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Manca Z.

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It's been a really long time since I last posted about my skin care routine and because I'm really happy with the state of my skin at the moment, I think there is no better time for an update. A lot has changed and a lot stayed the same, but basically since I revamped my skin care, my skin is a lot more balanced, I'd say very close to normal with my T-zone being just a bit oily sometimes, however, the dryness I was experiencing before mostly in winter months is gone. 

Previous skin care routine posts can be found here, here and here.

 Make up Removers

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

A nice drugstore micellar water, definitely my favourite budget one. As all I've tried so far, it feels like water and leaves no residue. I don't find it as effective as Bioderma since I use more cotton pads and product to get my skin completely clean, but the final result is the same. I use Garnier and Bioderma interchangeably.

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution

A staple in my skin care since 2011. It's the best micellar water I've tried and I'll keep repurchasing it. It removes make up fast and leaves no residue behind - all in all it's a fantastic product for my skin. I buy it at a local pharmacy.

Maybelline Eye Make up Remover Waterproof

(Augen-Make-Up Entferner Spezial Waterproof) 

This is another product I've been buying for years. I wear only waterproof mascara because I have the most stubborn eyelashes that refuse to stay curled (and are a pain to get them curled), so I have to use oily removers. This one is a standard two-phase make up remover that removes waterproof mascara, but it does leave a greasy residue, though it doesn't make my vision cloudy.

Coconut Oil

I use it as a make up remover occasionally and I actually prefer it to Maybelline's remover because I notice how good my skin looks the next day, but it's a lot greasier and makes my vision super cloudy. It also works great as a moisturiser.

Cleanser 

balance Me cleanse and smooth face balm

I'm on my second tube so far of this balm cleanser with oatmeal exfoliating particles. It cleanses the skin while leaving it moisturised and I know that this is the main reason I'm dry patches-free, since regular gel/mousse cleansers left my skin super tight and dry, therefore dry patches appeared. This makes my skin look and feel nice, the only downside is the price.
I use washcloths to remove it.

Toner/AHA treatment

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner

This is the product that keeps my skin, mostly forehead, smooth and clear. Though it contains gycolic acid, it's still moisturising, so it feels more like a lotion and it's super gentle (doesn't sting one bit, even if I have a small wound). Though, I'm a bit apprehensive about using AHA's so often, I haven't had a bad reaction, my skin did not become more sensitive and if I stop using it for a while my skin reverts to it's previous state with a bumpy forehead. I tend to apply it only on my forehead and chin, occasionally all over the face. I also cut the cotton pads in two and I only use a few drops per use. It's super expensive, but this is becoming a staple in my skin care routine. The only other product that made my skin look the same way is the much more expensive Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair.

 Moisturisers

L'Occitane Angelica Hydration Cream

My favourite moisturiser so far. It's sinks in fast, it's super hydrating, leaves a smooth, semi-matte finish and the skin feels almost velvety to the touch. It's the best moisturiser I've found for wearing under make up. The skin looks so healthy after using this and in general the skin improves over time in terms of hydration levels. My second favourite moisturiser that I've used up several tubes of is Eucerin Aquaporin Active Light.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse

If you're an old follower on my blog, you'll know that I've been using this every day for 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, 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. 

Extras and non-every day items 
I don't use face mask that often because I can't be bothered. 

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

 This has a really high rating on Make up Alley and it's really affordable for such a massive tube. It's a standard clay mask that is super thick and it draws out impurities from pores, but I dare not apply it on my cheeks because it completely dries out my skin. If you have really oily, problematic skin you'll love it. 

Neutrogena visibly clear 2-in1 wash mask

I've been using this since probably around 2006, so I've gone through a lot of tubes of this. I try a different mask every now and then, but I always come back to this one. It's another clay mask with salicylic acid, however, unlike Queen Helene one, this one doesn't dry out my skin at all. It can also be used as a cleanser, but it feels odd to me. It's inexpensive for the amount you get, smells nice and it's widely available. 

Origins Drink Up Intensive

Since my battle with dry patches is over, I don't use this much. In fact, I don't even find it all that good. It just feels like a thick, sticky moisturiser that smells like canned fruit salad (not peaches as most people say), which does moisturise very well, but my skin doesn't feel amazing after use as though I've applied something really special. Actually, I did have an emergency when Queen Helene mask really dried out my cheeks and made them rough, but this wasn't enough to fix the dryness.

REN Resurfacing AHA Concentrate

This serum is nothing revolutionary, but it does help those pesky blemish marks to fade faster. It doesn't remove them overnight, but long-term this is very effective. Also if I get a few spots this sometimes helps overnight, then sometimes it doesn't.

Sun Dance Mattierendes Sonnenfluid SPF30

(Mattifying sunprotecting fluid SPF30)

I barely spend a few minutes outside a day, so I don't wear sunscreen every day and I mostly wear BBs or foundations with SPF anyway. I like this one because it's really light, not greasy and it's really affordable.

Avene Cicalfate

This is just a basic antibacterial repairing treatment for any cuts, wounds, etc. I don't use this a lot on my face as I don't need to, but if it just happens that I squeezed a zit, I apply this to make it heal faster. 

Balea Soft & Clear Anti-Pickel Gel

This is rubbish, but it's the only spot treatment I have. I don't get a lot of spots and if I get them, I'm not that bothered. It's one of those on-spot gels with tons of alcohol and salicylic acid that in theory should make the spot dry out faster, but this one doesn't work.

Labello Fruity Shine Peach

Not the most moisturising lip balm, but it smells divine and the colour it gives is cute.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick

I don't suffer from dry lips at all and I think the reason for this also comes down to this swivel stick. I've been using it for years and it's my absolute favourite lip balm. I apply it as the last part of my routine and I wake up with my lips in perfect condition. I almost never use a lip balm during the day simply because I don't need to. I also love this for treating any rough, dry areas. 

Bio Beauté by Nuxe Lip Balm wit Apricot Butter 

This is another great lip balm, but with a more glossy finish. It smells great (pears), moisturises enough for my needs and the tube contains a generous 15 ml. 

And this is it. Basically I use balance Me cleanser, Clarins toner, L'Occitane moisturiser, Nuxe oil and Palmer's lip balm (or Nuxe lip balm) every night, and balance Me cleanser with L'Occitane moisturiser in the mornings. I'm looking for a morning cleanser that is quicker to use and I'm still missing Estee Lauder's Night Advance serum which is amazing.

Have a great day!

I'm always trying new anti-dandruff shampoos as I have been suffering from dandruff since I was 11. I have been at the dermatologist, but she didn't give me anything, she just said I should keep trying different shampoos until I find one that works. I believe Vichy Dercos Anti-Dandruff Sensitive Treatment Shampoo is a newcomer on the market. I've had Vichy's anti-dandruff shampoo before, but this version is sulphate, paraben and colour free. I've been using it for 8 weeks so far and I'm not impressed at all.

Texture: a clear, runny gel consistency. It doesn't foam upon first application, which I find annoying, but it does on the second, though not a lot. As at L'Occitane's Repairing shampoo, I have to use a lot of shampoo for it do anything at all, so a bottle doesn't last long, especially if you're one of those who washes their hair every day.

Performance: It's a sulphate free shampoo which means it's very gentle, but that also means it doesn't manage to remove all the build up and flakes which is essential if you have dandruff. The light, very basic formula doesn't do anything for my hair and it leaves it a bit dry. In terms of anti-dandruff abilities, it's not at all effective on my scalp. It didn't help cure dandruff, but it's very gentle on my scalp and it doesn't irritate or leave it itchy unlike L'Oreal's Ever Riche sulphate free shampoo. This leaves my hair insanely tangled. Normally, a wide tooth comb just glides through my hair after being washed and there isn't a tangle in sight (I comb it before applying conditioner because I noticed that then I use much, much less conditioner), but with this all I can do is slap on a massive amount of conditioner and wait for it to loosen the tangles.

Scent: a fresh pharmacy-ish peppermint one. I quite like it.  

Ingredients: 

I don't like it. It doesn't clean well, doesn't foam, makes my hair ridiculously tangled, does nothing in terms of curing dandruff and I used it up way too fast. The light texture makes it appropriate for most types of hair and it is gentle, but that's it. As far as anti-dandruff shampoos go, I haven't found one that would actually work, but honestly, I prefer shampoos with sulphates because they actually clean well and I notice no difference between regular and sulphate free shampoos in terms of how gentle they are to my scalp. I know there is this whole hype about sulphate free shampoos that are supposed to be better for us with dandruff, but I had much better shampoos with sulphates and I had some sulphate free shampoos that really irritated my scalp. My dermatologist assured me that sulphates are fine and sulphate allergy is rare. I also like silicones in my shampoo because it make the hair a lot more manageable, so shampoo was really a miss for me.

Texture: Light and runny. This texture allows easy blending and it's easy to cover larger areas. I also bought the CC cream recently and the textures are very similar (I'd do a separate review because I just got it).

Shade: I have the lightest shade called 21 Ivory which is slightly lighter than the CC cream and very close to Healthy Mix Serum with the exception that it's a much more neutral shade (kudos for that Bourjois! Now just make one lighter). It's very similar to Collection's Lasting Perfection concealer in Fair. 

Coverage: This is not the best covering concealer and I don't think it was meant to be anyway. It has a medium coverage that is very similar to the CC cream, maybe just a bit more. It doesn't completely cover my under eye circles, nor does it completely cover blemishes and due to the matte-ish texture it can stick on flaky parts of the skin, but it can cover redness and red marks from old blemishes. Honestly, for me it's enough as I like the natural look and it reminds me of my favourite concealer Maybelline's the Eraser, but I suppose most people wouldn't be too impressed.

Finish: Somewhere between matte and satin, in general very skin like. This really has a lovely finish.

Staying power: It's not the best, I'd say average. It rubs off in about 4 hours if you don't put powder over it. However, with powder over it, it lasts decently through the day.

Packaging: A twist up pencil shaped tube with a silicone nib. The silicone applicator is interesting, but in practice it can tug on the skin and it gets dirty which is my pet peeve (I want my make up super clean and looking like new). I actually apply it with fingers and not the applicator. I have to turn the mechanism that pushes out the product very carefully, otherwise I end up with too much concealer for application.

One massive disappointment for me, which I noticed only when I got home, is that this contains only 1.5 ml of product. Yes, you read right, that dot is placed correctly. That is a ridiculously small amount, it's like a perfume sample. For shame! If you look at the amount you get for price, even NARS' Radiant Creamy Concealer with it's 6 ml for 26 € is cheaper. 

Price and availability: I bought it in DM for 7.99 €.

Overall I like it. The finish is lovely and though the shade could be lighter, I love the fact it's neutral. However, the amount you get is shockingly small and since the coverage it so similar to the CC cream (which you can layer anyway), there is no need to own both. I'm angry that I paid 10€ for 1.5 ml of product, when those samples in little bags that have a similar amount are free. But that's just my humble opinion. 

Not that I really need volumising products, but Forme Fatale caught my attention because it's a heat protectant and styling product in one. I didn't know exactly what to expect since there are almost no proper reviews for this online, especially from people who actually bought it themselves, but this video made it look so good and the girl actually styles the hair herself. So far I've only had fantastic experience with Kérastase product and Forme Fatale is not cheap so I expected a lot, particularly in the taming frizz department (as good as got2b Volumania mousse is, this is my only gripe), however, this is that one product from my favourite hair brand that left me cold when it came to my hair. Having said that, it was a completely different story when I used it on someone with thin hair.

Texture: a thick gel with soft shimmer. The video says to apply a chestnut amount on damp hair, but on the packaging it says to use a small amount, I just follow the video's instructions. It spreads evenly, not as easy as a serum does, but like any hair gel.

Effect: 

I used it on it's own after conditioner the first time to see how it performs. I've heard a few people say that this tames frizz well, so I tested it without Sexy Healthy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave-in conditioner, which is in my experience the best at taming frizz. Forme Fatale feels super light on the hair, however, I find it dries it out, particularly the ends. I can run my fingers through the hair and it doesn't feel sticky or clumped up, but the hair does feel a bit harder (well obviously. How else would you get hold), however, it's still soft enough  The volume I was able to achieve by blow-drying my hair was phenomenal, in fact the biggest I was ever able to achieve and it exceeds even the got2b Volumania mousse. But this is the king of frizz. And I'm not saying the king of taming the frizz, but of making it. Due to drying out the hair, the amount of frizz was uncontrollable, it looked super frizzy compared to when I use Sexy Healthy Hair leave-in in conjunction with Nectar Termique. This by itself has no frizz control, not even when I use a curling iron over it. I needed a lot of extra moisturising/frizz taming product on the following days to control the dryness, which was like a blast from the past to me, since that was all I was doing before I found Healthy Sexy Hair.
I've since been using it in conjunction with Soy Tri-Wheat Leave-in and it is much, much better in the moisture levels and frizz department. Thought the frizz is still present, it remains in a much smaller and more manageable quantity. However, the dryness remains a problem.

Performance on thin hair:

I used it on a girl with thin hair which is shoulder length and with my usual volume making technique that I also use on myself (just watch this video), the volume I was able to achieve was amazing, especially for someone with such thin hair. It didn't make it greasy or heavy at all and you pretty much couldn't feel it was on the hair (and she has a hair type that most hair sprays make it feel crispy). On her hair, which is naturally poker straight, there was no sign of any frizz whatsoever. I managed to get beautiful sleek curls with lots of volume at the roots. This was designed for fine to normal hair and it shows, the performance on such hair is flawless.

Hold: On my hair that generally tends to hold curls very well they lasted a maximum of two days, so it's not as good as the got2b Volumania mousse with which I get at least three days of great hold. 

Scent: Very lovely floral, but lasts less than a minute.

Ingredients:

Price and availability: I paid 21.40 € on HQHair, but currently the cheapest place to get it that I know of is All Beauty where it's 18.93€. You can also pick this up at selected hair salons.

If you're the one with thin, volume lacking hair that is normal or oily, I wholeheartedly recommend this, however, girls with dry hair be warned this dries out the hair and makes it frizzy. A good conditioner and leave-in treatment or some sort of a defrizzer solves the problem to a certain degree, but on my hair the dryness is irritating and I have to resort to heaps of oil to fix the problem on later days. It's a great product and does what's it says on the box, but it's not ideal for my hair. Still I'll finish it, it was too expensive not to.

  

Essence Beach Cruisers TE

available in May 2014

wet & dry eyeshadows in 01 girls just wanna have SUN!, 02 keep calm and go to the beach! in 03 life is a beach. - 2.49 €

 waterproof mascara top coat in 01 cruisers united (turns an mascara into waterproof) - 2.49€

waterproof liquid eyeliner in 01 sun, fun & copper! and 02 keep calm and go to the beach! - 2.49€

 blush in 01 I ♥ summer break - 3.29€

bronzing powder in 01 life is a beach - 3.29€

body spray in 01 take me to paradise (100 ml) - 3.29€

lipgloss in 01 I ♥ summer break and 02 girls just wanna have SUN! - 2.19€

nail polish in 01 I ♥ summer break, 02 girls just wanna have SUN!, 03 keep calm and go to the beach! and 04 life is a beach - 1.49€

wet bikini bag - 4.39€

 Essence Viva Brasil TE

available in May and June 2014

 eyeshadow in 01 everybody salsa, 02 1 <3 brasil in  03 ka-ka-karnival - 1.99€

blush in 01 1 <3 brasil in 02 destination: sao paulo! - 2.69€

 lip balm in 01 colour parade in 02 olá brasil! - 1.99€

eye and hair mascara in 01 everybody salsa, 02 1 <3 brasil in 03 ka-ka-karnival - 3.29€

 nail polish in 01 1 <3 brasil, 02 everybody salsa, 03 ka-ka-karnival, 04 cool azul in 05 yeah, copacabana! - 1.69€

effect nail set in 01 colour parade in 02 olá brasil! - 2.69€

bracelet set in 01 express your essence - 1.59€

create your own ring 01 we like to samba - 2.19€

available in DM's, E.Leclerc, Click2Chic and Mueller in Slovenia.  

Vichy Idealia Eye contour idealiser 

(about 24 €)

Promises to transform the area around the eyes, to lessen the appearance of dark circles, that it illuminates dark areas and minimises the appearance of wrinkles. It contains DRM-BRIGHT complex, caffeine, vitamin B3 and works as a illuminator. It has an innovative silicone applicator. Hypoallergenic, suitable for sensitive skin and contains Vichy thermal water.

Have a great day!

 NARS blush Deep Throat

When it comes to Nars blushes, there are two colours that are probably most popular, one being Orgasm and the second Deep Throat (try not to chuckle at the names). I've had both for ages and though they are both peachy-pink shades, Orgasm looks darker in the pan, while on the cheeks Deep Throat is the one with stronger pigmentation and is less shimmery. It's a very flattering shade on so many different skin tones. I love it on super pale skin and this is the blush I use on other people most often (this looks so cute on someone that wears Healthy Mix 52-53 (NC20-25) - a peachy-baby pink).

 MAC eyeshadow Patina

I've never been much of an eyeshadow wearer, but I'm striving to use them more. Patina is a very old favourite of mine. It's a neutral shade that I believe is very popular, but when it comes to describing the colour you realize how difficult it is. It's somewhere along the lines of a light antiqued gold that has this cool taupe tones in it. I know, complicated, but what's important is how great it looks as an all over wash on the lids. It's not particularly pigmented and it takes a bit of effort to get it properly build up even on my Snow White complexion, so it's not the eyeshadow you'd slap on in a hurry, but the final look is so pretty.

MAC eyeshadow Mulch

I loved this in combination with Patina. It's a dark warm chocolate brown, similar to L'Oreal's Infallible Endless Chocolat, but less shimmery. It's a another lovely shade for those who like neutrals. 

Urban Decay Naked Palette

I'm more of a Naked Basic kind of girl, but I've dusted off the queen of neutral palettes and vowed to used it more. My favourite combinations are Sin all over the lid with Naked and Buck in the crease and for a more smoky look I like Smog all over the lid with Darkhorse in the corner. 

 Catrice Made to Stay Smoothing Lip Polish 060 Mission PINKpossible

I'm not the one to wear a bright, fuchsia shade on my lips as I find them too cool for my skintone, but I really like this shade on me. The formula is a pleasant surprise - it like a very pigmented lip gloss-lip stain hybrid which just from definition I should dislike, but in this product it just works so well.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet 08 Grand Cru

This has one of the most perfect matte finishes ever. The formula is hard to work with due to a strange mousse-like texture, but the final result is amazing. The colour is such a beauty and it's the prettiest deep red ever. Just to give you an indication of how great the staying power is I should tell you that people were really surprised when I came home from a diner at a restaurant with my lip colour almost intact. 

 Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or

My hair is drier at the moment due to a product I've been testing (you'll learn more about it in an upcoming review) and this oil has been saving the current situation. It's a multi-purpose dry oil with stunning gold shimmer that can be used on the body or hair. It's light enough that is doesn't weigh down my thick hair, but still moisturisers it well, helps the dryness and tames it. It also gives this wonderful shine to the hair because of the shimmer. Used in the body, it's quite a stunning highlighter that even gives a very subtle tan to my ghostly pale skin. 

 Essie Really Red

Just a classic medium red that I've been enjoying wearing this month. A colour you can't go wrong with.

essence colour&go 107 naughty & pink

I'm ashamed to admit that since I bought it over a year ago, I only wore it once, which is ridiculous because that's one of the prettiest pink nail polishes I own. It's bright pink that has the tiniest hint of coral in it, so it's a nice warm shade that goes well with my skintone.

Have a great day!