The Princeza Guide to Bedtime Beauty

It really is no secret that I happen to be a high-maintenance girl in almost every sense of that concept. My natural "girliness" drives almost everything I do and experience throughout my day and as such I embrace it wholeheartedly and openly. The tomboy nature of my childhood has all but died out now and pink sparkly-shiny things seem to dominate my existence and my surroundings. There is nothing wrong with that, right?

This femininity naturally extends into how I approach my beauty regiments and nothing illustrates that more than my bedtime rituals. Each and every step of this routine is designed to relax, comfort and elevate the beautification process, which is something I look forward to especially on those really bad days. It might sound like I am putting way too much thought into this and over-complicating the whole experience but that is exactly the point when you are doing something you love. At least whoever goes to bed with me will be able to reap the benefits of my silky, fragranced self :-)

For better overview I have divided the bedtime beauty process in several steps so you can see just how seriously I can take this!

1. Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness 
I try to shower each night before bed for two reasons - I have a thing about being clean all the time and more importantly I value my sleep immensely so the chances of a morning shower are usually slim to none.
The scent can be very important for bedtime use so I try not to choose any "perky" or "energizing" scent combinations. A gentle, soothing and moisturizing formula is always a must so that along with the fragrance requirement can make my choice somewhat difficult.
One that hits all those points and is one of my favorites is the This Works Deep Sleep Shower Gel ($28.00 for 8.4 oz) and the Cowshed Lazy Cow Soothing Bath & Shower Gel ($25.00 for 10 oz)

2. Butter Yourself Up 
I firmly believe that smooth, silky and soft skin is one of the top attributes of our femininity. Not only does your skin feel more comfortable with proper moisturization but it can also elevate your confidence like nothing else, regardless of the given situation. Bedtime pampering gives you the perfect opportunity for this because as we all know your skin renews and rejuvenates itself best during the night so arming it with some extra emollients can only amplify that effect.
My personal collection of body lotions and rich body butters are quite extensive but the ones I reach for more often during the summer months are Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter ($42.00 for 8 oz), Barr-Co. Fine Shea Butter Lotion ($24.00 for 16 oz) and the amazing The Body Shop Divine Calm Body Butter ($20.00 for 6.75 oz).

Bedtime 1 with The Body Shop , Anthropologie, Josie Maran

3. Amplified Bedtime Skincare Routine 
I already have a very extensive night time skincare routine with serums, eye creams and heavy duty moisturizers already in place. I like to refer to this as my core regiment and the major theme here is once again regenerate and rejuvenate in order to help the skin's natural nigh-time repair cycle. The products may change but their purpose remains relatively the same.
Every few nights I try to elevate the core with some additional weapons from my bathroom cabinet that really make a difference in both my skin quality and feel.
I am talking about overnight hydration masks (Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Water-Max Sleeping Mask), resurfacing treatments (Dr. Brandt Overnight Resurfacing Serum), targeted imperfection creams (Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel) and nightime eye serums (Ole Henriksen Truth is in the Eyes Vitamin C Peel Concentrate)

4. Luxury Girly Necessities 
These steps illustrate my high-maintenance nature best. They are obviously not must-have's and most probably don't have all that many major skin or body benefits but are complete indulgences of the beauty world and as such my favorite perks of being a girl. Taking the time to add these little steps to my bedtime make a huge difference when it comes to calming, comforting and preparing me for that lovely slumber time we all need more of.
Deeply moisturizing treatment hand creams take care of the most overlooked but so important body part and only take a few minutes to apply so I really have no excuse when it comes to using them. I keep several mini tubes on my bed-stand and the ones that always stand out are the impossibly cute LUSH Tiny Hands Hand Lotion ($8.95), Compagnie de Provence Wild Rose Shea Butter Hand Cream ($5.50 for 1 oz) and Lollia Relax Shea Butter Handcreme ($25.00 for 4 oz)

Bedtime 2 with Lollia, Compagnie de Provence, LUSH

Moisturizing and nourishing lip treatments are always a must for me and the ones that I love the most (right now) are Tatcha Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm ($36.00), First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy ($15.00) and the new Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss ($3.99)
My eye lashes get some extra help and conditioning with the Mavala Eye-Lite Double Lash Night Treatment ($18.00) and L'Oreal Lash Boosting Serum ($14.99)

Bedtime 3 with Lush, Disney, Prada Candy

5. Bonus Point Steps 
You are probably rolling your eyes by now but I promise I almost done! The finishing touches to this elaborate bedtime indulgence parade are a quick spritz of perfume (PRADA Candy), dusting powder on the sheets (LUSH Silky Underwear Dusting Powder) and maybe a pillow spray (DREAM Pillow Mist)

I think its pretty obvious at this point that I have an obvious cosmetic fetish and rest assured I am fully aware of this but I would still gladly recommend all of these products to anyone who is looking to make their bedtime routine a little more luxurious!
After all beauty products are wonderful perks of our feminine existence and we are all worthy of a little luxury :-)

I hope you enjoyed a tiny glimpse into my beauty product world

Do you have a bedtime routine? What is your favorite part?

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 :-) 

New Lust List!

The Lust List with Eve Lom, Clinique, Sunday Riley

As you can tell I am having a bit of a LUSH affair these days as I am rediscovering some of my old favorites.
Skincare is once again dominating my brain but there are a few makeup items as well to shake things up.
Sidney Riley is a brand that has been catching my mind lately and their tinted primer was a game-changing product for me so expect a full review soon.
My beloved Prada Candy signature scent is now gone and its important to mention that this is the first fragrance I have every finished and I have a feeling its not going to be the last one. Must restock ASAP.

What has been on your wishlist lately?

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 :-)

Summer Time Dew That Doesn't Leave You Eww...

Canadian summers can be pretty hot and sometimes just as intense as our famous winters. Living on the Atlantic coast by the ocean does have its perks of course however in the summer sometimes the humidity can start to wreck havoc on my complexion and general "stickiness"

Having combination skin, bordering on dry my skin requires a lot of fine tuning and that is never more true than when the seasons start changing. It is almost as if my skin does a complete transformation and suddenly overnight all of my secret weapons and big-impact skincare work no longer preform the way they should. My usually combination skin starts to oil up a lot more, the texture becomes rough and my cheeks get flushed almost permanently. 

The hardest thing for me to figure out while i am building a new skincare routine is the elusive perfect summer appropriate moisturizer. The choices are endless but my warmer weather skin cream needs to check off a lot of boxes before getting a privileged spot in my bathroom and vanity. 

The perfect formula should moisturize deeply, absorb quickly, leave a dewy matte finish, contain great ingredients, be portable and be suitable for sensitive or reactive skin.

Its a tall order for any product - its a lot to ask from a moisturizer but i am happy to report that there are brands that deliver everything i want!

Here are my Top 5 Picks 

1. Avene Hydrance Optimale Legere ($30)  

This is what i would call a bare-bones moisturizer. There is nothing fancy about this formula, no outrageous claims, the price tag is reasonable and sensitive skins can use this comfortably. I love the fact that it can come with or without SPF and that its completely fragrance free 

2. Omorovicza Illuminating Moisturizer ($160)

I am a huge Omorovicza fun so including one of their creams was a no brainer. Its meant for dry and/or sensitive skin with bonus ruby crystals that use light-reflection to blurr and soften facial features. I absolutely love this cream and will continue to repurchase despite the price tag - with Omorovicza you always get        what you pay for and more

3. Ole Henriksen Truth Creme Advanced Hydration ($56)

This moisturuzer manages to be rich and silky and at the same time feels light and absorbs very quickly. The Vitamin C in both the creme and the serum heals, brightens, hydrates deeply and boosts collagen production. The combination of serum and cream together is amazing - you wont believe how soft your face will be.

4. Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Mega Moisturizer SPF 15 ($63)

The flawless skin skincare collection has some misses for me but this moisturizer really lives up to its flawless promise. Its a little richer formula compared to my other pics but the velvety feel makes it a winner for me and the fact that it has SPF is always a bonus 

What are your favourite Summer Moisturizers? 

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 :-) 

Skin Care Jack Pot - Ole Henriksen Truth is in the Eyes

Doesn't it feel great when a product really DOES and PREFORMS exactly as the description indicates in the first place? Beauty mavens work hard for their money and most of us take great pains in researching and choosing our cosmetics. There is nothing more disappointing then spending a fortune on a coveted product only to face mediocre results, subpar quality or worse..irritation...usually accompanied by redness...burning! Not a good look that's for sure! Unfortunately for us the cosmetic industry is filled with hype, false promises, splashy celebrities and so called "miracle potions" that deliver very little or more often than not show nothing! As much as i try my best to be selective and well informed when it comes to products i buy, sadly i have come across some very expensive duds :(

This however is not one of them! The little yellow tube promised a lot and ultimately did deliver exactly what it said - I couldn't be happier with the performance or the price for that matter :)

What it is (from the company);

A peel concentrate for the under eye area that offers a natural, gentle antidote to dark circles and fine lines.

What it does (from the company);

Created by Ole Henriksen (skin guru to the stars) to address the specific needs of the eye region—specifically signs of fatigue and age—this exfoliating formula will revolutionize skincare for the under eye region. Because the tissue around the eye is so fragile, it is often recommended NOT to exfoliate that area. This groundbreaking blend represents a new realm of possibility for more youthful skin around the eyes.


My Experience;

I'll be honest with you - I was scared to use/try this! Its a PEEL...and its close to the EYES...to me that just sounded like a bad idea - something was bound to go wrong!

After having the tube for about 2-3 months i decided to at least try it once and based on the results or consequences then decide what to do - toss or swap? I sucked it up and bravely applied a thin layer under the eye and braced myself - at the very least i was expecting a slight tingle. The gel-like texture felt cool on the skin, almost soothing and it was absorbed very quickly without any discomfort. As directed i applied a rich eye cream soon after and tried not to get excited! The next morning in the mirror i noticed that my under eye circles were a bit brighter and the texture/tone was definitively smoother. I continued to use it for about a week and had absolutely no irritation even though i used it 2x a day. The results were undeniable - it worked! I didn't want to jump for joy, just in case it was all in my head....BUT others noticed and the compliments poured in! During the second week i even noticed that some of my milia was starting to disappear and my concealer almost glided, lasted longer and i was i didn't need as much coverage under the eyes as before. The mirror made me a believer and i couldn't believe i didn't peel my eyes before...


To the girls with sensitive skin like mine i recommend trying it at least once - don't be put off by the peel concept and your eyes will thank you!

Ingredients;
Water (Aqua/ Eau), Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium, Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate , Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein, Oxido Reductases, Algae Extract, Pullulan, Allantoin, Calcium Ascorbate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sorbitol, Carrageenan, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Oleth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid

Ole Henriksen Truth is in the Eyes ($52.00 for 0.5oz) and his other products are available for purchase at Sephora here


Are you guys brave enough to put acid around your eyes?

XOXO

ANJA