin, alpha-isomethyl ionone

Click2chic, drugstores and some supermarkets, 2,89 €

A new version of 48's spray disinfectant. This one is marketed for kids because of the strawberry fragrance, but it's the same stuff as the regular one, so if you prefer scented stuff this is the one (it's a strawberry candy/vodka type of scent) and for all the rest it's the original, which smells of nothing but alcohol. I always have the regular one in my bag because for a long time it was pretty much the only pocket size spray sanitizer here (now the market is obviously flooded with disinfectants) and it is perfect for spraying surfaces, so shopping cart, door handles, phones and other stuff. It's 50 ml, so a great size for the bag. It has 65% alcohol.

Click2chic, drugstores and some supermarkets, 3,18 €

BALEA Rasiergel 

Just another shaving gel from Balea. I have this scent already and it's a nice coconut one, better than they usually do. 

DM

I usually buy the Aveo (Müller) or Ebelin (DM) one, but was just in Lidl and grabbed this one. It's weak compared to both of the others, so I regret not taking the time to drive to the drugstores. The way I wear nail polish I'll be stuck with it for a while. 

A repurchase. This is one of my favourite ever shades for so many years and old my tube was by now too old to use, so I got another. It's one of the first liquid matte lipsticks I've tried and it's not really the "real deal" like most are today, as it's has a mousse type of formula that takes 5-10, sometimes even 15 minutes to set to a matte finish and it doesn't apply evenly fully opaque in the first coat, but it ends ups a lot more natural looking than opaque liquid formulas that instantly dry to a uniform layer on the lips. It looks more like the lips were stained that way, but it also doesn't last as long as some formulas. However, formulas differ a lot between the shades, Olé Flamingo dries matte fastest and it lasts longest, while Grand Cru is essentially useless. Nude-ist is the best performing shades out of the ones I tried and remained useful longest. Nude-ist is a great every day colour, it's a medium muted warm pink, kind of difficult to describe, but I've loved it since day one. 

Notino, 6,92€

This has been on my list to try for ages, I kept checking if we'll get it on our stands, but it never happened or I missed it and now we don't have Rimmel stands anymore. It's hailed as a pinker version of Pillow Talk lipliner and some even call it a dupe. I don't have the latter and I didn't get it because of that, but the colour fits my taste. Formula is a bit "rubbery" feeling due to thickness and when I tried to apply it the first time, the tip broke off because it wasn't gliding nicely. It’s a thick, heavy formula that I can feel on my lips, but that also bring a positive, as it’s the most resilient and long lasting lip pencil in my collection. Shade is a bit too pink to a good “cheat your lip line colour” and I think Maybelline Dusty Pink is prettier, but this is a nice wearable shade. 

Notino, 3,06 €

A new foundation by Revlon, or at least new here. I think I got all the shades we have in our drugstores, which is a total of 12 colours (16 exists). Revlon promises full coverage, a matte finish, light-weight feel, 24h staying power and that's it's heat & sweat-resistant. I am not a big fan of the original Colorstay, I was in the past and I still consider it a very similar formula to Nars Sheer Glow on my skin, but by now the normal-dry formula is too dry for my skin, so honestly, I was fully prepared for the possibility I'll hate this, but surprisingly it's ok. Coverage is medium-full, full with an extra coat. Formula is a mousse type of texture, but not nearly as dry as Catrice's or Rimmel's mousse formulas I've tried, those look flaky on me, this does not even if I don’t use a rich base. Finish can be very matte, so I prefer this with a heavy moisturizing formula under it or it feels tight on my dry skin. I would say this likely suits oily skin best, but with a rich cream under it, it's fine all day. It lasts at least 16h on the skin, which is not surprising given my excellent experience with Candid concealer (my big love) and Colorstay. It blends well with all methods I've tried, but it's still noticeable I've wearing a foundation and it could look a bit better over pores, though it doesn’t emphasize, it just doesn’t hide them for such a mousse formula. I'm using a shade 110 Ivory, which is darker than in Colorstay liquid version and is noticeable a poor match for me, but a lighter shade doesn’t exist. Due to the high coverage and finish of this formula it’s very important to find an as close match as you can otherwise you’ll 

experience the floating head effect I get. 

Click2Chic.si / drugstores, 12,19 € 

REVLON Colorstay Looks Book 

My fourth Looks Book palette, this one is of course by far my favourite since I only wear neutrals. And this is an actual nice neutral selection and not a collection of warm shades like so many such palettes. Pigmentation is like at all others great and the quality of eyeshadow good like at all the others. The brush can quickly pick up the shades and they blend easily. Just another great palette.

This wasn't my first choice, but TO's and The Inkey's List Lactic Acid have been out of stock for so long that I settled for this, since I had nothing apart from a few scraps of already expired stuff. I know it's considered a poor performing dupe for TO 30% AHA, which does nothing on me, so I might seem odd why I chose this, but I decided to try it because it has lactic acid as the main ingredient unlike TO's which has more glycolic, as I find the latter has no effect on my skin and I had a bit more success with Ecooking mask that has mostly lactic acid. It's truly a poor man's TO 30%. Formula is much lighter with a sheer tint compare to wine red TO. I feel zero tingling and I got no results from this, so no smooth or brighter skin. The BHA part might come in handy when I have breakouts, just like TO kinda helped a bit too.  

Ličila.si, 11,19 €

I'm sure you’ve heard of bakuchiol by now, if not haven't google it. Retinol so far has done nothing on my skin, TO's is particularly annoying to me, while the rest feel like I've been using nothing, so honestly I don't expect much from this, but it's worth a try. The Inkey List has a cheap one, but since their Niacinamide serum doesn't suit my skin that well, I opted for this other still affordable version, though I'm not a particular fan of Revolution. This is a lotion type of texture with a lavender tint and it's ok for layering over, but sometimes it can peel on the edges of the face when I apply oil over it. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and I see nothing, not that I thought I will so fast, but it's nice simple product to include in the routine and it's not breaking me out. 

Ličila.si, 10,39 €

I got this as a potential substitute for Vital Konzentrate, though it's only a kind of similar products as the only thing that's the same is the Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, which I think works ok for me. I was thinking between taking a serum or this, but I read a review on Simple Serenity that said the cream is nicer, so I got it first. The texture is a medium thick cream, one of the nicest to apply and most pleasant in my current collection. I've been using it on most days and though I can't say it's just this, my skin really enjoys Balea's stuff as it has a nice healthy look to it, I'd even some a moderate radiant glow. I know Balea isn't super exciting and some probably look at the ingredients list with fragrances and fillers with a bit of disdain, but a lot of their stuff works for me ok. 

DM, 3.49 €

Another products with Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate. Like most of these concentrates it has silicones as the first ingredients, regardless it's a nice formula for a face massage and it doesn't peel. I have one capsule for one use, though some might use less and get an extra or two uses out, but I apply it on my neck too and for a massage I need a bit extra. As expected it's not a greasy formula, more like a dry oil instead and it feel nourishing on the skin for my dry skin. I've been combining it with the Q10 cream and this combination is working for ok me. It’s not an amazing, life-changing combination, but for the price these two are more than decent. 

DM, 1.69 €

This has a different version of vitamin C than the other two, here it's Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, plus it has hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and its overall decent in terms of ingredients. It's in two parts, the serum is in a separate compartment than the mask, which is also soaked in essence, which has different ingredients that the serum. The latter is a classic serum, not super light, neither thick and there's more than enough for the face + neck. I'm glad to report Balea's mask material choice has vastly improved since their shaky beginnings. This one is a classic sheet you get at Asian masks, not the super thin one, but that regular thickness that is still very comfortable. It's completely soaked in essence, so just like Asian masks I had enough when I took it off to apply the rests on the entire body + there was enough a lot of extra essence still in the bag. Scent is nothing special and not strong. It's not the most moisturizing mask though, I definitely needed extra care when it all absorbed and my skin became a bit tight, but that was from the serum forming a layer on my skin. I didn't notice an instant glowy skin effect at this one, though the skin looked nice after use. It's a really nice pampering mask due to material and amount of essence, but at Schaebens pink Cell one I feel results are nicer.

DM, 1.99 €

I've been thinking about this for a while now, but Petra from Adjusting Beauty praises convinced me to get this. In terms of ingredients it's a simple moisturising serum (soja oil, glycerin, vitamin E, panthenol, calcum, hyaluronic acid), while I tend to be drawn more to stuff with at least niacinamide, but also vitamins A and C and/or peptides. It has a pipette applicator which is not ideal at this product, as the formula is too thick and a pump would be so much better. Serum smells so good, actually it's the same scent that Babylove products have (or at least had in the past), a powdery creamy scent that's quite strong. It works well under makeup because it's moisturising enough (well, I apply layers of other stuff, but this is the last), yet sinks in fast and leaves a smooth feeling on the skin. I quite like this even if it's not filled with niacinamide, ceramides and other stuff I want in my skin care. It has calcium just like the night moisturiser I have from this line.

DM, 4,99 €

Of course I got this for the ingredients: niacinamide high on the list, as well as hyaluronic acid and some caffeine. These are exactly like hydrogel patches from Secret Key, a really nice hydrogel, thick and flexible. The don't slide down the face even right after application, so I don't need to wait from the to warm up a bit and they are well saturated. I didn't see any instant results, but they felt nicely cooling under the eyes and ingredients are nice. 

DM, 1,49 €

Like most I have been washing my hands a lot and those cheap DM/Műller/Spar refills are not the kindest thing to the skin when you use them very often. So I grabbed this in DM. I used to have this as a face cleanser in my teens (regular version), but I wasn't a super big fan because formula is so thin. I still wish this was a lot more creamy and rich, instead it's a classic creamy liquid soap, but my skin is in noticeably better condition and I don't have dry flakes anymore. I use it for face too occasionally and it's a simple, non-drying formula that doesn't burn if it gets into the eyes. This is the sensitive version with no scent and I would prefer to take the scented one, just my preference, but I grabbed because I had 5 seconds and it was the first thing I saw. Bottle is huge with 500 ml and a pump, which is very trigger-happy, so it can spritz across the sink (or freshly washed dress...).

DM, 3,29 €

This is not an oil! Why is it in the name when it's just a run-of-the-mill gel? It's my fault, I should have checked the ingredients list, but I read it at home on DM's website and I was apparently looking at another product. I'm not mad though because this is a pleasant formula. Just like Babylove I've been using it to wash my hands since I do it so many times a day and this is noticeably less drying than my random soap from Müller. I've also started using it for my face, in fact it completely replaced my Balea gel and foam and I think it will stay that way. My skin doesn't get tight as fast as with Balea gel and this doesn't irritate my eyes, plus it has nice ingredients with even some niacinamide. I like this, I'll likely repurchase. It's not scented. 

DM, 3,19 €

Oh, this is good! I mean it's not an amazing scrub like Soap & Glory's one, but I love the formula of this. It's so delightfully creamy with a ton of small beads that almost feel like if I were using a baking soda (they are a bit larger) and it scrubs well enough, yet doesn't feel at all abrasive. The scent is as usual for Dove another great creamy goodness, so I'm really enjoying this one. It has an extra plastic lid inside the pot so the product doesn't dry out. Love this, it feels such a luxury to use it.

Müller,  3,99 €

I've been buying the super cheap stuff most of last year (Balea, what else) so buying one of this one again feels so good. Dove is makes the best ever shower gels, they are so creamy and lovely for dry skin. I'm also a huge fan of the classic Dove cream scent. 

DM, 2,49 €

This caught my eye because it claims to have an anti-bacterial effect (not alcohol based, but with Benzethonium Chloride). I loved the idea of a hand cream and anti-bacterial product in one, especially since most gels can be so drying with frequent use. I don't rely solely on this and still use my 48 spray often, but it's a nice, inexpensive hand cream with the extra benefit. Formula is on the light side and absorbs quickly with no residue when applied in a thin coat, but any more there is a bit of stickiness left for a while before it dries. It smells freshly floral, it's not really a Dove scent I recognize, but it's a simple, likeable one.

DM, 1.99 €

I got this because of AHA's, specifically a small amount of lactic acid this has. I'm hoping this will improve the back of my hands, so they will look more even. I'm already a fan of this formula, for one it smells divine - if you know Dove's Coconut Milk with Jasmine Petals scents, this is the same, that gorgeous feminine creamy scent. This one if thicker than Care & Protect, though still a bit lighter than my favourite Balea Urea hand cream. Most of it absorbs quickly, though a thin layer of product remains on the skin for a while, but it's not greasy, more like lightly moist. 

Müller, 1,95 €

I got this because of reviews, as some say it truly helps with thick, rough skin on the soles and corns (I don’t have the latter, just thick skin). I was apprehensive about believing that because of the ingredients. Since it say has fruit acids on the packaging, I'd expect them high on the list in a larger concentration, but that's not the case and it's mostly a nourishing formula. I like the texture, it feels nicely rich just the way I like them. I've been using this for a while daily and this hasn’t made a positive difference, but to be fair nor do those peeling socks on me, I just have the weirdest skin when it comes to acids. It has a nice fruity smell. 

DM, 1,99 €

 Standard repurchase. I've been using this for quite a while now. It's works and that's all that matters. I don't notice the scent anymore, but it's coconuty. 

DM, 3,29 €

I kind of have this already, well the SPF25 version that's sold in DM, while this version is in Müller's. I got the small one to keep in my pockets. I like the formula of this one, it's rich, yet it absorbs fast plus it has an SPF, which isn't the norm here when it comes to hand creams. 

A bath salt with a sweet tropical scent. I've had a few of these and the scent kind of gets lost in a large bath. I haven't opened this yet, but the scent can be tested on the packaging. Here it's how it looks inside, pale pink bath salt.

DM, 0,79 €

I had the shower gel with this scent and it wasn't' anything special, but this one is a nicer floral scent, less citrusy. These are Balea's classic cream like Nivea or Solea, though they are lighter and absorb faster. They had a ton of limited editions so far and I used to buy the regularly, but I've stopped because these get bad way before their expiration date (change texture and become glassy). They work as hand creams well. 

DM, 0.99 €

This caught my eye because of ingredients as it has fermented lactic acid bacteria high on the list, as well as some niacinamide and Q10 + most importantly some SPF, though it's a bit low, but for winter good enough. This is a thick and rich moisturiser, which makes it well suited for my dry skin. If I planned to wear this as a sunscreen, I can only get 1/3-2/3 of what it considered the "sufficient amount", I apply it in a normal amount and it can sit on the skin for a while, but it depends on how dry is my skin. On normal-combination, if not applied in a small amount, this may feel too heavy. Serum exists, which might be lighter and ingredients are very similar. It's scented with a nice gentle scent and makeup goes over it fine. I like this for this season.

Pharmacies and Müller, about 13 €

I like this. A lot. I don’t want to because it's expensive, but this is a really good mask for very dry, coarse, thick, bleached hair. Texture is surprisingly light for such an ingredients list, so I actually had some doubts this won't be rich enough for me (The Body Shop Shea mask with a similar list is much thicker, but actually not as good) and I was also concerned it will leave my hair without slip and hard to brush since it's silicone free, but the opposite happened. This made my hair feel like I just did an overnight Olaplex n.0+ n.3 + Cantu treatment. Granted I did use Farmasi Keratin spray, which my cousin says makes her hair super soft, but this combination left my hair softer than any mask/treatment apart from Olaplex + Cantu trio, my hair was well nourished, especially the ends and the effect lasted about 5-6 days, which makes it better than most masks on my hair (Cantu is the only contender). While when I was rinsing it off, it didn't quite feel like a silicone mask, when I began drying it there were no tangles, so La Croa spray had the day off, unexpectedly. The scent is the only bothersome thing to me, it has a strong "natural" scent that lingers, luckily it was gone by day two. I'm very impressed by this one, sadly knowing due to price I'll end up obsessively saving it for special occasions like I do with all great stuff.

Pharmacies, about 40 € 

I have everything Olaplex now apart from the shampoo. I love the results n.0 + n.3 + n.6 create (soft hair) and now I got the conditioner too. I didn't get it's turn yet, but I'll report back if it's anything special or it contributes even more the the n.0+n3 combo.  

Ličila.si, 22,39 €

I had no idea this existed, but apparently it's been around for a while, just not here in our drugstores. When I see "plex", I immediately go research the ingredients list, see what that company tries to sell me as the "bonding ingredient" (Olaplex has the real deal, the rest not really) and research the science behind it. At OGX it's Cystine Bis-PG-Propyl Silanetriol, which is not new and this research showed it helps combat breakage. Formula is very rich and thick, so a bottle is a terrible packaging for this and I can already see it will be troublesome (maybe I should move it to a pot). I used this in combination with the bonding cream and when I started blow-drying it my hair was noticeably more smooth, but there was zero slip, it felt like I had a lot of product on, so I had to apply a ton of La Croa so the brush and my fingers could glide through the hair. Luckily this was all completely fixed. I always put my freshly blow-dried hair in a tight bun and leave it overnight. By the morning my hair was light, not tangled and smooth - it looked and felt really good. A similar thing happens to me at Cantu, it's just a formula that looks better the second day with my bun trick. This is the only product that I will say I notice it makes my hair noticeably stronger. It only lasts a few days until my ends are dry again and hair become brittle, but on the first days where I see that white dot/break on the hair, it doesn't just snap off like usually, it takes some force to break completely. So this the best product I've tried for damaged hair that has actual immediate results. It may feel heavy on thin hair, but I have been wrong before predicting such things. The packaging is almost 400 ml, which is nice to see. 

Notino, 10,40€

A leave-in treatment that's applied on damp hair after washing. I use this at every wash now. Alone it's not as effective as in combination with the conditioner, but since it's a leave-in I can use it with any conditioner I want. It's a medium thick cream that's easy enough to apply on the hair. It's a type of formula that is best on damp hair only. I really appreciate this has a pump.

Notino,10,50€

I got this due to very impressive looking ingredients, while there are almost no reviews online, so I had no idea what to expect. This is the only mask I've found with so much ceramides and it also has proteins high on the list. Formula is very light, like a conditioner that more on the liquid side. I'm more used to rich formulas, so that surprised me because it feels very light. When I was rinsing it off it felt like it has a lot of slip and indeed when I started drying my hair there was no tangled and my brush ran smoothly through the hair. I expected this to make my hair smooth, since ceramides act like a cement of sort and keep the cuticle smooth, but this doesn't have much frizz control, certainly not like OGX. It's ok, it was moisturising enough for my hair, though it's the type where I know effect won't last long and I'll have to use considerably more leave-in that at Lazatigue. 

DM, 10,99 € (500 ml) 

I liked this a lot the first day because it quite successfully for a drugstore mask tames frizz and I had sleeker hair than with most drugstore treatments, but my hair got very dry on the 3rd day (not tangled, though), so this is a mask I have to combine with a lot of leave-ins for my type of hair. I think I'll explore JF Frizz purple line, it looks like it might be able to handle my super frizzy mane, but I'll have to combine it with Cantu and La Croa.

DM, 8,79 €

I like the ingredients list of this one because it looks like the perfect hydrating hair mask: glycerine, panthenol, arginine, hyaluronic acid, serin and other amino acids. It has no silicones, which was noticeable on my hair because it wasn't easy to comb, as this didn't provide much slip or detangle. Formula is light, though not super liquid and it's the type that I think won't weigh down anyone's hair. For me it was overall way too light, I had an unprecedented level of frizz (it looked like I had twice as much hair. Like Hagrid) and my ends were bone dry on the second day + very tangled. I couldn't fix it with anything, my hair was just absorbing everything in hours and became so brittle. It has a high feedback online, which I guessing is from people with thin hair that gets weighed down fast, but when I read them some mentioned they have bleached hair and I just don't get why they like it. Ingredients are great, but this is missing something nourishing for dry hair.

DM, 3,49 €

Their mask has been on my list to try for a while, but I picked up these two small versions instead to try first. I could live without trying this. It's quite a bland formula, like an average conditioner and like most drugstore stuff it kept my ends moisturised for a day and that was it. Formula is thin-medium, easy to apply, but not rich and it has a very strange scent. Not terribly impressive to me, but for thin hair with dry ends it's going to be just fine.

Müller, 1.95 €

I've been avoiding this ever since I've tried Balea Professional mask, which did not impress me at all (though most like it), but this was recommended to me when I posted about Balea. What actually convinced me to finally buy this was a bad review. It mentioned that they hate how oily the cap is and I was immediately intrigued by this - I wanted that oiliness, since my hair is so dry. It's damn expensive for a single treatment, so expected a lot for it to be worthy a repurchase. This one has the mask or treatment in a separate compartment, which is an instant plus if you have long hair, though it's only 20 ml and I had to add some Cantu because it wasn't enough, but for thin and shorter hair it should be ok. It's typical formula for a L'Oreal mask, not very heavy, but still nicely creamy. The cap is indeed oily, but not dripping with oil like I read in that review and it wasn't as messy as I expected. You're supposed to activate the heating effect by rubbing the compartment with the mask before you open it and this is the first out of three such masks I've tried at which the heating effect actually works and it works quite well, it's just that it's quite a temporary thing. Effects are ok, I just expected a lot more. That oil I hoped would help achieve a frizz free, smooth blow out, but it worked the same as Inebrya Keratin Restructuring mask, where you get a lot more bang for your money. My hair felt great to the touch for the first few days, though not "normal people soft", but nicely smooth and I only had to blow dry my hair + put it in a tight bun for a nice smooth effect and I didn't need extra curling, but the effect only lasted two days. It's ok, it's just way too expensive for what I get on my hair, it's not super nourishing like Lazatigue and effects are very temporary on me, but I might still get it once to try with a generous coat of a good mask because I like the cap, since it's oily + it actually heats up. Those with thin hair might have a problem with the oily cap.

DM, 3,99 €

A repurchase. One of my favourite hair mask precisely because it's the thickest drugstore formula which my hair needs. Ingredients are fantastic and it's one of those formulas that manages to make my hair more smooth. I'm still forced to buy these satchels because local Müller still doesn't have a pot. 

Müller, 1.99 €

I haven't had this version before. Ingredients are similar than the keratin mask, just with less protein. I'll report back when I try it. 

Müller, 1.99 €

A repurchase. It's well established I love this. This is my fourth bottle of the best detangler, smoother, shine giver and moisturizer. Awesome stuff, but La Croa needs to make a supersize. 

Müller, 8.99 €

When these first came out, the ingredients list & price didn't exactly drag me into a purchase, however, I just randomly remembered them because I wanted a hair fragrance. Ingredients are actually fine, albeit basic. I like this, a lot. I didn't read reviews before, but I did after I bought this and was surprised to see a very high feedback - and it deserves it because this is a very unique product. I spray this in the morning and every time I touch my hair during the day, it's like the scent activates and I get a whiff of the pretty Aussie fruity scent. I was afraid the formula won't work well on dry hair and it will make the hair too wet, but while it's not siliconey like La Croa, it doesn't mess with my hair and make it more frizzy when it dries. It's not an amazing at smoothing, but still good. The scent aspect is the selling point at this one and I'm glad I took got it.  

DM, 7.99 €

Another Farmasi product with nice ingredients (honestly I checked the rest and not a lot is interesting apart from this line). It again has hydrolised proteins, so good for damaged hair. Formula is thin, still I wanted it, but it's the type of texture I have to use 5+ pumps and it still might not be enough for my hair for look smooth and more polished. It's more suited for thin hair and there's only 30 ml which won't last too long if I use it often, but I liked the ingredients and I wanted to have a set of spray and serum.

7.99 €

Notino, 3,90 €

Eau de Parfum 

Another scent I found through reviews on Fragrantica. It's described as a great 90's scent and it is, it definitely reminds me of those days, but it's not amazing all the time. First impression were good. I smelled a rich, creamy vanilla with a tiny bit of coconut note too, so a nice soft, warm, cosy and creamy fragrance. But the longer I have it, the more I smell fakeness. I get this artificial strong peach first burst and sometimes that vanilla smells like basic bland car freshener. I don't know why such a change, but BBW makes nicer cosy, warm timeless scents with much less artificial fruity notes.

Notino, 7,90 €

ORIFLAME Lost in You 

New Valentine's fragrance by Oriflame. I got both women's and men's fragrance and as you can see on the bottom picture the bottles were designed to fit together.

Top notes: pink pepper, ginger, blackcurrant

Heart: pear, tuberose, peony

Base: ambrox, patchouli, tonka, musk

This starts so spectacularly powdery and warm, I just adore that first burst, but sadly it's quickly over and it then develops into something less unique, though still nice, a clean, powder, warm scent. In an hour or so it gets the typical Oriflame note that’s in Possess the Secret and a couple other scents. Luckily I detect zero patchouli, which is odd since it's in the notes and my skin always amplifies it tenfold. It's not a very long lasting fragrance and it's gone is a couple of hours. 

19.99 €

Top note: Ginger, Rhubarb, Apple

Heart note: Star Anis, Geranium, Tonka

Base note: Sandalwood, Cypriol, Vanilla

I don’t like many male fragrances, they all smell so similar, sharp and bland, but this such a nice one. I think it’s the rhubarb-apple-vanilla combo that makes it smell so good that I consider it unisex. It still has that note in the back that makes it smell “manly”, but in a much less obnoxious fashion than most. It's clean, powdery, fruity and soft. Some man might consider it too girly or that it doesn't have the traditional men fragrance vibe to it, but I think younger crowds will enjoy it. 

19.99 €