Balea

One of my favorite things about Europe is the drugstore shower gels and creams. There's so much more variety. The quality is great. The standard bottle size is also smaller (often 200 ml or so), which is great if you like to switch things up a lot, which I do. And did I mention how cheap it is? Balea is a house brand of dm, a German drugstore chain. They sell all kinds of toiletries and cosmetics, including a plethora of bath and shower products. I happen to love their shower gels and creams. Whenever I'm in Germany, I go and sniff a bunch of shower gels and bring a few home. A Balea is nearly always among them, and it was also a favorite when I lived in the country. A bottle is less than a euro. I checked the dm website just now and see the standard Duschcreme formula is going for 55 cents! It's not the most luxurious shower cream in the world, but it gets you clean without stripping your skin. I don't need anything more than that. The most recent variety I tried was their Pfirsich & Weisse Bluete (peach and white blossoms). It smells like the most delicious white peaches--and not just the flesh either. I also smell the floral fuzz. That scent is still available at the time of this writing, but dm is always bringing out new varieties. Keep an eye out for seasonal limited edition varieties (something many other German brands do as well). Makes a great souvenir if you, like me, are into consumable souvenirs.

I was quite surprised by its silicone texture the first time I used it. Scent smells like men deodorant. Lol. But applies like a dream, absorbs immediately . Leaves skin so smooth. Been through 14 ampoules in about a Wk (day and night) so far no breakouts or sensitivity. Just don’t rly notice skin being extra hydrated or bright or plump looking. Not sure about whether I will repurchase but it is an interesting product

I picked this up with very low expectations, I wanted something cheap to mix with my foundation which was slightly drying. It blended perfectly with my foundation, and even though I don't see any shimmer, it leaves a very dewy look that lasts. It leaves such a nice glow that I have to be careful not to apply near my eyes because then the glow accentuates my periorbital swelling, but on the rest of my face it is fantastic. It absorbs well and leaves no residue, nor does it pill. I didn't expect a moisturizing effect, especially on my very dry skin, but it does leave my skin comfortably moisturized, and it feels very smooth. It would probably require a serum for cold windy winters, but in this weather it is perfect. My skin actually looks very healthy when I take my makeup off before bed, like I just applied moisturizer when i've only cleansed. I have previously been hesitant to buy balea moisturizers because the ingredients are so..unpronouncable they had me worried about breakouts and irritation. Well, this gives me neither. It has probiotics and spf too. I like the tube packaging, and the click on cap hasn't broken like they sometimes do. The packaging claims it reinforces the skin's natural barrier and is suited for tired, stressed skin. My skin fits the description, and in my experience, the product actually does what it says. For a mere three euro, it's ridiculous. I'm really glad I found it, will repurchase, and recommend. They have them online if you're not in Europe or near "drogerie markt" (their magic teint cream is okay too, but it's tinted and shimmery and better for mixing with foundation or as a bb cream than as a moisturizer).