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10 PR products I’d buy with my own money

PR products best PR products

On this sunny Monday, I wanted to share a nice upbeat post. I went through my beauty stash and chose 10 PR products which I would  definitely buy myself. Basically, they are all really great products I enjoy using and will continue to use. I will also probably repurchase many of them.

PR product #1: La Roche-Posay Serozinc

PR products La Roche-Posay Serozinc

La Roche-Posay Serozinc has been helping me calm my skin after shaving or going at small pimples on my face. It also works great under make-up. I already almost used up one bottle and I already have a new one in stock. You can read my opinion and opinion of two of my readers about it *here*.

PR product #2: L’Occitane Terre De Lumiere eau de toilette

PR products L'Occitane Terre De Lumiere

L’Occitane Terre De Lumiere line is inspired by morning dawn. Personally, I find this to be a fresh and gentle fragrance very appropriate for upcoming spring and summer days. If you prefer stronger and more exotic fragrances, I suggest you check out the perfume from this Terre De Lumiere line.

PR product #3: Dr. Organic purifying shampoo with activated charcoal

PR products Dr. Organic shampoo with activated charcoal

I recently tested the Dr. Organic shampoo and balm with tea tree oil and really liked it a lot. Right now, I’m testing the entire line of Dr. Organic products with activated charcoal. I’m most impressed with the shampoo that really cleans my hair really well (you know that squeaky feeling that really clean hair get?) and prolongs the time between washes from two to three days.

PR product #4: Vichy Slow Age daily moisturizer

PR products Vichy Slow Age daily moisturizer

The Vichy Slow Age inspires me with the slow life philosophy which tells us to live happy and healthy. At the same time, they say it doesn’t mean we have to look the same at 25 and 45 years, like some other brands try to convince us. With my Slow Age daily moisturizer, I take some me time in the morning, apply it to a clean face and drink my lemon water while I wait for it to absorb. The cream is rich enough to feed and protect my skin during the day and still appropriate to wear under make-up. I won’t even start talking about the jar and the colors – beautiful, right?

PR product #5: Melvita L’Or Bio golden oil

PR products Melvita L'Or Bio golden oil

Melvita L’Or Bio golden oil has been a staple in my beauty routine for quite some time now. I use it on my face, hair, on my dry feet and elbows, to soften up the cuticles… there are almost infinite options of use. Besides the great texture and rich formula with five different oils, it never stops surprising me with the lovely fragrance. You can read more about it *here*.

PR product #6: L.O.V powder brush

PR products L.O.V make-up brush

This L.O.V powder brush convinced me at the moment we met. Not only does it look beautiful (which is less important but I still like looking at pretty products first thing in the morning), it’s also really soft and great at picking out any powder product. It’s large enough to use all over the face but I also occasionally use it for bronzer or blush.

PR product #7: Paese mattifying make-up base

PR products Paese mattifying primer

Paese mattifying base for about six months now and I’m slowly running out. With all the primers in my collection, this is another proff of how special this product really is. When applied, it creates a soft, velvety feeling to the skin and works great with almost all foundations. I apply the majority of the product on my forehead where I get the most oily. This primer does a great job of controling that.

PR product #8: Avon Mark Magix HD finishing powder

PR products Avon Mark Magiq HD powder

Avon Mark Magiq HD finishing powder is one of those products that have become a staple in my beauty collection. The formula is very light, clings well to the brush, mattifies the skin and doesn’t leave a white cast like some other finishing powders. It gets extra points for not having any smeel. I get quite artistic when applying my finishing powder and with the dust flying everywhere, this is an important topic for me.

PR product #9: Max Factor Lash Crown mascara

PR products Max Factor Lash Crown mascara

Today, I’m showing you this particular Max Factor Lash Crown mascara for the last time. It’s been six months since I started using it so it’s time to throw it away and go buy a new one. I think it’s the first mascara I ever completely used up before it dried up. This innovative brush makes sure that I don’t apply too much formula. The small brush on the other side makes it easy to coat the bottom lashes and the smaller lashes in the inner corner. You can read more about it *here*.

PR product #10: L.O.V Lipaffair Color&Care Brave Nudes lipstick (Angelina’s belief)

PR products L.O.V Brave Nudes Angelina's Belief

It’s only April but I already suspect that the L.O.V Color&Care Brave Nudes lipstick in the shade Angelina’s Belief will end up being my favorite bullet lipstick of 2018. It’s a strongly pigmented lipstick that feels very light on the lips. It has good staying power for a classical lipstick but doesn’t dry up the lips at all. This shade is pink with a slight coral undertone. I think it would look good with any skin tone.

These are the 10 PR products that impressed me so much I would happily buy them myself. Did you try any of them already? Until next time, stay beautiful!

Wishlist #1 January 2018 ~ skincare and make-up

beauty wishlist january 2018

Today, you’ll be reading the first of 12 wish lists I will post in 2018. I get a lot of PR e-mails and follow many brands, meaning I’m usually lusting after quite a few products. It doesn’t mean that I’ll necessarily buy everything on the list, but a girl can dream, right?

beauty wishlist january 2018

1 Bobbi Brown Extra Repair serum promises to refresh and calm the skin, giving it the extra hydration our skin needs in these cold days with the dry air. Apparently, it also helps with redness, dry spots and breakouts – issues that I know too well. It’s super expensive, but based on all of the reviews I’ve read so far it’s worth the money.

2 The Body Shop Metal Liquid Lipstick – Russet Copper. I’ve tested The Body Shop matte liquid lipsticks (review is waiting for you *here*) and now, I’ve got my eye on the metal liquid lipsticks. They are available in six shades and this one in Russet Copper is my absolute favorite of the bunch.

3 Catrice California in a box bronzer & blush palette. This brand has a big launch coming in January as a preview of their permanent collection for the SS 2018. I think that after years of matte, matte and matte, it will be fun to dive into metals, holographics and shimmers. I love the idea of being able to use all of the products matte or simply top them off with some shimmer for added BAM!

4 Natura Siberica Northern Soap for Deep Facial Cleansing. When I first saw this product, my jaw dropped. I’m currently using (and loving!) the Natura Siberica Moisturizing Foam Eye Make Up Remover – I promise the post is coming really soon. As I’m really trying to make a nice transition to natural brands, I’m always on the hunt for something new. Northern Soap is made with active charcoal and promises, among other things, to increase elasticity. It’s also a natural antiseptic and toner. So basically, you’re getting 3-1 for the same price.

5 Avon Mark Concealer. As a big fan of the Avon Mark line, I’m always on the hunt for new products from the line. It’s secretly one of my goals in life to own enough Avon Mark products to be able to do a full face of make-up only with those. So adding a concealer is a step in the right direction. View Post

BLOGMAS 2017 #3 Best skincare products 2017

Best skincare products 2017 Blogmas

This Blogmas is not exactly off to a flying start, so today you’ll be enjoying more… artistic photos. But hey, we’re here to discuss skincare, not just look at it, right? Anyway, I apologize in advance ~ if it bothers you terribly, you can always click out of the post. If not, stick around and check out my top products in facial skincare in the past year. I’ll also link any previous related posts so you can catch up on any products you find more interesting.

Best skincare products 2017 – face cleansers

Best skincare products 2017 Blogmas Pixi + Caroline Hirons Natura Siberica

I was always the one to try and save money on face cleansers and in early 2017 I said – no more. My biggest investment so far was the Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse and let me tell you, it was worth every cent. I’m totally buying this again! It’s a two sided cleanser with solid cleansing oil (which I use to remove the make-up) and a cleansing cream (used for second cleaning) in one. You only need a tiny amount of each as this jar lasted me almost four months. It doesn’t sting my eyes, removes all the make-up perfectly and is overall fantastic. A definite winner of 2017. Another winner is the Natura Siberica Moisturizing Foam Eye Make-up remover. This was my first time trying out Natura Siberica product and I was very pleasantly surprised. This cleanser will remove most of your make-up (but not a waterproof mascara), will not sting your eyes (99 % natural) and will leave your face nice and clean. I really like that it comes out as a foam which is easily distributed all over my face. I need to do a proper post on this product but again, an absolute favorite.

Best skincare products 2017 – toning and serums

Best skincare products 2017 Blogmas The Ordinary

Our face is now clean, so let’s balance out the PH levels with the Bocassy Clean&Tone Tonic. This is my third bottle and I absolutely love it ~ you can read more about it *here*. Next, we need to give our skin some extra help to make it look young and beautiful. I use all kinds of serums, acids and so forth, but I really want to mention just a few that really work really well for me. First is The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2 % + B5 ~read more about it * here*. I don’t think skincare comes any less expensive then this. I’m sure you’ll be able to find better hyaluronic acids out there, but for just over 5 €, this works great for me. From The Ordinary, I also really enjoy their Salicylic Acid 2 % Solution. I apply this over any breakouts happening on my face and I swear that the healing process is a bit shorter then usual. Last The Ordinary product I want to talk about is the 100 % Plant-derived squalene. It creates a nice barrier on my skin, giving me that extra hydration I really need throughout the night. Along with these, I also enjoy my L’Oreal Revitalift Laser Renew. It’s an eye serum which has a cold metal applicator used to massage the serum into the skin. I don’t know what works better – the serum or the applicator, but on the nights I remember to use it, my under-eye area definitely looks plumper and less sad the next morning.

Best skincare products 2017 – oils and moisturizers

Best skincare products 2017 Blogmas L'Oreal Revitalift

My fave oil remains Yanumi ~ read more about it *here*. It’s cold pressed, 100 % organic and Slovenian, which I’ll always support. For moisturizers, I’m going back and forth between two of them. For daytime, I really like the La Roche-Posay Hydreane Riche moisturizer for sensitive skin. It doesn’t leave a film on my face and absorbs really quickly. That cannot be said for the L’Oreal Revitalift Laser Renew which is a really heavy night-time cream. And that’s exactly why I like it. I really want my face to be hydrated to maximum before I hit the sack and that’s one way to do it. This Revitalift cream has an interesting gel texture that is really pleasant on the face as well.

Best skincare products 2017 – mask, SPF and skin prep

Best skincare products 2017 Blogmas L'Oreal Mask Yanumi

I’m really partial to sheet masks right now, but I talk about them all the time, so this time, I wanted to mention the only “normal” mask in a jar that I really enjoy using. This is my second jar of L’Oreal Pure Clay Exfo Mask. It’s intended to exfoliate the skin and improve skin texture. I only apply it on the parts of my face where I can afford some more serious skin exfoliation and avoid the really dry areas, like the one around my nose and between my eyebrows. I can really see a difference after using this mask.

Best skincare products 2017 Blogmas Serozinc Mommy UV Gel

Best SPF of the year goes to Mommy! UV mild Gel SPF 30 which is alcohol-free, silicone-free and sinks into my skin effortlessly regardless of the moisturizer I’m wearing underneath. I really like the weightless feeling and the fact I don’t need to wait 10 minutes for it to dry enough for me to apply my make-up. Another winner in my book. Last but not least, I have to mention the La Roche-Posay Serozinc that I’ve been loving for the past month or so. It really makes a beautiful base for my make-up and I cannot imagine my life without it. You can read more about it *here*.

Overall, these are all products I’d highly recommend and I am really happy that I found them in 2017. I’ll continue using them until I get new products I need to try out, but I’m happy to know that I can fall back on these anytime if I’m experiencing skin issues and want to get my facial skincare in check.

Now, as the last order of business ~ I owe you the winner of the 10 products in my DIY advent calendar. The lucky winner who will receive 10 great Essence products is:  PATRICIJA VIDMAR. Patricija, congratulations, please send me your information. The rest, thank you for participating. New Blogmas giveaway is coming very, very soon! Until then, stay beautiful!

La Roche-Posay Serozinc: tested and tried by three different women!

La Roche-Posay Serozinc

In the beginning of the month, I received three La Roche-Posay Serozinc bottles and asked two readers to join me in testing it – to step into the shoes of a beauty blogger, to be quite exact. You can find the first post *here*. Today, I’d like to tell you about our opinions regarding the product. But first, let’s repeat what Serozinc promises to do. It can help with soothing inflammations healing your skin, for instance after you tackle a particularly pesky zit or if you get small burns and cuts after shaving. But most importantly, it’s used to keep the oily skin on our face under control and promises to visibly reduce pores.

La Roche-Posay Serozinc

Beauty blogger for a day #1: Dušanka and her experience with La Roche-Posay Serozinc

First reader who went along for the La Roche-Posay Serozinc ride was Dušanka. She described her skin as problematic, very oily and with “pores the size of the ozone hole”. She also has problems with unclear skin, especially if she’s not precise enough when cleaning it. Here is Dušanka’s unedited opinion about Serozinc:

“So… at the beginning of use, my pores were quite large and I had quite a few pimples on my beard and neck. I used Serozinc in the morning and evening instead of a tonic. The feeling on the skin is really good, I didn’t feel any tightening on the skin. Skin gained on freshness.

I got quite a bad cold after a week of using it. My immune system crashed and consequently, the pimples came back. Nevertheless, the product convinced me and after I run out of this gifted one, I’ll buy a new one.”

La Roche-Posay Serozinc

Beauty blogger for a day #2: Andreja and her experience with La Roche-Posay Serozinc

Second reader who was keen to test the La Roche-Posay Serozinc was Andreja. In her application, she wrote she’s always looking for new product to help her skin. From teenage unclear skin, she later went on to develop severe acne which was sometimes so inflamed it was painful for her to even smile. Even though the condition is improving after 6 years, she still has occasional inflammations and would like to find a non-aggressive product to help her in that area. Here’s what Andreja wrote after the testing:

“I used the spray in the morning and night after cleaning the face and before use of moisturizer. The bottle has a fine mister that covers the entire face. For a couple of moments, my face was wet but the product soaks in quickly. Despite that, it doesn’t dry out and tighten the skin as I found to be the case with many other toners. My skin was pleasantly refreshed and calmed after use, and it also helped with prolonging the mattifying look.

It also helped with my acne outburst. They didn’t completely disappear, but in these two weeks of testing it helped with the redness and painful skin. Acne also got smaller faster then normal.

Considering this is a product that helps to calm down irritated skin, I tested it after plucking my eyebrows, when the skin was red and irritated. The feeling of the cold mist alone helped calm down the skin and the redness was gone quickly.

To sum up, this product really impressed me and I’d recommend it to anyone with dry skin who wants to cam it down. I don’t find the price exaggerated as you really use a small amount of product. I know myself well enough to say that this spray will quickly end up in my shopping basket.”

Beauty blogger all the time: my opinion on La Roche-Posay Serozinc

Luckily, I don’t share many of the problems that my lovely readers described above. My skin definitely acts out occasionally and I’ve been noticing my pores get bigger as years go by, so I was interested in what Serozinc can do for me.

I will say that the feeling when you spray it on your face in the morning is refreshing and calming at the same time. The mister is very fine so you don’t need to worry about getting any unpleasant surprises once you press the button on the dose. I takes less then a minute to dry completely, meaning you can continue with your morning routine. I only used Serozinc in the morning and I will absolutely say that it prepared my face beautifully for the foundation and also helped prolong its wear.

I always get very dry and irritated skin after shaving my legs so after doing so, I sprayed one leg with Serozinc and left one leg as I normally do. The leg that received the extra TLC was much happier – didn’t itch throughout the day and there was much less flaking of damaged skin on that leg in the next couple of days.

All in all, I think that La Roche-Posay Serozinc is a product that can benefit almost everyone for a variety of reasons. It can help mattify your skin if you have oily skin (or very oily areas). It can help you calm the skin down, like after shaving, plucking your eyebrows or going after smaller pimples on your face. And while it will not make your pores disappear, it will prep the face nicely for your foundation which will go on much smoother and look more natural. Definitely a product I’ll repurchase for myself and a product I definitely recommend!

Test with me: La Roche-Posay Serozinc

La-Roche Posay Serozinc

*This contest in connection to Serozinc is available for my Slovenian readers only. If you’re Slovenian, please head over to the Slovenian page *here*

For years, La-Roche Posay was on my “no buy” list simply because of one reason – I didn’t want to embarrass myself in the pharmacy by pronouncing it the wrong way. Well, nowadays we’ve got internet that can tell us how to pronounce something and if you still don’t trust it, you can always buy La-Roche Posay products off the internet. I tend to buy it in pharmacies because they have some knowledge of the product and can offer valuable advice if I feel like I need it.

La-Roche Posay Serozinc is a solution for oily and problematic skin. It helps with soothing inflammations and helps to heal your skin, especially if you get too excited when tackling some small pimple on your skin or if you get an inflammation after shaving. But first and foremost, it’s used to contain the oily skin on our faces and visibly reduce pores.

La-Roche Posay Serozinc

La-Roche Posay Serozinc comes in a form of spray that you apply after cleaning your face in the morning and wait for it to dry, before applying anything else on top of it. It’s a solution of zinc sulfate that’s supposed to help with sebum production and mattify the skin. It’s completely without any odor. Once Serozinc dries completely, you can continue with your daily routine.

La-Roche Posay Serozinc

I wouldn’t really recommend using La-Roche Posay Serozinc during the night because I think that our skin should be left free to regulate sebum production as it sees fit while we sleep. If we don’t let it to that, it might become even angrier and we wouldn’t want that, now would we? I’ll definitely report back on how Serozinc performed on my skin. Until next time, stay beautiful!