theNotice: a beauty blog

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.

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I’m not the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day (I complained about this a little already in last Monday’s Lipstick Bandit look), but you have to give it to beauty brands — they do a great job either finding Valentine’s-appropriate products in their lineups, or coming out with something new, just for the occasion.

Here are a couple products that caught my eye, and should have you covered from head to toe (or, in this case, from perfume to pout.)

My Little Chloés

Arriving in stores this month are three absolutely charming miniature versions of Chloé, Love, Chloé and L’eau de Chloé. Perfect for travel (and, more importantly, for looking outrageously adorable on your dresser,) they’ll be displayed on small golden swing sets in store.

Cute, right?

The My Little Chloé fragrances start at $40 USD/$48 CAD (20ml) each, and can be found at select Bay, Sephora, and Murale stores in Canada.

A sheer, hydrated pink pout with Lanolips and LUSH 

As I’m sure you know by now, I’m a fan of both sheer lip colour and intense (intense) hydration. Lanolips is a brand that’s hard to get in Canada, but their Lip Ointment with Colour SPF15 in Rose (£7.99) fits the bill perfectly — with 60% medical grade lanolin and SPF 15, it basically checks off all the boxes.

Except, I guess, international availability?

On the other hand, LUSH The Kiss Lip Gloss ($8.95 CAD) is bound to be less hydrating… but definitely easier to find. Vegan and preservative-free, the new gloss formula feels lighter than their other balms, and is made to soften and moisturizer with a pink, sugary sweetness.

And something a little brighter from Burberry!

The last lip pick for Valentine’s are two of Burberry’s Lip Glow glosses ($27 USD/$35 CAD), in Fondant Pink and Pink Sweet Pea. Both part of the Burberry Beauty Spring 2013 collection (Pink Sweet Pea is limited edition), they’re two very, very different pinks.

Exclusive at Holt Renfrew (Vancouver and Toronto) in Canada, Fondant Pink is a soft, pale pink, while Pink Sweet Pea is quite the opposite: a bold, blue-undertoned fuchsia.

A bold move on Burberry’s part, but one that’s been almost incredibly well-received by the makeup community so far. But maybe that’s just what tomorrow needs, you know? A bold move. 

As I’m sure you all know by now, I’m a huge fan of the Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum (review here; seen also here and here). With key notes of violet and patchouli, it’s a dreamy, fresh-cut scent with a smooth, grounded base — particularly as a scent from a fashion house, this 2010 Olivier Polge creation always takes me by surprise.

Balenciaga L’Eau Rose EdT, the second flanker in this line, comes out everywhere March 2013 (though it’s already available at Nordstrom). Described as a “sparkling violet fragrance” with notes of blackberry and musk, I’m a little concerned (does that not sound like your typical celeb perfume?), but I’m curious to smell this one in person!

[I'm a little less sold on the bottle, though -- I feel almost as if the matte black top and airy rose base glass are a little too discordant, but think I'll have to see if it fits the olfactory aesthetic first.]

The product: L’Occitane Magical Leaves Body Milk

Last month, L’Occitane released two scents inspired by the enchanted forests of Provence to capture the magic of the season. Available in a number of formats, from eau de toilettes to shimmering dry oils, Marvellous Flowers and Magical Leaves were/are limited edition — my apologies for having gotten this review up so late.

While not readily available online, I did see these in-store earlier this month.

I’m actually quite fond of the Magical Leaves scent, but the packaging was such a turn-off. In a sentence: it quite literally took this body milk from the top of my “post immediately!” list to — well, to the middle of January. 

The Body Milk has a good texture, sinking in quickly with light hydration and softly scented without too much throw. L’Occitane describes the fragrance as a (unisex) “zesty, mouthwatering composition,” with notes of verbena, hazel, citrus fruits, and vanilla – my nose doesn’t pick out any of the specifics, but it’s just… tasty.

It’s very fresh; unexpected for a holiday release but absolutely appreciated. A faint woodiness/sweetness keeps the citrus blend from coming off too sharply, but it does smell a little “standard.” I quite enjoy the fragrance, but won’t be stocking up on it.

As for its downfall? The wonderfully whimsical Feuilles Magiques packaging (which makes me think of storybook woodland fairies or something) is actually a pain to use — the plastic is hard to squeeze, and while thin, the formula isn’t so runny that it just comes pouring out of the bottle.

I can see this shape working much better for the shower gel, shimmering oil, and eau de toilette (all in the Marvellous Flowers fragrance), but for a body milk… I mean, I liked the scent, but it would’ve had to have been something pretty darn special to justify this much hassle.

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The product: Lise Watier Beauty in a Flash Kit

As those of you on a silicone-free skincare regimen (aka the ‘cone-free diet, as I like to refer to it in my head) will already know, finding a beauty kit that’s entirely silicone-free is a hard feat — a kit that’s largely skincare-based, even moreso.

These sets are few & far between, with the exception of a few natural beauty lines, but Lise Watier has put out a very cool Advent-calendar-inspired exception to the rule this Holiday season.

In the kit ($42 CAD), you’ll find… 

Seven Flash Lift Radiance Vials

On the periphery of the kit are seven re-closable plastic Flash Lift Radiance vials, regularly $27.00 for 7. They’re described as an all-ages “magic potion,” designed to lift, firm, smooth the appearance of wrinkles, erase signs of fatigue, and give instant radiance to all complexions.

I’m sure I don’t have to remind you that instant fixes never produce the same results as long-term skincare (or, I guess, an actual facelift,) but who couldn’t use a bit of a pick-me-up at this time of year? Between December deadlines, holiday shopping, and a constant lack of quality sunlight (at least in Alberta), I think we’re all a little more lackluster than we’d like.

The Flash Lift Radiance ingredients

Three pairs of Bio Lift Eye Patches 

To go along with the Flash Lift vials, our fairy godmothers at Lise Watier have slipped in three pairs of their Bio Lift Eye Patch (regularly $34 for 6 pairs). These ones are a little less instantaneous, needing 15 to 20 minutes overtop moisturized skin for full efficacy, but promise similar results: smoothing, softer lines, and an overall less-tired eye area.

The Bio Lift ingredients

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