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 :-)

Every Girl Needs One Chanel Lipstick in her Life - Rouge Coco Shine in Liberte

I love PINK! I have been in love with any kind of pink since birth and most of my purchases (makeup or otherwise) are heavily influenced by my fixation. I don't even know if pink works for me or if its suited for my colouring - if its pinky or has pink in the name, chances are i will own it at some point...

During my recent beauty clear-out i discovered that my obsession is getting a tad-bit out of control...unused pink lipsticks/glosses galore while other color options were limited to say the least. Being the diligent beauty collector i decided it was high time to build a wearable lipstick wardrobe that wont collect dust on the vanity and could inspire more versatility in my makeup looks! OK i needed an excuse to buy more lippies....See how easy it is for me to justify a purchase! Somehow I went from having too many lipsticks to needing new ones :-)

I own several Chanel Rouge Coco Shines (mostly pink or nude) so i knew experimenting with color within this range was doable since the lipsticks are so sheer, shiny, classy and usually a good investment (if you know what you are getting!). The low reviews all seem to revolve around pigmentation but i want to respectfully remind everyone that even Chanel describes these as sheer & glossy.

The texture reminds me more of a tinted balm then a lipstick - its moisturizing on its own, adds a touch of colour, shiny finish, all of which results in low staying power (3-4 hours on me).

Liberte was my first coral-like shade and even though the pink-lover in me resisted i ordered it sight-unseen and discovered a whole new side to me. Due to its sheerness this lipstick is so versatile that i find works with almost any look - daytime especially, office approved but can easily be used at night too, due to the gloss factor :)

As long as you know you are getting a very sheer lipstick then i say try it - especially if you are trying to expand your colour horizons like me!


To purchase Chanel Coco Rouge Shine in Liberte and more information click here

How do you justify your high end purchases? What's your favorite lipstick?

XOXO

ANJA

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 :-)

My Skin Care Jackpot LUSH Buche de Noel

I've decided that since skincare seems to be on my mind a lot more than makeup these days, I would start a "My Skin Care Jackpot" series and feature a product or a brand that has made it into my "staples" beauty cabinet.

In order to qualify for the coveted spot in this feature the product/brand must meet the following criteria;

1. Product has been in the beauty routine for minimum of 30 days or has shown significant-visible results in a very short time period.
2. I am 100% comfortable recommending a product to family/friends/readers
3. Product has been either repurchased or will be repurchased shortly
4. Product does not contain "dangerous" ingredients (like phenol/parabens)
5. Product or brand is not ridiculously overpriced and is relatively accessible
*Exceptions may happen but only for very special cases!

The first episode of the Jackpot products features LUSH's Buche de Noel Seasonal Cleanser

I know what you are thinking - first product in the Skincare feature and she is already breaking the guidelines she is suppose to follow! It might seem that way but I will do my best to argue my way into the "exceptions list" and hopefully change your perception :-)

1. Buche de Noel is a cleanser released by the LUSH chain usually around the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays and is available for purchase both in-store and online (albeit for a limited time period). Personally i always purchase 2 pots of this since i am always paranoid that it will sell out quickly. One black pot lasts a lot longer than 30 days and if i ration this yummy paste I have been known to make it last all the way to February. The amazing LUSH staff is very helpful and it was through one of them that i discovered that Buche de Noel can be be preserved in the freezer for many months after purchase (l opened my 2nd pot in June!)

2. LUSH cleansers have been used in our household quite regularly and I would be more than comfortable to recommend it to everyone - young and old.The available ingrediant list is very straight forward so potential allergy reactions can be prevented by scanning the short list on the pot

3. I have repurchased this cleanser for at least 2-3 years now and I will definitively be buying it again this Christmas.

4. LUSH makes handmade skincare for both face and body, using premium natural ingredients that the whole family can be comfortable using!

Quantitative Ingredients;
Ground Almonds, Kaolin, Glycerine, Fresh Satsumas, Dried Cranberries, Cocoa Butter, Brandy, Almond Essential Oil, Vetivert Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Linalool, Cinnamal, Perfume, Nori Seaweed, Candy Pine Tree

5. Buche de Noel is actually one of the lower priced cleansers LUSH has to offer - the average being around $8-9 in Canada and even though its not available for purchase year round, extras can be preserved in the freezer and used much-much later on

I distinctly remember this being a complete impulse purchase, spurred no doubt by the holiday excitement, yummy comforting scent and the fact that I was really-really hungry.

Most people compare this to Angels on Bare Skin and i will agree that they are definitively related but i think at best they may be cousins...The texture is similar of course but the Buche de Noel is definitively more gritty and smells so-so-so much better. Just like ABS this cleanser is kind of messy to use but practice helps so after a few tries i am becoming a pro. A pinch in the palm of my hand, mixed with a few drops of warm water combines to create an oatmeal like paste which can be applied directly on the face and massaged in with gentle circular motion. I love how easy it is to rinse off - after only a few splashes of water, my skin is left feeling clean, smooth, plumped and radiant. Buche de Noel does have light exfoliating properties due to texture however in my opinion its not a replacement for a facial scrub especially since its meant to be used daily.
Bonus points for this LUSH formula is that it reminds me of another staple in my skin care cabinet - Dr.Hauschka's Cleansing Cream! I like the scent of both but LUSH is the clear winner.

LUSH products can be purchased here!

Now its your turn! What has your experience been with LUSH skin care?
What do you think - should LUSH make this a permanent year-round product?

XOXO

ANJA

Skicare Galore Part 2

I am back again reporting from my medicinal cabinet, dresser, drawer, bathroom sink...Clearly I have serious issues!


Ole Henriksen Truth is In the Eyes Treatment
- Genius product! I just wish I didn't wait so long to put acid around my eyes :-) You will see exactly why!

Nuxe Reve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm with Honey & Precious Oils (another long name!)
- You will soon see that lip balm is kind of my crack - I never have enough and this little gem is only surpassed by the By Terry Baume de Rose!

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask
- This is the closest I have ever come to a miracle product for my skin! Basically if I go too far with other skincare products this hydrating gel cools, soothes, moisturizes and basically heals all my "boo-boos"

Paul & Joe Treatment Oil
- I bought this purely because of the ulra-girly packaging & bottle but lucky for me the product inside turned out to be amazing :-)

Indeed Laboratories Hydraluron Serum
-This has got to be hands-down the BEST skin care discovery of my entire beauty devoted life! This little tube deserves a post of its own!

Biologique Recherché Lotion P50
-  How can something so foul be so freaking good? I am not kidding about the "foul" - this stuff smells like something died, then was splashed with gasoline, burned and finally liquefied just in time to be bottled and passed on the eager consumers lining up at a uber fancy French pharmacy counter...YUCK!!!
BUT guess what? It works and I suck it up 2x a day! Despite the stench, price tag and rarity I will repurchase time & time again!

By Terry Crème de Rose Moisturizer
- Roses again so how can I resist and not buy it! True to By Terry's form this is pure luxury in a jar!

Full Reviews of these Potions to follow

Thank you for reading - I encourage nosiness so ask away :-)

XOXO
Anja

Skincare Galore Part 1

Before I blow your mind with all these skin care products I want to clarify right away that I am not using all-of-these, all-at-once but rather this is kind of a collection of things that I like right now! I am pretty sure if I use all of this at the same time would cause my face to fall off, completely defeating the purpose of using them in the first place :-)

The other thing you need to know is that my skin is very sensitive, very annoying, sometimes dry-other times oily, mild rosacea on the cheeks and crater-like pores...basically it has multiple personalities and needs to be on "medication" all the time! If I am completely honest I have to admit that even on "medication" my skin is completely unruly and is constantly threatening to revolt. I am have been working on a cease-fire for years now.

With that I present you with some skin care that has helped during negotiations (for me anyways!)


Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm (now that's a name!)
- I have started using balm cleansers only in the past year and out of all the ones I tried this one always came out on top. I had a hard time at the beginning mostly because I felt like I needed "bubbles" to feel clean - rubbing "butter" on my face just freaked me out too much so my commitment at first was lapsing for sure. Once I got over myself I fell in love and discovered that I didn't need to switch into hyper drive to slap on moisturizer right after cleansing! My skin didn't feel tight, uncomfortable, dry or itchy after rinsing which made my whole beauty routine so much more enjoyable. Plus the Moringa scent alone is enough to get brownie points from me

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex (the long name pattern continues!)
- I dismissed this product and Estee Lauder in general for years. It was a brand my grandmother used plus the brown esthetic didn't appeal to the deep-rooted girliness in me (packaging is how I get suckered into purchasing things!). However once I tried it I was hooked - I do stray from time to time but always come back to this! Full review to follow!

By Terry Baume de Rose Multi-Protective Nutri-Regenerating SPF15 Balm
- It smells like roses, baby pink sheen, deep moisture, luxury jar...I love this so much despite the price tag and will be ready to justify the cost in a lengthy review!

Decleor Aroma Night Ylang-Ylang Purifying Night Balm
- This is something I use whenever I feel my skin is more congested than usual and 99% of the time it solves any problem I throw at it. For me it even works as a spot treatment but more on that later on...

Philosophy The Micro delivery Exfoliating Wash
- The only Philosophy skincare product that has ever worked for me and you will learn how and why in the soon-to-be revealed review!

Thank you for reading - I encourage nosiness so ask away :-)

XOXO

ANJA