Sparkled Beauty

For face products this Spring, Marcelle launches a new City line, starting with the City tinted Octinoxate cream multi-protection SPF25.

Charged with antioxidants, green tea, aloe and chamomile which act like a shield to protect the skin from environmental stressors, the cream is said to be able to replace your lightweight moisturizer, tinted corrector and makeup base in your routine.

With my aging skin, I did not test the cream for any purposes other than a sunscreen, and a primer on lazy days, and it works fine for that. However, since it does not provide complete UVA protection nor good coverage with the tint, it suits younger better skin than mine. I do not notice if it helps with radiance or pores either.

Active ingredient: Octinoxate 7.5%
Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Mica, BIS-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, HDI/ Ttrimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Isopropyl Myristate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, etc.

Note: Octinoxate is an approved ingredient (at the permitted 7.5% level) in chemical sunscreen as a UVB blocking agent. There have been concerns regarding its possible high toxicity rating compared to zinc and titanium dioxide but have not been proven.

The City tinted cream has 4 shades with auto-adapting pigments - Fair, Light to Medium, Medium and Medium to Dark, 1oz/ 30ml, $19.95.

There is also a City concealer, enriched with vitamin C & E (antioxidants) and Bisabolol (soothing effect) to conceal dark circles, puffiness and imperfections.

I appreciate the convenient bullet shape and the skin care effects in the concealer. It applies and blends well, is ideal for decent skin days. I would suggest a concealer with more coverage for old dark spots or serious circles under the eyes, which I do have.

The concealer comes in 3 shades with auto-adapting pigments - Fair, Light to Medium and Medium to Dark. The press sample does not include the weight information but the price is $9.95.

Here are the colour tones of the City tinted cream and the City concealer, both in Light to Medium.

The City products are perfume/ oil/ paraben free. The aqua and white themed packaging is cute and stands out.

The line is on special offer right now ($5 off online or $5 printable coupon to use in stores). If what these 2 products offer suit your needs, check them out.

Also part of the Spring launch is the waterproof version of the Ultimate Volume mascara.

With carnauba wax for fuller but soft flexible lashes, the mascara promises of no clumping or flaking, intense volume and multiplying effect.

I don't recall trying the original Ultimate Volume mascara, but waterproof mascaras seem to hold my straight lashes a bit better anyway.

The wand is quite similar to that of the Ultimate Fringe Effect mascara that Marcelle came out with last Fall, with slightly longer tip where the bristles (300 of them, as the brand says) are and shorter handle. I prefer a small/ thinner brush in my mascaras so this one fits right in.

Effect wise, the mascara does offer volume to my lashes but not amazingly noticeable. I normally pair it with another mascara, which I don't mind doing.

If you are looking for volume from a waterproof mascara, this might be one for you. The mascara is perfume free, $11.95.