BLACK FRIDAY 2021: STOCKING UP

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It’s that time of the year again. Yes, Black Friday is just behind the corner meaning bargains on every corner. I am not the person who buys something just because it’s on sale, I usually plan ahead by writing down a list of things I am planning to buy regardless and keeping an eye on Black Friday makeup deals. If there is a sale, fantastic, I am saving money. If not, it’s fine because I was ready to pay the full price regardless. Today I would like to share with you this year’s Black Friday Shopping list.

1. Olaplex

Exactly one year ago I started my Olaplex journey. Around the last year's Black Friday I have decided to finally give Olaplex a go and I have been in love ever since. My favourite product from Olaplex UK is definitely the N.5 conditioner. It is very nourishing but not too heavy and it lasts for ages (two 250ml bottles per year for my hair). Since I just run out of my second bottle of the conditioner, I am placing it on my Black Friday stock-up list.

2. Mizon: Strawberry Sheet Mask

I have talked about the Strawberry face mask from Mizon many times before and that’s because I adore it. No other mask works so well with my skin and costs so little. The strawberry mask leaves my skin hydrated, glowy and very smooth. I stock up on this mask regularly and black friday is no different. Trust me on this one. 

3. Kerastase - Defense Thermique 

I have been focusing on proper haircare in the past year and on my journey to healthy and shiny hair I discovered a fantastic heat protection spray from Kerastase. There are many products that can protect your hair from heat but for me personally most of them are too heavy. This one from Kerastase is, however, very light. I am slowly but surely running out of my second bottle and I am definitely going to buy another one. I noticed that after using this spray, my hair look much healthier and less dry after using a hair straightener or a curling wand. It nourishes my hair without leaving them heavy or greasy. This is one of my favourite products I have discovered in 2021.

VALENTINO: VOCE VIVA - REVIEW

 * Gifted by notino.co.uk

There is one thing I definitely do not need more of - perfumes. And that's exactly why I picked another fragrance to review lol. I had my eye on Valentino's Voce Viva for a while now. None of the other Valentino's perfumes really took me by my heart so I did not even raise my brow when Voce Viva was released. However, Lady Gaga did a good job promoting this perfume so I looked up the ingredients list and thought Voce Viva could actually be my cup of tea. 

GABRIELLA SALVETE: I MASK, YOU MASK, WE MASK

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There is a good chance you have never heard of the beauty brand called Gabriella Salvete. It comes from the Czech Republic and although I have been growing up searching through their makeup stands, I never had much experience with their products. Recently, I got one of their eyeshadow palettes from my friend and OMG! The brand is super affordable and the quality is comparable with some high-end brands. I believe, this brand is seriously underrated. 
Recently I noticed, Gabriella Salvete extended their product line to body and skincare products. Since I had such a good experience with their makeup, I decided to give these newbies a go. 

Dragon fruit sheet mask

One would not expect much from such a cheap face mask but this little gem proved to work better than most of its high-end colleagues. The dragon fruit mask is very refreshing (and cooling) and left my skin soft and glowy. I think it is great for dull and dehydrated skin. The sheet has loads of serum so there is quite a bit left over after the 15 minutes application. The remaining serum is absorbed very quickly if massaged into the skin afterwards. It reminds me a lot of my ultimate favourite Strawberry sheet mask from Mizon. 

Coconut Sheet Mask 

This mask is very similar to the Dragon Fruit mask mentioned above. The only difference is the light coconut scent and that the coconut mask is more nourishing rather than hydrating. Other than that, it is pretty much the same. The mask has a cooling effect and the serum gets absorbed quickly. I did not experience any redness or irritation. 

Collagen Gold Eye Mask 

I like the idea of eye patches. I usually do not see much of an effect when it comes to eye creams so I prefer the patches as I can actually see the difference before and after the application. I have seen many positive reviews of the gold patches with Collagen from Gabriella Salvete. After trying them myself, I am not really surprised. 

It calms down the under-eye area and visibly reduces the dark circles. Apart from that, it leaves the skin soft and hydrated. I am not sure about the promised increase in skin elasticity - I don't think that's something that can be fixed with a few 10 minutes of patch applications. Overall, not bad especially considering the low price. 

Foot Mask

As much as I am fond of the face masks mentioned above, the foot mask did not impress me as much. Don't get me wrong, it is not bad but I would say it is more in line with the cost. The foot mask promises to soften the rough skin and skin regeneration but I saw none of it. However, it nourishes the feet well. I believe using this 30-minute foot mask after a scrub would be an ideal situation - the scrub will soften the skin on your feet and the foot mask will give them all the nourishment needed. 

Hand Mask

Once again, this is a very similar case of scenario as with the Foot mask. The hand mask is ok but not the best. I personally do not think it is intense enough and although my hands feel slightly nourished and even soft, this effect did not last for long and I had to use hand cream as soon as 30 minutes after using the mask. However, the process of not doing much for 30 minutes of having the glove mask on is mentally soothing and I would recommend just for the sake of your mental health haha. If you are looking to get some intense hand treatment, I can recommend the Karite hand cream from Yves Rocher or the Cica Repair Hand Mask from Neutrogena. 

Bath and Body Works: Stress Relief

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I always liked candles and that's a fact but since I moved to my new house, I am obsessed. I am not very good at decorating so it's been a struggle to make the place nice and cosy. And then I realised candles not only smell great but they also look lovely and work quite well as a decoration. So now my house looks like a candle factory. 

One of my many scented candles is a brand new Stress Relief candle with Eucalyptus and Tea from Bath and Body Works from their Aromatherapy collection. It is huge (411g), it comes in a glass jar with three wicks. My living room where this candle resides is quite large so all three of them burning is fine but I would recommend just one or two if your room is smaller. 

Bali Body: Bronzed & Glowy - REVIEW

 AD - Gifted. Products for review were kindly sent to me for a review

A few weeks ago, I was approached by an Australian brand called Bali Body and they asked me if I would like to review some of their products. I have seen this brand about but never tried anything but after checking everything out, I figured why not.
The primary focus of the brand is summer. They offer a whole range of self-tanning creams, sprays and oils as well as some makeup products. The aim of the brand is to deliver bronzed and glowy skin.

 

ABH: DIPBROW POMADE - Review

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Today's review will focus on a product that was on my list for literally years. I wanted it since one of my former colleagues told me that this is what she uses to draw her perfect and Instagram-friendly brows. Yes, I am talking about the iconic DipBrow pomade from Anastasia Beverly Hills. 

La Roche-Posay: Hyalu B5 Serum - Review

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I have tried many different skin serums since I started to take care of my skin. Despite having a fairly good experience with many compounds, I always seem to go back to Hyaluronic Acid-based serums. HA is ideal for any skin type but if you struggle with dryness and dehydrated skin, HA will be your holy grail.