theNotice: a beauty blog

Just a quick preview of a few products that will be up on theNotice (hopefully) soon! I haven’t photographed & tested the three cleansing oils that I have yet, but I’m loving the two UV mousses – they’re not ‘cone-free, but the results are fantastic. Good enough to tempt me into wearing them around despite my silicone intolerance, eep!

Availability: online at shuuemura.ca ($10 off any purchase over $50 with ARTOFSHU), shuuemura-usa.com (free shipping on all orders over $50), and in-stores at Holt Renfrew & select Sephora boutiques.

Here’s what’s in the collection…

ob for shu uemura

the cleansing oils

• fresh pore clarifying gentle cleansing oil (pink packaging), $79 CAD
• high performance balancing cleansing oil advanced formula (yellow), $79 CAD
• cleansing beauty oil premium A/O advanced formula (green), $89 CAD
• whitefficient clear brightening gentle cleansing oil (blue), $89 CAD

the UV under base mousses

• POREraser – pink (pink), $46 CAD
• POREraser – beige (yellow), $46 CAD
• BB mousse – BB beige (green), $46 CAD
• brightening mousse whitefficient – pink purple (blue), $46 CAD

coming up

rouge unlimited lipstick

• ob princess coral, $36 CAD
• ob dream orange, $36 CAD
• ob sakura pink, $36 CAD

pressed eyeshadow refill – all matte (M), $19 CAD/ea

• light blue 630
• light green 434
• light purple 716
• salmon beige 132

• yellow beige 814
• medium brown 852
• medium brown 864
• dark brown 896

cases & lashes

• ob compact case (fits one Face Architect powder refill), $19 CAD
• ob duo custom case (fits two eyeshadows), $11 CAD
• sakura flower mini false eyelashes, $32 CAD
• ocean beads mini false eyelashes, $32 CAD

As you might have read on Friday, the 22nd was this year’s World Water Day – a day created by the United Nations to bring attention to the increasing demand for freshwater, one of the world’s (very) limited resources.

The Giorgio Armani Acqua for Life Campaign approaches World Water Day from a different angle, though, and one that I think is immensely worthwhile. In conjunction with Green Cross International, the campaign aims to set up long-term equipment in communities across Ghana and Bolivia to allow access to the natural water reservoirs deep underground, bringing water to the areas where it’s needed on a more permanent basis.

A bit of background

800 million people worldwide live without access to clean drinking water, and every day, 4000 children die because of it. These figures are incredibly stark, and while the Acqua for Life campaign is barely a drop in the barrel in contrast with these figures, well — even a small impact can be a worthwhile one.

In 2012, the equipment built through Acqua for Life campaign collected 52 million litres of drinking water, and will last 15 years.

How you can be part of the Acqua for Life Campaign

For 2013′s Acqua for Life campaign (which launched on Friday), Armani has released their Acqua di Gio and Acqua di Gioia fragrances in limited-edition boxes — keep an eye out for that Acqua For Life Blue. The pricing and fragrance stay the same, but Armani will donate 100L of safe drinking water to children in need and their communities for each bottle sold.

In addition to that, though, for every “like” the Giorgio Armani Fragrances Canada Facebook page gets before April 1st, they’ll donate an additional 50 litres of safe drinking water. It’s an easy way to help out the cause, even if you don’t care for either of the Acqua fragrances — and you don’t even have to leave the house to do it.

Keep reading! »

With the March Sephora + Pantone Emerald launch (not to mention, this past St. Patrick’s Day) on my mind, I’ve found myself thinking rather a lot about green recently.

Like, a lot. When you take into consideration the fact that I don’t even like green, it’s kind of a problem. 

Anyhow: I haven’t tried out the Giovanni 2chic Ultra-Moist Collection yet, but it’s very green! Made for dry, damaged hair and normal to dry skin (there are a few body products in the range, too), I thought I’d share this avocado-and-olive-based collection with you today.

No particular reason why; I was just really pleased with this particular shade of green today. Better than feeling blue!

The Ultra-Moist Dual Action Protective Leave-In Spray

To: give a flexible, polished finish; protect hair from heat-styling; and add moisturizing, shiny, supple control. 4 fl oz.

The ingredients

The Ultra-Moist Deep Deep Moisture Hair Mask

To: revitalize over-processed hair, with adorable green beads of avocado oil for extra moisture. (I think it’s hilarious and charming that this isn’t just deep… it’s deep deep. 5 fl oz.

Keep reading! »

I’ve been extremely remiss about posting things on time always recently always (let’s be honest), so this preview is rather late! I’ve been playing around with the Clarins Spring 2013 Rouge Eclat collection for a good month or so, but I do actually have reviews & a look coming up for you soon — I promise.

(Actually soon this time, not the ,”in the distant future but I promise to tweet and Instagram about it,” kind of soon!)

Availability: on counters now & online at Nordstrom.

The inspiration

“Like the iris…

The  Clarins woman is natural, elegant, modern. Her make-up embodies the freshness and softness of spring: a delicate velvet-smooth complexion and eyes enhanced with plum and shimmery grey tones.

The focus is on the lips with Rouge Eclat, the first age-defying lipstick by Clarins. Finally, a lipstick that offers more than just colour! Inspired by the multicoloured tones and satin feel of the iris, it veils the lips in youthful, radiant shades…”

The collection

Poudre Multi-Eclat Mineral Loose Powder – new product

With its silky, featherlight feel, Poudre Multi-Eclat veils the skin in softness, enhancing the beauty of the face and décolleté. The translucent texture of this mineral powder even, smoothes and matifies the complexion in one step.

Face & Blush Powder in Palette Eclat - limited edition

Instant Light Brush-On Perfector – permanent

Wonder Perfect Mascara - permanent

Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in Iris Blossom - limited edition

Joli Rouge Brilliant Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick in 17 Watermelon and 18 Sweet Plum - new shades

Gloss Prodige in 09 Water Lily and 10 Vibrant Rose - new shade & limited edition, respectively

Rouge Eclat Lipstick - new product

Satin Finish Age-Defying Lipstick: The highly nourishing cream texture glides onto the lips. It’s so smooth and fine, you won’t notice you’re wearing lipstick… but you will notice the subtle fragrance of red fruits with notes of blackcurrant and liquorice, the signature scent of all Clarins lipsticks!

01 Nude Rose, 02 Sweet Rose, 03 Petal Pink, 04 Tropical Pink, 05 Pink Berry

Keep reading for the rest of the Rouge Eclat shades & more photos! »

I feel like I’ve managed to get away with surprisingly few “teaser” posts recently, but that is possibly just because I’ve been cheating & not posting at all. Either way, here’s a brief update on why there isn’t a proper post for today!

(But not an actual, proper post. Apologies.)

Clarins Rouge Eclat (Spring 2013)

Clarins Rouge Eclat Face Palette (Palette Eclat) & Rouge Eclat Lipstick (in Red Wine)

I wanted to have a teaser up for this today, but it just didn’t happen — I was up until three editing photos before I gave up and went to bed. I always overshoot collections (one of the main reasons why it takes me so long to get new material up on the blog), and the hundreds of images were just too overwhelming.

A snap review, though: Spring this year is going to be amazing. I am absolutely loving the bits of Clarins Rouge Eclat that I have on hand; from the gorgeous detailing, to the textures and pigment… the collection is quite impressive so far, even by Clarins’ own high standards.

[Finally] On Instagram: theNotice

No promises, but we’ll see how it goes. Follow here for early teasers, trivial updates, and the occasional makeup look/full-face swatch!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Bold & Beautiful Kit

Another “coming up”! I just got this one yesterday (haven’t even opened it up to swatch yet), but I am so smitten with the aesthetic — the entire concept is based around classic novels & book characters; how awesome is that?

Out next month (February 2013) as part of the brand’s Spring offerings.

–

Have a wonderful Thursday, my dears!