One of the new products. It can be removed with just warm water, which is why I got it. It's a mascara that needs some time to become volumising as when it's new the formula is too thin to create significant volume. Once it dries a bit, it becomes a more typical Catrice mascara, one that creates let's say a medium amount of volume with two coats. I always get it on the skin around the eyes, which either has to do with the brush or my clumsiness. There was some smudging due to sunscreen and I think maybe a BB cream, it can also crumble if there's tears and you rub your eyes. 

I bought this after Catrice's one didn't really wow me and this was recommended to me. It's another new product for spring and there are several versions of Lashes Without Limits mascaras, not all are tubing ones. The brush is a silicone one with a pretty basic design. It's more volumising when new than Catrice's version and the formula is not as thin. The volume doesn't reach the levels of some of their popular formulas such as Lash Princess and for a mascara that boasts with adding length I notice nothing special. As far as smudging and flaking goes - it the same as at Catrice; it can smudge in contact with something oily and flakes at times. It's easily removed with warm water and no remover is needed - that's the biggest plus for me, even if I don't find it that amazing in terms of effect. It doesn't hold my lashes up.

I have this one in my bag and Catrice in makeup table, so I use them interchangeably. Essence wins. I've had both for months, I use them all the time and Essence's has a more impressive effect in terms of volume. 

These are designed to be matte semi-opaque lip colours that look blurred. I haven't tried a lipstick like it, but it reminds me Revlon's Cloud liquid lipstick. Neutral colours look very natural in terms of texture on the lips, but at vivid shades on my lips they catch on ridges, leaving somewhat uneven look - to be fair I think it can only be seen from close up. 010 Mochi Mauve and 020 Raspberry Rush look very similar on me and very natural, like my lips-but-better. 060 Brown Butter is also very similar, just deeper. 030 Peach Blush adds a touch of a peachy hue and again is more on the neutral no-make-look side. 040 Cashmere Cherry is the only shade that has some vibrancy and creates a nice soft red lips look. Formula is very lightweight, it needs several layers for good opacity and isn't the type of formula that's particularly hydrating, but it's also no drying. Staying power isn't the best even at the red shade.

A creamy collection of liners. Pigmentation isn't fully opaque with one stroke, but they are more intense than the Blur lipsticks. The tip is cut diagonally instead of having a sharp tip, so I didn't get a crisp line, it ends up thick on me. These have a twist up system and don't feel so fragile they might break like quite a lot of such liners do. Staying power is better than at the lipsticks. These can easily be applied all over the lips. 020 Mauve Mesh is a great shade that gives my lips some more depth.

So far I've been loving wearing combination of 020 Mauve Mesh with Blur lipstick 010 Mochi Mauve for a neutral lip. 

A repurchase - finally. I don't know why DM doesn't carry this basic clear version, I don't like the tinted ones (I had the pink and purple one). I use this as a basic lip balm because it's a great soft, nourishing formula. The gloss level is decent too, but the scent could be better. The product doesn't twist back in the tube - a safeguard because the formula is so soft.

A replacement for my usual red nail polish, which thickened. I got a cheaper version this time since I've never tried a red that would be bad regardless its price. This is a basic neutral red with a pigmented, smooth formula that can be fully opaque with one coat. Staying power is good on me.

I grabbed the wrong colour, so this was a miss from the start. I wanted the clear version, since they didn’t have Essence’s Juicy Bomb Glossy Butter Balm Coconut and I picked this formula instead. Compared to Essence’s Juicys the texture isn’t as soft and doesn’t feel quite as moisturising, though it’s pleasant enough. This has plenty of small glitter, which feels somewhat gritty when I press my lips together. Pigmentation is sheer, but with several coats it can be built up to light tint on the lips. This shade looks warm on me, leaning to peach. Shimmer ends up everywhere. There’s so scent. These had a discount in the drugstores, so it looks like they were discontinued.

I used to have this, disliked it, forgot about it and bought it again because it was cheap and apparently it's a best-seller. I fail to see why because it's got a hard texture that doesn't feel very moisturising, instead it feels like there is just a protective layer on the lips. Many like it, but I'm still not one of them. Lip Smackers and other softer balms are more my thing. Scent is of calendula ointment and not strong.

First time trying Carmex and it works for me. I've been using Melem since I got it once as a gift with purchase and though the texture feels so buttery, rich and soft, I realised that my lips just reverted back to its dry, chapped state as soon as it was gone from my lips. Carmex feels different. It's not as rich, the layer you can apply is thinner and it's a much harder formula than I usually like, but it works and my lips stay hydrated for much longer. I got the Berry version which has a fruity scent. I was reluctant to buy the original version because I hear it tingles.

A repurchase. A serum for "visible skin repair and wrinkles". It's a growth factor serum that promises a lot of things concerning visible aging, plus that is hydrates and strengthens skin's barrier. I've used up a whole bottle and decided to repurchase it, though I didn't see any difference. It's a very light serum or maybe more like a toner and easy to layer, so I use it daily as one of the first steps in the morning.

A repurchase. This is my upgrade from Geek & Gorgeous A Game 10 (they have 20, but this was more convenient to repurchase) and at first I noticed a very mild burning, but my skin got used to it very fast. As far as results go - I never see any results as retinols or retinals. The texture is the same as Geek & Gorgeous one, a bright yellow lotion that sits on the skin for a while. The bottle has only 15 ml.

A shampoo that says it's for dry scalp, which is why I bought it, but it feels drying on my hair. It's the type that strips too much from the scalp and hair. I was impress by it at the first wash as it worked a treat. My scalp was clean of dandruff and it itched less. However, by now it does nothing for me. It has about the same scent as Ilirija 1908 Kopriva (Nettle) shampoo, an unidentifiable cosmetic vintage one

A gentle formula that doesn't feel drying and it foams well. It’s highly praised on DM’s website for removing dandruff. This one doesn't work for me. It doesn't remove dandruff or help alleviate it. On to the next one I guess.  

A mask and leave-in treatment in one. It's a thick, rich product that feels like a heavy face moisturiser when you're applying it. Ingredients look great, it has shea butter high on the list and several other oils. When I was rinsing this off, my hair didn't have that silky feeling and it was like I didn't use a conditioner, but once I used my regular leave-ins and dried my hair, it felt nourished, but the top layer of my hair still felt rough. The tube is small for my liking and I probably used close to a 1/4 or even a 1/3 for one use on my long, thick hair. Winter Protect is similar, actually better and you get more. Traum Locken has a typically scent of this line, a version of a cosmetic scent, nothing fruity or floral.

This is only available during the winter and I've missed it for the past several years. I finally tried it mainly because I like the Keratin one and because it has shea butter high on the ingredients list. My hair has been very, very dry in the winter and it became coarse - this conditioner/mask impressed me so much, I stocked up since they are not available for most of the year once stock is gone. It's not very thick, but feels a bit balmy and it's richer than the Keratin one. It properly nourished my very dry hair and the effect lasted for days, even on my ends. To me it's better than the Keratin and Repair version, but my hair is very thick and dry. It has a basic cosmetic scent, something like Nivea and similar creams.

A repurchase. It reminds me of Pantene, as it leaves that slippery feeling on the hair that I like, plus it's nourishing enough. It's silicone free. 

Syoss’ version of a glossing product, similar to L'Oreal's Glycolic Gloss 5 Minute Lamination. Instructions don't say it, but I think this should be used after a conditioner (from the same line). I used it on its own despite knowing it's wrong and it was very wrong. My hair felt so dry and even leave-ins couldn't rescue it. My hair didn't have more shine, nor did it dry smoother with my round hair dryer. I had to wash my hair again the next day, I needed hydration. Formula is similar to L'Oreal's version, a thin lotion, but L’Oreal’s is more hydrating.

A shine spray that acts as heat protection. I think this is the actual product to buy if you want shine. It's the same thing as Shchwarzkopf's other shine products in an aerosol (Got2B, Gliss), still I bought it because apparently I can't resist a shine spray. The shine is intense and this works as a taming product as well, since it reduces frizz. 

A rich mask with aloe vera as the first ingredient instead of water, shea butter, coconut oil and others. My dry hair liked it, it's very nourishing, but Balea's Winter Protect is similar and cheaper.

Balea’s version of glossing rinses and like L’Oreal’s has glycolic acid. Unlike Syoss' one I tried this one only in combination with other masks. Texture is very light, similar to Sysos and L'Oreal Glycolic Gloss. I noticed no increased shine or smoothness after using this. Apparently nothing beats the overly expensive, but always reliable Moroccanoil Frizz Control line (lotion and spray).

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

A repurchase. I buy this when my skin is very dry because it's the cheapest shower oil and decent for the price. It doesn't have the richest emulsion and the scent is bland, but I buy it every winter and use it instead of regular shower gels.

I remember these being better. It's not a butter, it's a standard cream, meaning lighter than I expected. It needs some effort to get the white streaks to go away. Scent is barely peachy. I regretted taking this instead of Balea's Urea cream in a tube the moment I opened this.

A repurchase after a few years. Since I wasn't that happy with that peach Fussbutter from Balea, I picked up this cream which is quite light in terms of texture, but it's better at nourishing, though I'm still looking for a formula that will truly wow me. I tried all Balea's formulas that they have in their regular lines and this is the one I like most. It absorbs in a matter of minutes, which is good in some respects, though my feel are always so dry, I gravitate to heavy formulas that stay on the skin for hours (I have silicone socks to help absorption). It's decent at hydrating-nourishing, but effect isn't long-lasting on me. It's an ok cheapie, just like the body cream from this line.

This is very praised on DM's website for smelling great. I find it a bit boring as most of the time it has a dusty vanilla scent, but every once in a while I can smell the pistachios and it turns into a pistachio-vanilla pudding scent. Balea launched other products with this scent as well.

The only bar soar that doesn't leave the skin stripped of everything. It's as gentle as using a regular shower gel and it smells great.

DM Sun Dance finally made a perfume with their signature sunscreen scent. It doesn't smell exactly the same as their sun lotion, instead it starts more citrusy and develops to a softer version of the scent, more powdery - but it's still very close, it's just the basic difference between a perfume and cream format. It's moderately strong when I spray it, but becomes a skin scent after, so it's weak. Nivea Sun and La Rive Solare are not dupes for this, just in the same European sun lotion scent family. Only 30 ml version exists and it's a limited edition. It's about 6 € - I found it among perfumes, not sunscreens.

A type of a solid primer that's not really a balm, instead it's more lightweight, Milani describes it as whipped. It promises intense hydration, instant blurring, creating a soft-focus effect, smoothing and a refreshing feeling on the skin. It has 5% glycerine and 3% niacinamide plus hyaluronic acid. At application it feels wet and cooling, yet the texture doesn't match this feeling, as it's a solid, silicone-feeling primer that creates a smooth, velvety base. Usually such primers feel dry and create a matte finish that can feel dry on such skin as mine, but this one feels hydrating like they promise. It's not a primer you can apply quickly, as you need to drag it in one direction for a smooth application otherwise it may look flaky. I can't say I a difference after application in the mirror. Maybe if it had a skin-like tint if might "fill in the pores" better, but I can see in before and after pictures there is some difference in the appearance of pores, so at least it looks good in photos. I used Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation over it and it retained its signature glow.  

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A primer for lashes that don’t hold a curl. It isn't anything ground-breaking. It's just a waterproof formula that's got a sheer black tint. On its own it looks like a very natural-looking mascara and it holds the lashes curled. I used a Revlon ColorStay Xtensionnaire over it, which is a regular formula and my lashes stayed curled all day. It works, but it's even more difficult to remove that waterproof mascaras and even my Maybelline dual-phase remover struggles to get it off. I wear it on its own because I like the natural look at the moment. 

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I wanted to repurchase the coconut version, which I used up, but it's sold out everywhere I checked. The formula of these is soft and buttery, which makes them a great lip balm, but the shade range is not my cup of tea. I already bought the pink one which is too magenta for every day. The other choices are a peachy-orange, green and brown, so I got this one hoping it's not very tinted. Due to the soft formula that deposits a thick coat, it’s quite purple on the lips, which is not my shade. At least the scent is nicer than the coconut one, a fruity candy one. 

A nail polish that cracks while drying, which happens quickly, so it's fun to watch. Essence had a black version, which I owned, this time I believe only this light blue shade is available. Best results are when a thin coat is applied over another nail polish.

Like all these Essence lip glosses the formula is nothing special, quite thin compared to many other formulas. Shade is sheer with small pink shimmer. It smells like vanilla cake. 

There are two shades of these jelly blushes. They don't have any “bounce”, just a jelly see-through formula. It’s hard to work with, especially compared to their creamier stick blushes, as the formula is thin and hard. While the colour pay-off is good, it lacks the creaminess that would help blend it evenly. It's not that big of a problem when combined with a hydrating, glowy foundation, but when I tried it with a matte formula blending was difficult. On the lips I can only get an uneven, sheer application, plus it's not a hydrating product, so not ideal for dry lips. On my cheeks it looks similar to peachy-pink shades, while on the lips it’s a warm, sheer red. Staying power is great on the cheeks, this lasted all day over Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless foundation. 

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The next “upgrade” of the makeup sponge - this one has two flat sides covered with a special foil that mimics fingerprints. It's a new twist to the silicone sponges that were popular a few years ago, except here you still get the classic porous, bouncy texture combined with a non-absorbing surface. You save foundation, since it's not absorbed into the foil part of the sponge, but it also takes a bit longer to blend it. The result doesn't differ from using a regular sponge, however, the sides of the nose are a bit challenging and I had to press it firmly to get it to reach there. I got a seamless blend everywhere else. It's very easy to clean since pretty much all of the foundation ends up on your face anyway. The rest can be wiped or washed off. It's an interesting innovation.  

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Nowhere on the front of the box or in description does this mention it has retinal, which is weird because it's on the ingredients list and it's kind of a big selling point. I haven't been able to find what's the percentage, but given that the colour of it is not yellow, like at other retinal product I've used, it's maybe not a lot. In any case it's a rare product in drugstores here with it. It has 3% Tranexamic Acid, 2% N-Acetyl Glucosamine and 5% Niacinamide - all brightening ingredients. Texture is a liquid light lotion that almost feels like a serum, but it has some oiliness to it.  On my dry skin most of it absorbs quickly, but a layer of it remains. It has no particular scent. I haven't included it into my routine yet, but it will get its turn eventually. 

A repurchase. I use this as hair and scalp oil, and I've used up at least a couple of these so far. Formula is light and not overly greasy. It has a gentle vanillary bland scent. Ingredients include canola oil, shea butter ethyl esters, vitamin E, coconut oil, sunflower oil and almond oil + some fragrances.

This launched years ago and by now just about everyone already forgot about it, I think. It's meant to be used in the shower after using a cleansing gel and is designed to replace regular moisturisers. I'm terrible when it comes to regular use of moisturisers, but my skin is quite dry in the winter. I don't use this as intended because I feel that by applying a generous coat of it only to wash it off is wasting product. This feels no different than their regular body milk. I apply it on damp skin before drying off with a towel or even after - it doesn't matter, just that I do it in the shower, since it's conveniently there. But I could just buy their regular moisturizer or from any other brand and it would be the same. 

A repurchase. I've used up many bottles of these. It's a liquid that emulsifies with water and massaging, turning into quite a nourishing formula that leaves a silky coat on the hair. It just so convenient and quick to use.