product reviews and some questions

over the past weeks i have tried several new products. here's my verdict:

essence winter edition hand balms: all three of them have a very nice and lingering scent. they do nourish my skin, but the effect doesn't last. if you like to use hand balm more than once a day (like i do) that's not a negative aspect. if you can still get your hands on these hand balms (they are limited edition) i suggest you do so!

guhl deep conditioner mango & honey: i LOVE the scent and the deep conditioner does leave my hair very soft. i very much suspect it does contain silicones, though. i couldn't find info on this new and limited edition product from the company website. it comes in a small pack that contains enough product for about three treatments (i have shoulder length hair). i recommend this product, if you don't forget to get rid of the silicones in your hair at least once a week, using a deep cleansing shampoo (big by lush or the deep cleansing shampoo by balea for example).

balea sheet mask aloe vera: the mask is very moisturizing, but the handling is a little difficult- at least for me (i seem to have a non-standard small face). if you don't want to have to go to asian stores to get sheet masks, this should be your go-to product. yet again, though, no info on this product on the company website yet.

now for the questions:
#1 are there any drugstore products in particular that you would like me to try out?
#2 would you be interested in getting to see my shoe and/or purse collection?
#3 can anyone recommend to me a red (not bright red, rather pinkish or purple) drugstore lipstick?

another online shop that's worth checking out

OTTO

my current wish list from OTTO: 

i am SO gonna get these flats with a voucher that i still have


three scarfs (help me decide which one to get!)




and then there's still this (still ridiculously expensive)

awesome online shop

EMP

if i had enough money, i'd get all of these things, but as it is i might have to narrow it down to one or two :(

a sassy faery figurine


hello kitty headphones 


a wallet and bag by reilly 



a hello kitty shirt


two dresses and a top by pussy deluxe 




a very pretty emily the strange dress 


two pairs of TUK shoes 

guhl hair deep treatment

i went to the drugstore today. gonna try this one time deep treatment tomorrow:

winter and summer scents...

i am a very scent oriented person and in winter i use different skincare than in summer. in winter i prefer warm scents like vanilla, chocolate or honey. in summer i like fruity scents better. so here's what i use in winter and in summer respectively (not pictured are various bar soaps):

wintery stuff

summery stuff

cheaper alternatives (if you live in germany)

for the sake of my skin's and hair's health i am currently using rather pricey products mostly, but i'm on the look-out for cheaper (drugstore) alternatives. and there are a few good ones:

instead of using lush's big shampoo to deep cleanse your hair (especially if you're otherwise using products that contain silicones) use the balea deep-cleansing shampoo. it has the same effect and it's much cheaper. i wouldn't advise you to use a shampoo or conditioner that contains silicones, but i have to admit that sometimes, if i don't have the time for my proper hair routine, i will use a leave in conditioner that does contain silicones. so i need a deep cleansing shampoo once a week to get rid of the residue.

instead of using lush's face cleansing fresh farmacy soap, try balea soapfree wash lotion. it works just as well and (as it is a drugstore own-brand) it is loads cheaper than any lush product.

instead of using frizz ease daily nourishment leave in conditioner, try one of the herbal essence serums- they have them to prevent split ends, for shiny hair,... (either one contains silicones!)

any other cheaper options? please let me know!

most of my skin care routine i'm already changing back to ALL balea products. i keep trying out new things and then going back to my old favorite. i have combination/oily skin that tends to be sensitive in winter.

i have yet to find a cheaper option for my favorite shampoo/conditioner combos: the body shop banana and burt's bees pomegranate. i am quite satisfied with the yves rocher shampoo i have, but there's (as far as i know) no conditioner available to go with it :/

face mask

so this morning i tried the peel off mask by balea. i didn't even get to apply it on all of my face as my skin got very red and started itching- i had to wash it right off :/ so that's that. i have one half of the pack left. anyone interested?

face masks

as it is already to dark to take pictures of my summer/winter collection of soaps and body lotions i decided to show you how far i've got with my trying out face masks. i've only tried two different ones so far:

#1 schaebens schoko maske

product info
i really liked that it's actually edible and it did moisturize my face as well. apart from that it didn't change my skin in any dramatic ways (positive OR negative).

#2 garnier anti-pickel thermo-maske

product info

this one contains two little packs. it's supposed to get warm and clean your pores. i'm not sure it did that for me. but then again i don't have any BIG problems with clogged up pores.

and here is what i am gonna try:

#3 balea peel-off maske

#4 balea aqua tuch maske

#5 balea young glamour girl/chill-out masken

just a quick one...

i know i haven't really been very active here. it just seems like i get a lot more response when posting my cosmetics/fashion stuff at my LJ...

okay, so i thought i'd do a quick update on my hair and skin care routines. i've been experimenting quite a bit over the holidays ;)

in terms of hair i have been using the body shop banana shampoo and conditioner and the lush big shampoo (only once a week, though). whenever i use the big shampoo i only top it up with a leave in conditioner spray so as not to weigh my hair down. right now i'm using frizz ease daily nourishment. to style my hair i use tigi's love, peace and the planet volumizing and thickening serum.
when i don't have a lot of time (aka whenever i have to get up early) i use the hamaelis nourishing shampoo by yves rocher and top it up with my frizz ease for the ends and the yves rocher volume spray for the roots. i do not blow dry or curl/straighten my hair.
in the future i am planning to try out other shampoo/conditioner series as well. those being: burt's bees volumizing with pomegranate (i have already started on that during my vacation actually), herbal essences "glanz & glimmer", guhl "prachtvoll lang" and john frieda "root awakening".

as for my skin care routine i am currently kind of in between my winter and summer routines as the weather is pretty mild these days. i'm planning on going back to the following:
makeup removal: balea young pink cleansing wipes (the only ones to take off even waterproof makeup and NOT make my eyes hurt)
cleansing: neutrogena pink grapefruit face wash (i just LOVE the smell!)
toning: balea alcohol free face tonic (right now i'm using up an old one by dr. scheller, but that one's pretty oily)
moisturizing: after having used up my neutrogena oil free moisturizer i'm gonna go back to using the nivea tinted moisturizer in the morning and the balea young face mattifying moisturizer in the evening.
i am also currently trying out several different face masks- i'm gonna get back to you about those later on!

when it comes to soaps, shower jellies and body lotion i am currently going from the wintery scents (honey, vanilla, chocolate, herbs) to the summery ones (fruit, milk). i'll post pics of those later on, too.