This one caught me while I was at the shop. I sprayed it and bam. That was it. I knew I had to get it.

It opens into this warm, creamy vanilla that just settles beautifully on the skin. The base is vanilla, benzoin, amber and musk. Deep, warm and close to the skin.

This is not a sweet vanilla, It doesn’t smell like dessert. It’s more of a warm vanilla. After a while it just settles into that skin scent, but better.

I use it on its own and for layering and it just works both ways.

The bottle is beautiful too. That clean aesthetic with a touch of gold. Really love it.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Link below.

This one is a little complicated for me.
I smelled it at the shop and I was immediately sold. It had this warm, creamy coconut vanilla combo that was exactly what I was looking for. So I got it.

Got home and it was totally different. Apart from this scratchy, harsh smell I was not expecting, there was nothing coconutty about it. I thought maybe it just needed time to settle, so I gave it some time. Months later it is a little better, but it has not fully matched that first impression.

The notes are cherry blossom and orange blossom up top, coconut and heliotrope in the heart, then vanilla, praline and sandalwood at the base. Maybe every batch smells a little different. I honestly am not sure.

What I do know is that you should test this one on your skin before committing to it.

Would I repurchase? Honestly not sure. Giving it more time first.

Link below.

Three Essie products I keep going back to, and all three do different things.

Hard to Resist is the nail strengthener. You apply it on bare nails between manicures, two coats, and leave it for three days. It strengthens and conditions nails that are soft or brittle. Not worn under polish, just on its own as a treatment.

Good as New is the base coat and nail perfector. It has ceramides and smooths the nail surface before colour, so your polish goes on evenly and lasts longer.

Good to Go is the fast dry top coat. It seals everything in after your last coat of colour and gives a high gloss finish. Nails dry quickly and stay chip resistant.

I use them as part of my home nail routine. As treatment between manicures, prep before colour, seal after colour.

All available at Rossmann. Link below.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Three fragrances under €5. Oh yeah!

Joyful Rose is exactly what it says. A fresh, feminine rose with fruits in there too. Strawberry and raspberry come through early, then it settles down into this light pleasant rose scent. A good everyday scent, especially for spring.

Floral Gardenia is a soft white floral, creamy and a little nostalgic. It smells familiar. Also very easy to wear.

Vanilla Bliss is the warmest of the three and my daughter’s favourite. You can tell from the bottle. Pineapple and orchid, then jasmine, then a soft vanilla that settles on the skin. If you like sweet but not overpowering, this one is for you.

These are not complex fragrances and they are not trying to be. Sometimes you don’t want something heavy, you just want something you can wear without feeling like you are a bother to others. These do exactly that.

Would I repurchase? The Vanilla Bliss, yes, because my daughter loves it. The others I would probably explore different options next time, but I would not say no to them either.

Link below.

This was my first Esprit fragrance. I am now on my second bottle.

It opens with grapefruit, mandarin, pineapple and strawberry. Bright, fruity and a little sparkling. This is the kind of scent that makes you think of a cold cocktail on a warm day. That’s truly the first thing that comes to mind every time I spray this. Then it softens into lily of the valley, jasmine and peony, and settles into a musky woody base that keeps it grounded.

It is a happy fragrance. Light, pleasant and easy to wear. Perfect for warmer weather and days when you just want to smell good without thinking too much about it.

For €9.99 it is an easy yes.

Would I repurchase? Very high chance.

Link below.

Two new releases from Esprit and both are worth it!

Just Cotton opens with pink pepper, elemi and aldehydes, then white flowers and mimosa come through in the middle. It dries down to cashmere wood, amber and musk. The overall feel is fresh laundry on skin. If you are a lover of clean fragrances, this one is a good find. Longevity is moderate, good projection in the first hour, then it becomes a skin scent. Which I’ve been loving lately.

Just Cherries is the playful one. Cherry, ginger and pink pepper up front, then pineapple, raspberry, jasmine and rose in the heart. The base is tonka bean, amber and musk. It smells like cherry, but more like sparkling cherry. How cherry sparkling wine would smell. Slightly woody as it dries down.

Both are 20ml. I love the bottles, they’re easy to carry, you can just throw them in your bag.

Link below.

Would I repurchase? I love them both and I am still using them. I love to explore scents so I am not sure yet. A strong maybe.

Another one I used to order from Korean beauty websites and wait weeks for. So glad I found it locally.
The 345 in the name actually means something. Three ingredients for blemish care, four for nourishing, five for soothing. Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica, ceramide and panthenol are doing the work here.

It is a lightweight cream, it’s not greasy. As someone with oily, acne prone skin that is exactly what I want.
I reach for this mainly at night, when my skin is feeling reactive, after a breakout, or when it just needs to settle.
It’s fragrance free, non comedogenic, and suitable for sensitive skin.

Would I repurchase? Yes! Link below.

I have been using CeraVe face washes for years. Both of these bottles are finished.
The two I use are the Porentiefe Reinigung, which is the pore deep cleanser for acne prone skin, and the Schäumendes Reinigungsgel, the foaming cleanser for normal to oily skin. I interchange them depending on what my skin needs.

The pore deep cleanser has salicylic acid, niacinamide and white clay. It goes into the pores, controls excess oil and clears imperfections without stripping the skin. The foaming cleanser is gentler, with ceramides and hyaluronic acid. It removes dirt and oil without leaving your skin feeling tight or dry. Both are fragrance free and dermatologist developed.

What I like about CeraVe generally is that it does not overcomplicate things. The formulas are straightforward, they work, and they do not irritate.
Both are available at Rossmann. Link below.

Would I repurchase? Yes. I already have, multiple times.

These are almost finished and I am already thinking about the next purchase. At around €6.99 each, it is genuinely hard to argue with.

The Wave Whip Curling Mousse defines waves and curls without the crunch. You scrunch it into damp hair and let it dry naturally. It is lightweight, conditions while it styles, and works for type 2 waves all the way through to type 4 coils. No stiffness, no residue, no weighing the hair down.

The Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream is richer and gives more definition. It activates the natural curl pattern, adds shine and keeps frizz under control. Good for when your hair needs more moisture than a mousse can give.

The Comeback Curl Next Day Curl Revitalizer is what I reach for between wash days to refresh and add bounce back to my curls.
I use them depending on what my hair needs that day. Sometimes one, sometimes both layered together.

They are sulfate free, paraben free and made with pure shea butter.

Would I repurchase? Already planning to.

It has always been on my repurchase list. I used to order it from Korean beauty websites and it would take two to three weeks to arrive, sometimes more. When I found it at my local shop I was thrilled!
I love that CoolTouch metal applicator. But honestly, the formula that keeps me coming back. You press it gently under your eyes and the cooling sensation immediately wakes up the area. It depuffs, it soothes, and it feels really good especially in the mornings.

The formula has vegan collagen, triple hyaluronic acid and a five peptide complex. As I have gotten older I notice that keeping that under eye area hydrated makes a real difference. I cannot say it has completely sorted out my dark circles, but for puffiness and fine lines it really does work. It absorbs fast, leaves no residue, and sits perfectly under concealer without creasing.
For women over forty, the skin around the eyes is thinner and needs something lightweight but effective. This does both.
The bottle is 10ml which looks tiny but a little goes a long way.

Would I repurchase? I already have. Multiple times. Link below.