Category: Reviews

Marcelle BB Cream

Hello new love!  Please don’t let me down.  :B

I wanted an all in one foundation type of thing to slap on, for days I don’t want to go the full foundation route.  And oddly enough, I kind of….prefer this to anything else?  I don’t know!

I’m SUPER pleased with the coverage, the colour and the texture.  It’s not sheer like a tinted moisturizer, though sometimes I find it wears off a little faster than my usual foundation.  But overall, I think it rocks.  I might pair it more with a quick primer to see if lasts longer.

I’ve also tried the golden glow version, which is a little sparkly.  But I do find it a bit dark for me (it’s more of a “one colour for everyone” version so that’s why), though it’s not too bad for summer and when I have a tan.  I definitely prefer the regular, non-spf version.

marcellebb

Overall, highly recommended!

 

(Almost) A Year Later: NARS & MUFE

Originally I planned to post this quite awhile back, but it’s suitable now because I can give perspective on the long term usage of these products!

First up is NARS Illuminator in Copacabana.

My skintone is generally warm (I think) so I didn’t want to originally go for this colour because it’s fairly pinky/cool.  I have a few other liquid highlighters though that are more golden so I thought this was a good choice for something different. I’ve tried it on top of foundation and mixed in and I’ve liked it both ways. These days it’s my go-to highlighter and I think I’d like to try another NARS one in a different shade.

Next up, Make Up For Ever’s Face and Body foundation.

Hmmm.  I go back and forth on this.  My normal foundation is Revlon Colorstay (normal/dry) in Buff, which I actually still love and recommend.  My colour was 20 in this and it was a good match but probably more so for my skin tone in the summer.  I’m still iffy on the formula, it’s a little watery and sheer for me but I like it once it “settles” on my face.  I originally wanted a foundation to wear for photographed events as this one has no SPF in it.  I’m going to continue to wear it off and on but I’m not sure if  I’d repurchase.  I think I can find an SPF-free foundation that I like better.

And finally, NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Mexican Rose.

This colour is INTENSE.  WHOA.  Maybe it’s just on me, and I’ve been daring with lip colour lately too.  It’s very long-lasting, very pink and it does feel nice on.  I hear it’s recommend to store these in the fridge to waste less product when you sharpen it (like many others I also wish this were twistable instead of needing sharpening).  I find this leaves a very long lasting stain too, so that’s good and bad.  I think I want another colour to try in this, one that I’d use more, maybe a coral shade?

Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge

For 2013 I’m going with 20 30 books.  I find it really hard to read where I’m living now.  Any down time I have by myself, I’d much rather catch up on things on the internet/videos/shows etc (also I tend to read in the bath I’m not fond of the tub in the house).  Sigh.  Bonus, the Kindle Paperwhite is finally in Canada – a gift for myself later this year perhaps?

  1. Still Life by Joy Fielding [rating=3]
  2. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn [rating=5]
  3. Four to Score by Janet Evanovitch [rating=4]
  4. High Five by Janet Evanovitch [rating=3]
  5. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien [rating=5]
  6. The Confession by John Grisham [rating=4]
  7. Neptune Noir: Unauthorized Investigations into Veronica Mars by Various [rating=4]
  8. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie [rating=4]
  9. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie [rating=4]
  10. Inferno by Dan Brown [rating=4]
  11. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain [rating=4]
  12. Storm Front by Richard Castle [rating=5]
  13. Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor [rating=3]
  14. Insurgent by Veronica Roth [rating=2]
  15. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer [rating=5]
  16. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn [rating=5]
  17. The Witness by Nora Roberts [rating=5]
  18. Richard Castle’s A Calm Before Storm (A Derrick Storm Mystery) by Richard Castle/Peter David/Robert Atkins [rating=5]
  19. A Time to Kill by John Grisham [rating=4]
  20. The Wild Zone by Joy Fielding [rating=4]
  21. Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  22. Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  23. Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  24. Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  25. Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  26. Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  27. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  28. The Maze Runner by James Dashner [rating=4]
  29. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner [rating=2]
  30. The Death Cure by James Dashner [rating=1] *

 

 

 

*How sad am I that my 30 books ended on such a clunker?

 

 

 

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Topbox August 2012: First Impressions

August Topbox!  A little late this month.

There was another drugstore bonus this month.

I really haven’t researched this month to see if anyone got a different variety of shampoo and conditioner, I’m pretty sure I put on my Topbox profile what my hair type was?  In any case, this is really useful to me…and not only that, they are GENEROUSLY sized bottles as well.

Sample-size: 10ml

Retails for: $75 (for 50ml)

I’m not aware of this brand but this product seems great, and once my current benzyl peroxide product runs out, I’ll be trying this.

Full-size

Retails for: $22

While I’d generally prefer to pick out and buy quality brushes for myself, this one isn’t half bad.  It’s soft enough and I can use it as a backup at the very least!

Sample-size: 1 wipe

Retails for: $12 (for 15 wipes)

Any type of wipes are good to have on hand.  I typically have baby wipes around (so much cheaper and just as good as those ‘personal wipes’ that they’ve been selling), so I’m not sure what benefit this could give that would make the price worth it but we’ll see!  Though, they are paraben free.  I’ve been trying to cut out products that have parabens/SLS etc in them to help out my skin, so points for Pink Wipes for that.

Chloé sample-size: 30ml

Retails for: $60 (for 200ml)

Dot sample-size: 4ml

Retails for: $105 (for 100ml)

I’m not really a perfume person.  Not a “real” perfume person anyway.  Give me etailer scents that are fruity or vanilla-ey etc and I’m fine, because they don’t have that perfume scent.  You know, that basic alcoholy smell?  Just me?  Anyway, that said, these are SUPER adorable!  Just look at those bottles!  Of the two, I prefer the Chloé one.

Overall

I liked this month.  All products included are ones that I have or will certainly try and that makes it worth it to me.  If there comes a day where it doesn’t become worth it, I’ll cancel, but until then….

Also, I received a notice from Topbox saying that starting in the fall, they’re including at least 1 makeup sample per box.  I think that’s awesome, as makeup is by far my fave items to get.

[rating=5]

Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge


Originally my goal was to read 50 books in 2012, but because of unemployment and boredom, I was quickly going through books so I upped that goal to 70. Even now, I’m still ahead of the game!

  1. A Country Christmas by Louisa May Alcott [rating=3]
  2. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin [rating=5]
  3. When the Wind Blows by James Patterson [rating=4]
  4. The Lake House by James Patterson [rating=3]
  5. Kill Me If You Can by James Patterson [rating=5]
  6. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie [rating=5]
  7. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood [rating=5]
  8. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde [rating=3]
  9. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carré [rating=3]
  10. The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis [rating=5]
  11. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis [rating=5]
  12. The Horse and his Boy by C.S. Lewis [rating=5]
  13. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis [rating=5]
  14. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis [rating=5]
  15. The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis [rating=5]
  16. The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis [rating=5]
  17. Divergent by Veronica Roth [rating=4]
  18. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows [rating=4]
  19. Wither by Lauren DeStefano [rating=2]
  20. Fever by Lauren DeStefano [rating=2]
  21. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness [rating=5]
  22. The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness [rating=4]
  23. Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness [rating=4]
  24. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand [rating=3]
  25. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand [rating=1]
  26. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins [rating=5]
  27. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruis Zafón [rating=5]
  28. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld [rating=4]
  29. Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld [rating=3]
  30. Goliath by Scott Westerfeld [rating=3]
  31. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins [rating=5]
  32. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins [rating=5]
  33. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card [rating=5]
  34. 11/22/63 by Stephen King [rating=5]
  35. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald [rating=1]
  36. Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith [rating=4]
  37. A Brewing Storm by Richard Castle [rating=5]
  38. Everlost by Neal Shusterman [rating=4]
  39. Everwild by Neal Shusterman [rating=4]
  40. Everfound by Neal Shusterman [rating=5]
  41. The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett [rating=5]
  42. When She Woke by Hillary Jordan [rating=1]
  43. Cinder by Marissa Meyer [rating=3]
  44. Article 5 by Kristen Simmons [rating=1]
  45. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler [rating=5]
  46. Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler [rating=5]
  47. The High Window by Raymond Chandler [rating=5]
  48. The Lady in the Lake by Raymond Chandler [rating=5]
  49. The Little Sister by Raymond Chandler [rating=4]
  50. A Raging Storm by Richard Castle [rating=5]
  51. The Simple Art of Murder by Raymond Chandler [rating=4]
  52. The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler [rating=5]
  53. Playback by Raymond Chandler [rating=4]
  54. Poodle Springs by Raymond Chandler [rating=4]
  55. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  56. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  57. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  58. A Bloody Storm by Richard Castle [rating=5]
  59. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  60. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  61. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  62. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling [rating=5]
  63. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett [rating=3]
  64. The Dain Curse by Dashiell Hammett [rating=3]
  65. Frozen Heat by Richard Castle [rating=5]
  66. One for the Money by Janet Evanovitch [rating=4]
  67. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson [rating=2]
  68. Darkness Falls by Les Martin [rating=4]
  69. Storm Season by Richard Castle [rating=5]
  70. Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovitch [rating=4]

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