I found this randomly when I was checking Müller for all pale enough shades for me and it was one of five testers I took that day. This was the second most impressive formula right behind Lancome's Teint Idole Ultra Wear, which I also got, though this one didn't impress me enough to consider buying it the first time, but after I gave it another try I went online the same day and ordered a tube. I tried shade WN01 Flax (lightest in a local Müller), which was a shade too dark for me, so I ordered the lightest shade 0.75 Custard. This is my favourite high coverage foundation because it looks less obvious than similar formulas, but I of course still prefer my light-medium coverage formulas for days when my skin doesn't need a lot.

Texture and coverage: Based on the name and how it looked in the shop I expected a tinted moisturiser type of product, but this is definitely not that. It's a thicker foundation that's easy to blend because it's so moisturising and it blends into the skin well, though at this one I do my double blending method where I first apply it with a brush or sponge and then take a clean sponge and go over it again. Coverage is at least medium, or even medium-high. I use concealer only on spots and under the eyes if my circles look terrible that day. It feels tacky from the start and eventually settles, but with a rich moisturiser under it, it stays tacky for ages.

Pictures of Flax, not Custard.

Finish: Depending how much you apply it, it can look dewy or satin. With the amount I use, it's a satin one that doesn't look too heavy. It looks good over pores, lines and it doesn't crease, but I have to be careful with this one not to apply too much powder over it because it can look obvious quickly. 

Shade: 0.75 Custard is a not the palest shade I have, but light enough for me. It's got a yellow undertone similar that looks strong when swatched in a thick coat, but it's not obvious on my face. WN01 Flax, which is the second shade, was more neutral and a shade darker.

Staying power & wear: The wear time of this one is very impressive. Even without powder it holds on for over 8-9h on me (I stopped checking after that), which is amazing, especially for a moisturising formula. I'm a frequent face toucher and this doesn't rub off. This is the most long lasting formula in my collection.

Packaging: This is packed in a slim tube with a metal cap. Since the formula is thick, it's not a messy one.

Price and availability: This is insanely expensive in my local Müller, over 45 €, even though on US website its price a more reasonable 32$ (about 28 €). I got it on Look Fantastic when they had a 20% off code, but regular price is £24.00 (also about 28 €). Why Müller changes so much is a mystery, so go online. 

I'm not one for high coverage formulas, but I like this one. It's not too heavy looking, it covers a lot and it has a fantastic staying power. The best part for me of course is a pale enough shade, even though it's more on the yellow side, but it blends in just fine. This is one of those underrated foundations that you rarely hear about, though it is fairly new, but I'm glad I found it. 

Have a great day!   

MAYBELLINE Dream Urban Cover Foundation SPF50 

095 Fair Porcelain

This is exactly my type of foundation: light-medium coverage, very lightweight on the skin and with a natural, non-foundation look. I have to use powder with this one, since it can get shiny during the day despite my currently dry skin, but it's manageable. It wears nicely, it doesn't look bad over pores or uneven texture, so it reminds me of Fit Me Matte + Poreless, though there are differences. The shade is a total win for me, 095 a very pale neutral-pink that matches me perfectly. Maybelline foundations are worth it for the pale shades alone.

LANCÔME Teint Idole Ultra 24h Wear & Comfort SPF 15 Foundation

008 Beige Opale

I bought several foundations at the end of the year and this was my pick for the medium coverage formula with a satin-matte finish. It stays long on the skin and wears well without becoming patchy or too obvious during the day. I got shade 008 which is a nice pale shade with a neutral to cool undertone. 

CLINIQUE Even Better Refresh Hydrating and Repairing Makeup Full-Coverage Foundation

0.75 Custard

I've never been a fan of high coverage foundations because they look so obvious, but this one I can get along with. Despite the name I wouldn't necessary consider it as for dry skin oily, as it's not overly dewy and it doesn't slip into creases. It's got more of a satin finish and a medium-full coverage, it still looks natural enough, it doesn't emphasise pores and it has the best staying power I've seen at foundations. Shade 0.75 is very pale, though with a more intense undertone than Maybelline and it's yellow, but it's not like Nars' Siberia and it fits my neutral skin. 

NOTE: None of the three knock MAYBELLINE Fit Me Matte + Poreless off its throne. That foundation still looks best on me.

HONOURABLE MENTION:  

MAYBELLINE Instant Anti-age Eraser Multi-use Concealer 00 Ivory - Not a new product to me, but a new shade. 00 Ivory is a very pale shade that's a great match for my skin tone.

MAYBELLINE Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder

05 Fair

I've been skipping powder for years because all I've tried looked so odd on my skin making my foundation obvious or patchy. I got this one because people mentioned it works for dry skin as well. It's not a natural looking powder, but it sort of perfects the skin and makes final finishes to the makeup. It's matte without being too much, it doesn't highlight dry patches or make them worse, it smooths the texture of the skin and blurs the lines and pores to a certain degree. I've tried the famous Laura Mercier powder and they perform the same on me. 

L.O.V. BLUSHment Blurring Blush 

n.30 beautiful minds empower other, n.50 yes she can and n.60 be the next She.E.O.

What else is going to be in this post than these. I've worn them almost every day since I got back early in this year. These are definitely some of the best blushes I've tried so far. They always look so smooth on the skin, they blend well, have plenty of pigmentation and they last well. I particularly like shade 50 because it has this fine shimmer that gives a glow to the cheeks without looking glittery or like an obvious streak of a shiny blush. I've recently seen Notino started to sell L.O.V. so they should be available in several European countries. 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: 

ARTDECO Anti Pollution Spray - that fine mist! So worth having for that alone.

PIXI Glow Mist - great ingredients.

MAX FACTOR 2000 Calorie Mascara

For years I assumed this is one of those too wet mascaras that weighs down the lashes, so it's not for me - I was so wrong. This one really impressed me for a regular formula. It's not amazingly volumising, but I love how it separates and combs the lashes creating a natural looking effect of great lashes. Also no matter how much I apply it never looks clumpy. Though the formula is not very wet, it still doesn't manage to hold up my lashes, but at least it doesn't weigh them down. It's one of my favourite regular formulas.

ORIFLAME Tremendous Big Volume Mascara

Another impressive regular formula. The brush reminds me of Essence <3 Extreme waterproof, as it's the same type of a regular wand with very densely packed bristles. This results in about the same effect, nicely separated, "multiplied" lashes with a fanned out effect. Formula isn't gloopy or wet which is a big plus, as because of this it's not a messy mascara and it doesn't drop the lashes. In terms of holding a curl it's as good as a regular mascara can be, so it holds them up half way, which is good in my books for such a formula

MAYBELLINE Tattoo Liner Gel Pencil

Deep Onyx 

The best eyeliner for the waterline I've found that's also easily available in my nearest drugstores. It's very similar to Avon's Supershock in terms of formula - intense black, very pigmented, soft and transfers with ease into the waterline. This lasts all day my waterline - not smudged between the lashes like all liners like to end up after an hour or two, but on the actual waterline. It's seriously good.

L.O.V. EYEttraction Magnetic Loose Eyeshadows

Winners for my favourite eyeshadows. Just like the Blushement blushes these have been pretty much the only eyeshadows I've worn since I got them. These are so pigmented, so easy to use and blend. I almost always wear just one shade at once (in general) because of my eye shape on which it's useless to try with elaborate looks and these make it so easy. I just apply them with fingers, I get plenty of colour quickly and just blend the edges either with a brush or with a finger if I can't be bothered. They are this interesting hybrid between a pressed-loose eyeshadow that behaves almost like a cream eyeshadow. They last well on my non-oily eyelids, even with no base. I also love all the colours I have, which is usual because I tend to like just one or two in eyeshadow ranges, but all of these are so wearable and pretty. 

CATRICE Demi Matt Lipstick

100 Nude Crush Everyday

This recently became my most worn shade and my goes-with-everything pick - actually it's the only shade I feel comfortable with right now given my experimenting with hair colours. It's a great nude shade that's neither too warm nor too cool, but it's more unique than a regular nude for my skin tone (Oriflame's Pink Flair is more of a classic nude). This formula is Catrice's best yet. It's very lightweight and comfortable with a finish that can in fact be best described as demi matte. 

LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask

Berry

This is praised for a reason. It not a heavy, balmy sticky texture, yet it somehow manages to last on the lips until the morning and it leaves the lips properly nourished. Since it's not heavy and actually has a pretty glossy shine, I can wear it during the day too. I can't say how effective it is on very dry lips, since mine are never very chapped, but reviews are rating it high and my lips look nicely nourished with no dry patches in the morning.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:

ORIFLAME The One Colour Stylist Ultimate Lipstick in Pink Flair and Cranberry Blush - two gorgeous colours.

HADALABO Gokujun Cleansing Oil

I've been looking for an affordable oil cleanser that wouldn't break me out for years and this is. It's got a nice rich oil texture which emulsifies into a thick emulsion that removes all makeup, though (the only minus I can say) it can't quite handle every waterproof mascara (Essence's are so stubborn). It doesn't irritate my eyes or make my vision foggy, there's no annoying scent, it washes off completely leaving no filter behind and unlike a lot of oils it doesn't break me out. One pump is enough for my face, so I use it much less than Biobaza I used before and it's also cheapest per millilitre from the oils that suit me. If I didn't have to order online it'd be perfect, but it doesn't take that long to arrive from Japan.  

EUCERIN Hyaluron Filler Vitamin C Booster

My skin looked its best when I was using this and Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse. I then gave other vitamin C products a try and some retinols, but since I finished my first bottle, it's been downhill. I'm currenlty going through a case of "retinol uglies" and it's even impossible to wear makeup right now, so I can only remember fondly how good my skin was with this and hope I get through bad skin days soon. This is by far the nicest vitamin C product I've used, also most effective and a great product in general. This contains 10 % ascorbic acid, yet it works more effectively on me than the 20% Tiam, it also has no alcohol and it contains glycerine, squalane and hyaluronic acid. he emulsion is very lovely - it's a nice smooth liquid formula that applies with ease and feels moisturising. Eucerin recommends to mix this with your moisturiser, but like I use it on its own as the first step, leave it to absorb for at least 15-20 minutes and apply other care. I mentioned when I reviewed this that it took two weeks for the effects to start showing, but after than my skin was looking its best. It was always properly nourished, it started to become more even, healthy and I had zero breakouts. One thing that sucks is that bottles are very small with only 7.5 ml of product and it's not cheap, but it's the best such product I found so far for my skin. 

BEAUTY OF JOSEON Dynasty Cream

My favourite moisturiser. It has niacinamide is 4th on the list and it also has hyaluronic acid, adenosine and plenty of extracts. It's my night moisturiser because it takes a bit longer to sink in, though it's not a heavy feeling formula, it's a gel-cream one. It works for my skin and keeps in in check. 

THE BODY SHOP Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil

I wanted this for so long because I had a generous tester once and this oil really suit my skin. It's the thickest oil in my collection, so I use a few drops as my first oil, then used Palmer's or Nuxe over to do my facial massage. This works for my skin and leaves is nourished/normalised with a healthy glow. 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: 

 OLAY Regenerist Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer with SPF 30 Broad Spectrum (a.k.a. OLAZ 3-Zonen Tagescreme LSF 30)

GARNIER Ambre Solaire Sensitive Advanced Protecting and Hydrating Face Mist SPF50

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Florale - I've been using the original for 6-7 years, this is just a new scent. 

PALMER'S Cocoa Butter Formula Perfecting Facial Oil 

NEUTROGENA Norwegian Formula Anti-Ageing Hand Cream SPF 25

There were only two hand creams with a decent SPF I could find here in shops, both from Neutrogena and this one is with the highest SPF. But I don't like it just for the sun protection, it's also a nice formula. It's a medium-thick cream, but it doesn't take too long to absorb, though it leaves a noticeable moisturising film on the skin which is not slippery. 

MIXA Cica-Cream

I got this a while ago, but only recently really started to appreciate it properly. My skin became incredibly dry for a period, so much that it was flaky all over and no cream keep it moisturised for long. This was my saviour. I kept reapplying in a thick coat, so like a sleeping mask and my skin regularly absorbed it completely within two hours, but after a day I saw a big improvement. It contains a high percentage of glycerine and 5% panthenol which is designed for assisting regeneration and repairing of targeted areas, so it was perfect for the task. Formula feels similar to Bepanthen, but feels smoother to apply and easier to spread. The only thing that bothers me is the packaging because it felt empty and I couldn't get anything out anymore, but when I cut the tube in half and there was so much still left.

JOICO K-Pak Deep Penetrating Reconstructor

A miracle in a tube - I think I said this plenty of times. It's not a new product to me, but the last time I had it was a long time ago before blog, while I praised the Intense Hydrator from this line a lot in the past years. Together these two are an unbeatable duo. One use and my hair feels like it was never bleached. Both are amazing products for making hair feel renewed even if you abused it to oblivion. I prefer to use the two together, though both Reconstructor and Hydrator can be used on their own, but Reconstructor which is an intense protein treatment leaves the hair kind of hard to the touch which is true for protein treatments in general, so you have to use something moisturising after to give the hair back that pliability and Hydrator works best with this, though I could use another hydrating conditioner or mask. I'd love to have massive 1 litre bottles of both.

JOICO K-Pack Color Therapy Restorative Styling Oil

My third product from the K-Pack line and it features the same Quadramine complex. Formula is very similar to Orofluido, Moroccanoil and Macadamia Natural Oil, meaning the same thick texture that fits my hair best, so obvious I loved this from the moment I tried it. It tames the hair as it should and it deals with the dryness, at least for a while. This is one of the best oils I've tried.

PANTENE Pro-V Repair Conditioner, Masks, Hair Superfood Conditioner and Hair Biology Mask

Pantene Repair conditioner and other formulas are the discovery of the year. After years of avoiding this brand because of the common internet myth that these are bad that kind of stuck in my subconscious even though I know so much more about hair care now than before blogging, I finally gave this brand a go and it seriously impressed me. All of these work about the same on me, the Repair mask and Hair Superfood conditioner are richer, but all leave my hair nourished, a bit softer and shinier. I just keep buying these. One is missing, the 3 Minute Miracle which is equally good. Every now and then I get a message from people telling me that they tried it and they are impressed. 

OLAPLEX No. 6 Bond Smoother Reparative Styling Crème

I have the famous number 3 which I use a lot too, but at that one I don't see an amazing effect, while this reminds me of one of my favourite discontinued products. It's a creamy leave-in formula that is not wet, so it can be used on damp and dry hair. On dry hair it tames frizz and it doesn't pop back up when the wet part of the conditioner dries. It also nourishes the hair and untangles. On damp hair after washing it's amazing. In combination with Pantene Intensive Repair conditioner makes my hair so soft and silky (I said many times, my hair is rarely soft due to its coarse, thick texture). However, I hate the packaging because it's hard to squeeze and it's not a precise one to dispense.

GOT2B #Oh My Nude Tame it Softly Dry Lightweight Oil Mist

I can always rely on this making my hair look more polished and shiny in an instant. It's a lightweight silicone oil in spray form and it's like an instant perfector that creates that healthy shiny hair look. I use it as any time I'm a pinch to make my hair more presentable, especially since my hair gets drier the longer I don't wash my hair, so I need a shine spray that doesn't contain alcohol and one that masks dryness.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:

SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL Blondme Tone Enhancing Bonding Mask Cool

SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL Blondme Keratin Restore Intense Care Bonding Potion

GARNIER Fructis Oil Repair 3 Wunder Butter

OLAPLEX n.3

NIVEA Curl Styling Primer

SCHWARZKOPF Blond Me Premium Developer and Bond Enforcing Premium Lightener 9+

A high quality bleach and developer that left my hair with no damage. I've gone through a few bleach sessions this year, slowly lightening my hair and these did their job without leaving my hair feeling like a rats nest. I picked Blondme after an extensive research because it has an added bond builder, meaning something like Olaplex that prevents the bonds between keratin plates from being dissolved, therefore prevents significant damage. It doesn't smell like bleach much (it actually has a floral scent) and it got on my skin numerous times and it felt like nothing, so this is definitely a bleach I'm very comfortable using.

SUBRINA Colour Refresh Masks

Since I became a blonde I also got an opportunity to finally play with colours and these are great. These are hair masks that act as temporary colour, which you can use either to colour blond hair or to refresh your existing shade. These are so simple to use, I just use them as a hair mask (but make sure to apply them all over the hair), they don't stain anything, they don't leave my hair dry, they are super pigmented, so I never need to use them straight from the tube, but I can mix them with a conditioner (or their version Clear) and they always wash off completely. I had so much fun using these. I've recently tried one from another brand and it's so infuriating (messy & refuses to wash off, so I'll have to do bleach bath) that if I started with that one, I'd never touch a temporary colour again. 

VERSACE Crystal Noir 

eau de toilette

This is what I call a spicy clean scent. It's like a super fancy fabric softener or a fabric softener mixed with a nice spicy fragrance. I think the "clean", soft part I'm smelling is a mix of gardenia, coconut and musk, while the spicy bit all the top notes, so ginger, cardamom and pepper. After all these years I still find it so unique among fragrances, there just aren't many clean yet spicy scents, they always drag patchouli into spicy scents which I hate. It also lasts so long on the skin. 

Top notes: ginger, cardamom, pepper 

Heart: orange blossom, peony, gardenia, coconut

Base notes: sandalwood, musk, amber

 ORIFLAME Giordani Gold Essenza Sensuale

eau de parfum

Usually I don't fall in love with the scent instantly, not even in my beloved Twilight Woods, but this was different. It's a much, much nicer, but equally posh version of Elie Saab le parfum (at least to my nose), except it omits the jasmine note, so the orange floral stands out a lot more here. This is so warm and cosy, but a floral on a woody-vanilla base. It lasts well too, better than other Oriflame scent by a mile. I've tried their praised Amber Elixir, but that one has nothing on Gold Essenza Sensuale. It doesn’t have a classic spray, instead it has a applicator with which you dab the fragrance directly on the pulse points, which I quite like, as it gives me that vintage feel.

BATH & BODY WORKS Fine Fragrance Mist A Thousand Wishes

This reminds me of a younger, sparklier version of Calvin Klein Sheer Beauty. It's sweet and warm with that sparkly champagne character, like eating almond macarons while drinking champagne. Some describe it as a scent perfect for the festive season, but to me it nice everyday scent. 

BATH & BODY WORKS Fine Fragrance Mist Kaleidoscope

This was love at first spray, it's so good. BBW says that it smells different on every individual, which I supposed is somewhat true for most fragrances, though maybe at this one the differences are bigger, creating more unique scents. It's a type of fragrance I've never smelled before, this fantastic clean, yet not typically "laundry detergent" clean scent. The notes are well blended, so I can't pinpoint any of the notes mentioned in the description of this fragrance (iris, cedarwood & pink pepper), but I often get a strong scent of pears on me even though it's not mentioned among the notes. This is definitely one of the best scents BBW made.

Links to previous such annual posts are at the end of All-Time Favourites page. 

This is so hyped up, I remember hearing about it years ago before the hype even started, but for a long time I was hesitant to try it because it's so expensive and it's got snail mucin extract high on the list, which as wonderful as this ingredient is for hydrating and soothing, products with it often break me out. I wasn't aware there was a travel size available too, but I found it randomly on Cult Beauty and got it in the lightest shade available Fair. As a CC cream it combines a moisturiser with an SPF and high coverage, so on paper it's a wonderful all-in-one.

Edit: I got a full size in 2022 of a new shade called Fair Ivory, which is not much lighter. When I got this in a travel size, my skin was not its best due to retinol, so I wasn't a fan of this formula, but my opinion is now much different. I'll keep the original review, but add a few edits.

 

 HADALABO Gokujun Cleansing Oil 

My current favourite affordable oil cleanser. It's got a nice rich oil texture which emulsifies into a thick emulsion that removes all makeup, though (the only minus I can say) it can't quite handle every waterproof mascara (Essence's are so stubborn). It doesn't irritate my eyes or make my vision foggy, there's no annoying scent, it washes off completely leaving no filter behind and unlike a lot of oils it doesn't break me out. One pump is enough for my face, so I use it much less than Biobaza I used before and it's also cheapest per ml from the oils that suit me. If I didn't have to order online it'd be perfect, though it doesn't take that long to arrive from Japan.  

SKINFOOD Black Sugar Mask Wash off

I know that it's probably not the best thing to use a harsh scrub and to be fair I use it maybe once a month, but it's the only thing that makes my skin smooth, soft and feel like new, since no amount of AHAs or other products does it for me. It's a densely packed sugar scrub and if your skin is just a bit sensitive, do not try this (honey version is much less intense), but on me it gets rid of bumpy, uneven feeling texture. This also functions as a mask that you leave on for 10 minutes, though I never use it that way. I'm on my second pot and I have the honey version too.

CORSX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

Some swear by this and say it's one of the best blackhead products, but I've never seen any effect on mine, however, I use this because my skin then behaves much better and it's clear. It contains BHA meaning it clears out the pores and helps with spots too, but it's relatively weak. Since it's a light liquid it's easy to layer and to include in the routine. 

COSRX Galactomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence

I've been using this every day for two-ish years. I fell in love with it through samples - one of big pluses of K-Beauty, there's almost always samples. It's the product that I noticed the biggest visible difference when I started using it, not a massive visible difference, but this improved my skin in general, as before most foundations looked odd on me and since I started using it my skin is smoother and makeup applies nicer. There's a bit of brightening/evening the skin tone and the skin texture looks more refined, but it's more about how my skin acts since I started using it.

LEE JIHAM DR.'s Care Vita-Propolis Ampoule

There's was this amazing Banila product called Miss Flower & Mr. Honey Essence Oil that suited my skin so well, but it was discontinued a while ago. This is the replacement I found, though the bottle is so small for the price (15 ml for about 9$+). Propolis gives my skin a healthy glow and keeps it in check. I actually found (though samples) Tosowoong Propolis Sparkle Ampoule works very similarly for me and you get much more product for the price. 

CEZANNE Skin Conditioner High Moist

Another product that I use every day, morning and night. It's a toner-like lotion that absorbs fast and feels very hydrating. It contains ceramides, Job's Tears extract, 3 types of hyaluronic acid, collagen and amino acids. The bottle is huge with 500 ml and I've had it for so long. It can be used all over the body, I often use it on my hands when I don't want the greasy feeling of a hand cream.

ETUDE HOUSE Moistfull Collagen Facial Toner

I only had the small size of this and if my skin line-up weren't so big, I'd buy it in a heartbeat even though it doesn't boast with the same fancy ingredients as my other products. It feels so lovely and it's definitely one of the nicest toners I've ever tried. It reminds me a lot of Hada Labo lotion in terms of texture (another amazing product worth the purchase, but it breaks me out. We now have a version of it in Slovenia), which means it's a rich toner-meets-serum consistency. It feels so comforting and lovely on the skin, it's just great stuff. The smells is also amazing, like oranges and it became one of my favourite scents of skincare. It contains hydrolysed collagen and adansonia digitata fruit extract, but that's about it.

BEAUTY OF JOSEON Dynasty Cream

This is so far my favourite moisturiser. It has niacinamide on 4th place among the ingredients (2%) and there's 10% glycerin, but lower on the list it also boasts with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, olive oil, sunflower oil, centella asiatica, argan oil, ceramides, honey, ginseng and some other extracts. It's got rich texture that's more like a gel, or gel-cream and takes some time to absorb, so I prefer to use it as a part of my night routine, though it can work under makeup too. There's an extra spoon added, so you don't have to scoop it out with fingers. 

HOLIKA HOLIKA Good Cera Super Ceramide Emulsion

My morning moisturiser because it's lighter and absorbs faster than Dynasty Cream, so I can put over a sunscreen and makeup fast. Apart from ceramides it contains camelia oil, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and plenty other extracts, though they are lower on the list. The packaging is very big with a generous 130 ml. 

TONY MOLY Panda's Dream White Sleeping Pack

My skin loves this, but it's better suited for me in the summer because it's one of those gel-cream textures despite being called a sleeping mask. In a thin application works like a moisturiser for oily-combination skin, but in a thick coat it creates an layer of moisture on the skin that lasts until morning. It's great for under the makeup and I used up two pots of these, but I haven't repurchase it recently because I have so much of Holika. This one also has niacinamide, as well as allantoin, several extracts (bamboo, jasmine, apple, blackberry,…) and even a peptide, but it's the last on the list. Unlike the other two moisturisers this one is scented and quite strongly, it smells like clean-laundry. 

LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask

Berry

I got this recently and I'm very impressed by it. I had my eye on it for a while because this is so praised and reviews are right - this is really good. It doesn't feel super thick like I would expect, but it sticks on the lips until the morning and it leaves them properly nourished. The extra silicone spatula is a great help during application and the formula has a nice gentle berry scent. In a thick coat it also has a glossy shine, which looks so good I wear it during the day too. This now exists in several versions (berry is the original): vanilla, grapefruit, apple lime, mint choco.

BIORE UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50 / PA++++

Note: this is the 2015 version and it has since gone through a formula change, but I hear it's similar. This the lightest sunscreen I found, it doesn't feel like a regular sun cream at all. It's a liquid lotion that's easy to apply in large quantities and has zero white cast. Initially it feels like a watery cream on the skin, but after about five minutes it's completely set to a velvety primer type finish. You can feel it on the skin when you touch it, but it's a very silicone-y dry feel. It's an excellent base for makeup and it managed to protect me well despite spending hours in the sun working. I heard a lot of people say that it reeks of alcohol, but I don't notice it that much and I mostly get a nice lemon biscuit type of scent. I've tried the gel version as well and it feels the same to me, though people with oily skin tend to prefer that one. 

I also recently has a chance to try Missha's Aqua Sun Gel SPF50 version and it's really good too.

SHEET MASKS

PAPA RECIPE Bombee Honey Mask

Original, Whitening and Rose Gold

These are my favourite sheet masks, especially the whitening version which truly brightens. They are intensely nourishing, they improve the general condition of the skin, perk it up, make it feel smoother, softer and more even. Rose Gold looks gorgeous with the gold mesh design and all smell fantastic like honey. They aren't the cheapest if you're buying just one on eBay, but in a pack the price for one is more reasonable. 

THE SAEM Natural Skin Fit Mask 

Grapefruit 

I still have these in the limited edition packaging from a while ago (I bought a pack and haven't run out yet), while the regular packaging is white with grapefruits. This has the most comfortable essence I've ever tried. In terms of what it does, it's pretty much just intense moisturising, but the essence makes it such a luxurious experience. It also smells fantastic like grapefruits.

ETUDE HOUSE 0.2 Therapy Air Sheet Mask

Madecassoside (soothing) & Snail (smoothing)

Both of these are fantastic formulas of sheet masks, they feel like your skin was drenched in moisture and nourishing ingredients. They are quite similar, as both have a creamy essence and a thin comfortable sheet, so they are a delight to use. I use Madecassoside when my skin is very dry because it's very nourishing, soothing and it also evens my skin (without a brightening effect, it just takes down any redness). It's actually the same as The Face Shop's The Solution Madecassoside. Snail is my sheet mask when I need repairing, especially if I suffered a sunburn or have an inflamed spot - it just works for me. From this line I also like Ceramide and Manuka Honey, but dislike Hyaluronic Acid and feel indifferent towards Collagen and Pearl.

MY BEAUTY DIARY Facial Mask Sheet

Black Pearl

This is the second most brightening formula after Papa Recipe. The essence is lighter and more toner-like than the masks I've mentioned above, but it does the job of hydrating excellently and it acts as a sort of a reset button for my skin, so whenever my skin just doesn't look right, I use this. The Face Shop The Solution mask Pearl is very similar.

THE FACE SHOP The Solution Face Mask

Madecassoside & Pearl

I actually really like more of these: ceramide, propolis, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, but these two are my favourite. Apart from formulas, I also love that they fit me perfectly in terms of size of the sheet. They are also super thin and feel great on the face. Madecassoside is exactly the same as Etude House, so very nourish and soothing and Peal is the same as My Beauty Diary Black Pearl, so brightening .

COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch

These are the only thing I found that do at least a little bit of something to help heal a spot. They work especially well on those brewing volcanoes where you know the spot will turn white and you can't pop it because it'll become infected, making your life miserable for several days +leave a pretty much permanent mark forever. Those type of spots are the ones I get on the chin and this patch can make them smaller up to 90% overnight and it completely disappears in the next days with the help of other COSRX products (BHA and whitehead liquid). But there were some other times when these don't do much of a difference and those are the obnoxious spots on my cheeks. There are 24 patches of varying sizes in one pack.

Adjusting Beauty made her post recently if you're interested in more recommendations.

Have a great day!

This is the second shade I have from this line and there's already a review for shade 500 Fire Starter on the blog, so I won't say anything new. These along with Deborah Fluid Velvets are the nicest formulas that we can get for an affordable price in drugstores in Slovenia, but they don't beat the more expensive TheBalm's for me.

Texture: It's one of the creamier formulas, or more like a mousse-cream hybrid. One layer mostly covers the lips completely, but there can be some sheer areas, so it's sometimes best to apply two layers. It dries completely matte in a few minutes and I get no feeling of tightness, stickiness or dryness. Once this sets it doesn't transfer

Shade: 600 Coral Sass is a classic reddish-orange coral shade. It's too orange for my taste, but it's a great summer colour and it would fit warm tones especially. I don't know if this is one of the new shades or it's a part of the original line up. There are a lot of shades of these, but I think we have only five. 

Staying power: Once this sets it doesn't move. There's almost no transfer, it's just tiny traces on the glass when I'm drinking and it doesn't fade weird, so it's a nice one. It's not as good as Maybelline's Matte Ink because it doesn't looks like it's freshly applied at the end of the day, but it's still one of the better ones without being uncomfortable to me. If you want a extreme staying power, try Rimmel's Provocalips.

Scent: It's got a plastic sweet scent that's not even that noticeable.

Packaging: The applicator is big and slightly cut sideways, which is ok, but it could be a bit more precise as for a really neat application I need a lipliner.

*PR product. Just this shade.