Happy Canada Day to all fellow Canadians! Our big country is 147 years old!

Canada might not be the first destination when we think of beauty, but we have some great products coming from here! I raided my cupboards to find the best for you!

Marcelle

Marcelle has been part of the Canadian beauty panorama since the early 30's. It provides high quality skincare for women aged 25+, and also makeup. I really like their Ultra Gentle Cleansing Gel, as the name suggests, it is gentle and most of Marcelle products are aimed to people with sensitive skin. I talked about the gel here. I also rate their XTension Plus Mascara*. At first I was not convinced because I prefer volumising mascara than lengthening, but I also combine two anyways. So yes, this one is lengthening. My mum also likes it, with her chemo her lashes are not long as they used to and other mascaras are too heavy for her lashes. This one is light, and it has a comb brush, which helps with the lengthening effect.

Annabelle

This is Marcelle little sister. Their makeup range is more packed with bolder colours and is always pleasing the younger crowds. That's why they have been considered as a "house of colour" since the sixties. I remember when I was young, I was always drawn to Annabelle products in my mum's stash and on the drugstore's stands for this very reason. Their Biggy Bronzer* is one of their bestsellers and is often featured in magazines. I also like the CC instant Perfecting Base*. You can read my review here. I also like to talk about their TwistUp lipsticks.

MAC

While it is not based in Canada anymore and is now part of the Estée Lauder umbrella, we can still can call MAC our own, as it was created in Toronto. Also, most of the products are made in Canada. One of the most popular lippy is the Angel one, as it was part of Kim K's signature lips. Rebel is also a popular option, more on the edgier side.

Lise Watier

Lise Watier is also another well-loved brand here. I remember when I was a child, my mum used to have makeup and perfumes from the brand. They also have skincare. Something Sweet and Désirable are part of the younger perfume they have. But they also have more mature scents, and one for men as well. A few times a year, they release collection that are really breathtaking. This Imagine Blush was part of the Spring one, but is still available online. As you can see, the LW packagings are the cutest!

Indeed Laboratories

This is a brand that is soooooooooo popular in the UK! If you follow any British beauty bloggers, you probably saw their products popped on those blogs and thought it hailed from Europe. But it is Canadian! My favourite products from Indeed are Pepta-Bright and Hydraluron. They are also considered holy grails products according to bloggers such as Caroline Hirons. They came to beauty enthusiasts attention when they launched Nanoblur, a skin perfector that has been copied by famous drugstore brands.

Jouviance

Jouviance is mainly a skincare company but to be honest, I have yet to try their potions. They launched their makeup line this Spring and I'm in love with their lip products. They are creamy and moisturizing, and the colours are the sweetest. My latest additions from Jouviance are the Rouge Magistral in Party in Dubai and the Gloss XOXO in Premier Baiser. You can read my reviews here and here.

What are your favourite Canadian brands and products?

*Contains a press sample

The only upside I can think ofthe times I have breakouts is that it always revive my interest in skincare. I used to not care abuot skincare but in the last 2 years I took a certain fancy to it.

A few of the products shown here were purchased during my last trip in Quebec City at the beginning of the month but they quickly became staples in my routine.

First is the Cattier Ready for Use Green Clay Mask. I usually use white clay my dad brings me from a local beach but the dragging winter made for a clay-deprived Bubu. I heard a few British bloggers talk about it and when I saw it in a local organic market, I grabbed it. (Since then, I also saw it in a few Wal-Marts and Jean-Marc Brunet.) At 10$, it is not expensive and I can see the tube lasting a while, even with weekly uses. It leaves the skin invigorated and fresh.

I grabbed The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil is a product I picked up because Kate of  Gh0sparties raves about it. And I have to say it deserves the hype. I now want to remove my makeup because of this. All you have to do is to massage one pump of the oil on dry skin and it takes the heavy stuff away. You then rinse the face and wash it like you would usually.

REN Skincare was a brand I wanted to try when I saw it at Sephora. It is natural and effective. We like it! I use the REN Skincare Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser in the evening, right after removing my makeup with the Cleansing Oil. It makes me feel like I'm having a spa treatment.

If I want to continue with the pampering and when I have put a mask, I will spritz a little of the Caudalie Beauty Elixir. I don't use it on an everyday basis as it contains alcohol, which can be drying, but I like to use it right before a moisture sandwich!

For the moisture sandwich, I will use the Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light right before my moisturiser. I haven't tried the regular version but the "light" claim appealed to the oily skinned girl in me. It doesn't break me out, but I don't use it everyday either. I will use this either when my skin need a moisture boost or when I'm having the pampering sesh. The evening moisturiser I'm then using is the Alibi Maxam Firming Ginger Cream, which is not really an evening cream, but a regular one. I use it in the evening because it is really rich and creamy, but somehow it works with my oily skin.

Pepta-Bright is one of the wonders from Indeed Labs, which are Canadian, but somehow people think are British. Because of all those stupid spots my skin has sprouted lately, I am now left with scars. Since I'm out of the 1-4-All Peel, I bought this at Shoppers. It is still early to say how effective it is, but I like the brand in general so I have high hopes!

The last product is not really a favourite but is a part of my skincare for the time being nonetheless. It is the Claire's Ear Care Solution, as I have my second lobes pierced while I was in the city. I haven't had any concerns with this piercing yet, even though the studs I chose were plated gold, which is not usually recommended. But I'm a tough cookie and never do major infection with my piercings so got the golden stars studs! :)

What's your favourite skincare product at the moment? Do you change your routine with the seasons?

Some of you might hit the town this weekend, and even though I'm not really naughty lately I decided to share my beauty go-to's for when I had a little too many and I have to go somewhere.

Maybe you don't recall anything from the night before. Don't worry! It happens to everyone. If that is the case, you might have forgotten to take your makeup off before bed. (You know what? Most bloggers would shoo you for that, but not me! It happens to the best of us!) In that case, I would use the Marcelle Ultra Gentle Cleansing Gel. As the name suggests, it is gentle, but it still takes the makeup off, so you don't have to rub your eyes. Great to kill two birds with one stone, so you can stay in bad a little longer!

Same thing for your hair. If you don't want to take too much time to wash and blow dry the mane, a good dry shampoo will do the trick! As you may know, my favourite is the Klorane Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo. Brownie points for its subtle scent, because you don't want an overpowering smell when you're nauseous.

You probably noticed than when you drink too much (alcohol), your skin is soaking in sebum. This happens because alcohol dehydrates the skin, which then ovecompensates with sebum to moisturise itself. By using a serum before your moisturiser, such as Hydraluron, you help your skin to get its moisture back without floating in grease. 

Likewise, to avoid looking like a disco ball, I would put some NeoStrata Oil Free Matifying Fluid. I don't use this on a regular basis, because I don't want my sebaceous glands to go overboard (if they feel the skin is dehydrated).

Last step would be minimal makeup. If I forgot to remove my makeup the night before, I try to let my skin breath. Also, because of the aforementioned extra shine I might have, I don't want to risk a slippery foundation or mascara. But because you still want to look like you made an effort, I suggest a bright lip colour. It will distract from your tired eyes. And a bold colour easily does the job of faking a put together look. Now your lips will probably be dehydrated (again, that's what alcohol does) and that's why the bright pinks of the Revlon Lip Butters would be a safe bet. Think Lollipop, Sweet Tart or Raspberry Pie instead of shades like Cupcake, that can wash you out.

Do you have any tips to share? Do so in the comment below! :)

If you want to see what has been added this past week and a half in Bubuland, just watch my video!

Wha is on your shopping wish list?

I first came upon Indeed Laboratories products when I was in the UK. They are huge there! Te first products I have tried from them, Nanoblur has been one of their bestsellers for a few years and has sprouted a few copycats.

But Indeed Labs is not a British brand. No, it is Canada's own! I have to say though that I do feel it is more popular in the UK, and as the saying goes, "No one is a prophet in his own land". I wanted to talk about the brand on my blog today, and I made a first impression of their best selling Hydraluron serum.

Hydraluron retails for 30$/£25.

Indeed Laboratories products are sold exclusively in the UK at Boots, and in Canada at Shoppers/Pharmaprix. Other international locations are posted on their website.

Have you tried Hydraluron or any Indeed Laboratories products? Will you be giving it a try?