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Marcelle

Pay it Forward with Marcelle #Giveaway

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I’m BA-ACK!

A few months ago, I took a moment to thank my readers for being such a supportive, awesome bunch.  As you know, I make it my mandate to respond to every single comment that is left on my site. Sometimes you’ll catch me right away; other times, it may take a day or two for me to find a moment to circle back. (And lately, I’ve been catching up on comments a week late – I’m so sorry! But it’s been a crazy season.)

Regardless, I always love to reply to friends who have taken a moment to share their feedback, experiences, tips and thoughts with me. Back in May, I promised y’all that I would be back later in the year. And here I am! This time, I’ve teamed up with Marcelle, Canadian women’s trustworthy beauty partner for 80 years. Marcelle is the cosmetics and skin care brand that offers every woman high quality, effective and affordable products. Hypoallergenic and perfume-free; women of all ages believe in Marcelle products.

Thank you Tricha, Judy C, nicolthepickle, Flora M, Chandra, Heidi C, Darlene Schuller and Florence C!

I’d love to send you each a special little thank you gift; Marcelle Xtension Plus Mascara, the 2013 Elle Canada Grand Prix Beauty Award winner for “Best Mascara Under $20”, as well as a Marcelle Rouge Xpression Lipstick.

Xtension Plus Mascara
Give your lashes extra length and curl with the Xtension Plus Mascara. The formula and brush curl, define and separate lashes while minimizing clumps. An innovative and specifically designed soft polymer brush that offers a side with a row of longer bristles. This extra-long row of bristles reaches even the shortest lashes and stretches them from root to tip to reach their maximum lengthening potential for a lash-extension look without adding extensions. The tapered brush tip is perfect to achieve definition and get to those hard to reach lashes. Removes easily with any Marcelle eye make-up remover.

Rouge Xpression Lipstick
The twelve new Rouge Xpression Lipstick hues, all of them abundantly pigmented, give the pout intense coloration and luminous cream finish. The avocado oil, rich in Omega-6, offers excellent healing qualities and prevents chapped lips. Its phytosterols reinforce the lipidic barrier and contribute to restore hydration in the lips, keeping them supple and soft – a real delight! Its velvety and creamy formula, not sticky at all, procures absolute comfort in lavish, opaque hues. Vitamins C and E enrich this lipstick with their antioxidant properties while Maxi-Lip, an oligopeptide complex, delivers a plumping effect.

And, in the spirit of the holidays, I’ve teamed up with Marcelle for a special giveaway for all my readers!

FIFTEEN (yes, 15!) readers will win TWO Marcelle gift bundles pictured above; one for you, and one for you to #MarcellePayitForward this holiday season. Gift the second bundle to a teacher, a sister, a friend… it’s up to you! The total value for each gift bag is $24.45….

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Summer Beauty: Marcelle Cosmetics

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The following giveaway is open to US and CAN residents.

Let’s kick off this Summer Beauty & Fashion Guide with a Canadian fave – Marcelle Cosmetics!

“Canadian women’s trustworthy beauty partner for almost 75 years, Marcelle is the cosmetics and skin care brand that offers every woman high quality, effective and affordable products.”

I have fond memories of lusting after Marcelle’s skin care products when I was just a teenager. Faced with acne-prone skin, I would spend copious amounts of time hanging around the drugstore cosmetics counter, staring at pictures of flawless models and turning the products over in my hands. Of course, a well-meaning cosmetician normally shooed me away before long, but I always remembered feeling Marcelle was my “it” brand.

Today, given the opportunity to review some of Marcelle’s newest, hottest products – including their sought-after skin care – makes me feel like my beauty obsession has come full circle.

Marcelle generously sent over soon-to-be faves for Summer and Fall 2011, and y’all are in for a treat; some of these products don’t hit the stores until mid-August!

Pictured Above, Clockwise from Left: Essentials Foaming Cleaning Gel, AC-Solution Daily Purifying Exfoliating Gel, Rouge Xpression Lipstick (Amour), HYDRA-C Perfect Fusion Make-Up*, Revival Brown Spot Corrector Roll-On, Concealer Palette, Multi-Colour Powder Blush (Pink Fusion). Liquid Eyeliner Pen, Volume Precision Mascara, HYDRA-C Ultra-Light Matifying Fluid* and HYDRA-C Energizing Hydrating Gel*.

(*NEW products!)

Since it’s summer (woot!) and it’s hot outside (woot!) you can bet my skin is extra shiny these days (womp). So I was really excited to try the NEW HYDRA-C Ultra-Light Matifying Fluid. I’ve been wearing it on and off for about 2 weeks now over freshly cleansed skin, and while I don’t have a before and after picture for you (please excuse me – if you read a few posts down you’ll know I’ve been fighting a summer cold for the past week – ergo not camera ready) I can tell you that I’ve seen a noticeable decrease in the amount of shine on my face by mid-afternoon. However, I did still feel blotting was necessary, so this product will not eliminate shine altogether, but it’s a quick and easy way to keep your skin feeling freshly washed for longer. A bonus: the addition of silica microspheres absorb sebum without drying the skin or making it feel overly tight.

Now I’ve been on the quest to find the perfect foundation for a long time, because this 33-year old feels it’s finally time to be modest and over up. Brown spots, under eye circles, fine lines – there’s only so much a gal can blame on sleepless nights and toddler-filled days. I was quite happy to see that the NEW HYDRA-C Perfect Fusion Make-Up promises even coverage while vitamins C and E moisturize, and after one quick swatch I can attest that it blends in easily and weightlessly. It actually feels silky on the fingertips – a far cry from some of the more heavy, chalky foundations.

The shade is a tad light for my sun-kissed face at the moment, but I am very excited to wear this come fall, and promise to post a FOTD then.

Other buzz-worthy products:

Multi-Colour Powder Blush (Pink Fusion) – I’m a huge fan of strip blushes because I feel like a chemistry major – or perhaps Ashley Abbott a la Y&R – mixing my own concoctions to come up with the perfect product (or in this case, colour). After seeing the rosewood base (swatched below) I assumed I could warm up the blush for a beachy look, but alas, the mid-tones are decidedly cool and when blended together (see above swatch) give off the perfect petal pink – more suited to summer nights than days. Still incredibly pretty, even on darker skin tones.

Volume Precision Mascara – no Marcelle review would be complete without a shout out to their famous mascara!

“Its ultra-flexible polymer brush with microchambers seizes lashes one by one, without clumps. The bristles come in variable lengths and are cleverly aligned to ensure clean, precise definition. Enriched with olive oil and rice brand wax, the revitalizing lightweight gel formula provides maximal volume without any heavy feeling.”

For a limited time and in participating stores only, buy one Volume Precision Mascara and get the second one FREE OF CHARGE!

(This promo is valid on ALL Marcelle mascaras, including their Power Volume, Lash Extreme and Ultimate Lash mascaras as well.)

Visit Marcelle’s YouTube Channel for tips and techniques on how to get their hottest looks, including step-by-step tutorials and product and shade selections.

And don’t forget – for a limited time, when you buy any of Marcelle’s three best-selling products – Cleansing Cloths, Multi-Colour Powder Blush (Timeless Charm) and Lux Gloss Sheer (Sorbet) – $0.50 will be donated to Because I am a Girl. The three products are available at the majority of retailers across Canada that sell Marcelle products, and are easily recognizable in their special pink packaging.


Marcelle Cosmetics can be purchased online (Canadians only) and at more than 2,500 drug and mass retailers in Canada. Americans can purchase Marcelle by calling 1-800-387-7710 ext 352 or 353.


One lucky Listen to Lena! reader will win a gift basket with ALL the Marcelle products you see above! (Value $200). To enter, simply visit Marcelle Cosmetics and choose three (3) other products that you have your eye on, and then leave a comment here telling us what they are. Who knows, some of them may make their way into your gift basket ;)

You can also qualify for extra entries! Remember, you must leave a separate comment for each. You can:

(1) Follow my blog, Listen to Lena! (2 extra entries!)
(2) “Like” Listen to Lena! on Facebook
(3) NEW Follow Listen to Lena! on Twitter
(4) “Like” Marcelle on Facebook
(5) Follow Marcelle on Twitter
(6) Tweet daily: Please use this Marcelle Giveaway Tweet.

I’ll draw for a winner on July 31st. Good luck everybody!

Because I am a Girl

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LOVE when companies give back.

This season, look your best – and help girls around the world reach their full potential – with products from Marcelle’s limited edition Because I Am A Girl branded products.

It all started with Plan Canada’s initiative to harness the incredible power that girls and women have here at home and in the developing world. Because I am a Girl is Plan’s global campaign to break the cycle of poverty and gender discrimination.

Girls have the right to be educated.
Girls have the right to eat.
Girls have the right to be safe.
Girls’ rights are human rights.

Ambassador for Because I Am A Girl, two-time Olympic medalist Jennifer Heil, has a goal to raise one million dollars for the initiative, and Marcelle is lending their support. For a limited time, when you buy any of Marcelle’s three best-selling products, $0.50 will be donated to Because I am a Girl. The three products are available at the majority of retailers across Canada that sell Marcelle products, and are easily recognizable in their special pink packaging.

The products include:

Cleansing Cloths (25 cloths)
Ideal to drop in your suitcase, purse or gym bag! In one easy step, cleanse and remove face and eye make-up without leaving a greasy after-feel. They eliminate long wearing make-up, including waterproof mascara, while preserving the skin’s natural moisture balance. Thoroughly cleansed, the skin feels comfortable and regains its softness. Pre-moistened with a mild lotion, they respect the eye’s delicate pH balance, so it is safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

I’ve been using Marcelle’s cleansing cloths for over a year now – usually on nights when I’m too tired to remain standing, let alone go through a whole cleansing/ toning/ moisturizing routine with up to six different products. After a quick wipe with the cleansing cloths, my skin is clean, refreshed and smooth – never dry. And I simply LOVE the special pink packaging!

Multi-Colour Powder Blush (Timeless Charm)
A two-in-one blush and highlighter, with five perfectly coordinated shimmer tones, which illuminates and defines cheeks for a pretty pink glow. It’s hypo-allergenic, perfume free and provides long-lasting colour.

If you’re looking for a pink blush that exudes “sweet and innocent”, this is the one for you, ladies! The perfect petal pink with a healthy dose of shimmery highlights. Simply gorgeous.

Lux Gloss Sheer (Sorbet) 
Jennifer Heil’s favourite gloss colour! A light gel-based liquid formula that is non-sticky and won’t run, and provides long-lasting hydration, long-lasting colour, exceptional comfort and light coverage. Enriched with emollients and a revitalizing cocktail of ingredients, it’s perfect for achieving a plumping effect for seductive lips. It’s hypo-allergenic and perfume free.

One of my faves too! For more information on Because I Am A Girl, visit plancanada.ca/becauseiamagirl

To view some of the hottest trends in beauty and makeup, visit Marcelle Cosmetics.