theNotice: a beauty blog

The product: Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm

↳ in 01 Curviest Caramel, 02 Chunkiest Chili, 03 Mightiest Maraschino, 04 Heftiest Hibiscus, 05 Plushest Punch, 06 Roomiest Rose, 07 Broadest Berry, and 08 Grandest Grape.

Clinique Chubby Sticks Intense: full product range (in numerical order)

The full review for these will be coming up next week, but I just had to slip them into the Week of Awesome — and understandably so, I think.

The new Chubby Stick Intenses pair everything I love about Chubby Sticks (comfort, packaging, and a scent-free formula) with everything I love about a great lipstick (wear time, colour, and intense pigment), and then adds some extra awesome (a gorgeous, smooth formula; colour that doesn’t move around; surprisingly great hydration.)

They’re… basically the best.

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense lip swatches

for reference

 01 Curviest Caramel / 02 Chunkiest Chili

03 Mightiest Maraschino / 04 Heftiest Hibiscus

05 Plushest Punch / 06 Roomiest Rose

07 Broadest Berry / 08 Grandest Grape

A few shades I think you’ll love

05 Plushest Punch

07 Broadest Berry

08 Grandest Grape

In the tubes & with the rest of a face

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in 01 Curviest Caramel (my favourite Intense — will be featured in a look next week!)

Keep reading »

To start off The Week of Awesome: a “moody pastels” makeup look with the YSL Arty Stone (Spring 2013) collection.

This was initially designed to be a basic Spring tutorial for She Said Beauty, but after pulling out all of the products I wanted to use, I realized that if I just grabbed one or two more YSL products… it would be all YSL.

So, I mean, I had to go for it (of course)!

Getting the Eyes: Y Facettes Palette 

The eyes, for all you might expect otherwise, are actually pretty easy. Prime, then start off with YSL Waterproof Eye Pencil in 01 Black Ink and smudge it up from your waterline. Apply the smokey violet from the gorgeous Y Facettes Palette through the lid, then foil the dark blue into the outer corner and blend.

Pat the sheer pink into the inner corner, add the green to the lower lashline (the pointed rubber applicator is perfect for this!), and finish with a flick of Black Ink and YSL Shocking Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils.

(For the record, I hate Shocking. A lot. It smells amazing, but always tries to leave me with five clumpy eyelash-sticks poking aggressively from my eyes!)

Read the full tutorial here on SSB.

As I mentioned on the Y Facettes review, I copied this look onto my sister last week. And ,after she got over being horrified by her first glance at the palette (the pinks! the greens! the blues!), she loved the way it looked on her lids, too.

I swear, this palette works magic when translated onto the eyes!

hello, enormous photo of my face. (sorry.)

Keep reading! There is still so much more awesome to be had. »

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. 

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 don’t want to write a post it’s really late I just want to go to bed

No, seriously, I am so bored of my face, can I just go to bed now please

I feel like I have a lot of feelings about things in general, but… not a ton about most holidays. I mean, I love a Lipstick Bandits collaboration as much as the next person (usually more, sometimes [somehow] less), but — Valentine’s? Yeah, I could do without it.

Korres Raspberry Liquid Lipstick in Berry, blotted heavily with YSL Volupté Sheer Candy in Tasty Raspberry overtop.

With that in mind, I figured I’d do a kiss-proof lip for this round of Bandit posts. Because if there’s one thing I do believe in, it’s not getting lipstick all over someone else’s face! I feel like it’s somehow almost rude — an unanticipated side effect of close face-proximity; the stubble burn of the makeup-wearing world. 

(Which is to say, prevent if possible but be ready to make sacrifices in the name of awesome.)

On the eyes, I have on the pink/gold half of Clinique Strawberry Fudge Duo through the lid, with a bit of cool-toned depth added to the outer corner (think Inglot 358), and smoked-out black liner.

Finish with mascara and move on: I’ve been testing out Senna Volupulash Mascara the past few days, and I love it so far. (It’s quite a dry formula, with great wear and a full-but-clump-free lash.) On the cheeks I applied Senna Faded Rose, an old favourite; it’s a great, versatile neutral cheek.

Aside from lip balm reapplication (no mirror needed!), the look holds up like a peach — there’s no need to fret about lipstick transfer or touchups, so you can focus on the important stuff instead.

Keep reading! »