I’m pretty sure everyone knows of the Marcelle brand of skincare and cosmetics. They’ve been a drugstore staple for as long as I remember, definitely since I was a teenager. Yes, that was only last month, but no matter — the brand was born in Chicago in 1933, Canadian distribution began in 1949 via a Québec pharmacy called Cape’s Drugs, and in 1974 the son of Cape’s founder bought Marcelle entirely and moved everything to Québec. So now it’s made in Canada.
As the title of this post indicates, Marcelle has been just under my radar for a bit (I had a couple of Marcelle cosmetics when I was a teen). When the Hydra-C Complex E stuff came out, I tried the Hydrating Fluid and the Moisturizing Gel Cream (nice texture); my skin liked both. But it was the dramatic difference in my 20-something friend’s complexion that really made me take note. J’s skin was noticeably dry and patchy before she tried the Hydra-C Complex-E collection, which includes cleanser, exfoliating gel, and moisturizing lotion and cream (cream is better for drier skin). Within a couple of weeks, we noticed her skin was smooth, hydrated and healthy looking. Flawless, actually. I asked J again the other day what she thought about the products: “Omigod I love that stuff!” she said immediately.
’Nuff said.
Marcelle’s Hydra-C Complex E line ranges from $13.25 to $22.50 and is available in major drugstores across Canada (including London Drugs which has an online store!)
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
This J girl sounds familiar. Hmmm
The Marcelle Hydra-C Complex E has performed miracles on my skin. I have very dry rough skin that every now and then breaks out, and this has totally kept my skin in check. Every time I go astray and try something new I regret it because nothing works as well as the Hydra-C Complex E. This stuff totally flies under the radar and it shouldn’t! TRY IT! It’s totally affordable, too.
Awesome comment JG — this is why my sister keeps hollerin’ at me to get a forum up on the blog. Thanks so much!
i went camping last week. i didn’t drink a drop of water all week, spent hours in the sun with no sunscreen, and slept for about 40 seconds. today my face looks like a brown leather sofa from 1976. i came to this blog looking for a skincare solution to save my wizened little face for under $25, and i believe i just found one. thanks. i’ll post back if i ever look my age again.
wow.
first of all, this stuff is supposed to retail for ~$22 a bottle for the lotion or gel-cream, but right now at pharmaplus, it’s $24 for a full gift set of either a full-sized lotion or cream, with trial sizes of facewash, exfoliating gel, and eyemakuep remover. score.
i washed & exfoliated with the trial sizes, then again with some proactiv face wash (the exfoliating stuff marcelle sells pales in comparison to proactiv, which goes through dead skin cells like lindsay lohan goes through vodka). and then i spackled on some of the gel-cream. it does have a nice texture, by the way, and i should know because i put on three thick coats, then drank a litre of water.
and suddenly my skin looked better. i had a few zits brewing and i was worried about them, but i decided that since zits are temporary and saddle-skin leather-face lasts forever, i would prioritize surface lines over blemishes.
a few hours later, before i went to bed, i rinsed off the thick layer of cream (which had absorbed in pretty well) and applied another super thick layer, basically smoothing it in all over and then, focussing on all the liney areas, patting it on without even trying to rub it in.
went to sleep (for 12 hours!) and woke up looking like the nineteen year old i am inside! yesterday i was seeing a fine net of teeny lines whenever i moved my face, and my skin looked thick and hard. today it’s dewy and plump looking. i might even go so far as to say it looks a bit better than it did before the camping trip. a very noticeable improvement! hurray! thanks, J!
oh and ps– the zits went back to hell where they belong, and did not erupt. i am very pleased. to be completely fair, i probably can’t attribute it all to the cream since i did also rehydrate excessively and sleep like a log for twice as long as usual, but still, i think the cream played a part. and i’m sure gonna continue using it!
Your skin was clearly stressed; you managed to calm it right down. Nicely done!
And good golly, woman, what a comment! Thanks! Your product administering was interesting, I must say. Very emergency intervention!