I've had a few additions to my basic bath&body kit lately – nothing I'd usually write about but I have stumbled upon some true gems. The thing I was most surprised and impressed by must be the Alverde Nettle & Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) Shampoo for normal and oily hair (200ml costs 1,70€). I was extremely happy with my Kerastase Resistance Bain Volumifique and I still have some left as I'm using it sparingly since it's far from cheap. However, in the meanwhile, I needed something affordable, easily accessible, something that'll de-grease my roots while not disturbing my ends and/or make them knotty. During one of the many visit to the drogerie markt (dm), I've picked up this Alverde shampoo on a whim. I haven't googled it, haven't read any reviews nor have I tried to – completely atypical of me. Now, these won't be classic reviews per se – first impressions are more like it. I must say that I'm extremely happy with the shampoo – it doesn't have an ‘in yer face’ scent that I sometimes associate with Alverde products. It smells sweet and minty and definitely herbal but it's not strong at all. The transparent texture is rather concentrated and thick so you don't need much per wash (quite economical), it lathers well, cleanses well so roots feel and smell very fresh after use. My dry, frizz-prone ends aren't frizzy or dehydrated but I tend to use a conditioner on them. The ingredients aren't bad at all. It contains sea salt, nettle, lemon balm, it's free from silicones, synthetic scents, coloring or preservatives. It seems very promising and it has put my Kerastase repurchase on a hold, for now. I've also purchased the Rexona Shower Clean Anti-Perspirant Spray (150ml costs approx 3€). I must say that I have a love/hate relationship with Rexona as it truly leaves my skin fragranced and non-sweaty, better than any deodorant out there. But it also can cause my armpits to swell up. It has happened before and I'm constantly worrying about it happening again. I keep giving the brand second, third, fourth etc. chance because these deo sprays are very effective at keeping sweat at bay, pits are fresh and fragranced. This particular ‘Shower Clean’ scent is something I'm especially fond of since it embodies my personal idea of freshly washed skin, clothes, sheets. It's powdery but not cloying, fresh but not citrusy yet it lets skin's own scent shine through.
U posljednje vrijeme sam svojoj kolekciji za njegu tijela dodala par novih proizvoda – ovo nije nesto o cemu bih inace pisala zaseban post ali sam zaista naisla na par drogerijskih dragulja o kojima vjerujem da bi bilo korisno da zapisem koju rijec. Ono sto me mozda najvise iznenadilo i impresioniralo je Alverde sampon sa koprivom i maticnjakom za normalnu do masnu kosu (200ml kosta cca 3,5KM). Inace sam vise nego zadovoljna svojim Kerastase Resistance Bain Volumifique i jos uvijek mi je ostalo malo sampona pri dnu bocice posto ga stedljivo koristim (nije posebno pristupacne cijene). No, u medjuvremenu, potrebno mi je bilo nesto sto ne kosta mnogo, sampon koji mogu uvijek kupiti sto znaci da dostupnost nije problem a koji bi temeljito cistio masno tjeme a da ne isusuje krajeve kose (niti da ih zapetlja). Tokom jedne od mnogih posjeta lokalnom drogerie markt-u (dm), potpuno nasumicno sam kupila ovaj Alverde sampon. Nisam ga proguglala, nisam citala recenzije niti sam ih trazila – prilicno atipicno za mene. Sto cete u nastavku citati nece biti klasicne recenzije vec radije prvi utisci, pa imajte to na umu. Moram reci da sam trenutno jako zadovoljna ovim samponom – nema iritantan niti agresivan miris kakav nekada vezem za Alverde proizvode. Mirise blago slatkasto i mentolasto, definitivno biljno ali ne napadno. Sampon je proziran, dosta koncentriran i gust te ga je potrebno malo po koristenju (sto ga cini prilicno ekonomicnim). Lijepo pjeni, temeljito cisti tjeme koje ujedno i osvjezava na njezan nacin. Ne isusuje moje krajeve kose koji su inace tome skloni ali ujedno cesto koristim i neki blagi regenerator na njima. Sastojci djeluju obecavajuce – morska so, korpiva, maticnjak, nema silikona, sintetickih mirisa, boja niti konzervansa. Uopsteno, ovaj sampon me za sada dojmio tako da je ponovna kupovina Kerastase sampona odgodjena. Takodjer sam kupila Rexona Shower Clean antiperspirantni sprej (150ml kosta cca 5KM). Priznati cu da imam prilicno kontradiktoran odnos sa Rexona dezodoransima. Ono sto mi se dopada kod njih jeste sto zaista odrzavaju podrucje pazuha suhim, svjezim i mirisnim. Ono sto pak ne volim jeste sto neki od njih koristenjem cine da podrucje pazuha bude iziritirano, nekada i nateklo. Cesto se pri kupovini brinem da li ce mi se to ponovo desiti – ovog puta je sve uredu ali tesko da se takvo nesto moze ili treba ignorisati. Ono sto me dojmilo jeste ‘Shower Clean’ miris dezodoransa koji utjelovljuje moju ideju svjeze istusiranog tijela, ciste odjece, peskira, posteljine i cistoce uopste. Puderast je ali ne zagusljiv, svjez ali ne citrusan i ne oduzima miris koze tj. ne cini sve sterilnim.
I've received the Balea Liebestraum Hand Cream (30ml costs 0,85€) and it's perfection for all those who love the scent of violets while yearning for extremely lightweight hand cream formulations. Personally, I find these mini hand creams ideal for having in my handbag – I cannot tote full sized creams with me as my bag is already too heavy. This cream has a rather watery consistency and, while I always do prefer thicker hand creams, it is refreshing to have a certain air of lightness with this one. It's not something I'd use to repair chapped hands or scruffy cuticles but it's fairly good while you're on the go. Scent is also lovely but I guess that'll depend on your fragrance preferences (scent lingers on for a while). Alverde Calendula Hand Cream (25ml costs ) is actually something I picked up while waiting at the cash register. It stood next to the Balea one and, since it's so cheap and cheerful – I gave it a try. It actually impressed me a lot and I prefer it to the Balea Liebestraum hand cream just because the texture is a wee bit thicker, it feels substantial yet not oily and it actually repairs dry hands and cuticles! I also prefer the Calendula scent which feels more nurturing, natural and calming. I think I'll pick up the bigger packaging along with the Alverde Calendula lip balm of which I've read a lot good things about. Finally, my shower has been a residence of these new Limited Edition shower gels from Balea. I think I'm going through quite a frugal phase lately and I'm really impressed by certain products I've been discovering along the way. I've received the Balea LE Cabana Dream Shower Gel (300ml costs ) which is of a purple color, medium thickness and it smells mostly of peaches and the maracuja scent is subdued. It's definitely fruity but not too sweet and you'll adore it if you're a fan of peaches. It lathers well, doesn't dry out my skin and it doubles as a shaving cream. After using it up, I've purchased the Balea LE Paradise Beach Shower Gel (300ml costs ) which is of a pink coloring, again medium thick, lathers up well and cleanses well without leaving skin tight. Now, this one smells more candy-like and I definitely pick up pineapple with some underlying coconut. It's delicious! Have you tried any of these and what's the latest drugstore find you cannot stop talking about?
Balea Liebestraum krema za ruke (30ml kosta 1,35KM) ce se dopasti svima vama koji volite miris ljubicica ali trazite i izuzetno laganu, nemasnu njegu ruku. Jako volim ova mini pakovanja kremica koja su idealna za torbu posto je moja vec jako teska tako da nositi veliko pakovanje bilo cega izbjegavam. Licno preferiram malo guscu formulaciju kada su kreme za ruke u pitanju posto su mi ruke sklone isusivanju. Ipak, prilicno vodenasta tekstura ove kreme je zaista pravo osvjezenje i dosta je prakticna za koristenje kada smo u zurbi posto se izuzetno brzo upija. Ne mislim da bi ucinila nesto konkretno po pitanju suhih ruku i zanoktica no kao kratkotrajno rjesenje je prihvatljivog djelovanja. Miris ljubicica je dosta intenzivan i zadrzava se na kozi. Alverde Calendula kremu za ruke (25ml mislim da takodjer kosta 1,35KM) sam kupila dok sam cekala pred kasom da dodjem na red za placanje. Ova je kremica stajala u korpici pored Balea Liebestraum kreme i, posto je takodjer izuzetno pristupacne cijene, odlucila sam da je usputno ubacim u kosaricu. Alverde me ugodno iznenadio ovom kremicom koja mi se dosta vise dopada od Balea kreme sa mirisom ljubicica. Prije svega, gusce je teksture sto ne znaci da je masna ali definitivno ostavlja bolji, konkretniji dojam. Takodjer, zaista efektno njeguje suhe ruke i zanoktice a miris mi se takodjer mnogo vise dopada. Miris nevena iz ove Alverde linije mi je dosta prijatan, prirodan i vjerujem da cu se vratiti po vece pakovanje ove kreme kao i po balzam za usne o kojem sam citala mnogo lijepih stvari. Naposlijetku dolazimo do LE verzija Balea tusiralica koje su postale redovni stanari moje kupaonice. Izgleda da trenutno prolazim kroz prilicno stedljivu fazu i usput otkrivam mnogo odlicnih proizvoda koji kostaju djelic onoga koliko inace placam za slicne stvari. Isprobala sam Balea LE Cabana Dream gel za tusiranje (300ml kosta cca 2KM) koji je ljubicaste boje, srednje guste teksture i mirise po breskvama dok je nota maracuje dosta blaga. Spada u vocne mirise no nije previse slatkast i mislim da cete se zaljubiti u njega ako inace volite miris breskvi. Lijepo pjeni, ne isusuje kozu tijela i moze posluziti i kao krema za brijanje. Nakon sto sam ga potrosila, kupila sam Balea LE Paradise Beach gel za tusiranje (300ml kosta cca 2KM) koji je ruzicaste boje, ponovo je rijec o srednje gustoj teksturi koja lijepo pjeni no ne isusuje kozu. Ova tusiralica mirise po slatkisima i definitivno je najizrazeniji miris ananasa uz notu kokosa. Slastan je! Da li ste isprobale neke od proizvoda koje sam izdvojila i uopsteno me zanima koji je posljednji proizvod iz drogerija koji vas je dojmio?
*Some of these products may have been sent to me for review. For more information, see my disclaimer.
