CATRICE Liquid Liner
010 Dating Joe Black

I got two of these on separate dates, the first one in December because my old one was running low, but then Catrice started their 6548th discontinuing campaign and due to a incorrect label in my local drugstore I mistakenly thought it's going to be discontinued and bought another one (it's only the waterproof version that won't be sold any more). To my great relief I learned this is staying in their standard line, I admit I'd be upset if they decided to kick out my new favourite eyeliner just when I found it, but I can't say I'm not used to Catrice and Essence acting like consumers have an attention span of five-year-olds. It's the only liner I've been using every day for the past seven months because it's the blackest liner that's completely matte, it stays forever on the lids, doesn't smudge or flake and the applicator is comfortable. Great stuff.

DM, 3.79 €

CATRICE Metallic Liquid Liner

010 Bronze Lee

This liner is being discontinued, so I grabbed it before it's gone. It's a wonderful liner, I really don't get why Catrice feels the need to discontinue such a large amount of their products ever six months and get rid of nice makeup bits. It's similar to the classic black eyeliner, so it has a very pigmented and long-lasting formula, except the shade is a metallic dark bronze, which looks beautiful on the eyes, especially blue. It's is still dark enough that it defines the eyes and is completely suitable to be worn every day, not just as a part of a special look. It lasted all day on my normal lids, though it flaked a little on the wings. Grab it if you still see it.

CATRICE Highlighting Eyeshadow

030 Metallic Lights

I've been swatching the new Catrice Art eyeshadows and these older highlighting ones every time I had the opportunity in the shops and they seriously impressed me with their super creamy, pigmented formula. So I planned on getting four of these to fit one of their custom palettes, but before I did that I just grabbed this shade which is being discontinued and I'm so let down by it because this is nothing like those great testers. The formula is much drier, not really creamy and definitely much less pigmented, so I'm confused what's going on and whether it's the same thing at all the shades. This colour is very beautiful, it's exactly the type of champagne highlighter I love and I use it on my cheekbones because I don't like highlighters on my eyes (I don't use it under the eyebrows because my eyes are hooded and I rarely use it in the inner corners), but I need to build it up so much using a dense eyeshadow blending brush. I'm not sure I want to risk it now buying other eyeshadows from Catrice, I want something very creamy and pigmented. 

Müller, 1.99 €

*THE BODY SHOP Matte Lip Liquid 

Winsor Rose, Nairobi Camelia and Mauritius Dahlia

This was a lovely Christmas gift by The Body Shop, so it came is this metal lip-shaped box, which just made it 10-times cooler. I'm a fan of matte lip creams and I've tried so many, these remind me most of NYX lip creams. They aren't as pigmented as others, which is most apparent at the darkest shade and they need more time to set, but they do to a perfect matte finish. Staying power isn't the best I've seen, again these remind me so much of NYX and while they survive drinking, food is a bigger challenge. They don't disappear completely, but they also don't stay intact. Basically if you like NYX, old Manhattan ones and Bourjois Velvet, you'll like these and I put them into a category that might be suitable for those with dry lips. Winsor Rose is a very basic warm, nude shade that so many brands have (I think it should be most similar to the likes of Velvet Teddy). It's too brown and weird peachy on me, but on most of you it'll look pretty fantastic, I'm sure of it, as the darker the skin tone, the more pinky nude it'll look. Nairobi Camelia is the type of shade I like to wear and it reminds me of the discontinued Manhattan 56K, it's's a medium warm peachy pink. Both of those two shades apply ok and it's easy to get any even application. Mauritius Dahlia is a deep cool burgundy and I'm not a fan of the formula (I am spoiled by theBalm Adoring) because it's got a weak pigmentation meaning the first coat is a stain and you have to wait for it to dry if you want to apply a second coat and get an opaque pigmentation because otherwise the lipstick shifts and you get a very uneven application. 

The Body Shop, gift box with three shades 21.30 €, individually 8.90 €

LOOK by BIPA Matte Camouflage Concealer 

010

Petra send this too me and she already made a review of it in which she says it's her favourite concealer. It can be bought in an Austrian drugstore Bipa, so this is from their own brand. This one is one of the high coverage matte concealers that's very similar to the likes of Catrice Liquid Camouflage and Collection Lasting Perfection, so great for spots or very dark circles. I've been wearing it almost every day since I got it in December and I quite like it, in fact I think it's the best high coverage drugstore concealer in my collection. It covers a lot, from circles, redness to spots, but it doesn't manage to hide my darker freckles, so it's not completely full-coverage. The finish is matte, but it doesn't set immediately, so you have some extra time to work with it. Two things impressed me at this concealer, first is that the shade is super light and the most neutral out of my other such concealers, so it suits me best (Collection fair is pink, Catrice Liquid Camouflage is a bit darker and yellow). Second thing that impressed me is the staying power, as it's still on my face at the end on the day, in fact without powder it's stayed on spots all day with no problems. 

Bipa, 3.25€

*VICHY Idéalia Peeling 

There aren't that many AHA products available in shops in Slovenia, nor products that contain ferments, so I'm glad to see Vichy's offering. They have combined antioxidant blueberry polyphenol with fermented black tea, plus glycolic acid, however, this does contain a lot of alcohol denat., which I know some are quite sensitive to it. It's chemical exfoliator type of product meaning it's one of those products you'd use when you want to brighten the skin, make it more even and softer. It's a very light toner type of product that leaves nothing behind and I felt no stinging using this, not even on a open wound, so the AHA content must be small. I gave it a fair test using in combination with just my other basic skin care, so I got results just from this. I started with a few spots that were already healing and I really expected to the biggest results in diminishing the red marks that are left behind. The results I saw were definitely soft skin, also no new spots developed all the time I was using this and it despite the high alcohol content, this didn't feel drying. However, in terms of evening the skin, making it radiant and fading marks, this didn't have such visible results that I've seen from other products with glycolic acid. Like I said I guess the content of glycolic acid is quite low and it takes months for proper results to show, but I do enjoy using this for the same reason I like COSRX BHA Blackhead Liquid for keeping my skin clear. I also love the scent as it has a lovely floral fragrance.

Pharmacies, 25 €

BALEA Refreshing Wash Gel

Erfrischendes Washgel

This became my staple, I literally get nervous when it starts to run out and I never know how close to empty it really is, so I bought two because these also run out quite fast. It's a simple gel cleanser that I use for my second cleanse since it has a pH 5.5, so it restores/keeps the skin balanced. It doesn't foam much, but I don't mind that and it doesn't irritate my eyes, which is an extra plus.

DM 1.19 €

BILOU Sweet Hands Hand Foam

Another gift from Petra and I must say the texture or better said its moisturising capabilities are quite surprising. I expected a gimmick product that would barely moisturise, however, the foam is quite thick and luxe. One pump can quickly be too much and you end up with sticky hands, so only a small amount is needed and this is quite a nourishing formula. Like other Bilou products it's heavily scented, this one smells like peaches with a floral green note, so not a gourmand type of peachy scent, but more like classic cosmetic peach scent.

DM, 3.95 €

BALEA Rasier Schaum

Coco Melon

Latest limited edition by Balea, this one has a tropical scent of coconuts and watermelon. I haven't tried it yet, but even now I can smell the classic Balea coconut scent.

DM, 2.99 €

L'OREAL Elseve Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo

A repurchase and I don't know though how many bottle of this I went through. I have super dry hair and this is the only drugstore shampoo that I trust. When I rinse it off, it already feels like I used some conditioner because my hair feels silky and it isn't tangled. 

Interspar, about 3 €

L'OCCITANE Cherry Blossom Hand Cream

My collection of these is just getting larger. This one has that classic cherry blossom scent that has been a part of L'Occitane lines for a decade now, so a sweet floral slightly fruity scent, but none of that sugary candy sweetness cherry scents often have. The texture is one of the light ones, like the Neroli and Almond versions, so not as good as the original shea butter, but still one of the best hand creams that exists.

L'Occitane, 8.10 €

L'OCCITANE Relaxing Bath Salts

I got this as a gift and I'm not sure when I'll find the time to use it, but it looks like classic bath salts. The scent is nothing special in the pot, not even that classic L'Occitane lavender scent. It's quite subtle, but maybe it's different in the tub. I think this is in the process of being discontinued.

I got a lot more product in the past two months, but I separated it in three posts. I'll have my Canadian Swap next and when all the parcels finally arrive, also a post with the K-Beauty purchases. Have a great day!

*CATRICE Kaviar Gauche LE

For this holiday season Catrice created the most stunning limited edition collection in collaboration with the bride couture brand Kaviar Gauche (the third time already). It caught my attention immediately when I saw it on Veracamilla's blog, who also swatched the palette and highlighter for those interested. I have the whole collection (apart from one brush) very graciously sent to me by the best woman in the PR business, Natalija, who saw it on my wishlist. Collection consists of an eyeshadow quad in neutral colours, a massive highlighter, a beautiful brush bag and five brushes (eyeshadow blending brush exists too). The packaging has a Physician's Formula Nude Wear vibe, so it's dressed in nude leather, but instead of rose gold, it's combined with the always classic gold. I think it's a breathtaking collection and I'm sure it'll be a big hit. Launch dates will likely vary from country to country, but they state it'll be available from November to January.

V Sloveniji je kolekcija že na voljo od 8.11., na prodaj pa je/bo v drogerijah DM, Leclerc Maribor, Click2Chic, Ličila.si, Spar Citypark Ljubljana, Merkator Hipermarketih s Catrice stojali, drogeriji Ilirija, parfumerijah Beauty Word in drogerijah Müller.

Eye Shadow Palette C01 Sand Souci

A gorgeous eyashadow palette in a gold-leather design that contains four neutral shades in different finishes. It's got an iridescent skin tone shade with pink shimmer, an iridescent golden brown, a satin medium brown and a matte cool brown. Pigmentation is ok, but Catrice's newest single eyeshadow are much more buttery and opaque then these (I'm holding back for now, but I will go buy a few because I was so impressed in the shop). Eyeshadow colours combine well, blend ok too and with them I get a nice, subtle neutral look that gives the eyes a bit of definition.

€ 6.29

Highlighter C01 Éclat D'Or

The obvious first - this highlighter is huge! It's almost the size on my face and you get an whopping 35,7 g of product, so it'll last forever. It looks light beige-pink in the pan, but it contains warm gold shimmer, so it ends up a classic warm champagne highlighter which is what I like best. It's meant for face and body, hence the size, so it's a type of highlighter that's more on the subtle side, but the glow is nicely visible and the shimmer is so fine, you don't see any glitter, just a glowy effect. 

€ 6.29

Brushes

Highlighter Brush - a thin fan brush with thick enough bristles that is picks up highlighter ok and it's also quite precise if you want. It's soft and gentle on the skin, also all of these are synthetic. € 5.29

Eye Lid Brush - a classic shader brush, so the one you use to apply colour on your lid area. Since it's synthetic and a bit stiffer than those with natural bristles, it works better with cream formulas, but it's not problematic with powder eyeshadows too. € 4.29

Blush & Contour Brush - my favourite because I've been missing an angled blush brush in my collection. It's soft and picks up colour well, but I wish the bristles were just a bit shorter. € 5.69

Brush Bag

Another eye candy in the collection. The faux leather is soft and looks nice quality, overall the whole collection feels and look much more expensive than it is. There is space for five brushes in bag with slots varying in sizes.

€ 6.29

My brushes arrived in a set (three brushes: powder, eye lid and blush &contour, plus a makeup bag), but all the things are sold individually too, apart from powder brush which is exclusive to this set. It comes packed in a gold box, so a great gift idea and it costs 17.49 €.

Set čopičev je/bo na voljo v Leclerc Maribor, Click2Chic, Ličila.si, Spar Citypark Ljubljana in v drogerijah Müller.

MAYBELLINE Lash Sensational Mascara

I've had the waterproof version a couple of years ago and I really liked it, now I got the regular version pretty much mainly for the metallic (LE?) packaging (my hording of pretty things has a purpose, I swear), but also, since I started noticing regular mascaras are now working for me a lot better than before, I wanted to see if I like this one as much as WP version. Overall it's ok, predominantly a defining mascara, though it gives some volume too and I've noticed it gets more volumising the longer I have it, so as the formula thickens. It's not keeping my lashes lifted as well as I'd hoped, even though it starts off well. The longer I have it, the better it's getting and the more I like it. 

DM, 9.29 €

CATRICE COSMETICS Liquid Liner

010 Dating Joe Black

A repurchase. I bought my first one in the beginning of June, used it every single day and though it's not completely empty, I couldn't get a sharp line, so I bought a new one after only four months (I expected it'll last me longer). So far it's my favourite liner, though it's not the most precise, but I've been using it every day for 5-6 months now and it hasn't let me down yet. The formula is super black and very matte, it lasts all day with no smudging, flaking - anything really, it just lasts. The applicator is a felt tip that's comfortable, flexible enough, but not flimsy like a brush.

Müller, 3.79 €

CATRICE Dawid Tomaszewski LE Wild Matte Lip Colour

C02 Lucy's Red

I'll admit I got this because of the packaging, but the lipstick itself is great, as is usual for Catrice and I think this is the same as their new Ultimate Matt formula. They describe the formula as matte and it's pretty close, though it's more of a satin-matte instead and it's not like the Bourjois lipstick I'll describe bellow. It's creamy and glides on the lips easily, but this formula isn't completely opaque with one swipe, so it needs building up. Staying power is ok for a classic lipstick and it stains due to the pink base. Lucy's Red is a cool toned cherry red, a proper pin-up shade. Despite appearances, the packaging is plastic.

Ogrlica in obesek iz Fatalka.si.

Müller, 4.29 €

CATRICE Dawid Tomaszewski LE Glow Stick

C01 Fashion Flash

Another one I got for the packaging, but I like creamy highlighters in general. It's a champagne glow with a warm undertone, which suits my skin tone perfectly. Formula is creamy and soft, it easily transfers on the skin and blends well. I apply two coats, since the first usually blends out too much, but the glow is moderately strong as you can see on my picture. Packaging is again plastic and feels somewhat cheap, but it looks lovely and I love the triangle design. 

Müller, 5.69 €

*BOURJOIS Rouge Velvet The Lipstick

06 Abrico'dabra and 09 Fuchsia Botté

These caught my attention a while ago as does anything that claims to be matte, but given they are 14 € I held back on buying them. I was later send two shades, while a total of twelve shades exist ranging from nudes, pinks, reds to burgundies and as is usual for Bourjois the shades are classic, most of them universally flattering. I swatched all of the shades in the shop and shade 03, a light pink, is the one I like most, though I also loved 05, a rosy medium shade. Formula of these is surprising. I expected a waxy type of formula that is usually used for matte finishes (like at Catrice above), but this one is so buttery like it has not wax, it just glides on the lips with no breaks. The finish is pretty much like matte liquid lipsticks when it sets, so needless to say I'm loving it - also these barely transfer, just like a liquid versions. The latter made me want that 03 shade even more, while I know I won't be wearing these two shades, since I dislike orange and bright pink isn't an every day shade for me. Staying power is nice. It survived a meal, but it starts to fade after maybe 5-6 hours and it's not the nicest even fading, but you don't get that ring of colour. 06 Abrico'sabra is an orange shade and 09 Fuchsia Botté is as the name suggests a fuchsia shade in a warm pink version. One thing that bothers me about these is that they are impossible to apply precisely because they are so buttery, so make sure you have a matching lip liner.

Drugstores, 13.89 €

*BOURJOIS Miraculous Contour Universal Lip Liner + Primer

I never had a clear lip liner before, but these are meant to keep the lipstick from bleeding and feathering. This one feels like a silicone primer for the lips. It helps the lipstick go on smoother and should help it stay in place, though my lipstick always stays in place anyway. In terms of adding staying power, I haven't seen a difference yet, but I haven't used it with all my lipsticks and I wear long-wear formulas anyway. It's a retractable eyeliner, so no sharpening is needed. 

*L.O.V. EXTRAordinary Perfecting Fluid Foundation

010 Ivory Elegance & 040 Honey-moon

The next L.O.V. things are all new products for fall. EXTRAordinary perfecting fluid promises some anti-ageing effects, more specifically to hydrate, add elasticity and reduce fine lines - bold statement for makeup. The stand out feature is the packaging which is an upgraded cushion/tension pack and the foundation is dispensed by pressing a button. You get a standard foundation puff for application, which is a bit hard compared to my Tony Moly one, but it blends seamlessly. I got two out of four shades - the lightest 010 and third in the line-up 040, both are for medium skin tones and much too dark for me, so I can only make 010 work with the help of a lot of TBS Adjusting Drops. Formula is creamy and thick, Catrice has the most similar formulas (excluding HD) and it a lot of aspects it behaves like Catrice foundations, to be more specific the discontinued Nude Illusion. Coverage is medium, but easily buildable to medium-full. It looks ok over the pores and lines, but it doesn't hide them and the finish is just like at Nude Illusion that satin finish with a level of healthy radiance, but it is a noticeable foundation. Overall it's a very likeable foundation, looks ok on the skin, it doesn't look cakey and it doesn't make the pores look worse, so I would rate it high if it weren't for the horrible shade range that excludes everyone under or over NC/W25-35. 

Müller, 14.99 €

*L.O.V. LASHseduction Instant Volume Mascara

Just a classic volumizing mascara. When it's new the formula is wet and gloopy, so it's got a potential to be clumpy if you go over two coats, but it gives a lot of volume, so it's at the moment my most volumizing mascara (compared to Lash Sensational, Paradise Extatic and Essence Volume Stylist). It's a messy mascara - at least I can't get an application without getting some on my lids, but otherwise it doesn't run or smudge during the day. The brush is classic, not exactly defining, as it's more meant for building up the volume, but I also don't need a separate brush for combing the lashes. Due to being so wet, it drops my lashes, so it's not my personal favorite, but if you don't have problems with that and you want a lot of volume, consider this one in your selection.

10.99 €

*L.O.V. LOVtreat Color & Care Nail Lacquer

640 Soft Sensuality

I think these are replacing the old line of nude nail polishes that had a white cap or at least they did on the stand in my local drugstore. All shades are pale and I believe sheer with one coat. They contain calcium, proteins and almond oil which nourish the nail and I have to say that when I took this shade off, my nails did't have that usual beat up/yellow stained look. My shade 640 is a milky nude, more on the warm side, but it looks very natural and as I said it's sheer with one coat, though it has a thick formula. With three coats I get 80% of coverage. Like all L.O.V. nail polishes it lasts great on my nails.

6.49 €

*DUALcover Concealer & Retoucher

025 Sand Sophistication

This has a combination of a stick concealer and a liquid concealer. The first has medium- full coverage, but it's quite a stiff and thick formula, meaning obvious on the face and not easy to work with. The second is meant for under the eyes and it claims it contains "Shadownyl", which brightens the under eye are and lessens the appearance of wrinkles. It comes in two shades, I got the darkest one, so I can't wear it, at least the stick side, but I mixed the liquid side with TBS drops for the purpose of testing. The liquid side is very shiny-dewy and it stays like that all the time. Coverage is light-medium, but buildable, due to that shiny texture which never truly sets, it also creases. 

12.99 €

*THE BODY SHOP Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup-Remover

This is most similar to micellar waters or toners. It's light, non-greasy, but effective when it comes to regular mascara and other makeup. It's gentle on the eyes, I feel no stinging at all and much like micellar waters it leaves nothing behind. The scent can be described as a day old camomile tea smell, which isn't my favourite, but it's not strong and overall this is a likeable product.

*THE BODY SHOP Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil

I like this a lot. It's a dry oil, so there's very little of that greasy feeling, but the skin is nourished and more importantly in such good condition. I've been using this for three weeks now, a little goes a long way as with most oils. This makes my skin so soft and radiant, I really like its effect. I might even replace my trusted Nuxe because it's even drier and I like the ingredients more as it contains black cumin seed oil, camellia oil and rosehip seed oil, but I'm not sure yet because the price is very high. The only thing that's a downgrade from Nuxe is the scent, since TBS has such a basic oil smell. 

*THE BODY SHOP British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask

The name might not imply it, but this is a moisturising type of mask that also promises some radiance. It contains rose petals, rose essence, rosehip oil and aloe vera, but also alcohol relatively high on the list and the texture is like a gel. The smell of this is great. I despise that granny rose scent they put in cosmetics, especially since it smells absolutely nothing like real roses that are planted by the house, which I go sniff every five minutes when they are in bloom. This has that exact authentic rose scent - finally something true to life. Although based on ingredients I'd say this is a classic sleeping mask that doesn't need to be washed off, TBS' instructions say to rinse this from the skin after 10 minutes and since it ends up kind of sticky, I did wash it off after 20 or so minutes both time I used it. It left my skin looking really good and feeling very smooth and soft, in fact the results remind me a lot of some Asian Sheet masks (MBD Black Pearl, TFS Solution Pearl, Papa Recipe), so this is a really nice product in my eyes and I already put in on my wishlist. And to think I wasn't even going to use it because of the rose scent. 

*THE BODY SHOP Frosted Berry Body Butter

I adore TBS body butters, I tried nine versions (Vineyard Peach, Honeymania, Shea Butter, Satsuma, Passion Fruit, Grapefruit, Black Cheery, Almond and Cherry Blossom), well ten if I count this one, and all were fantastic, though textures differ, as some are thicker than others and those are the ones I like most. Vineyard Peach is my ultimate favourite, followed by Shea Butter and Satsuma. Frosted Berry is a Christmas edition and it has a forest fruits yoghurt type of scent, so fruity and fresh, plus slightly sour. Like all nourishing body butters it needs time to sink in, which makes me more secure that's it's actually moisturising my skin, so it's something I use before going to bed.

*THE BODY SHOP Almond Milk & Honey Shower Cream

I loved this immediately when I tried it. The scent is divine, a honey sweets almond type of scent that's so comforting and so much better than the flowery Honeymania they tried to sell as as a proper honey scent. This one is from the line created for sensitive, dry skin and it doesn't contain soap, though despite that it foams ok and as you might expect the formula is creamy and not stripping.

*THE BODY SHOP Nigritella Eau de Parfum

This one was such a blast from the past to me. I used to wear L'Occitane's Vanilla fragrance that contained vanilla orchid notes and this has that exact note in it. It's such a rich floral note with strong oriental vibes and a base of vanilla, which is more sophisticated here than in most fragrances. I loved it straight away.

*THE BODY SHOP Eye Colour Stick 

Cyprus Bronze

I'm a fan of stick eyeshadows and I have several versions. In fact I have a very similar selection of shades from other brands, however, Cyprus Bronze is the lightest version of such a shade I own. My winners are Kiko eyeshadows with their rich pigmentation and excellent staying power, this one is already not as pigmented and it doesn't transfer on the lids quite as opaque, but the texture is still smooth and soft. Shade is a classic bronze shade with shimmer that looks good on anyone. Staying power is ok, but not exceptional, it creases a bit, but it doesn't end up a mess on the lids. 

MY HOIN NI Arbutin Whitening Mask

Since I've gone through most of Balea masks, which proved to be disappointing, I'm exploring our drugstores further for some decent finds, though we have so little of them (Essence, CadeaVera, Garnier, Schabens and Innel are some I found). Based on ingredients these My Hoin Ni ones are the most similar to Asian brands, in fact they look very impressive, so I picked up the brightening version first, since those are the ones I like most. And guess what - this is almost exactly like My Scheming masks. The sheet is thin compared to Balea, but it's not ultra thin like some, it fits ok (again it's slightly too big around my chin), it's very saturated with product and it actually drips. It has a plastic protective filter just like My Scheming and some others. The essence is light and absorbs fast, so this is nice also for oily skin. Scent was not my favourite, as it was kind of chemical and sour. Effects were noticeable - brighter, more healthy looking skin as it usual as brightening masks (arbutin does its job here). My skin started to feel tight in a few minutes, so my normal-dry skin needs some extra care after it. So far the best sheet mask I've found in Slovenia and the only one I can compare to Asian ones.

Ingredients.

Műller, 2.99 €

L'OREAL Casting Créme Gloss

360 Black Cherry

After ten years of not dyeing my hair anymore, I've started to crave a bit of a change. I actually really, really want to get bayage, but first I don't know if I can trust any of my local hairdressers, since I've been burned so many times (the reason why I stopped dyeing my hair) and it's expensive. So one day I just arrived at an idea that I want a deep red-purple shade and I started exploring my options. I wanted a temporary colour before I commit to anything and I found that L'Oreal added some nice looking dark shades that promise to work also on such dark hair as mine. I actually had one of these colours way back close to 10 years ago when they launched, I got it due to massive popularity and because I needed to cover my bad hair dye job, so I got a chocolate brown, which didn't really show up well on my hair, but I read reviews about this red Black Cherry shade before I bought it and most said it's the best among Casting colours. These wash off after 28 washes.

I already dyed my hair with this, which I posted on Instagram Stories for those who follow me. I ended up using just one box, it turned out to be enough, despite the fact I have very long and thick hair. Results are visible, but as I kind of suspected nowhere near what the box shows. My dark brown hair now has a red shine that is visible in the sunlight, otherwise the difference is very subtle. I wanted more, but I'm not disappointed by the results. I'll do a full review of this, I just want to see how long it will last, since I wash my hair once or twice a week.

DM, 5.99 €

 *VICHY Dercos Micro Peel anti-dandruff Scrub Shampoo

Since I've tried Matrix Scalp Synch scrub, which has been discontinued, I'm trying to find every similar product to try. Luckily this one found me. It contains 1 % piroctone olamine, 1,5% salicylic acid and glycerine, plus there are beads suspended in the gel. It's meant for oily scalp and it promises to remove both visible dandruff and those flakes that are stuck to the scalp (that's what I have most problems with and most shampoos aren't capable of removing it). The packaging is great, it has a nozzle applicator which means you can apply it directly to the scalp and the tube is soft, which my weak arms greatly appreciate. It produces a thick foam and you can feel only a bit of those beads, so it's not like a proper scrub and it ends up feeling very gentle. They advise you foam it up and massage it well all over the scalp, then leave it on to work for three minutes. Given that it's a shampoo for oily hair I was concerned it might be drying, but I guess that glycerine is doing its job , so my hair didn't feel that dry. It removed about 95 % of the dandruff that's stuck to my scalp, which I call an excellent result. It hasn't cured the dandruff yet, but I noticed it's less of it, so for now I'm giving it a thumbs up, however, I've seen good results with some other products and then the stop working, but well see with this one. I just really, really want this to be the one that fixes everything. One thing that it didn't help with was the itching, that's the only minus I can find so far.

Pharmacies, 14 €

Have a great day!

*PR products, just send for consideration.

Balea Tropische Früchte Badezauber

I haven't got the foggiest who actually used this up (thieving bubble bath fairies?), but here it is even though I only used it a couple of times. It's a bubble bath with a piña colada scent, however, the bubbles are pretty pathetic. The scent, on the other hand, is lovely exotic and it makes you feel like you're bathing in a massive piña colada cocktail. It's inexpensive for a big bottle, but I prefer more bubbly products.

Repurchase: Probably not.

Balea Dusche & Creme Cocos & Nectarine

One of my favourite shower gels ever! It smells divine - like peach flavoured bubble gum and it's only a €. Love it!
I hear they released a passion fruit version recently, which I obviously need and I have my eye on the strawberry one as well.

Repurchase: Already did.

L'Occitane Honey Foaming Gel

Another lovely smelling shower gel, except this one smells like sweet honey. It had one of the best honey scent ever and a gentle, jelly-like texture formula. Unfortunately, it was limited edition, so I was super frugal with it, but sadly it had to run out one day.

Repurchase: I would if it weren't a LE.

 Balea Rasier Gel

A boring empty. It's a staple in my bathroom. I love the powdery floral scent and the quality is fantastic for the price.

Repurchase: Already did and I got the Summer Garden version as well (which smells amazing).

Victoria's Secret Love Spell Body Butter

Another product I was very sparing with since VS isn't available in my country. The scent is a winner at this body butter. Love Spell is one of the most delicious tropical scents I've ever tried and layering the body butter with the body mist made me smell like a fizzy tropical drink. The texture is almost like a body butter meets gel and feels strangely wet, but it's super moisturising.

Repurchase: Yes.

Bioderma Sensibio H2O micelle solution

Yes, I'm getting boring again. I used up another one of these. You know I love it and there is nothing more to say.

Repurchase: Yes.

Maybelline Eye Makeup Remover Waterproof

The same story as with Bioderma, this is my staple and it excels at removing waterproof mascara. I recently purchased Nivea's version because DM doesn't carry Maybelline's one and it just made me appreciate it more. Fantastic product for a reasonable price.  

Repurchase: Yes.

 Tigi Bed Head Spoil Me

It is great defrizzer in a spray that smells like lemon candy. I used this before I found Healthy Sexy Hair Three-Wheat Leave-in conditioner, which also defrizzes very well as well as provides my dry hair with extra moisture. Spoil me is a super light product that feels like nothing on the hair and yet it works. It's great for those who have hair that gets weighted down or greasy easy and need a light taming product. The bottle is massive and it lasts long, however, it appears that perhaps gas escaped from mine, since there is still product inside, but it won't come out.

Repurchase: No. Since I discovered Three-Wheat Leave-in conditioner I don't need it any more. 

Vichy Dercos Anti-Dandruff Sensitive Treatment Shampoo

Another dandruff shampoo that I gave a try and it failed. It's a very gentle sulphate, silicone and paraben free formula that doesn't clean the scalp well which is essential if you have dandruff. It's also a bit stripping and it leaves my hair tangled. Basically, I didn't like it at all.

Repurchase: No.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor

I have to say with each use I love it more and it's fast becoming one of my favourite hair treatments. I literally repurchased it the day I used it up (and I haven't repurchased the Dove Oil care one yet). It hydrates my dry hair well and performs similar to much more expensive products. Not to mention it smells amazing like bubble gum. A winner.

Repurchase: Already did.

Tigi Oatmeal & Honey Intense Nourishing Mask

I have mixed feelings about this one. It's undoubtedly a good product, but is it really so good that it deserves that extra few euros when there are very similar performing products in the drugstore range? It just lacks that bit of oomph that something from Joico or Kerastase has. The pot contains only 200 ml of product which didn't last me many treatments and though the scent is very cinnamon-clove-Christmas-y, it is strong and only appeals to me in the winter months. I also noticed a very unattractive crust on the top when I didn't use it for a few weeks. It's not bad, but for the price there are better.

Rexona Clear Pure Crystal
Deo stick antiperspirant
This is the first deodorant ever that didn't stop working on me and I've used every bit of it! I was quite shocked when I hit the plastic bit at the bottom as I didn't expect to use it up and not toss it before that. It's a stick deodorant that smells nice (fruity) and works well enough on me by keeping BO at bay. The only bad thing are the white marks, however, I can forgive that. I actually bought a different deodorant out of curiosity, but I don't like it nearly as much.
Repurchase: Rather surprisingly yes.

lee stafford POKeR STRAiGHT DeHUMIDIFIER
The so called "invisible umbrella" that promises to prevent curling due to the moisture and fight frizz. It should work in theory, but in real life situations it didn't quite cut it. Actually, it's pretty much the same thing as got2b Öl-La-La Styling Öl-Spray and it leaves the same same light oily-siliconey feeling as well as gives loads of shine. And that's what I've been using it for, as a shine spray and a tamer. It has the typical Lee Stafford scent, a heavy oriental one with flower notes and patchouli. I would recommend only girls with dry(-ish) hair should use it as it is oily.
(Re)purchase: No. I prefer Öl-La-La because it smells nicer.

 lee stafford Dry ShaMPOO ORiGiNAL
Not my favourite dry shampoo since its oil absorbing properties are not the best and it doesn't refresh the hair as effectively as for example Batiste, however, it doesn't leave that powdery, gritty texture as most dry shampoos do. It has a very strong parfumey scent, again the typical Lee Stafford one, but a very intense version which can be headache inducing for more sensitive people.
(Re)purchase: No.

Have a great day!

My first experience with pharmacy brands happened many years ago with one of the dandruff shampoos and in these years I've tried a fair share of other products as well - from the famous Avene's Cleanance K and La Roche Posay's Effaclair Duo to the luxurious Nuxe Baume Prodigieux Lip Gloss - and I've found a nice amount of favourites and staples. I have a lot of faith in products from the pharmacy being a lot better than those from the drugstore and are probably as good as some high-end ones just for a more reasonable price. They are easy to get a hold of where I live, since we have a lot of pharmacies nearby and quite a few online shops (by the way, my favourite pharmacy is Leposana (E. Leclerck Ljubljana), where things are quite a lot cheaper than in my local pharmacy, especially if you have their loyalty card). 

 Phyto Phytheol Intense 

Dandruff treatment shampoo (100ml)

This has the weirdest texture of a shampoo ever. It's very thin and runny, also the packaging is beyond annoying because it's metal and you can't squeeze it resulting in having to pour the product out, which is particularity irritating when it's on its last legs. So why am I including it here? It's simple - because out of mountains of anti-dandruff products I've tried, this with combination of Phytopolleine had the best effect so far. It didn't cure it (I've actually lost hope for that, it's been going strong for 13 bloody years and I've tried everything, even went to a dermatologist), but it was the only product that actually removed that stubborn layer of dandruff that is stuck on my scalp and I finally felt like my scalp could breathe again. I'm sure that on someone whose scalp isn't so persistently dry that it flakes, rather has more "normal" dandruff problems this should solve it.

La Roche-Posay Kerium 

cream-shampoo anti-dandruff (250 ml)

Again another anti-dandruff shampoo, but this is not the intensive treatment rather a maintainer with salicylic acid that chemically exfoliates the scalp. But why I love it is because it's super gentle, yet really creamy and perfect for my mega dry hair. Most shampoos leave my scalp itchy after use because they dry it out, but with this I never had those problems at all. I've gone through a half a dozen tubes and though I'm trying other treatments for dandruff, I keep coming back to this. This and Kerastase Oleo-Relax are my absolute favourite shampoos. 

 Alpecin Medicinal Forte Intensive Scalp & Hair Tonic 

(200ml)

Technically I didn't buy this in a pharmacy, I buy them in Müller, but it is a healing type of product so I'm including it here. Again I bought this originally as a dandruff treatment, but it didn't yield much results in that department, however, this is a miracle for itchy scalp. Whenever my scalp feels itchy this soothes it instantly. I have to warn you that is has a very powerful, herbal schnapps scent so beware of any comments about reeking of alcohol, but hey at least your scalp will feel great. Another thing is the packaging which is rubbish since it lacks some sort of a nozzle with which you could apply this directly on the scalp, rather it's just pouring out uncontrollably and that's why (please don't laugh at me for this) I use a syringe (without the needle, obviously) so I can get the product directly and evenly on the scalp. I'm currently using my eighth bottle.

Phyto Phytopolleine 

Botanical Scalp Stimulant (25ml)

As I already said in the Pytherol review, this is a little miracle product that completely purified my scalp. It's eye-wateringly expensive at 29 € for a stingy 25 ml, but I bought two in a row. Sadly, it seems that it stopped working on me as all anti-dandruff products do (please tell me I'm not alone in this), so I'm having a bit of a break from it and I'm hoping a fresh bottle in a few months will be effective again. This really was the only product that came close to getting rid of my stubborn dandruff and because it's an oil, it also leaves the hair feeling really nourished .

 Bioderma Sensibio H2O micelle solution 

(100ml, 250 ml and 500 ml) 

It wouldn't be a best from pharmacies post without this. I've been a fan of it for about three years and I've gone though countless bottles. Sure there are drugstore dupes nowadays, but I don't find them as effective in completely and quickly removing all the makeup even though they are really good.

La Roche-Posay Nutritic Intense In-depth Nutri-Reconstituting Cream 

(30 ml)

This is a saviour for very dry, flaky skin. It actually feels relatively light, but it's intensely moisturising and it transforms the flaky skin literally overnight. Sadly, it breaks me out, which breaks my heart, but my mother adores this. She's not the one to pay more than 5 € for a moisturiser, but since I gave her this one, she bought four in a row and says it's absolutely worth the money and even puts an effort into tracking it down, would you believe it. If you're suffering from dry, flaky skin, do yourself a favour and grab this next time you're in a pharmacy.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum 

(30 ml)

When I first tried to seriously deal with my dehydrated, flaky skin years ago, this was like a little miracle in a bottle. It's fantastic for such skin, even for one that has a greasy T-zone. It balances the skin out by intensely moisturising it, but its super light texture doesn't cause problems for oily skin. It is a serum, so it should be used with a moisturiser on top, personally I love the combination of this with Nuxe dry oil. 

Eucerin Aquaporin Active Light 

(30 ml)

My second favourite moisturiser right behind L'Occitane's Angelica Hydrating Cream. It's based on aquaporins, which are a sort of plumbing system for cells and it moisturises the skin while still being light enough to be used under make up. I actually got this based on a few samples the sales lady gave me and I was so impressed I ran to the pharmacy as soon as I finished the samples and I've repurchased it three times so far. 

 Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse 

Multi-purpose Dry Oil (50 and 100 ml)

If you're an old follower on my blog, you'll know that I've been using this every day for three, yes three, years already. This is a staple in my skincare, much has changed, but this stayed. This is one of those products I can hardly imagine being without. It keeps my skin super soft, radiant and healthy looking. It's a dry oil, so it actually doesn't feel that oily and it sinks in in minutes. It's a multi-purpose oil, so I use what's left on my hair and it keeps it in good condition. It can also be used as a body moisturiser and it gives that great glow in the summer. The scent of it is fantastic as well. By the way, I would recommend the 100 ml version because it comes with a spray pump, while the 50 ml size just has a hole and it's irritating to get the product out because you have to shake it vigorously.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or

Multi-purpose Dry Oil (50 and 100 ml)

The shimmer infused sister or the original. This gives that amazing Victoria Secret glow on the body (best on legs and collarbone) as well as that glowy, summery look if used under a foundation. I love using this on my hair, because it's not too greasy even though it's silicone free and it gives a lovely shine to the hair.

Bio Beauté by Nuxe Lip Balm 

with apricot butter (15 ml)

I've been loving this more and more since I got it. I have a favourite lip balm, Palmer's Swivel stick and for years I haven't used anything else (I bough a few, but hated them), and this Nuxe one is getting just as much use as Palmer's. It's a lip balm-lip gloss hybrid that moisturises the lips and gives a nice glossy finish that is not super shiny, which I really like. It smells amazing, exactly like home-grown pears. It costs 10€, but there is a massive amount of 15ml in the tube, which should last a long time.

Avene Cicalfate

Antibacterial Repair Cream (40 ml)

A staple in any household. This is just one of those panthenol (provitamin of B5) treatments I've tried and they are all about the same, but this one is the one I have currently. Cicalfate is very similar in texture to Bepathenol (from Bayern, the Aspirin company) in a sense that it's a very thick cream that doesn't spread that easy. But these are little saviours for any type of wound or that blemish you squeezed just a bit too hard. It's antibacterial and it helps the wound to heal faster.
Another panthenol treatment that is actually very different is La Roche Posay's Cicaplast (original one, not the new B5 version). That one feels like a silicone primer, so some may like it more to use it on the face. 

What are your favourites from the pharmacy? Have a great day!