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

The Princeza Guide to Bedtime Beauty

It really is no secret that I happen to be a high-maintenance girl in almost every sense of that concept. My natural "girliness" drives almost everything I do and experience throughout my day and as such I embrace it wholeheartedly and openly. The tomboy nature of my childhood has all but died out now and pink sparkly-shiny things seem to dominate my existence and my surroundings. There is nothing wrong with that, right?

This femininity naturally extends into how I approach my beauty regiments and nothing illustrates that more than my bedtime rituals. Each and every step of this routine is designed to relax, comfort and elevate the beautification process, which is something I look forward to especially on those really bad days. It might sound like I am putting way too much thought into this and over-complicating the whole experience but that is exactly the point when you are doing something you love. At least whoever goes to bed with me will be able to reap the benefits of my silky, fragranced self :-)

For better overview I have divided the bedtime beauty process in several steps so you can see just how seriously I can take this!

1. Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness 
I try to shower each night before bed for two reasons - I have a thing about being clean all the time and more importantly I value my sleep immensely so the chances of a morning shower are usually slim to none.
The scent can be very important for bedtime use so I try not to choose any "perky" or "energizing" scent combinations. A gentle, soothing and moisturizing formula is always a must so that along with the fragrance requirement can make my choice somewhat difficult.
One that hits all those points and is one of my favorites is the This Works Deep Sleep Shower Gel ($28.00 for 8.4 oz) and the Cowshed Lazy Cow Soothing Bath & Shower Gel ($25.00 for 10 oz)

2. Butter Yourself Up 
I firmly believe that smooth, silky and soft skin is one of the top attributes of our femininity. Not only does your skin feel more comfortable with proper moisturization but it can also elevate your confidence like nothing else, regardless of the given situation. Bedtime pampering gives you the perfect opportunity for this because as we all know your skin renews and rejuvenates itself best during the night so arming it with some extra emollients can only amplify that effect.
My personal collection of body lotions and rich body butters are quite extensive but the ones I reach for more often during the summer months are Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter ($42.00 for 8 oz), Barr-Co. Fine Shea Butter Lotion ($24.00 for 16 oz) and the amazing The Body Shop Divine Calm Body Butter ($20.00 for 6.75 oz).

Bedtime 1 with The Body Shop , Anthropologie, Josie Maran

3. Amplified Bedtime Skincare Routine 
I already have a very extensive night time skincare routine with serums, eye creams and heavy duty moisturizers already in place. I like to refer to this as my core regiment and the major theme here is once again regenerate and rejuvenate in order to help the skin's natural nigh-time repair cycle. The products may change but their purpose remains relatively the same.
Every few nights I try to elevate the core with some additional weapons from my bathroom cabinet that really make a difference in both my skin quality and feel.
I am talking about overnight hydration masks (Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Water-Max Sleeping Mask), resurfacing treatments (Dr. Brandt Overnight Resurfacing Serum), targeted imperfection creams (Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel) and nightime eye serums (Ole Henriksen Truth is in the Eyes Vitamin C Peel Concentrate)

4. Luxury Girly Necessities 
These steps illustrate my high-maintenance nature best. They are obviously not must-have's and most probably don't have all that many major skin or body benefits but are complete indulgences of the beauty world and as such my favorite perks of being a girl. Taking the time to add these little steps to my bedtime make a huge difference when it comes to calming, comforting and preparing me for that lovely slumber time we all need more of.
Deeply moisturizing treatment hand creams take care of the most overlooked but so important body part and only take a few minutes to apply so I really have no excuse when it comes to using them. I keep several mini tubes on my bed-stand and the ones that always stand out are the impossibly cute LUSH Tiny Hands Hand Lotion ($8.95), Compagnie de Provence Wild Rose Shea Butter Hand Cream ($5.50 for 1 oz) and Lollia Relax Shea Butter Handcreme ($25.00 for 4 oz)

Bedtime 2 with Lollia, Compagnie de Provence, LUSH

Moisturizing and nourishing lip treatments are always a must for me and the ones that I love the most (right now) are Tatcha Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm ($36.00), First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy ($15.00) and the new Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss ($3.99)
My eye lashes get some extra help and conditioning with the Mavala Eye-Lite Double Lash Night Treatment ($18.00) and L'Oreal Lash Boosting Serum ($14.99)

Bedtime 3 with Lush, Disney, Prada Candy

5. Bonus Point Steps 
You are probably rolling your eyes by now but I promise I almost done! The finishing touches to this elaborate bedtime indulgence parade are a quick spritz of perfume (PRADA Candy), dusting powder on the sheets (LUSH Silky Underwear Dusting Powder) and maybe a pillow spray (DREAM Pillow Mist)

I think its pretty obvious at this point that I have an obvious cosmetic fetish and rest assured I am fully aware of this but I would still gladly recommend all of these products to anyone who is looking to make their bedtime routine a little more luxurious!
After all beauty products are wonderful perks of our feminine existence and we are all worthy of a little luxury :-)

I hope you enjoyed a tiny glimpse into my beauty product world

Do you have a bedtime routine? What is your favorite part?

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 :-) 

Bliss - I Like Big 'Butter' and I Cannot Lie Set

Bliss World Spa is a New York based multi-channel spa and retail skincare company, founded by my fellow Canadian, Marcia Kilgore in 1996. The story goes that Ms. Kilgore started Bliss from her own student apartment where she personally preformed the now world-famous facial and body treatments using her friends as test subjects. Her personal struggle with skin imperfections inspired her to pursue a career in the skincare industry and help others with similar problems. The rest is history!
Today Bliss World Spa's are world renowned, with locations all over the world, signature treatment developments, luxury retailer demands, spa-inspired products and fans flocking to hoard some of their most popular items. With beauty awards lining their walls Bliss World Spa's are one of the top innovators in the cosmetic industry and they are now a household name.

One of the Bliss most popular releases would  have to be the signature scented Body Care lines, which includes - body, bath and hair products, all infused with the same fragrance. These include the Lemon+Sage, Blood Orange+White Pepper, Minty, Vanilla+Bergamot and Unscented. 

My favorite Bliss scent infusion is definitively the Lemon+Sage version, which is surprising since this is not a fragrance that is expected from a girly girl like me. The combination of the lemon and "fresh sage" translates into a strong citrus-like scent that is so uplifting and crisp that I would almost label it as energizing and mood boosting. Its a perfect way to start your day each morning for a little "perk-up".

Bliss often has bundles, minis or general gift sets that allow you to try more of their products or stock up on your favorites, while spending less.
The I Like Big Butter and I Cannot Lie is an irresistible combination set of extra-large sizes of my regular Bliss body care products. The fact that its a value set definitively gives it some extra brownie points!

Contains;

Lemon+Sage Body Butter (14 oz)

Lemon+Sage Soapy Suds (16 oz)

Bliss Description;

O-M-G, look at this bundle—it is SO big! This real ‘thick and juicy’ duo features hefty helpings of our legendary lemony moisture cream and liquid lather. So ladies (yeah), ladies (yeah), does your bod feel super-soft? Then turn around, squeeze it out, even Bliss Girls got to shout—baby got ‘bath’!

Lemon+Sage Body Butter Description;

Marvelously moisturizing, our famous, fabulous, fresh-citrus scented body butter is so incredibly effective that a single squeeze can make rough and scaly skin 'history'.

Lemon+Sage Soapy Suds Description;

This citrus-scented liquid soap whips up a luxe lather that cleans and conditions for supremely soft skin. Use as a body wash to shake up your shower, or pour a bit into the bath for a more stimulating soak; either way, it’ll make routine foaming much more fabulous. Paraben free


The Bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter holds a special place in my heart because it was one of my first Bliss products I purchased myself  and basically my informal introduction to higher-end body products. Aside from the energizing scent the thing I love most about this "cream" is the fact that its texture is a lot lighter and creamier than the conventional body butter formulation. Its exactly that feature that makes this so much easier to work with for those dry days when I don't necessarily have too much extra time to wait around before getting dressed. It makes my skin silky smooth, lightly fragranced and comfortable all day long. I really can't find anything wrong with the Bliss formula and I really appreciate the convenient tube packaging.  

The Bliss Lemon+Sage Soapy Suds is multi-purpose body cleanser that preforms great as a body wash, bubble bath and even as simple bath soak. Its definitively one of the underrated products in the Bliss body collection but I think I could say that about the majority of body washes available in the beauty market today. My expectations of a body cleanser are quite simple - creamy lather with bubbles, no residue leftovers and a fragrance I can at least tolerate! The Lemon+Sage Soapy Suds fulfills all of those with the bonus perk of a fragrance that I love and find extremely uplifting especially during those groggy mornings when the get-up and go seems so difficult.
While I do really love the Soapy Suds, aside from the lovely fragrance I can's say that the formulation is all that different from all the other body washes I tried that were less expensive than the Bliss version. I am far from disappointed and I love using this in my morning shower but its definitively not a must have item for me.  

In conclusion I love the Bliss "I Love Big Butter And I Cannot Lie" Set because of the product combination, their performance and the value. However the star of this bundle is definitively the Lemon+Sage Body Butter ($10 to $35) and its something I would repurchase on its own for sure. The Lemon+Sage Soapy Suds ($21) while a joy to use is a bit underwhelming in comparison with its body butter counterpart. 
That said I would definitively get and use the Soapy Suds if I was to luck out and find  it in another gift or value set. 

The Bliss "I Love Big Butter and I Cannot Lie" set is often available at Blissworld and most Sephora stores. You can purchase the Lemon+Sage products individually as well at both locations.


Did anyone else try the Bliss Lemon+Sage products? What do you think about other Bliss products?

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 :-) 

Haus of Glois Twice Is Nice Body Emulsion

I have already expressed just how much I love Haus of Gloi and their glorious Pumpkin Butters (see review here!). In fact I find it hard to think about the state of my skin during the long, cold Canadian winters without this stuff on hand. There is so much to love about this niche brand - the formula, the scents, the ingredients, the customer service and especially the personal touch each package receives from these lovely people. There aren't a lot of companies or brands now days that include a handwritten, personal note with each and every order, regardless how big or how small. Not to mention that they are just plain cool - check out their awesome blog here. 

Now that the weather is changing, temperatures are rising, the the humidity is only getting worse, I am finding that my beloved Pumpkin Butter formula is just a little too rich for my skin. Nor wanting to change or give up the yummy scents I switched up my body moisturization to the lighter body emulsion formula and I have to say that I love it almost as much as its richer counterpart. Once again the ingredients are vegan and there are absolutely no parabens to ruin my day. 

Haus of Gloi describes the Body Emulsion like this:

If you're looking for light and silky moisture, then this is it! Lighter than our Pumpkin Butter, Body Emulsion is great when you're looking for something that isn't heavy and absorbs quickly. Each batch is made from scratch and includes luxurious green tea and calendula extracts, skin loving butters and is paraben free and vegan.

Ingredients listed;

Distilled water, caprylic/capric triglyceride (fractionated coconut oil), theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, emulsifying wax NF, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil, cannabis sativa (hemp) seed oil, cetyl alcohol, cyclomethicone, dimethicone, proprietary fragrance blend, phenoxyethanol (and) caprylyl glycol, vitamin e., vegetable glycerin, hydrolyzed cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed extract, modified corn starch, xanthan gum

My fragrance of choice is the same as in the Pumpkin Butter formula, which is Twice Is Nice.

True to its form, the whimsical Haus of Gloi scent description is; 

Sweetest offerings of opulence! Buttery sugar cookie, with shavings of creamy coconut and topped with toasted almond slivers.

I completely agree with the given description but I want to add that the coconut note is the strongest on my skin. This is not one of those cloying, artificial sickeningly sweet coconut scents, it simply smells like a slightly toasted coconut cookie, which can be an issue when I am hungry and close to a bakery. Yum! The fragrance lingers softly on my skin for hours and never fails to bring up comments and compliments galore. I love pairing it with the Twice Is Nice perfume oil for that extra scent boost, guaranteeing that it will last even longer. 

The formulation is wonderfully light , absorbs quickly and easily, leaving my skin perfectly moisturized and silky smooth. However don't let the thin texture fool you, this lotion delivers a strong hydration punch with no greasiness which makes this a perfect summer body moisturizer. Since the texture is so creamy it sinks in almost right away so there is no need to wait around for this to dry before getting dressed. I really appreciate that whenever I hit that snooze button a little too many times :-)

My verdict once again is wholeheartedly positive and I have been encouraging everyone I know to give Haus of Gloi a try. The formula is superior to most of the higher end lotions I splurged on so for me this is more than worth it. 

You can purchase the Hous of Gloi Body Emulsions and all their other equally amazing products on their direct website 

I hope someone finds this review helpful!

Have you tried Haus of Gloi? What is your favorite Etsy-like lotion? 

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 :-) 

Villainess Soaps Dulces En Fuego Whipped Body Creme

Ever since I stumbled upon the Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butters (review here!) I have been searching for similar body products to indulge in. My previous body lotions just fell short in light of these yummy, luxurious concoctions that not only felt amazing but were actually better for my skin in the long run. I was inspired to scrutinize the ingredient lists a lot more vigorously and go up in product quality without paying a ridiculous amount. 

The fact that I discovered such scrumptious scents along the way was just a bonus. 

Villaines Soap Whipped Body Creme in Dulces En Fuego is hands down my favourite find.

The website's whimsical description is;

Whipped! body creme is thick and stiff, yet light and quite soluble - much like edible whipped heavy cream. We've used a combination of three vegetable derived emulsifiers to create a very stable, conditioning emulsion. Mango butter (so light, not greasy and very decadent), Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (which sinks in like a dream), Grapeseed Oil (nutrient rich and again, so light), and Cherry Kernel Oil (also light and loaded with Vitamins A & E). A touch of silicones to ensure it leaves a soft, silky touch to your skin, and Optiphen - a brilliant paraben-free preservative that isn't a formaldehyde donor either. Whipped! has a heavy moisture content for your dry skin, enough oils to create a breathable emollient barrier, and has a velvety-soft afterfeel. You'll love it.

This heavenly body creme comes in some amazing scents: Crushed (black raspberry, dark chocolate and sandalwood), Decadence (vanilla, tonka and coconut), Ennui (unscented), Ginger Snapped (sweet cinnamon, rich cardamom, spicy ginger and vanilla), Jai Mahal (4 vanillas, tonka, sandalwood, bourbon and coconut), Krakatoa (coconut, banana, papaya, mango etc.), Paradise Misplaced (coconut, mango and green tea), Pearl Diver (bergamot, jasmine, orchid etc.) and Scintillating (mint, black tea and vanilla). I would however encourage you to visit the Villaines site for more detailed descriptions, characteristics and ingredients. I am warning you - if you are anything like me, an innocent visit can turn into a huge haul very quickly.

My Whipped Body Creme of choice is the Dulces en Fuego which is described as;
Musky bitter chocolate sweetened with vanilla and touches of citrus then positively inflamed with black pepper and nutmeg. 
Ingredients;
Aqua (water), Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Polysorbate 60, Cyclomethicone (and) Dimethiconol, Prunus (Cherry) Kernel Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein (and) Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch. 
Distinguishing Features;
Extra-decadent cherry kernel oil, antioxidant rich grapeseed oil, light coconut oil and luxury mango butter. 

Sounds absolutely scrumptious and it really-really is! There isn't even a whiff of anything artificial about the scent of this cream. Every single note is crisp, identifiable and pure, culminating in to one of the most intoxicating chocolate s'more scents I have ever come across. I am completely addicted to the scent and despite the fact that I have been using it for a long time now, I never grew tired of the fragrance one bit.

It is true that the scent is the star of this product but that doesn't mean that the formula falls short one bit. In fact the whipped texture is a joy to use and its unique in a way that despite the richness the cream itself it still manages to feel light and non-greasy on the skin surface. My skin is left perfectly smooth, calm, silky and deeply moisturized. The fragrance lingers softly but is in no way overpowering or heady.

I think its pretty obvious that i am a huge fan of Villaines Whipped and I really think they are worth taking a chance on - especially since their prices on everything are more than reasonable.
You can purchase the Whipped Dulces en Fuego and an array of other amazing products on the Villaines site here.

Have you tried any Villaines products? What are your favourite etsy-like products?

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 :-) 

Haus of Gloi Glorious Pumpkin Butters

Haus of Gloi for me is an example of how the "little guy" can breakthrough, succeed and trump what a lot of the other "big name" companies have only tried to do!

This wonderful little indie brand makes out of this world good body care, niche-quality oil perfumes, strange & unique scent-combinations, fabulous bath & soap products and a lip balm i am very addicted to. Did i mention all of their stuff is not only handmade but also VEGAN? Haus of Gloi manages to do all that without charging us a ridiculous amount of money and amazingly enough the whole thing is run by 2 very-very cool people. I cant even imagine how their multi-tasking world looks like but i bet i can imagine what it smells like :-) 

The Haus of Gloi world can be found here and they have pumpkin butters, emulsifying & bubbling scrubs, handmade soaps, body emulsions, perfume oils and lip balms. They release a ton of limited edition scent combinations for all their products along with the standard-house selections but heed my warning - their stuff can sell out quickly so order early! Customer service is outstanding as well so if you need more information, they get back to you super quickly. are very friendly and personable. Check out their ultra-cool blog here. 

I am a regular pumpkin butter consumer - my dry skin loves the rich formula and the girly girl in me is a sucker for the lovely scents i can choose! The formula of the butter is very rich, made with Shea butter and unrefined pumpkin seed oil, but i love how it never feels greasy at all, absorbs very quickly and always makes my skin feel comfortable. The texture is that of a heavy cream, almost whipped consistency and there is no trace of oil or wax at all - just smooth goodness that penetrates deeply, leaving the skin very smooth. In the summer I tend to alternate the butter with the lighter body emulsion, which is a lot lighter yet feels just as moisturizing. Both moisturizers leave a slight sheen on my skin that is normally only achieved by oil or a greasier versions of body butter (Body Shop i am looking at you!). 

Despite the fact that I love the feel and performance of these magical little pots, the area where Haus of Gloi really shines is the fragrance of everything that comes from their "kitchens". These scents are not the feeble-nosed individuals - this is oil perfume, meaning that its stronger, more potent than its alcohol counterparts, truer to the description and very-very noticeable. I am warning you - people will notice you are wearing it and will give you their input, its inevitable! If you love it then all of this is a great thing but if you don't be warned...

My three favourite Pumpkin Butters are: Troika, Vice and Twice is Nice 

Here are the scents as described on the Haus of Gloi website 

Troika (2 oz for $4.50 or 6 oz for $10) : A trinity of soft milks, almond, oat and coconut lashed with sweet agave nectar and the ethereal scent of clean white

Vice (2 oz for $4.50 or 6 oz for $10) : Steam billows rolling off a vessel of fresh made Turkish coffee, marshmallow goo tainted by graham cracker crumbs, toasted hazelnuts and blanketed in black chocolate.

Twice is Nice (2 oz for $4.50 or 6 oz for $10) : Sweetest offerings of opulence! Buttery sugar cookie, with shavings of creamy coconut and topped with toasted almond slivers. 

All of the Haus of Gloi come in those mouth-watering fragrances, along with so many other unique combinations that just sound to irresistible not to at least sample. When i am placing an order I always have a hard time choosing the scent because all of their signature descriptions make everything sound like i am missing out! 

If you are sensitive to fragrance I would still encourage you to give them a try because they do carry Aether which in their words smells like "absolute nothingness" - the formulation, quality, price and ingredients alone are worth it. The scent is just an amazingly fragranced bonus!

Ingredients for Aether (no scent):

water, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glyceryl stearate, PEG 100 stearate, glycerin, cycopentasiloxane, behenyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone, phenoxyethanol (and) caprylyl glycol (paraben and formaldehyde free preservative), hydrolyzed cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed extract, tocopherol, tetrasodium EDTA, xanthan gum, citric acid 

Hope that was helpful to you! What is your favorite indie or Etsy company?

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 :-)

Body Care Gems - Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Honey Drops Body Cream

For the record - I don't like this scent, its too overpowering and i can see it causing headaches to the fragrance sensitive crowds! Judging by the name i am assuming that the main notes are green tea and honey...but i cant detect either of them! It kind of reminds me of a certain speed stick (for men) so being a girly girl its only natural that i would dislike it right away!

That being said - the results are undeniable and i am currently stocking up (you know - for rainy days or nuclear war...the usual!). The texture of the cream is mildly gritty due to the "honey beads" mixed in and i was happy to see that they are uniformly distributed throughout the jar. Once on the skin the beads "bust" open and are very easy to massage in which is a bonus to those in a rush or just plain lazy like me lol
You don't need a lot since its very-very rich so the jar will last a long time (more bonus points). Used after a warm shower this feels so good and the softness is evident right away, without any greasy residue. I am in love!

Because of this i am willing to forgive Ms. Arden for the weird scent - baby soft skin is worth plugging my nose for a few minutes...I guess beauty really knows no pain!

Ingredients;
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Mineral Oil, Fragrance, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Acetate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cocoa Butter, Dimethicone, Camellia Oleifera Extract, Honey, Algae Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Chamomile Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Extract, Wheat Germ Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Lactose, Propylene Glycol, Shea Butter, Wheat Germ Glycerides, Butylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Ceteareth-20, Triceteareth-4 Phosphate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, BHT, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Copolyol, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Propylparaben, Iron Oxides.

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Honey Drops Body Cream ($19.50) and other Arden products can be purchased here

Are you guys able to use products whose scent was anything but appealing?

XOXO

Anja