235 Nude

 Hello,

it has been a while since I tried L'oreal lipstick, I don't even remember when was the last time or which lipstick.

It is L'oreal Color Riche lipstick in 235 Nude, very simple name but nice glowy gold packaging. Immediately after opening I get a blast of the heavy floral scent, it is a bit unnecessary but it does make this lipstick stands out.

It is peachy nude but not super warm, it has this glow build within without any shimmers. I really love this creamy formula. It lasts for over one hour and then the shine fades. Color remains on the lips, it is just matte. It does leave a stain on the glass but doesn't remove it completely but after lunch it pretty much gone.

Lipstick is buildable, at first sheer but it gets to full opacity without any patchiness. Here the glow is very noticeable. It gives the lips this natural glow.

I find this shade so nice on my complexion even though it is borderline light. I use my Pudaier lip contour pencil in C2079-03 the nude one to slightly line my lips and it is so very nice. 

I have noticed after a whole day wearing it it did not hydrate my lips enough do they got a bit dry.

Scent is super strong but I can see after a while it will start bothering me, shade is gorgeous and I love the glow and lasting properties.

I was trying random shades in the store and none spoke to me but this one so I think I will not be buying more in a while but if they come out with some more shades I will be interested in checking them out.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Worth it

 Hello,

for today I have relatively new item from our drugstore. I liked this shade and the description pulled me in.

It is L'oreal Hyaluron tint lip stain serum in the shade option Worth it. In the store I didn't smell it but it has pencil shavings scent to it, not my favorite but it does fade quickly.

Wort it is neutral peach shade, not particularly vivid, since it looks like it is mixed with some nude tones but it makes it neutral and great barely there shade, so I thought.

Applicator is tear shaped and carries a lot of product. I usually wipe some of it off.

First swatch is a stain, it is not very noticeable but maybe that is just because mine is light (darker might stain stronger) and next is freshly applied product. It does get a bit glossier but otherwise it is nicely peachy.

Here the shine is maybe a bit more visible but it never gets fully glossy, it stays semi shiny for about 30-45 min and then it starts fading.

This shade oxidises while wearing it for about 15 min, it gets deeper and slightly more orange opposed to peach. I prefer the initial shade, since oranges aren't my thing but it is not that intense so I still feel okay to wear it.

I had high hopes for it but initially the scent pulled me away. At first I like the shade but the deeper it gets the more I want to take it off. The longevity also isn't the best. I wish it would stay glossy for at least one hour but even when the shine fades the color goes as well.

I am still thinking if I should keep it or should I rather give it away to my sister, I haven't decided fully jet but the initial layer/color is all I like about it...

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

 Hello,

on this beautiful last day of February I took photos of so many used up products and there are still so many that I was super close to finishing as well, but they will have to wait till March which is just around the corner.

This is my favorite dry shampoo, it is Batiste Fresh dry shampoo with self explanatory fresh scent. It always gives me the feeling that I washed my hair (because it absorbs oil well and because of the scent itself). I need to shake it well before using it and it works like a charm. I like some other scents but this one is the most versatile of them all.

Next is a line of L'oreal elseve bond repair hair products. First is shampoo and conditioner (both my second bottles already). I really liked how my hair looked while I was using them and repurchased them. My hair definitely needs a haircut but using these products you couldn't tell. My hair were smoother and less frizzy after using them. Shampoo foams nicely and I don't need to use tons of it while the conditioner has a thicker formula and while in my hair, doing its magic I could wash the rest of my body and shave (the point is that it doesn't slip out of my hair). After half drying my hair I would use this leave in serum (one pump for one side, so two pumps per wash) and I did notice a difference while I used this opposed when I skipped it. This is still my first bottle so I did used it with some other shampoos and conditioners and it is really nice. At the moment I have a different combo in the shower but I did repurchase this leave in treatment to continue using it. Eventually I will get the other two products again but first I would like to finish some other products which I already have.

Next I have a bunch of body items.

First is Balea Golden Winter body lotion which smells like Mugler Alien (the purple shade was a hint) but unfortunately I had this one for a little too long and it went bad since the scent turned plastick-like. Otherwise it had a pretty similar scent and for the scent alone I would repurchase it but the formula was slightly oily and it was not my favorite. It is about half a tube still full but since it went bad I will throw it away.

Next is The Body Shop Almond milk body lotion and this one was a love. I love the easy to absorb formula, pleasant scent and the moisture it provided. I already bought a butter in this scent because it was too pretty and they also had a sale going on so I stocked up.

Bottle is Ebeline nail polish remover and it was nice one, very inexpensive and effective. I think I had this particular one before and I would get it again.

Lastly there are two Paco Rabanne items from their Pure Xs line (I also have 50ml perfume bottle but it is still going strong). I used lotion and a few drops from the mini perfume bottle everyday in February. I made it into my scent and this one still gets me even though it is one of my oldest perfumes. This cent profiles still baffles me, the notes listed just don't make sense to me because my brains pick up something completely different. First hour this smells like I live in a cinnamon cookie factory and then it transforms into a heavy floral scent which reminds me of Good Girl. I love layering this perfume with itself :) It is such a warm and happy scent to me that I can't see myself ever getting over it.

This is the first half of my February empties and the second will follow tomorrow.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

I amplify

 Hello,

for today I have a sparkling beauty. I picked it out randomly online and it did look a bit more pink but still I am happy with the peachy tone.

This beauty is L'oreal glow paradise balm in gloss, my shade is I amplify. Tube looks regular sized and it holds 7 ml of product which means that it will last me a long time.

Applicator has shape of an eight and holds a decent amount of product. Immediately after opening it strong minty scent fills the room. I got scared since I can't stand strong minty, tingly lip products. I guess my lips just got too sensitive. After applying it it feels okay but the feeling grows stronger every minute, this gloss is one of the strongest that I have ever tried and I don't know how long it will take me to use it up since I know I will use it sparingly.

There isn't much of a base color but multicolored shimmer is present. Lip gloss sparkles from pink to gold. If I apply it like a regular gloss it is glossy and juicy but the cooling effect is too strong for me. I prefer to apply thin layer but then I just don't get the full shine. I envy people who can handle strong cooling effect because they will be able to wear this one in their full glory.

In certain light the sparkle almost disappears completely and it looks almost clear. The particles are slightly noticeable if I press my lips together, I can slightly feel them. It is not too bad but there are other glosses out on the market which have smaller shimmer.

Here is another swatch just to show how the sparkles almost hides under certain angles but the gloss remains very juicy looking. 

I am not the biggest fan of strong minty lip products so this is not going to end up among my top five and so far I am not even sure I should even keep it. Maybe I will wait till the next Summer and see if I will use it during the hot months otherwise I will give it to my sister.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

 Hello,

for this second half of May I have accumulated way more products than in the first part.

First is the L'oreal elseve bond repair conditioner. This is third in line that I have used up and I really like it. This conditioner has a thicker creamier texture compared to the pre-shower treatment and because of that I prefer this one. I can at least see it sticking to my hair, shave in the mean time and rinse. My hair really like this elseve hair bonding line and I have already bought some more. I still have leave-in treatment from the line and soon I will have to get more.

Pink bottle of L'oreal proffesional vitamino color shampoo was a free gift with purchase and it was meant for color treated hair. I have never dyed my hair but I guess if it is moisturising it can't hurt. It had a nice scent and washed my hair but I haven't noticed any difference so it is safe to say that it didn't convince me.

I had high hopes for this Afrodita enzyme face washing foam. I discovered that I like enzyme scrubs and I thought that this would be nice two for one. I think it was low on the enzymes because they recommend  daily use and because of that the results weren't really visible. I had to use it on clean face (it didn't remove make-up) so it felt like a extra step which didn't show me visible results. I was a bit disappointed simply because I am used to almost instant 

I have used up another bottle of my beloved Catrice ultra last fixing spray. I have gone through so many of them and I still have a lot of backups because I am scared that they will replace it with something new. This is so far the best at keeping my make-up in place, if I spray too much it can feel like hair spray but that also makes it last longer.

I used up my deo to the last drop (I had to turn it upside dow to get it all out) becuase I really liked it. it is Nivea pearl & beauty anti-perspirant. It is supposed to be very gentle (no burning sensation or rashes) and the scent is also ver gentle and creamy smelling. I like it a lot, my only complaint would be the curved lid which makes it hard to use all the way up (it doesn't sit on its head, I had to put it upside down in a thick glass jar, thick because this one has a very thick bottle and is heavy).

Brown plastic bottle is The Body Shop Polynesian monoi radiance oil. It is very greasy and slick, I no longer enjoy oils all over my body so I used it in the shower (after taking a shower) on still wet skin. I would lather up, rinse the excess and pat myself dry. That was the only way I could use it up and I didn't need to use lotion afterwards. The scent was tropical monoi which I like a lot but probably I won't be getting this oil again but if they will come out with the lotion version I probably would get it. 

Last cream tube is Narciso Rodrigues body lotion in Narciso scent. I have purchased this one with the perfume but the perfume is in a different scent and they smell similar but not alike (it is the orange cube-Ambree). The Narciso perfume is already discontinued and I just fallen in love with it :( I really enjoyed this lotion and its scent, so much that now I am eying another tube of lotion and I already purchased hair mist in Narciso scent and it is very close. 

I had this limited edition Essence compact for years now. It belonged to their winter dreamin' collection and included highlighter and at the bottom blush. On the photo below I have made swatches and first is highlighter which came across a bit too cool toned. In reality it had a bit peachier base and cool reflex, maybe not as white as shown below. I absolutely loved it and used it mostly daily until I scrapped off the last bits. Under the highlighter there was a blush pan with a red shade. I get the wintery theme and red cold cheeks but I didn't like the look, plus the blush was too pigmented for my liking so I didn't use the blush much. The highlighter which was my favorite part is gone and I am decluttering this duo.

Next is Paese nanorevit lip balm in Light Pink. I haven't found another shade but the product looks somewhat pink/lilac, lighter version of the packaging. At first it feels a bit waxy but it melts, leaves a slight shine but it does disappear after around 20 min. It was promising but poor longevity made me give it less stars. Next comes the taste, I noticed bad, plasticky taste after reapplying and it was bad. Thankfully it had a little product and I was done with it quite fast. I will not be buying it again, since there was not a lot of things I would like about. The packaging was the best.

Last tube I saved for last because I really liked it. It is Bioderma atoderm restorative lip balm in a squeezy tube. The balm is slightly milky but on the lips it is clear. There is slightly creamy scent but no taste at all. My lips felt and looked hydrated, dry and cracked lip corners were healed after a few layers and I couldn't be happier. This tube also lasted me a long time, taken in consideration the price this one is totally worth it for me and has become one of my favorites. 

First swatch of Essence is my beloved highlighter and second one is reddish blush hidden below the compartment. I just didn't like the look of it on myself and also when I purchased it it was more pigmented and hard to handle for blending. Now I would try i again but since the highlighter is gone I am more excited to recycle this packaging than to keep it around :)

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

 Hello,

in the second half of March I have used up some more products. Most of them very really nice and I will get them again.

First was a gift with purchase and probably the only one I didn't car for it much. It is Avene xeracalm body moisturiser, it had a very liquid texture and no evident scent. I had very dry skin on my back and it did help a bit but it was nothing spectacular.

Next is body wash from Avon. It is their Care line with Avocado. I have used this before and I still like it. The scent reminds me slightly of the Good Girl perfume, just lighter and with some cream added. The product itself is creamy and not too liquid, this big bottle lasts for a log time. 

I am staying in the shower for a little bit longer. Next are L'oreal elseve bond repair shampoo and pre-shampoo solution. I actually loved them both and I think my hair were smoother and less frizzy, specially the ends looked better. I would first use the shampoo and then use the pre-shampoo (I know, there is literally in the name specified how to use it but I prefer to use it afterwards). I just made sure I left it on for as long as possible (in the mean time I would shave and I would take my time).

Second to last is Afrodita Great burdock hair oil. I have already raved about this product and I still love it. It is greasy oil which I use on my hair and brows to help them grow faster. After just a few days I can notice a spur of growth and I keep coming back to it. I am already using a new bottle.

Last is green tube of Caudalie vinopure purifying gel cleanser. This was very liquid and it stare+ted pouring from the tube the second I would unscrew the cap. This was used up very fast because about half of it just drained. This is the second item I would not repurchase.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

 Hello,

another batch of forgotten empties. I think I used up these in October... anyway I just found these photos and memories are still fresh so I decided to still use them.

I tried some samples from this professional L'oreal line and after some thought I purchased these two items even though I haven't had any samples from this cream line :)

Tube is absolut repair conditioner with slightly thicker texture which is nice in the shower so it grips the wet hair and coats them nicely. Bottle is shampoo with also a bit of a creamy coloring and they both had lovely creamy scent. The line is infused with proteins and gold quinoa specially for dry and damaged hair. My hair are getting more dry and then they break at the bottom so having thin hair and broken ends make me loose length easily. I loved the clean and creamy scent which was left in my hair plus they looked shinier and glossier (a bit of frizz control). I would get this duo again but there is also a mack available in the pot that I am thinking of.

First white tube is Oscar de la Renta Oscar body wash. This was a free gift and the scent was very heavy floral and somehow dry. Very intense and it was stuck up my nose. I did not enjoy it and was using it daily just to finish it up. I also receive the body lotion and next year I will gain enough courage to try it out but if the scent will give me the same response I will give it to my mom and I just hope she will like it. This one I washed away and the scent went into the drain but the scent from lotion will be stuck for longer.

In the summer I purchased set of Kenzo Homme Intense EDT and it came with two body wash tubes. I used up the first body wash and just like the EDT the scent is refreshing, slightly peppery and on a unisex side even though it is marked as a masculine fragrance. In the hot summer this scent is refreshing and slightly different from the rest. When the bottle of perfume is used up I will definitely get some more. I am also intrigued to try more of these 'bamboo' bottles.

First in line is Avene refreshing magnifying fluid which worked really well for my skin and this is already my second bottle. It was a light cream, it did look a bit shiny at first but after a minute or two it got absorbed and left my skin hydrated and matte looking. There were no breakouts, no burning or itching  and it did its job. I really liked it, my only minus is the packaging because I was not able to get everything out (I did turn it upside down and scoop it out but some of it still stayed in and I was not able to get it completely). 

Next is my holy grail Neutrogena oil free face moisturiser. Lightweight, it gets quickly absorbed and matte looking plus the most important is that it doesn't negatively impact my make-up. I already have at least three back-ups :)

I wanted to try some Origins items and decided to get this orange line. At the bottom is pot of Ginzing energizing gel cream with caffeine + niacinamide. I loved the orange gel texture (there is something about gel moisturisers that I love) it left my skin a little tacky but I liked that for nighttime but it sill get completely absorbed after 20 or 30 min. On top there is into the glow brightening serum with lighter texture than gel moisturiser and I loved to apply serum first and then gel. My skin really looked brighter and more even to me so I am trying to find a replacement in my already large collection but I will be getting this duo again, there is also eye cream that I am interested in. 

Essence used to have lovely lip oils so when I found these I give one a try. It is Essence hydra kiss in the shade Pink Champagne. All of them are two toned and mine had a bit of a shade and left a pink tint. On the lips is very glossy (a big plus from me) but it also didn't last long (like most of lip oils doesn't). My negative observation is that it didn't hydrate my lips over my daily activities. It does look pretty but unfortunately it did nothing for me but still I would like to try the first shade and the black one looks intriguing. 

The last is Catrice melt & shine juicy lip balm Beach Blossom that I already featured in my previous post. It is the click pen and here I used it up but I kept it to scoop the product out of the tube. There isn't that much product and scooping didn't make that much of a difference, I perhaps used it 5 or 6 more times until it was completely empty but it sure does look lovely because of the shine :) I really love my lip glosses and everything else that is shiny enough, gets my like but truth is, that it isn't very moisturising. Still I will probably get more of them :)

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

Hello,

my latest empties from November include a lot of products, some good and some really nice.

L'oreal blond me dry shampoo is a real game changer because it comes out like a thick foam. It makes my hair wet so it does take some time for it to work out (usually I do my make-up in the mean time) and the I just shake them up. They are dry and fresh without a single white cast, I already have a backup ;)

Batiste dry shampoo with the fresh scent. It smelled like I got out of the shower, I guess like clean hair :) I absolutely loved the scent and I will definitely be buying it again since it has that same effective Batiste formula plus the scent of freshly cleansed hair. I like to alternate between these two dry shampoos since I still think the L'oreal takes a bit more of my time but when done right it looks more natural than Batiste.

Next I have a quad of Some by Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 days collection.

At the bottom is their miracle toner with niacinamide  and teatree. It is very watery and I liked to use it under my serums, verl lightweight and great to pair with something heavier on top, I would just wait for t to get completely absorbed (I already have a big size). On the ground level is miracle serum centela asiatica and teatree with pipette. Very similar to toner if I compare the textures and I loved the packaging. On top is first miracle face wash which created thick foam and I had a feeling like it really did cleanse my pores well but sometimes it felt a bit too much, my skin felt a bit stripped. Nothing too bad if I properly moisturise afterwards. I would get it again. The very last item is miracle cream centela asiatica and teatree, quite light in texture but hydrating. I really liked it and would get it again. 

Under there is a pot of The Body Shop Almond milk body yoghurt. It smelled very nice, creamy and nutty. I really like these types of scents for bed but these yoghurts aren't the most hydrating for my skin so probably I will skip these in the future but I  will try to get the lotion version of this scent.

Next item was gift with purchase. It is Armani stronger with you body wash. It had a nice scent, manly and fresh, zesty and comforting. I liked it but probably I wouldn't enjoy it in the perfume version. 

My holy grail fixing spray from Catrice is making apperance again. I go through these 50ml bottles regularly since it actually makes difference at longevity of make-up. I keeps my make-up put but lets my skin a bit glowy, it is not sticky it just has a shine and in my opinion that makes it look natural. 

Dove invisible care antiperspirant was also a free gift with purchase and since it was quite small I started using it on my summer vacation. It looks small but it lasted me a long time. The scent was nothing special but I liked the formula. I still sweat through my antiperspirants but my natural scent is reduced significantly.

White tube is famous La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5+. The formula is a bit thicker and it doesn't pair well with other more liquid items underneath (I had to wait for toners or serums to fully absorb otherwise this just slid over my skin) and the thick texture is a bit white. I am a bit conflicted since I read how many good benefits this has but the white greasy texture wasn't my favorite.

A while ago I purchased this mini Origins Drink up intensive overnight hydrating face mask with Avocado. First think that I noticed was the sweet scent (it reminded me of candy). it was also a bit thicker but not as greasy as the product mentioned above. I used it as a night cream, I tried to not exaggerate with over applying but using as much as I would normal cream. I think I would rather get this one again over the La Roche-Posay tube.

Last two items are hand creams from Avon. First is the gentle one with multi-biotics and vanilla and second is silicone gloves. The first one was really nice, the Vanilla didn't shine through though. But for the silicone glowes one I didn't have much hope since I expected it to be to slippery but in fact it was nice. It was lightweight and it did absorb, my only complaint is that when I washed my hands I felt it coming off and it didn't made much difference on the long run. It was helpful when it was on but when rinsed I didn't think it did much. 

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

 Hello,

for today I only have a little selection of my used up products but let me tell you, all of them will be repurchased if I haven't already.

Nivea Intensive hand cream has this amazing almost rubbery packaging. I had two different versions before this one and this one is just as lovely as the previous ones. Light texture which absorbs quickly and nourishes dry skin and did I mention this soft 'packaging'? I know I still have one more to go through and after that one gone I'm buying it again.

For this next product I can't 100% testify that it does miracles but most definitely I don't have any bad reaction from it. It is REN bio retinoid anti-wrinkle concentrate oil. I did  some research about benefits of using vitamin A and REN is a brand a lot of people with knowledge trust... I think it is a win-win combination. Truth is that I don't get that many acne anymore and my old acne scars are slowly fading. They are still visible and if I use products which are proven to even out the color and texture faster I will most definitely keep buying and using them. I already bought myself a new bottle and I hope that they don't amp up the price or discontinue it.

This product I bough out of curiosity because Neutrogena products seems to work for me and curcuma is an ingredient with lots of positive effects. I don't know just how much of it they used but it is in the first half of the ingredients list... It has a pleasant, light orange scent but it also burn my eyes if it gets too close. At first I thought that I won't repurchase it because of it but after I finished it I started to use something else and my face immediately responded with a bunch of nasty bumps on my chin, the only product that was changed was the face wash... So I think it is safe to say that Neutrogena Curcuma Clear face mousse wash is something I will repurchase again and now I have three holy grail face washes, each from a different brand.

The very last item is L'oreal Magic invisible dry shampoo Fresh Crush. This is my second bottle of it and I really like it. The scent isn't really fresh but it is somewhat bubble gum inspired and quite strong, thankfully I like it but maybe next time I will get a different one just to mix things up. This definitely has a white cast which requires some extra work but other than that I have nothing bad to say about it.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

 Hello,

I have been cleaning and decluttering a bit. I found some old and almost forgotten products and some products just due to their old age have to go and make room for something fresher.

Avon clearskin bubble face cleanser is my second used up bottle. It is okay face wash for me. It comes out as a foam and it spreads evenly over my face (it doesn't just run through my fingers and into the drain) but I have noticed that it didn't fully remove my make-up residue so I was combining it with another one that I much prefer over this one. I'm glad it is gone and I won't repurchase it again.

Next was a gift and it is fragrance from Miller Harris in the scent Rose Silence. It is a very heavy and rich rose scent. I always imagine a posh woman would wear it on a nigh out, on some black tie event. It is feminine but also very powerful and woman who wears it definitely is in charge of business. Even though this bottle was small it took me long time to finish it up and towards the end the scent started to haunt me so I applied only one spray and layer it with other fragrances. For now I'm happy to be finished with it but if I will even start to miss it I can still get another bottle.

Last item is once beloved L'oreal Infallible 24h-matte foundation in Vanilla shade (now I switched to the Catrice foundation). This one is a bit dry and requires quick application otherwise it looks cakey, the shade was still a bit too dark on me so I had to mix it with lightening drops and after a couple of hours of wearing it it looked a bit worn off so when I switched to the Catrice I was much happier. This tube was left from its glory days and I'm super happy to be finished with it.

Last we have Nivea original lip butter. These were really good and I'm very sad that they discontinued them. First I had the Coconut one which is still my favorite (it felt more moisturizing) but this one isn't far behind. It has lovely creamy texture (even though it is called lip butter it is not buttery or hard) and I loved applying it on at night because it would leave a white layer but when I go to bed I really don't care as long as a wake up with nourished lips. I still have two more left in different scents and then I'm all out. I hope they will come out with something similar soon.

Next there are two eye shadow products and these two are the oldest in my collection. 

First swatch is Essence Barefoot through the moss (I purchased it in 2011) and it is slightly green toned gold. I remember loving this shade and use it daily but when my love progressed I started to use other shades and gold isn't even in my top five anymore. I sill like it but have a couple of other gold shades that I prefer and I think it is time to retire this baby.

Next is another Essence All about Chocolates (I bough this one in 2015) and I actually love all six shades but I already have very similar shades to all of them and aren't so very old. They are still very soft just the darker four occasionally get hard pan because I apply them with my fingers so I don't loose all the lovely shimmer (I blend the edges with a brush, don't worry). This one is a little harder to departure but the lid is broken and doesn't stick with the pan anymore and that was the last straw. I'm throwing it away but if it would still be available and I wouldn't have so many eye shadows I would repurchase it again in a heartbeat.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Catrice matt pro ink non-transfer liquid lipsticks

Hello,

this post is long overdue (like many others) especially because I got them as a PR gift when they came out. Now they aren't as 'fresh' but they are still interesting and worth looking into, at least in my opinion.

I received these Catrice matt pro ink non-transfer liquid lipsticks in Courage Code and I choose Passion.

The applicator is squashed and carries a lot of product, if you have big lips that is great but for us smaller gals... still it is not a big thing, I just wipe it off and adjust the right amount.
P.S. I noticed that my lips are very ticklish and when I am applying product like this and trying to touch my lips lightly it tickles me like crazy  :)  Anyone else with a similar 'problem'?

The colors are very pigmented and at first look like something I would not choose myself but then again, I am not a big fan of liquid lipsticks ether, so I was sceptical to say the least. I tip toed and tried them on lightly, with just a thin coat and that is also my preferred way to use them, more like lip stains...

They dry pretty fast and I have to be swift but also very careful, once I go over the lines it is very hard to remove/cover up.
Courage Code is very interesting brick red shade that looks amazing on me (my humble opinion) especially when I use a very light hand and super thin coat.
Dusty Rose is in the shade called I choose Passion. I like that isn't too bright but this shade reminded me of something else...

This L'oreal rouge signature liquid lipstick in the shade I Rule is very similar but the formulas are quite different. I have a full review of it here.

Here you can see that the I Rule is less pigmented, more liquid and therefore more manageable than the I choose Passion from Catrice.

I know that here they don't look that similar but I used one of them on one half of my lips and the other on the other side and shades looked super similar. The difference was with the L'oreal side that the shade was a bit less bright and not so dry (it takes quite a few minutes to completely dry) while Catrice one was dry instantly and a bit more vibrant.

Just because Catrice ones are more pigmented you have to be extra careful to apply them evenly and a couple of minutes after application they feel a bit sticky. When they dry they still leave a bit of a print on the glass but if I'm careful it is not too bad. On me if I apply too much it settles into my lines but a bit of rubbing them together disperses it nicely again (because they aren't completely matte). I like to tap a bit of lip balm over it because it is dryer formula and can feel a bit uncomfortable. A bit of color however always transfers onto my lip balm. I would say that they are nice semi matte liquid lipsticks, especially for people who don't like full on matte and dry lips. If I wouldn't have the L'oreal one I would totally keep both but since I prefer the L'oreal one a tad better I decided to pass the similar shade from Catrice I choose Passion to my sister but the Courage Code will stay with me at least for a while now.



Thank you for reading and have a nice day

I Rule

Hello,

I have bought this liquid lipstick during the last Black Friday (I think) or was there another sale? It has been so long that I don't quite remember...

L'oreal rouge signature liquid lipstick in the shade I Rule.
The packaging is clean and sleek, the tube closes with a sturdy click so I really don't think this could spill in my purse when I carry it around.

It smells a bit like wet paint but that fades away fast and it doesn't bother me too much.
The applicator is so darn cute, wouldn't you say? I love the pointy tip which allows me to paint the product very precisely onto my lips and I don't make a mess.
I would like to point the darker color of the applicator itself and the lighter color of the product. The product freshly applied does look lighter but when it dries it is darker and brighter (a bit deeper then the wand but still quite bright). I only have this one shade I Rule and can't say if they all do this with the color, if they will come out with some more 'me' shades I will consider buying some more ;)

The first swatch is freshly applied and it is quite liquid and it takes a while to dry down and even after a couple of minutes it still looks a bit shiny (imagine tapping a bit of lip balm over it, that is the intensity of the shine). Second swatch is made with less product and I let it dry completely so you can see that it can get much brighter but you can also apply more or less to achieve desired effect (I personally prefer a lighter coat but that is just me).

This is on my lips. I used very little product so it isn't as deep as it could get but that is how I like it on myself. I wanted you to see the 'sheen'. It looks like a have applied a bit of balm over it, right? I haven't and I love that it doesn't get all dry and cakey on me. It feels very comfortable and not drying at all. I was drinking (water and tea, no alcohol during the day for me ;) and it did leave a bit of a stain on my glass, not that much of a color but more of a clear print of my lips (the pigment stays on the lips, the extra moisture that is on top of the lips gets transferred). After a couple of hours I did reapply and it didn't disrupt the product that was left on my lips but it did looked darker and deeper. This shade stains my lips into a bright pink shade (rubbing them with oil helps to remove it). However it didn't quite survived eating. It looked a bit uneven (maybe I'm just a nasty eater ;) so I needed to reapply and again it looked very nice. I lightly patted some lip balm on top if I felt like my lips could benefit from some moisture and I was good.
I am very pleased with this lip product. It lasts much longer than my other colored lip products but isn't super drying or looks all crusty on my lips. It doesn't last as long as I expected to but I think for a more nourishing liquid lipstick that is fine plus you can easily reapply on top of what is left (some liquid lipstick you have to completely remove in order to apply fresh coat, not with this one).
I would get another shade if they would make something more neutral. I feel like there is a lot of bright or very dull shades, which is not my cup of tea but I will for sure stay on a look out for more.

P.S. Recently I have received the new Catrice Matt Pro Ink Liquid Lipsticks and I have already started to test the two shades and for sure I will compare them to this L'oreal one and I'm curious to see how they compare.



Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Morning Glory and Almighty single eye shadows

Hello,

for today I have prepared two eye shadows from two different brands that I bought at the same day in the same store not realizing that they look so similar.

First is Essence Morning Glory and second L'oreal's Almighty single eye shadows.

Here the L'oreal one looks a bit darker but that could also be because of the 3D wave pattern.

They are both neutral coppery shades with plenty of shimmer and shine.

When swatched the shades looks exactly the same but the finish is what separates them.
Essence looks like a typical powder shadow with obvious sparkles which is completely fine but when compared to the Almighty which looks like it is a cream product or applied wet you can see the difference.

Almighty has more reflection than Morning Glory and it comes down to your own taste what you prefer. Blingy and shiny or more subdued shimmer?
I definitely don't need both so probably I will pass on of them to my sister but I haven't decided yet which to give away, any suggestions?


Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Shopping

Hello,

this past week I have been splurging. I purchased way more than I 'need' and when I came home and spread everything out I started to regret it. I have been really good this year and bought only a few items sprinkled through the entire year and now I caved in and bought too much. The store had a sale and I fell hard for it but at least I'm trying to comfort myself that some of the items are my staples or the ones that I already tried turned out to be really nice, so far there are no duds...

First is my beloved Catrice HD liquid coverage foundation in Light beige. Next is Essence camouflage matt liquid concealer in Light rose, I wanted to get the healthy glow one but since they didn't have it I decided to try this version. I haven't try it yet but since I use liquid concealer under my eyes... we will see. Next is a repurchased Essence all about matte powder that I loved back in the days but ever since I tried the Catrice all matt powder I stopped buying the Essence one. I wanted to try it out again to see, if it still works for me. The last powder is something new to me and I guess I was just curious and it is Essence mattifying compact powder.

I wanted to get a good lip stain for quite a while now and I will see if this one will get me where I want to and it is L'oreal I rule lip stain. This conditioning lip product is very talked about in the community and it seem like everyone is raving about it so I had to have it. I grabbed one of the Catrice dewy-full lips lip butter in the nude shade Be you! Dew you!. While I was at the Catrice stand I couldn't pass another shade from Catrice generation plump & shine gloss. I already have Nude Sapphire which is gorgeous but I wanted this one ever since I saw this beautiful coral number named Sparkling Coral. I don't own much from the brand She and I decided to change that by purchasing the Nude lip gloss in the shade 127. These Essence plumping nudes glosses in Big softie and XXL charm were also on my list for a long time and now I have them, I hope they won't disappoint me. The very last item is a lip balm and I got hooked when I saw it is a tube styled balm, I like anything glossy and this one is Blistex Cherry lip cream.

Here are some 'much needed' eye shadows (I really don't know jet where I will store them because I have so many). The first is Catrice The fresh nudes palette I love neutrals and that bright coral in the middle was what caught my eye. L'oreal  came out with these singles just recently and this one looked extra shiny and glossy so I had to bring it with me. Mine is in the shade Almighty. The last one is Essence Morning Glory eye shadow and I had no idea it looked so similar to the L'oreal one (I really was in the zone, just throwing items in my basked not really knowing what I was doing). It is pretty for sure but I will make sure I will swatch them side by side because I have a feeling that I won't need both.



Thank you for reading and have a nice day

Empties

Hello,

this month is finishing and lets wrap things with some empties.

I cleared out another Ilirija shampoo, this time it is Chamomile (I had Burdock the last time and I liked it a lot). This one smells amazing but unfortunately it didn't suit my hair. The next day they already felt greasy and I had to use a lot of dry shampoo to make them look okay. I used up half of the bottle on my hair the rest I used to clean my body. I would repurchase the Burdock version but not this one.

Next bottle is a proper body wash and it is Avon senses Magical Kingdom and it is supposed to smell like Jasmin and White Musk. It smells lovely, creamy and soft but I had ones that I liked better. It was fun to try out but next time I will get something else (I have already ordered the new Gelato Moments and I can't wait to get it;).

I have already stopped counting through how many tubes of this magical  Neutrogena oil free face moisturizer I went. It is simply the best for my oily skin because it provides my face with moisture but it doesn't leave it greasy. I'm not even testing anything else, I'm already on my new tube.

Second to last is Alverde aqua 24h hyaluron hydro face cream. I was in a bit of a testing faze and got this but it didn't suit me. It smells fresh and sea like but the texture is a bit weird. It is like a stickier lotion that takes a while to absorb but my skin still felt dry and too small for my face. I started to use it on my hands and body but if I applied a bit too much it started to roll of and it was not cute. Even though it didn't cost much I still regret this purchase.

The very last item on this photo is Avon Rare Pearls perfume which I craved for a long time. In the end I decided to get just the small 10 ml bottle because I have way too many perfumes and body sprays. I like powdery top note with heavier flower undertones but after wearing it for some time I think my love for it faded away. I still think it is lovely but most probably I won't grab a full size anytime soon or ever.

This big 35 ml tube of L'oreal infallible 24h matte foundation in the shade Vanilla is finally finished. This has great coverage, it stays matte for quite a while (with some powder on top) but I find this shade to be too dark for me and since I found a foundation that I like even better so stay tuned for the 'big' reveal.

This lovely little guy was part of the limited edition and I think now they don't have anything similar. It is Essence For boys and Girls stick face primer. I liked the easy application, it felt moisturizing but not greasy on my face. Make-up applied nicely over the top (only when my skin was extra dry then it looked a bit cakey and dry but after my naturals oils break through it looked more natural ;) but I don't think it prolonged the wear. It was one of those nifty little products that don't make a whole difference but when I used it I could tell, in a positive way that is.

I was super sceptic about this Nivea original lip balm. You see, I had bad experiences in the past (excluding the amazing lip butters in the little pots) and I thought that this will be just like the rest but as it turs out the formula really suited me. It is soft and buttery, it melts very easily and I like that greasy almost glossy feel on my lips and the most important part is that it is moisturizing. I didn't particularly liked the yellow packaging but I already have the basic blue packaging (both of them I received in the advent calendar so I couldn't choose colors).

This moth was big on lip balms because I went through another one and this one is Terra Naturi Shea butter and Jojoba lip balm. In the past I had the Orange and Citrus which remains as one of my favorites so I wanted to try this new flavor/scent but the 'original' citrus-y still wins in my books. This pink one had sweet - fruity scent like Haribo gummy bears and I wasn't always in the mood for it. I already have a backup of my favorite and this one will soon be forgotten.

And the very last item is Essence get picture ready pore refining face powder. Too bad that they discontinued this baby because in my opinion it was pretty nice. It was slightly peach toned so it didn't washed me out and it really was smoothing, it covered pores and lay over little bump without highlighting texture. Really lovely product, I can see on their official web site (check the German the international one is a mess) that they have this all about matte silky fixing compact powder which also looks peachy-pink. I will check it out the next time for sure.



Thank you for reading and have a nice day