The Beauty Of Naturally Enhanced Body Oils - Hydration At Its Best!

If you have dry skin or sensitivity that comes along with that blessing then you already know the upcoming cold weather is something we need to arm ourselves for.
The weapons of choice are luxurious, nourishing, soothing and ultra-protective moisturizing potions, capable of kicking ass even through the extremes of Canadian winters. Up here in the great white north we not only have to deal with ridiculously low temperatures but the accompanying arctic cold winds as well. Since my home is right on the Bay of Fundy the sharp, freezing winds can do a number on my already delicate dry skin! Luckily I am a weather veteran now so my arsenal is well stocked with some awesome defensive moisture bombs. 

There are a lot of rich, hydration driven formulations out there that do a great job of protecting my skin but my secret weapon that elevates the whole experience to the highest level possible are naturally inspired body oils. Adding just a few golden drops can transform a simple moisturizing lotion into a ultra-nourishing body treatment. 

If you are worried about the greasy after effects (rightfully so!) you'll be happy to hear that body oil formulas have evolved so much in the past decade, making them very user-friendly and definitely trial-worthy. 

I wanted to share a few body oils that have been rocking my world and ones I would recommend to anyone year-round! 

Mother Nature brings it big time!

Caudalie Divine Oil ($52.00 for 3.4 oz)

I have already expressed my love and deep admiration for this French wonder (review here!) so including this was a no-brainer. The luxurious fragrance celebrates the essence of Moroccan and Bulgarian roses, pure Vanilla notes and traces of Cedar and White Musk. The olfactory sensationalism combined with skin loving natural oils creates a formula that not only moisturizes your parched skin but also makes you happy about using it. As usual the Caudalie signature grape seed oil along with Sesame Seed, Argan and Hibiscus oils creates a velvety, silky canvas that sinks in quickly, leaving no grease but only radiant fragrance behind. The charming amber-tinted, vintage glass bottle, topped with a "wood-like" cap only adds to its appeal and the starry blogosphere raves only reinforce its classic Parisian feel. Tres chic - if you ask me!

Cowshed Bath & Body Oils ($31.00 for 3.38 oz)

The British share the same moisture dilemma as Canadians so its no surprise that the niche UK  Cowshed brand really knows how to make a product that effectively meets our hydration needs. This adorable beauty brand battles the freeze and dryness that accompanies it with fairly traded plant extracts, organic ingredients and proven therapeutic botanicals, all blended together into one hard working body oil. The potent formula includes cranberries, grape-seeds, sesame and sweet almond oils, all which penetrate deep beyond the skin surface to hydrate and restore body's own natural moisture balance. The addition of essential fragrance oils is there to highlight their aromatherapy potential and is sure to satisfy even the pickiest olfactory experts! My ultimate favorite is the Moody Cow Balancing Bath & Body Oil where linden blossom and rose geranium freshness kicks into high gear and lulls me into relaxation mode regardless of how bad of a day I might have had. The fact that my skin is left soft, silky and comfortably smooth is obviously a major bonus!
If you value products free from nasty parabens, preservatives, sulfates, artificial fragrances and unnecessary colors then Cowshed is the safely the way to go!

Yon-Ka Huile Corps Body Oil ($62.00 for 3.38 oz)

I am not even surprised that yet another one of my favorites is indeed a French product. Yon-Ka is a Parisian brand whose catch phrase "Quintessence of the phyto-aromatic care" could not be more spot on with their products. Everything they make has that aromatherapy touch that is as lovely to use as its beneficial for our essential well-being - let me tell you, health has never smelled so good! 

The Yon-Ka Huile Corps is a fresh and sensual body oil that beautifully marries the herbal note of Sage with a soak in Lavender. Normally grassy-scents like this would not be appealing to a gourmand-lover girly girl such as myself but this combination has a very distinct crisp sweet undertone that provides the aura of absolute serenity to even my judgmental senses. The oily goodness pampers my dry skin by restoring suppleness, smoothing out any flaky, irritated patches and providing a protective barrier on the surface that prevents further moisture loss. It might be my imagination or wishful thinking but whenever i use this my skin feels warm and comfortably cozy, which is a huge bonus during the winter months. The sophisticated golden wonder is presented in a frosted glass bottle which only drives the French exclusivity and just makes you feel that you are using something very special!

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil ($65.00 for 100 ml)

My love for REN has been well established on this blog and a major portion of my bathroom is dedicated to their skincare essentials. It took me a little longer to sample their body care products but once I did, unsurprisingly their goodness had me hooked almost immediately. Seeing how my love of all things REN was combined with rose essence in their Moroccan Rose Body Care Collection I just knew it was only a matter of time before these became my new must-haves.
The Rose scent in the Moroccan Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil is as natural as it gets and completely intoxicating! This is the kind of product that you open up during the day just to give your olfactory senses a little treat. Using the complimentary REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil ($48.00 for 110 ml) prior slathering the body oil all over is one of the most relaxing, sensual and luxurious experience I have ever had in my own little bathroom.
Essentially if you love roses and clean ingredient beauty then give REN a try - no disappointment or regret at all!

Josie Maran Moroccan Argan Body Oil in Balance ($35.00 for 1.7 oz)

My love for all things roses continues with this Josie Maran powerhouse. The universally loved Rose Damascena is the star of this simplistic one-dimensional scented Argan Oil based body moisturizer so its no surprise that the scent just explodes once it hits your skin. It remains uncluttered in the blend of Argan, Apricot, Sweet Almond, Safflower, Sesame, Avocado, and Olive Fruit oils, meaning that it will dominate no matter how you choose to use this emollient rich moisturizer. The formula also contains the discrete essence of the Vitamin C rich Pomelo Grapefruit oil whose benefits include treating muscle fatigue, hair growth, skin tone improvement and even acne treatment. The beautiful rose however dilutes this almost completely so had I not done my research I would have never detected it on my own.
Despite the fact that Josie Maran markets this as a body oil treatment the little beauty rebel in me has used this as a hair mask, cuticle treatment, subtle rose perfume and a very sensual and effective massage oil.
I am more than a little impressed!

J.R. Watkins Coconut Milk & Honey Body Oil Mist ($8.99 for 6 oz)

As a self-confessed gourmand lover the J.R.Watkins Coconut Milk & Honey Body Oil Mist delivers a dollop of sweetness coupled with deep hydration at a price we can all live with!
J.R. Watkins is an apothecary budget brand that once again proof that we don't have to sacrifice good-for-you ingredients and high delivery formula when choosing a drugstore brand. Their products are made without any no mineral oil, petrolatum, glycols, silicone's, synthetic dyes or any of the other traditional chemical nasties.
The basis of this vitamin enriched body oil mist are the carrier Almond and Apricot Kernel oils which are easily absorbed into the skin and are especially recommended for dehydrated, delicate, distressed, mature and sensitive skin. The rich fatty acids help soothe any inflammation, revitalize the skin and even fight fine lines in aging mature skin. The candied scent from 100% natural Coconut Milk & Honey fragrances leave a scrumptiously fruity veil of moisture, which penetrates immediately with its sheer viscosity and leaves no greasy or tacky residue.
Its essentially good enough to eat!

Mama Mio OMega Wonder-Full Rescue Balm ($30.25 for 30 ml)

To be fair this little wonder is not a body oil in the traditional sense but it does serve a similar purpose and its texture melts into an oil form when applied to the skin. I felt that it deserved a mention because of its ultra-targeted moisture properties and the practical fact that since it comes in airtight, plastic, pump functioning bottle its also very TSA air travel friendly. That fact alone makes it an amazing find and its "nasties-free" ingredient promise is just like the icing on the cake. The results are pretty impressive too!
Its formula features Meadowfoam, Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Carott Seed Oil and the trendy Manuka Oil, all of which create a balm worthy of your driest patches. The Mama Mio OMega Wonder-Full Rescue Balm scent is very nostalgic for me and reminds me of my teenage favorite Loves Baby Soft perfume with its subtle rose powdery softness. Once again aromatherapy at its finest!
The matching Mama Mio OMega Body Oil ($35.00 for 5 oz) with its Sweet Almond, Jojoba, Argan and Safflower oils can be layered over the balm for irresistibly comfortable, deeply hydrated skin for a truly baby soft scent experience.

Just a few years ago if someone would have told me that I would be using oils on my face and body I never would have believed it! My aversion of feeling greasy and slippery stopped me from giving these moisturizing innovations a try for a long time. Today things are obviously very different :-)

Do you have a favorite Body or Face Oil?

Thank you for reading

XOXO

ANJA

Body Care Moisturization - Worth it!?

Lets face it, body moisturizing is neither the most fun nor the most glamorous beauty activity of your day! I don't know what is more bothersome, the actual application or that "waiting game" after the process itself.

Feeling greasy and slimy is not my definition of beauty and yet I continue to mindlessly apply, reapply and smooth on various concoctions all over my body, almost daily!

Body moisturizers might not be the stars of my beauty regiments and yet if I skimp on them even for a day, my skin lets me know in a very red and itchy kind of way. Things can get even more dicy during those cold Canadian winters so when the temperatures go down I begin my lotion hoarding. The search for the perfect body lotion for my overreactive, sensitive skin has sent me down some questionable paths before but I carried on, only to emerge with a few bottles that I actually "like" using. Don't get me wrong I still find body moisturization cumbersome at best but with these creams of the crop the act itself is just a tiny but more enjoyable. 

There are a few features that I look for when shopping for a body care product, little details that make a bottle stand out in the sea of endless plastic, perfumy potions. 

The thing that is probably most important is surprisingly the price itself. For a girl with a collection of high end makeup items, skimping and scrutinizing prices like this can be somewhat of a foreign experience. However since I tend to use a lot of lotion on a daily basis a $100 bottle is not going to last very long so I have learned to improvise and recognize good ingredients and quality brands that I can afford to use copious amounts of. The Drugstore, Etsy and Handmade body products are the gold mine for great formulations and good prices joined harmoniously in a wonderful product. 

The second thing I pay a lot of attention to is ingredients in the formula. Just because I am looking at lower priced products doesn't mean I am willing nor do I have to sacrifice skin loving ingredients. Concentration of said ingredients is also important so when looking at the bottle information make sure to pay attention what is at the beginning of the list. There are a lot of brands out there that taut certain emollients on the bottle but in reality only contain minuscule amounts of it. The obvious moisture magnets are Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Almond Oil, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Macadamia Oil and the new comers Argan & Marula Oils.

The things you want to avoid are high concentrations of mineral oil and alcohol, silicones, parabens and petrochemicals. A lot of small, indie type brands are the front-runners when it comes to showcasing the heavy-duty emollient properties of natural ingredients. Their prices are very reasonable and the formula is usually very concentrated, which means the longevity of the product itself is extended and a little bit will go a long way. 

Another important attribute I look for is specific fragrance of the lotion itself. Now I am not talking about scented lotions like the ones from Bath & Body Works - those are made more for the scent than actual moisturizing power. My top lotions are either unscented or have a light fragrance that's not going to compete with perfume or body spray I may choose to use during the day. Fragrance layering is great for certain occasions but for everyday use I need a heavy-duty lotion that will primarily hydrate and soften my skin. I prefer for the scent to lightly linger on my body but doesn't overpower or interfere with the many other products I pile on during my beauty routine. If that wasn't enough, my girly nature also requires a fragrance I thoroughly enjoy! 

The last feature I scrutinize is texture of the lotion and it's absorbency factor. I may need deep hydration but that doesn't mean I am willing to wait around for the body lotion to absorb and settle in to my skin (especially in winter). The greasy, slimy residue is one of the main things that makes body moisturization the unpleasant ritual that it is. Avoiding that alone will make the task easier to stick to. Rich lotions that sink in quickly is a tricky combination to achieve so when you find "the one" I suggest hard core loyalty. It has taken me ages to find my ideal matches. 

The lotions that I personally swear by I'll go as far as say that I "love" using are: Desert Essence Spicy Vanilla Chai Hand and Body Lotion ($8.99 for 8 fl.oz.), Korres Yogurt Body Butter ($33.00 for 7.95 fl.oz.), Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter ($45.00 for 235 ml), The Body Shop Honeymania Body Butter ($20.00 for 200 ml) and  Nourish Organic Body Lotion in Almond Vanilla ($16.00 for 8 fl.oz.)
Even though I have my perenial favorites which are no doubt going to make their appearance during the upcoming cold, snowy Canadian Winter, I am most excited about the MuLondon Organic White Chocolate Elbow, Knee & Heel Cream ($32.00 for 2 oz). If its half as good as their Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturizer (reviewed here!) I will be over the moon with it. Both will be re-ordered shortly :-)

I hope this was helpful to you!

What are your favorite body lotions? Any favorites I need to know about?

XOXO

ANJA

Canadian Beauty - Marcelle Nutrilux Supreme Nourishing Hand Cream

*Warning - This post includes some personal, non-beauty content so if you are not into that, please click away and come back tomorrow for some more musings on the like!

I am sure that the title of my blog The Canadian Princeza tells you that I am indeed a proud Canadian and identify as such proudly and wholeheartedly. Like a lo
t of Canadians I wasn't born here and my biological ancestry has absolutely nothing to do with North America or Canada for that matter but nonetheless this is where I found a happy home and where I know I belong.
The second part of the blog name, Princeza, is a Serbian word meaning Princess and was chosen to identify the other part of my identity...you know the Non-Canadian one.
I was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Hercegovina which was a republic in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in Eastern Europe, near Greece, Hungary and Italy (no it was never part of USSR). Confused yet?
Don't bother goggling it - Yugoslavia no longer exists, they broke it, we cried and the rest is as they say history.

In honor of my new homeland I decided to start a new post series - Canadian Beauty, and my own little way celebrate and feature brands that come from the Great North! If it has a Canadian stamp and I can get a hold of it then it will be talked about so if you guys have brand or product suggestions please point me in the right direction :-)

The first brand featured in the Canadian Beauty series is Marcelle, which is a higher-end drugstore skincare & makeup brand with a "simplicity and celebrating women" as their main philosophy. Their collections combine innovative formulas, trend oriented colors and classic-staple products, that allow their consumers to express their unique style and personality without sacrificing quality and ingredient selection.

Marcelle might be a drugstore brand but there is nothing about their packaging or product feel that would indicate that in any way. In fact in my experience Marcelle is just as good and in some cases even superior in both look and performance than a lot of its department-store counterparts. Their skincare is science backed, targets various skin conditions and is categorized based on the age of their demographic and general skin type.

Being a Canadian brand they obviously understand what it means to a be a woman in these parts and their Nutrilux collection is a perfect companion to our cold, drying winters when thin lotions or body creams just aren't enough to care and protect the skin from the sometimes harsh weather conditions.

The Marcelle Nutrilux Supreme Nourishing Hand Cream ($12.99 for 2.5 oz) is described quite simply as a paraben-free, non-greasy "nutrition for the skin", created specifically for normal to very dry skin.

Ingredients;
Aqua/Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Iso-Propyl Myristate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Petrolatum Simondsia Chinensis, (jojoba) Seed Oil, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Xylitylglucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii (shea) Butter, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone Anhydroxlitol, Xylitol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Stearamidoethyl Dethylamine, Cetrimonium Bromide, Triethanolamine, Lactic Acid, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Sorbic Acid. 

The key formula ingredients that are said to "feed" the skin include the deeply hydrating Shea Butter and Jojoba Oil and the reparative Allantoin and Pro-Vitamin B5.

Marcelle managed to create a hand cream that is rich but not-greasy, thin in texture but nourishing in feel and velvet-like in finish but protective in terms of function. Basically its perfection in a tube and hands down the best hand cream I have ever used.

The Nutrilux Hand Cream promises to soothe cracked and fragile skin, melts into your hands within seconds, comforts irritation immediately and leaves your hands soft and supple.
Your hands or any other area you choose to use this on will look and feel much better with each use but more importantly you will be able to sense the protection layer without that typical silicone, slippery residue.

I use a lot more moisturizer than most girls because my skin is very reactive, sensitive, dry, flaky and prone to various irritations. Canadian winters can be extremely harsh for my skin and any exposed "areas" can easily blister, experience wind-burn and turn bright red after only a short time outdoors. Most hand creams hydrate and repair my skin after the fact BUT Marcelle Nutrilux Supreme Nourishing Hand Cream is the only one that I have used that actually protects that "delicate" surface so it doesn't dehydrate in the first place.

I would recommend this hand cream and the entire Nutrilux range to anyone with dry, sensitive skin and not just for us Canadians. The texture of this is light and velvety, which means that its suitable for year-round, any climate kind of use. Honestly I can't praise it enough!
Made in Canada is a good thing!

You can purchase all Marcelle products at Shoppers Drug Mart, Guardians, Lawtons and online from their own website here!

Thank you for reading

Have you tried Marcelle? Which product was your favorite?

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 Princeza House Brand - The Body Shop

I am sure I am not alone in this but have you ever looked around your humble abode or taken an inventory of your cosmetic stash, only to realize that some brands seem to repeat over and over. It just seems like there are particular brands or product types that keep reappearing,  but its only when I took a closer look at what I already have that I noticed a specific pattern. I looked around every product stash I have, pulled out products from very surprising locations (shoe boxes?), emptied out numerous purses and rediscovered "lost" items throughout the house - all in the name of organization and beauty blogging of course.

However being the hopeless beautiholic that I am, I manged to spin the embarrassing amount of cosmetics I have accumulated into yet another blog post series. This time around I will not only be examining and featuring products I own but I will also be spot-lighting "house brands" who based on the sheer amount and repurchases have obviously become more than trustworthy.

I believe in giving credit where credit is due so I want to give these sometimes underrated and obviously neglected beauty products their well-deserved, overdue 5 minutes of fame.
Before I start I want to clear one thing up - this is absolutely not a a paid or a sponsored post nor did I receive any products for review from The Body Shop. The only thing this post shows is that I obviously have no self-control when it comes to numerous sales they have each year and more importantly their products work great and deserve the praise they receive.

First up is The Body Shop whose entire inventory seems to have landed in my bedroom and bathroom but I can't complain because their time-tested, skin-loving ingredients, smart formulations and low prices give everyone a chance to make the most of their skin care regiments. On top of that their background and philosophy is commendable, admirable and makes me want to support them even more!
The Body Shop was not only one of the first beauty companies to start up and encourage recyclable packaging but they were the pioneers of fair trade ingredients and bans on animal testing. They concentrate on using natural ingredients, making sure they are ethically sourced and more than earn their cruelty-free stamp. I feel it is all those attributes that have earned them world-wide popularity and customer loyalty to boot. Evidently that factor is very evident at my house!

The Body Shop specialty has always been body care but in the past few years their skincare and makeup collections have started stealing the show. Each year they continue to release superior science-backed formulations, with relative natural ingredients, innovative combinations and amazing performance results. For me The Body Shop products is what I reach for when I need something that will absolutely work - its reliable, guilt-free and always smells amazing. How can I lose?
My absolute body care favorites are the Strawberry Shower Gel, the amazing Satsuma Soap, the reliable Peppermint Cooling Pumice Foot Scrub and who can forget the yumminess of their Banana Conditioner. Even though there are much more affordable versions of their bath accessories elsewhere I find that investing a bit more at The Body Shop will guarantee that I don't have to replace them as often! Its really a win-win because paying a little more gives me better quality, significant durability and my purchase always supports community fair trade! Recently their Africa Shea Butter & Sesame Body Balm has been making a frequent appearance in my bathroom and I can see a definite repurchase very soon!

Who hasn't tried the famous Body Butters yet? They are top sellers for a reason - deep moisturization, gorgeous fragrance and clean ingredients, all combined in one of the most decadents tubs ever made. The matching Lip Butters are just as good and make for an amazing overnight lip treatment that never disappoints. Their newer Born Lippy Stick Balm in Lychee has been getting a lot of game play around here ever since it came home with me last week. Now I wish I had gotten more!
If I had to pick an all time favorite The Body Shop product and one that will be getting a more in depth review soon, then the Beautifying Oils win hands down. I can't get enough of them after a shower or a bath plus a few drops in my hair gives me that subtle fragrance and hydration that is more than needed during the hot summers. They are cheap, good for the skin, smell amazing and last a long time. Sounds like a HG to me!

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The Body Shop skincare was somehow overlooked by me for a long time however ever since i wandered into that corner, each time I come home I seem to add yet another piece to my stash. The Tea Tree Oil, Vitamin E Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes and the Aloe Calming Toner have been staples for years but recently I have been hooked on their amazing Vitamin C Facial Radiance Capsules, which are definitively getting their own review. Lets just say that I had results and compliments within days. The Nutriganics Skin Care Starter Kit is ready for travel, airplane friendly, complete and gentle enough for those transition periods when you don't want to shock your skin too much! The Wise Woman Eye Cream and the Blue Corn 3 in 1 Deep Cleansing Scrub Mask have been getting a lot of buzz so they are now definitively on my radar and wish list. 

Just like their skincare The Body Shop makeup line-up has been a more recent discovery but if the products I have tried so far are testament to their quality then I can see a lot more orders in my future. The All-In-One BB Cream is a star in my opinion and provides such great coverage without leaving your complexion flat or caky one bit. It actually leaves the skin with a very dewy, youthful glow that lasts for hours. Their Shimmer Cubes are popular for a reason and I can see myself collecting all of their colors easily. Once again they last a long time, look amazing on and are priced so low that I would recommend them to everyone.

My weakness for highlighters was more than satisfied with their Brush On Radiance Balls  and the Sparkler, which are two products that have surpassed my expectations, preformed amazingly and even decorated my vanity. I couldnt be happier with them!

The Body Shop is obviously a brand that has all the Princeza needs covered :-)

Now that you can all see just how much I love The Body Shop hopefully you can recommend some of their products I might have overlooked? 

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 :-) 

Completing the Collection - Caudalie Divine Scrub

I am not even sure how this scrub happened to me? The only product I was to allow myself was the Caudalie Divine Oil since that was somewhat practical for the summer months but the other two, Divine Legs & Divine Scrub, were to be left behind until I used at least some of the overwhelming bottles littering my homey-beauty place.
Obviously that didn't work out very good because here I am with a smug grin on my face, staring at the entire Caudalie Divine collection, nestled beautifully in the small beauty cabinet next to my vanity table. I will admit that I do feel a little bit guilty and I am sure my conscience will bother me significantly after a few weeks but for now I am giddy with excitement, with a dreamy-glazed look plastered on my face and a brain buzzing with possibilities, daydreaming of a possible "tanned" beach bunny inspired vision. 
I think its safe to say that I have a problem! 

The Caudalie Divine collection is one of the latest summer-inspired body care releases by the wonderful French brand, whose philosophy and formulation relies directly on the patented vinotherapie concept, which utilizes the anti-oxidant properties of grapes to care and protect your skin. The Divine line-up is no exception to this rule so its no surprise that all parts of the collection are chock-full of skin-loving ingredients that beautify and protect at the same time.

Today I want to introduce you to the last piece of the Caudalie Divine set which is the Divine Body Scrub and if you would like to see my reviews of the Divine Legs & Oil first just click here and here

Description;

A softening scrub with brown sugar and four natural plant oils, featuring a signature Divine fragrance. 

Divine Scrub gently exfoliates dead skin cells for luxuriously soft, delicately fragranced skin. It features four natural plant oils—grape, argan, hibiscus, and sesame—and the signature Divine fragrance of grapefruit, rose, pink pepper, vanilla, cedar, and white musk.

Ingredients;

Sucrose*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil*, Glyceryl Stearate*, Glyceryl Distearate*, Polyglyceryl-5 Dioleate*, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax*, Parfum (Fragrance), Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil*, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract*, Tocopherol* Hibiscus Sabdariffa Seed Oil*, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil*, Benzyl Salicylate*, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional

As a girly-girl that truly enjoys pampering and everything that comes with it, my experience with body scrubs is quite extensive and I definitively have certain preferences that i stick to. 
For me an ideal body scrub needs to be "scrubby" enough to gently polish the skin without being too abrasive and harsh, but not so light that it melts away before the job is done. Even though I enjoy both sugar and salt based exfoliants, my preferred choice will always be the formula spiked with essential oils that manage to hydrate my skin in the shower without being too greasy and without leaving a slippery residue that feels heavy after rinsing. A body scrub formula that combines naturally sourced ingredients and leaves the "nasties" in the chemistry lab, will always get bonus points from me as well.

The Caudalie Divine Scrub fulfills and even exceeds every single one of those requirements (amazing!). The texture is very dense and as such easy to scoop out of the jar, without worrying too much about spillage and waste. The application and feel on my skin is reminiscent of a micro-derm abrasion treatment that continually transforms into a creamier substance, losing its "grit" gradually and eventually melting away in a milky, silkening emulsion.

The "buffing" ingredient in this scrub is brown sugar which is further enhanced by the addition of four naturally hydrating exotic plant oils - grape, hibiscus, sesame and argan. This combination moisturizes, softens and lusciously nourishes the skin before you even step out of the shower.
The alluring Divine scent only further enhances this pampering routine by the same combination of
zesty grapefruit, fiery pink pepper, and calming vanilla, found in the Caudalie Divine Legs & Oil. 

After all is said and done, I admit that I am actually very happy I broke down and got the final two Divine products. Every single piece of the collection preforms beautifully on its own but when all three combine, the Divine feeling is obviously magnified significantly and its something I recommend everyone try at least once.

Since the Caudalie Divine Scrub is a little bit on the pricy side ($38.00 for 5.3 fl.oz.) and there are so many other body scrubs I want to try at some point, I cant say that this will be my primary exfoliant. However I would definitively repurchase this and use it with the other Divine products, especially when I need some extra TLC and some "bronzy" goodness!

For more information and to purchase the Caudalie Divine Collection just visit their direct website, our trusty Sephora and Amazon.

I hope this was helpful

Have you tried the Caudalie Divine Collection? Do you have a favorite body scrub?

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 :-) 

To Bronze or Not to Bronze - Caudalie Divine Legs

There are a lot of reasons why I have always shied away from any kind of bronzers or tan enhancing products. I don't like orange, I am not capable of pulling off the "dirty" look, tanning product scents are just plain offensive to me  and most importantly those "leathery skin" people freak me out.

Sure, there was a time when I envied some of my friends who were able to achieve that "bronze goddess" look and there was that summer when I seriously flirted with the idea of tanning bed memberships but thankfully the fixation never reached epic proportions and I came to my senses. 

Despite being beauty and makeup conosseur, my bronzer application technique is severely lacking and no matter how much I try or which product i use, more often than not my attempt just ends up making me look dirrty (wash your face kind of dirty!). 

Today I have finally accepted my "fair - alabaster" complexion, I use a lot of high-quality sunscreens and stick to highlighters and good skincare  to achieve that "glow" we are searching off.

For the most part I am perfectly fine with my "paleness" and I am comforted by the fact that I am not exposed to harmful sun rays that I would need to worry about later on in life. 

However every once in a while, during the summer, a "bronzer-type" product will be released and following who-knows, what kind of logic, i end up coming home with yet-another "promising" item that is certainly going to transform my skin completely. 

Most of the new arrivals turn out to be disappointments as expected and end up being tossed into a designated "sunshine" box that I pass on to others quite regularly. 

Not too long ago I finally added the Caudalie Divine Oil to my body care collection and with it I received some very generous travel sized extras of a few of Caudalie's best sellers. 

One of the samples included was the Caudalie Divine Legs mini tube. I had every intention of putting it away for my "sun box" but I fell in love with the Divine fragrance and seeing how the Divine Legs  was scented the same, curiosity got the best of me and I resolved to actually give it a "proper try" before passing judgment and  condemning it completely. 

I expected to be disappointed and had absolutely no expectations regarding its preformance, so the fact that I liked it was unexpected and even more exciting. 

Caudalie's Divine Legs gave me some much needed bronzed hope. 

Description;
This ultralight tinted body lotion gives legs an instant sunkissed glow and adds radiance to already tanned legs, without any of the downsides of a self-tanner. The universal tint blends perfectly with all skintones and dries in an instant, creating a beautiful, bronze finish.

Directions for Use;

- Apply to legs on clean and dry skin.
- Removes easily with water at the end of the day.

Key Ingredients;

Chicory Extract, Carob Extract, Grape Oil, Copper and Gold Pearlizers

Complete Ingredient List;

Water, Cichorium Intybus (Chicory) Root Extract*, Caramel*, Glycerin*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil*, Methylpropanediol, Coco-Caprylate*, Isostearyl Isostearate*, Parfum (Fragrance), Arachidyl Alcohol*, Myristyl Alcohol*, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glyceryl Caprylate*, Behenyl Alcohol*, Mica, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexyldecanol*, Hexyldecyl Laurate*, Myristyl Glucoside*, Arachidyl Glucoside*, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Ci 77491 (Iron Oxides), Tocopheryl Acetate*, Xanthan Gum, Inositol*, Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Phenylpropanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Sodium Phytate*, Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf Extract*, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Serine, Sorbitol*, Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Urea, Sodium Chloride, Allantoin*, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol (133/018). *Plant origin.

Initially when I saw this I wrongly assumed this was a self-tanning product, which worked by either building up your tint or giving intense color that would gradually fade away. I was wrong on both accounts because Caudalie Divine Legs is a lightweight, tinted body lotion that provides color and bronzing effect without using any form of self-tanner.
It is because of that feature that the colour provided is very temporary and not waterproof or even water-resistant in any sense of the word. This is very important to understand because when Caudalie states that this is water washable, they are being very specific for a reason - the tint will come off in the rain, on the beach, pool and even perspiration might remove some of it. If you are aware of that effect and understand the purpose of the Divine Legs in the first place then there shouldn't be any surprises as you'll know not to put yourself in "water - danger" situations when you are rocking the Caudalie tint.

The Caudalie Divine Legs colour is best described as a combination of dark copper and soft golden pearl shades, producing a warm golden toned tint that doesnt come off orange on my skin-tone (that's a first!). The shimmer is very fine and since there are no big glitter-chunks, it translates into a very soft, natural and body flattering yellow-toned golden sheen. If i had to estimate I would say that the resulting "tan-colour" is up to three times darker than my normal pale self. The Divine fragrance is said to contain notes of grapefruit, roses, vanilla, pink pepper, cedar and white musk. Personally I am in love with the scent and I was thrilled to find that the fragrance actually lingers for a very long time after application - on my skin it lasted over six hours, which is phenomenal for a body type product.

The texture is lightweight, runny, moisturizing and very easy to work with. The best part of the Caudalie Divine Leg formula is that the dry-down is instant, which means there in no waiting around for it absorb and no worries about weird stains on your bedding, furniture or favorite clothes. Once blended, all you are left with is the beautiful "bronzy-glowy -sheen", no tackiness, no rub off or transfer and lots of compliments. How perfect is that?

As Caudalie is primarily a skincare formula, its no surprise that the Divine Leg formulation is chock-full of skin-loving ingredients that pamper and comfort your skin while you are playing up your tan. All of Caudalie products contain their signature grape antioxidant oils and this is no exception. The grape oil is ultra-nourishing, hydrating, soothing and protective of your skin s natural moisture barrier.
Its important to mention that Caudalie also does not use parabens, sulfates or phthalates to spoil the fun of this product and that's something we can all appreciate. 

In conclusion I want to say that I am very happy with Caudalie Divine Legs and the fact that its the first "bronzer-like" product that I have been able to use successfully makes this even more special. The effect is very temporary of course, which is perfectly fine with me but since the price tag is so high ($38.00 for 3.4 oz.) I can see this becoming hard to justify on a regular basis.
However this would be perfect for special occasions where you need a little bit of a summery boost, say like an outdoor wedding, outdoor summer party or anytime you need a bit of confidence.

The Caudalie Divine Legs and other products from the Divine collection can be purchased directly from their website, our trusty Sephora and Amazon

Have you tried the Caudalie Divine Legs? What is your favorite bronzer or self-tanning product?

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 :-) 

Favourites - L'Occitane Cleansing and Softening Almond Shower Oil

After reviewing one of my favorite things - the L'Occitane Amande Concentre de Lait, I realized that I should talk about  my other favorite thing that i almost always use with the first. These two favorites are amazing individually of course BUT when they get together in my shower, their awesome powers combine and make me feel at least ten times as fabulous. 

Some of you already guessed what superhero I am talking about (plus the title kind of gives it away, duh!) but a proper introduction is still in order! 

Enter the amazing L'Occitane Cleansing and Soothing Almond Shower Oil!

Description;

This customer favorite, with its divine texture, helps to hydrate and tone the skin. It foams up when in contact with water, creating a luxurious lather. It will leave a satin-like softness all over your body, and a delicious sugary scent. A great product for men & women.

Key Ingredients;

Rosemary

Grape Vine

Almond Tree

First of all the L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil has got to be one of the most indulgent and decadent body cleansers I have ever come across. In fact before I   tried this I didn't really have any kind of a strong opinion when it came down to body washes. Sure, I had tried a fair number of them but never really noticed any kind of a big difference when it came down to performance or how my skin felt afterwards. 

Well the L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil changed all that with a single use! Isn't instant gratification great, you guys?

As the name implies this really is an oil-based body cleanser that is to be used just as a regular body wash in your shower. With the Almond Shower Oil I prefer to only use my hands but that's only because I feel that using a loofah or my salux causes me to use more than normal. Since this cleanser is definitively a little spendier than some of my other choices, I tend to ration it and use it only a couple of times a week, usually when I feel I need a bit more pampering. 

The texture of the L'Occitane Almond is definitively lighter and runnier than the average body wash but don't underestimate the hydration kick this "liquid gold" gives. The first time i used it I was a bit concerned because of that feature but what really annoyed me was the "light foaming" action. 

I kind of have a slight bubble addiction happening - for the longest time I just couldn't get past the notion that I could be clean without the "bubbling action". Fortunately my now-extensive use of cleansing balms changed my mind about the "foam crack" so when the shower oil only foamed a bit, I decided to give it a chance and keep an open mind for once. The bottle is designed well, its very easy to hold on to and the pump is amazing as well so no need to freak if I drop this during one of my many "clumsy" moments. 

The scent of the Almond Shower Oil is very similar to the Amande Concentre de Lait but maybe a touch less sweet, with some added "freshness" to it. Nonetheless the fragrance is still comforting to me, invoking nostalgic memories and a sense of calm each time I am wrapped in its goodness...

L'Occitane indicates that the shower oil can also be used for shaving and I have read a lot of reviews confirming that fact however I love this so much that for me that would feel too wasteful! 
It's just too good to be used for secondary things like that :-)

My favorite pampering formula has got to be: dry-skin body brushing, then warm shower with my Almond Shower Oil followed by the Amande Concentre de Lait. This combination makes my skin soft, silky, smooth, hydrated, comforted and ready for my favorite pj's, a soft bed, fluffy pillows, ice tea and a good book. In fact I think I will be engaging in just that kind of activity this evening! 

The L'Occitane Amande Concentre de Lait and the Almond Shower Oil can be found on the L'Occitane website, our trusty Sephora  and Amazon. 

**Just a quick hint, if you love this and want to save some money, so your pampering sessions can become more frequent consider getting the refill 500 ml size, which is only $34.00 The other sizes are - a mini 75 ml for $10 and a bigger 250 ml for $24.00. My math skills are not stellar but the refill sized 500 ml is definitively your best choice and its available only on the L'Occitane website. 

I hope this was a helpful review! 

Have you tried the L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil? What is your favorite pampering combination? 

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 :-) 

Favorites - L'Occitane Amande Concentre de Lait

The L'Occitane brand will always hold a very special place in my heart. 

Every time I catch a glimpse of their apothecary styled, glass jars or sense even a faint whiff of Shea butter, all I need is to close my eyes and just like that  I am a little girl again, clasping my grandmothers soft hands pleading for just 5 more minutes of play time. 

In fact as I search my memories I quickly realise that L'Occitane is probably the only brand that has consistently been a part of almost every chapter of my life. It's so funny to remember my 13 year old self spending every last cent saved from various babysitting jobs on a huge L'Occitane Shea Butter Collection Basket. It was probably the first time I felt a little more grown up so the fact that I was able to buy it with my "own money" was a huge deal for a girly girl like me...

So much time has passed since then but my love for the L'Occitane pamper session never died out and today so many of their products are present in almost every room of our house. 

My taste has obviously matured since I was younger so even though the Shea Butter is still being used in our household, my heart today definitively belongs to the Amande (almond) based products. 

Today I want to introduce you to one of my absolute favorites  - L'Occitane Amande Concentre de Lait, which has been repurchased countless times before as I always like to have at least one jar on hand. I might be a little heartbroken if L'Occitane ever discontinues this lovely body cream! 

Official Description; 

L'OCCITANE blends almond proteins and silicium into a silky, concentrated milk that nourishes and smooths the whole body. The light, creamy and silky texture absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue while skin is left feeling satiny-smooth and is enveloped in the fresh and delicate fragrance  of Almond blossoms.L'Occitane Amande Concentre de LaitL'Occitane Amande Concentre de LaitL'Occitane Amande Concentre de Lait

Made with Almonds sourced from Haute Provence, the Almond Milk Concentrate also supports the sustainability of almond trees in the region, as these trees are a staple to the beauty of the Provençal landscape.

Ingredients; 

Water**, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin**, Cetearyl Alcohol**, Methylsilanol Mannuronate**, Triethylhexanoin**, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil**, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Protein**, Cetearyl Glucoside**, Mannitol**, Menthyl Lactate**, Fragrance, Carbomer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Biosaccharide Gum-1**, Methylisothiazolinone, Sorbic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Xanthan Gum**, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tocopherol**, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, PPG-26, Buteth-26, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil**, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate**, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Limonene**, Linalool, 

**Natural Origins**

The thing that first drew me to the L'Occitane Amande Concentre de Lait (almond milk concentrate) was the soft, milky, not overly sweet almond spiked scent, which evokes a certain feeling of comfort and familiarity. 

Despite the fact that I am keenly aware of my sheer inability to describe fragrances I do want to mention that the scent almost reminds of freshly baked marzipan cookies with maybe a tiny bit of coconut flakes thrown in. 

Either way descriptions of what something smells like are highly subjective so that fact coupled with my own clumsy attempts to make accurate guesses will most likely not result in a very accurate picture for you to go by. I can, however at least vouch that if you are not a fan of typical gourmand fragrances then this particular Amande cream will definitively not be the right fit for you 

For me the scent is pure heaven. 

The texture of this cream is incredibly rich and silky but also still light enough so it absorbs almost instantly, leaving no greasy residue behind but definitively hydrating deeply and more than adequately. The soft Amande scent lingers only slightly, therefore you don't have to worry about it interfering with your daily fragrance or any other scented products you might be using that day. Personally i am completely smitten  with the scent so if anything I would want the scent to be a lot stronger so it can linger a lot longer! Maybe L'Occitane will consider making this as a fragrance? Wishful  thinking I guess...

The packaging of the L'Occitane Amande Concentre de Lait consists of a heavy-duty, luxurious glass jar and a very chick "French-feel" outer cardboard, whose design gives the body cream a very apothecary, exclusive  vintage feel. 
I should mention that L'Occitane includes firming and smoothing claims with this body cream however I honestly don't know how to gauge that kind of effect. I wouldn't really care either way when it comes to that particular point simply because everything else about this formula is pure perfection and I don't want to criticize and be petty about one of my favorite things :-) 

The price point of L'Occitane Amande Concentre de Lait ($59 for 7 oz.) is fair when you take into account that this is a superior formula with quality ingredients that really pampers your skin. Because of the price I tend to really ration this cream and whenever possible purchase it in bulk during L'Occitane's annual sale events or try locating it on Ebay as well. 

The L'Occitane Amande Concentre de Lait ($59 for 7 oz.) can be purchased at our trusty Sephora and sometimes even Amazon

I hope this review was helpful to someone 

Have you tried the L'Occitane Amande Concentre de Lait ? Do you have a favorite L'Occitane product? 

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 :-)