I was a fan of Benefit blushes long before their packaging and shades changes. While they reduced the amount of the product (uncool), the formula still remained great quality. Dandelion is the only old shade left, while Shellie is somewhat similar to Coralista, a shade a wore a lot in the past. Formulas are great. Willa and Shellie are so pigmented, they apply smoothly and last well. Dandelion needs more building up, but it's an interesting shade that kind of works with your skin tone and creates a shade that looks natural, even though it looks baby pink in the pan. Willa is a warm pink and Shellie is a coral that brightens up the face. Since they are so pigmented, you can easily just buy a mini version and it's going to last long.

 

I made this long list of blushes, but truthfully for the past six months or more, this is the only formula I wear because it's so quick and easy to apply. Though it's in stick form, which means you can just swipe it on the cheeks if you wish, I find it's better to use to brush or fingers, as the formula is more on the hard side and it can shift the foundation, but it blends into the skin beautifully, plus it smells like watermelon. 30 Rosé all Day is a great peachy pink shade and 01 Tickle me pink a good pink shade that doesn't pull too warm on my skin tone. I put a small dab of Rosé on my cheeks with fingers and blend - it's the easiest thing ever.

| video of 30 Rosé all Day |

 

Some of the cheapest blushes you can buy, but they don't lack in quality. I have several shades, but my two favourite are 40 Strawberry Flush and 50 Pink Pop. Both contain shimmer, so they are like a blush and highlighter in one and they add a great healthy glow to the cheeks. Strawberry Flush is one of the best peachy pink shades I've tried for pale skin and Pink Pop a classic baby doll pink. Some of the shades are matte, but all have a good medium-pigmented formula. Essence discontinues their products a lot, but their powder blushes are consistently good.

| video of 60 Lovely Lilac - 40 Strawberry Flush - 50 Pink Pop |

 

These have a creamy-liquid formula that can be blended with either fingers or a dense brush, though they are not quite as easy as Essence's Sticks. Pigmentation is intense, especially the deeper 050 Plum-tastic at which I need the smallest dot of product, so these are probably nice for deeper skin tones (Essence's sticks are a bit light). 010 Pink Feelings is a light pink, while 050 Plum-tastic is a cool deep plum colour that blends out into a shade that's somewhere between a cool purple and a pink.

| video 010 Pink Feeling - 050 Plum-tastic|

 

 

These are one of those good old classics. They are baked blushes, but the formula is harder than is usual and pigmentation is not the best, at least from the start. But a good dense brush makes all the difference and these create a lovely flush on the cheeks. This formula is one most long lasting blushes I've tried. I have 34 Rose D'or, which is one of the most popular shades and it has a nice glow on the skin. These are heavily fragranced when new with a gorgeous powdery violet scent, but eventually it fades.

|video |

 

A high quality formula. It's very smooth on the cheeks, has good pigmentation and it lasts well on the skin. The shade is a pretty basic peachy pink, but these types of shades are universal and suit so many skin tones. It has a slight glow to it with tiny shimmer. The packaging is pretty, a high-end looking rose gold and it comes with a velvet pouch and a brush.

| video |

 

These are some of the most praised drugstore blushes, but they are very loose from the start and it takes some time for them to become really good. Formula has a good pigmentation and a small shimmer that adds a glow. There are cheaper good baked blushes, but these are a gold standard. Shade Luminoso has been hyped to death, but it's pure orange on me, so I wear Petal Primavera instead.

 

A lovely, very pigmented creamy formula. These are easy to blend both with fingers or a brush and I get diffused edges at both methods. Formula is more "greasy" than Essence's, but I don't meant that in a bad way, just that's it's not a cream-to-powder formula like many cream blushes are. Bronzers exist in this formula too.

| video |

 

This is no different than the almost double the price Milani's blush (price here in Slovenia). It's a baked blush in a warm pink shade with tiny shimmer. It looks smooth on the cheeks, has nice pigmentation and a subtle glow. It has a hidden mini brush in the bottom, but it's not for serious use.

| video |

Coverage: Medium

Finish: Natural

Quantity: 6.8 ml

My Shade: 00 Ivory

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

Coverage: Medium

Finish: Natural-glowy

Quantity: 9.6 ml

My Shade: 00 Ivory

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

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Coverage: Medium, medium-full

Finish: satin-matte

Quantity: 13 ml

My Shade: 49 Ivory

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

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Coverage: Medium

Finish: natural

Quantity: 7 ml

My Shade: 10 Light Honey

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

|video|

Coverage: Medium-full

Finish: satin

Quantity: 8 ml

My Shade: 005

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

Coverage: Medium-full

Finish: matte

Quantity: 5 ml

My Shade: 110 Nude Ivory

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

One of the nicest looking foundations, so I use it when I'm taking pictures or videos. It's got a light-medium coverage with some pore hiding abilities and a satin finish on normal-dry skin. Despite the name it's not particularly mattifying and I've heard some with oily skin don't like it, but it's great formula to try, especially since there's a bunch of shades in this line, which is a big plus for the drugstore.

Great formula for dry skin, though the price is close to double since I bought my first bottle. It has a light-medium coverage and a natural, "invisible"/no-foundation-look, glowy finish. There's also a Serum version, but I find on my skin the foundation looks better, which may not be the case for you. It's a foundation that manages to hide dry parts and flakes well, but if the skin is oily it will slide off the face fast. 

|video of comparison with Serum|

One of the most photogenic foundations. It can look pretty and fresh on the skin - however, it's not ideal for dry skin, at least without a well hydrated base. Coverage is about medium, finish is matte on my dry skin and despite the thick, creamy texture it blends seamlessly, especially with the help a good makeup sponge. I wear shade C40 Light Ivory.

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If you're looking for high coverage, this is it. This has full coverage with a small amount and covers everything on my face apart from two of my darkest freckles. However, if you want to avoid it looking heavy it's best to use a damp sponge with it and combine it with a good primer. Finish is glowy and it needs a powder to properly set it in place. This is available in a good pale shade, 208, which is similar to Revlon Colorstay 110 Ivory.

My choice of foundation when I'm wearing a shiny SPF in the summer. It covers well when I layer it, it hides redness and doesn't look flat matte. It combines coverage and powder for me, so it's quick and easy - I just buff it into my skin with a flat kabuki brush. I wear shade 002.

A classic. It's a formula with medium coverage and a natural finish, so it can even be used instead of foundation. It doesn't slip into lines or have that matte, ageing effect, so it looks much better on the skin than high coverage concealers (on my dry skin). I wear 00 Ivory and Brightener.

Not a typical glowy formula Bourjois usually has, which is why it may appeal to those who don't have dry skin. It has a good level of coverage (medium, or medium/full with layering) and doesn't look heavy on the skin. Finish is more satin-matte than the usual dewy one of Healthy Mix foundations. The applicator is unique, but I end up blending the concealer with a sponge or a brush, as the metal applicator is only nicely cooling, but not effective at blending or spreading the concealer evenly. I wear 49 Ivory

|video|

One of my favourite concealers for dry skin. It layers well, it melts into the skin, looks natural, yet covers quite a lot for such a lightweight formula. I'd say the coverage is about medium, it's not full, but it covers circles well and red spots reasonably well. I quite like this for blemishes because it looks a lot less cakey than pretty much all concealers I've tried, though it doesn't stay on as well as matte formulas and it can slide off. I wear shade Fair.

|video|

I'd rather put their PhotoReady Candid version here instead, but I believe it's being discontinued. This is very similar and it contains caffeine and vitamin C, so it combines skin care with coverage. It's got medium-high coverage without looking heavy and the finish is satin on me. It can cover an inflamed blemish without looking too cakey and well suited for under the eyes. Shades are not ideal, especially if you're pale like me.

This is one of the cheapest formulas in the drugstore, but it's regardless lovely. It's got a good medium, buildable level of coverage, a natural finish that doesn't turn too matte on me in time and it blends easily on a larger area. I often use this one instead of foundation when I'm in a hurry.

|video|

Since my skin is dry, my selection reflects that and I don't like wearing the most popular matte high-coverage formulas such as Catrice's Liquid Camouflage, but from such formulas Milani gets my vote, as it's one of rare formulas that doesn't turn very obvious on my skin. I've even worn this for no makeup looks in the summer. It has a lot of coverage, it blends ok for a matte formula and it sets matte. Pale shades are available.

|video|

My preferred powder for taking away excess shine of SPF's. It's very finely milled, smooth and not very obvious on the skin. I find this makes my skin and makeup look smoother and just better, plus it never sticks to a certain area, leaving an odd textured patch like it happened to me at some other loose powders.

The vaseline-like highlighter in this is useless, but the powder is my favourite for dry skin. It doesn't look powdery, it doesn't make the makeup look more obvious, it takes away greasy/fresh makeup shine yet leaves a nice glow on the face. I pick Revlon's Colourstay Blot powder over this in the summer months, but otherwise this is top choice all year.

MAYBELLINE Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder 

A classic nice powder. Powder is fine, not drying and nicely mattifying without looking too flat. This comes in several shades, I wear the transparent one.

Best highlighter I’ve found so far. It's got very fine shimmer for a natural “smooth” strong glow and the texture is something between a powder and a cream.

One of the best natural-looking highlighters in my collection, so more on the subtle side, but it creates a nice radiant effect. It's great especially in the summer when highlighters can look too shimmery in direct sunlight. It doesn't emphasize pores, while the shade is neither too cool or too warm. In a light coat it even works as an all-over luminous powder.

This rivals Colourpop's Flexiterian in terms of strength and a swirl or two with a brush creates an intense glow on the skin.

Both powders are great quality in this palette. The bronzer side is matte, has a great smooth formula that blends out easily and is a shade that doesn't pull orange on pale skin, so it suits me as a contour (although it's not cool or ashy like popular shades for contouring pale skin). The highlighter is a classic champagne shade with fine shimmer that adds a nice level of glow.

|video|

Some of the cheapest blushes you can buy, but they don't lack in quality. I have several shades, but my two favourite are 40 Strawberry Flush and 50 Pink Pop. Both contain shimmer, so they are like a blush and highlighter in one and they add a great healthy glow to the cheeks. Some of the shades are matte, but all have a good medium-pigmented formula. Essence discontinues their products a lot, but their powder blushes are consistently good.

|video 40 - 50|

One of my favourite formulas. Though it is in stick form, which means you can just swipe it on the cheeks if you wish, I find it's better to use to brush or fingers. It blends into the skin beautifully, plus it smells like watermelon. I use 30 Rosé all Day and 01 Tickle me pink.

|video|

These are one of those good old classics. They are baked blushes, but the formula is harder than is usual and pigmentation is not the best when they are new. But a good dense brush makes all the difference and these create a lovely flush on the cheeks. This formula is one most long lasting blushes I've tried. I have 34 Rose D'or, which is one of the most popular shades and it has a nice glow on the skin. These are fragranced a gorgeous powdery violet scent.

|video|

I prefer these to Essence's liquid blushes. They blend seamlessly to the skin and only a small amount is needed for a nice flush.

|video 010 - 050|

A nice richly pigmented baked formula. It has tiny shimmer in it, like Catrice's Glow Lover highlighter, so it adds a glow to the cheeks that doesn't look obviously shimmery. But given how Catrice loves to discontinue things, it may not be on the stands for long.

This is no different than the almost double the price Milani's blush (price here in Slovenia). It's a baked blush in a warm pink shade with tiny shimmer. It looks smooth on the cheeks, has nice pigmentation and a subtle glow. I use shade 64.

|video|

These are some of the most praised drugstore blushes, but formula is loose when they are new and it takes some time for them to become really good. Formula has a good pigmentation and a small shimmer that adds a glow. There are cheaper good baked blushes, but these are a gold standard. Shade Luminoso has been hyped to death, but it's pure orange on me, so I wear Petal Primavera instead.

|video Luminoso|

Not quite as nice as Essence's stick blushes, but this is another lovely, very pigmented formula. They are very blendable both with fingers or a brush and I get diffused edges at both methods. Bronzers exist in this formula too.

|video|

I don't really use setting sprays much, but this is one of my favourites because I feel my skin looks best with this one. It's nothing specific, but the makeup on a whole looks smoother. Otherwise it's made for oily skin, so it can be drying for me. It really prolongs the staying power of makeup a lot, also in hot weather.

These all do the same on me, so simply prolong the staying power of makeup, plus they have 2% niacinamide. The Dewy, Matte and Original one all look matte on me, but Dewy promises to add a glow and Matte has charcoal particles that absorbs oils. They promise to make the makeup waterproof, though I never tested that, but the makeup is harder to remove with these over the top. The atomiser sprays a fine mist.

|video|

My favourite glowy primer. It's a light liquid formula with no big visible shimmer in it, yet it leaves a lovely glow on the skin. Even after the primer becomes dry to the touch, the skin has that shine. There's no blurring at this formula and I don't find it particularly smoothing, so it just adds a glow while leaving the texture and skin tone like it is.

A golden standard. This mascara is so good - it creates a beautiful effect of enough volume, length and definition, it just makes the lashes look their best. Waterproof version is as not impressive.

This one is more expensive, but the effect it creates is so beautiful. The regular formula is better, as it creates big lashes that are nicely fanned out and separated fast. The waterproof version is a touch less volumising because it's drier, but it's still creates a great effect and it keeps my lashes curled.

 |video Waterproof - color versions|

A very impressive formula, even for a regular one when it comes to my lashes that don't hold a curl. It adds a lot of length with one coat, it's also nicely volumising and it's very decent at definition because it has good hold. It can make the lashes look big and "glamourous". Revlon has great mascara formulas in general and I also like their So Fierce! range.

 |video|

One of my oldest, affordable favourites. It gives me more of a dishevelled look of a lot of lashes compared to Pupa Vamp, but it creates a lot of volume and it holds my lashes in place all day. The minus is the big, clumsy brush.

This is a better version of I <3 Extreme. It didn't impress me when it was freshly opened, but with time it became a top performer. It adds plenty of volume, even more length and defines the lashes, though when it was new it was definition where it performed poorly. It holds my lashes curled well. Formula is very similar to Essence's I <3 Extreme formula, but the brush is smaller and that makes all the difference.

Another great waterproof formula, similar to Essence one and it manages to stay fresh for a long time, which is a plus since waterproof formulas tend to be drier. It creates a good amount of volume, adds length and it's defining enough. Only the price isn't as friendly as Essence's.

Catrice discontinued their Liquid Liner Matt, which was fantastic and this isn't a perfect replacement, but so far I haven't found anything better, especially for the price. It looks the same as the old one and in many ways performs the same, only it's not quite as long-lasting. It's an intensely black formula, it's matte and it has a felt tip applicator that allows enough precision.

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A great soft and pigmented formula that lasts well and glides on the skin easily. My shade is 5 Golden Green, which can also be smudged as a cream eyeshadow.

Though dip eyeliners are better, since they stay fresh longer, this is a great budget felt tip pen eyeliner. It's very black, it doesn't need a pause between application on both eyes as is common for such eyeliner and it lasts all day on my non-oily eyelids without a base. The applicator is small, smooth, very precise and it's also softer than some other ones I've tried, so it feels very comfortable to use.

I thought Maybelline's Tattoo eyeliner is unbeatable, but this is even better. It's the blackest, most intense pencil eyeliner I've tried so far. It's such a deep black and it manages to stay in the waterline even at the end of the day and it's only somewhat faded. It's not as creamy as Maybelline's, so it doesn't glide quite as smoothly on the top lash line, but the line it creates is intense and it stays put.

 |video|

These are technically more expensive than most when building a whole palette, but individually they aren't pricy. ArtDeco's eyeshades are great quality - have a good pigmentation, they are creamy, smooth, they blend well and last well, plus there is a large selection to choose from.

These are my favourite palettes, quite a bit better than your average Catrice palette for example. Formulas are smooth, pigmented and they blend with ease. They have so many palettes to choose from, but my favourites are the cool toned That's Taupe and Stone Cold Fox.

In general I find Essence's eyeshadows better that Catrice's. This is a very decent starter nude palette with a mix of cool and warm tones. Other versions exist too. Matte eyeshadows are very smooth and nicely pigmented and shimmer performs well too.

A formula that feels more expensive than it is. It's comfortable, smooth and has great pigmentation, plus it lasts well. Some say this shade is a dupe for a very famous lipstick, but I don't know if it's true. This shade is very close to my natural lip colour, so it's a great shade for a natural makeup, which adds more definition to my lips.

A simple creamy formula with a bit of shine that's pleasant for dry lips. This shade is one of the best nude colours I found for my pale skin tone.

|video|

Such a nice, hydrating, smooth, creamy and very comfortable formula. A great one for dry lips and I can see why it's still a best-seller.

|video|

A formula that's smooth like butter, is very lightweight and once it sets it has one of the best matte finishes.

These are one-swipe lip colours with great pigmentation and a creamy formula that doesn drag on the lips. They are matte, but not dry/fully matte, so they feel comfortable, however, they aren't nourishing/moisturising.

|video|

Catrice changes their matte line of lipsticks frequently, but they are all about the same. Formula is light, glides on the lips with ease, has good pigmentation, looks smooth and has a semi-matte finish (later it settles to a completely matte one when the creaminess goes away).

My favourite lipsticks. These are fully opaque with one swipe and once they set on the lips, they don't wipe off or smudge, they just stay in their place like a liquid matte lipstick. Formula is thin and matte, so don't expect any nourishment from these. I can handle them fine and don't find them drying, but some may want to use a lip balm under or over them.

|video|

These are aside from Revlon's Overtime the most long lasting lip colours in my collection. On most days they can look like freshly applied after 12 hours, provided you don't eat a lot of greasy food. This also means they need a waterproof remover to get it off completely and they may not feel comfortable to a lot of people.

These feel great at application, almost buttery creamy. The applicator has a good shape and allows a lot of precision with its tip. It takes about a minute to dry and then I don't feel these on the lips (most of the time). They don't feel drying to me, are very lightweight and last well on the lips (like all such matte formulas do). They also work well as liquid blushes.

|video|

This thing survives anything from drinking, eating, touching lips a lot - it just lasts and doesn't transfer. It's a two-step product with a semi-opaque liquid lipstick that by itself lasts a long time. The second sealer part adds shine and locks the lipstick in place. Despite the great staying power and the fact it eventually turns matte, the glossy sealer makes sure that it doesn't feel dry.

These are another long-lasting lipstick formula, but unlike the others above, this one starts off glossy and it's a lot more suitable for dry lips. It later settles into a satin and eventually a matte finish. Pigmentation is fully opaque with one swipe and it wears off nicely without creating flakes, peeling off or making the lips dry

A pencil that doesn't need to be sharpened with a soft formula that's easy to apply all over the lips. I wear shade Dusty Rose. It has a better staying power than Essence's lip liner despite having a similar formula.

A creamy lipliner with great pigmentation and better staying power than most formulas. I wear 006 Line Leader.

|video|

(not on the picture)

Another creamy pencil with good pigmentation that glides easily on the lips.

|video|

This formula is a bit less creamy than the rest, but it's still great. I mostly wear shade 02.

These are brilliant for dry lips. It's a very thick and rich lip gloss formula that feels nourishing and most importantly stays on the lips for hours. They have a great level of shine and feel like an oily gloss.

These are a bit richer and thicker than glosses usually are, but they are not sticky. The shine level is intense and these manage to hold on for a while, by that I mean longer than an average lip gloss (not like Glossin's Glow, but good). It's a Catrice formula that tingles, like many do, but it's not strong and it doesn't last - it's more cooling than tingling.

A thick and comfortable formula that feels balmy almost like a lip oil, so it's a great substitute for a lip balm.

|video|

Another great lip oil that nourishes and stays on the lips for hours. Unlike Catrice's ones, these are fruity scented, which is a nice plus for me.

|video|

A tinted lip balm in a deep berry shade that some say is a dupe for Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey.

Though it's not quite the dupe for Laneige, which is softer and feels better on extremely dry lips, this sticks on the lips better and for longer. It’s nicely nourishing and has the scent of Kiki candy (soft taffy candy scent). It’s tinted and gives the lips a nice light shade of pink.

|video|

This doesn't just look cute, it's also a great lip balm that smells amazing. It has a creamy, soft, nourishing formula and it smells similar to The Body Shop Vanilla Pumpkin body butter, so like vanillary-almond goodness. The unicorn version is nice too, but with a fruity scent.

A lip balm/lipstick-blush hybrids. These formulas work well on lips and cheeks. They blend easily and don't feel greasy, despite being nourishing lips balms. On the lips the colour payoff is like from a classic moisturising lipstick.

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Catrice does consistently nice nail polishes no matter their current name or packaging.

|video|

This dries the nails quick, though it's not the promised 40 seconds, but in a minute or two it's dry to the touch.

These are more expensive than is usual for drugstore nail polishes, but worth it. Formula is smooth and easy to apply, while similar cheap nude shades have a thicker formula. I wear shade 300 Makeup which is a gorgeous powdery pink nude that is similar to my skin tone in depth.

Same thing as I said at Catrice: Essence always has great nail polishes no matter how many times they change their packaging.

These have the added benefit of smelling like perfume for the first 1-2 days. The lightest shade have a powdery-floral scent, the red one a rich floral-patchouli fragrance similar to Armani Si Passione and the deepest have a fragrance that's something along the lines of YSL Black Opium. Formulas are smooth and last ok.

A simple formula with niacinamide, ceramides, cholesterol and no fragrance. It removes makeup well, even hardcore foundations like Dermacol and intense matte liquid lipsticks (but of course not waterproof mascaras). Skin feels comfortable after removal and there's no residue.

My favourite remover for waterproof mascaras. It never fails to do the job unlike some cheaper one or those in the same price range.

Light as like water and it removes all regular makeup. It's not scented.

Not an oil, but a simple cleanser gel in a very convenient pump packaging that I use for cleaning my face either alone or as a second cleanser after oil. It's gentle, not scented, it cleans well and it doesn't irritate my eyes.

A weak AHA exfoliant that is very light and gentle, plus it has 5% niacinamide. I use it when I have spots since it helps heal them faster.

Most like TO's stronger 30% AHA version, but that one didn't impress me. This again feels very weak to me, but it helps the skin look a bit better.

A sugar scrub that's quite harsh (I'm sure those who are very into skin care just gasped collectively), but it gets me the smoothest and softest skin that I can't achieve with any other product. I use it very occasionally.

A product that improved the texture of my skin. It's not a miraculous product, but it's a lovely thicker toner that with prolonged use helped my pores to look less prominent.

This is such a great deal for the money, as you get a generous 500 ml of product. It's a light toner-like lotion that absorbs fast and feels very hydrating. It contains ceramides, 3 types of hyaluronic acid, collagen and amino acids, so all the good stuff.

My skin barrier repairing product with Madecassoside and Beta-Glucan, but also 30% of centella asiatica leaf water, ceramides, panthenol, aloe vera and several extracts. Formula feels richer than a watery toner, so it instantly alleviates the tight feeling when my skin feels thirsty.

A toner that contains 72.6% of Black bee Propolis extract and 10% Honey extract. The texture is nice - thicker than toner, but not as thick as a serum. My skin likes propolis products, as they keep it looking good and add a healthy glow.

A moisturiser with salicylic acid, niacinamide, ceramides,… Formula is light, gel-like and it leaves a layer on the skin, like a primer. This helps heal breakouts and works as a nice base for makeup.

|video|

An affordable retinal product that is very gentle. I like the light texture, which is easy to combine with the rest of my routine.

An oily retinol serum that's quite light. I like the texture and I've had zero irritations or dryness despite this being 1%.

|video|

A serum with peptides. It's a light formula that's easy to layer.

An eye cream that has everything from hydrolysed collagen niacinamide, centella asiatica, a ton of extracts, allantoin, adenosine, ceramides, peptides, arganine…. It's a medium thick cream and it sits on the skin for a time.

This has 2% liposome retinal, but also ginseng extract (10%), niacinamide, adenosine, hyaluronic acid, cholesterol, ceramides, a peptide and a couple of oils/butters. Texture is a light lotion, but it feels like a moisturiser on the skin and I experienced no irritations or dryness. It has a ginseng scent

I use this only as 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. It helps heal breakouts faster.

This is affordable, has a decent SPF and 10 % niacinamide. It's kind of a typical cream that sits on the skin for a while, but it's not a heavy, rich moisturiser, nor does it feel "sunscreen greasy". It's nicely hydrating, I can wear it under makeup, it doesn't peel and it doesn't irritate my eyes.

A great sunscreen for under makeup because it dries to velvet, primer-like finish.

This is not much different from Biore UV Aqua Rich (or Oriflame's Novage+ UV-age Day Shield). It's feels very lightweight on the face, not greasy, it's comfortable and it doesn't move or irritate my eyes. Two finger amount can easily be applied on the face with zero white streaks. Sometimes it stays shiny and sometimes it becomes matte.

My old favourite. I had a few backups, so this version of packaging may not exist. It's a liquid sunscreen that feels very light on the skin. There's zero white cast and not much shine - the latter eventually disappears on my dry skin.

Again as with Garnier one I had backups, so this version of packaging may not exist. This has Isobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol (Thiamidol), which fades pigmentation. It's a non-greasy formula with a "Korean sunscreen level" of shine that looks more like healthy glow. It always protected well in strong sun and it can be used under makeup too.

A shower gel that smells like the popular Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream/Cheirosa 62 fragrance mist.

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My favourite shower gel formula because it's thick, creamy and nice for dry skin. Plus I'm a fan of the classic Dove scent.

One of my favourite shower gel scents, as it smells just like apricots.

A big selection of scent for an affordable price. Good Vibes is my favourite. Scent lingers on the skin like a perfume.

A very pleasant creamy formula with lots of small scrubby particles. It's not a harsh scrub, so nothing like sugar or salt ones, yet it does the job ok and it's not abrasive at all. The scent is typically for Dove a nice creamy.

Nivea's body moisturiser have a great long term effect when I use them regularly and don't just moisturise the skin for a few hours, but my skin becomes noticeably softer and nicer in time. This one is their favourite formula of mine. It's a rich body cream that absorbs quickly and feels properly nourishing. Scent is the typical Nivea cream one.

Cerave have very simple, but effective formulas that contain ceramides and have no scent. A rich moisturiser, but not so thick like a body butter and it spreads easily on the skin. It absorbs fast enough and it leaves this velvety finish on the skin.

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Lighter than the Moisturising Cream, but still nicely nourishing and it absorbs faster. I use it also as a face moisturiser.

This has a similar scent like Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum cream. I compared it to my original and I smell more plain vanilla instead of the much richer salted caramel and pistachios, so they are not the same, but it’s instantly recognizable as a sort of a dupe, especially if you’re not fussy. Texture is lighter that SdJ, but it still does the job.

A great drugstore formula. It foams well on the first wash already and it doesn't leave the hair with that squeaky clean, overly-stripped feeling that I need to avoid. Together with the conditioner from the same line they are an excellent combination.

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A great shampoo for very dry hair and I've used up plenty of bottles so far. It's like it already has some conditioner inside plus it has silicones, so it makes my tangly hair easy to comb after washing and it doesn't leave it stripped.

A non-traditional dry shampoo, but it's impressive. It's like a regular styling mousse with no hold. Hair actually feels like it's been freshly washed and it has a very pleasant, gentle and fresh fragrance. There is a slight powdery feeling, but much less than at for example Batiste dry shampoos.

This is an anti-dandruff shampoo, but I mostly like it because it foam really well and it's not at all drying.

This is hailed as a dupe for Olaplex - it's not, it's more of a dupe Joico K-Pak Intense Hydrator as both are packed with hydrolised proteins and aminoacids. It makes my hair feels so nice - airy, nourished and silky. Along with some leave-ins even the bleached part of my hair dries smoother. Texture is easy to spread in a small amount.

This leaves my hair feeling silky, detangled and it's nourishing enough for my very dry hair. It's one of the best formulas in the drugstore, but Bond Repair is very similar.

Another drugstore winner. Together with the shampoo these two make my hair feel so nice, almost like I used high-end products. My hair is properly nourished, it feels silky and the ends feel better.

Another nice nourishing mask, but not easily available. It's silicone free, but doesn't feel like it is and my hair dries smoothly when I use it.

A very nourishing conditioner that great for very dry, thick hair. It's silicone free, so not best for taming my hair, but I just combine it with Gliss 7 Sec. The packaging has a generous 400 ml and the conditioner smells like Pina colada.

This isn't meant to be used as a stand-alone treatment, you are supposed to use it after conditioner. Formula is thin, yet creamy and a small amount can be applied on a large area. I love it in combination with Cer-100, as the make my hair look and feel so good.

These are amazing - truly one of the best things I've discovered for my very dry, easy to tangle hair. Normally I have to leave a conditioner on for 20 minutes on my thick hair to have a proper effect, but these actually work in the shower in seconds. They all work the same, so it doesn't matter which you pick up. These are liquid and transform into a rich emulsion when massaged on wet hair. They are silicone-free, yet make my hair feel like Pantene, silky smooth.

A tinted hair mask that matches my dark brown colour perfectly. It's washing off the slowest out of all masks I've tried, so I've had no awkward phases with my semi-washed colour in various cool or warm shades. Formula is also nourishing enough for my hair. It's a very messy business though, so I apply this in the shower. If your hair isn't as dark as mine, this will likely turn your hair almost black, so don't trust the colour on the packaging.

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A silicone hair oil in a spray that's a brilliant dentangler, it smooths the hair, nourishes and adds shine. It may be a bit heavy for thin hair.

This has a delightful amber-vanilla scent, a thick formula that's similar to Moroccanoil and it's effective at keeping my hair hydrated longer if I apply it on damp hair before drying. But I mostly use it as a finishing product, so taming the hair and adding shine.

A classic silicone hair serum with dense shimmer. This adds a nice amount of glossy shine, plus it's a type of serum that can be used anytime, so on dry or damp hair.

I have this version which may not exist anymore, but Tigi After Party is the same, except it doesn't have shimmer. It's a hair cream that can be used on dry or damp hair and it smooth the hair, tames the frizz, adds shine and makes the hair look more put together.

A classic. It's so light and not at all sticky or stiff. Only thing that's annoying is the strong scent (I think L'Oreal has a version without it).

A very light mist, suitable for probably all hair types and it contains hydrolysed keratin. It adds such an amazing amount of non-greasy looking shine. It's one of those products with which you can "fake" shiny healthy looking hair for a while.

A heat protectant that doubles as a shine spray. It's supposed to be like a Color Wow Dream Coat type of product, but it's not effective in such a way on my hair (not like Moroccanoil Frizz Shield). I use it mostly as a shine spray, but it's a bit heavier than Total Repair Shine Tonic.

A brilliant hair mousse that feels like nothing on the hair yet it holds the hair style for days on me. I do no-heat curls on most days and this helps them lasts so well.

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A "mascara" for taming flay-aways. It's like a hair gel in a mascara form, but it doesn't feel stiff or heavy. This one is a bit nicer than the Balea one, but that one is ok too.

This is summer in a bottle to me. It smells just like (European) sunscreens, so along the lines of Nivea and Sun Dance. This is 10 €, so a cheap fragrance that loses much of its strength quickly, but I can smell the developed sweeter fainter version of the scent hours after application.

A girly-looking gourmand that in my opinion if it weren't packaged in a pink chocolate bar, it may just pass as something a bit more mature. There's a lot of sugar in it, but there's also something that makes it smell a bit almost soapy and the candied ginger that gives it a bit of a spicy kick. There's lots of vanilla & marshmallow and jasmine that adds a floral aspect to it.

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A great gourmand scent with notes of nuts and vanilla. It's warm, sweet, a bit creamy and rich - definitely not a summer, beachy scent, but more for colder months.