The Beauty Fence - Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip and Cheek Balm

Givenchy is one of those brands that have always been on my radar but only a few products actually got my attention so my exposure to their collections has been extremely limited. The quality, luxe packaging, and formulations match those of similarly priced brands such as Chanel and Dior so even though I was intrigued from time to time nothing stroke my fancy enough to make an investment. The few products I do own were carefully selected and preform beautifully but the brand as a whole remained overlooked and since Givenchy does not have a cosmetics counter in my city it was even easier to forget about it.

Readers of my blog are aware that I have a serious weakness when it comes to luxurious, pampering lip balms so when I discovered the Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip and Cheek Balms ($34.00 for 0.17 oz) I knew it was only a matter of time before I took the plunge and splurged on these adorable blue pots.
Who doesn't need a bit of magic in their life? 

Official Description;

Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip & Cheek Balm's innovative formula moisturizes and provides a flushed tint to lips and cheeks. It contains pigments that react with the skin's humidity to create a personalized hint of color to the lips and a delicate glow to the cheeks. Hyaluronic acid spheres bring moisture and fill in the dehydration lines and, by capturing water, these water-soaked spheres swell to increase the volume—thus providing a plumping action on lips and cheeks. Lips and cheeks are lipid-replenished by Luffa Oil, which is rich in fatty acids, and the glossy cream contains a texture with a melting and softening sensation.

The Givenchy Magic Lip and Cheek Balm is part of the "Hydra-Sparkling" skincare/makeup collection and just like the name implies was created to target moisture balance, hydration and skin rejuvenation. One of the key ingredients in this line-up are the hyaluronic acid spheres that not only deliver moisture but also plump the skin and fill any dehydration (fine) lines. The Magic Lip and Cheek Balm is said to capture water via the hyaluronic acid which in turn increase in volume and the final results being fuller, well-moisturized lip tissue. The Givenchy formulation also includes the unique Luffa Oil, rich in fatty acids whose main purpose is to replenish any lipid loss in both lips and cheeks.
There are two shades available - baby pink (glow-like rose) and a soft coral with a prominent orange undertone.

The first thing I noticed when these beauties arrived was the extremely tiny size of the pots themselves. Even though I find small things adorable I feel that the balms are extremely overpriced for the amount of product you actually get. I would be lying if i said i didnt feel a twinge of disappointment when I realized just how miniature these really were. However I was willing to forgive that detail if in fact the product preformed as good as I had expected from such a prestigious brand.
Did it disappoint in that aspect too?

The answer to that question is somewhat complicated because there are aspects of this Magic Balm that I absolutely love but on the other hand other features are for the lack of better word - annoying! After using this for a few months I can honestly conclude that this is a great lip product and at the same time a very inferior blush.

As a lip treatment the Givenchy Magic Lip & Cheek Balm preforms beautifully in terms of hydration and plumping. The pigmentation is sheer but that is to be expected from a "lip balm" so I can't fault it on that measure. It feels light and nourishing on and has a significantly longer longevity that some other comparably priced lip treatments. I definitively love the "pink" shade more because the sheer wash of colour achieves that glowy "doll-like" sheen that every girly girl dreams of getting. Compliments galore every time! 

As a "blush" the Magic Balm has some significant issues it needs to work on. The main problem is the thick texture which makes it very hard to work with as it remains slightly sticky no matter what application method I use. The pigmentation is lacking so layering is needed but because of the tackiness of the balm that is impossible. My long hair made that attribute even more noticeable because it kept sticking to the cheeks even after an hour of the initial use. A ponytail solved that problem of course but at that point I was already irritated with it. I would say if the texture was thinner the cheek application would be much more successful. 

I think you can now understand why I have such mixed feelings about the Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip and Cheek Balm! I love it on my lips and hate it on the cheeks so my verdict is well...confused! 

I would recommend it in a heartbeat as a glowy lip treatment - especially the pink version. However be wary of using it on your cheeks - it's a little unpleasant! 

You can purchase the Givenchy Magic Lip & Cheek Balm at our trusty Sephora and from various vendors on Amazon!

Have you tried the Givenchy Magic Balm? What were your thoughts?

As always thank you for reading :-)

XOXO

ANJA

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Benefit Cosmetics - Rockateur is a True Blush Rockstar

I feel as if Benefit Cosmeticsis a brand I have always been a huge fan of, so much so that I just couldn't help but LOVE them even when said products underwhelmed me or even totally disappointed me. I don't know what it is - the cute vintage packaging, clever advertising campaigns, cute girly colors or thoughtful customer service but regardless Benefit always wins me over.
The Rockateur ($28.00 for 0.17 oz) blush is an excellent reminder that my devotion was once again more than justified! I thought Benefit's Hervana was my ideal blush however in just about a week the Rockateur has changed all of that and is now on a pretty impossible pedestal. 

Spoken as a true blush fiend i have to say Benefit's Rockateur ($28.00) just might be my all time favorite blush and maybe even back-up worthy (you know...just in case!)

Official (lovely!) description;
Pick up the beat with a rush of heat! This rockin’ rose gold cheek powder gives a famously provocative flush that turns heads on-stage and off. The crowd will go wild for its sexy faceted design, accented in luxe gold. For an encore, the custom angled, dimensional brush gives rich, show-stopping payoff every time.

Directions for use;

Swirl brush over the powder & tap off excess. Sweep onto the apples of your cheeks & along your cheekbones.

Beauty Tip;

Rock a sexy flush and long lashes beyond belief…wear rockateur with Benefit’s bestselling they’re real! mascara.

First lets tackle the controversy that's been going around regarding the size of this Benefit boxed powder. If you already own some of the other blushes than you may have noticed that the average size of the previous boxes has been 7-8 gr while the Rockateur weighs only 5 gr and the price ($28.00) doesn't reflect that difference. Benefit Cosmetics has gone on record to explain themselves by indicating that the Rockateur is indeed softer than the other powders so layering any more of it could increase the chances of the blush itself cracking and crumbling throughout the course of normal handling. Thereby the stability of the formula required less product in the packaging so essentially we are dealing with a brand new product with the same price as the other blushes. The difference really didn't concern me one bit - the blush pigmentation is definitively superior to some of the others and the Rockateur really does feel different as well. Not to mention that if we are all honest with ourselves - how many blushes have you actually finished in your makeup lifetime? I rest my case :-)

The portability just like before can be an issue due to cardboard's questionable stability and durability but that's nothing new. Either way for me the blush inside is what matters and I admit however unpractical the packaging is rather fetching...to me anyways!

Upon closer inspection of the Rockateur powder I was surprised to see that its actually made up of two rosy gold shimmer sections with a subtle matte core in the middle of the "Rock" lettering. To me the shade is very similar to their Dallas powder but with a dusky cool rosy undertone with a lot of subtle shimmery sheen, not to be confused with glitter. This is a sophisticated, buttery soft, rosy gold sheen which on my fair to medium skin tone created a very dusky rose gold blush with a glimpse of a soft bronzer mixed in. The finish is a dewy, youthful satin sheen with just the right amount of pigment and subtle sparkle to avoid looking like the many rose-tone blushes I already own. I was nervous that it might look a bit metallic on my complexion however what I ended up with was a rosy sun-kissed effect that is somewhat tricky for me to achieve without using multiple products. There was absolutely no need to use a highlighter with the Rockateur blush - the glow was already there! 

My favorite part about the Rockateur Boxed Blush is how it actually feels on my skin! This is no ordinary powder at all - the formula gives a cooling-gel like sensation on the cheeks and it requires the lightest of touch both to apply and properly blend in. Its goof-proof and that't very important for me and my clumsiness! 

At the end of the day Benefit and Rockateur makes me feel beautiful and I bet it will do the same for you. 

At the end of the day that's all that matters :-)

Plus take a look at the commercial - who doesn't want a little bit of Rock in their life! 

Have you tried the Benefit Rockateur Boxed Blush? Which Benefit blush is your favorite?

XOXO

ANJA

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Benefit Cosmetics - Hervana

Let me start this review by disclosing that I have a huge love-hate relationship with Benefit Cosmetics, more so than with any other beauty brand. I love the clever ideas they come up with, the attractive retro-packaging, the cute ads splashed in magazines & websites and not to mention that I find their prices quite reasonable compared to some similar quality brands. I have personally purchased a great number of their products but for the most part no matter how much I want to love them I am always left disappointed or underwhelmed once i have the coveted item in my hands. I am not sure if my expectations are too high, if their advertising exaggerates or if i just don't understand how to use their stuff properly! I suspect its the combination of all three.

I am happy to say that Hervana is an exception in my Benefit experience. I didn't expect to like it as much as I do so that makes it even better in my eyes. 

Hervana is one of the famous Benefit Boxed Powders, released in January 2011 as permanent part of their blush line-up, which means that its been making the rounds with beauty queens for some time now. Benefit Cosmetics describes Hervana as "soft orchid-blossom flush", characterized by a whimsical pin-wheel design, consisting of four unique shades.

Lucky Shell can be described as a low-shimmer pale beige with peachy undertones

Divine Peach is true to its name as a warm peachy shade with soft gold shimmer

Heavenly Rose to me appears as satin warm peachy pink with strong coral undertones 

Berry Delight is the darkest shade and stands as blue-based dark pink with some plum underneath it all.

Combination of these four lovely shades and proper blending results in a very natural rosy blushing flush. I would even go as far as to say that it can translate in to a glow without any frost or risk of looking over the top. Pigmentation is fair, certainly not strong but that's actually one of the features I love the most about this blush. The color is natural, not artificial at all so I don't have to worry about over doing it despite the fact that I am quite fair. The low shimmer formula translates into a very soft satiny sheen, meaning that this will never emphasize your pores in a bad way like some shimmery blushes easily do. The formulation of the powder is very soft and smooth which is surprising since other similar powders can cause a dust of fall-out where as Hervana has no issues like that. Staying power is impressive, especially over a primer and I didn't notice any fading for about 6 hours. I like pairing it with a cream blush and that extends the wear time even longer. 

Since the finished product gives that "natural blushing cheeks" effect I believe that the color would look good on both warm and cool toned complexions. However since pigmentation is not very strong, those with darker skin-tones may not be satisfied with the color punch on its own but that could be improved by layering it with a cream or gel blush underneath to give it more "pop".  

In conclusion I would classify Benefit's Hervana as an ideal everyday blush, that is neutral enough to go with everything and seems to inspire a fun spring flush on my cheeks. Its goof-proof for me and I love pairing it with a rosy pink lipstick for a that ever popular less is more look.

Benefit Cosmetics have redeemed themselves and definitively brought my attention to their products once again. 

You can purchase Hervana and other Benefit cosmetics directly on their site here or at our trusty Sephora. 

Have you tried Hervana or other Benefit cosmetics? Love or Hate? What is your everyday blush?

XOXO

ANJA  

P.S. If you enjoyed this post and want some more Princeza Beauty Musings, please consider following me through GFC, Bloglovin, Pinterest or Twitter! Insert "happy dance" here :-) 

The Blushing Wardrobe The Pink Edition

If an "outside" person came to look at and attempt to scrutinize my makeup collection, I already know which issue would be #1 topic of discussion...

Blushes! Glorious Blushes! How many blushes does one girl need? Well apparently according to me - at least 10 of each shade! Unfortunately even though i am aware of this rather uncomfortable fact, I know myself well enough to know that I will once again be powerless at the allure of getting that new flush maker. 

I love bright colors, pink makes me happy, shimmer makes me pretty, cute packaging makes me giddy and even though i don't see the point of all these Limited Edition pieces designed to get us into a frenzy, I will admit that some of my favorites happen to be long discontinued. 

A few months ago I decided to go ahead and clean out my vanity, take inventory and do a bit of a purge of the things that i wasn't using at all and see if there are holes in my collection that may need to be filled. 

Upon realizing that i had 20+ pink blushes and not a lot of variation in the other shades I came up with the concept of Blush Wardrobe. 

I believe that just as there is a red lipstick shade for each girl there is also a blush in each color family that flatters specific skin tones. There is a "correct" pink, a red, a peach, a coral and a neutral blush for everyone's coloring; its all a matter of trial and error, swatching, testing and application technique. Trying and swatching is the only way to make sure that a particular shade works for your own Blush Wardrobe - especially since the color of the blush in the pan can sometimes be extremely different from what it will actually look like on your skin. And don't even bother trying to rely on shade pictures online since more often than not the color shown is nothing like the real thing. Shimmer or glitter in blushes is another reason why a blush needs to be swatched  first - the amount of these "sparkles" is highly subjective since something shimmery to me can translate to chunky glitter on someone else. 

The Blushing Wardrobe will obviously take a long time to complete and since there are constant new brands & new collections to try, the blush wardrobe much like your fashion one is always evolving. 

Here are my picks - blushes i use often and colors that seem to flatter my pale Mediterranean skin tone!

*My Signature Pink Choices: 

Christian Dior Rosy Glow Awakening Blush: bright, awakening pink blush whose depth depends on the individuals moisture levels. It starts off as pale pastel pink, evolves into a rosy flush and finishes with pinky glow.

NARS Gaiety Powder Blush is simply described as bright candy pink and i really couldn't agree more. What I love about this particular shade is that even though the pigmentation is very strong, the color itself remains true to its nature - pale but prominant barbie pink.

Rock & Republic Contrived Blush in Tease 

Rock & Republic makeup line is now long gone and I for one miss it. The line had amazing quality, packaging to die for, strong pigmentation, trendy shades and was relatively affordable. Why they discontinued it I'll never understand! R&R cool factor was definitively represented by their line up of beautiful blushes, bronzers and highlighters. I am seriously kicking myself for not having them ALL! 

My third pick for my  Blush  Wardrobe is one of their less celebrated shades - Tease! This little gem looks like its a cross between a lilac and baby pink peonies, resulting in a very unique mauve shade that makes my cheeks glow in a very understated way.

By Terry Rose De Rose Sheer Liquid Blush in Fresh Rose (01)

By Terry is one of my favorite brands when it comes to both makeup and skin care and this blush was my introduction to their Rose world! The beautiful pink pigment in this blush comes from actual rose petals, which is confirmed by the true rose scent - there isn't anything artificial about this kind of radiance. I love using this on the weekends with minimal makeup to produce healthy glow with my rose cheeks

I will be adding swatches to this post very shortly so come back if you are interested
The Blushing Wardrobe the Berry Edition coming soon

What are your favorite pink blushes?

XOXO

ANJA

P.S. If you enjoyed this post and want some more Princeza Beauty Musings, please consider following me through GFC, Bloglovin, Pinterest or Twitter! Insert "happy dance" here :-)

The Collection - Paul & Joe Disney Face Colors - Flower and Bambi

In this post I will introduce you to two of my favourite pieces from my collection - prepare to be overwhelmed by cuteness

As a true beauty enthusiast and a long-time Disney fan I knew I wanted and "needed" these two Paul & Joe collectibles! Unfortunately I discovered them long after their release, meaning they were already sold out, had already reached collectible status and were selling on Ebay for a $100. However once I focus on something I want, I go for it full force and find a way! After paying a ridiculous sum of money a way was found and I was the proud owner of the cutest blushes in the world. I have no regrets at all.

The "Flower" (skunk) Classical Pink 002 blush is the loveliest Barbie baby pink blush I have ever seen. It manages to be intensely pigmented but also retain its "paleness" on the cheeks, giving you that slightly flushed doll look. It has that instant "oh pretty" look! The blush itself is made up of evenly pink pigment balls with slight shimmer to them, nestled in a sturdy cardboard box along with a cute puff on top - as you can see the packaging is adorable as well. Both blushes are 25g or 0.88oz so you are definitively getting a lot of product in each box so I seriously doubt I will ever use these up, which is perfectly fine with me :-)

The "Bambi" Classic Peach 001 gives you a peachy-light coral flush and its definitively the more matte shade of the two blushes. The adorable packaging is exactly the same as the "Flower" but with everyone's favourite Bambi on the box. As adorable the mini puff is, its not very efficient or suitable to apply blush to the cheeks without it being patchy or "stamped on" so I always use one of the many blush makeup brushes I have and my problem is solved :-)

Even though these blushes are no longer available, unfortunately for me Paul & Joe is releasing adorable cosmetics every season and some are too irrisistable to resist - check them out here

I hope you enjoyed this post - What are your most prized makeup pieces?

XOXO

ANJA

P.S. If you enjoyed this post and want some more Princeza Beauty Musings, please consider following me through GFC, Bloglovin, Pinterest or Twitter! Insert "happy dance" here :-)