The Drugstore Wonder - Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream SPF 15

The Asian continent used to be the primary producer of high quality and high performance skin-perfecting BB Creams. The main characteristic of these "real deals"  is the unique combination of skin-loving ingredients, replenishing minerals and skin-perfecting sheer tint, which when combined not only even out your skin-tone but also work to heal any skin imperfections. Essentially the BB Cream can be classified as sheer makeup that covers, polishes and ultimately cares for your skin - all at the same time! Most BB Creams are suitable for all skin types but acne-prone will especially benefit from the blemish treatment found in almost every formula. 

The Western world definitively had to be schooled in the formulation of these makeup-skincare hybrid wonders which of course led to a whole slew of brands tripping over themselves to release their own signature BB Creams formulas. 

Having used some of the popular Korean BB Creams with wonderful results I was curious to see how the Western formulas compared to their original predecessors, counting availability as one of the obvious perks for someone who prefers instant access to beauty  products as opposed to tracking things on Ebay

The Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream ($12.99) came highly recommended by a lot of beauty bloggers and after testing it for a few weeks now I can definitively join the Garnier Rave Choir. This particular dermatologist tested Garnier BB Cream comes in three shades - Fair, Medium/Deep and Dark. 

Official Description;

Save time with just one multi-benefit product that offers advanced skincare + immediate skin perfecting coverage. This hybrid formula renews radiance, brightens complexion, evens skin tone, hydrates and protects with SPF15 UVA/UVB sunscreen. Get results you can see and feel instantly.

Ingredients;

Active: Octinoxate 4%. Inactive: Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isohexadecane, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Cetyl Palmitate, Nylon-12, Cyclohexasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Stearyl Alcohol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Caprylyl Glycol, Lithum Magnesium Sodium Silicate, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Caffeine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Benzyl Alcohol, Geraniol, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate, Citral, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate. [May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides].

Garnier claims that their BB Cream will renew, brighten, hydrate, even and protect your complexion from the damaging sun rays, preventing hyper-pigmentation and contributing some basic anti-aging abilities.

I am not entirely convinced that this formula actually renews anything but I can certainly vouch for the brightening, hydrating, protecting and skin-tone evening promises. 

I would place this makeup hybrid between a light coverage foundation and a tinted moisturizer leaning more towards the latter. The finish it gives off is very reminiscent of a tinted moisturizer as it's more of a dewy glow. The formula is very hydrating and so much so that I would only recommend using this if you have combination, normal or dry skin. 

Its creamy consistency and texture is very easy to blend though not buildable. After testing it for a few days (and paying attention!) I've come to the conclusion that the dewy glow lasts about six hours without any fading, melting or blotchiness, however the longevity increases to about eight to ten hours with just a light dusting of setting powder.

I should mention that the liquid has a subtle floral scent that dissipates within about 5 minutes of application, which means that even those sensitive to fragrance scents can use it comfortably with no irritation. 

Overall, it's a winner in my book. It's ideal for lightweight weekend wear, falling into the category of "my skin but better" radiance boosting type of product. 

In my opinion the Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfecter BB Cream SPF 15 ($12.99) is comparable to a lot of other higher-priced Asian BB Cream and the fact that its sold in almost every drugstore chain makes it even more appealing!

Have you tried the Garnier BB Creams? Do you have a favorite BB Cream? Please share! 

Thank you for reading and stopping by!

XOXO

ANJA

The Drugstore Wonder - Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia

The drugstore can sometimes be overlooked in the Canadian Princeza world, what with all the shiny, fancy luxurious pots cluttering my vanity and clouding my senses with their opulent textures and scents. Its sometimes easy to forget that the high price tag is not the only way to get a performance driven, premium quality product. And don't even get me started about all the ridiculously overpriced disappointments. 

Luckily all it takes is one product to renew my faith in the beauty god's and the fact that the item in question comes from a drugstore, heavy-duty bargain brand such as Nivea is only icing on the sweetly scented cake. I love discovering little wonders like the Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia ($3.99 here!) and proving the little snob deep inside me wrong and proving a point that seems to reiterate itself over and over again - "price tags mean nothing". This lip balm indeed preforms as good or even better than some of my much more expensive contenders. A huge score for the bargain beauty category! 

Some of my other Nivea excursions have ended in disappointment and regret but this time the little tin of this comforting lip butter manages to impress and stun my skeptical, sometimes snobby, girly self. 

In Canada the Nivea Lip Butters are available in Original, Raspberry Rose Kiss, Caramel Cream and Vanilla & Macadamia but selection can vary greatly depending on geographical location. The huge success may prompt Nivea to release more flavors and even some limited edition tins - that is my hope, anyways! The fact that I am pushing for limited editions is a testament to how much i enjoy the formula used for these hydrating lip potions. 

Official Description;

The moisturizing formula of NIVEA Lip Butter with Hydra IQ contains Shea Butter and Almond Oil and provides intense moisture and long-lasting care. The indulging formula creates senationally soft lips.

Ingredients;
Cera Microcristallina, Paraffinum Liquidum, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Aqua, Glycerin, Glyceryl Glucoside, BHT, Aroma, CI 77891, CI 77492

I will admit right away that this was a complete impulse purchase at my local grocery store, bought on a whim and once again seduced by the "mini" packaging. I am the advertising teams dream consumer - pretty, unique or just plain amusing outer shells have made me purchase many unnecessary and disappointing products. 

Luckily this cute tin was inexpensive and the product inside turned out to be phenomenal for a change! 

Since I had only vaguely heard some buzz regarding the Lip Butter launch and hadn't done any of my extensive product research prior to purchasing, I wasn't really expecting much from the Nivea Vanilla & Macadamia Lip Butter. I knew it would moisturize of course but based on previous Nivea Lip Products experiences I didnt think it would do much more than that. To be perfectly honest the appeal of the little tin faded rather quickly and it almost got swallowed by the uber amount of other lip treatment candidates. 

When I am wrong I say I am wrong - and I couldnt have been more wrong when it comes to this little drugstore wonder! I fell in love with the Lip Butter with one single use and today the Nivea status has risen to a whole new level thanks to the Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss formula. 

This is one of those rare lip treatments that manages to hit all the important features when it comes to a successful, all-encompassing lip care.

First off the Nivea Lip Butters contain high concentrations of Shea Butter, which deeply hydrates the lip tissue and seems to almost "lock" in moisture even after just one application. The texture is smooth, balmy and somewhat tacky in the tin itself but that "stickiness" does not translate on to the lips and once applied there is no left-over greasy residue to deal with. On the lips themselves the Lip Butters create a glossy (not shiny!) sheen with absolutely no tint, which makes it ideal for achieving that coveted healthy, no-makeup, radiant look. 

The fragrance of my Nivea Vanilla & Macadamia Lip Butter has a very milky-sweet undertone, with vanilla being most prominent but the overall scent is best described as comforting and even soothing. I can't get enough of it! 

There is definitively a flavor associated with the Lip Butter, which is usually a negative for me but this particular formula makes it work nicely by keeping the taste soft and as un-artificial as possible. I would describe it as a very light vanilla sugar cookie variation but without the usual sweet cloying factor and temperament. I personally love it and haven't met a person that had anything negative to say about it. A clear winner for the gourmand-lover like me! 

In conclusion I really have absolutely nothing negative to say about this drugstore wonder - high quality, high performance lip treatment that does not make me cringe at the cash register! 

Thank you for reading!

Have you tried the Nivea Lip Butters? Thoughts? What is your favorite lip balm? 

XOXO

ANJA

My Deliveries - Elle Canada Beauty Box

Everybody loves getting packages and deliveries in the mail! In today's metropolis driven world where online shopping has become a completely regular (and beautifully convenient) phenomenon the mailman is no longer just a source of boring bills, far-away postcards and the occasional greeting cards. In fact with the vast expansion of the subscription box market, reliable international shipping options and fast-paced growth of online shopping sites - your mailman can quickly become one of your all time favorite civil servants, bringing all kinds of treasures that are bound to delight every single one of your senses!

When an unexpected, pink rose patterned, sweetly scented, beauty filled box, postmarked by the ubberly fashionable Elle Canada arrives at your door at the end of a very bad day, let's just say a girly girl like me is more than tempted to hug said mailman and scare the poor guy into oblivion. 

However as a frequent flier user of the mail system I recognize the risks of such behavior and  settle for a good old-fashionable happy dance! 

The Elle Canada Beauty Box is a fairly new promotional program that operates a little differently from the standard subscription box plans. The main difference of course is the fact that the Elle Canada Box is absolutely free (no shipping charges either) and doesn't have a particular delivery schedule (at this time). A few months ago, Elle Canada, had a promotion through their website inviting girls to sign up, fill out a short survey after which the participants were informed that if they were "eligible" Elle  would send them a special beauty kit for consideration and possible review in the standard 6-8 week time frame. Basically the entire process was a bit of a mystery, as nobody was clear on the eligibility criteria, whether or not they would get the implied beauty set or what the box would entail in terms of products.

The theme was thought to be Fall Beauty 2013 but even that bit was more of a speculation than actual concrete fact. 

Seeing how I had almost forgotten about this beauty opportunity the arrival of this adorably girly All-Star Box left me both delighted and excited to discover what Elle Canada deemed to be a Fall 2013 Must Have! 

A beauty kit curated by a trendsetting giant such as Elle holds a certain level of predetermined expectations when it comes to product choices. Seeing how this was an essentially free box I was even more curious to see what lay hidden in the chic pink box! 

Lets just say - I was both surprised and delighted with the un-boxing ceremonies!

My Elle Canada Fall 2013 kit included;

- Cover Girl Outlast Glosstinis Mini in Sangria (515) *Limited Edition*

- Cover Girl Clump Crusher by Lashblast in Black (805) *Full Size*

- Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Restoring Repair Mini Shampoo (1.69 fl. oz.)

- Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Restoring Repair Mini Conditioner (1.69 fl. oz.) 

- Crest 3D Whitestrips 2 Hour Express Dental Whitening Treatment (one strip)

- Venus Gillette Coupons 

Elle Canada included a mini magazine, "Looking Glass - The Lookbook" along with the beauty samples which was a lovely addition to an already amazing box. 

For once the box literature actually relates to the box contents, meaning that Lookbook really features the products received. It's filled with unique fall & winter styling tips and showcases helpful step by step tutorials to achieve the new trendsetting looks. Basically this is not some useless filler paperwork - this has the potential to be used as well. 

My final verdict is obviously very positive. The Elle Canada Fall 2013 Beauty Box included relevant, trendy and useful beauty bits that any girl would love and use on an everyday basis. In reality this is the first box I received where I know each and every item will get used - a rarity in the beauty box industry for someone as picky as me :-)

I am so excited about the Cover Girl Outlast Glosstini in Sangria - I can't wait to report on its awesomeness in the near future :-)

Thank you for reading!

Have you received the Elle Beauty Box? Do you subscribe to other beauty boxes?

XOXO

Anja