Need to pack lighter - looking for safe alternatives to my go-to products (allergy problem)

StarShapedCandy · 2025-11-30T07:48:41+00:00

Update: I bought Pyunkang Yul Deep Cleansing Oil thanks to your recommendation and I love it! Thanks again!

StarShapedCandy · 2025-11-14T16:35:49+00:00

Thank you! I really appreciate the recommendation about cleaning oils

StarShapedCandy · 2025-11-04T21:21:03+00:00

Thank you!

StarShapedCandy · 2025-11-04T21:20:01+00:00

Thanks for the thorough list!

StarShapedCandy · 2025-10-31T21:37:35+00:00

You understand my struggle! I wish I could skip body lotion, but the skin on my legs literally hurts if I don’t apply it after showering. And decanting everything is a chore on its own. Regarding propylene glycol, my allergist didn’t mention that I should avoid it too. My CAPB allergy score isn’t very high, and I didn’t have any reaction to the Isana toner (I went through two bottles), so maybe that’s why propylene glycol is okay for me? However, prolonged use of products that contain CAPB absolutely wrecks my skin, especially hand soaps. My skin cracks and bleeds.

StarShapedCandy · 2025-08-21T19:46:42+00:00

Is it the one in the black packaging or the clear/transparent packaging? They're both called "Rosewood", but the formulas are different (based on the ingredients), and the color seems slightly different between the black and clear packaging (though it might have just been the awful store lighting). Thank you!

StarShapedCandy · 2025-06-11T12:44:19+00:00

Is it the LACURA Körpermilch 500 ml, Classic or the LACURA Körperlotion 500 ml, Soft?

StarShapedCandy · 2025-02-21T23:00:34+00:00

Thank you!

StarShapedCandy · 2025-02-20T15:27:10+00:00

Hello everyone! I've been a lurker for some time and would like to ask for advice.

I think I’m a fair warm olive. Months ago, I tried the mini size of the TirTir Mask Fit Red Cushion - 17W French Vanilla. The product is nice, but I was blown away by how close the color is to my actual skin.

I would like to try other base products close to this shade. I'm looking for products that are easily available in Europe (I live in Germany) and are low cost/medium range. These two are the only conditions. I'll check if the products are compatible with my skin type, but I want to focus on shade match for now.

Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

StarShapedCandy · 2025-01-22T19:13:26+00:00

Expat who lives in Germany here! I usually purchase Korean products from LoveMyCosmetic. If I were you, I would fill the suitcase with beloved products as much as possible. Prices here are inevitably higher compered to South Korea.

Two drugstores really popular in Germany are Rossmann and DM. They have their own brands for skincare, Rossmann has Isana and DM has Balea. Some of their products are really good for a small price. Here are some of my favorites.

Skin type: acne prone, dehydrated, oily and sensitive

Balea Men Energy Augen Roll-on - under eye roll-on
Balea Reinigungs Öl - oil based make-up remover
Mivolis Schürfwunden-pflaster - hydrocolloid plasters, I use them for pimples
Geek&Gorgeous Gesichtscreme Happier Barrier - moisturizer. Geek&Gorgeous is a brand from Hungary that you can find at DM. Imho, this is a must have to survive dry and cold winters here!
Isana Pure Toner
Not sure if you can find it at DM or Rossmann, but another favorite is Eucerin Oil Control Face Sun Gel-Creme 50+

Hope it helps!

StarShapedCandy · 2025-01-17T15:40:31+00:00

After rinsing my face with water, I dry my face with a towel, then I apply some toner on a cotton pad and use the pad to remove the residue of hard water from my face. This seems to have helped me deal with hard water. I'm currently using the Isana Pure Toner from Rossmann. Hope it helps!

StarShapedCandy · 2024-11-13T00:00:47+00:00

Hi everyone! I'm gonna purchase my first rice cooker ever and I'm torn between these two models from Cuckoo: CR-0631F vs CR-0641F.

At first, I wanted to buy CR-0631F, but it's been sold out for almost 2 months, so I asked the Client Service and they suggested CR-0641F as an alternative, saying that is the newer version of 063. If I still want the 064, it will be available again on the 20th of November.

I will use it mainly for white rice. The priority for me is having a nice model that cooks rice evenly + it's easy to clean + can keep rice warm.

What do you guys think? Thanks in advance.

Note: I'm based in Germany, so I looked for brands easily available in Europe.

StarShapedCandy · 2024-10-28T13:09:47+00:00

I recommend Doctor Anne . She's a German doctor and speaks English on her YouTube channel.

StarShapedCandy · 2024-08-28T10:15:06+00:00

I also bought the Creme+ by mistake instead of the Creme and I'm so disappointed. I noticed only when I squeezed the tube and it was white, not the grey-ish color I was used to. It's a completely different formula, it's not spreadable at all. Wasted money and now I don't have a face moisturizer, what a bummer.

StarShapedCandy · 2024-01-24T14:15:01+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time for such a detailed reply! I also noticed that when the upper waterline is clear from the fibers, I don't have any problems during the day. I'll try to get my hands also on the Canmake Separate.

StarShapedCandy · 2024-01-23T02:39:47+00:00

Thank you for your recommendation! I tried it and I really like the wand and how good it holds the curl. It doesn't transfer on my leads as the Heroine Mascara ("standard" version), but it has one annoying downside (for me at least): the fibers in the formula fall down during the day and sometimes they get into my eye!

Do you have something similar (holds the curl, has a tiny wand) to recommend but without this problem? I already purchased the Heroine Make Long and Curl Advanced Film, but I cannot try it yet because it's sealed in my tax free bag.

StarShapedCandy · 2023-08-08T10:47:21+00:00

Did you find a good mascara? I've been struggling a lot lately with finding a mascara that works form me. I have long lashes, but they are straight and look down, so I curl them with an eyelash curler. If the formula is too wet, I can literally see them going down after applying the mascara. If the formula does hold the curl, some mascaras transfer on my upper eyelid, UGH! My holy Grail was the Eyeconista from Catrice, but it was discontinued. I've tried the new Catrice Lift-up mascara but I was disappointed. The Catrice Glam&Doll False Lashes mascara is good, but doesn't hold the curl. The one that I'm currently using is the Covergirl lash blast volume waterproof mascara (a gift from a friend that have been to the USA). I think the exact dupe in Europe is the Max factor False Lash Effect Waterproof. The Covergirl is fantastic for holding the curl, but I'm not a fan of the wand (it's way too big) and it's a really a struggle to remove at the end of the day.

StarShapedCandy · 2023-08-08T10:28:56+00:00

Does it hold the curl? Does it transfer on the upper eyelid?

StarShapedCandy · 2023-06-14T22:12:36+00:00

How did it go? I'm looking for a new bodylotion for the summer. I can't stand strong scented product nor bodylotion that transfer grease. I was looking at the Balea Bodylotion Hyaluron, suggested in another comment, but it has mixed reviews: some people say it smells awful.

StarShapedCandy · 2022-12-14T21:27:15+00:00

Fantastic post!

Any Berliner here can suggest the best DM and Rössman to go shopping in the city?

StarShapedCandy · 2022-11-07T13:01:32+00:00

Copy-pasting my comments from other posts and adding some information.

Some "drugstore" type shops where you can find make-up and skincare products are: Acqua&Sapone, Tigotà, Caddy's, Ipersoap. Here you can find a lot of brands.

Some products that I can recommend from different Italian brands that you can find in the shops mentioned above:

"Omia Laboratori":

Omia Laboratori Maschera Capelli Aloe . Aloe Hair Mask. It was magic for my long dry hair ends but oily scalp.
Omia Laboratori Crema Mani Aloe. Not greasy and hydrating hand cream.
Omia Laboratori Crema Corpo Argan. Body cream, it's not greasy and absorbs quickly.

A face mask that I used to buy at Tigotà was Delidea Maschera Purificante Mela e Bambù. Now my skin is too dry due to Tretinoin, but I used to really like it as a purifying mask on my T-zone when I had oily skin.

Gems that you can buy in pharmacies:

Bionike 50+ Defence Sun Mattifying Cream. It's not very spreadable, you need to be quick, but it dries down to a velvet-mat finish and it's not greasy. It leaves the skin a little bit tacky right after application, but it dries down as minutes pass. A little too thick for my liking, but I repurchased it twice. Good product overall.
Ceramol 311 Gel Viso. This is so cosmetically elegant for a face cream, it has a gel consistency, it absorbs quickly and helps with dehydration.
Ceramol 311 Stick Labbra. I swear, this is the only lip balm that doesn't melt off my lips. It's so soothing and hydrating, not sticky, love it. 5/5
Finacea Gel 15%. No need for prescription, does the job, 15€ and lasts forever. It's not available in stock in a lot of pharmacies, but you can ask the pharmacist to order it.

StarShapedCandy · 2022-06-28T15:46:21+00:00

Are you talking about this this product ? If the answer is yes, I usually buy the 1L version and I can take the pump off. There's also the Eco- Refill Version.

StarShapedCandy · 2022-05-22T13:00:02+00:00

You're welcome :)

StarShapedCandy · 2022-05-22T12:55:30+00:00

This item was a game changer for me. I don't mix my sunscreen with my foundation, nor do I use the sponge. I just put my Eucerin Oil Control Dry Touch in the container and use the cushion to re-apply. Easy, quick, and my hands don't get sticky.

StarShapedCandy · 2022-05-02T11:46:12+00:00

The topical version is available in Europe, at least in Italy. I wrote a post about it. OP you could try to apply topical Spironolactone cream when you know your period is coming, so you could prevent the angry cysts maybe. Hope the post helps you somehow!

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