Daily

Drugstore Dupe: Marcelle vs Anastasia

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I love to save money. It’s a game with me. I hate spending more than a penny (or nickle in our case seeing how we phased out the penny this year — that joke won’t ever get old with me!) than I have to. I often get teased regarding my coupons or how I’m so frugal. For instance, I won’t pay over $3.99 for toilet paper. I wait until I see a sale, bring my abundance of coupons and stock up. So much so, the cart is so overflowing with toilet paper, enough where I get questionable stares from shoppers. Is she stocking up for a hospital? Does she have digestion issues?

If I can save and have the cheaper product work out similar or better, then I scored big time.

Although I have long lashes that don’t require mascara, I get it. I get that you want your lashes to stand out, hold a curl and look lengthening and voluminous. I get it gorrrrl. Sorry. That was weird. But honestly, everyone has their all-time favorite mascara. Not everyone is going to go out and buy what someone recommends on a blog. But this is different you guys. It’s not a mascara, it’s a top coat. You don’t have to switch out your holy grail mascara for a completely new one. I know not everyone wants to wear a waterproof mascara every day. But if you plan on laughing so hard that you cry (me, every day), or plan on jumping into a pool at a pool party (me, this weekend) you can waterproof that fav mascara of yours with a clear waterproof topcoat. Then the next day, revert back to your regular mascara sans waterproof topcoat! Brilliant.

And friends, I found a drugstore dupe. Not everyone has a Sephora location they can pop into and spend $28 on the Anastasia Lash Genius (which I reviewed last year). closed-waterproof-mascaras

Bring it on Marcelle!

anastasia-vs-marcelle
About Marcelle Waterproofing Mascara Topcoat
Retail price: $16.95
0.24oz / 9.5ml

Waterproof features:

  • Transparent water-resistance for mascara
  • Goes on easily over regular mascara (Yup)
  • Long lasting (No raccoon eyes!)
  • Leaves lashes feeling light and supple (Raises hand. I can vouch for that)
  • Tested under ophthalmological control (mouthful)
  • Paraben free
  • Hypo-allergenic and perfume free

I’ve been wearing the Marcelle sweat proof, tear proof, waterproof mascara for the last few weeks. I don’t remove my makeup when I go to CrossFit after work. Due to the fact I have little time in between getting home and changed and then driving to the box to get a workout in. So far it hasn’t caused any rebellious raccoon eyes. Nor has it been stubborn to remove at the end of the evening. I have so many favorite mascaras and I don’t want to buy the waterproof version of them because they’ll all just dry out before I have a chance to re-use them again. I mean, I could potentially wear them every day, since I do laugh a lot and I’m a crier when I laugh. So I could benefit from using a waterproof one every day. But I don’t. waterproof-top-coat

I realize I’ve talked about Marcelle products in the past in a YouTube video of mine, especially the mascara that acts like a “push-up bra”. It has a twistable wand where you can make the bristles give your lashes volume, or lengthening. I’ve been using it in replacement of my Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash (hey, sometimes you gotta switch things up a bit. Know what I’m sayin’?).

An American twitter follower of mine asked me where she could buy Marcelle products and unfortunately it’s not sold in USA stores, however you can buy it online at Marcelle.com and they ship to the USA! Hooray for sharing neighbours. Buy any Marcelle mascara and receive one Marcelle Waterproofing Mascara Topcoat for Free. Offer applies between August 19 and September 30, 2013. Online only. Promotional code upon check out: BOGO.

How does the Marcelle waterproofing mascara top coat compare to the Anastasia lash genius?waterproof-brushes

(Left-Right Marcelle, Anastasia)

It’s pretty on par. If I were going to suggest you get one of the two products, they’re virtually the same. Save your $12 and get the Marcelle.

Random tidbit: Marcelle is one of the first cosmetic lines I started using. Especially after I found out that I should only be using hypo-allergenic products (mainly in the winter due to my eczema).

Disclaimer: Marcelle Waterproofing Mascara Topcoat was sent to me for review. I have not been compensated for this review. All opinions are 100% my own, as always!

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Beauty, Daily, Newfoundland, Photos

What’s in my makeup bag?

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I’m travelling back home to Newfoundland later this month so I thought I’d put together a little what’s in my travel makeup bag for you guys!

travel-makeup-bagMakeup bag | Dior BB cream | Big Sexy Hair | Make Up For Ever mascara | Bobbi Brown eye cream | Philosophy Hope In A Jar | NYX blush | Jouer bronzer | Philosophy perfume | MAC concealer | target brand q-tips | Shu Umera eyelash curler

What key items must you bring when you’re travelling? It doesn’t have to be makeup related at all. I need to bring my iPad because if I don’t, my nephews ask where it went. That, and my blackberry.

Happy travels!

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Fashion, Photos, Reviews

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics: Holiday 2012 Collection

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Let’s turn down this summer heat for a while and talk about something chilly. May I remind you that there are 161 days until Christmas?

I’m one organized girl when it comes to shopping in advance for Christmas presents. I honestly start mentally shopping for my loved ones the day after Christmas. It’s not as hard (or as insane)  as you may think it is. I simply have an e-mail draft saved in my gmail account. It goes a little something like this:

Christmas 2012

  • Mom: gift idea 1, gift idea 2
  • Dad: gift idea 1, gift idea 2

Birthdays 2012

  • January xx – Dad: gift idea 1, gift idea 2
  • February xx – SIL: gift idea, gift idea 2

If it’s already purchased it’s in black. If I have yet to buy, it’s in a bold red font. It’s been a convenient way to keep track of ideas and since it’s not on a piece of paper, I cannot misplace it.

Come to think of it, I should make a Christmas wish-list for myself. Ah-ah-ah (That’s me, laughing like The Count) 

I’ve had a chance to take a sneak peek at the holiday press release from Bobbi Brown cosmetics. I already am a huge fan of Bobbi Brown products as they’ve been featured a number of months ago in my skin care, and make up routine’s — which I’ve since added more Bobbi Brown products to. I need to do an updated version of that blog post.

Bobbi Brown Holiday 2012

(click image to enlarge)

Bobbi Brown Holiday 2012

If Bobbi Brown’s eye shadows, lip glosses and brush sets are anything like her foundation or skin care, I’m all about it. The eye cream that I use is incredibly expensive, but it lasts such a long time if you use the appropriate amount. I purchased a new jar of the eye cream in February and I’m about half way through right now, and I use it morning and night. A little goes a long way. My skin is so dehydrated, it loves to be quenched with a thick eye cream like the one I linked above. My skin also looks heavenly when I use the luminous foundation. It’s not a dewy finish, but has a luminous healthy glow, as appropriately named, and lasts so well on the skin throughout the day. No wearing off in patches, on my skin at least!

Conveniently for me, Bobbi Brown cosmetics is now available through certain Sephora stores. The Eaton Centre carries Bobbi Brown, but unfortunately they do not carry my two favorite products by her; the luminous moisturizing foundation and the extra eye repair cream. Not a huge deal as my go-to place for Bobbi Brown is Holt Renfew on Bloor Street in Toronto, which carries a wide range of her products.

Will you be picking up anything from the Bobbi Brown holiday collection? I don’t think I can wait until Christmas to get a few items from this collection. As it happens, it comes out in October for all you beauty girls out there. We only have to wait… three months.  :)

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