Cheapo mini hauls

For last weekend a friend of mine planned a beauty hunting trip, but of course it never happened. And here I was waiting for lemming the Shiseido, YLS and Guerlain counters. Oh well...
Since it's the beginning of term, I have like nothing left on my bank account, but I still went for a little shopping, buying only cheap stuffs.

First: a chocolate face mask. Hmm sounds good! It cost only $1.5....there was golden mask too, but I ended up with this, since it's edible! *cough*
There is a Bourjois Paris Sparkling Eyeliner too (Regard Pailleté, I think). I'll do a review for this.
Have anyone tasted this bubbling Granini with apple and cranberries? It's horrible! #_#

And some other: L'Oreal Nutri Bronze (self-tanning) Body Lotion, Helia-D body lotion for dry skin, two Essence sheet masks, two nail polishes and an Essence Lip Oil. Sheet masks and lip oil were 1.5USD each, polishes about $2. Lotions about $10. Most of these will get their own reviews too. Dirt cheap stuffs worth a blog entry, right? At least to say how crappy they are >_>

Helia-D Moisturising Night Cream

I know I shouldn't write about products that are hardly available worldwide, but I was sooo pleased with this night cream, that I just had to praise it whether anyone cared or not.

I'm happy I bought this! I don't like shelling out fortunes for high end brand creams when cheapers do the same. The last night cream I used was Nivea. Some oxigenated whatever, I don't remember its name. It was good, but I used it up soon. And it was also more expensive than this Helia-D. Hey, why the name Helia-D? What does the D stand for? X_X I have no idea LOL

Well, this performed great! I used these nights, from the day I bought it and OMG I love it! I put it on thick and despite it, it soaks in a minute or two. You ask why I want it to soak in when it's a night cream? I just can't stand when a cream is sitting on my face like some grease! YUCK Disgusting~

The tube is a black glass jar and holds 50ml. The cream's consistency...I'd say it's between gel and cream. Easily blendable. It's for all skintypes. I only saw the Classic line in the store, but the brand has lot more now: cleansers, body lotions, eye creams, makeup removers, whatnot. Specially for dry and sensitive skin they carry products containing Hyaluron and Litchy. MMM Litchi....

Here it is just swapped on my hand. It has such a nice smell. Real sunflower stem. Have you smelled it before? If not, you missed great pleasure. My God-father has a winery and going there there are endless sunflower fields. It's a great feeling getting lost in them. hehe So breaking its stem you find a sponge like part and it has this scent. *.* Love it. And this cream has the same scent~

As soon as meeting skin, it becomes watery and starts hydrating immediately.

Ah, to the results. Already after the first usage, when I woke I was dumbfounded. My skin was smooth like a newborn's and my lips! I have dry, chapped lips and need to balm them all day long. This cream.....made them pouty, lustruous soft lips! *___* Kyaaaaa!

I'm so gonna try their day creams and eye creams!!! Also, they have two limited editions. One is a simple day cream with UV, the other is an anti-agening one, but both comes in a hand-golded porcelain bottle, by the artist Endre Szász. I know his name says nothing, but Herend porcelain might. Check it out. Googling on it, the products are breathtaking. Once I had the chance to visit the factory. Seeing how they made china made me appreciate it even more.

Here is a little 'history lesson' about the brand. And now I shut up! =P

In the early 1980s we met a kind elderly woman whose skin was kept amazingly fresh and smooth in spite of her age, because she had made and used her own creams from sunflower stems. This impression made biogal pharmaceuticals became interested in the cream and did thorough laboratory testing on it. The results of these tests convinced even the company’s experienced researchers, and they immediately began to develop a cosmetic product line based on sunflower stem extract.

Super mini haul

There's haul>mini haul>and now i creater super mini haul! haha

Yesterday I went shopping with my Mom for my moving into dorm this Sunday. And since it was near we checked the new drugstore. Ahem it was rather like me dragging along Mom, who wanted to scream knowing what would come.

In the end we bought just a few things. It was closing time and we were the last ones in the store and SAs asked me to pay and leave =DD

Thus all I could pick up was a Helia-D night cream (you could see my review for their cleansing wipes in my previous post). I run out of my night cream (I keep running out of everything=D), so I needed a new and this was on sale for $5!!!! Just couldn't let it pass. I'll do a review this week.

Also picked up a John Frieda anti-frizz hair masque. Haven't tried this brand before and this was about the same price as the cream above (can't really remember). Since I'm not sure if it works, I didn't buy the shampoo, conditioner, etc. This is enough to try it.

My Mom stuck to the Shiseido skin care counter, tried some creams and the SA gave here some samples (Shiseido and Lancome, one you can see above in the pic) but didn't buy anything. Her skin, just like mine is quite picky. We both need to try samples before purchasing anything, because many things cause irritation or worse, allergic reactions. *sigh* So while Mom was lemming over the creams, I stood dumbfounded in front of the Guerlain and Burjois counters. Burjois held some nice sales on their mascaras. And Guerlain just....Guerlain. Doubt I need to say anything. I was nagging Mom to buy a meteorites blusher or just anything, but she said promtly NO to everything! T_T Sucks when one gets her money only from parents.

In the end I couldn't cry out anything because the SA asked us to finish and leave =D But she said they have a birthday anniversary next week (means this week XD) and they give 10% off on every purchase. That's like nothing, but oh well, i'll drag back my living budget holder these days! HAHA

I'm such a mommy's lil girl >=D

Ah, one more thing, among many stationery, I got this purple spiraled booklet for college...I like it a lot! That white emblem is some glittery overspray or something. Really pretty in sunlight. Sadly I couldn't take a photo that could show it X_X

Avon Solutions vs. Helia-D Cleansing Wipes

I know these are not top brands, and these are JUST cleansing wipes. No serious stuff.

And to tell the truth, I don't use wipes, but these both were freebies with magazines, so, well, yeah....why not try them if these are free?

Let's start with Helia-D Moisturizing Facial Cleansing Wipes With Herbal Extracts.

Helia-D is a Hungarian brand famous and trustworthy of using sunflower stems. You can read about the brand, its history and used ingredients here.

I remember their facial creams were very popular when I was still a kindergartener (in the early '90s), but then the brand disappeared (no ads, no hype) and lately they've came back. Although I sill haven't seen advertisements. The products are back in drug stores, and this freeby was the only kind of "ad" they've done. If I can call it that.

Effectively removes waterproof makeup and dirt. Gently and easily cleans the facial skin, eye area, and neck, it is ph neutral. Active ingredients keep skin from drying. Contains herbal extracts to prevent inflammation and regenerate injured skin. Formulated to soth inflammation and regenerate the skin's outer layer. Alcohol and lanolin free.

As you can see, the sachet is yellow, like the Sun or the sunflower =D Sadly it had only 10 wipes, which I run out of too soon.

While using, I was a bit worried that the clothes were harsh and felt dry. Even wiping my face felt a bit wrong. Like scrubbing. But it removed my makeup nontheless. After using it, my skin felt refreshed. I think thanks to the herbal extracts.

Next is Avon's from the Solutions line called Completely Clean - Revitalising Cleansing Wipes

I don't use Avon stuffs anymore. Some years ago I did. Since my mother bought me my makeup stuffs. But Avon's makeup quality....let's not talk about them. Their creams and other skin cares are ok. My nr.2 face cream is Avon! LOL

This cleansing wipes came as a full size freeby. It costs about $7,5 here in Hungary, but I don't know about other countries. They don't carry it in the US?

It claims: In one easy step, this gentle cleanser removes dirt, impurities and makeup. Leaves skin looking healthy, clean and refreshed.

Removes makeup? Averagely, yes. Dirt? I don't know, I clean my face only in the morning and evening. And this wipe used only before going to bed, followed with cleansing milk, toner, etc. etc.

And here comes my problem. the clothes are indeed soft, feels much better than Helia-D's. They are not dry, rather full of moisture. It has so much of it that when rubbing the mascara off, it gets into my eye and irritates it!!!! Yuck! Not to mention after wiping my face this liquid stayes on my skin, and I have to wash it off.

And does this product left my skin refresed? No! It felt...heavy. How should I explain...Like there was a film on my skin that didn't let it 'breath'. Definitely needed a proper cleansing afterward.

All in all, none of this two products cleansed my skin perfectly. Using cream cleansers afterward and toner in pads still had dirt and makeup to remove. It was disappointing to see. I really don't see what's the point of these cleansing wipes. Those who wear makeup daily, wouldn't want to remove it during work, and in the evening, it's just no good. For those wear nothing, I think it must be useful, when traveling, during sport activities, and so on. Although I'm not one of them.

The value? I'd say Avon is ok, although I wouldn't buy it. Helia-D, I just checked and for US residents it $9.95 + shipping, while I can buy it a bit over $1!! *cough* Ahem...the other stuffs are also much expensive over there, guys. If any of you want unique (in the US) skin-care better ask me for help =D

For me Helia-d performed waaay better (and I'm in love with its nice flowery scent). I'm now a proud Hungarian 'native'. LOL