The Honest Company Canada Essential Bundle - This Is How Honesty Is Done!

The Honest Company has started spreading its ecologically and environmentally honest products and commendable customer care policies across Canada for a few months now and after my initial Free Trial Set (reviewed here!) I took the full plunge and ordered my first Essential Bundle order.
My initial overwhelming positive vibe continues now that I am full fledged Honest Member and for the first time in a very long time I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this company's products, shipping and the way they handle their customer concerns. Basically I am more than just a little impressed and naturally I want to share why!

The Essential Bundle is a collection of five core products of your own choosing, covering all of your basic needs: household, bath and body and personal care. The price is a flat fee of $35.95, plus $5.95 for shipping and handling with an option to add three additional products to the box without any extra shipping charges. That fact alone is pretty amazing if you have any knowledge of the kind of prices charged for shipping within Canada regardless of what method you end up using. I am not sure how they are able to do that but I am very happy that they can manage it!

The perks of being an Honest Member are many and include a savings of 35% off all their products, shipping frequency flexibility, flat shipping fee, special offers and seasonal discounts and a very generous referral program. The membership literally puts you in the driver seat - you decide what you get, how often you get and if there are issues or you need to hold your orders for any reason their customer service is only a phone call or live chat away.
All of the Honest Company products are exactly as the name implies transparent and honest when it comes their origins, ingredients, methods of production and customer service.
What can I say - they are just awesome!

For my personal Essential Bundle I decided to fill out all of my product spots right away and choose the full eight product for maximum capacity. If i had more spots left I probably would have purchased even more - that should tell you just how much I enjoyed my first free trial pack!

My choices were: Dishwasher Pods ($10.95 for 32 loads), Laundry Detergent ($12.95 for 70 loads), Multi-Surface Cleaner ($5.95 for 24 oz), Body Oil ($9.95 for 4 oz), Conditioning Mist ($5.95 for 4 oz), Conditioner ($9.95 for 8.5 oz), Shampoo + Body Wash ($9.95 for 8.5 oz) and Face + Body Lotion ($9.95 for 8.5 oz)

My entire order was processed within 24-36 hours after I confirmed my product selections and shipping date, they sent me a tracking number right away, shipped out fast and then delivered directly to my door within a week. This is Canada so I have to say that kind of fast shipping is pretty rare around here.

Keeping with this honest theme I will say that I have only had about a week to test out my new essentials but so far I am very happy with their performance, ease of use and feel (bath & body) on the skin. The stand out feature is the Honest Company signature orange blossom + vanilla scent which is so mild and refreshing that I am almost positive that even those who have fragrance sensitivities or aversions would enjoy it or not even notice it. Since the scent is of the unisex version even the men in my family are happy with it, which is something that has never happened in our household before.

I will most likely be doing individual reviews on each of the products in my bundle eventually but I will say that at this point every single one of them is a superstar in the making.
If I had to select an absolute front-runner then I hesitantly choose the Honest Body Oil that has been keeping my dry skin silky smooth, moisturized and smelling lovely. I love adding a few drops of this absolutely not-greasy wonder to my hair as an overnight hair treatment before my morning shower or spiking my body lotion with just a tiny amount if i feel like I need a bigger hydration boost. The formula is so concentrated that you really only need a small dose each time making this 4 oz bottle even a better value when compared to some other sub-par, more expensive body oil concoctions.
I am pretty much hooked!

The Honest Company has just released three new products to their arsenal - Organic Nipple Balm ($13.95 for 1.8 oz), Organic Belly Balm ($15.95 for 3.65 oz) and the Foaming Hand Soap ($6.95 for 8.5 oz).
You better believe they are already in my shopping cart! :)

If you want your very own trial kit you can use my referral link here (which would be so nice!) or visit their website directly! 

I hope this was helpful!

Have you tried the Honest Company yet? What is your favorite product? 

XOXO

ANJA

*Disclosure - this post contains a referral link but is in no way sponsored by the Honest Company!

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

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

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

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

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

Mother Nature brings it big time!

Caudalie Divine Oil ($52.00 for 3.4 oz)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do you have a favorite Body or Face Oil?

Thank you for reading

XOXO

ANJA

The Forgotten Wonder - Fruit & Passion Apple Illusion Quenching Butter

Sometimes a product just seems to get lost in the sea of the colorful beauty that is my bathroom and I don't end up talking about it or using it no matter how much I liked it during the initial excitement of "ownership". The neglect is not a reflection of the items quality or usefulness, it's simply a product of my own forgetfulness and the mere fact that I absolutely need a better beauty organization system.

One such forgotten wonder is the  for the body, which was gifted to me this summer by a thoughtful friend who understands my deep appreciation for cosmetics and beauty in general. She is also aware of my goldfish attention span so she gently reminded me about Fruit & Passion Illusion Pomme (Apple Illusion) Quenching Body Butter ($18.50 for 200 ml) this lovely butter upon seeing it on my bathroom shelf. All I can say is "my bad" girlie!
Hopefully this post can rectify my own mistake!

Fruit & Passion is a Canadian cosmetics company created by a master perfumer that makes scented body & home care products using natural ingredients and is committed to high quality, high-performance results with an emphasis on environmental consciences. Basically they make stuff that pleases both your senses and our fragile ecosystems. 

That's a message I can certainly get behind!

Official Description;
Our Quenching Butter for the body, made with shea butter and vegetable oils, has a smooth, creamy texture and penetrates skin fully to deliver nutrients. Enriched with apple extract from Provence, its biodegradable formula leaves skin lightly scented and feeling fresh.

Ingredients;
Aqua (Water), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Sodium Polyacrylate, Polysorbate 60, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Parfum (Fragrance), Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Methylparaben, Benzyl Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene.
#34-199Ca

I have had the pleasure of using many of their products and I am certainly a fan of their signature scents, with the Illusion Pomme (Apple Illusion) line being no exception to this. A lot of their fragrance lines are limited edition so if I find one I absolutely adore I know fully well to stock up before it disappears. I find their prices are reasonable and on par with their competitor The Body Shop so I have no huge qualms about them but it's always nice to hit their annual sale events.

The Quenching Butter formula is available in various scent profiles and it's pretty consistent across the board, never losing its luxe ultra-nourishing appeal. The texture is lighter than the traditional The Body Shop Body Butters but no less moisturizing. I like the silky consistency because it's easy to work with, sinks in quickly and the non-greasy hydration factor can be felt for hours after application. My skin is left softly scented, feeling comfortable, softened and simply fresh. 

The butter base formula contains Shea Butter and Grape Seed Oil which are known for their powerful emollient properties. The creaminess along with your chosen fragrance can really elevate your daily moisturization to a more spa-like, pampering experience! What's not to love :-)

Scent Description;

A joyful, subtle perfume where the aroma of apple blossoms into a sweet illusion.
A light wisp of flowers quickly fuses with the essence of apple.
A hint of ginger heightens apple’s mouthwatering appeal without overpowering and adds a joyful, spicy twist.
Mild amber and acacia wood add character and longevity while keeping the fragrance light and cheerful.
The Illusion Pomme (Apple Illusion) fragrance is definitively on heavy-duty fruity side of the spectrum but the flowery notes are definitively present as well. Despite the name I can't really describe this scent as "apple" in nature however I suspect the fruit essence is simply over powered by the fresh blossom notes with some ginger in the mix. That being said i feel like the "apple" undertones is what keep this fragrance fresh, light and just plain cheerful!

Ultimately I love Fruit & Passion products and their innovative scent combinations certainly pay homage to their master perfumer origins. Their Body Lotions and Quenching Butters are the brand's stand-out's and I will continue to use them year round, especially when I need some aromatherapy in my day!

I hope this was helpful to someone!

Have you tried Fruit & Passion products? Any favorites I should know about?

XOXO

ANJA

Body Care Moisturization - Worth it!?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I hope this was helpful to you!

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

XOXO

ANJA

The Honest Company Spreads It's Honesty Across Canada Too

I am sure almost everyone has heard about the Honest Company by now but it might be news to you that they have recently expanded their shipping parameters to Canada and it's territories. To say I was excited about this is the understatement of the century!

The story goes that Jessica Alba started a project after having her babies and realizing just how unsafe everything in the world really is. Instead of sitting back, whining about the injustice and spending thousands of dollars on high end brands that guaranteed nothing, she decided to change the game and make her own "natural" goodness. 

Talk about the proactive attitude! She put her money where her mouth is and just like that The Honest Company  was born.

The "Honest" brand essentially offers clean personal and home care products that are safe, effective, affordable, accessible and trustworthy when it comes to ingredients and formulation effectiveness. Their brand prerogative is to be good for the user, community and environment through transparency, responsibility and commitment to their customers. 

To put it plainly - this stuff is free from the usual nasties other household brands routinely use and as such safe to use even around babies. The company guarantees everything they make and strives to provide excellent customer service.

To spread their "honesty" throughout Canada they have a couple of enticing promotions going on right now; offering free* trial packs in the baby, family essentials and health categories. These trial packages come with no commitment, full guarantee and great value; making the offer a little too good to pass up.

My free* trial package was very easy to order on their site and arrived very quickly for a Canadian mailing. 

When I placed the order I was fully aware that this was a trial package but what I actually received in the mail surpassed any expectation I may have had! There are no tiny, single-use packets here - the five products included were all generously sized (1 fl. oz.) and came in an adorable re-usable box. This means that they give you enough product to conduct a real, significant trial before ordering the full size, which is something I find so annoying about foil samples. Personally I need to use something more than once to decide if it's right for me or not.

The Honest Company and me are obviously on the same page with this one. 

The products included in my kit were:

Honest Laundry Detergent

Honest Shampoo + Body Wash

Honest Hand Soap

Honest Healing Balm

Honest Face + Body Lotion

The one thing that you need to be aware and perhaps the only small drawback to this incredible deal is that by signing up for the trial you are indeed enrolling in the Honest Company Membership Program. However this doesn't mean you are making that commitment just by trying the products - the membership is easily canceled through their efficient customer service, which is very helpful, knowledgeable and appreciative of any concerns you may have.

If you indeed love the products you get then you can keep your membership along with it's many perks. These benefits include discount prices, bundle purchases, shipping schedule flexibility along with order customization. Basically you are in the driver seat, you choose what you get, when you get it and how often you get it! They also have a referral program where getting a friend signed up you automatically get $20.00 store credit, which is more than generous and can really add up in terms of free products! Honestly (pun fully intended!) the membership perks are some of the best I have come across. 

The other free* trials they are offering is the baby diaper bundle and the new health (vitamins) pack. Just like mine they only require shipping & handling fee payment of $5.95, which is ridiculously low when you consider post office prices in Canada. 

The baby diapers & wipes bundle contains 7 cute diapers and 10 accompanying wipes; while the Health & Wellness bundle gives you a choice between a 1-Day supply of Prenatal & DHA/Omega-3 and Baby & Toddler Multi Powder and Kid's Chewable Multi-Vitamins. 

The products I have tried during me Honest trial have definitively impressed me so far with the Honest Organic Healing Balm and Honest Liquid Hand Soap being the obvious stand outs. What I love the most about all of the Honest Company products is their signature milky vanilla orange blossom scent, which manages to be both soft and prominent with very light lingering effect on the skin. 

After this trial experiment I have decided to give the Honest Company Essentials Bundle a whirl and see how my first "real" order turns out. Being of fickle & indecisive nature I have been scouring their website, changing out products in my bundle, trying to decide what I want to try first. 

As they say "first world problems" 

If you want your very own trial kit you can use my referral link here (which would be so nice!) or visit their website directly! 

I hope this was helpful!

Have you tried the Honest Company yet? What is your favorite product? 

XOXO

ANJA

*Disclosure - this post contains a referral link but is in no way sponsored by the Honest Company!

Canadian Beauty - Marcelle Nutrilux Supreme Nourishing Hand Cream

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you for reading

Have you tried Marcelle? Which product was your favorite?

XOXO

ANJA

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