After the big disappointment that was the Nivea BB cream in 'light' and Elmiplant CC Cream in 'light' (you call that mud light??), I'm still looking for something light to medium coverage to cover my redness, that has a yellow undertone and is light (shade and texture wise).
So I picked up this Garnier one after reading on the web that it's slightly yellow.

Garnier BB Cream Original / Classic
An all-in-one moisturiser combining skincare with mineral pigments to even skin tone, illuminate, cover imperfections, with 24Hr hydration and SPF protection. A natural look in just one step, just you at your best.

THE SHADE

Of course, it's too dark for me... Like all the other BB Creams on the market. Hello? Pale people exist? There is also an extra-light version you're never going to see in shops. It's as rare as an unicorn.

MATCHING

If you're in the same pale-situation as me, don't throw away the BB Cream! Try to make it work!

Here, we have the BB Cream next to a very light foundation, Gabrini Art Scenic in 01 (basically pinkish-white). Combining them created the perfect shade, BUT with a more neutral tone (because I mixed yellow and pink). It's barely noticeable though.
You might say my skin looks pink here, but trust me, my neck and chest are pretty yellow.

BRAND: Garnier

LOCATION: any drugstore, really

PRICE: 22 RON

QUANTITY: 50ml

PROS

• SPF 15 protection
• subtle lime scent
• looks pretty on the skin
• decent coverage

CONS

• wrong shade :(

Would I buy this product again? Yes, even if the shade is too dark. It's hard to find cheap foundation/BB/CC creams with yellow tint.

I wish I had discovered this product earlier! I've been using it for a few years now and I have tried most of their fragrances. The Original one, I didn't like too much: it was just as effective as the others but the smell reminded me of sterile hospital supplies. The Sweetie one has an obnoxious raspberry smell. But hey, they are meant to cover the smell of sebum with a harsh fragrance while also absorbing said sebum from your roots. I have also tried Cherry, Blush (generic flowery smell) and Tropical (my favorite, coconut & candies).

Most people say dry shampoo is a great alternative to washing every day; but if you use it incorrectly, you might just look like you added some dandruff to your hair. On the packaging it says: shake well, spray from 30cm/12in into your roots, massage into roots, brush away the excess. Simple right? Wrong! The process is messy and residue will fall off your hair all day long (nightmare for black clothes).

What I recommend is to:

• never spray it while you're wearing good clothes
• try to avoid wearing dark clothes
• spray the night before, let the powder properly absorb grease over night so you can easily remove it in the morning
• get a very dense hair comb just for this process, to properly remove excess powder (you'll need to clean it very often)
• blow dry excess powder (on cold setting)
• do not overuse this product (it does not let your scalp breathe, thus creating more grease); use only when necessary, between washes (on days 2 to 3)

Batiste Instant Hair refresh Dry Shampoo
UK's No. 1 Dry Shampoo. The perfect quick fix for great looking hair between washes.

BRAND: Batiste

LOCATION: elefant.ro / sensiblu

PRICE: 16.99 / 23 RON

QUANTITY: 200ml

PROS

• gets rid of unaesthetic slimy hair
• adds fragrance (masks sebum smell)
• makes hair more rigid - good for styling (I personally don't like this)
• a bottle lasts me about a month, ok for the price

CONS

• powder, powder everywhere! clothes, carpets, hair brush, forehead, ears
• if used incorrectly (not removing excess, brushing your scalp too hard) looks like dandruff

Would I buy this product again? Yes! I feel like I can't go outside with slimy hair anymore! Compared to the Balea one, this one has a very sharp smell and overall absorbs more grease.

For my fellow Romanians, you can find it in Sensiblu Pharmacies, frequently with a discount, or even cheaper, on elefant.ro.

Image @Unsplash.

I’ve been struggling with oily hair for a long time now and I have learned a lot from my experience.
Some of these tips might seem very very basic… but I’m gonna leave them here anyway.

• Do not wash your hair every day! Do not wash your hair every 2 days! Your scalp will get used to producing more sebum and you will smell awful a few hours after washing. Instead, wash about 2 times per week.


• "But my hair will look and smell like shit!" you're gonna say. Yes, that is why you should invest in a good dry shampoo. Batiste offers an effective and cheap product that absorbs grease and adds a pleasant smell to your hair roots. Balea Dry Shampoo is also an option but it's a bit less effective than Batiste.


• "But what (liquid) shampoo should I use?" A good shampoo shouldn't be too harsh or too moisturizing for your scalp. Avoid 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner because they never work as intended. If your hair is greasy then avoid those "oil/serum/extra-super moisturizing/repair/dry-scalp" kind of shampoos for they will be easily absorbed by your scalp and roots and barely absorbed by the ends of your hair (that actually really need moisture and repairing). Try pH neutral shampoos for sensitive skin if you have greasy hair but also flaky and dry scalp. My current favorite is the Balea Vitalizing Shampoo for normal and greasy hair, for example. Good luck finding your best match!


• "I have dry hair and split ends too..." This is where conditioner plays its role! Only apply conditioner to the lower half of your hair, far away from your roots! Still not silky smooth? Try a hair mask! Don't be fooled by advertisements and pretty packaging: split ends will never magically disappear from a good moisturizing; they'll only look a little better and come back after not using conditioner. Cut them away when they become unaesthetic or use a little bit of hair wax on them to make them stick together.


• Dry your hair as soon as possible if you live in a humid environment. I've noticed that sleeping with my hair wet over night during fall/winter makes it lose all its volume and it becomes noticeably greasier.


• Wash twice when washing your hair! "Uhh ...Do what?" Yes, the first wash will help remove the general grease from your hair. This will make your hair strands stick less to each other, allowing the second wash to properly clean the leftover dirt or grease. You will notice you need a smaller amount of shampoo for the second wash and you will feel cleaner. So: wash, rinse, wash, rinse, done!

Now, I'm not some professional hair person. These are just tips that I've found useful and that might not work for everyone.
My only proof is my personal experience.