Marcelle

I decided this was worth a try because it is cheaper than my previous favourite non-foaming cleanser (Cerave Hydrating), and I'm really glad I did. In spite of being labelled a gel, this is a lotion textured cleanser, but one that rinses clean. I've never really used a cleanser that removed makeup so well and rinsed so cleanly without stripping my skin. In the evening I use it by itself if Ive used only a little makeup or none at all, and I use it after makeup remover if I've worn a full face. It is also my morning cleanser. Really impressive stuff. It's made me try more of Marcelle's skin care line.

This is a high quality lip liner which is both soft and gentle to apply as well as firm enough not to break. The Velvet Gel presumably applies to the first 2 qualities, and lives up to it IMHO. I got the Rosy Nude which is perfect for fair to medium complexions, a medium opaque nude which has slight peach undertones, very attractive. Although my lips are somewhat pigmented and Rosy Nude is a bit lighter than their natural color, it is so flexible I can draw it slightly outside my lip line and gently color it inwards, and then apply my lighter lipsticks, on the days I feel like wearing lighter pastel spring colors. Perfect match for Chantecaille Lip Gloss in the lighter shades. It looks very natural, so 5 stars for quality, and an excellent rating for price.

This is THE mascara for me. My one. My only. Thanks to a monthly subscription and receiving this sample, it changed my eyelashes life! Short, sparse, straight lashes are magically transformed into thick, long, lashes that don't weigh down my lashes after I curl them and apply. I've ordered twice now and will continue doing so. I swear I've tried every mascara out there from cheap to the most expensive over the years and ongoing, but this stuff IS IT! I was reading some of the other reviews and I will say I've never had a problem with flaking. I'll put this on at 6 a.m. and if I fall asleep without taking it off, it's still on in the morning. I wear about three coats of it. I do agree that it is really easy to remove - there's no tugging, no pulling - I use the Marcelle eye makeup remover.

I've never been one to wear foundation ever because I don't like the feeling of how heavy and suffocating they feel, and I can never find one light enough for me. I tried this because I've developed some lovely adult acne and was tired of my skin looking bad all the time. This brand is available in Canada at Shoppers Drug Mart and Lawtons, it's a reasonable price (I think I bought it for $16-ish?) and the brand isn't tested on animals.

I tested it out for a full work day running around without touching it up at all, and it performed pretty well. Other than shininess on/around my nose and forehead, it didn't seem to crease or migrate or whatever foundation tends to do. It does seem to be more of a light coverage and it's very matte, but that works for me. It doesn't have any heavy feeling to it and I forget I even have it on. The lightest shade is light enough for even my pale ginger skin but the shades are very limited and anyone looking for dark shades are going to have to look elsewhere.

I have pretty dry skin so I make sure to moisturize and use primer before I put it on. I use a beauty blender to put it on, blend with a brush, and finish with powder and setting spray. I don't know if I would be able to use it in the winter, as the compact formula is kind of drying, but I think I'll try with a damp beauty blender and see if that will help in the dry cold.

The packaging is ok. It stays closed and the compact nature of it is part of the reason why I bought it. What I don't like is the sponge thing that comes with it. It feels too skinny and flexible to work with it properly, like I have to press down hard on my skin to get it to work. It also doesn't clean very well. I get that because it's white it will discolour easier, but I have beauty blenders I've used for a year and once cleaned they look like new. This sponge isn't porous enough to be able to get water and cleaner through it to get it cleaned properly, which also makes it smell after a couple uses. I keep it in the compact for on the go touch ups for the sake of convenience though.

Altogether a pretty solid purchase. Thanks Marcelle for making good, decently priced, cruelty free stuff.

This is one of the worst eye makeup removers i’ve tried. Smeared my eye makeup into my eyes and left an oily burning residue that stayed in my eyes well in to the next day after using it the night before. Glad I got this free as a gift with purchase. Terrible...especially for a company that claims to tailor products for sensitive skin. The only EMR worse than this one is Clinique’s take the day off which irritated my eyes so bad they were red and puffy.