New in: Swap from Canada

I've talked a little about this in one of my previous posts, but I've done my first swap and it was with a reader from Canada. I'm not that familiar with what is sold in Canada, I just know it's similar, but less than in the US, so I agreed to a surprise package for each other with products that fit our preferences. The wait for my parcel was crazy because despite the insane shipping costs from both sides (about 40-50 € for each!), it took two months to arrive, but at least it's finally here. You can see what I sent to Canada here (in the middle of the post). 

MAYBELLINE Volumin' Express the Mega Plush Mascara

270 Blackest Black

I remember this being featured on blogs several years ago before Sensational launched, but it's one of Maybelline's mascaras that never reached Slovenia. Most notable feature of this mascara is a bendy wand, while the brush is big and bushy, but of classic design. I've been using it for the past few weeks and it's a very natural looking mascara. It doesn't give much volume, but it excels at definition and has a great multiplying effect, since it catches every lash, combs them very neatly and fans them out. The bendy wand just means that the application feels softer, but it also doesn't allow much product to be deposited on the lashes at once, so a lot of layers are needed for a good effect.

COVERGIRL The Super Sizer by Lashblast Mascara

825 Very Black Waterproof

This one has a very interesting brush that has the shortest bristles I've tried so far. I thought that's going to be a plus, however, unfortunately it's very hard to comb the lashes with this. It's almost an opposite of the Maybelline one, meaning it doesn't define the lashes well, neither fan them out, instead the more you apply it, the more it clumps the lashes together. But it is a lot more volumizing than Maybelline's and makes more of an impact, creating much bigger lashes. Formula is waterproof and it's quite good in that respect. It holds my lashes perfectly curled all day and it also doesn't smudge, run or crumble. 

COVERGIRL Smoothers All Day Hydrating Makeup

715 natural ivory

I was truly impressed with this foundation right after application. It's got light/medium coverage and such a natural looking finish on the skin that is similar to Bourjois Healthy Mix (both including the Serum), meaning it's almost undetectable on the skin. It'd call it one of the best foundations I've tried if there weren't for a big snag: it oxidises terribly. My shade is 715 natural ivory, which is about NW13 with a strong pink undertone and fits me ok when I apply it, however in time it turns darker and orange. I had an orange face when I checked in a mirror a few hours later (luckily I wore a scarf that day and I avoided the floating head effect). I've worn it since and it was the same every time Staying power without a powder on a normal/dry skin with some shine of the forehead was not impressive. When I checked in a mirror maybe four or five hours later, it was basically gone from my face, however, I don't wear powder, which would improve staying power. I love the look of it right after application, I seriously thought it'll be one of my favourites, but the oxidising just ruins it.

MAYBELLINE Vivid Matte Liquid

25 Fuchsia Ecstasy

These were Maybelline's first attempt at a matte liquid lipstick before they've done it right with Matte Ink version. It's a similar formula to Revlon's short-lived Moisture Stains, so a type of pigmented liquid lipstick and has a sort of a cooling/watery feeling on the lips. Finish is creamy and it doesn't set to a matte one, but you can blot it. Due to not being matte, it's much more comfortable on the lips than the Matte Inks, but it's not as long-lasting and transfers a lot. My shade is a bright warm fuchsia. I believe these were taken off the stands here when Matte Inks arrived, but I'm not sure.

PIXI by PETRA Lip Lift Max

Honey Sheen

This is one of those lip glosses with a minty taste, so it tingles when you apply it for that plumping effect, which so far never worked on me at any such product, but some swear they see a difference. Formula is a typical new-age gloss, but not one of those super comfy ones (like newest Max Factor Honey Lacquer for example), just one of those non-sticky one with a nice level of shine. Staying power isn't anything special for a gloss and it's mostly gone within the first couple of hours. The shade is a warm slightly peachy nude with shimmer.

SALLY HANSEN Magnetic Nail Color

906 Ionic Indigo

I've skipped the whole magnetic nail polish craze a few years ago, so I've never tried one before this one and it was quite a fun experience. The magnet is included in the cap, which is actually in two parts, so you're applying the polish with a brush that has a smaller cap. The magnet top part has a build in guide that you rest on you cuticles and avoid touching the nail. You're supposed to apply one layer and let it dry, then apply a second thicker one and quickly use the magnet before it dries. It applies greyish blue-teal, but once you use the magnet, the base colour is revealed as a dark blue violet. The magnet created a wavy design with the original colour and it works really well. Entertaining, I must say, but this is one of those very rare nail polishes that even I notice doesn't have quite the same staying power as others.

NEUTROGENA Oil-Free Eye Make-up Remover

This a classic duo-phase remover, though it's hard to see there are two liquids in the bottle, but it's one of those you need to shake before use and it's suitable for waterproof mascara. My sender swears by it and she's used up several bottles so far. I've been trialling it for a few weeks now and it struggles a lot at removing waterproof mascara. I feel it's not oily enough and it's not dissolving the formula, instead it comes of a lot in chunks and a lot of scrubbing is involved. However, Covergirl is a very hard-core waterproof mascara, so that might be it. I'm not a fan of the packaging because it just has a hole at the top with no type of rubber stopper, which isn't the most practical as you can easily pour out too much. It didn't notice it making my vision foggy which is a plus (like I said it's not that greasy) and it's not scented.

LIFE BRAND face masks

Moisturising Face mask with coconut, papaya & vitamin E, Nourishing face mask with strawberry & yogurt and Hydrating face mask sweet almond oil & vitamin A

These are from a house brand of Shoppersmart, a Canadian drugstore chain. The packs are quite large with a generous amount of 15 ml. I haven't tried them yet, but based on ingredients they are simple face masks, probably comparable to Balea here. The hydrating face mask with sweet almond oil has kaolin (clay) in the first few ingredients, so I can't see it being moisturizing as much as cleansing or detoxing and suitable for oily/combination skin. Similar goes to the Moisturising Face mask with papaya, though it has a some nourishing ingredients too before and after clay, while Nourishing Face mask with strawberry looks like a classic moisturising mask and it even has a tiny amount of vitamin A and hyaluronic acid. 

VASELINE Lip Therapy

Rosy Lips

These vaseline pots are not sold here, but I remember when I was in Boots many years ago they looked the same and were available in a few versions. Formula is much softer than similar lip balms in tins I've tried. It's closer to regular vaseline than a waxy lip balm formula that's more common. It feels moisturising and lasts long on the lips, plus it gives a rosy tint. It's got a candy type of rose scent that I notice only at application and for the next few minutes, but then it's gone.

NEUTROGENA Body Oil

This is quite a big bottle for a body oil with a generous 250 ml of product. So far I've mostly had only 100 ml ones that already lasted forever, so I'll probably have this one for years. It's a thin oil that absorbs quite fast, so I can say it's a good dry oil that nourishes the skin well, but I haven't noticed my skin being softer, just not dry. It's heavily scented with a classic floral soap scent from the 80's or 90's. I haven't smelled such soap in a long time, so I can't tell you which it was, I just remember it from my grandmothers' house. The scent also lasts on the skin for quite a while. 

BATH AND BODY WORKS Whipped Body Butter

Spiced Pumpkin Cider

I love the scent of Pumpkin Cupcake Pocketbac that I bought about a year ago because it's the most authentic cinnamon cookie scent I've tried, so I assumed all BBW such scents are equally amazing. However, this has a scent that I've smelled so many times in European products. It's the same type of scent that would be marketed here as maybe spicy vanilla or something like it. There is some fruitiness in it, but mostly it's an artificial warm type of scent that mixes sugar, vanilla and something nutty (maybe walnuts). Overall it comes off as fake and overly sweet, so nothing like BBW Pocketbac. Too bad. The formula is lovely and just the way I like it, so thick and very nourishing. It needs a lot of time to sink in and it's fantastic for dry skin.

BATH AND BODY WORKS Bubble Bath

Champagne Apple & Honey

The packaging of this like so cute, like those honey bottles for kids. I think this bubble bath comes in a different packaging too that's also bigger, but I not sure if that one has shimmer in it too. The scent of this is pretty much just apple, or better said like the kids apple champagne with a little bit of honey, so overall pretty nice. It's a bubble bath, but I've only used it as a shower gel so far and it actually didn't lather that much, but maybe it's better as a bath.

ASQUITH SOMMERSET Bath Fizzers

Bergamot & Ginger

A pack of bath bombs which I assume turn the water pink and blue. Both smell fresh and more like bergamot, instead of ginger.

BATH AND BODY WORKS Pocketbac

I have three other pocketbacs and I like all, especially because like the name says they fit in any pocket. I have Sweet Pea, Pumpkin Cupcake and Pumpkin Cranberry Cider from before, the last two are limited edition. Three of these new ones have a fall type of scent and one is citrus fresh.

Spiced Apple Wood

This one is my favourite and the name pretty much say it all. Wood notes are most prominent with some fall spices and there is a note of crisp apple that makes it more fresh. It's a very unisex fragrance and close to men's cologne. I just ordered Twilight Wood spray from BBW on Salma because I love that woody note in this.

Marshmallow Fireside

Again the name pretty much says it all. It's the sugary scent of marshmallows mixed with an outdoor fire smoke note. Not sure I like the smoke note, but marshmallows are nice.

Running (Late) is my Cardio

Great name. This one smells like orange candy and I keep it in my coat pocket because it's the most universally likeable scent (Spiced Apple Wood is by my computer).

Sorry I'm Latte

I don't think this smells like latte, at least I don't get any coffee from this which is good thing, since I don't like it. BBW mentions notes of almond, honey and tonka bean, which all together smells warm and kind of gently sharp. It's definitely a smell I've smelled before in some fragrance, I just don't remember which it was.

PANTENE Pro-V Ultimate 10 BB Creme

I read reviews for this and they are overwhelmingly positive. I have my Dove Quench which is an awesome product, so it's hard to meet my expectations when it comes to such products and this is another in a line that I wish would do more. It's one of those all in one product that claims to do everything apart from fold your laundry, but simply it's a leave-in conditioner with heat protection. At such products I expect nourished and frizz free hair that's easily manageable and all I noticed at this is that the hair a bit more tamed and I get a bit of extra hydration, but it's more or less just a light heat protection for me. But considering how many great reviews I read, I'm sure for someone who doesn't have such dry hair like me (it's so bad right now, I really need something spectacular to fix it), it might be great for you. Scent is just a classic cosmetic one, like regular Pantene conditioners. 

BATH AND BODY WORKS Fine Fragrance Mist

Winterberry Wonder

I have one other BBW mist, Mango Mandarin, which was a big miss buy for me, but this is already a lot nicer. It's a typical Escada type of scent, so sugary, fruity and fresh, like a nice cocktail. It's a great mix of berries and apples, which makes it one of those sweet and tart mixes, not really a typical winter scent, but I can see myself wearing this a lot in the summer, as it's nicer than Victoria Secret scents. Staying power isn't the best as with all such scent, but the bottle is massive at 236 ml, so it should last a while. Mine is dress in a metal sleeve that is sold separably and it makes the bottle so much prettier.

JLO Glow

Edt

This has been a best seller for years, but I only recently got a chance to try it (it actually states "new" on the shelf in my local drugstore) and it was a great every day clean fragrance. It just smells like soap, washing powder and freshly cleaned clothes, so it's the type of fragrance I needed in my collection. I've been wearing it a lot since I got it because it's such a no brainier and I can definitely see why it's so popular. It's super cheap online which is an extra plus.

Highly Fragrance Tart Wax

Apple Cinnamon and Nutmeg Cinnamon

These are those waxes that you melt in a ceramic warmers, like Yankee Candle tarts. They are quite cleverly shaped into a chocolate bar, so you can break individual pieces. Both have a very similar scent that will be familiar to anyone who's tried anything that claims to have a cinnamon scent, so not an authentic reproduction, but something more artificially spicy and sweet. They just smell like most Christmas stuff. The scent fills the room nicely, so they are strong enough. It says "Imported for Walmart Canada" so they are probably only sold there.

Have a great day!

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Budget Buys #5

Dugo nije bilo Budget Buys posta tako da je krajnje vrijeme za peti po redu BB :)

Imam ovdje probrano društvance drogerijskih proizvoda koje stalno koristim i koji su definitivno moji favoriti iz drogerije i krasi ih odlična pristupačna cijena.

ESSENCE Lash Princess Volume Mascara - kada je izašla ova maskara doživjela je bum na blogovima i postala jedna od najomiljenijih Essence maskara. Tako dobra maskara za 29 kuna? Morala sam i ja probati...i pridružila se ekipi koja se oduševila! Stvarno dobra maskara, lijepo trepavicama da volumena i drži moje trepavice uvijene. Imam prirodno uvijene trepke pa na dnevnoj bazi ni ne koritstim uvijač za trepavice ali neke maskare su toliko teške da mi se trepke spuste i izravnaju a sa ovom to nije slučaj. I ono što je meni osobno najvažnije...ne trusi se! Kako mrzim to ne mogu vam opisati...

CATRICE Prime and Fine Eyeshadow Base (new) - svi znamo za onu prvu verziju baze za sjenilo koja je dolazila u teglici koja je bila jednostavno katastrofalna. To su shvatili i ljudi u Catrice HQ i odlučili ju promjeniti i dobili smo ovu novu verziju koja je odlična. Transparentna je i treba vam malo proizvoda i drži sjenilo dok god ga ne skinem bez ikakvih problema. Thumbs up! Cijena  mu je 34 kune.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream (link)  - postoji recenzija na blogu za ovaj proizvod. Generalno Cijela Soft Matte Lip Cream linija mi je u top 5 najboljih linija ruževa ikad. Cijena im je 56 kuna.

AURA Absolute Matte Velvet lip cream in Matte Mess - konkretno ova tamna vamp nijansa je cijelu zimu bila na mojim usnama.  Znači stalno sam ga nosila. Savršen je. Ukoliko se nađete u Srbiji, BiH ili Crnoj Gori obavezno škicnite ovu liniju. Cijena: cca 33 kune

ESSENCE Big Bright Eyes brow highlight in Nude - primjerak koji vidite na fotki je već treći po redu kod mene. Savršen proizvod za mat highlight ispod obrva. Volim da su mi obrve definirane i sa ovim savršeno definiram donji dio obrve i posvijetlim. Dolazi i u shimmer verziji. Cijena: 17 kuna

CATRICE Defining Blush in Mandy-rine - odlična svijela mat peachy nijansa koja je idealna za proljeće/ljeto. Na mojim obrazima ga možete vidjeti OVDJE. Cijena: 29 kuna

NEUTROGENA balzam za usne (norveška formula sa nordijskom kupinom) - ovaj balzam je bio dio Neutrogena seta kojeg sam mami kupila za Božić i kako ona balzame za usne ne koristi završio je kod mene i postao jedan od najdražih drogerijskih balzama za usne. Moje usne odlično hidrira. Stoji mi na stolu za šminkanje i nanosim ga svaki put kada se krećem šminkati da ih pripemim za mat ruž. Točnu cijenu mu ne znam no vjerojatno mu je cijena kao i drugim Neutrogena balzamima za usne oko 20-25 kuna.

BALEA Cell Energy uljni serum za lice - ovaj proizvod čim sam ugledala ruka je sama od sebe napravila potez "s police u košaricu". Obožavam ulja i ovo sam morala isprobati. Meni osobno se jako sviđa no koristim ga samo navečer jer mu duže treba da se upije i teži je, ipak mi za dan treba nešto što se brzo upija i lagano je. Serum je proziran i gel teksture i kada ga trljate pod prstima on postaje ulje. Potrebno je malo proizvoda za cijelo lice. Ja imam normalnu kožu koja naginje suhoj i meni je odličan. Koža bude tako mekana i nahranjena. Nije mi izazvao nikakav nered na licu. Par puta sam ga miješala sa puderom dok su još bili hladniji dani i kada mi je koža patila od vjetra i funkcioniralo je super. Ne koristim ga svaki dan nego po potrebi, kada osjetim da mojoj koži treba malo više hidratacije. Cijena mu je 50 kuna

Imate li vi kakav budget buy prijedlog? Recite mi u komentarima :)

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Sto je u mojoj torbi za vjezbanje

Pored puno upita o cijelom tom mom redovnom vježbanju i što radim, dobila sam nekoliko upita što sve nosim sa sobom u teretanu, što to žena treba sve ponijeti sa sobom u teretanu.

Odmah da kažem nije ništa spektakularno, no stvari koje su se s vremenom skupile su stvarno stvari koje mi stalno trebaju. Svi smo različiti i potrebe su nam različite, ovo je moja verzija nekih "beauty" stvarčica koje volim imati sa sobom i koje mi pomažu.

Neću govoriti o tome kako trebate ponijeti patike za vježbanje, odjeću, ručnik i vodu, to su osnovne stvari koje morate ponijeti, mislim da to ne treba ni govoriti.

Baby vlažne maramice - njih koristim kako bih se osvježila malo, a ako mi dopuštate da budem potpuno iskrena, koristim ih kako bih si obrisala gornji dio tijela jer budem cijela mokra i ne mogu podnijeti da na potpuno mokro (čitaj: znojavo) tijelo oblačim majicu.

Dezodorans - nakon "osvježavanja" hahaha.

Vlažne maramice za lice - mom licu se baby maramice nisu svidjele, njih koristim da osvježim lice, da taj znoj obišem sa sebe, otkad sam se vratila redovnom vježbanju počeli su mi iskakati ogromni crveni prištići zbog znoja, tako da otkad koristim maramice više ne izbijaju. Maramice služe tu samo dok ne dođem kući i onda kod kuće naravno očistim lice kako treba. Obično sam u žurbi i treba mi nešto super brzo što mogu čak i u hodu raditi ako je potrebno.

Krema za lice - ona je tu zbog ovog hladnog vremena, ja u teretanu idem rano ujutro, oko 7 i vani je sad baš hladno tako da moram nanijetu neku kremu inače me lice peče koliko bude suho.

Šampon za suho pranje kose - ovo koristim samo ako iz teretane ne idem ravno kući nego negdje baš moram otići prije nego stignem kući, kosa mi se brže zamasti sada i to me toliko živcira jer nisam navikla na to i mrzim hodati bilo gdje sa vidljivo masnom kosom tako da moram to malo zakamuflirati, no istrpit ću i to za gubitak kilograma hehe.

Ibuprofen - će vam malo olakšati upale mišića koje ćete imati na početku dok se ne ufurate u vježbanje. Pogotovo ako kao ja obavljate to ujutro i imate cijeli dan pred sobom. Ja ih osobno ne koristim više ali nakon prva dva treninga sam morala jer sam nakon toga morala odraditi 8 sati na poslu na nogama a nisam se mogla pomaknuti. No nemojte ih piti stalno, samo ako je baš nužno, ako ste odlučili redovno vježbati tijelo će se brzo naviknut na to. Zato i jesu ti početci tako prokleto teški hehe.

Papirnate maramice - ne moram posebno objašnjavati, svi imamo to uz sebe gdje god se nalazili.

Gumica za kosu - jednom mi se dogodilo da sam došla u teretanu raspuštene kose i nisam u torbi imala gumicu, toliko mi je smetala kosa da sam na pola odustala i otišla, toliko nisam mogla podnijeti kosu svuda oko sebe dok vježbam, čini se kao banalna stvar ali definitivno ju želite nekako maknuti.

Vrećica - korisna stvar ukoliko vam je majica toliko mokra ili imate sa sobom kišobran, sada konstantno padaju neke kiše i dobro dođe vrećica da ne ukakate sve u torbi i samu torbu mokrim kišobranom. Još jedna naizgled banalna stvar ali bude od koristi puno više nego što mislimo.

I za kraj naravno, ženske stvari (tampon, uložak) jer nikad ne znate kad će vas posjetiti frendica hehe.

Ovo ni u kojem slučaju nije pravilo, ponavljam svi smo mi drugačiji i imamo različite potrebe, ja sam samo podijelila sa vama svoju verziju.

Sve to služi samo za to vrijeme dok ne dođete kući, najbolja opcija je da možete direktno iz teretane doma pod tuš no nekada će se dogoditi da negdje morate skrenuti bilo da je u pitanju trgovina ili neko treće mjesto.

Koji su vaši "beauty" komadi koje morate imati sa sobom kada vježbate? Pišite mi :) 

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