Today, the ubiquitous trend of launching their own cosmetics, in which many world stars, such as Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Miranda Kerr, Jessica Alba, have additionally capitalized on their name, is also spreading in Croatia.

While it has long been a practice on the world showbiz scene to monetize as much as possible from the stardust of individual celebrities, this approach is still in its infancy here. Products launched by stars, on a global scale, often exceed their primary activity, so for example Rihanna, believe it or not, currently earns more from the sale of her cosmetic products (Fenty Beauty) than from music.

In Croatia, at least as far as brand visibility is concerned, La PIEL cosmetics, founded by the singer Lana Jurčević, is leading the way. Lana Jurčević proves that she is not “only” a beautiful voice, beautiful face and figure, but also a businesswoman with a well-thought-out strategy, by the fact that La PIEL products are almost impossible not to notice on many platforms and in almost all media. What I noticed two or three years ago, when I was unaware of the reach of that brand, was the enormous effort and work that the founder invests in the development of products and their quality.

founder of the La PIEL brand, Lana Jurčević

Gradually, as the visibility of the brand grew, so did my perception of an attractive singer. It is undeniable that in the meantime Lana has grown into a dedicated business woman to whom the success of her own brand is extremely important, but her focus on customer satisfaction is even more important.

In the sea of products that we are inundated with every day, the name of the celebrity behind the brand is not enough for the success of celebrity cosmetics, but primarily the quality of the products, which will enable them to be placed more permanently on the market.

In Croatian circumstances, in the conditions of the domestic economy, I would dare to say that in addition to the quality of the product, a dose of courage is also needed, as well as considerable investment in a team of experts, as well as in marketing. It is clear that local celebrities do not have business support behind them like Rihanna, so their entry into the market is even more of a bold move.

The La PIEL brand was launched three years ago, so in 2018, and the first product launched was Beach BABE, a bronze butter-oil with glitter.

I tried two La PIEL products (body milk & scrub), and I used them for a period of 2 months.

Coffee BABE peeling & Hydra BABE body skin care milk

Hydra BABE moisturizing milk – nourishing care for body skin

Hydra BABE rich moisturizing body skin care milk contains Q10, hyaluronic acid and 7 oils – argan, evening primrose oil, jojoba, almond, grape seed oil, olive oil and carrot oil. In addition to providing deep hydration thanks to hyaluronic acid, milk also acts as an antioxidant due to the Q10 in its composition. Many nourishing oils additionally nourish the skin with their beneficial effects and prevent it from drying out.

There is perfume in the composition, and the smell is pleasant and did not cause me any irritation.

Composition: Aqua/Water, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Prunus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Glycerin, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil , Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Ceteareth-20, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Lanolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Daucus Carota (Carrot) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum/Fragrance , Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q-10), Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Citral.

Hydra BABE milk has a rich texture, white color, spreads easily and is quickly absorbed into the skin. After applying to dry skin, it instantly reduces the feeling of tightness and dryness, and the skin is soft and elastic. It does not leave a greasy mark, nor does it remain on the surface of the skin, and after a morning shower and use, you can immediately get dressed without fear of getting your clothes dirty. The milk will last you a long time (a 250 ml package lasted me two months) because you only need to apply a little product.

La PIEL body milk is an excellent quality-price ratio considering the ingredients (Q10, hyaluronic acid, nourishing oils…).

Packaging: plastic bottle with pump of 250 ml

Price: HRK 159

Body peeling Coffee BABE

Coffee Babe body scrub removes dead skin cells, hydrates and leaves it renewed, soft and nourished. Also, according to the manufacturer, it works on minor irregularities on the skin (ingrown hairs, minor stretch marks and scars).

The scrub contains coffee seed powder and sugar that exfoliate the skin, oils (jojoba, almond and wheat germ) that hydrate it, and shea butter that softens it. 99.7% of the peeling ingredients are of natural origin.

Composition: Sucrose, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Germ) Oil, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Powder, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Parfum/Fragrance, Tocopheryl Acetate, Limonene.

Peeling is applied 1-2 times a week to damp body skin, massaged in circular motions from the neck to the feet and rinsed off. Also, in the case of very dry and rough skin (elbows, feet…) you can rub it daily only on those areas and then wash it off. If you want stronger exfoliation, use a body brush.

Peeling Coffee BABE very gently exfoliates dead skin cells, and after use, the skin is soft and so hydrated that after washing and wiping the skin, you hardly even need moisturizing lotion or milk. The smell is wonderful, a mixture of coffee and orange cakes, which does not linger on the skin. Considering that the peeling will last you for months and its natural composition enriched with shea butter, the price is acceptable.

Packaging: plastic container of 295 g

Price: HRK 139

La PIEL products do not contain ingredients of animal origin and are handmade in Croatia. In their products you cannot find parabens, silicones, mineral oils and they are of natural composition.

La PIEL products are available in dm and BIPA branches and on the web shop https://mylapiel.com