I think it was last month that Misslyn launched Let's Be Mermaids collection, which contains a few highlighters in pretty boxes, a mermaid tail makeup brush and a few colourful liquid eyeliners. Misslyn has become known for their retro & cute cardboard packaging, which were originally a part of their Pop Art limited edition, but they added the products to their regular line and expanded the shade range as well as added more products. Quality of their powders has always been mixed, with some great stuff like their bronzers (I got the darkest one a while ago, but I reviewed it nonetheless here) and their more powdery formulas of blushes, highlighter and mattifying powder. But this collection really surprised me with the quality, especially this highlighter that convinced me to get it for my birthday. There are two other highlighters, one is gold which is just excellent quality and will work great for warm undertones, and the other is a pink creamy one, which is the least glowy of the three.   

This is my third rainbow highlighter and it's the first one I like when all the colours are mixed together. It consist of several shades - blue, green, yellow, peach, lilac and purple, but the largest stripes in this are luckily the nicest shades (yellow, peach and violet) which means that when you mix the colours together you get a beautiful pinky tone. The other rainbow highlighter that I kept in my collection, the I Heart Makeup Unicorn Heart has the largest stripes with blue and green, so if I mix it together, I get a highlight with a green tone. For that reason I only use the yellow and red part of the highlighter, so I get a nice champagne glow, which at this highlighter is super strong. The Misslyn highlighter is less intense than I <3 Makeup, which means to most it'll be more wearable. It has very finely milled shimmer, so it really looks just like a beautiful glow on the cheek with no sparkles. If you missed that massive Catrice highlighter from the Kaviar Gauche limited edition, this has the same type of glow on the cheek and in my opinion these two are some of the best highlighters I've tried so far.

Formula is smooth and silky, it really is so much better than Misslyn's Glow for it highlighter which always swatched so powdery and not particularly glowy when I was in the shop, so I never considered it a highlighter worth purchasing. This mermaid one applies nicely and it's easy to blend in, I tend to use a thick eyeshadow blending brush for application.

Packaging is cardboard with a mirror and it has a magnetic closing system. All three highlighters have a different mermaid, mine has a blond girl with a rainbow tail, which was actually my least favourite, but it's the product that matters.

It cost 7.99 € in Müller. Misslyn is also sold on Beauty Bay, but I'm not sure if they sell limited editions too.

This is a great buy and a drugstore gem, so I hope that just like the Pop Art collection Misslyn adds this to their regular line. The quality of the powder is a lot better than their other highlighter in the regular line and it truly creates a lovely glow on the cheeks, so if you see it in the shop and you're in a need of a highlighter, this one is worth considering. It may look like it's just for kids, but you're missing out if you're reluctant to try it because of the packaging.

Have a great day!

PHYSICIANS FORMULA Butter Blush

Plum Rose

I got this as a gift for my birthday after it has been on my wishlist for a year. Bronzer from this line is a massive drugstore hit and it's universally praised for its silky, butter texture, so I expected some amazing formula at this blush too. Mine is still new and I only had a chance to try it twice, but the formula is nothing special for a powdery product, though maybe I need to get thought the top layer. It's a classic firm texture with a silky smooth formula. My shade Plum Rose looks just as bland in real life as you can see it on my pictures, I don't even know how to describe this colour, maybe muted pinky-taupe. When I swatched it I was so disappointed because it barely shows up on my NC10 skin tone, but when I tried it on the cheeks it shows up, though it's very subtle. The shade is completely unique in my collection and it sort of just defines the cheeks a bit, giving a hint of a natural, slightly peachy, muted taupe-ish flush. It smells like sunscreen and coconuts, but it's not as strong as some report and it's just a nice addition. I'll report back how I get on with it in the future, but you can see it on my cheeks in a Instagram Story that I highlighted on my profile.

BRITNEY SPEARS Fantasy Intimate Edition

My other part of the birthday gift. This was a recent addition on my wishlist after I did some exploring on Fragrantica. I've had a few Fantasy fragrances: the original one (the old one, not the new reformulated version), Midnight Fantasy and the Naughty Remix, but I haven't had a bottle in a long time since I've outgrown the original scent. Fantasy Intimate it's the most non-cupcake version, in fact I can't detect much vanilla or sugary notes in this. It opens with the classic Fantasy tropical fruity burst, so the sweet and fresh note of litchi. Then the clean smelling musk almost completely overtakes the fragrance and it's the strongest note in this. If I really put my nose to it, there is a tiny hint of sugar, but this is mostly a musky fragrance, meaning close to the clean skin scent with just a touch of sweetness. I have to say I miss something warm in this fragrance, something that would make it smell more cosy. If not vanilla, then amber, sandalwood or wood notes, but this just lacks something. It's the only Fantasy that I think could even be unisex. Staying power is nowhere close to the silage monster that was the original Fantasy, as it lasts only a few hours on the skin. Bottle is beautiful and I'm really digging the white-rose gold combo.

MISSLYN Pretty Mermaid Rainbow Highlighter

Nowadays it's either unicorn or mermaid theme when it comes to limited editions, both of course featuring the rainbow highlighter, and though it's becoming a bit tiring, Misslyn's collection looks pretty nice. There are three highlighters, four eyeliners and a mermaid themed brushes (same that you get on AliExpress for a euro or two. They cost 6 € in this collection.) I had my eyes set on the highlighters and I was almost sure I was going to take the pinky cream one until I actually tried it in the shop and it was neither glowy enough nor cream-to-powder. The powder golden one looked fantastic and so much better than the golden one that's in the regular line, the latter swatches too powdery, so I avoided buying it. However, it was the last one that convinced me to get it as a birthday gift for myself even though I'm fed up with the rainbow trend. Unlike my other rainbow highlighter it swatches with a pink tone and the shimmer is very finely milled, so it has a lovely glow that's pretty strong, but not too much. The powder feels silky and not chalky, so overall great quality. This is great highlighter for the price and the packaging is adorable too. 

Müller, 7.99 €

RIMMEL Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick

500 Fire Starter

We have only five shades of this in our drugstores and not the shade I wanted (Blush), though this one was on my wishlist too despite being warm, but I wanted to test this formula, since I love matte liquid lipsticks so much. I originally said the formula is something between theBalm and Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream, but after wearing it a bit more, I noticed it's not in the "possibly ok for dry lips too" category, as there is some tightness present when it dries, but nothing like Sleek. It's one of the creamier formulas, or more like a mousse and it has good pigmentation like most liquid lipsticks. It dries completely matte in a few minutes and it doesn't transfer at all. The one thing that I think this lags behind some of its competition like Maybelline is the staying power.

DM, 6.19 €

*CATRICE California in a Box Bronze & Blush Palette

010 Malibu Beach Collection

A new product by Catrice for Spring 2018 and I'll just say it frankly that I don't like this. I'm used to great quality powders by Catrice and this is a combination of products that are too powdery and not that silky, so they can apply patchy, except the highlighter which I like quite a lot. There are two blushes: the coral one is the more pigmented of the two and it contains gold shimmer. The second blush is again more of a coral or peachy pink shade despite that it looks like a muted pink in the pan. It's matte and lacks pigmentation. The two bronzers are both warm, one has a yellow undertone and it's the lighter of the two and the second one has a reddish tone, which I prefer, but both don't apply as smoothly as I'd wish. The highlighter is a metallic gold champagne shade, which is very creamy and pigmented, so it's a great one for those who love the glow. I was excited when I saw this the first time, but trying it on my cheeks left me cold. Swatches are in the Instagram Story highlighted on my profile as are for a lot of the products here. I need to mention that my fellow bloggers are delighted by the quality of the palette, so maybe don't listen to me this time.

10.49 €

*CATRICE Instant Glam Eyeshadow Palette

010 It's a Match

This is a funny one. Remember those pre-made eyeshadow "tattoos" for one use? Well this is a kind of a spin-off. You get a big sponge applicator that fits the pans and you're supposed to grab both of the shades at once and apply it in a straight line with the dark shade close to the lashes and the light one on the top. Of course it doesn't work or at least it works to about half the lid, then you run out of colour and when you dip it again and try to continue the application it all messes up. So that idea is ridiculous, plus it also looks ways too weird on the eyes, however the eyeshadows itself are surprisingly nice. Not all perform the same, but the brown/vanilla combo is quite creamy and the grey one next to it is quite pigmented and ends up taupe on the eyes. The "satin taupe"purple taupe/light pink one bellow is lighter than the rest, but ends up nice on the lids, while the last purple/lightpink one is matte and more firm/less buttery, however it applies beautifully and lasts all day. They should have just made a classic palette with separate shades because it'd be easier to use, since due to thin strips it's hard to pick one colour with a brush.

7.29 €

*CATRICE Lashes to Kill Pro Instant Volume Mascara

010 Ultra Black

I don't know which Lashes to Kill version is this so far, but I had the original many years ago and I didn't not like it. I can only provide a review of the freshly opened mascara and like a lot of mascaras it's very wet for now, so I'm sure it hasn't reached its full potential yet (it took three months for L.O.V. LashSeduction to become decent and this behaves a lot like it). It's a volumizing mascara that deposits a lot of product, but since it's still so wet, applying more layers can very quickly result in a clumpy application and at me it also weighs down the lashes, but the there is quite a lot of volume, so when it dries and thickens a bit, I predict it'll be a great high impact mascara. The brush is similar to L.O.V.'s, meaning classic with thick bristles, but it's a bit bent, which I quite like. A waterproof version of this formula exists too and it was reviewed by my fellow blogger Beautysaur.

5.29 €

*CATRICE HD Liquid Coverage Precision Concealer

010 Light Beige

I'm not sure if Catrice is the first to utilise the pinpoint concealer idea, but great job. The formula is the same as in the Liquid Camouflage, so high coverage with a matte finish, but more liquid than Collection, Look, Nars and the Saem formulas. The applicator is a silicone thin tip that can be very precise and there is enough product on it for several applications. The concept itself is great, just apply a dot of concealer just on the spot where needed and then tap it in with a finger for a more natural looking effect, however Catrice has the least lasting formula of the high coverage concealers I mentioned before, so without powder it disappeared from my spots a bit too quickly, to be more specific in about five hours (Look outlasts it by several hours). I have the lightest shade which is similar to the 005 in the HD Liquid Camouflage, while two more darker shades exist in this line.

3.79 €

*L.O.V COSMETICS BLUSHLiason Dewy Gel Blush Stick

010 Daring Pink

This is L.O.V.s first attempt at a cream blush. It's a semi-sheer formula that's more on a "creamy-greasy" side instead of that cream-to-powder silicone one. You simply swipe it on the cheeks and then you should blend it with the brush on the other side, however the latter is completely wrong for this type of formula as it just removes it/shifts it to another place without blending, so I much prefer blending and tapping this in with fingers which creates a nice flush with a skin-like finish, not dewy. My colour is a bright bubble gum pink which gives that classic baby doll effect. Staying power depends a lot of the base, but on its own it's not impressing and it lasts much better is there is a long-lasting base under it. The brush is a like a mini cut kabuki, so more suited for thicker formulas or even foundations/concealers. Another shade exists called 020 Alluring Peach.

10.99 €

*L.O.V. COSMETICS Lipaffair Color & Care Lipstick Brave Nudes

612 Angelina's Belief

L.O.V. added a special collection of four nude shades to their regular LIPaffair line, which is selection of lipsticks with a classic creamy finish. Formula is very pigmented and smooth, plus it's one of those new-age formula that's thin and lightweight. Despite being creamy, it's not a moisturising type of formula which those with dry lips might not like, but it still feels like a high quality formula. My shade is a medium warm rosy brown and it's the most warm such shade I own, leaning closer to a dirty peachy than my other similar shades. Staying power is average with four-five hours on the lips, but it fades evenly.  

9.99 €

*L.O.V. COSMETICS LOVinity Nail Lacquer

264 Devoted Denim and 301 Bridal Bloom

A few more shades were added to my favourite nail polish line LOVinity, I got two, the medium muted mint green and a powdery pink, both shades that were definitely missing in their range. Formula of these is easy to work with and they outlast other nail polishes on me. I'm wearing Bridal Bloom at the moment, which is mostly a one coater with a fantastic formula for a pastel shade, but I applied two coats. Shade is darker on me than in the bottle and a classic pastel warm bubble gum pink.

5.99 €  

JOICO Moisture Recovery hair mask

This is by far the heaviest and most moisturising mask I know, in fact it's too heavy even for me unless I have completely dried up hair. It's a thick balm type of conditioner that intensely nourishes the hair, fixing the worst dryness, even the one pre-wash oil treatment can't. I had a bad experience with an anti-dandruff shampoo that not just turned my hair into a dry, easily tangled mess, but also made it brittle, so it started to break and became weak, so I resorted to this and even the first use did a lot. But this is only for thick hair and do not buy it if you have thin hair, pick the Hydrator from K-Pack line instead which is another brilliant product, but lighter.

Salma, €15.10

L'ORÉAL PROFESSIONEL Série Expert Absolut Repair Lipidium Hair mask

I bought one of these last year, I think only the packaging changed and not the formula, but I still have a bit left even though it's pretty much the only hair mask I've been using the whole year. It's a thick hair mask, meant for dry, damaged hair and it's one of the rare ones I can find that works decent on my hair. It's enough for me, though after one year I can say that I wish it's effects lasted a bit longer, but it's better than drugstore stuff.  

Salma, €19.10

DOVE Advanced Hair Series Regenerate Nourishment Hair Mask

Dove's Advanced Hair Series line has some nice products and it's a shame they disappeared from our drugstores because right now there's no hair product I would actually buy out of the ones we have here and I need to order everything I'm really interested in online. I've tried it once so far and it's one of the good drugstore masks. It's nourishing enough for my dry hair, but the effect doesn't last long, just like at other drugstore masks. Still, I think it'll work brilliantly for most people with moderately dry hair. Formula is similar to L'Oreal Total Repair 5, so not super thick, which those who don't like heavy masks will appreciate. Bad side is that I already used about a 1/4 of the pot for my lower back length hair.

Salma, €2.90

SEXY HAIR HEALTHY Soy Tri-Wheat Leave-in Conditioner 

My regular repurchase. I was without this for a while because was trying to use up one of my miss purchases and the health of my hair went into a decline, so I'm sticking to using this every time I wash my hair. It adds an extra boots of moisture, help the hair from drying out too fast and it also tames it a bit. This latest bottle has a thicker texture than the ones before and the spray doesn't create a nice mist because of that, so I'm not happy with this change.

Salma, €12.30

REDKEN Extreme Anti-Snap

Another repurchase and one I make as soon as I notice too much damage on my hair. It's a protein treatment that helps the hair become stronger, therefore it breaks and splits less. It's a light lotion type of product that doesn't feel heavy, so it's appropriate for most hair types.

Salma, €17.90

BATH & BODY WORKS Twilight Woods Body Mist

I found this one Salma, but it was discontinued for a while and I think now it's back at BBW (possibly just for a little while). It's my third BBW mist and the most long-lasting one, though it's again not quite like proper fragrance. Based on my exploration on Fragrantica this seems to be one of the most popular BBW scents and it definitely does seem like a crowd pleaser for all of those who love cosy, wintery scent's I can describe it is woody, musky, a tiny bit coconutty and vanillary, but not in a sugary sweet way like Pink Sugar, instead it's a more creamy fragrance. BBW mentions mostly fruity notes, but there's nothing fruity in this. Definitely a lovely scent that I only liked at first try, but now I just crave spraying it on myself when I don't have a bottle around because it's soo good. Recommended for all who love warm, cosy scents.

Salma, €13.10

I got a few samples on Salma like I always do, since I just love trying new fragrances:

Vera Wang Princess 

Why was this so popular in the past? I remember when I was researching teenage Fantasy like scent that this was often mentioned, but I detect only a strong fresh guava note and no chocolate or vanilla that everyone was mentioning. Not a fan. Notes.

Vera Wang Lovestruck

This is a very simple shampoo type of scent. It's a light floral fruity scent with guava as the most easily spotted note, but the rest is more blended together and it really does come off as a Fructis/Herbal Essences/soapy type of scent. I like it and would consider buying it. Notes.

Versace Crystal Noir

I knew how this smells before, but I'm delaying buying a bottle for myself because I'm too cheap, so I got a mini sample to hold me for a while. It's one of the best fabric softener like scent that is quite a warm and spicy clean scent with note of cardamom and pepper present on a more creamy clean base. Coconut is supposedly the strongest note here, but I don't detect it as a classic sunscreen variety, it's more creamy with calming notes of sandalwood toning it down. I think the name is terrible here as it invokes a dark, sultry scent with heavy patchouli and vanilla notes, but this is the opposite of it. Notes.

Valentino Donna

I love the initial burst of this as it smells just like a department stores with its mix of a waxy lipstick scent and a mixture of all the fragrances, but then the annoying strong patchouli kicks in and ruins it. It's like you'd mix a classic lipstick scent (that floral iris scent that Guerlain has) with Paco Rabanne Black xs with an even stronger patchouli note. Without it I'd be brilliant, but it's a no buy for me. Notes.

CADEAVERA Soft Panda Sheet Mask

My first CadeaVera sheet mask to try. Balea recently released both a panda and tiger masks, but since Balea's sheets are so thick and uncomfortable, I'm giving this version a try instead. Based on ingredients it's a simple moisturising mask with almond oil high on the list.
Sheet: feels a lot more like paper than most soft sheet masks and this is quite rigid, especially on the black painted parts. Due to that it doesn't stick to the skin in some places like the ears. It fits ok and it's not too large, it fine around the eyes and mouth.
Essence: is milky, light and mostly non sticky, except when I used the rest of the essence in a thicker application and when it started drying it was a bit sticky. There is plenty of essence left in the bag, but that's because the sheet doesn't absorb that much essence.
Scent: this has a very heavy fragrance, so those sensitive to that you won't like it. It smells like freshly mowed grass or like sorrel (kislica).
Effect: it promises to moisturise and that's what it does. It does the job of a nice moisturiser and I overall liked the results. The sheet is not that comfortable (I took it off after 20 minutes, while I usually keep them on for 40), but it's fun and it does what it promises.

Ingredients.

Müller, 1.95 €

BALEA Duschschaum

Hawaiian Dream

My second version of this lovely shower mousse, the other was Fresh & Fruity. This one surprisingly doesn't smell neither as coconut nor tiare flower. I expected the same scent they have in after sun gels, but this is a gently floral clean scent. I'm like it regardless and the texture is again so lovely with its dense foam.

DM, 1.49 €

AVEO Med Milde Pflege Duche

A repurchase. I just love this both for being a gentle pH friendly shower gel and for smelling like camomile. 

Müller, 1.45 €

ESSENCE Wood You Love Me Makeup Sponges

I've mentioned these in my last favourites, but in short they are brilliant makeup sponges that are just like those in cushion foundations and the blend the foundation/concealer seamlessly. I've been using them every day since I got them. They are a part of the limited edition, but even if you miss it, these sponges are sold on AliExpress and eBay. 

Müller, 2.19€

Have a great day!

This is the first mascara from L.O.V. that I had a chance to try and one of the products that were added to their range in autumn. I did not get along with this mascara in the first months because it's the messiest, wettest and most gloopy mascara I've tried in a long time, so I kept waiting for it to dry a bit and become more manageable. I kept giving it chances every week or so, but there were no signs of it thickening for a very long time. It's three or four months now and it's still quite wet, but much easier to work with and it gives an insane amount of volume.

This has a a standard brush with short bristles, so a type that is for depositing a lot of product on the lashes and not for combing or definition. It's a good idea to use an old mascara wand after application for combing the lashes.

Performance after a week or two of use. You can see on the right how heavy the application can look and I didn't apply more than two coats.

After three or four months since the mascara was opened. All the volume is still here, but it's not as messy any more.

Like I said before the formula of this is very wet and very messy, so when it was new it created quite a mess of my lashes and around my eyes as it transferred everywhere. The formula was also heavy which meant my lashes just dropped with this and the volume I was able to achieve, wasn't even that visible. Fast forward to today, it's much less messy, so I can apply it without making a massive mess and it's also more defining, but nothing like proper defining mascaras. The greatest feature of this is the amount of volume it creates. This just beefs up the lashes so much and creates a very intense lashy look. If you're a fan of a lot of volume, you'll be enjoying this one. However, do no cry with this mascara or rub your eyes or do anything around your lashes because you'll have the worst raccoon eyes ever. One day I looked so terrible with this, I vowed myself never to wear this if I suspect I'll be in a situation when any water or eye rubbing might be involved. It's also a mascara that needs some extra effort when it comes to removal, not because it's a particularly long-lasting mascara, but because there is so much of it on the lashes. It's also a mascara that needs a lot of time to dry, so do not sneeze with this in the next half an hour after application (did that mistake just once).

Mascara costs 10.99 € in Müller.

If you're looking for volume this is a top performer, but be ready for the fact it's messy and wet, also be prepared to leave in alone for a while because this is not a mascara you'd open and it'll work perfectly. It's too messy for me to wear it daily with confidence and I prefer Essence mascaras which are also quite volumusing, but some might like such a mascara that you can build up quickly and since it doesn't dry fast on the lashes, you can keep on building it up if you wish. I recently got the newest Catrice Lashes to Kill Pro mascara which reminds me a lot of this one when it was new and they have very similar results.

Have a great day!

*PR product.

LOOK by BIPA Matte Camouflage Concealer 

010

This became my favourite high coverage drugstore concealer, replacing Collection's after a very long time. Formulas are actually almost identical and you're not missing out much if you have that one already, but the shade is a lot more neutral, so it fits me a bit better. It covers a lot, from circles, redness to spots and it has a matte finish, plus I find the staying power is better than at Catrice Liquid Camouflage, so if you live in a country with Bipa, this is a great concealer to try.

TREND IT UP Powder Blush

050

I tend to stick to the same type of warm muted pinky mauve blushes and so I don't neglect any in my collection, I rotate them in my routine - this blush had its turn in January. It's one of the best shades in our drugstores and it's one of those colours that gives the cheeks a bit of definition, but doesn't overtake the look. The formula is nicely pigmented, silky and this shade even has a bit of a glow. It's not as long-lasting as the old Catrice ones or L'Oreal's, but for the money it's a great one.

J.LO Glow

This isn't in any way a ground breaking fragrance, in fact it's what I consider a very plain scent, but that's what I like about it. It's a simple clean scent, like laundry detergent or a body cream, so really a type of scent that's appropriate for any occasion. Notes mention musk, which I detect, but none of the floral notes of rose, jasmine, neroli and orange blossom are very obvious, though I do notice roses, but in a Chloe type of way, not the granny rose kind of way. If you're looking for something very simple, clean and on a budget, this is a nice option.  

BATH AND BODY WORKS Pocketbac

Spiced Apple Wood

It's weird to put a hand sanitizer here, but I'm almost addicted to the scent of it. It's a very unisex scent and the name pretty much says it all. There's a strong wood note with some spices and to make it a bit fresher there is a crisp apple note. I was so impressed by this scent that I ordered Twilight Woods body mist, which is a much more girly and cosy wood scent, but man doesn't BBW do woody scents well. Also these Pocketbacs are great and I love that they come in such a cute size because I can easily carry it anywhere and they always have such a great selection of scents.

MISSLY Pretty Mermaid Rainbow Highlighter LE

I only talked about this on Instagram so far and I haven't had it for very long yet, but it's a limited edition worth mentioning because Misslyn did a great job. I had their powder products before and only their bronzers are nicely smooth, while the rest tends to be on the powdery side, including their highlighter in the permanent line, but this limited edition has much better quality powders. There are three highlighters, one is a pink cream that I thought wasn't that good, but the gold one looked fantastic and I was going to buy it until I tried this rainbow one which looked even better for my skin tone. It's got the same type of very fine shimmer than Catrice's Kaviar Gauche highlighter, so it looks amazing on the cheeks. It's not super metallic strong, but still among stronger ones and it has a subtle pink tone to it when you mix all colours together.

UPDATES

Birthday Makeup

As usually I used my favourite makeup bits on my birthday, even though my makeup actually looked pretty much the same I always wear and it's the look you've seen many times here in my reviews, which means it was the same light coverage + simple natural eyeshadow look with a black winged liner + glowly cheeks with a natural blush + my beloved Committed matte liquid lipstick. I used:

MAYBELLINE Fit Me Matte + Poreless foundation

BOURJOIS Radiance Reveal Concealer

CATRICE HD Liquid Coverage Precise Concealer (new in the drugstores. I used it on my old, but still very red blemish mark on my chin and it wiped off too fast. I should have used Look)

KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow 05 Rosy Brown

TOO FACED Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette (Shade Amaretto and Cherry Cordial, both reddish browns)

CATRICE COSMETICS Liquid Liner 010 Dating Joe Black

MAYBELLINE Lash Sensational Mascara 

CATRICE Kaviar Gauche Highlighter

MILANI Powder Blush 01 Romantic Rose 

THEBALM Meet Matt(e) Hughes Committed 

CATRICE Ultimate Nail Lacquer Bloody Mary to Go (in the old formula, but same shade still exists)

Fragrances are such an important thing for me, I've said it before that after matte liquid lipsticks they are my second favourite thing, even though I don't put a big emphasis on them here because frankly no one cares, but I'm one of those weird people who changes their fragrance a lot, even in a day. So I couldn't quite decide which scent to wear on my birthday and I sprayed a different one every few hours (none apart from Olympea last terribly long). My favourite of the day was the sadly discontinued L'Occitane Fleur D'Or Acacia (such an amazing scent, L'Occitane always discontinues the best things), but I always love a bit of Hugo Boss Ma Vie and also their The Scent, plus I mustn't forget the lovely Olympea, while my newest Twilight Woods from Bath and Body Works is the only proper cosy wintery scent.

Skin Care

January was the month of trialling new products. Since my favourite serum Banila Miss Flower Mrs Honey has been discontinued, I've embarked on finding a replacement, plus I was sent the new Vichy Idealia Peeling which I trialled first. When I try new products I always go to my basic routine, so I can truly see what the product is capable of doing on its own without interference from other products plus so I can be sure what breaks me out. My basic routine consists of a cleansing oil (Biobaza) and cleansing gel (Balea), while serving as my moisturiser is my trusted Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse.

VICHY Idealia Peeling

I've already reviewed this in my New in, but it's pretty much the same product to me than COSRX BHA Blackhead Liquid in terms of effect, except it also makes the skin feeling soft. I have a couple of prominent red blemish marks right now which I expected this to at least tone down if not fade significantly, but unfortunately this is just too weak. But it did keep my skin completely clear and as I said soft and smooth. 

HOLY SNAIL Honey Shark (7ml sample)

My first proper potential replacement for Banila. It contains a large percentage of niacinamide and plenty of other goodness, so I expected a lot from it. I've been using it for a good three weeks now and I see absolutely nothing. No brightening or at least more hydrated skin and so far I'm not impressed despite the fantastic ingredients. It terms of texture this is a light serum that absorbs within seconds.

ETUDE HOUSE Moistfull Collagen line samples (Toner, Essence, Emulsion and Cream)

I'm trying this as a replacement of the collagen part of Banila serum. Toner is so wonderful as it feels more like a luxurious serum than a toner, so that's the product I would purchase full size. The Essence is ok, but nothing special and emulsion is just a light lotion, so an alternative moisturiser. The cream is another lovely product with a gel cream type of texture that fits oily/combination/normal skin and it's a great base for makeup. All have this divine orange scent that makes me want to buy at least one of these in full-size even more, but it's not an amazing collection of products, just hydrating and when I use it without other products I noticed my skin wasn't quite as smooth/soft feeling.

COSRX Galactomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence

I finally got a bottle of this, which I already mentioned was one of my favourite products based on the samples I used. I've been without a galactomyces based essence for over a month and it showed, but in a couple of days with this my skin looked more radiant and smoother with more refined pores. I'm calling it: this is the best product ever.

Some more skin care products I'll be trialling in the next months:

HADA LABO Super Hyaluronic Acid Face Moisturizing Lotion - I already gave this one test, but then my skin broke out and I got scared this could be it (or hormones because I wasn't using CORSX BHA). It's a hyaluronic acid based serum that's even cheaper than The Ordinary (170 ml is about 15 €, mine is a mini 30 ml size for 5 €) and it feels so amazing on the skin, it's like mini heaven with its hydrating, plumping and comfortable formula (same as EH Moistfull toner), so I'll be gutted if it really turns out it breaks me out. 

LEE JIHAM DR.'s Care Vita-Propolis Ampoule - My second choice for a replacement for Banila. This is a light serum that absorbs pretty fast and leaves no stickiness behind unlike Banilla.  

BENTON Snail Bee High Content Essence- Combination of snail mucin and bee venom (sounds crazy I know) in essence form that's it's very popular in the K-Beauty community, especially among those with unclear skin. It's a gel type of essence that absorbs very fast. 

HOLY SNAILS Hanbang Shark - Same thing as the Honey Shark just with ginseng and ceramides. Formula feels the same.

Ordered

Angel Wing Cuff Earing// Butterfly Cuff earring // Flower cuff earring // Dragon cuff earring // Butterfly hollowed cuff earring // Chain cuff earrings // Crystal climbers earrings // Leaf climbers earrings // Simple pin climber earrings // Angel wings climber earrings // Flower double sided earrings // Mini Pirate Pop up Toy // Assassin's Creed necklace // Gold snitch necklace

Expect them in my next AliExpress Bargains post.

Wishlist 

I'm just posting the same birthday wishlist I did on Stories a while ago. I still haven't bought anything apart from BBW Twilight Woods, even though my birthday is already gone.

L'OREAL Paradise Extatic Mascara

While I agree with most that in terms of effect this is one of the best mascaras in the drugstore, I find it's too expensive (15 €) and what I resent a lot more si that it's dry within two months. European version also has less product than the US version and it's costs more, which I don't intend to support. There are plenty of similarly great mascaras that I'll buy instead.

Repurchase: Maybe, but unlikely.

CATRICE Liquid Eyeliner

My favourite liquid eyeliner and the second in a row I've used up. It's very black, matte and lasts perfectly on the lids.

Repurchase: Done.

BALEA Refreshing Wash Gel

Erfrischendes Washgel

A great and simple gel cleanser with a skin friendly pH that I use as my second cleanser after oil. The only minus is the men's cologne kind of scent (strong and fresh), but I got used to it.

Repurchase: Done.

SECRET KEY Starting Treatment Essence

Rose Edition

I've gone through two 30 ml samples that lasted me forever and I really love this stuff because I've been without it for a month or two because I was waiting for my order to arrive and my skin isn't quite as nice without it. It feels like a regular toner, so not one of those luxe K-Beauty ones, but like our regular toners and it has no scent. Regardless I chose a different essence to repurchase, COSRX Galactomyces 95, because I felt it did a bit more and it arrived just yesterday. Both are amazing essences that I think make the biggest change is how the skin looks out of all the new products I've tried and I recommend you try one through samples, since they are very cheap on eBay.

Repurchase: Yes.

TONY MOLY Panda's Dream White Sleeping Pack

My regular moisturiser that I use in the morning under makeup or I apply a heavier application as the last step of the night routine as a sleeping mask. It just agrees with my skin, adds moisture and keeps my skin in check.

Repurchase: Done.

DOVE Purely Pampering Nourishing Shower gel

Coconut Milk

My favourite shower gel. It's so creamy, non-drying and it smells amazing. I've gone through a few bottles of these and every time it gets almost empty, it's so difficult to get the rest out. This should be in a tube or have a pump.

Repurchase: Yes.

BALEA After Sun Duche

A shower gel that has a slight oily texture (so it washes off sunscreen) and a fantastic beachy/holiday scent. It's in the same family as Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess and Guerlain Terracotta, so mostly tiare flowers.

Repurchase: Yes.

BALEA Duche & Creme Coco & Nectarine

This is long discontinued, but I have a few bottles in stock because this scent is just amazing. Why did Balea discontinue this, it's a great peach scent. Formula is the same as other Dusche & Creme by Balea, so not nourishing, but decent if your skin isn't dry.
Repurchase: I can't buy this one, but I occasionally buy other Balea gels, so yes.

SOAP & GLORY Smoothie Star Body Buttercream

I didn't like this as much as I like their Orangeasm version because this is a lot lighter and has a more whipped texture, while I prefer thick body butters that stay on the skin for a long time. It's not like a lotion that just sinks in in a minute, but it does sink in a lot faster than body butters and it nourishes the skin well (mine is occasionally flaky dry and this helps). The scent started to bother me in a while, since it's got a prominent almond note that at times smelled a bit fake to me, but it's a gourmand type of scent with vanilla, pistachio and almond fragrance. I just used it up quickly so I can get The Body Shop instead.

Repurchase: No, I prefer others.

BALEA Rasiergel

Fruity Dream

A staple of mine, I went through so many of these and through most LE's. This one had one of my favourite scents so far, as it smelled like plums.

Repurchase: Done.

L'OREAL Elseve Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo

I've mentioned this one so many times and I've been repurchasing it for a few years now. It's the only drugstore shampoo I've found so far that works for my dry hair. It cleans well and at the same time leaves it somewhat silky and nourished.

Repurchase: Already done.

JOICO K-Pack Intense Hydrator

One of my favourite hair treatments. The name says it all, it adds an intense boost of moisture to very dry hair. I've repurchased it many times..

Repurchase: Yes.

KÉRASTASE Nutritive Nectar Thermique

I still maintain this is one of the best heat protectant for really dry hair, however, if you don't have dry, thick hair, you probably won't see that much of a point of this product. My hair always needed more care and this works as a leave-in conditioner plus heat protectant in one, so it helps the hair staying nourished longer (my hair doesn't get greasy the longer I don't wash it, it gets drier instead). While this lasted me a long time, it's the price (which is getting higher with years actually) that is the reason why I won't buy this for a long time, plus I found a combination of drugstore products that do the same (Dove Super Quench for nourishment and Balea Wunder Serum for heat protection). 

Repurchase: Yes.

DOVE Advanced Hair Series Quench Absolute Supreme Crème Serum 

Luckily I have a few of these in stock, otherwise you'd be reading a lamentation for one of the greatest, yet difficult to get hair products for me at the moment (I can get it only on Amazon UK now). My dry, rebellious hair adores this stuff and nothing else in the drugstores tames it as well. In short it's a godsend for dry, coarse hair that is never silky. With this I don't even have to use a round brush when I'm blow-drying my hair, it just dries straight with no frizz. It's a silicone cream product, not the lightest, so those with thin hair won't like it (it's says on the bottle itself that's it's for wavy, curly hair which is usually coarse and thick) and it also works amazing on dry hair as a frizz tamer and shine enhancer. If you have Style + Care version in shops, this is the same thing.

Repurchase: Obviously.

OROFLUIDO Sahara

This is sadly discontinued, so a bit pointless to put it here, but it was seriously so good, one of the best things to have when my hair was extremely dry. So I'm looking for a replacement (recommendations welcome). It was an oil in spray type of product.

Repuchase: I definitely would it it still existed.

LADY GAGA Fame 

Edp

I love this fragrance. It's not quite the classic celebrity juice with a fruity sugary vanilla vibe, instead it's apricots with honey as a sweet base and some incense that gives it depth. One of the underrated treasures in the drugstores.

Repurchase: Yes.

Have a great day!