C.O. Bigelow My Favourite Night Balm NO. 306 - The Cockiest Lip Treatment Around?

What's in a name? 

The art of assigning a particular name or title when it comes to all products in general can be one of the driving forces that can heavily influence the brands commercial success or unfortunate market failure. This particular phenomenon might be most prominent in the cosmetic industry where branding, advertising and memorable product dubs are all intricately designed to attract the consumers and make them remember the item in question long after they leave the store. These days the beauty market is beautifully over-saturated with various formulations of products that share similar purpose and design, meaning that creativity is more important than ever to make something stand out and maintain longevity in the industry itself. 

Cutesy product packaging, clever advertisements and "catchy" names or descriptions are all wonderful ways to get noticed and stay memorable in the minds of your target audience. 

The C.O. Bigelow My Favorite Night Balm No. 306 ($7.50) is a relatively new addition to my lip treatment balm collection which starts growing at an exponential rate during this time of year. The freezing cold and windy Canadian winters are anything but kind and tolerable for my dry, sensitive skin and my lips seem to suffer the most due to these unfortunate weather elements. Lets face it dry, chapped, cracked and windburned lips are not a good look for anybody and it goes without saying that even your best lipstick or lip gloss will not look its best if the base is not taken care of first. 

The C.O. Bigelow My Favorite Night Balm No. 306 caught my attention immediately with its cocky name and despite the fact that I had absolutely no knowledge about the brand itself, that little blurb guaranteed its purchase quite easily. A big hand of applause for the C.O. Bigelow marketing team - their efforts obviously paid off and I am sure I wasn't the only beauty connoisseur that fell hard for such a clever name almost instantly. 

The scientist in me really wanted to test the lip treatment that claimed to be My Favorite Night Balm right from the get go. 

Bold statements like that should be able to produce bold results as well!

Official Description;

Heal your lips while you sleep with this deeply moisturizing night balm. Leaves lips soft and smooth. Contains healing Shea Butter

Ingredients;

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Petrolatum, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Ozokerite, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-1, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Mineral Oil, Lanolin Oil, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax (CAndeilla Cera, Cire de Candelilla), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Isoprpyl Palmitate, Slica Silylate, Stearalkonius Hectorite, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Propylene CArbonate, Sodium Saccharin, BHT
The winter and environmental factors around here have a tendency to irritate and dry out my lip tissue and the vermilion border surrounding it. The sensation of slight burning and redness associated with it can be extremely uncomfortable and further element exposure can even add itchiness and flaking to the already "pretty" sight. Daily lip protection can be achieved with sunscreen infused rich lip balms, reapplied regularly and continuously however there are days when that just proves not to be enough. Heavy-duty, nourishing and hydrating night lip treatments provide healing and rejuvenation overnight, making them an essential step in my nightly skincare routine.
All my other lip balms, that used to be perfect for my summertime lips, now become basically useless and simply not good enough to tackle such extreme issues. Oh, what's a girl to do?

So yes, I was skeptical when I saw C.O. Bigelow My Favorite Night Balm No. 306 ; but the words "8 hour overnight recovery" intrigued me enough to put this lovely blue tube to the favorites test. 

I love that it's texture is very thick, but doesn't feel uncomfortable on the lips. The scent is light, but pleasant; not overpowering in the least and the nourishment is felt almost instantly. It feels and looks like its working almost instantly but the results are not as quick as the sales associated relentlessly claimed when I inquired about the formula itself. My lips felt better and there were observable improvements in lip condition but it took a few days for me to be convinced of its effectiveness. 

The promise of My Favorite Night Balm  formula is definitively solid and produces enviable results for such a small price tag but I can't say that I would classify this as a must-have or even a favorite lip treatment. I like it and would even re-purchase it once I run out but in all honesty there are other balms in my lip stash that preform better and quicker than this particular product. 

However if you are looking for a budget, good quality lip balm that will give you some consistent results then the C.O. Bigelow is definitively a good and reliable choice. 

The My Favorite Night Balm might not be my favorite lippie but I still give it high marks :-)

What is your favorite lip product?

Thank you for reading 

XOXO 

ANJA

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

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

The Beauty Fence - Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip and Cheek Balm

Givenchy is one of those brands that have always been on my radar but only a few products actually got my attention so my exposure to their collections has been extremely limited. The quality, luxe packaging, and formulations match those of similarly priced brands such as Chanel and Dior so even though I was intrigued from time to time nothing stroke my fancy enough to make an investment. The few products I do own were carefully selected and preform beautifully but the brand as a whole remained overlooked and since Givenchy does not have a cosmetics counter in my city it was even easier to forget about it.

Readers of my blog are aware that I have a serious weakness when it comes to luxurious, pampering lip balms so when I discovered the Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip and Cheek Balms ($34.00 for 0.17 oz) I knew it was only a matter of time before I took the plunge and splurged on these adorable blue pots.
Who doesn't need a bit of magic in their life? 

Official Description;

Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip & Cheek Balm's innovative formula moisturizes and provides a flushed tint to lips and cheeks. It contains pigments that react with the skin's humidity to create a personalized hint of color to the lips and a delicate glow to the cheeks. Hyaluronic acid spheres bring moisture and fill in the dehydration lines and, by capturing water, these water-soaked spheres swell to increase the volume—thus providing a plumping action on lips and cheeks. Lips and cheeks are lipid-replenished by Luffa Oil, which is rich in fatty acids, and the glossy cream contains a texture with a melting and softening sensation.

The Givenchy Magic Lip and Cheek Balm is part of the "Hydra-Sparkling" skincare/makeup collection and just like the name implies was created to target moisture balance, hydration and skin rejuvenation. One of the key ingredients in this line-up are the hyaluronic acid spheres that not only deliver moisture but also plump the skin and fill any dehydration (fine) lines. The Magic Lip and Cheek Balm is said to capture water via the hyaluronic acid which in turn increase in volume and the final results being fuller, well-moisturized lip tissue. The Givenchy formulation also includes the unique Luffa Oil, rich in fatty acids whose main purpose is to replenish any lipid loss in both lips and cheeks.
There are two shades available - baby pink (glow-like rose) and a soft coral with a prominent orange undertone.

The first thing I noticed when these beauties arrived was the extremely tiny size of the pots themselves. Even though I find small things adorable I feel that the balms are extremely overpriced for the amount of product you actually get. I would be lying if i said i didnt feel a twinge of disappointment when I realized just how miniature these really were. However I was willing to forgive that detail if in fact the product preformed as good as I had expected from such a prestigious brand.
Did it disappoint in that aspect too?

The answer to that question is somewhat complicated because there are aspects of this Magic Balm that I absolutely love but on the other hand other features are for the lack of better word - annoying! After using this for a few months I can honestly conclude that this is a great lip product and at the same time a very inferior blush.

As a lip treatment the Givenchy Magic Lip & Cheek Balm preforms beautifully in terms of hydration and plumping. The pigmentation is sheer but that is to be expected from a "lip balm" so I can't fault it on that measure. It feels light and nourishing on and has a significantly longer longevity that some other comparably priced lip treatments. I definitively love the "pink" shade more because the sheer wash of colour achieves that glowy "doll-like" sheen that every girly girl dreams of getting. Compliments galore every time! 

As a "blush" the Magic Balm has some significant issues it needs to work on. The main problem is the thick texture which makes it very hard to work with as it remains slightly sticky no matter what application method I use. The pigmentation is lacking so layering is needed but because of the tackiness of the balm that is impossible. My long hair made that attribute even more noticeable because it kept sticking to the cheeks even after an hour of the initial use. A ponytail solved that problem of course but at that point I was already irritated with it. I would say if the texture was thinner the cheek application would be much more successful. 

I think you can now understand why I have such mixed feelings about the Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip and Cheek Balm! I love it on my lips and hate it on the cheeks so my verdict is well...confused! 

I would recommend it in a heartbeat as a glowy lip treatment - especially the pink version. However be wary of using it on your cheeks - it's a little unpleasant! 

You can purchase the Givenchy Magic Lip & Cheek Balm at our trusty Sephora and from various vendors on Amazon!

Have you tried the Givenchy Magic Balm? What were your thoughts?

As always thank you for reading :-)

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 :-) 

Dior Addict Lip Glow Lives Up To Its Name

I don't repurchase many beauty products! There are always so many new things out there that I want to try, new lemmings that call out my name and whisper sweet promises directly to the all-believing wide-eyed girl, always looking for that new it-item...What I am trying to say is that things can get very overwhelming in The Canadian Principessa beauty world so if something wants to make a repeat appearance then it has to be basically amazing from start to finish!

The Dior Addict Lip Glow has now been repurchased three times so that fact alone means that this somewhat pricy "lip balm" has managed to impress me to a point that despite the fact that i am surrounded by things my lips love I just had to find a way to make it mine again and again. 

The Dior fancies at Sephora describe the Lip Glow like this;

A sheer balm that enhances your natural lip color while moisturizing and protecting the skin.

What it "promises" to do for us;

Awaken and enhance the natural beauty of your lips with this unique balm that promises the perfect pout. Formulated with color reviver technology, this silky lipstick reacts with the chemistry of your lips to create a special shade that will last all day. The addition of SPF 10 will keep you protected, while hydrating mango butter and loofah extract nourish for beautiful luscious lips. 

Despite the fact that I have purchased exactly 3 tubes of this pink, girly perfection, I have some specific problems with the description given by Dior and subsequently endorsed by Sephora and other retailers. Personally I feel that the official spiel is kind of misleading for anyone purchasing this sight-unseen, for example on line or anyone who takes company jargon too literally. This is the perfect example of a product where personal reviews and blog posts are significantly more useful than any amount of item information found on actual retail sites. 

Lets start with the fact that this is initially introduced as a "sheer balm" that is suppose to moisturize your lips and at the same time "enhance" the natural lip color of the wearer. Now enhancing a color is kind of an abstract term - at least for me! Does it mean it will brighten my natural lip color? Or add tint and shine to give it more of a "pretty" look? For me i have to say that the brightening is most prominent and the effect gets stronger the longer the balm stays on my lips, hence the correct labeling it as a "lip glow". However a balm this is not, maybe a very-very sheer one but if your lips are in need of any amount of moisturization then this is not going to help at all. The good news is that a light layer of any non-waxy lip balm underneath the Dior Addict will not interfere with it's intended "glow" feature. 

If you continue reading the official description the Lip Glow is also refereed to as a "silky lipstick" that is suppose to "last all day" and lets not forget about the protection claims given to the low SPF 10 included in the formulation. Well after having used this for so long I can confidently disagree with the "lipstick" label, simply because the added tint does not contain any pure pigments and the graduation of color is supposedly produced by a chemical reaction triggered by your own body temperature. Calling it a lipstick is just silly and can mislead first-time buyers into thinking they are getting an altogether different product type, which can easily result in disappointment and inevitably complaints! And it does not last all day, 4-5 hours without eating is its limit! 

Since most of you lovelies already know about importance of SPF then I don't need to comment too loudly about the fact that almost all dermatologists now recommend a minimum of SPF 15 for adequate protection, meaning that the SPF 10 in the Dior Addict Lip Glow is just not going to cut it. I would expect a high-end company like Dior to improve basics like that in the future and at least consider revising some of the "claims" promised in their eloquently written description. 

For those of you dedicated enough to have made it this far, it must be puzzling why I would repurchase a product so many times if I found so many things that I disagree with. 

Well, the short answer is that I am addicted to the "lip glow"! Dior nailed that part perfectly - my lips look brighter, lusciously supple, comfortable and finished with a very subtle, sophisticated glossy sheen. The main attraction of course is that promised "lip glow" - the tint starts off as a subtle English rose, slowly blooming into that very fresh bright Barbie pink that really pops and compliments my fair undertones like no other "regular" pink lipstick. Most conventional pink lipsticks usually end up washing me out,resulting into a very sallow skin tone or they are so bright that i end up feeling kind of "trashy" or self-conscious, which inevitably leads to short wear-time anyways. 

If you need any more evidence that i am hopelessly girly in every aspect of what that means then i will also point out that the Dior Lip Addict Lip Glow comes in a beautiful,  feminine but also classy PINK tube, which in itself was a major factor in the initial tube purchase. The pattern will continue :-) Sad, I know!

You can guys can purchase your very own Lip Glow here. 

This seems to be one of their bestsellers since they are often sold out, so if you want it I would suggest pouncing on it as soon as it comes in stock.  

Dior released some additional items to the "Dior Addict Lip Glow" line up just to tempt me -  Addict Lip Glow ($30) and Dior Nail Glow ($24). I hope to bring their reviews to you soon!

Recently I discovered that the L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Pink Satin is a great quality but also significantly more wallet friendly "dupe-like" alternative to the Dior Lip Glow. You can check out my review on the L'Oreal version here.   

Have you tried any of the Dior Lip/Nail Glow products? What did you think? 

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 :-) 

Clarins Lip Perfector in Rose Shimmer

Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors are another one of those products that seem to have blown up in the blogosphere just recently, most likely driven by the addition of the new shades to the somewhat small collection. 

Today the lineup consists of six shades: 01 Rose Shimmer, 02 Apricot Shimmer, 03 Nude Shimmer, 04 Petal Shimmer, 05 Candy Shimmer and 06 Rosewood Shimmer. I believe the last 3 are the new colors.

I am not exactly sure when Clarins initially brought these out but it must have been a while back since I remember using them even years ago. My color of choice was and still remains the original 01 Rose Shimmer, which is a perfectly natural rosy shade that compliments my lips, adding just enough shine and shimmer, without being too obvious. In fact that's exactly what the point of these lip perfectors really is - to add a little bit of color, moisturize, erase any imperfections (flakes, anyone?) and technically "light up" your own lips.  

This is how Clarins describes the Lip Perfector;

A softly textured lip gel with a deliciously sweet scent and 3D shimmer.Experience the lusciously  smooth, shiny and fuller lips you've always dreamed of. Sheer but shaded enough to wear alone or to complement your favorite lip shade. 

Supple, well moisturized lips; extracts of Shea Butter, Wild Mango and plant perhydrosqualene repair and soften

Derivatives of Vitamin E and A, reinforce the repairing action and protect against free radicals.

When I initially purchased one these Instant Light lip glosses I was expecting just that - a lip gloss! I am happy to report that I was so very wrong! This is no ordinary lip gloss that adds some color to your pucker - its actually a hybrid of a lip color and a lip treatment. What that means is that i don't need to apply lip balm before this, just 1 layer of this and my lips are smoothed, moisturized, protected and just plain pretty. I am not usually a fan of fragrance when it comes to face products but the Lip Perfectors smell of caramel, vanilla, candy and pie, so I enjoy that feature very-very much! Compared to other lip glosses the stickiness is negligible, which is something i always take in to account since my hair is quite long.  

Final verdict is a resounding rave and since the price ($20) is reasonable for a 10 ml tube I would recommend this to anyone 

The Instant Light Lip Perfectors are available for purchase directly on the Clarins website here and counters everywhere!

Have you tried the Clarins lip perfectors?

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 Little Luxuries of My Life - By Terry Baume de Rose SPF15

I am sure that there are so many reviews in the blogosphere that have covered the issue of the insane price tag attached to this, so i wont get into it! No need to perpetuate the guilty feelings :-)

I am currently on my 2nd or 3rd jar of this and even though this was suppose to be a one-time purchase, a luxury treat per say i have repurchased more than once and sadly i will break-down and buy it again i am sure.

The skincare fanatic in me is always on the look out for the next best thing, i am very fickle when it comes to brand loyalty and even though i usually buy HE, i've discovered a few drugstore gems that surprised me. My lip balm collection is completely out of control - i have them in every single part of the house, every handbag, pocket, drawer etc for "emergencies".

Baume de Rose however never leaves my side and not just because of the price - to put it plainly, it preforms better than anything else i have and can fix my lips in 5 seconds. The texture is like a typical balm, without the stickiness and oily residue of others of course. It sinks in fast, erases any flakes that might be on there, drenches the dry feeling AND smells amazing (i love roses!). I expected some colour but my pigmented rosy lips prevailed and i prefer it that way and even though my lips are already full, the plumping effect is definitively noticeable :)

I am sure there might be better lip treatments out there for less but i don't know of them - when i do i will be the first in line to buy them but until then i will carry this little jar everywhere :)

Ingredients;
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Synthetic Wax, Diiosostearyl Malate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyethylene, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanesterol Esters, Petrolatum, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract, Stearalkonium Hectorite, C20-40 Acid, Corylus Avellana (Haeel) Seed Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Tocopherol, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Carbonate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Lanolin, Sodium PCA, Aqua (Water), Polysorbate 85, Rosa Centifolia Flower (Wax) Cera, Rosa Damascena Flower (Wax) Cera, Trohydroxypalmitamidohydroxypropyl Myristyl Ether, Alumina, Aluminium Stearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Mica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Methylparaben, BHT, Butylene Glycol, Propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, CI 75470 (Carmine), Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzylbenzoate, Eugenol, Cotral [T0401/D]

By Terry Baume de Rose balm ($60) and other By Terry products products can be purchased here

What are your favourite balms?

XOXO

ANJA

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Cult Beauty - Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm

Hi everybody - My name is Anja and i am a lip balm addict! I have purchased almost anything that has balm in the name and if its French and its got "baume"...then its going in the cart regardless of anything....Yes i have a serious problem BUT products such as Nuxe Reve de Miel are plain enablers since this purchase has proven to be nothing but a positive influence in my beauty routine :)

I love this balm because its different than anything else i have. Its a balm and its moisturizing but its also dry and matte; all at the same time...I know - its a contradiction! Reve de Miel is absorbed into the lip and creates a dryish matte finish but your lips still feel nourished and protected. Girls who hate the gloss finish and the sticky aftermath WILL LOVE THIS! The initial grittiness will also helps exfoliate the lip surface as an added little bonus.

The texture is a little off putting at first but once you are used to it this will be a necessity. The scent is mild to me and comforting to say the least - nothing too sweet or heady like some other honey-scented products.
This is becoming a pattern for me - yet another product that is HTF but definitively worth the hunt :)

Ingredients;
Cera Alba/Beeswax, Olus Oil/Vegetable Oil, Lecithin, Behenoxy Dimethicone, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract, Mel/Honey, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Egetable Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Candelilla Cera/Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Allantoin, Alendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Bht, Citric Acid, Citral, Limonene, Linalool [N0802/C].

Nuxe Reve de Miel ($19.00) and other Nuxe products are available for purchase here


Did you guys try the Nuxe Reve de Miel - was it worth tracking down?

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 Little Luxuries of My Life - Chistian Dior Creme de Rose 001 Lip Treatment

Hi everybody - my name is Anja and i am a lip balm addict!
It gets worse - i am a high end lip treatment junkie and i am too far gone...interventions will not work BUT new brands might :) You may know me from all the other lip balm posts...

I am ashamed to count all the little fancy jars around my house - By Terry, Nuxe, La Mer, Givenchy, Dior...I have pretty much tried them all and cringed at the checkout each time but obviously not enough since the little pots are multiplying & taking over my humble home.

Dior's Creme de Rose was a no-brainer for me because i adore rose scents and the vintage pot made me feel all warm & fuzzy...The texture is very balm-like, there is no stickiness or waxy feel, no weird flavor, the lips feel nourished and the lovely rose scent doesn't linger for too long (boo for me!). Instead of the typical glossy finish i would describe this as more of a matte subdued shine, making it ideal as a lipstick or gloss base.

One issue i had with this was the unexpected & surprising color change in the pot itself. When i first purchased it, the balm was a rosy pink shade but after a few months the color transformed to bright yellow! I was told that the reason was oxidation of the rose oils, which are key in the formulation...There were no other changes - the scent, texture, feel and performance stayed the same but i cant deny that i was a little disturbed by the neon yellow shade.

It might seem like i am being petty but that's the only reason i wouldn't repurchase this again. Even though the color change didn't affect the effectiveness of the balm, I was put off to say the least. The price tag, the brand and rave reviews made me expect more. So even though i am happy i bought it, i wasn't completely wowed so i found myself using it less and less. Then again a few things can compete with my HERO By Terry Baume de Rose :)

Dior Creme de Rose Lip Balm can be purchased at Sephora here

Did your Dior Crème de Rose change colour too? Maybe mine was a "dud"!



Do you have a favorite lip treatment?  Any suggestion for my next lip balm hunt?

XOXO

ANJA

L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm - Dior Lip Glow Dupe?

Hi Everybody!

My name is Anja and I am a Lip Balm addict! The Canadian Principessa will slowly reveal This is one of my least-guilt inducing purchases but quite possibly the most rewarding one.


The Colour Riche Balm is what i wanted the Revlon Lip Butters to be - moisturizing, shiny, soothing, lovely...basically prettiness in a tube :) The Best Part - since i discovered these little gems, the urge to continue repurchasing the magical Dior Lip Glow has subsided to say the least. I am not saying that i wont buy it again but it may take a while because i find myself using the Riche Balm in Pink Satin a lot more. The funny thing is that the Lip Glow and the Riche Balm tubes are fairly similar in design - the luxury look was certainly achieved by L'Oreal this time around.


The texture of this is sublime - it glides on so easily, almost melting into the lips. I am happy to say that there is no detectable chemical taste and the fragrance is very faint so i don't think it would bother those with scent issues. The shades are soft but always detectable - after all this is a balm not a lipstick so it wouldn't be fair to judge the lack of pigmentation.

I will say that the color payoff is excellent for a lip treatment even in the lighter shades with a finish that isn't so much glossy as it is a sheen. Pink Satin is one of the lightest ones available and it makes my lips light up with a such a beautiful girly glow - compliments and inquiries galore :)


I am hoarding backups as we speak - L'oreal will discontinue this and then what am i going to do?

For more information about Colour Riche Balm and other L'Oreal cosmetics click here
These are all readily available in any of your local drug and grocery stores, including - Shoppers Drug Mart, Lawtons, Walmart, Target, Wal-Greens, Boots etc.



Have you tried the Colour Riche Balms? Which shade should I try next?

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 :-)