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Natalie Hemengül
Opinion

«Mind if I take a look?» – a peek behind the shower curtain

Natalie Hemengül
16/10/2025
Translation: Elicia Payne

I’m always sneaking new test products into my shower. Aside from a few exceptions, my «inventory» is constantly changing. Here’s a snapshot of what I have at the moment.

Just recently, I gave you a glimpse into one of my mirror cabinets. Today I’m pulling back the curtain on my shower for you. Metaphorically speaking, because my shower actually only has a transparent sliding door. In my shower caddy, I have a collection of tried-and-tested product recommendations, but also new test products that are sometimes more, sometimes less convincing. In the two photos below, you’ll see I’ve marked each product with a number. This way you can find the corresponding review. Enjoy!

1** Lush – Honey I Washed My Hair Shampoo Bar**
This is one of the few solid shampoos that I like to use again and again. The smell is pure comfort (honey, orange and bergamot oil!), it lathers up nicely, spreads well and doesn’t dry out my hair compared to other solid alternatives I’ve tried. I love it!

2 ** Rausch – Caffeine Shampoo with Ginseng**
Sometimes I use a liquid shampoo – currently I have one by Rausch. I’ve decanted it into the high-quality 440 mlHoney Deep Moist Shampoo pump bottle from the brand &Honey – it’s much more practical. Plus, I can use the oversized pump head to rest my solid shampoo on. Anyway, back to Rausch. This product’s supposed to stimulate and strengthen the hair roots. I can’t really say whether that’s the case based on my sporadic use. Nevertheless, I really like Rausch shampoos generally.

Rausch Caffeine shampoo with ginseng (200 ml, Liquid shampoo)
Shampoo

Rausch Caffeine shampoo with ginseng

200 ml, Liquid shampoo

3 CD – Intimate wash lotion
I know, I know, the best thing for your intimate area is just washing with water. But I haven’t reached that point yet. My first step was to get rid of the soap, but I stuck with this wash lotion and haven’t used anything else for a good three years. It’s soap-free, contains a mild fragrance, cranberry and lactic acid.

CD Well-being (300 ml, Intimate washing lotion)
Intimate care
Quantity discount
EUR7,08 per piece for 4 units EUR23,60/1l

CD Well-being

300 ml, Intimate washing lotion

4 ** Fanola – No Yellow Care**
This special shampoo has been reliably removing the yellow tinge from my bleached hair for years. I was persuaded to buy it after reading many of your positive reviews. Thank you!

Fanola No Yellow
Shampoo
Quantity discount
EUR11,12 per piece for 4 units EUR31,78/1l

Fanola No Yellow

5 ** Ombia Men – Sport Defense Shower & Shampoo**
Don’t look at me like that. Of course, this 2-in-1 grey thing wasn’t my idea. After a few overpriced soap purchases (I’ve since come to my senses, see number 6), my boyfriend bought the cheapest shower gel he could find in protest. Believe me, it’s not just the packaging that looks like the product was developed to clean your car rims. The poisonous green colour that comes out of the product sticks to our tiles and the corrosive smell that comes with it suggests as much.

6 ** Dove – Beauty Cream Bar**
As you can see, there’s very little left of this. I love the solid soap and I now prefer it to shower gel.

Dove 3in1 - Beauty Cream (Hard soap)
Hand soap
EUR12,37

Dove 3in1 - Beauty Cream

Hard soap

7 ** Fino – Premium Touch Hair Mask**
This product’s being recommended left, right and centre. And yes, it delivers what it promises: suppleness, moisture and shine. But, in my eyes at least, it’s no game changer. For fine hair, the mask could be too much of a good thing. Thick brittle hair, on the other hand, might enjoy some deep care.

Fino Premium Penetrating Serum Hair Mask
Hair masks

Fino Premium Penetrating Serum Hair Mask

8 ** Lekker – Body Bar Coco-Nuts**
When I took the photo, I’d already placed a test product in the shower ready to replace my Dove Cream Bar. Since then I’ve used Lekker’s Body Bar several times and I have to say: it’s not for me. I was promised coconuts on the packaging. Yet I can’t make out the scent at all. All I can smell is the cardboard. I’ll give it a point for the shape – it sits perfectly in your hand. Currently, we don’t stock the coconut variant, but we do have «Very Berry».

9 ** Dove – Macadamia and Rice Milk Body Scrub**
Dove’s cream shower scrubs are great! Since «Pomegranate & Sheabutter» has done me well, I took a gamble on a new scent. The sad thing is, I’ve already used up the scrub in just two weeks. So, for now I’m using it to store a homemade formula.

Find out what’s in my mirror cabinet here:

Header image: Natalie Hemengül

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As a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions. 


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