The Review - Marcelle Gentle Make-Up Remover for Sensitive Eyes

Marcelle is predominantly a Canadian brand. I found it on Birchbox.com and I really wanted to try one of their products. The Marcelle Gentle Make-Up Remover for Sensitive Eyes ($15 for 150 ml) is sold as Canada's #1 selling eye make-up remover so I figured it might be a good idea try.

I have included the shot above to give you an idea of the ingredients. It's a hypo-allergenic and perfume free product. It has been Opthamologist tested which definitely is something that I appreciate. It also get a BEST rating from Paula's Choice!! But for me, the product just doesn't work as well as some of my all time favorite dual phase eye-makeup removers (I love Lancome's BiFacil and Estee Lauder's versions).

I am currently not using waterproof mascara so I was expecting this eye-makeup remover to make short work of it, but I feel like I have to really work the product into my lashes, have to tug a little and rub a lot. I also find that if I get this into my eyes sometimes it stings. It's such a shame as I really was hoping to find myself a new holy grail eye-makeup remover. I am going to keep using this but I am going to use it as a last step in my cleansing routine as opposed to the first step.

Have you tried this product? What did you think of it? What is your holy grail eye-makeup remover?

Drugstore Delights - NYX Butter Glosses

If I had to choose one type of gloss to wear for the rest of my life, it'll be the NYX Butter Glosses. Believe the hype people, these are utterly delightful.

These glosses are so reasonably priced just $4.99 in the States. They are super easy to find, available in ULTA and quite a few drugstores. They come in 22 shades, from bright colors to nude shades. Most of them do not have any sparkle or shimmer included which makes them super easy to wear and universally appealing. The applicator is a doe-foot, which is my favorite. The packaging makes it simple to find the colors you are looking for with no effort. The wear time is decent, 2-3 hours on me without eating or drinking. The opacity (depending on the shade) is incredible. But the quality that makes me love them so much is the comfortable feeling on the lips, these are not sticky but have a plush feel to them. They are soft and soothing on the lips. You have to try these.

I have 6 shades and here are the swatches -

Top to Bottom - Raspberry Tart, Red Velvet,  Sugar Cookie, Cupcake, Peach Cobbler and Strawberry Parfait

It helps that the shades  are all named after deserts! But I do recommend that you try these glosses, if you can find NYX near you.

What are your favorite glosses?

Marc Jacobs' The Lolita Palette

The month of November is awful for my wallet. I am totally broke now thanks to all the sales all over town and the fact that Sephora sent out their annual $20 gift cards to all VIB shoppers (i.e. people who have spent way too much money in their stores) and you have to spend it on orders over $50. So naturally I decided to buy something with the $20 off $50 card at Sephora that I had no intention of hauling. I had no hankering for this product at all and yet somehow there it sits in front of me.

I bought the Marc Jacobs Beauty Eye-Con 7 shadow eye palette in The Lolita ($59) and I am not sure I am happy about this purchase, to find out more read on.

Packaging - It's a beautiful looking palette, all sleek and black, it almost looks like a jewellery case. It should come with a decent brush since it's $59 if you get it without a coupon or anything, but instead it comes with a pitiful sponge tip applicator, I think even drugstore brands have stopped giving these out, what's up with this cheapass behaviour Marc Jacobs? Anyway, if you ignore the applicator, the rest of the packaging is nice, the mirror is nice and I do like the way the the shadows are housed in the 7 round pots.

Quantity - Each shadow is 1 gram, which is not a whole lot, I think they should have included more product. If you use this palette everyday then you will probably hit pan in a few months on at least one or more colors.

Quality - This is where things start to really unravel. The shadows are smooth and do get picked up easily by any of my eye brushes. In fact, I think they are too soft, so that there is fall out from all of them even if you are careful. The middle chunky glitter shade is ridiculous as it gets everywhere, I have tried using a brush, my finger, a sponge applicator, and nothing makes any difference. What's even worse is that this chunky glitter makes it's way to other shadows in this palette so that I have to constantly wipe off the inside of the palette, it's so messy every time I open it! The shimmers are nice, the mattes are not as opaque as I'd like but they do blend well. I do like the shades that he chose, but I wish there was more creative thought put into the shades so that we were offered neutrals but with a difference. The way the palette currently stands it's oh-so-predictable. One positive for me was the longetivity of the shadows, they last on me for >10 hours when I use a primer, which is outstanding.

I think this palette might be great if you love high end makeup and have cash burning a hole in your pocket. I was really underwhelmed by it. I think I will try and give it a couple more weeks and if I still don't like it, I might have to exchange it for something else. I heard that Temptalia loved the Starlet palette from Marc Jacobs, so maybe that one has the fantastic shades and the quality that I want, will be swatching it in store first though.

I have tried to create two distinct looks to give you an idea, they are very different, and I will list the shades I used from the palette.

Look 1 -

This was a look created in a rush (please excuse the mess that is my eyebrow!), and because of the expected fallout, I decided to apply concealer and foundation after the eye makeup, so I have no concealer and foundation applied here.

I used Maybelline's Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk as a base and applied the glitter bomb shade in the middle of the palette all over the lid. The base helped the glitter to adhere better and I used the Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner and Bobbi Brown's Smokey Eye mascara.

Look 2 -

I used 5 of the 7 shades for this look. I applied with the NYX Eyeshadow Base in Nude as a primer all over the lid, this shade is similar to Soft Ochre from MAC.  I applied the lightest shade (1) from the palette all over the lid, all the way to the brow. Then I applied the taupe shade (2) as a transition color in the crease. Then I applied the bronzy shimmery shade (6) over the inner half of the lid and the slightly darker brown shimmery shade (7) in the outer half of the lid. I then deepened the crease/outer V with the dark brown shade (3). On my lower lash line, I smudged the transition shade (2) in the inner half and then blended the dark brown shade (3) on the outer half of the lower lash line. I wet my Bobbi Brown eyeliner brush and used the dark brown shade (3) to line the upper lash line and also to tightline. I then applied the Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye mascara.

Have you tried the Lolita or any of MJ's palettes? Any recommendations / comments on what your experience has been with his products? I am sad to write a so-so review :(

Review of Landeva Organics goodies

This was the lovely package that arrived at my doorstep a couple of weeks ago. I have used all the products by now and think it's time for a review.

Landeva Organics is a luxurious skincare brand that only uses natural organic ingredients in their products. All their products are made in Canada and produced in small batches. Ever since I got pregnant and now with the baby coming soon, both my husband and I have switched to eating organic goods / produce and using more natural and organic skincare where possible. It's the attention to detail that is afforded by small niche brands like Landeva Organics that makes their products stand out as luxurious for me.

The first product that I tried was the Argan Oil and Frankincense Organic Serum ($23.56 for 50 ml). On Landeva's site, they describe this serum as - Treat your complexion to the benefits of two of the world's most precious natural extracts with Landeva Organics Argan Oil & Frankincense Serum. Fifty percent of the formula of this refreshing, nourishing serum comes from argan oil, an exotic natural oil gathered from trees of Morocco. A rich emollient, argan oil deeply hydrates the skin to leave it feeling softer and smoother. Pure frankincense is also included in the formula, providing anti-inflammatory benefits for the complexion. So precious that it was once reserved only for royalty, frankincense helps to balance the skin tissue to leave it perfectly conditioned.

Suitable for all skin types, Landeva Organics Argan Oil & Frankincense Serum is organic and 100 percent natural. The formula is enriched with camellia seed oil and vitamin E, which help to refresh and protect the skin tissue while improving radiance. Lavender oil completes the formula to offer calming benefits for the complexion. The lightweight serum becomes rapidly absorbed upon application, leaving behind no greasy residue that can clog the pores. A little goes a long way.

It comes in a beautiful glass bottle with a pump (hurray!), and smells incredible. The consistency is more like an oil so I have been using it as my everyday daytime moisturiser. I find that the hydration is enough for me and I don't have to actually use a moisturiser on top! I only need to use one pump for my entire face, so this generous sized bottle will last me forever.

The second product that I tried was the Activated Charcoal Detox Clay Mask ($17.69 for 100 g). Landeva Organics describes this product as - If your skin is plagued by signs of irritation, let the the Activated Charcoal Detox Clay Mask help to restore and revitalize it. When used weekly, this luxurious mask helps to keep the pores free of impurities while fighting microbes that give rise to acne and irritation. A blend of Activated Charcoal, Rhassoul, Willow Bark extract and honey work together to absorb oil, leaving the skin smooth and purified.

Activated Charcoal acts as a magnet to draw dirt out of pores, while willow bark helps provide relief from breakouts. Completely natural, the mask can be mixed with a variety of bases, including water, natural oils, honey or yogurt. Can be used as an overnight spot treatment.
I was beyond excited to try this mask. I suffer from large pores and the inevitable blackhead situation around my nose, both of these conditions are claimed to be addressed by this mask. I used it a couple of ways, I first tried it with lemon juice and little water and mixed it into a paste and that worked really well.  The second time I used plain yoghurt and that worked OK, however I got the proportions a little wrong so I had too much yoghurt and it became a little runny and I managed to spill a few drops on my t-shirt and then quite a few more around my bathroom. The black mask is indeed very black, so if you are clumsy like me, I'd have a towel ready to mop up any spills etc. But I do love the idea of a mask that is dry and you can mix it with any medium of your choice and see what works for you. Also, this way the shelf life is much longer and since the size is a huge 100 grams, that's definitely a bonus.

I have a small spot that might be trying to emerge on the side of my nose and this mask definitely seemed to curb it's progress. Just a word of warning, this mask does dry and there is some tightness that will be experienced (not unlike the GlamGlow masks) so make sure your skin can make it through using a clay mask. Personally I love it!

The third product was a little tester of their Rose Nourishing Toner ($17.69 for 115 ml). Landeva Organics describes this as - For thousands of years, women have used the waters obtained from one of the world's most beautiful flowers to promote radiant, youthful complexions. Landeva Organics Rose Nourishing Toner is an all-natural formula that gently adjusts the pH levels of the skin to normalize oil production and leave the tissue perfectly hydrated and wonderfully soft. Not only is this toner a wonderful follow-up for your daily cleanser, but it can also be used to refresh and revive the complexion mid-day when feelings of tightness and dryness arise.

Landeva Organics Rose Nourishing Toner uses the best of what nature has to offer to nourish and moisturize your skin. Aloe vera is added to the formula to soothe irritation and treat the skin to an array of nutrients. Fruit and botanical extracts bring antioxidant protection to the skin, lessening the harmful effects of environmental free radicals that give rise to wrinkles and rob the complexion of radiance.

I am not a huge fan of using rose water on my face, I find it instantly drying and really not pleasant. So I did not like this product at all, but that's my personal opinion, I know lots of people love using rose water on their skin and if you are one of those people, you will love this product. I do love the way it smells, very herbal spa-like. I love that the full size comes in a glass bottle (fancy!) and comes with a great spray so no need for cotton pads.

The last product that Landeva sent me was their Nourishing Detox Facial Soap ($7.96). It's a large grey soap, very intimidating looking, but here's what Landeva Organics had to say about it - A gentle, yet effective Exfoliating bar made with the Moroccan clay, activated Charcoal, goat’s milk and exotic oils and butters to purify the skin leaving it clean and soft. The Nourishing Detox Facial Soap is slightly scented with pure essential oils, chosen for their therapeutic benefits.
- 100% Natural.
- Contains large amount of Ghassoul clay and Charcoal.
- Gentle skin cleanser for all skin types and especially beneficial for problem skin.
- Mild face cleanser enriched with goat's milk, olive oil, Cocoa butter, and organic Shea butter.

I never use soap on my face and rarely do I use it on my body because I find it to be drying and unfortunately this soap also dried out my face a little, not as bad as some others but still it's not for me. I prefer my exfoliators and cleansers to come in a gel/cream/balm form. Having said that, if you suffer from extremely oily skin, or if you like and enjoy using soaps and find them really handy, this is a great one to try. Lots of lovely ingredients and no nasties. 

Thanks to the kind people at Landeva Organics for sending me all the lovely products to try. I always love trying new products and especially when they are natural and organic! If you want to try any of these or other products from Landeva, head to their Etsy site here and they currently have a 30% off code LANDEVA30 which will give you 30% off all of their items.

Two product Tuesday..

I have decided to start a new series, I will write about 3 new products that I have tried that day. This series will obviously be fun for the blog and hopefully informative for you all, but also will make me work harder at shopping my stash and use products that I don't always use. I am hoping to write at least one of these posts a month.

My first product today is the Smokey Eye Mascara from Bobbi Brown ($28). Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has a 20% off promotion currently so if you like Bobbi's products, this might a good time to indulge. This mascara is a sample. I love Mascara samples as I feel they are a great way to try a new product and I feel much less guilty about tossing them at the 3 month mark. I have not read any reviews about this product so everything that I am writing is my own opinion. I was not sure what to expect. The word 'smokey' in the name was a slight concern as I thought it might be a mascara that smudges easily. However, my fears were in vain. I love the texture of the product, not wet but not terribly dry. It is definitely on the dryer side, which I like as that means less smudging to me but it still coats the lashes quickly. I was even brave enough to try it on my lower lashes which is something I never have the nerve to try with other mascaras as things get messy very quickly when I try.

The wand is lovely too. The shape is a very traditional conical shape with the tiny hairs that are soft and gentle on my lashes. I think they are made of fabric rather than tough unforgiving plastic.

Over all I love this mascara, it gives me volume as well as length. There is some clumping if you wait too long between coats but if you are quick that can easily be avoided. If I ever want to indulge, I will purchase a full sized version of this little beauty.

The next product is another sample I'm afraid but I have been using it all week last week and still have lots left. It's MAC's Studio Face and Body Foundation in C5 ($27 for 50 ml). I have heard so many bloggers rave about this lightweight foundation which can be used on the face as well any part of the body (arms and legs usually). I don't plan on using it on any other part of my body except my face though. MAC gave me a lovely large sample which I apply using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush and I love the resulting coverage. I usually favour foundations with light to medium coverage for everyday use and this foundation gives me exactly that. I prefer using my Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Medium to add coverage in areas where I need it rather than using a thick layer of foundation all over my face.

The color match is wonderful too, MAC is known for a good selection of colors so most women should be able to find a match. The price is really great too, most foundations come in 30 ml bottles but this one is 50 ml for a really decent price. I am definitely going to buy this foundation once I finish a few others that I have lurking around.

My face with the MAC Studio Face and Body Foundation in C5.

The Review - Real Techniques Nic's Picks Brush set

Real Techniques came out with a limited edition brush set for this holiday season called Nic's Picks set. It's a set containing 5 duo fiber synthetic brushes. 3 of the brushes are exclusive to this set. The set retails for $29.00 in the US and is available at Sephora, Ulta and various other retailers. I actually bought mine at Kohls for 20% off!

Firstly, we are all penny pinching during the holiday season, I feel like money is just draining away from my account. I am scared to check the balance lately, so if we can find a gift that's reasonably priced but still works wonders, well that's a Christmas miracle right? If you are looking for just such a gift or are new to makeup and/or looking to amass masses of brushes like me, then you really should consider this set.

Real Techniques are well known for quality brushes at a reasonable price point and this set is no different. The five brushes come in a cute case which makes for a great first impression. They all have a silver handle with a black rubberised grip at the end. Very classy, much better than the Real Techniques usual orange and pink colours. The packaging keeps the brushes really secure in transit and I am pretty sure it will be impossible to damage the brush heads if you are going to post your presents etc.

Real Technique describes the brushes thus -

• duo-fiber face brush: for lightweight application + blending of face powder or pigments
• cheek brush (set exclusive): evenly applies makeup across cheekbone for a more dramatic finish
• angled shadow brush (set exclusive): perfectly cut for layering eye shadow in the crease
• base shadow brush: applies a smooth, flawless foundation of color
• eyeliner brush (set exclusive): firm, angled head for optimal control along lash line

Here are some close up shots of the various brush heads -

duo-fiber face brush

cheek brush

angled shadow brush

base shadow brush

eyeliner brush

The brushes are well made, the ferrel is tight and there were no fibers that were out of alignment on the set that I received. I used all of the brushes today to get this look.

Here are the products that I used on my face to get this everyday makeup look -
Foundation - YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation SPF 19 (Beige Dore 60)
Concealer - Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer (Medium)
Powder - Vincent Longo Perfect Canvas Loose Powder (Golden Oriental)
Blush - Stila Countless Color Pigment (Finale)
Lipstick - Clinique Color Surge Butter Shine Lipstick (Pink Toffee)
Eyeshadow - Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo (Pomegranate Punk), Champagne shade and dark purple from a Biba eyeshadow palette.
Brows - Matte black, can't remember the brand
Mascara - Covergirl Clump Crusher (Black Brown)

I tried to use these brushes, the only time I used a different brush was to apply concealer. I used the cheek brush which is the densest brush of the bunch to blend my foundation. It did a really good job. Didn't absorb too much product, reminded me of the Expert Face Brush that's so good at liquid foundation application. (I used the Elf Flawless Concealer Brush for concealer application). I used the Duo Fiber Face Brush to apply the powder as well as the blush. It did a good job, but I think it's a bit too fluffy and it takes several dips into a product get the job done. Great for people who are heavy handed though. I then used the eyeshadow brushes and both of them are excellent. The base shadow brush really holds on the product and deposits products precisely where I want it. A huge favorite. The angled brush is great for blending eyeshadow in the crease. I used the eyeliner brush to actually apply my eyebrow powder as I wasn't going to wear eyeliner today. It did a pretty good job but is a little to wide and not as skinny as I usually like. This is the only possible dud in this set.

Have you tried these brushes? Did you like them?

- Shruti xx

Sugar Crush Body Scrub by Soap & Glory

Been a while since I did a body scrub product review on my blog. I love body scrubs especially in the Summer as it helps with the exfoliation / shave prep. The one I am currently trying out is the Sugar Crush Body Scrub by Soap & Glory ($25 for 300 ml). It's available at Sephora and on Soap & Glory's website.

Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Hi-Light Review

More blush purchases! Someone stop me!! Seriously, I am ashamed to say I shopped again. Thankfully, this time it's only drugstore stuff that I bought and in my defense the Maybelline Face Studio Master Hi-Light blushes that I bought turned out to be so so great.

More gushing - Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Paint in Rich Russet

Lily Pebbles loves the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Paint in Rich Russet, so I had to give it a go. Haha, no that's not totally true, but she did make me want to try this sucker more than if I'd just seen it on the shelf. The power of Youtube right?

The Review - Lancome Mousse Eclat (Radiance) Express Clarifying Self-Foaming Cleanser

Foaming cleansers are a no - no. The Lancome Mousse Eclat is a foaming cleanser and yet I like it. Intrigued? Read on.

Lancome Mousse Radiance Express Clarifying Self-foaming Cleanser

Currently gushing about - Maybelline New York Color Elixir Lip Colors

Apologies for the week long hiatus from blogging, life caught up with me. But I am back and today's post is going to be a colourful fun post.

Maybelline Color Elixir Lip Colors