theNotice: a beauty blog

So, how excited are you for the products being added to Marcelle’s Hydra-C line? Because I think it’s pretty darn exciting!

My skincare regimen is pretty much solid right now (might do a “what I’m using” post sometime soon, because I’m honestly loving everything sink-side right now) and I’m not sure which, if any, of these will be silicone-free, but all I can say is damn, Marcelle. That’s one hell of an intriguing press release you got goin’ there.

This August (which is approaching at an alarming rate), Marcelle will be adding four products to their Hydra-C line. All four (erm, and a half) will be paraben and alcohol free, and like the rest of the line, they’re aimed at the 18-28 year old market. They’re priced appropriately for it, too, which is awesome – they range from $12 to $23 each.

And did I mention, the Hydra-C line is orange? I don’t know why, but I’ve been really into orange recently in relation to skincare. (Erm, the colour, not necessarily the scent.) It just feels so fresh, y’know? *shrugs*

(The products…)

I’m going to start this review with a fact: I hate writing negative reviews.

Even more than that, though, I hate writing negative reviews for companies that I like. It feels a bit like I’m stabbing a friend with a dull, rusty knife in the back, and I alway feel guilty afterwards. At the end of the day, though, that doesn’t matter, so: don’t say I never did anything for you :P

(Is it just me, or is this week like, negative review week at theNotice? This one, plus the Lancome one from yesterday, and the Benefit one from Monday, and I think I’m doing a semi-negative L’Occitane one on Friday. Gah! Sorry for such a Debbie Downer week.)

The product: Diane Lai Fresh Daily Body Wash

Okay, well, let’s start off with the things that I like about Diane Lai, shall we?

I like the simplicity of the line (just three products so far), I like that they’re all free of parabens, phthalates, and silicones, I like that they’re made in Canada. I like that they’re marketed as being family-friendly, and that they use only BPA-free plastics, and that the products all target dry skin. I quite like the lightweight, lasting hydration of Rejuvenate, and I like that none of the products contain artificial colorants or fragrances.

But when it comes to Fresh, I really, really, really do not like the scent. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I hate it. It clings to my skin after I come out of the shower, hangs around my bathroom for the entire day, and just generally gets on my nerves. It’s very grassroots-herbal, which is very much not my cup of tea.

While Soothe and Rejuvenate both feature a light, lavender fragrance, Fresh changes things up by bringing additional extracts into the mix: pine, ginseng, and coneflower (echinacea), to name a few. And, well, it just isn’t doing it for me!

The verdict?

With my weird fragrance ticks, Fresh gets a huge “never again!” in my books. But – well, I almost want to say that my review shouldn’t disuade you from giving the product a try (that is, if you can smell it in-store before buying), even though it’s thoroughly negative.

The reason why is simple: my weird fragrance ticks are just that, mine. Lisamarie (Beauty Crazed) said in her review that “the best part [about Fresh] is the smell,” describing it as that of “an expensive spa,” and Gaby (Gaby’s Beauty Blog) thought that Fresh would be great for sensitive skin because she “didn’t really notice a scent.”

So, basically – I didn’t like Fresh. I really, really didn’t. But… you just might ;)

(Ingredients…)

The product: Marcelle Essentials Cleansing Milk

The cleansing: When you feel like you’re basically just smearing lotion on your face, you don’t expect said lotion to take off all your makeup… but this does. (I mean, it doesn’t take everything in the entire world off, but you honestly can’t expect a basic cleanser to remove your waterproof eyeliner – after all, that’s what makeup remover is for, right?)

The ingredients:

The moisture: I wasn’t a fan of cleansing milks before this one, but after just a week or two of using this exclusively, I can honestly say that my skin is noticeably less dry and patchy than it used to be. Add on the fact that this is scent- and silicone-free, has absolutely brilliant packaging (I’m a sucker for a lid that turns to lock), and is just under $15, and you have a winner.

The verdict?

I’m a bit like a thirteen year old girl for this one, and it’s the cute boy in the back of the classroom. Yes, it’s boring, and no, I don’t get to have fun with the foam and the bubbles and the squeaky-clean feeling, but my skin’s just been so damn happy with it.

Anyhow, the only explanation* is that this is an absolutely fantastic cleanser, and it’s well worth loving if you have normal/dry skin or a combination thereof!

*Not true; the alternate explanation is that Marcelle’s laced this one with heroin and I’m literally addicted to it. Somehow, though, I don’t think the CFDA would have approved that ingredient list.

This March (which, btw, is coming up way too fast), Clarins will be announcing its partnership with Fast and Female, a Calgary-based organization that works to empower young girls through sport. For each My First Clarins product sold between March and September, Clarins will donate $1 to the organization. I know, I know, a dollar doesn’t sound like much – but the new skincare line is equally well-priced, and every little bit ads up!

The line, aimed at girls 16-25 (that’s me, that’s me!) will include the following:

• Fresh-Energy Cleansing Gel ($15/75ml)
• Daily Energizer Wake-Up Booster ($15/125ml),
• Daily Energizer Cream ($25/30ml) for normal to dry skin
• Daily Energizer Cream-Gel ($25/30ml) for normal to oily skin.

I have to say, I love the price point for these, and the products sound great, too! I don’t believe it is on counters yet in the US, but the products are already on the German Clarins site, and I noticed it on a display in Shopper’s last weekend (as I’m sure my Canadian gals know, Shopper’s often gets the exclusive launch for collections, so they’re often available there before the “real” launch.) Keep an eye out for the line – even if you’re not 16-25, it sounds like a good one ;)

What it is: NIP+FAB Scrub Fix Facial Polish

The line: Created by Maria Hatzistefanis, the brains behind Rodial, NIP+FAB is landing on Canadian shores after gaining popularity in the UK. It launches in March (which, frighteningly enough, is just over a week away), and it’s kinda like Rodial’s little sister - each of the eleven piece line is a “targeted treatment,” but instead of snake venom and silver tubes, you get cute, quirky packaging and a price tag you can actually stomach.

The product: To be totally honest, Scrub Fix was a huge letdown for me. The scrubbly bits (that’s the technical term) are large, hard, and sharp, and it feels more like they’re chewing up my epidermis than gently sloughing off dead skin cells.

Normally, when a scrub is this abrasive, I just chuck it in the shower and use it on my body, and I’m not out an entire product. Not so, with this one – the scent drives me nuts, so it’s probably off to the bin later this week. Upon an initial whiff, the smell’s not that bad: it’s a bit like linden blossoms, which I quite like, but the lingering odour is more similar to “floor cleaner” than “clean floral”.

The ingredients:

The verdict? While I love the packaging and think the brand’s outlook is pretty cool, I just can’t get on board with this scrub. There’s usually one or two redeeming qualities to any product (which is why you so rarely see “bad” reviews on theNotice), but for this one, it’s just a huge no.

In fact, I feel so strongly about this product that I’ve gone and re-named it…

So, to our readers in the UK – have you tried NIP+FAB yet? Any winners in the line? I do have a Multi-Fix Oil that’s I’m hopeful for, so expect an update soon if that one wows me!