Empties #46 – Mateja’s Beauty Blog

MIXA Baby Soothing Cleansing Oil Atopiance

My standard cleansing gel for the face that I use every day. It foams well, doesn’t irritate my eyes, it’s gentle, not drying nor scented and cleans well. The pump packaging is very handy. I’ve used up several so far. Otherwise, this is a head to toe type of product for babies and adults.

Repurchase: Done

HADALABO Gokujyun Oil Cleansing

Repurchase: Yes, but I have to order it online and Nuxe’s, which is just as good, is sold in local pharmacies.

SVR Sensifine Double Cleansing Balm

I liked this from the start, but by the end I just wanted it gone. It’s a balm that turns into an emulsion with water and it removes makeup, but it made my eyesight foggy and I just didn’t like it as much as lighter-feeling cleansing oil. It’s not bad and it’s made for sensitive skin, but it wasn’t my favourite.

Repurchase: No.

COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence

I’ve been using this for years every day and I credit it as the product that helped fix the texture of my skin. It’s a rich toner-like product with 95% ferments (galactomyces) and rest are niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, allantoin, adenosine and a handful of fillers. It has no scent.

Repurchase: Yes.

AFRODITA COSMETICS Skin Specialist Vitamin C Anti-Age Serum

Repurchase: Maybe, but I’m currently giving Garnier’s Vitamin C Serum a go.

NEUTROGENA Bright Boost Illuminating Serum

A serum with Neoglucosamine or Acetyl Glucosamine, a super hydrator with a supposed anti-ageing effect and it should also fade hyperpigmentation. It’s more of lotion than a serum and it contains tiny shimmer. The latter creates an instant illuminating effect, but a weak one. I don’t know if it does anything this that is says, but my skin is in nice condition and I like using it.

Repurchase: Done.

BALEA Niacinamide Tages Crème

I like this mainly because it has 10% niacinamide and an SPF 30, so I can wear it daily, but it’s not a particularly comfortable cream. It’s not greasy, but it takes time to absorb and I can feel it on the skin. It’s a moisturiser for those that are not quickly annoyed by such things and I imagine those with oily skin may not enjoy it.

Repurchase: Done. The packaging is different now.

ORIFLAME Optimals Urban Guard 3D Night Cream

This was a nice basic moisturiser. It has glycerine 2nd on the ingredients list, shea butter 4th, niacinamide 6th and maybe less impressive some hyaluronic acid at the end plus spruce extract. It’s nothing ground-breaking, but a nice standard moisturising, nourishing, slightly brightening formula with no fragrance and a gel-cream medium thick texture that absorbed fast enough.

Repurchase: Maybe, but there are similar formulas I don’t have to order online.

SVR B3 Ampoule Hydra

A light toner-like serum with 5% of niacinamide and 3 kinds of hyaluronic acid, it’s designed for sensitive, dehydrated skin. It absorbs quickly and is nice for layering, but since I don’t have sensitive skin, it doesn’t really stand out that much among a ton of niacinamide serums, especially for the price.

Repurchase: No.

SKINFOOD Black Sugar Honey Mask Washoff

I don’t know if this exists anymore. Their Black Sugar mask is the only thing that can make my skin feel smooth, but I got this because I read it smells amazingly of honey. The scent was nice, but this is a completely different product than the original Sugar scrub-mask. There was much less scrub particles and the formula was honey-like, so it was like a nourishing wash off mask for dry skin. It left a coat of product when washed off and I think that sometimes broke me out.

Repurchase: No.

NIVEA Care Shower Apricot & Apricot Seed Oil

One of my favourite shower gel scents, as it smells just like apricots.

Repurchase: Done

DOVE Deeply Nourishing Shower Gel

A shower gel I buy very often. It’s my favourite formula because it’s thick, creamy and nice for dry skin. Plus I’m a fan of the classic Dove scent.

Repurchase: Yes

SUBRINA Shower Gel Rose Garden and Good Vibes

Rose Garden has one of the best rose scents I’ve tried – it smells just like yellow roses planted in front of the house. Good Vibes has a unique scent. It starts with a note of pineapple, but later transform into a  sweet, fresh, clean almost powdery scent that is so familiar to me, but I can’t put my finger on it. The scent are intense, so they linger on the skin and in the room.

Repurchase: Yes

SCHWARZKOPF FA Explore Fiji Dream Shower Gel

One of my favourite shower gel scents. It’s very similar to the Bath & Body Works Champagne Honey Apple, a warm fruity scent.

Repurchase: Done

AFRODITA COSMETICS Lavender Relaxing Moments Oil Shower Gel

A basic shower gel with a great lavender scent. I repurchase this one often.

Repurchase: Yes

FELCE AZZURA Sublime Argan Shower

A thin shower gel with a very intense, warm, spicy indescribable oriental scent. It’s won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s nice to use in colder weather.

Repurchase: Maybe.

BALEA Duschől

This is merely ok. Once you try L’Occitane such thin oils that emulsify only a little don’t seem so great. It felt a lot less nourishing than L’Occitane, but it was still ok for dry skin. It cleanses well, even more stubborn dirt (grease), so it’s great for washing hands. It has a bland scent.

Repurchase: I probably should.

NIVEA Care Nourishing Cream

One of my favourite body moisturisers. It has a good, thick formula, it’s nourishing and has the typical Nivea scent. I trust Nivea most for the best lasting hydration effect.

Repurchase: Done.

BOROTALCO Original Deo Stick

A good stick anti-perspirant that worked like it should. The scent is a bit dated, but a standard powdery-clean creamy one. Like all stick deodorants it leaves white marks, but such versions are the most reliable to me.

Repurchase: Yes, but I switched to Nivea Pearl & Beauty because I used to buy it and they recently released the stick deo again.