theNotice: a beauty blog

Because Selina Kyle is a BAMF.

In a few more words, though: here’s a quick look (tutorial + more photos here) to make up for the fact that I’ve been AWOL recently. Soft red lips, matte neutral eyes, and (what else?) smudgy winged black eyeliner.

While editing these photos, I realized that I look rather… displeased with the entire world in them, which — not intentional, I promise. (Okay, maybe a little bit intentional. It has been so hot in Edmonton this season; I am so, so ready for the fall.)

Honestly, though? This look isn’t exactly prototypical DC superhero — you could get away with wearing it in pretty much any scenario (no ass-kicking or taking of names required). Take the edge off a red lip by applying your lipstick quite sparingly, and then blotting it down with a fingertip for a really soft, lived-in edge.

(Alternately, wear the lipstick full-force for a more dramatic, evening look, or grab a classic-red gloss–with shimmer!–for something a bit more fun.)

Alright. I’m sure you’ve had enough of my boring face for the time being, so I’ll add in one last note and then leave you be!

Black liner through my sparse lashes is my #1 makeup tip for looking just… better, without making it obvious at all that I’ve actually got anything on, and this liner does a fantastic job of it. More awake, larger eyes, more expressive, you name it — liner in my actual lashline (not above it, and not below it) is a makeup trick that I rely really heavily on, and this super-creamy, super-black Annabelle Smoothie pencil has been my pick of the month to do it with.

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The product: Senna Cosmetics Mod Muse Eye Colour eyeshadows in Adonis, Arabesque, and Fantasy.

Have you ever stumbled your way into a collection where everything–literally, everything–seems like the best thing since sliced bread? Because, man, Senna eyeshadows are the best thing since sliced bread.

And that’s coming from a bona fide carb junkie.

The shades

Arabesque is a “sunlit peach” in their Glow formula, and it’s a good place to start. While it’s not a must-have, I really like it — it’s chunky shimmer interspersed through a sheer, glowing peach base, and the unique finish and texture puts it in a fairly small class of eyeshadows. (I used it in this violet-lidded makeup tutorial, just in the inner corner. The almost-flaky texture pairs really interesting with finely-milled shimmers and mattes, particularly in person.)

Then we have Fantasy, which, I have to say: definitely my favourite. It’s a “reflective blue purple,” also in the Glow formula, and it happens to be one that I’ve been in love with for years — here’s a swatch and makeup look featuring it from way in ’09.

Fantasy is quite possibly my favourite subtle-pop-of-colour shade ever (even for a violet, and trust me, I have a lot of violet eyeshadow). I’d definitely call it a must-have for fair skintones and lavender (web) lovers, which if you ask me, is really saying something!

(Yes, okay, it is possible that I have more violet eyeshadows than I socks. Don’t judge.)

For a lot of people, though, I think Adonis is going to be the attention-grabber of this collection. It’s a matte “smokey blue teal,“ and like all of the brand’s matte eyeshadows, it’s intensely pigmented and blendable. Senna’s mattes sit on the dry end of the spectrum (think NARS or Make Up For Ever mattes, rather than MAC Matte2), and I’m generally quite fond of them.

(For a brighter, truer teal in the same matte formula, try Peacock.)

The formula

Senna eyeshadows have always been a favourite of mine, whether they’re shimmers, glows, or mattes, and these three are no exception. Like the rest of the line, they’re pigmented when they need to be (ahem, Adonis), but they know when to lie low — I mean, can you imagine a full-finish Arabesque, still with the same chunky-glow finish?

(What a trainwreck that would be!)

The verdict?

The Senna brand has always been really artistry-focused, and I think that’s something seen best in their eyeshadows. No, most people aren’t going to have a use for a sultry dark teal, or a sheer, chunky peach, but those who are looking for interesting shades and finishes will be really pleased with these.

Senna eyeshadows are hard to come by in-person outside of an IMATS or the state of California, but they retail for $16.50 each (online here) and come in conveniently-sized 26mm pans. 

Additional photos &amp ingredients »

LUSH Emotional Brilliance reviews: Wise (Cream Eyeshadow), Perspective (Liquid Lipstick), and Fantasy (Liquid Eyeliner).

That’s right; another not-quite-real post. Because I’m (still) swimming in coursework, and the time that I haven’t spent studying, I’ve spent trying to fight off an unexpected midsummer flu. (And, seriously? Who gets the flu in the summer?!)

Anyhow. Once I mange to dig myself out of this summer-term black hole, this is what you can expect to see on theNotice! 

(To be totally honest, though, you’ll probably see some of these things before term ends because I have no self-control occasionally take breaks from neuropsychology to eat, sleep, shower, and blog.)

Lise Watier Summer Sunset flash reviews: oh my god, I can’t believe I still haven’t finished covering this collection. I am the worst when it comes to “out of sight, out of mind,” I swear!!

Senna Mod Muse eyeshadows: same for these. They’re gorgeous, but I have yet to post the swatch photos sitting somewhere on my MacBook!

Japonesque Safari Chic review. No elaboration needed — how cute is that brush?

Hard Candy Glamoflauge: I love this one, so expect shade comparisons (Light vs Medium) in the near future!

Tatcha skincare overview and regimen review… once I get my act together and actually try it.

And, finally, Physician’s Mineral Wear Talc-Free Pressed Powder, because SPF is definitely “in” for the summer.

I’ve been doing about a look a week the last little while, but most of them have been for the purpose of, well, the look. Which is to say, the concept of the makeup came first, and was then followed by the selection of products — which is how things usually go, if I’m not mistaken.

This week, though, I set out with only two things in mind: one, create something that would more or less realize the idea of a staple Spring makeup look, and two, feature a number of the products I’ve reviewed recently, so that you lot can see what they look like in an actual look, instead of just on my arms.

You can read the She Said Beauty post here, but just keep on scrolling if it’s the product babbling (and not the tutorial) you’re here for.

(Note: all the product links in this post go to reviews on theNotice!)

The cheeks

Ah, Senna. Quite a few comments were left asking to see these on my cheeks, and I’ve been using them in various FOTD photo sets since they came across my desk. This look happens to include the Senna Sheer Face Color Powder Blush in Clarity and Face and Eye Color in Enlighten, as blush and highlight, respectively.

I’ve been using the two Senna blushers (not including, of course, the hilighter) for a good few weeks now, and I have to say — not loving them any less, even after all this time. I thought some of their appeal might wear off, as it does, but Senna products tend to stick around for me. What can I say? The colours are just that good!

(Or my frontal lobe is just that fixated; really, it’s a toss-up between the two.)

The eyes

To start, I used Vasanti Mount Rushmore through the whole lid – just the shimmery taupe, though, mind. For a touch more definition, I added a few of the Sephora Moonshadow In the Light shadows; lighter in the inner corner and a hint darker on the outer third.

Then, to finish things up, I added two pencils to the look. First, the black eyeliner from Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips in Nude Eyes along the upper lashline — I’ve yet to review this eyeliner trio, but I keep reaching for the black. It’s got a bit of shimmer in it, which makes it a bit more interesting than a solid black).

And, finally, a whisper of Marcelle Accent Brow Pencil in Granite through the brows. I’m not crazy about Granite, but it’ll do, you know? I tend to fill my brows sort of (okay, extremely) lightly, so it doesn’t really matter what I use as long as it’s sheer and grey(ish).

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but: grey eyebrow products really do work wonders for cool skintones + black hair! It’s a makeup secret ;)

The lips

Last but not least, two products from a little farther back: L’Occitane Lipstick in Pivoine Délicate and L’Occitane Lipgloss in Rose Frémissant. I photographed this look with both lips; though it’s a small change, I couldn’t decide if I preferred the bare look of the lipstick or the light, playful edge that the gloss gives.

Anyhow; the photo above is the only one with the gloss layered on top. Feel free to decide which version you prefer on your own, because I haven’t any help to give!

The product: Senna Mod Muse Powder Blushers

  ↳ Sheer Face Color in Très Jolie and Clarity; Eye & Face Color in Enlighten

Senna’s powder blushers were one of the first I tried, surprisingly enough, but I hadn’t really fallen in love with any of the shades until very recently. (I’m quite fond of Faded Rose, but I’m too much of a colour fanatic to get really excited over it.) That said, though, so I’ve also never disliked a Senna blush, either.

Of course, that all changed when Mod Muse came out. Have you ever felt like a colour was made for you; that rare little “aha!” moment where you somehow, crazily enough, actually manage to find exactly what you’re looking for? I’m probably just being ridiculous, but I kind of adore Clarity and Très Jolie.

Senna Enlighten, Très Jolie, and Clarity Sheer Face Color swatches (heavily, then lightly)

The formula: Senna’s blushes are lovely to work with; medium-sheer but quite buildable, and scent-free, to boot. They’re softer than a MAC or NARS blush, feeling more velvety than powdery, and I like it — they’re not so soft that they kick up powder everywhere, but the easily blendable formula makes it a snap to get a perfectly polished (and not overdone) cheek.

From the six or seven (I know, I have a problem) Senna blushes that I own, I’d actually say I like the formula more than MAC’s, and I find it’s more consistent – they’re all medium-pigmented, rather than some being intensely pigmented and others being annoyingly sheer. What can I say; I like knowing what I can expect!

The shades

The website describes Enlighten (labelled as a Sheer Face Color Powder Blush here & in the press release, but listed as an Eye & Cheek Color online) as a “nude light pink glow.” I think they got the nude glow right, but I’m not really seeing the light pink – it’s more of a white-beige, maybe with really subtle pink undertones. It’s the kind of colour that would probably look phenomenal as a satiny shirt or an eggshell wall colour, to be honest.

(And that’d not a bad thing; I’m really, really fond of wall colours.)

Quite unlike the other two Mod Muse cheek products, though, Enlighten is really obvious on the skin – it’s a bold, flashy hilighter, and it’ll be great if you want a noticeable product. Really, really pretty, but not the kind of product I’d use every day.

Senna Enlighten Face & Eye Color, Très Jolie Sheer Face Color, and Clarity Sheer Face Color swatches

Très Jolie is described as a “clear glowing pink,” and I’d call that a more accurate description. It’s a really gorgeous, muted light pink with fine shimmer – glowing is absolutely spot-on.

I have a major soft spot for washed-out cheek colours (there’s something really ethereal and delicate about them; the way they impart colour without being pushy or overly bright), so I’m loving Très Jolie. I wouldn’t recommend it for dark skintones (it probably wouldn’t show up), but for very light to light-medium colouring, it would be a fantastic go-to shade.

(And I hate to recommend a limited-edition product as a staple, but: this would be a fantastic first blush! It’s natural, wearable, and both blendable and buildable – meaning it’ll work with you as you get the hang of blush application, but you won’t outgrow it as your technique improves.)

Très Jolie vs. Lancome Rose Fresque (bottom left), MAC Well Dressed (top left), and NARS Mata Hari (top right)

And, last but not least, Clarity. It’s described as a “clear coral matte,” and oh my god, yes. It’s a bright, wearable, matte coral with exactly the right amount of white and pink in it — the kind of shade I’ve been thinking of since last Summer (or possibly even the one before it.)

In the Senna Sheer Face Color formula, Clarity is fabulous – easy to sheer out for the shy-of-cheek but easy to build up for an evening look, too. Honestly, I can’t say enough about it. If you’ve been wanting a blush in the vein of Illamasqua Hussy or MAC Fleur Power, make sure to have a look at this one, too!

The verdict?

Um, yes. Please. 

Senna’s Sheer Face Colors are always a (more or less) sure bet, but the two shades featured in the Mod Muse collection are particularly lovely. They’re not really a “save” ($18.50 for 0.12oz, which is on par with mid-range blushers), but the formula is solid, and the shades – gorgeous. 

I’m less thrilled with Enlighten, the Eye & Face Color masquerading as a powder blush, but it definitely does what it’s supposed to. If you’re looking for a subtle luminizer, keep looking, but if you want a hilighter that packs a punch, it’s worth a look.

Ingredients and more (yes, even more) photos »