theNotice: a beauty blog

No Sephora products in the widget today, I’m afraid – something about the site redesign is interfering with the links, so clicks just go to the homepage. (/sigh.) I love the aesthetic of the new Sephora site, but I’m just not sure how I feel about the functionality, you know? I miss seeing all of the shades listed in a column, with shade descriptions and names next to each swatch, and I’m not thrilled with the collapsed categories on brand pages.

But, well. Maybe all I need is a bit of time to get used to it, yeah?

Assorted

NARS + Thakoon nail polishes (such lovely brights!)

Belle Nouveau, Enchanted Summer, and TRYSTILA »

Despite what Edmonton might think (seriously, I was not expecting last week’s surprise snowfall), Spring is well underway – and the beauty industry’s picking up momentum accordingly on its way to Summer.

I’m not really seeing anything that really grabs! me–though I’m curious to read some reviews on the new silicone-free Tarte primer; I wonder if it’s just a re-packaging of their original Clean Slate primer?–but a surprising number of products have gone online in the past week alone. Have fun online-window-shopping the new launches, and I hope you’re all having a lovely Easter weekend so far!

MAC Reel Sexy

& finally, a few beauty steals to start your week.

Eee! The Sephora Favourites Collector’s Edition fragrance sets are out again. I always get so excited about minis; it’s ridiculous >.<

The collection includes ten tiny bottles of perfume, plus a voucher for a full-sized bottle. It’s (ugh) US-only, but still very much squee-worthy. (Canucks, check your local Shopper’s or Murale for similar samplers!)

This year’s “for her” set features:

• 0.05 oz Calvin Klein euphoria Eau de Parfum
• 0.21 oz CLEAN Warm Cotton Eau de Parfum
• 0.17 oz Dior Addict to Life Eau de Toilette
• 0.24 oz DKNY Golden Delicious Eau de Parfum
• 0.13 oz Givenchy Ange Ou Demon Le Secret Eau de Parfum
• 0.25 oz Jennifer Aniston Eau de Parfum
• 0.17 oz Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Eau de Parfum
• 0.17 oz Paco Rabanne Lady Million Eau de Parfum
• 0.33 oz Philosophy Amazing Grace Eau de Toilette
• 0.17 oz Thierry Mugler Angel Eau de Parfum

P.S. US girls – have you read up on the PREPKIT promo? I’m ridiculously jealous – it’s your choice of one of four sample sets with any order over $25: Smoky Eye, Flawless Foundation, Beautiful Skin, or Fragrance Sampler. (We never get the good deals up here in Canada! :P)

I know, I know, we just did one of these ten days ago, but there have just been SO many launches recently! Anyhow, give this post a skip if you’re not interested (I think we’ll put up a Caudalie review in a few, maybe?) but for those of you who are…

Nieman’s Dior Nail Bar

Enough said.

(Actually, that’s not true, I do have one more thing to say: I have no idea how that lipstick got in there. But I cannot make it go away.)

MAC

God, I just – too many collections to deal with. Styledriven and Posh Paradise are the two coming out right about now, right? I don’t know; all I really care about is the fact that the Pro Longwear Eyeshadows and Lipsticks look amazing. Collection, smollecckshum!

Right now, I’m dying to try on Soft Sell and Till Tomorrow, but I’m never quite sure when it comes to Christine’s swatches: that woman’s lips could make me want anything, I swear!

Mmmm, and the Matchmaster foundation, which sounds absolutely fab (shade range in particular.) It’s a shame the formula contains ‘cones!

Just… stuff. You know, the stuff-like stuff.

This week’s steals

The widget above was getting rather full, so I thought maybe we’d separate these out – just a few great deals. Hello, $8 NARS eyeshadows!

P.S. I’m starting to compile “New…” posts for holiday collections, too. Can I just say that there are some really exciting things coming out this winter?! I mean, this. This. This! /flail

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Disclaimer: this post contains a bunch of affiliate links, which means that by clicking on the pretty pictures, you’re helping to support this blog. Said funds help pay for completely frivolous expenses, like running our own domain and paying Canada Post exorbitant amounts of money whenever Rae gets her act together and remembers to run a giveaway.

(One of those is coming up, by the way. A big one of those. Don’t let me forget!)

The product: Urban Decay Matte Eyeshadow in Purple Haze

I’ll admit, I’ve put off reviewing this one for a long time – so long, in fact, that it’s now being discontinued! In its matte form (there’s a shimmer, too), Purple Haze is fairly standard: smooth, pigmented, and easy to blend. I find myself wishing it were more pigmented and a little less powdery at times (other mattes in my collection, like Make Up For Ever’s 92, are more firm and pack even more of a punch), but for it’s sale price of $3, it’s a pretty incredible buy.

How it compares: Unlike the blue undertones of 92, or the grey undertones of Cult (another discontinued Urban Decay matte), Purple Haze is a bright, vibrant violet with red undertones. Of the eyeshadows in my collection, it’s most similar to Annabelle Ultraviolet, a limited edition colour from Fall/Winter 2010 – Canucks, check your collections to make sure you didn’t pick that one up, too!

L-R: Urban Decay Purple Haze, MUFE 92, Urban Decay Cult, Annabelle Ultraviolet

Swatched dry: Purple Haze, 92, Cult, Ultraviolet, Purple Haze

Swatched dry: Purple Haze, 92, Cult, Ultraviolet, Purple Haze

The verdict?

It’s a good matte, and a gorgeous red-violet, so I had actually intended to give this one a tentative thumbs-up at its original price. Which means, basically, that my recommendation now is pretty obvious.

Pick it up while it lasts!

More photos, swatches, and ingredients »