Are You Getting the Most Out Of All Your Skincare?

Quality skincare doesn't have to be but sometimes is expensive and time consuming. Not to mention it can become a game of trial and error in order to find the products that work with your particular skin chemistry. I am not even taking into account brand research, ingredient deciphering and the sometimes perilous process of acquiring the item of choice. The beauty industry can be a confusing place even for the best of us. 

For argument sake lets say that you discovered a product, visited the official website, consulted beauty pushers like me and finally made your purchase. The investment was made, the skincare did not make your face off and you are actually seeing the fruits of all that labor (aka results)! If it all lines up like that, pat yourself on the back and enjoy your complexion improvements! 

The story really should end there but of course it doesn't and it really shouldn't! The goal now is to maximize the results you are seeing in the mirror and make sure to utilize the active ingredients to their I full potential! Take it's for what it's worth completely. Think about it, you spent the money, you took your time so naturally you want to make sure you get the best out of it all!

Why settle for a $100 when you can work it to a $1000! 

Believe it or not making a few small changes in your beauty routine along with a few simple guidelines can make a world of difference! 

Here are a few skin loving rules to elevate your regiment from GOOD to AWESOME!

This may sound rudimentary but we all know that with skincare the main purpose is to get the ingredients into the skin so they can preform their primary function. Knowing what order your products should be applied can make sure to speed up absorption and maximize the penetration effect of the good stuff. The general rule is to go with light to heavy when it comes to texture and consistency. This means serums before moisturizers, and creams before balms or ointments. If a product has more active ingredient compared to the other then it needs to be applied first in order to maximize its power. Your aim is to get the best and most potent stuff in first! 

Applying an eye serum and/or eye cream is suggested as the first step after washing your face to make sure the delicate eye area is not compromised by products meant for the face only. The under-eye area especially is quite a bit more delicate than the rest of your face and therefore might be prone to irritation from actives it has no business with. To avoid this, just apply your eye treatment first so its somewhat coated when your face products come in to play. The Peter Thomas Roth Laser-Free Resurfacing Eye Serum ($67.00 for 0.5 oz) has been making quite a splash in my routine and I can't wait to review it and give it some well deserved praise.

To amplify hydration and skin recovery due to season changes on my face I have been using the Biotherm Aquasource Deep Serum ($55.00 for 50 ml) lately with some pretty impressive results (review to follow). My day moisturizers can change pretty often around here but as you know I have been loving the MuLondon White Chocolate Truffle Moisturizer ($25.00 for 60 ml) , alternating between that and the lovely classic Clarins HydraQuench Cream  ($49.00 for 50 ml). I have used the Clarins HydraQuench blue tubs for so long that the familiarity alone is comforting.

If you remember your Science class then you might recall the oil and water don't mix concept and that holds true when it comes skincare as well. Water-based products need to be applied first and then sealed with an oil treatment. However if you are using a dermatologist prescribed medication then that's the one that always should be used before anything else. Generally speaking the closer to the surface a product is, its effectiveness increases. To improve absorption try misting your face with some of the many facial mist sprays available (see here!) or simply dampen the skin surface prior product application. 

The oil of the moment in my bathroom cabinet is the Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil ($30.00 for 1 oz), which is quickly rising to the top of my facial oil stash! It's definitively giving my beloved REN Rose O12 Ultra-Moisture Defense Serum ($80.00 for 1 oz) a run for its money :-)

The beauty sleep dilemma has been debunked by some skincare experts and I am not sure if I personally buy that skin cells renew themselves more during the night but there are definite benefits in using certain products while you dream. Retinol based formulas such as the Vichy LiftActiv Retinol HA Night ($47.50 for 1 oz) along with some antioxidants make the skin very sensitive to UV rays and their efficiency is significantly lowered due to sun exposure, which means those products are best to be used indoors (or at night!). Cosmetic companies have a tendency in making night-time formulas more concentrated and spiked with higher levels of active ingredients so applying them when you are not wearing makeup (at night!) provides more time for them to work their magic. Another instance when a treatment is more effective when there is no sun exposure is in the case of resurfacing serums such as the StriVectin Advanced Overnight Resurfacing Serum ($69.00 for 1 oz) or the Roc Max Wrinkle Resurfacing System ($29.99 for the set). Come to think of it if you are using aggressive treatments like that sun exposure should be limited in the first place! 

A lot of beauty products and especially skincare have silicone's or dimethicones as part of their formulation. Many of us have a love-hate relationship with these smoothing agents and I personally consider them as "cheat ingredients" that only fool you into feeling the smoothing sensation of your skin. I understand that's the appeal in the first place but my preference would be to treat texture issues not just mask them. Since silicone's coat the surface of both hair and skin, a barrier is formed so products put on top may not be able to penetrate or work properly. If products like that are part of your routine to minimize the problem just make sure that anything like that is applied as one of the last steps (ex: primer). 

Silicone based primers that I have gotten along with in the past are: Too Faced Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Primer ($38.00), Tarte Clean Slate Poreless 12-Hr Perfecting Primer ($39.00 for 1 oz) and The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser ($18.00 for 1 oz).

I am not even going to bother lecturing anyone about sunscreen use since we all know how essential SPF is for the health of your skin.  Melanoma, premature wrinkles and leathery skin is not a good look for anyone so it's most important to get this step right. 

As there are two different types of sunscreen it's no surprise that there are two application methods to consider. 

Chemical Sunscreen like La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50+ for  Face and Body require absorption in order to preform so therefore should be applied as one of the first products in your routine. Physical Sunscreen like the SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 ($34.00 for 1.7 oz) use Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide to form a barrier between the fragile skin and the damaging UV rays. Since that barrier needs to remain strong these sunscreens are applied on top of your skincare but is also sustainable under light makeup. You can avoid that hassle by choosing a tinted moisturizer or foundation with high SPF protection already built in. 

As you know I have a tendency to go overboard when it comes to skincare and complicated regiments so it wont surprise you that even this post has its own little brownie point section. 

If you are indeed using targeted essentials like heavy duty lip treatments and lash conditioners you know that using such extra-credit products can sometimes interfere with your daytime beauty rituals. 

Ultra-nourishing lip treatments are perfect for overnight healing and repair but can become quite the hassle if you try using them when lipsticks and glosses are trying to be the stars of your fabulousness. Layering balms can just end up smearing and diluting your desired lip color so treatments like Hourglass N28 Lip Treatment Oil ($49.00 for 0.25 oz) and  Bite Beauty Superfruit Butter ($21.00 for 0.23 oz) are better left for indoor times. 

Lash treatments are not everyone's cup of tea but the beauty obsessed like myself find such products totally helpful and the results these days can be rather impressive. My picks are the old standby Mavala Switzerland Double Lash (15.70) and my new discovery Talika Eyelash Growth Lpocils ($28.00) However as awesome and gratifying these are I have never found one that is mascara-friendly so I have to reserve them for night use. Luckily beauty companies have recently come out with mascara's laced with lash treatments and the Revlon Lash Potion formula has been on the forefront for some time now but the jury is still out! 

The main point I wanted to make with this blog post is that we are putting our faith in these cosmetic companies, spending our hard earned money and putting in precious time researching product specifics - that kind of effort deserves the very best these products can offer. With just a few tweaks and some tidbits of information you might not have thought of utilizing, the products you already have can go from PRETTY GOOD  to FREAKING AMAZING! 

As a girl who has a very difficult time remembering to read the directions on anything I wanted to find a way to pass on real world beauty experience points to girls like me and avoid sounding like a product pusher for once... I hope this helps!

Thank you for reading

Do you have some secret skincare tips? 

XOXO

ANJA

Brandbacker - Be a Star with BA STAR

I might have a ridiculously large makeup, skincare and other "necessary" cosmetic collection AND my naturally adventurous girly nature may constantly drive my need to try and experiment with new products and brands all the time BUT that doesn't mean that I am particularly good at any specific field of the beauty world. In fact my only real skill seems to be centered around the whole accumulation process and my sheer willingness to try and "play"  with any type of product that fits my "prettiness" mantra.

Unfortunately mineral makeup, loose powdery products and colour pigments usually don't quite fit in to my prim, proper, girly Princeza world. After repeated try-outs, brand switch-ups, tons of reviews and seemingly countless YouTube tutorial videos I have been forced to admit that they are just too messy, too cumbersome and definitively not fool proof for a klutzy novice like myself. 

However the beautiful colors, lovely textures, enviable finishes and the numerous skin-loving benefits continue to entice me all the time so I find myself coming back with renewed hopefulness and even a few stars in my eyes whenever there is something new to discover... My pre-occupation and slight obsession with all things "sparkly" doesn't help matters either :-)

When I was given the opportunity to try a new to me brand, BA STAR (through Brandbacker) whose specialty is all-things-that glitter AND whose professional makeup videos actually make those starry looks doable for beginners like me - I have to be honest, my excitement was through the roof! I will spare you the details but a happy dance was involved. 

The BA STAR Cosmetics site describes the brand as the #1 hit with Cheerleaders, Dancers, Competitors & Trend Setters (basically anyone who needs staying power when it comes to their makeup). \So if this makeup is good enough for that level of activity then surely it should preform spectacularly for a girl like me who hasn't broken a sweat in years!

And check this out from their own description!

Core Values. Convenience, Value, & Customer Service  

Whether you're a Top Ranked Competitor or just Starting Out!

Remember, even the Best were "Beginners" 

So, be Creative. Try Something New! Never be Afraid!

See for once my excited happy dance and renewed hope for my new "mineral pigment" beginnings could actually be justified! 

The two products I received for consideration are BA STAR Chocolate Star Dust ($8.75 for .5 oz) and the companion Glitter Glue Primer ($8.75 for 1.5 oz). The Chocolate Dust is a soft shimmer, high sparkle loose mineral shadow that manages to concentrate all the possible brown shades in to a dazzling, not-so-neutral eye accent. 


The Glitter Glue Primer is exactly what the name implies - sweat proof, heavy duty glue primer that holds both eyeshadows and chunky glittery pigments like nothing else I have ever tried. If you have an issue with any kind of fall-out then this stuff is as good as it gets. It won't move until YOU take it off. Very impressive for such a low-priced product! 

The BA STAR Chocolate Star Dust pigmentation is really out of this world and I can't even express just how amazed I was when I swatched this. Even though its technically a "glitter" product the texture is buttery, smooth and surprisingly cohesive with very little pigment fall-out. When used along with the Glitter Glue Primer then even that tiny bit of fall-out is eliminated and the gorgeous chocolate shimmers shine with all their might! Just look at these swatches!

Top - Alone
Bottom - With Primer




I feel that the label that BA STAR chose for these eyeshadows "star dusts" is more than appropriate because these loose powder pigments manage to hit that subtle line between glitter and shimmer perfectly without looking like its too much! As a girly girl I am definitively a huge fan of anything that sparkles but I find that as I am getting older glitter seems to appeal to me less and less so a perfect shimmer eyeshadow like this is definitively a jack pot for me. Its essentially heavy duty sparkle but with a sophisticated feel so if applied correctly this will definitively bring out your fun youthful side without looking juvenile and messy.
The Glue Glitter Liquid Base is definitively a star, an excellent primer that works with any kind of loose pigment, stays put for at least 8 hours (if not longer!) and doesnt feel heavy or sticky like some of its counterparts.

When I checked out the BA STAR website I was pleasantly surprised with the sheer amount of colors, palettes and kits they have to offer. The prices are more than reasonable and I can definitively see how their products would appeal to all makeup lovers. The "experimental" beauty connoisseurs will definitively have a lot to play with and because the Chocolate Star Dust impressed me so much I will definitively be going back for more mineral pigments very soon.

The BA STAR was generous enough to offer all of you lovely readers a discount code for a whooping 50% of your BA STAR purchase - just enter BBDUST at the checkout to reap the money saving benefits! Just hurry up because the code expires by September 30th 2013 How awesome is getting 50 % off makeup?

Let me know if you end up purchasing something and how much you like it! Because I know you will!

XOXO

ANJA

*This post is powered by Brandbacker

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 - Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer in Light

The Sunday Riley brand is very new to me and in fact this Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer is the first product that I have tried from their line up. A few months ago I heard some very positive things about the Sunday Riley skincare, made a mental note to look in to it and then promptly forgot all about it. It doesnt seem to have a lot of coverage in the blogosphere, which is probably the reason it slipped my mind. I am assuming that the lack of exposure of the brand is largely due to the high prices of their skincare line or it could be simply that its one of those niche brands who strive to stay away from hype, all the while building up a loyal fan base that grows because the products are just that good. I am bound to agree with the latter scenario.

After some background research of the brand itself I was impressed to find out that Sunday Riley formulation rely heavily on combining advanced chemical research with pure natural botanicals to give its customer the best of both worlds.

Now that I've had a chance to play with several Sunday Riley pieces I can see why such a low key brand has such a huge, devoted following, including celebrities, supermodels, famous makeup artists and real girls like myself. Who wouldn't want to look like the picture above?
Their branding stays away from anything too trendy and focuses on creating classic pieces that will flatter the everyday woman, giving her effortless, breathable formulas that require very little fuss to work with.

The product I want to introduce you to today is the Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer, available in three shades - light, medium and deep. I would have to say that I am so impressed with this product that I can't see myself ever going without it.

Description; 
A sheer, lightweight primer that oxygenates and plumps the skin.
This multipurpose formula with regenerating, anti-glycation peptides and sodium hyaluronate leave skin fine-textured, polished and youthful, with a touch of radiance. Rejuvenox keeps this perfecting primer completely ventilated and drenched in oxygen. It can be worn under foundation to make it a smooth, flawless surface for precise foundation application and extend makeup wear, or worn alone for a sheer, perfecting wash of color.

Ingredients; 

Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Ultramarine Blue Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Talc, Stearoxy Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Mica, Nylon 12, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bentonite, Steareth-20, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide 7, Cyclomethicone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Gylcol, Sodium Hyaluronate.

As a huge skincare connoisseur I am always impressed when a brand manages to create a good quality makeup product and includes skin-loving ingredients in the formulation. The Sunday Riley team did exactly that and made it work perfectly.

The primer is enriched with Rejuvenox which increases hydration, helps reduce fine lines by filling ridges and is known to help treat acne-prone skin. The addition of Sodium Hyaluronate also contributes to retaining moisture levels in your skin, giving your complexion a very fresh, youthful dewy appearance. Finally the Peptide Complex supports elasticity of the skin by speeding up natural collagen production.

Judging by the the ingredients I would have hardly classified as a makeup product however the Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer manages to preform perfectly in both fields. That is why I feel that classifying this as just a "primer" densest do this product or the brand itself enough credit.

The texture of this Breathable Tinted Primer resembles that of a fresh whipped cream and blends in flawlessly without much effort. The skin is left velvety soft and unlike some other silicone-heavy primers the Sunday Riley version is almost weightless, so much so that after about a minute you no longer feel it all.

The biggest impact of the Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer for my complexion was that the "tint" suspended in the primer effectively covered up minor imperfections, evened out my skin tone and ultimately settled into such a dewy shade that I did not need any foundation on top. The final result was natural and polished, resembling a skin-like finish than anything else I tried with similar properties. I honestly don't think anything has ever made my complexion look that flawless or radiant for that matter.
I guess its easy to see why I love this pseudo primer and why it became an essential part of my daily makeup routine in just about two weeks.

I had expected the price tag of this primer to be much higher that it is ($48 for 1 oz) because of the the cost of some of their other products, especially the skincare choices. Its still pricier than some of the other similar products but since it preforms this well I don't want to criticize the brand itself because I am more than pleased with the results.

For more information about the Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer and their other products, including retail opportunities visit their direct website, our trusty Sephora, or Barney's.



I hope that was helpful :-)

Have you tried the Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer? What is your favorite primer?

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 - L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother Finishing Cream SPF 30

I might be a beauty blogger and despite my extensive experience when it comes to cosmetic meddling, there are some products that genuinely confuse me. It's obvious that not everything is going to work on or with everyone but I expect to at least understand what a product does or how it's suppose to preform. 

The L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur was a mysterious enigma for me and it still is in a lot of ways. Granted L'Oreal went through a lot of lengths to attempt an explanation with advertorials, tutorial-style videos and a heavy promotion campaign but I couldn't help but find the whole thing perplexing.

Adding to my confusion was the fact that even the blogosphere couldn't quite agree on what exactly this is! Moisturizer? Primer? Sunscreen? Makeup-Setting Agent? 

This is what  L'Oreal says about it;

It's Not a Moisturizer.  It's Not a Foundation.  It's More Than a Primer:Introducing Miracle Blur, the first-of-its-kind instant skin smoothing finishing cream.  Miracle Blur was specially formulated with a distinctive cushiony texture that instantly blurs lines, wrinkles, pores and uneven texture.  This unique finishing cream blends seamlessly into skin so it instantly looks and feels smooth, leaving a velvet-soft matte finish.  A finishing cream in the truest sense, Revitalift Miracle Blur should be the final step in every woman's skincare routine, applied after moisturizer.  It can also be worn under foundation for smoother, more even application and wear.

Why is it Different?
Revitalift is the first finishing cream that delivers instant results.  Opti-Blur Technology diffuses light on skin for a soft-focus effect that instantly smoothes lines and wrinkles, hides pores and minimizes little flaws and imperfections.  In 4 weeks, wrinkles, lines and pores appear minimized.  Skin texture appears smoother.

Ingredients;

Active: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 5%, Oxybenzone 6%. Inactive: Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Talc, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Silica, Silica Silylate, Glycerin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Water.

My first impression of this reminded me of a similar product, Nanoblur by Indeed Laboratories (makers of Hydraluron), due to the texture and silicon-like feel on the skin. The only difference between the two is that the L'Oreal version is a bit thicker and therefore harder to work with. 

As a primer the Miracle Blur didn't preform very well but mostly because it made foundation application a lot more difficult and patchy. Mineral foundation fared better but I still wasn't comfortable. The thickness of the "balm" felt very heavy and waxy on the skin surface no matter how little I used. 

When I tried patting this on top of my foundation (liquid & mineral) the end result was me washing my face and starting over! 

Definitively not a good look for anyone!

I was so disappointed and frustrated with  L'Oreal Miracle Blur, that I put it aside and hoped it would just disappear into my "dead cosmetics" cabinet!

I rediscovered it again about a month ago and decided to give it one more chance to wow me! 

This time around I wore it on its own as a sunscreen - moisturizer combo with no foundation at all. Once again the texture turned me off but I patted it on lightly and went about my day! It does take a while for the blur balm to adjust and become part of your skin so don't give up right away. It took about 25-30 minutes for me to forget I had it on!

The results were incredible! Miracle Blur really does "blur" or "lightly airbrush" the complexion and I noticed a definite difference in my pores. There is no tint of course so this will not cover anything like a concealer but it will "settle" everything for some extra polish. I don't have any visible wrinkles or lines so I can't vouch for the "filling" factor but since it successfully blurs even larger pores I can definitively see it helping. 

My conclusion for the L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur started out negatively but I have changed my mind completely. It didnt work for me with foundation but on its own it worked great for that weekend natural look. I love that it has sunscreen built in (SPF 30) so it's perfect for those outdoorsy weekends!

I would definitively recommend giving it a chance and at least experiment with it to see what it will do on your skin! 

You might be surprised - I know I was!

L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur and the rest of their products can be found at most drugstores! I found mine at Shoppers Drug Mart!

Have you tried L'Oreal Miracle Blur?

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 Hero Club of the Month - June

I am sure most of you are familiar with the staple "Monthly Favorites" post, which shows up on almost every beauty blog out there (at some point anyways!)

Well as usual I am "late to the party" but never one to be left behind, I decided to unveil my own line-up of HERO products and things that really made a difference in my girly struggles this month anyway!

Since my skin has been going through some kind of freak-out stage this month, I was forced to break out some heavier-duty foundations to cover it all up. I rediscovered an old favorite, MAKE UP FOREVER Mat  Velvet + Matifying Foundation, which preformed amazingly and actually made me wonder why it was forgotten in the first place. I love the fact that it provides medium to full coverage, remains undetectable, lasts a good 8 hours or more and leaves a "real skin" finish. It covered all redness, blotchiness and breakouts but didn't melt in the humidity either.  Perfection in a bottle and one that will not be put back in the vanity drawer.

You can purchase it here

With finals, classes, all-nighters and feeble attempts to figure out Calculus, this month has been very rushed and I've had to make every minute count in order to balance everything out. Unfortunately that meant that makeup-play was very limited and I've had to stick to a fairly simple, low maintenance look every day. This is where a forgotten Benefit Velvet Eye shadow came in - "Fawn Over Me" is a perfect neutral color that manages to define my eyes without being boring and best of all it takes mere minutes to perfect. 

For your very own click here 

Whether you are up all night partying or studying or panicking, the result is always the same - lack-luster, dull, sallow and just plain drab complexion. The cure or remedy would of course be a good night sleep and vitamin spiked smoothie but when that cant be scheduled i rely on the beautifully scented By Terry Or De Rose Elixir Extreme to bring me back to life. The price tag is a tad ridiculous ($170) but I cant deny the fact that it does work beautifully and smells like a true summer rose garden. I use a few drops to mix in my foundation, layer it on as a primer or on the days i am really rushed I just wear it by itself. It definitively gives a true illusion of health and radiance without being all obvious about it. 

In an attempt to calm and heal my skin I dug deep into my stash for some skin pampering and discovered a mask I purchased around Christmas that lay forgotten and lonely. Since my complexion is suffering from the whole trinity - redness, reactivity and irritation, Origins Dr. Weils Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Mask seemed like a perfect fit. I was impressed after just one use! My skin felt soothed, hydrated, cooled and in general a lot more comfortable. The results in the mirror were just as promising too - the redness was almost completely gone after 10 minutes. The instructions say to leave on for 10 minutes and then tissue off, however i like rinsing it off just to make sure its removed completely. Its a little pricy ($45 here) but it made such a difference for me that i don't even care about that aspect.   

Have you tried any of these? What are your HERO products this month?

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 :-)