Cleansers Comparison: Balance Me, Clarins, L'Occitane, Liz Earle and Dove

Cleansers Comparison: Balance Me, Clarins, L'Occitane, Liz Earle and Dove

 

It's all about cleansers today. I have a selection of five that I've been using/testing in the past months, so this post was long in the making. You can find a review of another lovely cleanser that didn't include because the post would be too long here -> L'Oreal Skin Perfection 15 Second Miracle Cleansing Oil. 

Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel

Texture: Pure Melt has such a unique texture that starts off as a thick gel which when massaged into the skin turns into a thick oil and when water is added it emulsifies. You can see all three steps on the picture. The concept is a bit similar to the L'Oreal's Skin Perfection 15 Second Miracle Cleansing Oil, but Clarins Pure Melt is much, much thicker.

Performance: It does the best job at removing make up, especially when it comes to waterproof mascara (it is an oil based cleanser after all). There is a slight filter left when just rinsed off with water, so I prefer using a washcloth to completely remove it. As most oil-based cleansers it makes my vision very cloudy.

Scent: A nice pharmacy type of scent and very pleasant.

Price: My 50 ml tube was 12€ on eBay. The price of full size (125 ml) on Clarins' website is 33$ (24€).

Verdict: I like it because it removes makeup very well and has a unique texture, however, my skin didn't look as good as when I used other cleansers and my forehead became bumpy again. The cloudy vision bothers me a bit as well.

BALEA DUSCHE & CREME

BALEA DUSCHE & CREME

It seems that Balea has a knack for making delicious smelling shower gels. On my recent trip to DM, after weeks of searching, I finally came across Balea Dusche & Creme Cocos & Nectarine shower gel and let me tell you, it smells divine. Remember those Hubba Bubba peach favoured chewing gums (which I believe are unfortunately discontinued, but they were my favourite when I was a kid)? This smells exactly like it - like a very sweet peach bubble gum.  I adore it. I don't get any coconut, just the juicy bubble gum note. If you are a fan of such scents, have a sniff of it when you're in DM. The price is the usual 0.85€ and I believe it's permanent. 

I also have the deodorant Cocos & Nectarine, but unfortunately it doesn't smell anything like it. That one is a soapy version of creamy coconut and nectarine scent. 

Have a great day!

Lancôme Hypnôse Custom-Wear Volume Waterproof Mascara

Lancôme Hypnôse Custom-Wear Volume Waterproof Mascara

 

I finally found a worthy contender to my favourite mascara, which is Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Feline Black waterproof. I have very stubborn lashes that refuse to stay curled unless I use a good waterproof mascara. So far I have rarely been truly impressed by any, a notable exception being the HR one. That one ticks all the boxes, but it is so expensive. There was an offer for 20% off on all mascaras in my local drugstore and since it doesn't carry Helena Rubinstein, I opted for Lancôme Hypnôse Custom-Wear Volume waterproof mascara instead and I'm so glad I did. 

I had the regular Hypnôse years ago and I liked it, but found Dior's Iconic and Chanel's Inimitable a bit better, though I  only had regular versions of both. The design of the Hypnôse's waterproof version is the same as of the regular one's and it has the same classic brush. No fancy design, just a good old classic wand. 

The formula is on the dry side and also quite thick. It doesn't make the lashes clumpy except if I decide to really go for it (for comparison, HR keeps the lashes defined regardless of the amount of coats). It gives tons of length. Seriously, my lashes are touching my brows (I have small eyes and little lid space, but it counts). It gives a nice amount of volume, yet not quite as much as HR one, but it's more than enough for me. The lashes stay curled all day, just like with HR one and that's what is most important to me. Just for the formula, Lancôme gets my two thumbs up.

Bourjois Shine Edition 21 Rouge Making Of

Bourjois Shine Edition 21 Rouge Making Of

 

Finally. A shine lipstick I really like. Bourjois' Rouge Edition is my favourite lipstick formula and their newest Shine Edition does not disappoint either. What sets it apart from other versions of lipstick/gloss/balm hybrids is that it's actually very well pigmented, not as shiny and lasts a lot longer. Plus 21 is my favourite number and the shade is beautiful.

The texture is thick and creamy making it closest to Revlon's Lip Butters formula, yet I find it better since it's not sticky. It's very balmy and moisturising, therefore a good substitute for a lip balm. It's least glossy of the shine lipsticks I own and closest to a regular creamy finish. Staying power is great for such a product and though it won't survive a meal, it lasts several hours and doesn't wipe off that easy.

The packaging is very similar to the original Rouge Editions with the exception of a mirror imitation design. It is appropriately well made for the price and the coloured top is real handy when you have so many lip colours as me.

Catrice Pure Shine Colour Lip Balm 070 I Don't Red It

Catrice Pure Shine Colour Lip Balm 070 I Don't Red It

Catrice joined the the chubby sticks/jumbo pens/crayons craze by releasing their version called Pure Shine Colour Lip Balms. Don't they look remarkably similar to Clinique's? I've had these pinned on my Pinterest Wishlist board from the moment I heard about them and there are 8 colours available. I bought the 070 I Don't Red It (There are swatches of this shade and 050 Cherry-ty on Adjusting Beauty here). This is my second such product. My first was Bourjois' Crayon, which I reviewed here.

These are waxier than the Bourjois Crayons, but feel just as moisturising. Bourjois Crayon melted in heat wave we had and I had to store it in the fridge, but Catrice's was just fine. The pigmentation is weaker though and honestly, I expected a more saturated colour. But, as Catrice named it well, it is closer to a lip balm than a lipstick.

Bourjois Shine Edition 21 Rouge Making Of

Bourjois Shine Edition 21 Rouge Making Of

 

 

This is sooo lovely. An amazing orange based red that is actually properly pigmented for a shiny lipstick. You can tell you really like a lip colour, when you wear it every day two weeks in a row despite having a massive collection of other shades. Bourjois does not disappoint with their lipstick formulas, their Rouge Edition is my favourite one. Review soon.

 Cosmopolitan Beauty Expert Blend Perfection Sponge

I was never really into these sponges and while I'm certain it won't replace my Real Techniques brushes, I decided to try one out to see what the fuss is about. I didn't go for Essence one, because just about every one complained about them tearing, so I went for a Cosmopolitan version, because I am not paying over 20€ for the original Beauty Blender. I tested it once and it gives a fantastic skin-like finish, but it soaks up too much product, plus the staining will bother me. I doubt I'll ever get over the fact I need to use twice as much product and the finish is hardly any different than with RT brushes. I washed it once and when it was drying, it broke. Just greeeeaat. I was being gentle, I swear. Oh well, it's still useful and you can't see it when it's damp. I'll continue using it and if I happen to love it, it should pop up in some favourites post one day.

I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara

I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara

I talked about my renewed faith in Essence mascaras in my Product of the Week post a while ago, where I talked about get big lashes volume boost waterproof mascara. I was highly recommended to try I <3 Extreme Crazy Volume mascara by a couple of bloggers, who said it is really good (Passing Fancy and Summer). Of course, the next time I was in a drugstore, it landed in my shopping basket. Now normally I don't go for non-waterproof mascaras because I have the most stubborn lashes that don't just look completely unruly but are also very straight, some even grow downwards, and they refuse to stay curled. However, I heard it holds curl despite being a regular formula. 

Well, it doesn't. My lashes drop like a rock with it. But, I'm not going to make a bad review based on what is truthfully it's only fault. It's not mascaras fault my lashes are being annoying. 

It's quite a volumising mascara and the formula is among thicker ones. First application will leave you with definedlashes, but the second could get clumpy, but not necessary. It gives a nice amount of length. I love the brush. I really do. It looks a bit funny, but I like plastic brushes and this one has some bristles at the end that make it easy to apply mascara on smaller or corner lashes.