Maid of the Mist - Facial Sprays

I had first started using these sprays a few years ago but the results were un-impressive, tedious and seemed to almost dehydrate my skin more, which of course is exactly the opposite of what they claim to do in the first place. Annoyed at myself for buying the "hype" around these "water cans" I ended their existence in my bathroom and figured that they just weren't right for my skin type. Lesson learned!

This year as my skincare routine evolved I rediscovered the coveted facial sprays (among other things) and hoped that this time around the chosen formulas would be better and worth my time and effort. With more experience and even more research I embarked on a shopping expedition hoping to find that "miracle brew" everyone raved about.

Despite the simplicity I have found that facial sprays are also often misunderstood and misused if you don't do your homework and read the directions on the product itself. Trust me, there is definitively a wrong way to use this and I had nailed it perfectly.
The fact that I, a biologist by trade, missed such an obvious biological feature of the skin composition and had used a hydration product to specifically dehydrate was only slightly embarrassing. However I am happy to say that i finally figured it out and hopefully learned a lesson about reading directions...

Its actually a really simple concept if you stop to think about it. Spraying water on a "living" surface and allowing it to dry will cause even more moisture loss from the skin cells through the osmosis/diffusion phenomenon. The final result is a skin that is more dehydrated than what you started out with, hence wrongful use of the culprit will only cause more harm than good.  The thermal water sprays don't have any moisture binding ingredients in their formulation so as they evaporate the skin cells are basically "sucked dry".
The key in preventing this from happening is also simple as well. Use as directed, spay all over your face, let it sit for about 30-60 seconds and most importantly BLOT the excess away. Trust me, the difference is really more than noticeable and for the first time I am able to appreciate this product properly.
My favorites thermal mineral waters include - La Roche Posay ($12.99 for 5.2 oz), Avene ($18.00 for 10.58 oz) and Evian ($11.00 for 5 oz).

A sub-category of facial sprays includes specifically hydration targeting formulas too, in which case the blot-factor is not essential because these include moisture-trapping ingredients that are able to penetrate skin surface and balance the natural skin "water" content. These new-generation hybrids can have added glycerin, hyaluronic acid, plant botanicals and even essential oils to provide even more benefits to your skincare routine.
My favorites of this kind are - Caudalie Grape Water Soothing Moisturizing Spray ($19.00 for 6.7 oz), NUDE Hydrating Water Spray ($32.00 for 3.4 oz), Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist ($86.00 for 3.4 oz) and The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist($16.00 for 3.2 oz). 

Top Picks for Facial Mists with The Body Shop, Omorovicza, NUDE Skincare

Now that I have read the description and very necessary directions I have found many unique ways to use these spa-inspiring facial mists
1. In place of toner, prior to serum and/or moisturizing cream to improve absorption
2. A light mist as a finishing-setting step after makeup application to achieve the "dewy glow"
3. To fix "powdery" mistakes during makeup application
4. Refreshing pick-me up during the day (especially hot, humid summer days and nights)
5. Airplane hydration treatment

Even though facial sprays are not necessity a must-have item for someone with an otherwise good skincare routine I would still recommend giving them a try. The skin-loving benefits can be targeted by selecting the right brand and formulation but where this product really shines is the appropriately named "dewy factor". A light mist of these sprays is a sure way to achieve that baby skin glow that can elevate your look to a much more youthful, healthy level. That alone is reason enough for me :-)

You can purchase my favorites or discover new ones at Sephora, Ulta, The Body Shop, Dermstore and Amazon

I hope that was helpful!

Do you have a favorite facial spray? Any tips for using these products even better?

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 :-)

Eye Cream Series - La Roche Posay Hydraphase Intense Eyes

I am back with yet another installment of the Eye Cream Series and this time I want to feature a brand, almost all of us know and love. I discovered it very recently once I overcame my overwhelming confusion when faced with their medical apothecary look and impossible to pronounce product names (at least for me). For years I was intimidated by the daunting task of deciphering their ingredient lists, description code and in some cases even functionality. The bottles and white boxes looked the same to me and I didnt trust the beauty associates and their skincare knowledge at my local Shoppers Drug Mart location, so in turn I literally avoided that section entirely.

Luckily today La Roche Posay and me are great friends and I am yet to come across a product that deserves any negativity or questioning. This skincare brand means business and delivers results without any unnecessary fluff, fancy advertising campaigns or celebrity sponsors for that matter. I love that their focus is firmly centered around performance and product quality instead of hype and brand competition. I really wish I had explored their selection sooner because I am sure their products would have saved me a lot of grief, disappointment and money when it came to taking care of my skin.

The Hydraphase Intense Eyes formula is no exception to their high standards and it really is a high performance eye cream that is more than welcome in my beauty arsenal.

Description;

Tight Cellular Junctions Technology: Hyaluronic Acid Fragments ensure epidermal cohesion to infuse and lock water in for ultra long-lasting hydration. 
Intensive rehydration to smooth eyes dehydrated fine lines.
Decongesting caffeine for anti-puffiness action.

How to use;

1. Apply a small amount of cream with a light, dabbing motion to the eye area. 
2. Gently massage cream into the eye area. Repeat until product is fully absorbed into the skin. 
3. To reduce puffiness, continue to massage the lower eyelid, from the inner to the outer corner. Finish by applying light pressure to your temples to activate lymphatic circulation. 
4. To smooth dehydrated fine lines, perform a series of light tapping motions around the eyes.

Ingredients;

Aqua/Water, Glycerin, Carbomer, Glycinesoja Protein/Soybean Protein, Caffeine, Isohexadecane, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium, Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate.

I expected the texture of the Hydraphase Intense Eyes to be very creamy and heavy because its primary purpose is re-hydration and sealing moisture around the delicate eye area but instead upon opening I was greeted with a slightly blue, translucent gel-like cream that seemed way too light to accomplish what it promised on the packaging. I shouldn't have worried because this eye cream delivers a very powerful hydration kick all by itself and actually cools, soothes and calms the dry skin around my eyes without feeling greasy or heavy at all. Since I am all about instant gratification this feature really appealed to me right away.

The silicone-like feel can be a great primer for your under-eye concealer, especially when you consider the fact that the Hydraphase Intense Eye fills is the hydration ridges and plumps up the skin upon application, which in turn allows your concealer to glide on effortlessly. However if you apply too much of either product flaking may occur so some experimentation is definitively in order before trialing this on a busy morning when you cant afford to make any makeup mistakes.

I think anyone looking for a hydration would really appreciate the Hydraphase line but what makes the Intense Eye stand out is its intensity when dealing with "special circumstance" dryness and irritation. You will appreciate its "powers" at a completely different level if treating severe dryness and actual flaking in the eye area. It solves and soothes the problem in a few days and in the meantime the instant hydration makes the issue a lot more comfortable.

That  is what makes this a treatment eye cream and its the main reason it made its way into the Eye Cream Series. 


For more information about the La Roche Posay Hydraphase Intense Eye and any of their other product please visit their website and for purchasing visit your local Shoppers Drug Mart location. You can also order La Roche Posay products online at Escentuals.com  here

I hope that was helpful to someone!

Have you tried La Roche Posay Hydraphase Intense Eye? What is your favorite eye cream?


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 :-) 

Review - La Roche Posay Toleriane Soothing Protective Skin Care

A little more than a month ago La Roche Posay was a brand whose product complexities intimidated me so much that I actively avoided their skincare shelves and ignored the constant raves that flooded the blogosphere. Lets just say that things have definitively changed over the past few weeks!

I don't like to admit this too often but being an unapologetic girly-girl sometimes causes me to 'snub' some of the plainer products and I have been known to make purchasing decisions based purely on packaging details. If its pink, sparkly, shiny and smells good, chances are I will have a hard time resisting it!

Just one look at the La Roche Posay products will tell you that there is nothing about their packaging that could possibly reel me in. However when it comes to skincare we all need to remember that the only thing that counts is what is inside the tube and "pretty" designs should only be seen as secondary perks, at best.

My first La Roche Posay experience came in the form of the Toleriane introductory set which contained Toleriane Soothing Protective Skincare Cream, Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser and their signature Thermal Spring Water. The Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser turned out to be a huge success (review here) so I was excited to see if the Toleriane Cream would yield good results as well.

I am so happy to present you with yet another amazing La Roche Posay product. My skin loved it!

Description;

Its formula concentrated in La Roche-Posay thermal spring water soothes the tight, burning, pulling sensations found in intolerant skin. Its soft, fresh formula penetrates easily to restore skin comfort. Strict formula charter, with a minimum number of ingredients to limit allergy risks. Fragrance-free, preservative-free, paraben-free. Non-comedogenic.

Ingredients; 
Aqua/Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isocetyl Stearate, Squalane, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG 100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethiconol, Ethylhexl Glycerin, Acrylates/C10 30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide. 

La Roche Posay brand doesnt need much of an introduction these days. Its a classic French pharmacy brand whose claim to fame rests on their no-frills approach to skincare and the fact that all of their products are "spiked" by their unique source of thermal spring water. They don't make too many outlandish promises or claims about "miracle molecules" and instead focus on coming up with formulations that might not be glamorous but actually do what they say they will do. I respect that kind of stance very much!
Their products are fragrance-free, preservative-free, paraben-free and non-comedogenic, which is important for those of us with reactive, problematic sensitive skin.

The Toleriane Soothing Protective Skin Cream is essentially a comforting, calming hydration treatment for very sensitive, reactive or otherwise compromised skin. Its a simple formulation designed to literally soothe and moisturize, by building up the natural skin healing cycle and reducing both sensitivity and reactivity in the future. The ingredient list is short, fillers are kept at a minimum and the simple formulation reduces additional irritation, which makes it suitable for even the most sensitive skin types. 

The texture is best described as somewhere between a lotion and light cream, never greasy, absorbs quickly and gives instant hydration relief. I love the comforting sensation as I can actually feel it working to heal and soothe my skin.
I will admit that the Toleriane Cream is not my everyday moisturizer but I do use it whenever my skin feels irritated, inflamed or particularly red. For me this works better as a hydrating treatment or a moisture mask when my complexion is in need of some serious TLC. 

My final verdict is very positive and I would recommend the Toleriane Soothing Protective Skincare ($30) to everyone but especially my fellow members of the Sensitive Skin Care Club. 
La Roche Posay prices are a bit higher than your usual drugstore skincare selections however the formulation is far more superior and thereby worth paying for. 

La Roche Posay's products can be found at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada but selection of products varies from store to store. 

Have you tried the La Roche Posay Toleriane line up? What is your favorite La Roche Posay 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 :-) 

Updated Review - La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Balm

*Its been brought to my attention that this product is launching in Canada on August 21. Check out the La Roche Posay Canadian Facebook page for more information! 

If you've been reading this blog for a while then you already know just how much I appreciate multi-tasking products, and especially if their formulation delivers everything it promises. 

La Roche Posay is a french pharmacy skincare brand whose products and old-time apothecary allure have been un-acknowledged by me until just recently. It was just that "drug-store" image and intimidating chemistry names that kept me away in the first place. Just walking down their aisle overwhelmed me and since i didnt trust the beauty-consultants at our local pharmacy I wasn't sure what's what and I didnt want to make the wrong choice and end up with a rash. Every single bottle looked the same to me so the room for error was huge. 

As my skincare obsession deepened I started to explore brands I normally overlooked so dabbling in La Roche Posay products was bound to happen sooner or later. If the products I tried so far are any indication, I shouldn't have waited so long.  

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 is a multi-purpose, soothing, repairing balm designed to treat various skin irritations in adults, children and even babies. It can be used anywhere on your body, face and lips and is suitable for even the most sensitive skins. Like other La Roche Posay products, the Cicaplast is fragrance-free, paraben-free, non-comedogenic, lanolin-free and white-mark free. The Sensitive Skin Care Club members can rejoice!

Description;
This soothing multi-repairing balm favors the recovery for sensitive skin after irritative dermatitis and epidermic alterations thanks to its formula associating Panthenol 5% with Madecassoside with a highly-cosmetic texture. Suitable for the entire family: babies, children and adults.

Directions for use;
Apply twice daily to pre-washed and dried skin. Can be applied in a generous layer. Can be applied to body, face and lips. Avoid the eye contour area.

Ingredients;

Aqua/Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butyrospermum parkii butter (shea butter), panthenol, butylene glycol, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, propanediol, cetyl PEG/PPG-10/2 dimethicone, tristearin, zinc gluconate, madecassoside, manganese gluconate, magnesium sulfate, disodium edta, copper gluconate, acetylated glycol stearate, polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, sodium benzoate, phenoxyethanol, chlorhexidine digluconate, CI 77891 / titanium dioxide 

The La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 is not an everyday product for me but when its needed it really does have superhero powers. Whenever things go wrong - sunburn, over-exfoliation, dry pathches, facials gone wrong, shaving mishaps, eczema, chaffing or even the odd mystery rash, Cicaplast treats and soothes them all. A few applications of this multi-wonder and any "bo-boo" is on the mend very fast. I like to refer to it as "a triple threat" formula because first its soothes & comforts the skin, then protects the area by creating a barrier with its anti-bacterial properties and finally aids natural skin recovery through its mineral complex. As someone who is always looking for the newest it product for my skin, sometimes things get out of hand and I end up with a skincare emergency that needs to be fixed quickly and it is then that the Cicaplast really shines. I tend to exfoliate regularly but if I go overboard my skin can turn red, blotchy and then flaky dry. One application of the Baume B5 overnight makes my skin presentable again. The pesky dry patches we all get around the nose area when a cold strikes are no match for the Cicaplast Baume B5! The multi-purpose of this formula is really endless! I suspect that those with severely dry skin can use this balmy goodness as a primary moisturizer or primer as well! What I love most about the Cicaplast Baume B5 is the texture itself! Most of the multi-tasking balms have a very heavy-oily-balmy consistency that makes it hard to work with but the La Roche Posay new formula is light, silky and creamy like a regular moisturizer. Don't underestimate the hydration factor - its very potent and concentrated, despite the feel on the skin so start off with a light layer first and add more as needed! I don't consider the La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 to be strictly a beauty product because its versatility crosses those boundaries easily and I would even venture so far to call it a medical aid. It would fit in the medicinal cabinet just as nicely as it would in a makeup bag La Roche Posay's products can be found at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada but selection of products varies from store to store. Have you tried any La Roche Posay products? Whats your favorite multi-tasker? 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 :-)

Review - La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser

I am not a fan of no-rinse cleansers! There I've said it! 

I know all about the benefits, not to mention the huge convenience factor of course but I just can't seem to get used to the residue "feel" and I always end up wondering just how "clean" I really am. While balm cleansers have weaned me off the "foaming bubble" spell I was under, water and rinsing is an addiction I can't seem to shake. Micellar cleansing waters are as far as I go!

The La Roche Posay Toleriene Dermo-Cleanser had that kind of attitude to contend with so right off, we were at a bad start. It really wasn't its fault though - it was my chronic inability to fully read directions and descriptions that brought it to my bathroom in the first place. 

Despite the many reservations I decided to try it anyways - purely for research purposes? 

The La Roche Posay Toleriene is a gentle, wipe-off cleanser meant for normal to dry but also intolerant skin. It is to be used as a regular cleanser and/or a makeup remover. 

Their website indicates that those with sensitive skin and irritating skin conditions like rosacea & eczema would benefit from this line and are their primary targets. 

As usual La Roche Posay products are fragrance-free, preservative-free, surfactant-free and non-comedogenic. Definitively good indicators that members of the Sensitive Skin Club would feel comfortable using it. Even better, La Roche Posay claims that using this line regularly will tone down and treat acquired sensitivity.

Pretty lofty claims for such a simple cleanser. Then again sometimes simple is sometimes better!

Since I always do a double cleanse (I take clean seriously!) I used the Toleriene as my first step to emulsify the surface dirt and little makeup I had on and then followed it with my Clarisonic + Omorovicza Cleansing Foam to finish the routine. 

To my surprise I wasn't completely put-off the no-rinse solution! I expected to feel the usual greasy residue but there was none and my face did feel somewhat clean. The texture of the La Roche Posay Toleriene is light, milky and silky so it feels very gentle on the skin so I can definitively see the appeal for sensitive skin types. It feels soothing and since abrasion is minimal even mild redness is eliminated. The sceptic in me was hopeful to say the least! 

After several uses, the skincare geniius in my head solved the "not clean enough" feeling by removing the Toleriene with warm, wet cotton pads so I can be 100% sure no residue is left behind. Little modifications like that can give me a lot of peace of mind!

Today The La Roche Posay Toleriene is an ideal morning cleanser for me and I am so happy I finally gave the "no-rinse" products a try. 

My sensitive skin is happier when I use this! I definitively recommend at least sampling this - La Roche Posay has trial kits that are not just affordable but also very travel friendly :-)

La Roche Posay's products can be found atShoppers Drug Mart in Canada but selection of products varies from store to store. 

Have you tried the "no-rinse" options? What are your favourites? 

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 :-) 

La Roche Posay Serozinc Review

La Roche Posay is one of the higher-end drugstore brands available at most Shoppers Drug Mart locations across Canada and despite the fact that quite a few of their products have reached so called "cult status", I usually tend to overlook them completely.

The brand as a whole intimidates me with its ultra-pharmacy look to it, names i can't pronounce, multi-purpose products and lets not even talk about the fact that their ingredients seem to be taken directly from my inorganic chemistry textbook. In order to properly explore the La Roche Posay brand or even figure out exactly what it is I am buying I will need some guidance. Its high time I at least made an attempt. 

My first purchase was easier than I thought, mostly because I already knew one of the things I was buying, Serozinc spray, while the other came in the form of an Toleriane introductory set. 

The La Roche Posay Serozinc is a simple formula of water, sodium chloride and zinc sulfate, meant to calm, purify and lightly cleanse all kinds of skin imperfections. Essentially its a blue aerosol canned astringent, traditionally designed to purify and control oil production, usually in teenage or very oily skin. The old astringent formulas (remember Sea Breeze?) were almost completely alcohol and other irritating ingredients, meaning that they didn't do your skin any favors and removed oil by over-drying. 

The La Roche Posay team figured out a way to keep the astringent properties without a chemical disaster with Serozinc, which not only controls sebum production but also acts as microbial by eliminating bacteria on the surface of the skin, hence controlling future breakouts. 

Caroline (Beautymouth), the webs unofficial skin care guru, recommends using this as your second toner, on top of the exfoliating step (P50, Pixi Glow Tonic etc.) to completely prepare your skin for treatment and moisturizer. Despite the fact that this has sebum absorbing properties, the Serozinc works amazingly well on my combination dry skin and ironically hydrates my skin better than the "hydrating facial sprays" I am so keen on using. Even though I am a big fan of those refreshing mineral water sprays (like Evian) what most people don't realize that is that once the water evaporates from the surface it tends to take some of the skin's natural moisture as well. Completely counter-intuitive if you ask me!

My conclusion for La Roche Posay Serozinc toner treatment spray is a very positive one and I will definitively re-purchase! I am happy that I finally gave this brand a chance and as always with me, one great product leads to trial of others so the La Roche Posay team will definitively be seeing more of me in the future. If you happen to come across the Serozinc I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. 

However I will say that this is one of those skin care products whose benefits or results are not as obvious while you use it but chances are once you stop the fact that you are missing it will be loud and clear.  

La Roche Posay's products can be found at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada but selection of products varies from store to store. 

I hope this was helpful!

Have you tried La Roche Posay and Serozinc?

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 :-)