Sparkled Beauty

It is Marcelle Fall products time!

I trust that by now, most of you have tried and enjoyed Marcelle BB cream. The brand has recently gone ahead and release the new 24H Intense Moisture version of it and further brought the line to the next level with the CC and DD creams.

The DD (Daily Defense) cream SPF25, in a nutshell, is a BB cream with added antioxidants to protect your skin against external aggressors (pollution, stresses, UVB rays, etc.) and improve skin texture.

Note the SPF and the airless pump bottle design, more sleek and luxurious than the BB cream tube.

With platinum-infused formula and self adjusting pigments, the DD cream is supposed to reinforce the skin's natural defenses and improve overall appearance of the skin by reducing impurities.

The 10 in 1 benefits:
- tightens pores
- improves skin texture
- evens and smooths skin
- promotes removal of skin impurities
- controls shine
- offers immediate and long term hydration
- protects skin from environmental stressors
- helps prevent signs of aging
- sooths and calms dry/ damaged skin
- provides anti-dull radiant complexion.

Ingredients: Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf juice, water, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum ParkII (Shea) Seedcake extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaft extract, Cetryl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower extract, Colloidal Platinum, etc.

It is worth noting that the first few ingredients at the top of the list are not the same as those in the BB cream's ingredient list.

Besides the texture being a little thicker (see swatches below), application wise, I don't see a difference between the DD and BB cream. And since I already use the BB cream almost everyday, I am certainly a fan of the DD cream too with the added benefits.

The DD cream bottle has 1oz/ 30ml, retails $26.95 (vs. 1.5oz/ 45ml, $22.95 for the BB cream), comes in 2 shades (Light to Medium and Medium to Dark). I would say your choice between the BB and DD creams depend on what your skin needs.

I'd suggest a quick read of the BB, CC, DD decoding article on Marcelle's blog, if you still wonder about the 3 products. Also check out my FOTD using all products mentioned in this post.

There is a new serum called New Age 8-in-1 Power serum with Multi-Peptide anti-aging boost 14% (5 Peptides + Xylitol).

The peptides are supposed to stimulate collagen (skin structure), hyaluronic acid (hydration) and elastin (skin resilience). Xylitol (a sugar alcohol derived from birch bark or corn) has the ability to retain water to reduce its natural evaporation from the skin.

Out of the pump, the serum is a thicker gel, has some slip to it but is not runny and does not get anywhere you don't want it to. It works well with all the moisturizers I tried and is added in the rotation of serums in my skin care routine. I really like it with the DD cream.

Ingredients: Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Acmella Oleracea extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Alcohol, Anhydroxylitol, Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ccyclopentasiloxane, Diazolidinyl Urea, Dimethicone/ Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium Edta, Glycerin, etc.

The serum is perfume and paraben free, retails $33.95 for 1oz/ 30ml. The good news is, for a limited time only, it is only $20 on Marcelle website. Free shipping with orders of $25 or more (Canada) and $50 or more (US).

Swatches of the New Age 8-in-1 Power serum, DD cream in Medium to Dark and, for comparison, BB cream in the same shade.

As you can see, the BB cream dot is the only one that seems to run a little, i.e. thinner consistency. Once applied, the texture difference is not noticeable.

Now we get to some exciting eye makeup items.

Marcelle Xtension Plus mascara won Elle Canada's 2013 Beauty Grand Prix award for Best Mascara under $20. At consumer level, many also mentioned it as one of the best mascaras from Marcelle.

Supposed to be a lengthening and curling mascara, Xtension Plus has a polymer brush with a row of longer bristles on one side to take care of the short lashes (like mine).

I find the brush a little stiffer than what I am used to, but cannot deny that it coats my lashes well, even the shortest (mini) lashes near the inner corners of my eyes and makes them appear longer. Curls wise, however, it faces my stubborn straight lashes. Not much I can do about that.

Xtension Plus has 0.33oz/ 9ml in the tube, retails CAD12.50.

And now what can be better than Xtension Plus? A waterproof version of it, by choice :)

Introducing Marcelle Waterproofing mascara topcoat. It is a clear water-resistance top coat to turn any of your mascaras into waterproof/ emotion proof - yeah, for those teary moments that you happen to experience in life :)

I can confirm the brand's claim of the top coat being a rain coat for your lashes, long lasting and not changing the texture/ effect of your mascara. I tested it a few times on those crazy rainy days we had last weeks. The lashes did not feel any different with it on after the mascara and my mascara stayed put. Removal takes a swipe of Marcelle cleansing water but not more than that. Easy!

Since it is an interesting product, I thought it would be helpful to include the ingredients: Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, synthetic wax, Polyethylene, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Propylene Carbonate, Tocopheryl Acetate.

The tube has 0.24oz/ 9.5ml, retails CAD16.95.

Check out my FOTD to see all the products in action :)

Hesitate a purchase because of the prices? Read on!

For a limited time, when you buy any Marcelle mascara, you'll get a free Waterproofing mascara topcoat
- Online: use code "BOGO"
- In store: the topcoat is included in prepacks with the mascara.

Another in store promo at participating retailers, also for a limited time: Marcelle mascaras (Xtension Plus, Power Volume and Twist Push-up) are BOGO free in prepacks as well.

Needless to say, this is the perfect time to try out Marcelle mascaras and the topcoat :)

And if you are like me, you would wonder what the model wore in this promo pic - Rouge Xpression lipstick in Obsession, Lux gloss in Muse and 2-in-1 Retractable Plumping lip liner in Cool Berry. I'm so in the makeup mood for Fall!