Biologique Recherché Creme Verte Espoir - Soothing Face Cream

Biologique Recherche is a perfect example of brand where the superb performance of one product leads to a trial (obsession?) of others.

The famous p50 (review here!) is hands down my favorite skin care product and one of the few that made a huge difference in my skin tone. Who am I kidding? It pretty much transformed my skin and is the one product I would comfortably pay double for. 

It was in one if my Biologique Recherché that I received a generous sample of Creme Verte Espoir - soothing face cream, and simply fell in love with its smelly goodness :-)

Biologique Recherche own product description : 

This soothing and balancing cream contains high concentrations of repairing botanical extracts which revitalize the epidermis. It is recommended for reactive skin.

Ingredients:

Yeast extract, tepescohuite extracts, aloe vera, red vine extract, coffee extract, centella asiatica and vitamin C.

Now I will admit that I don't use this everyday but that's not to say that there is something wrong with the product or that I don't love it. It's actually the opposite! 

The cream itself is a little pricy and kind of hard to get a hold of so the skin care connoisseur in me saves this little gem for special occasions or mini skin emergencies. 

As a beauty blogger I have a tendency to experiment with all kinds of products, which is great BUT sometimes that can seriously backfire. Before i know it, my skin overreacts and I am stuck with irritation, redness and pesky rash all over. It is during those days that I really appreciate both the Biologique Recherché p50 and Creme Verte Espoir. The soothing cream really lives up to its name at that point. My skin relaxes, cools and calms, almost overnight. 

The scent is definitively not pleasant although its not as potent as the lovely fragrance that comes from my beloved p50 bottle. Luckily for me and those in my vicinity the lingering is quite minimal and after a few minutes its completely gone. For me that's a small price to pay for the benefits that come along with it!

The texture is quite creamy and easy to work with although the light brown color can be quite off putting if you are not expecting it. But now you know since I warned you :-)

As you can already tell I am quite smitten with yet another Biologique Recherche product. If you have reactive, sensitive skin or you just do something incredibly stupid with an unsuitable product then the Creme Verte Espoir is a great choice.

You can find this and other Biologique Recherche at Rescue Spa here or check out their direct website

Have you tried Biologique Recherche? 

XOXO

ANJA

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Caudalie Beauty Elixir - Honest Review

Caudalie Beauty Elixir has been making a regular appearance in the blogosphere for some time now and even though I have had a bottle of this for ages I just never got around to properly testing it. Until now that is!

What it is:
Part-toner, part-serum mist of essential oils and plant active ingredients.

What it is formulated to do:
Smooths the skin, tightens the pores, and provides an instant burst of radiance, as it stimulates microcirculation.

Ingredients;

Aqua (Water), Alcohol*, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Water*, Parfum (Fragrance)*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil*, Potassium Alum, Glycerin*, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil*, Styrax Tonkinensis Resin Extract*, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract*, Melissa Officinalis (Balm Mint) Leaf Oil*, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract*, Tocopherol*, Citral*, Limonene*, Linalool*, Citronellol*, Geraniol*, Farnesol*, Benzyl Benzoate*, Eugenol*.

This hybrid of a toner and a treatment has all the earmarks of a multi-tasker, which is a feature  I always love and take into account when purchasing. I use this as a refresher spray during the day, quick toner when my skin is feeling congested and as a last step in makeup application to seal & set everything in. 
The formula contains orange blossom, rose, organic balm mint, rosemary and Caudalie's star ingredient grape water, and it promises to smooth & tighten pores, refresh & soothe your skin and provide a burst of complexion radiance. It comes in various sizes (30-100 ml) which I appreciate and the spray nozzle on the bottle is one of the best I have ever tried. A little feature like that is surprisingly important when it comes to facial sprays. 

It should be noted that this does have somewhat of a heavy fragrance so those sensitive to scents really need to consider this before purchasing. Personally I really enjoy the refreshing minty mist and I find that's actually a huge part of the appeal of the elixir itself. Putting it in the fridge only intensifies this effect and feels amazing on hot summer days. I will definitively be sneaking this into the cool beach coolers for a refreshing pick me up during the upcoming hot days. Those with really dry skin will not appreciate the high alcohol content as it may contribute to further dry-out. For that reason I would definitively not use this as a primary toner after cleansing.

Some would argue that this product doesn't deserve all the hype and praise it achieved and I would have to agree with that but only partially. The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is indeed a joy to use (for me) and I will most likely repurchase once my current bottle is finished but at the same time I can't exactly support the miraculous claims others have experienced. The only significant effect I noticed is that it does seem to calm my skin if I am feeling particularly congested but then again even that is kind of an abstract phenomenon which may or may not be owed solely to the elixir itself. 

My conclusion for Caudalie's Beauty Elixir remains a bit mixed at this point so I would recommend it only as an "extra" indulgence if you enjoy it but its definitively not an essential step in my beauty routine. 

You can get more information and purchase Caudalie's products from their own site or at our trusty Sephora here! 

I hope someone finds this honest review helpful!

Have you tried the Caudalie Beauty Elixir? Did it work out for you?

XOXO

ANJA

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Makeup I Didn't Miss Out On - MAC Crew Highlighter

I am always late for things! It really doesn't matter how much I try to plan things out, keep an eye on the clock or engage other people to help me, my fashionably late status remains unchanged. 

Its no surprise that I am like that in the makeup world as well. I cant tell you how many times I see a picture of a blush or a palette, fall in love with it only to find out that it was a limited edition...from last year! My vain soul dies a little each time that happens. 

To cheer myself up and distract my thoughts from all those beautiful pieces I missed out on, I decided to feature the limited edition items I was smart enough to get when they were actually released.

First up is the MAC Crew Highlight powder, which was a part of the Hey Sailor! 2012 collection.

The best way I can describe this for you is a multi-colored highlighting powder, composed of three shades -  soft matte peach, satin-like yellow toned pink and a cool satin-like lavender-pink. There was an off white over spray but that disappeared after a few uses and didn't really interfere with the intended color anyways. These can be used swirled together and also individually, as eyeshadow accents. The design is obviously nautically inspired and as usual played a huge role in my decision to purchase this. What can I say I am a marketing guys dream customer!

The combination of all three shades swirled together produce a faint yellow-toned coral pink, which to me is too soft to work as a blush but too strong to be a regular highlighter. The finish is somewhere between matte and satin, depending on the the way the light hits my cheekbones but can come off chalky if I over-do it. Either way it definitively has that understated feel and look to it so if you are going for something that 'enhances' rather than highlights then MAC Crew is definitively a good choice. 

The texture of the powder itself is very soft and looks to be very finely milled meaning that fall-out is minimal, blend ability is at an all-time high and wear time can be quite long (8 hours over a primer). I know that MAC released this as a highlighter but for me this is better described as a brightening powder since the finished result is extremely subtle and pretty much the opposite of shimmery. On my cheeks it produces a luminous soft-pink glowy sheen that looks equally lovely both during the day and night. 

Overall I am happy I got this when I had the chance because if i didn't i know I would have regretted it but I would be lying if I didn't admit that it didn't live up to my expectations. That awkward stage between a highlighter and a blush is mostly to blame. 

What do you think about the Crew highlight? How do you feel about MAC Limited Editions? 

XOXO 

ANJA

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Boscia - Black Luminizing Mask

Another mask post! 

In my defense though this mask is very unique when it comes to formulation, look, feel, purpose and performance. Its probably the most fun skin care product i have in my collection and i absolutely LOVE using it. 

So my fellow beauty aficionados, without further ado I present you with the amazing, ultra-cool, award winning Black Luminizing Mask by Boscia. 

What is it?

A groundbreaking, mineral-rich mask that peels off to deliver powerful detoxifying, purifying, and brightening effects.
What it is formulated to do:
This jet-black, mineral-rich mask creates a unique peel-off effect that delivers powerful detoxifying, purifying, and brightening results. Made with a premier-quality clay, its deep-cleansing properties draw out dirt and oil. Other natural ingredients go to work exfoliating skin and refining pores. Powerful antioxidants shrink pores, firm skin, and reduce inflammation. Once dried, the mask strips away dead skin, impurities and excess oil to reveal immediate and visible results.

Ingredients;

Water, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Montmorillonite, Acrylates Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Leaf Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark/Bud Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil, Xanthan Gum, Iron Oxides (C.I. 77499).

The actual luminizing and exfoliating properties of this black Boscia mask are supported by a great combination of clinically proven ingredients that work together to deliver visible instant results. 

The vitamin C brightens and reduces hyper pigmentation as usual, which means that the skin will appear brighter. 

The addition of Calcium Montmorillonite Clay, which is said to contain no less than 67 minerals, acts as a purifier by deeply cleansing your pores and conditioning the complexion with no irritation. Finally the which hazel serves as an anti-inflammatory and a natural antiseptic, which is something acne-prone and congested skin really needs. By killing acne causing bacteria it promises to prevent and treat both pesky whiteheads and blackheads alike. 

Benefits aside, the main attraction of this mask is obviously the "peel factor" and the awesome black colour that is sure to frighten anyone in your household. The fun factor is definitively an incentive for me to treat my complexion to this quite regularly. 

The most important feature however is the fact that the results are instantaneous and visible even after just one use. There is nothing better than instant gratification when it comes to beauty products and the Boscia Black Luminizing Mask certainly delivers. The results of course are temporary and the glow will fade away after a few days but that still means that your "special occasions" can definitively benefit from the radiance this provides. If you need your skin to look its best the next day then I would definitively recommend using this the night before (after a patch test!) 

The only negative I need to mention is the fact that it is pretty potent and fragrant so those with sensitive skin should use this with caution. The fragrance is known to make my eyes water if I get the mask too close to the eye area but really that's my own fault :-) 

In conclusion my verdict is obviously positive! Boscia delivers everything it promises and does it in the funnest way possible.

You can get more information and purchase all Boscia products from their website or check out their line up at Sephora.

I hope you enjoyed my review!

What is your favorite mask?

XOXO

ANJA

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Villainess Soaps Dulces En Fuego Whipped Body Creme

Ever since I stumbled upon the Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butters (review here!) I have been searching for similar body products to indulge in. My previous body lotions just fell short in light of these yummy, luxurious concoctions that not only felt amazing but were actually better for my skin in the long run. I was inspired to scrutinize the ingredient lists a lot more vigorously and go up in product quality without paying a ridiculous amount. 

The fact that I discovered such scrumptious scents along the way was just a bonus. 

Villaines Soap Whipped Body Creme in Dulces En Fuego is hands down my favourite find.

The website's whimsical description is;

Whipped! body creme is thick and stiff, yet light and quite soluble - much like edible whipped heavy cream. We've used a combination of three vegetable derived emulsifiers to create a very stable, conditioning emulsion. Mango butter (so light, not greasy and very decadent), Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (which sinks in like a dream), Grapeseed Oil (nutrient rich and again, so light), and Cherry Kernel Oil (also light and loaded with Vitamins A & E). A touch of silicones to ensure it leaves a soft, silky touch to your skin, and Optiphen - a brilliant paraben-free preservative that isn't a formaldehyde donor either. Whipped! has a heavy moisture content for your dry skin, enough oils to create a breathable emollient barrier, and has a velvety-soft afterfeel. You'll love it.

This heavenly body creme comes in some amazing scents: Crushed (black raspberry, dark chocolate and sandalwood), Decadence (vanilla, tonka and coconut), Ennui (unscented), Ginger Snapped (sweet cinnamon, rich cardamom, spicy ginger and vanilla), Jai Mahal (4 vanillas, tonka, sandalwood, bourbon and coconut), Krakatoa (coconut, banana, papaya, mango etc.), Paradise Misplaced (coconut, mango and green tea), Pearl Diver (bergamot, jasmine, orchid etc.) and Scintillating (mint, black tea and vanilla). I would however encourage you to visit the Villaines site for more detailed descriptions, characteristics and ingredients. I am warning you - if you are anything like me, an innocent visit can turn into a huge haul very quickly.

My Whipped Body Creme of choice is the Dulces en Fuego which is described as;
Musky bitter chocolate sweetened with vanilla and touches of citrus then positively inflamed with black pepper and nutmeg. 
Ingredients;
Aqua (water), Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Polysorbate 60, Cyclomethicone (and) Dimethiconol, Prunus (Cherry) Kernel Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein (and) Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch. 
Distinguishing Features;
Extra-decadent cherry kernel oil, antioxidant rich grapeseed oil, light coconut oil and luxury mango butter. 

Sounds absolutely scrumptious and it really-really is! There isn't even a whiff of anything artificial about the scent of this cream. Every single note is crisp, identifiable and pure, culminating in to one of the most intoxicating chocolate s'more scents I have ever come across. I am completely addicted to the scent and despite the fact that I have been using it for a long time now, I never grew tired of the fragrance one bit.

It is true that the scent is the star of this product but that doesn't mean that the formula falls short one bit. In fact the whipped texture is a joy to use and its unique in a way that despite the richness the cream itself it still manages to feel light and non-greasy on the skin surface. My skin is left perfectly smooth, calm, silky and deeply moisturized. The fragrance lingers softly but is in no way overpowering or heady.

I think its pretty obvious that i am a huge fan of Villaines Whipped and I really think they are worth taking a chance on - especially since their prices on everything are more than reasonable.
You can purchase the Whipped Dulces en Fuego and an array of other amazing products on the Villaines site here.

Have you tried any Villaines products? What are your favourite etsy-like products?

XOXO

ANJA

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Make Up For Ever Full Cover Waterproof Concealer

I am always looking for a good under eye concealer and in my quest I have tried and tested a significant number of them. I have very significant dark circles, probably brought on by a combination of genetics, late nights and just general neglect.
I have tried all kinds of remedies but not even copious amounts of the most expensive eye cream have ever made enough of a difference for me to be satisfied. 

When I realized that my chances of solving the problem with eye cream were slim to none, I turned to the next best thing which of course is cover up! 

The land of concealer, however turned out to be even more confusing than choosing the right caffeine laced eye cream. I had to find the perfect formula that provides coverage, hydration, longevity, smoothness and creaseless ability.

Many were called but only a few survived my cutthroat policies. 

Make Up For Ever and Sephora describe my concealer of choice as;
What it is:
An ultra long-lasting, matte finish, oil-free, waterproof, full coverage concealer.
What it is formulated to do:
Designed to cover major imperfections like scars, hyper-pigmentation  major discoloration, burns, and tattoos. This light and creamy concealer contains a high concentration of pigments that stay put, making it perfect for use on the face, as well as the body.

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Waterproof Concealer turned out to be one of the front runners. Combination of this little miracle with the YSL Touché Éclat results in me looking a little less Transylvanian, if you know what I mean. 

The formula itself is very thick, extremely full coverage and longer lasting than any other makeup product I have ever owned. It has all the earmarks of a dry, caky feel but in reality it's actually very creamy and easy to work with. 

A little tiny drop of this stuff goes an really long way but the only thing to note is that it also dries/sets very quickly. Once it's set, with or without powder, this thing will not budge until you remove it, which is surprisingly easy with standard makeup remover.

Choosing the correct shade can be quite tricky so I would recommend in person swatching to make sure you are getting the correct number for your skin tone. The descriptions below can be helpful but seeing the colors in person would obviously be more accurate, especially for something so unique to your own complexion.  

On its own, Make Up For Ever Full Cover Waterproof Concealer is more than capable of covering up the heaviest of late nights with only a small amount required to not only correct but also brighten the under eye area. That's a bonus I can really appreciate. 

If you plan on using this concealer, you must remember to moisturize the eye area since the color pigments can sometimes cling to the dry patches and interfere with its creaseless ability. I find that if I skimp on eye cream for a few days this concealer is a little harder to smooth on and blend in. 

The Full Cover concealer performs equally well on the rest of the face, covering up blemishes, broken capillaries and redness with ease and expert finesse. It really is a superstar of my daily makeup routine. 

The size is 0.5 fl.oz. and since I know how little I really need to get it to work, I feel that the price of $37.00 is more than fair. Honestly I can't imagine using up my #6 Ivory tube for years to come so for me this was a great investment. 

You can get more information and purchase this on the Make Up For Ever site or as usual at our trusty Sephora 

I hope someone finds this useful! What is your favorite concealer?

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 :-) 

Eye Cream Series - Bobbi Brown Extra Repair

Skincare is very important to me today but that doesn't mean that I was always diligent with my complexion. I shudder when I think about the times when I thought a baby wipe was suitable for "washing" my face and let's not even talk about all the sunscreen-free days I used to enjoy.

One exception to this terrible skincare fiasco was eye cream - for some reason the importance of moisturizing and protecting the delicate eye area had been ingrained in me by my glamorous grandmother (see previous post!) so I have quite the experience in that department.

I almost always have several eye creams in rotation and which ones I use depends on the  time of day, weather season, specific concern I might be "battling" and whether or not I plan on wearing eye makeup. It sounds way more complicated than it really is but even if your eye cream just hydrates then you are already ahead of the game.

The delicate skin around the eye area is much thinner than the skin on the rest of the face, which means that its usually a lot more sensitive and as such requires a little more help to stay hydrated and protected. Seeing how your under eye area has to deal with specific issues like dark circles, puffiness and fine lines, it just makes sense that it would require specific, targeted treatments.

One of the eye creams in my collection is the Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair and seeing how little is needed for proper hydration I am guessing that this little fancy glass pot will stick around for a very long time.

In Bobbi Browns own words;


Do your eyes need something extra? Packed with peptides, natural plant oils and humectants that target fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness and dryness, this rich, concentrated cream visibly revives eyes. Use morning and night - warm between fingers, then pat gently around eye area. Once cream is absorbed, follow with Corrector and Creamy Concealer. Dermatologist tested. Ophthalmologist tested.

The most prominent feature of this eye cream is the thickness and richness of the said formula. Despite that the texture itself is more like a mousse that melts between your fingers. making it very easy to pat on but also very easy to use too much of. It does take a few minutes to sink in as the hydration is very intense, which is one of the reasons I would never use this under makeup or concealer. The eye cream's richness will prevail and adding makeup on top is only bound to end up in caky-melty mess, which is the last thing you would want. For me this Bobbi Brown concoction works wonderfully as part of my evening skin care routine and its especially helpful in the cold Canadian winters.

In terms of anti-aging properties, that's a claim that is very difficult to prove and/or disapprove so I am not sure how much I can vouch for that. but effective hydration plumps up the skin anyways, thereby reducing the size and look of fine lines and wrinkles. The results are of course temporary but regular use definitively gives that youthful kick we are ll searching for.

The promise of treating dark circles does however hold up beautifully, with the results being slow but steady. I noticed that my eye area appeared brighter at the two month mark and even though i worried about new milia outbreaks due to the richness of the formula I am happy to report that there were none. Each morning i was greeted by fresh, bright eyes with noticeable puffiness reduction and no redness at all.

The only negative comment I have is that you have to be very careful with application because the melting balm travels quite a bit so if it does make its way in the eye the irritation can last for days. That being said, I can't hold that against Bobbi Brown since really, that side effect is primarily driven by human error and has nothing to do with the effectiveness of the eye cream itself.


In conclusion I can comfortably recommend this eye cream for anyone in need of an extremely rich formula targeting both hydration and dark circles. I am trying to switch my facial skincare to more natural alternatives but the Extra Eye Repair will always be there for those moisturizing emergencies.

You can get more information and purchase this and other Bobbi Brown products here or at our trusty beauty mecca also known as Sephora


Have you tried anything from the Bobbi Brown skin care line up? What is your favorite eye cream - I would love some suggestions?


XOXO

ANJA



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