Linda : April 2015

Haul #3 Balea, random bits and lots of nail polish!

April 29, 2015

Looking at these pictures now makes me wonder.. did I really need all these things?
I am gonna go on a no-buy schedule from now on, for quite a while.

Let's get to all the pretty things. :)
There will be a lot of pictures!

BALEA SHOWER GELS IN COCOS & NEKTARINE AND TROPICAL SUNSHINE. These shower gels are nothing special, don't offer much moisture for your skin but the scents are fruity and summery and perfect! Tropical sunshine is a LE summer scent - perfect mango and orange combo!

FEMFRESH INTIMATE SKIN CARE. This is a new edition, usually I was using their regular soap in a see-through packaging, colored lightly orange. I hope this one is even better.

BALEA SHAVING GEL in BLUEBERRY is a classic - I love these gels and I always buy them. This scent is new to me, I haven't tried it yet but hopefully it smells as nice as it looks. :)

ESSENCE NAIL POLISH REMOVER is another repurchase for the 100th time now, I love it!

BALEA GLOSSY & SHINE HAIRSPRAY. I already used this and I like it. I didn't notice any additional shine in my hair, but it did a good job at smoothing all the baby hair and that's what matters to me the most.

BALEA BEAUTIFUL LONG SHAMPOO. Repurchase. Works great for my hair, they feel really clean, fresh and soft when I use it. I do need to use conditioner with it, but that's normal. For the price it works brilliant (for my hair).

EBELIN BOBBY PINS - because every single one I had before magically disappeared.

BEBE 3in1 MAKEUP REMOVING WIPES for sensitive and dry skin. They claim to nourish skin and remove waterproof makeup. Lies! These are horrible! My mascara did not want to come off, it broke a few of my eyelashes and my face was red and burning after I used them. Horrible! Do not buy these. I was in a hurry buying something easy to remove my makeup for a weekend getaway and this was the first thing that looked promising. What a mistake and a waste of 4€.

BALEA PEELING GEL with acai berries for normal skin. I needed a new peeling I can use twice a week to exfoliate my skin, and this one caught my attention. I haven't tried it yet.

SIGNAL WHITE NOW TRIPLE POWER toothpaste. This is small and expensive, but I hope it will make my teeth whiter, like they promise.

BALEA LEATHER PROTECTION for your shoes. This is a leather sticker you put in your shoes where the back of your ankle is - it is supposed to protect skin from abrasion and blisters that usually happen when the edge of the shoe (ballet flats) rubs against your ankles - worst feeling ever. Hopefully this helps!

BALEA UNIVERSAL MOISTURIZER for your face, lips and body. These pretty little pots stole my heart a few weeks ago when I first spotted them somewhere on Instagram - I finally found them in my local DM. These are great - smell divine and absorb in the skin really fast, leaving it soft. I got the cherry and raspberry scent.

VICTORIA'S SECRET PURE SEDUCTION BODY SPRAY. We just got VS sprays and lotions a few months ago here in Slovenia and this was on my wish list since then. It smells DIVINE. I can't describe scents, but the packaging says 'red plum & freesia' and so be it. The scent disappears in a few hours, but that's normal since it is a spray, not a perfume. I love it anyways.

ESSENCE SOO GLOW! It says this is a cream to powder highlighter and that's exactly what it is. I love using this for a subtle highlight on the highest points of my cheeks. (see swatch below)

CATRICE GLAMOUR DOLL curl & volume mascara - I just wanted to try a new mascara, since I get bored with them quite easily. Haven't tried this one yet.

CATRICE RE-TOUCH LIGHT-REFLECTING concealer. This is great! I use it under my eyes for some added brightness to my face and I think it works great. The foundation I use does all the concealing I need, this just adds some extra freshness and brightness to my skin. It doesn't sink in the pores during the day. I believe this is a cheap alternative to the famous YSL Touche eclat.

ESSENCE STUDIO NAILS: 'hardening nail base' and 'ultra nail repair' are both base coats with some added benefits for the nails. I switch between them and they both work OK, but I haven't noticed anything special.

BETTER THAN GEL NAILS high gloss top sealer is a repurchase and the best top coat I have ever tried. What it does? Very shiny and polished nails, and dries in seconds - every manicure looks like you got it done at a nail salon. Highly recommend!

I got four of the new ESSENCE 'the gel' nail polishes and I must admit, I am disappointed. Although the colors are gorgeous, these chip in two days. Boohoo! :(

The shades from left to right: 4 EVER YOUNG / #LUCKY / CANDY LOVE (disaster) / INDIAN SUMMER

I also got the CATRICE Must-have STEELetto nail polish - I don't know what was I thinking. This is so not my color.

On the other hand, ESSIE's EXOTIC LIRAS is a wonderful summer color and I love it! I wrote a blog post about it, you can check it here (click!)

CATRICE 'LOOKS LIKE CORAL' is a beautiful coral - pink shade, perfect for summer, I know I will get a lot of use out of it.

BOURJOIS ROUGE EDITION VELVET in 'FRAMBOURJOISE' is another perfect summer lipstick in a dark pink - light red shade, I wanted this one forever and I finally added it to my collection. If you don't already own one of these, go for it. The velvet matte long lasting formula is amazing.

ESSENCE lipsticks in '03 come naturally' and '06 barely there' are gorgeous nude, rose toned lipsticks, soft and creamy formula, not the best with long lasting, but for 2€, who cares. I use these daily, they truly do go with every eye look you create.

ESSENCE LIP CANDIES lipgloss in 'SUGAR SHOCK' is a lovely sheer peach colored lip gloss. I love it because it is not sticky, and almost feels like a lip balm, leaving the lips very smooth.

GARNIER OLIA HAIR COLOR in '6.60 intense red'. There was a sale going on in DM, 1 + 1 free, so I stocked up on this. I am good for next two months. :)

SWATCHES

1 - ESSENCE SUGAR SHOCK

2 - BOURJOIS FRAMBOURJOISE

3 - CATRICE LOOKS LIKE CORAL

4 - ESSENCE 03 COME NATURALLY

5 - ESSENCE 06 BARELY THERE

ESSENCE SOO GLOW! in 10 LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

That's it! Tell me, do you love or hate any of these products I mentioned?

Thanks for reading!

If you would like to read a review of any of these products, comment down below! :)

Have a nice day!

xo Linda

Garnier

My red hair experience with Garnier Olia

April 20, 2015

For the last 5 and a half years my hair has always been red.

I tried so many hair dyes but honestly, I don't remember any that would really amaze me. I always dye my hair at home with box colors, I don't want to spend that much money every 5 weeks at a hair salon, when I can get decent results at home.

Last month I had a little hair disaster, the dye I used was so highly pigmented with dark red, it turned my hair black. Literally, black. I cried. As pale as a ghost as I am, it didn't suite me one bit, at least that's how I felt, I had some friends tell me otherwise.

After a few weeks when the black has finally rinsed out, it is time to go red again.

This is the first time ever for me using Garnier Olia.

It is packed just like all other box dyes - a pair of plastic gloves, 40ml of conditioner and the color: 60g of creme developer and 60g of coloring cream. You mix these two together, and voila! One box costs 6€, I had to use two because I have long hair.

I used two different shades: intense red and deep red and mixed them together.

I colored my own hair, usually my roommate does it for me, but she was away at the time. The application caused me no problems. The dye applied smoothly, didn't dry my hair out in the process, they remained 'creamy' for the whole time. My scalp didn't burn and the scent was not unpleasant, which is a big win-win with box dies.

I must emphasize that this color is without ammonium and made out of 60% oils, and that's why it feels so pleasant. I definitely liked the application.

What about the end result?

I rinsed it off after 35min (you should leave it on for 30min but I forgot the time). I used the conditioner it comes with, which was very pleasant and made my hair very soft. My scalp was stained a bit, but that's normal with red. You can see how washed out my hair was before, and now it is a nice fresh dark red again. In the sun it looks much more vibrant! The lighting in my room was horrible the day I took these pictures. I wish they were better, sorry about that.

before - after

My roots are vibrant red, of course, since they are my natural light hair color. The rest of the hair is not as vibrant red as I would want them to be, but I am happy with how it looks. Basically, my hair is in a 'refreshed' dark red - violet color now, and I am pleased with that. I would prefer them to be lighter, but I know I can't get there so easy without bleaching, so I will try and try and try until I succeed.

I look as a ghost here - it's just this stupid lighting in my living room. Also, sorry for the no makeup + glasses look!

I will buy this hair color again in a few weeks, because it felt so nice on my hair while being applied and not damaging a bit. But I will go just in the 'intense red' shade, because I really want to make my hair a bit more vibrant red, not so dark red.

I hoped you liked this! If you are a blonde or brunette, I would say go for Olia, because it feels nice and nourishing and not so harsh as some box dyes can be.

Have a nice day!

xo Linda

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April 15, 2015

Alverde

Empties and mini reviews #3

April 12, 2015

Hey! So, this post is long over due, because I have so many empty products! Maybe I should have divided this into two posts, I am not sure. It is what it is now, let's get to it. :)

BODY PRODUCTS

BALEA BODY BALSAM SENSITIVE - whoever said that this is a 'balsam' did not lie. It really is - the consistency was very runny. It felt refreshing and very nice on the skin, it sank in fast. In a long term it did nothing to make my skin more hydrated and that is the reason I would not purchase it again.

SILISS SHAVING GEL - this is a Leclerc brand. I love this! Will definitely repurchase. Smells really nice, like peaches, is cheap and works just as great as Balea shaving gels. Basically, I can't tell a difference between these two.

ESSENCE NAIL POLISH REMOVER - simple: cheap and good. Will always repurchase.

REXONA SHOWER FRESH DEODORANT - I was quite surprised how good this was. Rexona is my go-to for deodorant. This 'shower fresh' scent is very refreshing. It also feels really gentle on the skin. Already repurchased, just in another scent and I am loving this one, too.

ALVERDE CELLULITE BODY OIL - I use this after I dry brush any problem areas I have. I love the fresh scent (lemon & rosemary). If you use it regularly you can tell the difference in tightness of your skin. Already repurchased.

AVON SENSES SENSUAL MYSTIQUE SHOWER GEL EXOTIC ROSE & JASMINE - this is a giant (500ml) packaging and it took me forever to finish it. It has the richest and the creamiest formula, making your skin soft and lovely. The scent lingers on skin for a while. The only problem was that the scent was quite strong and I got tired of it soon, so I will not purchase it again. I would, in another scent, yes.

NIVEA CREME PEELING SHOWER & SCRUB - I loved this! You can use it as a shower peeling, because it is gentle enough. But it also works well as a peeling, it helped with removing fake tan well. The scent is fresh and divine. I would repurchase, someday, but ATM I am using Rub rub rub from Lush and I like it very much.

BALEA MAGIC WINTER SHOWER GEL - this was so average. Since it is a 'winter edition', I expected much more moisture and nourishment from it, but I got none. All it did was smell nice, like flowers. Would not repurchase.

FACE PRODUCTS

VEET WAX STRIPS FOR FACIAL HAIR - I always use this every 6 - 8 weeks to remove any upper lip hair. Embarrassing, I know, but that life. You can't even imagine how better foundation looks on a totally smooth skin. I always use these, because they do a great job. And no, it's not painful. A box costs about 5€ and lasts me for almost a year. Totally worth it. I tried other brands in the past, none came even close to Veet.

INELL MICELLAR SOLUTION - the best and cheapest way to remove any makeup. Already repurchased.

BALEA FACE WASH FOAM - this is great! So soft any fun to use (since it makes a foam). I have super dry skin and this works great, did not dry me out. I use this after micellar water or cleansing oil, to make my face extra clean. I already repurchased.

AVON SOLUTIONS WINTER DAY & NIGHT FACE MOISTURIZERS - I loved these two. Used them all through winter and they kept my extremely dry skin nice any hydrated. They were a limited winter edition, but I would buy them again next winter.

HAIR PRODUCTS

DOVE OIL CARE 1 MINUTE HAIR TREATMENT - this was a decent conditioner. Many bloggers love this so I gave it a try too. It worked ok, but I didn't notice any drastic changes. Currently I am using a similar product from Gliss kur and it works just as great. I would repurchase this one.

L'OREAL ELVITAL MAGIC HAIR OIL - what can I say... this was a total 'meh' product. It took ages to use it all, but I am not really sure it did anything for me! Maybe they were a little softer, but that's all. I was disappointed, would not buy again and do not recommend it.

SYOSS VOLUME DRY SHAMPOO - I liked this! I already purchased the anti-grease version, but I think I prefer this one more. I would love to try Batiste dry shampoo, to see what all the rage is about.

MAKEUP & NAILS

CATRICE NUDE ILLUSION FOUNDATION - a nice foundation, working well with my skin type. I really like it's luminous matte finish. Currently I am using Healthy mix from Bourjois, but I would repurchase this again in future.

ESSENCE LIQUID INK EYELINER - I don't have much experience with liquid liners and I don't use them often, but I like this one and it suits my need. I like the applicator and the fact that it is very black. Already repurchased.

CATRICE CONCEALER - I don't even know how this one is called, every detail is rubbed off. It was quite thick and it creased under my eyes after a few hours, so I would not repurchase it again. Currently I am using another Catrice highlighting concealer and I like it a lot, so I will probably keep on using it.

ESSENCE BETTER THAN GEL NAILS HIGH GLOSS TOP SEALER - my favorite top coat. Gives intense shine, protects colored nail polish and makes your manicure last longer. Already repurchased. Highly recommend!

ESSENCE EXPRESS DRY DROPS - I have been using these for years. I tend to reach for them, when I paint my nails at night, to make sure they dry before I go to bed. Already repurchased.

CATRICE ULTIMATE LAST MULTIMIZER MASCARA - I liked this one. Did not give much volume, but it is good for separating lashes. I am not sure if I would repurchase it, because there are so many other mascaras I want to try.

L'OREAL MISS MANGA MASCARA - almost everyone hates this mascara, but it worked well for me. It wasn't spectacular, but it was black and volumizing and that OK for me. Would I repurchase? Maybe. One day.

And that's it! Question of the day: have you tried any of these products and have they worked well for you? Let me know!

Thanks for reading!

xo Linda

Alverde

March favorites!

April 06, 2015

Hello! :) Let's take a look at all the beauty products I have been loving lately.

After I purchased this new Essence lip gloss, I have been wearing it daily. The Dior one also got some love, and the Bourjois liquid lipstick was my go-to choice, when I wanted my lip color to last for a long time. This product is just perfect for that!

DIOR LIP ADDICT LIP POLISH SMOOTHING LACQUER in 003 - this gives a lot of shine! They didn't exaggerate when they named it 'polish'. The only down side is, it can get sticky, so I always wear a pony tail with this. It gives just a nice hint of color - in the tube it looks much more vibrant than it is when applied.

ESSENCE LIP CANDIES LIP CARE in SUGAR SHOCK. One of the new Essence lip glosses - I am in love. Soft, smooth, creamy and feels very nourishing. I want more colors!

BOURJOIS ROUGE EDITION VELVET in NUDE-IST. This is a classic. A deep nude shade, perfect with a light smokey eye, lasts for hours - just what I want to wear on the days when I go to work. It is perfect!

VICTORIA'S SECRET BODY SPRAY in PURE SEDUCTION. As soon as we got them here in Slovenia, I had to get one for myself. I get the hype. This smells so good. It is a lot of product, so it will last me for quite some time. I totally forgot about all my other perfumes, I only wear this! Although it says 'perfume', it disappears from skin in about 3-4 hours, I really wish it would last longer. But than again, it is only a body mist.

GLISS KUR 6 WUNDER ÖL ESSENZ. This is a great drugstore hair product. I don't like the scent, but it makes my hair very soft and shiny.

BALEA AQUA SERUM. This saves my dry skin daily. I use it under my day moisturizer and it gives my skin just the extra kick of moisture I need, to not get all flaky and irritated. It has a light and refreshing texture.

ALVERDE MAKEUP FIXING SPRAY. Dare I say this makes my makeup last longer? Maybe it's just my imagination, but since I started using this, I feel like my makeup looks much more decent after 12 hours of wear, as it did before. It has quite a strong scent, but fortunately it goes away just seconds after applied. I will definitely keep using this one.

BOURJOIS PUSH UP VOLUME GLAMOUR MASCARA. My new favorite mascara. This makes my lashes look really black any holds the curl. Also, it doesn't flake as much as the mascaras I used in the past did. I will probably repurchase this, when I run out.

CATRICE RE-TOUCH LIGHT-REFLECTING CONCEALER. This is also my new favorite. It is also my first highlighting concealer and I am impressed. I use this over Healthy mix foundation, and it makes my skin look refreshed and glowy. I don't suffer from dark under eyes and this works perfectly, because I don't need much coverage, but I can't really say how it would work if you do.

ESSENCE BETTER THAN GEL NAILS TOP SEALER HIGH GLOSS. This makes every manicure look perfect. It dries in seconds, gives a gel like, high shine effect to every nail color, and makes any nail polish last for days. This is a must have for me! I usually apply colored nail polish at night, any when I wake up, I use this while I do my makeup. It literally conceals any possible streaks that may have happened at night, if I go to sleep too soon, with polish not completely dried. ;)

So these have been my favorites!

Did you have any similar? :) Leave a comment!

Thanks for stopping by!

xo Linda

Haul #3 Balea, random bits and lots of nail polish!

My red hair experience with Garnier Olia

I have a FB page!

Empties and mini reviews #3

March favorites!

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