Beauty

I spent way too little time talking about my favourite products last year, which is unfortunate because I came across many great ones that deserve more attention on the blog. This time I’ll discuss those that always spark my joy, as Marie Kondo would say :) My first intention was to choose only five products, but then I realised I’d do many of them injustice. So here’s a bunch of skincare products and some makeup, but a lot less than in the previous years. Because there are many items to go through, you should bring yourself a cup of tea or coffee – or simply read those you’re most interested in. Anyway, my intention is to write about my favorites more often this year because I do test a lot of products and it would be a shame not to spread the word!

My most favorite product is without a doubt the Beauty Sleep Power Peel by Alpha H. Beauty Sleep is an overnight treatment with 15% glycolic acid and 0,5% retinol that can be used by itself or applied over a serum. Because I use different active ingredients almost every day, I usually apply it once a week. The price is quite high, around €60, but me and Dunja once found a 1+1 discount and got ourselves one each for the same price. It’s got a wonderful effect on the skin, which makes it much smoother and glowy in the morning while also improving collagen production. If you’re looking for an effective product, I wholeheartedly recommend the Beauty Sleep Power Peel. Although it’s quite expensive, very little goes a long way.

There’s one product that dominated the Slovenian beauty scene, and that’s the White Cleansing Butter by Natura Siberica. There are two different versions available, a black one with charcoal and a white one that I have and am really impressed with. Because I hate creating mess around the bathroom sink, my method is slightly different. I massage the product into my skin, but then wipe everything off with a cotton pad instead of rinsing with water. As the second cleansing step I use a gel cleanser, such as the one by Annemarie Borlind or Dr. Organic active charcoal gel, and then finish off with a toner to remove any remaining makeup. This cleansing butter is very gentle to the skin, which is very soft and much less dry after use compared to micellar waters.

As for the moisturizers, I loved using the Toleraine Ultra Fluide by La Roche Posay. Toleraine is not that fluidy as one would imagine, but looks more like a runny cream. It’s mostly suitable for oily and mixed skin and due to its neurosenine content, it can be used on skin prone to allergies, too. It worked great in the morning before applying the foundation. As you can see from the photo, the bottle is completely empty and I’ll surely buy it again. What can I say, the French definitely know what they’re doing!

Last year I kept myself from testing new foundations. When I struggle with skin problems, my first goal is to find products that suit me and I don’t change them for quite some time. The thing is, last January I stopped taking the pill after 10 years; I  started taking them in high school due to acne. Last April or May, my skin problems returned in even an harsher form, which really shook me to the core. Most of the problems luckily went away, but I stayed true to my favorite Vichy Dermablend. Their color selection isn’t the best (at least in Slovenia), but the shade 25 blends with my skin surprisingly well. The foundation stays put throughout the entire day, has a beautiful finish and a great coverage. And concealer is completely optional, which really speeds up my makeup routine. However, there is an even more long-lasting and mattifying version available, i.e. the Vichy Dermablend 3D, aimed at oily and acne-prone skin. I’ve had it once, it has an amazing coverage, but is slightly too drying for my taste. But if you really struggle with oily skin, ask for a sample at the drugstore, but beware that the shade numbers of the two foundations don’t match.

There are also three eye makeup items that have become an essential part of my daily look. I always come back to the L’Oréal Paradise Extatic mascara, which beautifully extends the eyelashes and gives them volume. But it becomes quite messy on the top of the packaging and needs to be wiped off from time to time. Because I’m one of those lucky gals who have hooded eyes, this means that my eyeliner normally smudges in a matter of hours. But everything changed when I received the Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner in the Lookfantastic Beauty Box. It doesn’t smudge and the felt tip creates a beautiful flick that I never managed to do with a brush :) And because brows are the frame of the face, I have to point out the Bobbi Brown brow pencil. I bought it “by mistake” when my colleague needed a new one, so off we went to the Bobbi Brown counter and both chose the same product! This pencil is wider than usual, which also means that the brows are finished much quicker. It’s actually quite stiff to the touch, but applies normally when it comes into contact with the warmth of the skin. I also love the spoolie brush on the other end; but this pencil is quite expensive as it retails at around € 40.

I won’t go into specific facial masks, but I have to mention the Eye Therapy under eye mask by Beauty Pro. This is by far the best eye mask I’ve ever tried. It contains collagen and green tea, which make the skin glowy as hell and the pores become almost invisible! I’m surprised by its effect every single time. Sometimes I leave it on the skin over an hour to achieve the best result.

Rêve de miel by Nuxe was saving my lips for the entire year – this is my second pot and a tiny bit goes a really long way. But I have to admit that I prefer the previous version, this formulation seems more waxy. The scent is different as well, but I still love it and it keeps me company on the bedside table every night.

The last item I have to tell you about is the Kérastase Elixir Ultime, the hero that hydrated my dry ends since the spring. It’s aimed at coloured hair and although I only have balayage, I chose this one for several reasons. The reviews stated that the original (golden) oil was changed and became less effective as it used to be, and the scent of the rose version was supposed to be nicer, too. I’m over the moon with this hair oil, my hair is incredibly shiny after use and it also gives them some weight (sort of an anti frizz effect). I didn’t use it sparingly, which is why the content of the bottle is slowly coming to the end. It costs around € 35 and if you have shorter hair, you’ll definitely have it for quite a while!

And there it is, these were the products that left a mark on my beauty year. Do you find some of your favorites in my selection? :)