Marcelle's BB Cream - It Really Works!

If you haven't heard of B.B. Creams in the last new months you must be living under a rock!

If you're wondering what all the fuss is about well let me tell you!

B.B. Cream is a multi-tasking product developed in 1968 by German dermatologist Dr. Christine Schrammek-Drusio. Its an all-in-one formula that combines the primer, moisturizer, foundation and often times even SPF to make up this magical B.B. Cream (short for beauty, banishing or blemish balm).

There are several brands that have emerged on the market here in North America, one of which Ive been testing for a little while now. Marcelle, a well established Canadian brand came out with their own version of the B.B. Cream which hit shelves this past February and has been getting rave reviews ever since.

Marcelle's B.B. Cream can be found at your local drugstore and costs approx $22.95 per 45ml tube. It comes in 2 shades Light to Medium and Medium to Dark (which works for me) and blends incredibly well to even out skin tones and mask imperfections. This particular B.B. Cream does not contain SPF which I really would have loved to see but since I apply it over my normal moisturizer & SPF skin routine so I'll let it slide but would love to see a version with SPF!

I'm usually just slap on some concealer and powder when running around day to day but there are times when Ive wished for a happy medium between wearing nothing and having just a hint of coverage. This is it!

Its designed to be worn alone or as a makeup base but for everyday this Marcelle's B.B. Cream melts into my skin to become the perfect shade without leaving me feeling like I have layers on.  I usually just add a touch of concealer to problem areas such as under eyes and a quick layer of powder in the T-zone and I'm good to go.

Marcelle's B.B. cream is hypo-allergenic, perfume free, wont break the bank as a little goes a long way and goes on beautifully with or without any added makeup!

Do B.B Creams work? The answer is YES!

In my beauty junkie opinion every woman should add a B.B. Cream to her collection!

* Product was sent for consideration, all opinions are my own.

Giveaway: #WIN Halle Berry's New Fragrance "Reveal The Passion"! Open to CAN & US

Try a NEW Scent for Spring!

Reveal the Passion by Halle Berry: The woman who wears Reveal the Passion is full of confidence, endlessly elegant, and always the most intriguing person in the room.  She knows intuitively that true passion is intertwined with untamed desire. Reveal the Passion by Halle Berry is available at most mass retailers for $28 (1.0 fl oz).

Win It!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* For Tweet about the giveaway option simply click the blue "Tweet" button. To verify, after you tweet copy and paste the url from Twitter.

* Only activated email subscriptions will count towards an entry

* Giveaway Ends April 8th 2012

* Open to Canadian & US residents only

Giveaway: #Win Mally Beauty's Shimmer, Shape and Glow Face Defining System! USA Only

Mally Roncal celebrity makeup artist & founder of Mally Beauty is celebrating their 7^th Anniversary this month!!

We love Mally and wanted to team up to give one of our lucky American readers a chance to win Mally's very first product the Shimmer, Shape and Glow Face Defining System!

Web description:

Shimmer, Shape and Glow Face Defining System is the secret that all Mally’s celebrity clients swear by! “That thing” that Mally does that gives the superstar glow. The first Powder lifts and illuminates the cheekbones giving you the bone structure that you have always dreamed of. The second powder softly contours making you look like you lost 5 lbs. And the last powder makes you look like you had a beautifully romantic evening.

The winner will have their choice of 1 of the 4 shades this product comes in.

Win It!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

* For Tweet about the giveaway option simply click the blue "Tweet" button. To verify, after you tweet copy and paste the url from Twitter.

* Only activated email subscriptions will count towards an entry

#Win $100 CASH & $100 worth of IronKids products

Mommies, this ones for you!

Who doesn't want a little extra cash and vitamins for your kids??

Enter today for your chance to 

WIN $100 Cash (via paypal) & $100 worth of IronKids products!

+

Its simple, all you need to do is enter the Rafflecopter form below. Yes...its that simple!

That's it! So what are you waiting for?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(ends 12:01EST on March 20th). 
 Good Luck!

Thank you to IronKids and Influential Media for hosting and organizing this giveaway

Winners List #2 - Are You On It?!

WINNERS LIST #2!

Thank you to everyone who entered ALL of last months giveaways. We had over 44,000 entries in total for our month of giveaways!!!!

I know those who entered are waiting to find out if they won some of these amazing prizes so here is the winners list for the second half of the months giveaways.

Lucky $100 Gift Certificate - Cinthia Westerhaus 

Beauty Lovers Prize Pack from Pari Beauty - Tasha Wills 

Full Sized "Crash Diet" Gel from Rodial Skin Care - Sakina Ali 

4 Month Supply of imPress Press-On Manicure by Broadway Nails - Safreena 

The Full Chocomania Collection from The Body Shop - Mary B & Jennifer Martin

Kronos Hair Care Set Worth $150 Courtesy of Ebeauty.ca - Andrea Amy 

$150 Worth in Organic Skin & Hair Care Courtesy of Abundance Naturally -  Shaylee Anne 

The Entire DIANE LAI Skin Care Collection - Shari Dalton 

Makeup & Skin Care Prize Pack from Mary Kay - Jennifer Lewis 

Full & Trial Sized Prize Pack from George's Cream!  - Carrie Montgomery

1-Year Supply of the 1-Step Cleanser & Toner PLUS A Facial Care Collection Best Suited for your Skin from Weleda - Jenny 

$100 In BIC Stationery Products -Aarica Steele 

I will be emailing all the winners to get their info. Winners have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Shopping Green For St.Patrick's Day at Piperlime

Green is a colour I used to dislike... I still do when it comes to certain things but over the last few years its really grown on me. There are so many pretty shades to choose from and it is now one of my go to colours for Spring/Summer.

With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, here are some of my picks from Piperlime.com to add a little green to your life this weekend as well as this Spring. 

 

How will you be celebrating St.Patty's day this year? 

What "Green" Accessory will you be wearing to show your spirit?

Hair Removal Costs, Comparing the Cost of Different Hair Removal Methods

Exploring Hair Removal Costs

What is the average cost of laser hair removal, shaving and waxing?

If you have unwanted hair, you’ve probably tried at least one hair removal method. Each comes with a different price tag, with cheaper hair removal methods requiring more frequent use. The cost of hair removal can add up. Check out some of the most common hair removal methods below and the cost of hair removal for each.

Shaving
Shaving is a popular hair removal method for both men and women. The cost of hair removal with shaving is a continual expense because hair grows back within a few days after shaving. Expenses include:

• Razor Depending on the kind of razor you use, your initial hair removal costs could range from a few dollars to several hundred. Electric razors can cost around $20 on the low end, with higher end razors costing over $200. A bag of disposable razors costs around $5 to $10. A reusable razor with disposable blades generally costs around $3 to $15. 
• Razor blades or refill razors Most razor blades and razor refills will last about 5 to 10 uses. Refill packs will vary in cost, usually around $5 to $10 for a pack of four to six refills. 
• Shaving Cream A bottle of shaving cream generally costs under $5. How long it lasts depends on the user, the frequency of shaving, and the number of body parts being shaved. 

Waxing
The cost of hair removal using wax will depend on several factors. The price of a waxing in a salon will be higher than the hair removal costs of an at-home kit. The price will also change based on which parts Comment of the body are being targeted. Waxing results last anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks depending on how fast an individual’s hair grows.

• Salon Hair removal on the face, such as the upper lip or eyebrows, will cost around $10 to $40 when performed by a professional. A bikini or back waxing is more expensive, usually around $50 to $100. Legs can cost as much as $100 for full ankle to thigh hair removal. Higher end salons will charge more for hair removal. 
• Home You can also buy at-home waxing kits. These are available online and in stores and usually cost around $25 to $100. 

Laser Hair Removal 
Unlike waxing or shaving, the cost of laser hair removal is not an on-going expense. That’s because laser hair removal offers permanent results, whereas shaving and waxing are an endless process. Like other hair removal methods, the cost of laser hair removal can vary, especially when considering professional treatments or using an at-home kit.

• Professional laser hair removal The average professional laser hair removal treatment on legs, underarms, and bikinis can cost up to $10,000 for a full series of treatments. Targeting additional body parts will increase hair removal costs. 
• At-home laser hair removal At-home kits are less expensive. The cost of laser hair removal with an at-home kit can range from $300 to $1,000. With an at-home laser hair removal kit, you can easily remove unwanted hair from the privacy of your own home. 

In addition to the monetary cost of hair removal, consider the length of results. Waxing and shaving involve a smaller investment up front, but will require continual use to maintain results. Laser hair removal is a bigger investment initially, but offers permanent results. Weigh the pros and cons of investing in each hair removal method to determine the best choice for you.

Article written by Katie O'Hara
*This is a sponsored post, opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect my own.

-CLOSED- WIN 1 of 15 - The NEW RoC Instant Facial Smoother - Open to Can/US

Ive once again teamed up with my gal pals at Beauty Undercover  to offer our readers a chance to WIN some amazing ROC products!

WIN The NEW RoC® Instant Facial Smoother is a lightweight, silky formula with a triple-action formula that instantly beautifies in one easy step for smoother, brighter-looking skin all day. Apply generously and evenly to face every day to achieve younger, more luminous skin that feels velvety smooth to the touch.

To be used after a moisturizer or before makeup for instant benefits, this primer complements your daily routine by:

1. Smoothing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and imperfections
2. Priming skin to create a perfect canvas for makeup application
3. Illuminating dull skin for a brighter complexion

The ROC is offering fifteen (15) Faces By Farah & Beauty Undercover Subscribers an opportunity to win their new Instant Facial Smoother (19.99) simply by entering Here.

*Canadians, enter your postal code in the "preferences" area
*Comment on this post letting me know you have entered!

This Giveaway is open until Friday March 9th at 9pm PST and will accept entries from US and Canada.

My Girls Night In Spa Party Courtesy of Biore!

This past Sunday I hosted a girls night (afternoon in this case) in Spa Party courtesy of the fabulous folks at Biore who arranged almost everything!

The day started out with me getting into the spirit in my "Biore Blue" top and no makeup as we were about to get treated to facials!

I then got a knock at the door with a little gift from the Biore team.... CUPCAKES!! These weren't just any cupcakes, they were from Cupcake Canada and were amazing to say the least.

Since they had sent a lot of take home product goodies for all my girls the day before I sent them up and added name stickies for my guests.

You will notice below that the Bioré Skincare collection has a new look and is now color-coded to help you find the perfect regimen for your complexion: Blue is for deep cleansing, Orange is for complexion clearing, Pink is for make-up removing

Then I got busy prepping because whats a party without snacks? In this case most of which came courtesy of the fine folks at M&M Meat Shops! I picked up the vegetarian hors d'oeuvres quartet which came with 4 different options and a box of jumbo coconut shrimp. Both got devoured at lightening speed!

I added my homemade peanut butter bark, a veggie tray and some other snacks and we were good to go!

 

The door bell rang again and it was the wonderful ladies from Spa Party Events right on time and ready to pamper! They set up shop in my kitchen/family room and even brought their own tables, facial bed, polishes & pretty much everything they needed. Who can ask for anything more?!

I was up first for the facial with Jenn, she began by using Biore's Make-up removing Towelettes which are formulated with Green Tea, and are infused with Vitamin E, Green Coconut Water and Indian Ginseng. These smelled amazing, it was the first thing I said when she started cleansing my face. 

Next she applied the Pore Unclogging Scrub followed by the Warming Anti-Blackhead Cleanser which has a special mineral clay that warms on contact with water, to help open up pores and clear out dirt, oil and makeup.

 
 She finished off the facial with their brand NEW Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser which felt cool and refreshing on.

After my facial I moved onto my pedicure with Illana but couldn't stop feeling my face because it felt SO soft! All the girls commented over and over how nice their face felt and how they couldn't wait to take the products home.

The products were even sensitive enough for a (almost) 16 year old who never wears makeup. She was thrilled with the results and Ill bet shes now hooked on Biores Skin Care line!

Our little Biore spa party was a success!
Id like to thank the wonderful team at Biore for organizing a girls night in for us as well as the incredible Spa Party Events team that did a fabulous job and were so fun to be around they felt like another one of our girlfriends!

I also happened to learn possibly the best thing ever from the Spa Party girls.... The cupcake sandwich!! I will never eat a cupcake any other way;)

-CLOSED- WIN 1 of 20 Bottles of Dr. Andrew Weil for ORIGINS Mega-Bright!

Ive teamed up with my gal pals at Beauty Undercover  to offer our readers a chance to  
WIN 1 of 20 bottles of  Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Skin tone correcting serum!

Our friends at Origins are offering twenty (20) Faces By Farah & Beauty Undercover Subscribers an opportunity to win Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright serum (retail $55) simply by entering Here.

Comment on this post letting me know you have entered!

This Giveaway is open until Wednesday March 7th at 9pm PST and will accept entries from US and Canada.

Good Luck!

Winners List, Are You On It?!

WINNERS LIST!

Thank you to everyone who entered the first half of our giveaways. We had over 25,000 entries in total so far WOW!

I know those who entered are waiting to find out if they won some of these amazing prizes so here is the winners list.

Hana 1" Flat Iron Courtesy of Misikko - Florence Cochrane

Dial 6 Month Supply - Margaret Imecs

Tide & Downy Prize Pack - Katrina Brady

Burts Bees Prize Pack- Gaby Fauchon

Emeril by T-Fal Slow Cooker Courtesy of The Shopping Channel - Reem

Dream Beauty Prize Pack From L'Oreal Paris - Glogirl

Make Up For Ever Prize Pack - OPI Addict

HERA Designs Signature Silver Ring - Missbobloblaw

Vasanti Cosmetics Prize Pack - Andrea Bilec

$75 Urban Barn Gift Certificate - Jennifer Hammond

Elizabeth Grant Polish & Skin Care Bundle - Farrah Shumway

Socializer Collection From Elizabeth Grant - Stefanie Gladden

4pc KORRES Skin Care Prize Pack - Colleen M Cole

La Roseraie Blush & Trésor Midnight Rose Fragrance by Lancome - Inez McLeish

An "I Love Lucky" Long Sleeved Shirt from Lucky7 Clothing - Anne Taylor

Congratulations to all of our winners and thank you to everyone who entered!

Be sure to enter the rest of our amazing on going giveaways for your chance to win.

I will be emailing all the winners to get their info. Winners have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Im Bronzing It Up Lise Waiter Style!

As a makeup artist/blogger I am fortunate to try a lot of different products. More specifically beauty products so when Lise Waiter's Aquarella Bronzing Powder Duo came across my desk I immediately swooned. Why?

Just look at that packaging!

Pretty right? Well check out the equally pretty inside!

I'll be honest and say I'm quite picky when it comes to bronzers. I am naturally "tanned" so bronzers either disappear or are too shimmery on me so I prefer a matte finish. Although Lise Watier's Aquarella has a hint of shimmer its not that obvious when applied and comes across as more of a "glow".

This bronzer warms up my skin beautifully and its quickly found its way to my everyday makeup drawer! It can be used on everything from the face to your décolleté and retails for $32.00 CAD.

So I give Lise Watier's Aquarella 2 thumbs up, 1 for its packaging (it gets me every time) and 1 for the quality product inside ;)

* Product was sent for consideration, all opinions are my own.

Ontario Residents Protect Your Home. WIN 1 of 5 #RogersSmartHome Monitoring Systems!

Last month something scary and slightly embarrassing happened to me and while we are talking home alarms today I wanted to share why I would want a Rogers Smart Home Monitoring System.

I was suddenly woken up at 6:30am by a "noise" (the scary part). I was convinced I heard foot steps inside the house and since my husband was already at work I panicked. I called him yelling "someones in the house" and he in turn called my mother in-law who lives close by to come check on me.

On the way over she spotted a police officer down the street & told him what may have happened and before I knew it there were 6...count em SIX police cruisers outside my home, guns out, searching my house for intruders while I waited in my PJ's on the driveway.

Needless to say they didn't find anything (the embarrassing part) and actually joked that perhaps I may have a ghost in my house - :| (which scared me even more). They were joking of course and were super nice about the whole thing but it really made me re-evaluate installing a home alarm system like the Rogers Smart Home Monitoring System.

 

Have you seen the commercial for this smart home monitoring system? You can monitor everything from carbon monoxide levels to if your front door was opened to knowing the minute your child comes home from school from wherever you are. You can check in from your ipad, smart phone or any computer device which makes knowing whats going on at home that much easier!

Amazing right? Who wouldn't want a kick-ass system like this in their house?

Now all of my Ontario Resident readers can enter to WIN 1 of 5 Rogers Smart Home Monitoring Systems. A value of over $1,500!

Entering is really easy. All you have to do is visit Rogers Smart Home, fill out a short form and share with your family, friends & social media networks to increase your chances of winning!

PRIZE: Participants are eligible to win one (1) of five #RogersSmartHome Monitoring systems consisting of: 

1 touchpad, 

3 door/window sensors,

1 motion detector,

1 key fob, 

1 security camera, 

1 thermostat, 

1 lamp dimmer module including professional installation and monitoring service for one 1 year – approximate total value of $1,518.83.

If you live in Ontario, Canada and would like to #win this amazing prize pop on over to the Rogers Smart Home site and enter today! This contest runs March 1, 2012 until 5:00PM EST on May 16, 2012. 

Good Luck!

* This post has been compensated, all opinions are my own

Mascara of the Month! L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes

L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes

Ive been using this mascara for the last month and it quickly became one of my top picks. Its cone shaped brush allows you to get up close and personal with your lashes and the fiber technology actually works and works well I might add!

The fibers coat your lash to give you thicker lashes, however the fullness factor still needs a bit of work in my opinion. I also wouldn't apply more than 2 coats as the fibers really do build up and can start to look clumpy.

This is just 1 coat applied super fast and only to my top lashes!! Imagine how Va-Va-Voom 2 coats would be?!

Next time you're in the drug store looking to replace your mascara (every 3-6 months max) why not try out L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes and see what the fibers bring to your lashes!