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My hand creams are usually impulse buys, I don't overthink them, so I grabbed the small version of the Natio Wellness Intensive Hand Cream that comes in a tube. It is convenient, hygienic, and it fits in a bag or on a night stand. It has the signature sweet scent of the Natio Wellness line. It is a very lightweigh hand cream that absorbs quickly and leaves the hands hydrated. It lasts a long time, even with regular use. I even used it as a body lotion on a short trip when I didn't feel like packing a lotion.

I bought the Skin Physics Vitamin C Moisturiser for multiple reasons. Firstly, because I've had good experience with vitamin C in general. Secondly, because I love the brand's Vitamin C serum from the same line, as it gives a beautiful glow. Thirdly, because I don't like layering products so I was hoping that I can get an entire morning routine with two products, and this has vitamin C, a moisturizer, and and FPS. So I had great hopes for this. To begin, the packaging is sleek yet sturdy, the lid doesn't open when you throw it in a bag and it looks good on a bathroom counter. The product is thick and has a sweet scent, but it's not overpowering. I used this product in the morning, after washing my face and applying a toner. It sinks in nicely, doesn't pill, and doesn't leave a white cast. Out of its three tasks (brightening, moisturising, sun protection), it does the moisturising best. It doesn't give that nice glow as the serum (possible due to the lack of exfoliants in it) and the FPS is not that high. It's a solid moisturiser though, with some good extras. I enjoyed using it during the winter months when my oily skin gets a bit dehydrated and when I didn't need FPS50. I switched for another, lighter product with higher FPS during summer.

I have combination skin that responds well to products with tea tree and willow bark, including Natio's toner from the same line. So I bought the Natio Clear Oil Control Foam Cleanser when I ran out of my usual cleanser and needed something quickly. The good things about this cleanser are its affordability and its accessibility. You get 150ml that lasts for a few months with daily use, and you can buy it pretty much anywhere. The pump packaging is hygienic, the cleanser produces a very thick foam, and the product is unscented. Unfortunately, it did not do much for my skin, so I don't think I'll buy it again. I'll stick to just getting the toner from this line.

I have long, wavy, and dry/damaged hair, so I'm always on the lookout for hair repair treatments. My hair is alson fine, so the repair treatment can't be too heavy. Essano's Strength & Repair Bonding Leave-in Treatment promised and delivered both. The leave-in treatment comes in a hygienic pump bottle. Sadly, the pump bottle was a bit flimsy. I wasn't entire sold on the scent either - it has a strong herbal scent. It has a relatively thick, but not oily texture, so it worked well on fine hair, as long as I applied it on wet hair. I wouldn't apply it on dry hair, as it is way too thick for that. I applied one or two pumps every time I washed my hair, always on damp hair, and used my fingers to comb it in. The product was easy to distribute evenly. It helped make my hair softer and manageable. The main downside is the price - it costs a bit much for a 100 ml bottle that lasts two, max three months. But if I find it on specials, I'll definitely buy it again.

I received Batiste Coconut Milk & Hemp Dry Shampoo, together with two other Batiste dry shampoos, from beautyheaven. The Coconut Milk & Hemp version has a sweet scent, doesn't leave a white residue, and it works well to refresh my hair between wash days, and makes styling easier. Unfortunately, it really dries my hair and scalp out. In all fairness, I'm not sure if this product is targeted for me, because while I have some frizz and flyaways, my hair is very fine. This product might work well for others, but I think I'll stick with the Bamboo Fiber & Gardenia version for Batiste.

I received Batiste Green Tea & Chamomile Dry Shampoo, together with two other Batiste dry shampoos from beautyheaven. This one was not my favourite. The scent is nice and the product doesn't leave any white residue on dark hair. I followed all the instructions carefully: I shook it, I sectioned my hair, I sprayed it at the roots, massaged it in, and brushed out the excess. Yet, it didn't do much to help style my hair in-between wash days besides acting like a perfume. I think I'll stick with the Bamboo Fiber & Gardenia version for Batiste.

I bought the Natio Wellness Exfoliating Body Bar because I am trying to pick products with no plastic packaging to reduce waste whenever possible (think bar soaps instead of shower gel, solid shampoo instead of bottled, etc.). This exfoliating body bar comes packaged in paper only, so it fits the bill for a low-waste product. It looks like a bar soap with some grainy bits for exfoliation, and to me, it smells like sweet mandarin, rather than pomegrante (probably because of the mandarin peel oil). This body bar is moisturising and the exfoliating grains are gentle. However, it is still possible to over-exfoliate with it, just like with any exfoliant, so I prefer to use it once or twice a week. I keep it in a small tin soap box to prevent it from getting wet while not in use, so one piece lasts forever.

I have a lot of curioisty for new beauty products, so I was keen to try the Hemptuary Hemp Nourishing & Face and Body Oil, when I got it during a natural beauty event, even though I have combination skin. The product comes in a sturdy, green glass jar with a dropper, has green colour, and a strong scent. (It has the same scent as the Hemptuary Hemp Soothing Body Balm.) As I have combination skin, I typically don't use face oils, but I was able to fit this oil into my routine, as it is multi-functional. During summer, I used it as a rinse-off treatment. During winter, I used it as a body oil, either mixed with body lotion or on its own. I also used it as an overnight treatment during winter. It didn't clog my pores, and left my skin feel moisturised. All in all, this is not an absolutely necessary product for me, but I liked trying it, and I think it can work great for different skin types.

To be honest, I bought Sukin's Purely Ageless Intensive Firming Serum by accident, because the pacakging is just way to similar to the Sukin eye cream in the same line. So the first con is the pacakging: it's sturdy and hygienic in a heavy glass pump bottle, but it's way too similar to other Sukin products. I don't think I would've bough this on purpose, because I prefer brightening treatments for my oily skin over hydrating and anti-aging treatments, but I figured I can try it during winter. Luckily, the consistency is relatively lightweight, as it is similar to some of the lotions used in KBeauty, it absorbed well, and didn't clog my pores. The serum was definitely moisturising, but I didn't notice any changes in smoothness and firmness. The best part of the serum is the scent: it's gentle, sweet, and so calming!

As I have oily to combination skin, I'm used to and like having either a chemical or physicla exfoliant in my routine, so I figured I'd try Andalou Naturals Kombucha Enzyme Exfoliating Mask. The mask has an easy-to-use gel texture, but it's transparent, so it's hard to see where I applied it and where I did not. Unlike many Andalou products, it has no scent. The instructions say to leave it on for 10-20 minutes. Unfortunately, for me, the mask didn't have any noticeable effect when I used it for 10-20 mins. Once I had the time to leave it on for 35 mins, and then I noticed a very mild brigthening effect. Given the low impact, I think I'll be sticking to stronger, more advanced exfoliants, but this one might be good for people who just start chemical exfoliation.