ciao, bellas
Back to my ritual of sharing what I am obsessing over for the month! But this time it will be a little different: this time around it will be a modge podge of all my favorite European products I have tried thus far. Since this is Europe, perhaps I should write it as "favourite?" No, that's taking it too far. So let's get started:
1. Kiko Mixing Solution. $1.90. Kiko. Kiko is very similar to the Ulta of Europe. Here, you can find excellent makeup at really reasonable prices. This mixing solution, almost an exact dupe of the mixing medium by Mac, works perfectly with every eye shadow I have used it with. It turns regular eyeshadows and pigments into a nice, gel-like consistency so you can use it where ever you please: lips, brows, or as a liner. And, it is way cheaper than the Mac version. 10/10.
2. Kiko 24h Cream. $5. Kiko. Another Kiko favourite (lol), is this 24h hydrating creme. The elevation cheange has caused my skin to become very dry, so this product has allowed my skin to retain moisture and stay supple. It is fragrance free, and did not clog my pore. Also, you get a pretty large amount for a small price. 9/10.
3. Pupa Desert Bronzing Powder in "Terra Cotta". $18. Coin. Okay, so yes, $18 is rather steep, but this compact is absolutely huge. And when I say huge, it is about the size of my open palms put together: so you definitely get your money's worth. It is a beautiful brown color, not orange, and not overly shimmery. Perfect for contouring or just sweeping onto your cheekbones so you look lively. I give it an 8/10, and the only reason I deducted points was because although you get your money's worth, the large size makes it relatively hard to travel with.
4. Vichy Dermablend Creme Foundation. $25. Farmacie. Okay, so this stuff is MAGNIFICENT. I noticed that my usual foundation, Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation was oxidizing here, so I decided to try a local product. This was a good move on my part because this stuff lasts a good 12 hours. The coverage is natural and even, and it is cream consistency, so it goes on like a liquid, but looks like a powder. The day I started using it, people had asked me if I did something different. The only negative is it only comes in eight colors, so the palette is rather limited, and it caters to more fair tones (I am not even that dark-skinned and I use the third-to-last darkest color!). 9/10.
5. Lush Fresh Mask in "Don't Look at Me". $9. Lush. This product, from Lush, is probably the easiest one on my list to buy in the states. There was a whole bar of fresh masks but I chose "Don't Look at Me" because it was stated to be perfect for my combination skin. This mask really does do wonders for combination skin, as it is a mix of lemon, aloe, and rice. The rice exfoliated, and the oils of lemon and grapefruit draw out all the impurities leaving your skin soft and buttery. Not sure why it is blue, but it's okay, I still love it. 10/10.
6. Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. $24. Sephora. Last but not least, an old favorite of mine. I used this stuff in middle school and high school when I had developed acne and was prone to rashes due to sensitivity. Well, sadly, recently, my acne has returned in certain spots, and I am growing rather sensitive to some face washes, so I figured I would go back to using this product. I truly do love this cleanser, and I almost am regretting ever doing away with it in the first place. The orange zest gives your face a boost in the morning, and the exfoliating beads give your skin just the right amount of a daily microdermabraision. Also, I personally find this cleanser helpful in dealing with mild to moderate cases of acne. It can be rather expensive, but if you have multiple skin problems at once or are very sensitive to cleansers, it is definitely worth the money. 10/10.
Well, there you have it: my favorite European products that I have tried so far. I can guarantee that there will be more in the future, so I will be keeping you updated, but keep an eye out because I will soon be doing a segment strictly dedicated to fresh masks from Lush (since there are 6 girls in my house and we all bought a different one).
2. Kiko 24h Cream. $5. Kiko. Another Kiko favourite (lol), is this 24h hydrating creme. The elevation cheange has caused my skin to become very dry, so this product has allowed my skin to retain moisture and stay supple. It is fragrance free, and did not clog my pore. Also, you get a pretty large amount for a small price. 9/10.
3. Pupa Desert Bronzing Powder in "Terra Cotta". $18. Coin. Okay, so yes, $18 is rather steep, but this compact is absolutely huge. And when I say huge, it is about the size of my open palms put together: so you definitely get your money's worth. It is a beautiful brown color, not orange, and not overly shimmery. Perfect for contouring or just sweeping onto your cheekbones so you look lively. I give it an 8/10, and the only reason I deducted points was because although you get your money's worth, the large size makes it relatively hard to travel with.
4. Vichy Dermablend Creme Foundation. $25. Farmacie. Okay, so this stuff is MAGNIFICENT. I noticed that my usual foundation, Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation was oxidizing here, so I decided to try a local product. This was a good move on my part because this stuff lasts a good 12 hours. The coverage is natural and even, and it is cream consistency, so it goes on like a liquid, but looks like a powder. The day I started using it, people had asked me if I did something different. The only negative is it only comes in eight colors, so the palette is rather limited, and it caters to more fair tones (I am not even that dark-skinned and I use the third-to-last darkest color!). 9/10.
5. Lush Fresh Mask in "Don't Look at Me". $9. Lush. This product, from Lush, is probably the easiest one on my list to buy in the states. There was a whole bar of fresh masks but I chose "Don't Look at Me" because it was stated to be perfect for my combination skin. This mask really does do wonders for combination skin, as it is a mix of lemon, aloe, and rice. The rice exfoliated, and the oils of lemon and grapefruit draw out all the impurities leaving your skin soft and buttery. Not sure why it is blue, but it's okay, I still love it. 10/10.
6. Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. $24. Sephora. Last but not least, an old favorite of mine. I used this stuff in middle school and high school when I had developed acne and was prone to rashes due to sensitivity. Well, sadly, recently, my acne has returned in certain spots, and I am growing rather sensitive to some face washes, so I figured I would go back to using this product. I truly do love this cleanser, and I almost am regretting ever doing away with it in the first place. The orange zest gives your face a boost in the morning, and the exfoliating beads give your skin just the right amount of a daily microdermabraision. Also, I personally find this cleanser helpful in dealing with mild to moderate cases of acne. It can be rather expensive, but if you have multiple skin problems at once or are very sensitive to cleansers, it is definitely worth the money. 10/10.
Well, there you have it: my favorite European products that I have tried so far. I can guarantee that there will be more in the future, so I will be keeping you updated, but keep an eye out because I will soon be doing a segment strictly dedicated to fresh masks from Lush (since there are 6 girls in my house and we all bought a different one).
Thank you for reading! And if you have any questions regarding where to purchase these products in the states, just comment below and I will do my research.
xoxo
-A
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