Tag: skincare

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Beauty

Chistaya Liniya: Recent Hits and Misses

For those who don’t know, Chistaya Liniya (Чистая Линия, translates as Clean Line) is a very affordable skincare and hair care line from Russia. As with any brands of its caliber, some of the products are outstanding, others atrocious, and many are nothing to write home about. Today, let’s take a look at a couple of products from my empties box.

chistaya-linia-hair-conditioners

First up are two hair conditioners: Chistaya Liniya Phytotherapy Phytobalm-Elixir Impulse of Youth 25+ with Chicory and Chistaya Liniya Phytotherapy Smart Balm #1 Strength and Freshness for Greasy Hair and Scalp with Buckwheat.

Them brands really need to tone it down with their names.

The hair conditioner with chicory is a newer line. I really liked its scent. The effect on my hair wasn’t anything extraordinary, but it did its job just fine. The packaging is OK. My only gripe was its top – I love using every last bit of the product, and it’s hard to keep a bottle balanced whilst upside down with a top like that.

The hair conditioner with buckwheat (the one in the white bottle) is not as sleek-looking. It also doesn’t smell as nice as the revamped line, but it performed better. Moisturising without weighing the hair down. I used it up fast, but for its price, I’m OK with that. The only reason I don’t buy it all the time is its scent. It’s not offensive, but it just doesn’t agree with me.

chistaya-linia-footcream

Chistaya Liniya Phytotherapy Foot Cream with Lavender

One of those products that you don’t quite know what to say about, but that did its job quite well. I loved using it before bed. Whether I’d put on socks or not, it would leave my feet very soft the next morning. This cream had a rather thin consistency and absorbed quickly, which is also good. I would probably buy it again – once I run out of the army of foot creams I’d bought in the interim.

chistaya-linia-scrub

Chistaya Liniya Phytotherapy Soft Scrub with Raspberry and Lingonberry

I came into the shop and asked for a lip scrub. This is what the saleslady recommended I buy. I bought it because it was cheap and I could use a scrub. I knew from the start I wouldn’t be able to use it for the purpose I bought it for – even though it’s marketed as a ‘soft’ scrub, it’s not soft enough for the gentle skin on the lips. I tried using it on my face, but unfortunately it broke me out like a mother. So this ended up as a body scrub. It was soft enough to use on the decolletage. Will I buy it again? Probably not.

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Beauty

AVON Body Lotions and Oils

avon-care-rich-moisture-body-lotion

AVON Care Rich Moisture Body Lotion

The best part about this product is completely auxiliary – it left my room smelling amazing after I would apply it, and it would leave it that way for a long time. I swear it does not last on the body as long as it lasts in the room. I would apply it, I would sleep, I would go to work, and I would come back home to a deliciously scented boudoir, for fuck’s sake. For that point: Bravo, Avon.

Everything else: a rather thin lotion (I like them that way), applies easily, absorbs quickly – but unfortunately does not moisturise enough. I would need to apply it every 12-16 hours to feel fully comfortable.

avon-skin-so-soft-mineral-gems-glamorous-gold

AVON Skin So Soft Mineral Gems Glamorous Gold

A typical Skin So Soft scent. Kind of a whipped texture, with shimmering particles in it. Not a lot in terms of skincare properties – left a filmy residue on the skin, but wasn’t sticky and felt okay. I got this as a gift, and unfortunately the tube was rather old, and started separating and smelling rancid after about 3 uses. As you can see in the photo, it is almost full.

avon-skin-so-soft-firming-and-restoring-dual-oil-spray

AVON Skin So Soft Firming and Restoring Satin Sheer Dual Oil Spray

For a product that calls itself an oil, this has no nurturing properties at all. It goes on easily and absorbs relatively quickly, and my legs would look almost plastic after using it (which I absolutely do not mind), but it is all on the surface, and it did nothing to the quality of the skin in the long run.

… Plus the run itself wasn’t that long – the product lasted me maybe two weeks. Maybe.

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Beauty

An Overview of Oriflame Activelle Deodorants

oriflame-activelle-deodorant-line

The main line of Oriflame antiperspirants, called Activelle, comes in six versions – four roll-on deodorants and one cream deodorant. I tried them all, and although the line itself is pretty homogeneous, I’ve got my own preferences.

oriflame-activelle-pure-care-roll-on-and-cream

Oriflame Activelle Pure Care comes in two types – roll-on and cream. The roll-on I find too weak for me. I’m not a sweaty lady, but with the pink Activelle I haven’t felt protected enough. However, it is soothing and goes on well right after shaving.

If you are especially sensitive, then I do recommend the cream version. At first I had thought I wouldn’t like it and that the application would be too messy and the entire thing too much of a fuss, but I was wrong. The top of the tube spreads the product evenly, and it really is moisturising. By softening properties it is quite comparable to my favourite ever Dove deodorant (Green Tea & Cucumber). If I am honest, it might even beat it.

oriflame-activelle-48hr-and-green-tea

Activelle Extreme Protection 48 hours is the strongest of the six. It will not give you 48 hours of protection, but it certainly lasts longer than the others. I am not giving you any precise times here, because it depends on your system. For me it was a little over 24 hours.

Activelle Green Tea Fresh is the second strongest in the line.

These two also have the harshest scents, for me.

oriflame-activelle-cotton-dry-and-invisible

Activelle Cotton Dry comes second after the Activelle Pure Care when it comes to the softness of the feel. I am currently using it. However, I have to say that it had started smelling differently, to me at least. It used to have a powdery scent, but now it’s much harsher. Could be just me, though.

Oriflame Activelle Invisible is not, in fact, invisible. A standard roll-on deodorant that will offer you adequate protection.

Regarding the formula of all of these deodorants, they take a while to fully dry. It is a product that should be applied the night before – however, I never feel secure enough not reapplying it in the morning.

I honestly cannot tell you how long the bottle will last you. My current Cotton Dry is – I believe – a month and a half old, and is still going strong. You can also store these upside down, as the cap has a flat top. This is always a plus for me, as I love using up every last bit of the product.

I know I will repurchase at least some of these deodorants when they are on offer. My preferences are Pure Care cream and Cotton Dry, followed by Pure Care roll-on and Invisible. Activelle Extreme Protection and Green Tea Fresh, although strong, have scents that do not fully agree with me.

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Beauty

Local Brand: Cosmeplant Makeup Remover Lotion

New month, new series? Let’s see how far I can stretch this one. Unfortunately, Moldova is not known for the extensive production of beauty and lifestyle items. But I’m going to give it a fair shot. I’ve always believed in supporting local businesses. And quite often they deliver – overdeliver, even, if you take the price tag into consideration.

Below is one such gem.

viorica-cosmetics-cosmeplant-makeup-remover-lotion

The first thing I noticed about this product was its scent. I believe it is supposed to be chamomile, but to me it smells like custard. For that reason alone, I love using it.

The packaging of Viorica Cosmeplant Makeup Remover Lotion is a simple two-coloured plastic bottle with stickers on the front and back. The back sticker also serves as a bit of a decoration for the insides, which I find very cute. The consistency is that of a toner – it’s a liquid, not a lotion. Since it’s runny, there’s no problem getting every last drop out. The quality of stickers and their attachment varies from bottle to bottle. As you can probably see, the left one started peeling off at the bottom, while the right one remained completely intact. I haven’t had any problems with the lids breaking off and leaving the product exposed.

So how does it fare in makeup removal?

I’ve been through a couple of bottles of this stuff, and it delivered every time. It removes the most dastardly hard to remove products – not from the first swipe, but with minimal rubbing. It even works to remove Dior mascaras and Oriflame eyeliners – two things that I always have trouble with when it comes to parting for the day.

However, I must note that if you have sensitive eyes, then you should be careful when using this lotion around the eye area. Sometimes it would sting.

While this is not a revolutionary product by all means, it does exactly what it claims to do on the tin: hydrates, softens, and cleanses the skin. It never gave me any irritation (aside from that occasional eye sting – but seriously, that could be just me and using too much product around the eyes that had contacts in them for like 18 hours), dryness, redness, or breakouts. It is a pleasure to use and is dirt cheap. A bottle would set you back for ~$1.5, if that.

Will I be buying again? Hell yeah.

Categories
Beauty

#100empties: Some Skincare.

avon nutraeffects

AVON Nutraeffects Active Seed Complex Balance Daily Cream SPF 15

A decent face cream with SPF. No mattifying properties, reasonably hydrating. Didn’t cause break-outs. My two gripes with it are packaging (it’s glass, but the base is wider than the mouth of the jar, so it’s hard to use up every last drop – I’m a scrooge, yeah) and scent. The scent was very strong and would stay with me through half the day. This is the only reason I would not be repeating the purchase.

bioten cleansing gel oriflame optimals purifying toner

Elmiplant Bioten Honey and Arnica cleansing gel for normal to combination skin

My skin is oily, but this one was a match. It had a pleasant scent and I enjoyed using it. Lasted a long time, too. No break-outs, no redness. During winter it made my skin feel a bit tighter than necessary, but it remained plump and fresh.

I have to say that all the Elmiplant products I’ve tried so far (face cream, hand cream, this cleanser), I’ve really been pleased with. Need to get something else from their range.

Oriflame Optimals Purifying Toner for Oily Skin

A relatively gentle toner with a pleasant scent. Nothing to write home about, but I would probably buy it again, because it’s no frills and gets the job done.

make-up removers

Oriflame The One Waterproof Eye Make-up Remover

This is a two-phase product that I have unfortunately not been able to use properly, because my flatmate at that time would forget to shake the bottle, so eventually one phase ran out completely. (Hi, flatmate.) Despite this, I was satisfied with how this removed mascara and eye liners (including the Oriflame eye liners which are notoriously hard to remove), so I will more than likely get it again at one point and write a full review.

Сто рецептов красоты (Sto Retseptov Krasoti) Cucumber Eye Make-up Remover Lotion

This worked like a dream. Honestly. I know that Sto Retseptov Krasoti change their formulas all the time and don’t shy away from parabens etc. in the slightest, but this sucker here worked. There is better skincare out there, but for this price? Come to mama. I’ll repurchase this one as well to write a full review – unless it’s been discontinued already.