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    Hylamide SubQ Serum, Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Concentrate & Body Mist review | 3 high-tech ways to get your daily dose of hyaluronic acid

    Deciem Hylamide Hand Chemistry review

    The products: Deciem Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age Advanced Serum; Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Concentrate and Hyaluronic Body Mist

    Every brand has a Thing. You know: that one big company identifier; that product that really puts a brand on the map. A first-on-the-scene eye primer, a founder with a knack for creating Hollywood-worthy brows, a line of high-pigment products with explicit names–you get my gist. (How many of those did you get right?)

    For Deciem, that thing is creating super-sciencey products and, when applicable, loading them up with top-of-the-line hyaluronic acid. Here are three of their best hyaluronic products to check out!

    Hylamide SubQ anti-age review

    Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age Advanced Serum ($38 CAD)

    The science: The Hylamide line focuses on “controlled depth of penetration” via varying molecular sizes/multiple weights of hyaluronic acid, which then settle to hydrate different layers of the skin: larger molecules for topical hydration and smaller molecules to sneak into your dermis and hydrate deep down.

    The SubQ Anti-Age is also meant to minimize lines, wrinkles, and textural damage, so it’s loaded with stuff like:

    • Copper Lysinate/Prolinate (to stimulate collagen production),
    • Nonapeptide-3 Retino-Complex (to deliver anti-ageing results without the irritation typically seen with retinol products),
    • Saccharideisomerate (to improve skin texture and barrier function)

    …Along with five forms of hyaluronic acid.

    Deciem hyaluronic acid review lg

    The results: Surprisingly enough, I really like the Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age–despite the fact that I’m not showing signs of ageing just yet. It’s fantastically priced (at $38 CAD, it’s by far the most affordable serum that I own), and it’s very much a “nothing” product: it feels like heavy water, and it disappears on the skin.

    As for the effects? With twice-daily use, I feel like my skin is a little more moisturized all ’round, but it did take a couple of weeks before I saw a difference. On my other half older half, however, I see an immediate difference. He applies five or six drops without any additional moisturizer (he has combination skin), and after just a couple of uses, there’s a slight but definite reduction of fine lines. 

    Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age serum review

    At under $40, honestly, you can’t lose. The Hylamide SubQ is an awesome hydration booster for my dry skin, an awesome serum/moisturizer for my partner’s fine lines, and an awesome anti-ageing serum for Edmonton’s friendliest beauty blogger over 45.

    (Who is Edmonton’s friendliest beauty blogger under 45, you ask? That would be me. I will aggressively friend at you until you bleed.)

    ↳ Get it at: Deciem/Hylamide with FREE worldwide shipping!

    The Hylamide SubQ Anti-Ageing Advanced Serum ingredients:

    Aqua, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyacrylatecrosspolymer-6, Trisodiumethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lactobacillus/Eriodictyoncalifornicum Ferment Extract, Saccharideisomerate, Copperlysinate/Prolinate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3, Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Cetylhydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcyclodextrin, Polyglucuronic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Lecithin, Phospholipids, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate. 

    Hand Chemistry hyaluronic gel review

    Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Concentrate ($30 CAD)

    Dry skin doesn’t stop at the neck, however–especially not in climates like mine. So, for those with dry skin on their bodies, Deciem has a couple cool (and affordable!) hyaluronic options in their Hand Chemistry line, too.

    The science: The gel-format Hyaluronic Concentrate is formulated with three types/weights of ultra-pure hyaluronic acid, plus complexes derived from mushrooms, tamarind, and red marine algae that help promote epidermal water retention and increase skin elasticity.

    But what makes the Hyaluronic Concentrate really cool isn’t the science–it’s the fact that it comes in a whopping 8 ounce pump bottle. 

    Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Concentrate review

    The results: I always used to wish that I could apply my Indeed Labs Hydraluron to my body, but at around $30 per ounce, it seemed like a pipe dream.

    But no longer. The Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Concentrate is eight times the size at the same price, and while it’s designed for use on the hands and body, it’s not all that different from Hydraluron. I mean, okay, so the formulas are totally different, but the textures? Eerily similar. The Indeed Labs version feels a little cushier compared to the Hand Chemistry’s barely-there stickiness, but I can (and have!) used both on my face with identical results. 

    Keep reading! »

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    Burberry Beauty at Nordstrom Vancouver, The Bay, & Sephora

    Burberry Beauty launches Canada Vancouver Nordstrom

    I remember when Burberry Beauty first stepped onto the scene. It wasn’t too long ago, but the brand was one of the first high fashion lines (other than Chanel, of course) to step outside of fragrance and start producing luxury cosmetics, too.

    And, despite making up just a tiny morsel of the brand’s overall sales, the Burberry cosmetics line has done well for itself–well enough that other fashion brands, like Gucci and Michael Kors, have followed suit. Bloggers and consumers alike have been smitten with the products’ smooth formulas and chic packaging for the past half-decade, and the love just doesn’t seem to be waning.

    Burberry Ash Brown eyebrow definer review

    Burberry Effortless Eyebrow Definer in Ash Brown ($36 CAD)

    Burberry Poppy Black nail polish review

    Burberry Nail Polish in Poppy Black ($23 CAD)

    So, dear reader, it’s been particularly exciting to slowly watch Burberry cosmetics become available in person across Canada this year.

    There are quite a few high-end makeup brands that are next to impossible to find in Canada, but you can now find Burberry Beauty at the brand-new Nordstrom in Vancouver. Or, if you’re outside of Vancouver, look for the brand at Nordstrom Ottawa, select Hudson’s Bay locations, and online at thebay.com and sephora.ca.

    Happy shopping!

    Burberry Khaki Green Nail Polish review

    Burberry Nail Polish in Khaki Green ($23 CAD limited edition)

    Burberry kip cheek bloom poppy review

    Burberry Lip & Cheek Bloom in Poppy ($33 CAD)

    Photographed here: Burberry Cashmere Foundation in Porcelain ($60 CAD), Lip Velvet in Honeysuckle ($38 CAD), Lip & Cheek Bloom in Poppy ($33 CAD), Effortless Eyebrow Definer in Ash Brown ($36 CAD).

    Additional photos & more »

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    Perfumed objects & pretty lipsticks | New 27/09/15

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    Objects of pleasure

    And then there’s the Hermès Rêverie collection. I’ve been noticing more and more brands offering perfumed objects recently, from Lisa Hoffman’s Fragrance Earrings to the Frederic Malle Rubber Incense strips, and Hermès is the latest to jump on the trend.

    This fall, the brand is offering ceramic pebbles & paper origami horses, pre-perfumed with scents inspired by perfumer Céline Ellena’s daydreams. (Yes, that Céline Ellena — as in perfume royalty; the Different Company; daughter of Hermès’ in-house perfumer, Jean-Claude Ellena.) The origami horses, for all of you perfume nerds out there, are actually far more affordable than I had expected: $79 USD for a set of four.

    [show_ms_widget id=”26315332″ image_id=”28304160″ width=”630″ height=”583″]

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    BISC Vol.16: ​​Do you remove your facial hair?

    bisc-vol16-ft

    Do you remove your facial hair? If so, what’s your preferred method?

    MELISSA | Switzerland | Kiss & Make-up

    It’s pretty embarrassing to have visible facial hair as a woman – thanks for that, mom – so yes, I remove it. At first I only tweezed my unibrow and my upper lip hair with a pair of tweezers – the pain oh the pain – but last summer I went from just plucking the caterpillars and the stache to pretty much epilating my whole face with this little torture tool. Yes, it hurts, but it’s effective and keeps my face looking and feeling nice and smooth. That said, I’d love to go for a permanent solution eventually with one of those Philips Lumea-type at-home hair removal systems.

    ERIN | USA | Clever Girl Reviews

    I just tweeze. I try not to be a perfectionist either.

    bisc-vol16-authors (1)

    ANNE | Germany | Linda, Libra, Loca

    Being blonde, I don’t really have issues with facial hair. Or, as I probably should say, HAD. Because with age I notice the soft peachy fuzz becoming more and more prominent, up to a point where I start to wonder if I should probably do something about it. So far I had my upper lip waxed once, which turned out to be a horrible experience. My face was red and swollen for days and I started breaking out when the hair grew back. I guess I´ll try sugaring next…

    AGATA | USA | Her and Makeup

    I guess I could say that I am really blessed because the only facial hair I need to remove is the hair in my eyebrows. I get them professionally waxed at the salon every 2-3 months and I pluck whatever hair is growing out in between appointments using my tweezers. As simple as that!

    RAE | Canada | the Notice: a beauty blog

    I do, but only occasionally! I tweeze stray brow hairs when I’m doing my makeup, but for the most part, the hair on my face just gets to stay on my face. I’ll tweeze, thread, or wax my upper lip if I have a bunch of lip swatches to do, but I take a very lazy approach to facial hair nowadays. If other people don’t like my face-hairs, they can suck it up and deal with it!

    bisc-vol16-authors

    MATROMAO | Philippines | FoodWorldMe

    So far, I’ve only ever done my eyebrows. I used to exclusively tweeze them myself back in high school, but I’ve since discovered that professional reshaping every now and then is the trick to keep my “eyebrow game” going. Then I’ll maintain that for a couple of months by cleaning up re-growths along the shape they’ve set. I’ve had people shave, tweeze, and wax my brows, and I prefer waxing. It’s quick, and the shape I get is so well-defined that mapping and filling the brows become a breeze.

    JAA | Thailand | Hello Jaa

    Upon reading everyone’s comments, I’m a little embarrassed to share that I’ve done very little to my facial hair. Every couple of weeks I’d groom my eyebrows with a tweezer and remove obvious facial hair with a basic Panasonic facial trimmer and that’s about it! I didn’t even know that people get their upper lip waxed! I probably should give it a try soon, along with getting my brows professionally shaped. I feel that my current brows don’t really flatter my face that much.

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    Clinique #FaceForward: What advice would you give your future self?

    Clinique Face Forward Fall 2015 Turnaround facial mask

    “If you could give your future-self any advice, what would it be?”

    Right now, Clinique is challenging millenials to ask themselves a question: “If you could give your future-self any advice, what would it be?”

    The #FaceForward campaign flips the usual conversation (“what advice would you give your past self?”) and encourages women to break boundaries, challenge themselves, and reach their goals. To #FaceForward toward the future, if you will ;)

    Clinique Even Better mask, Pore Refining charcoal mask

    I’ve been thinking a lot about this question recently, and I think that if I could only give my future self one piece of advice, it would be this:

    Keep saying YES.

    Keep saying yes is the mantra that I’ve been operating on since the summer (paired with my old standby, GO HARD), and it has inspired and encouraged me every single day since then. To me, it means be better than you are — not to be better than your peers, but to be better tomorrow than you are today. It means saying yes to new opportunities and challenges, no matter how scary, and operating in a way that would make your past self proud.

    Together, “keep saying yes” and “go hard” are a way to conduct yourself that leaves you always striving: if, at any given point, your very best is the comparison point for not good enough, then there’s always something pushing you.

    Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen

    It was easy to keep saying yes while I was away, but it’s more difficult now that the summer is over. When you’re no longer surrounded by creatives and cityscapes and beauty left and right, staying on track is like trying to get your six glasses of water a day: hard, likely to make you pee a lot, and as gruelling as it is rewarding.

    Here on the prairies, everything is so far, and the ground beneath my feet never feels quite like home. I find that I struggle to stay inspired, but I’ve been keeping my little #FaceForward on my desk to remind myself to look to the future and keep saying yes. 

    And you know what? I think it’s helping.

    Clinique Face Forward Even Better mask

    What piece advice would you give your future self?

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    Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Ash review, swatches, photos

    Hourglass Arch Brow Pencil Ash review tip

    The product: Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Ash

    I’ve tried a lot of brow products this year, but the prettiest by far has been the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil. The brand recently launched a few more shades (for a total of nine), including one that caught my attention: Ash, a cool-toned grey that’s perfect for those with dark hair and cool-toned skin.

    Hourglass Arch Brow Pencil review box

    Ash grey cool brow filler review - Hourglass Arch Brow Pencil Ash

    Great for: The Arch Brow Sculpting Pencils feature a wide, angled, triangular pencil tip one end, and a spoolie to groom the brows on the other. Together, the two work to create the perfect, super-full brow in under two minutes–think Cara Delevingne brows; bushy and full.

    The formula of the pencil is soft but waxy, which is ideal for on-the-go but (in my opinion) doesn’t lend itself particularly well to that really sharp, crisp Instagram brow. I don’t think that this is necessarily a bad thing, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re not a fan of the “wild” look that’s all over runways and magazines right now!

    Hourglass Arch Brow Pencil Ash swatch review

    Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Ash swatched

    Grey eyebrow pencil review - Hourglass Ash

    Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil review

    The formula and shade: The formula of the Arch Brow Pencils said to “combine the benefits and technique of a powder, pencil, and wax,” which sounds like marketing-speak to me, but I do like it. It’s soft and very easy to blend, giving the diffused look of a powder but with the expediency of a pencil.

    I find that the Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil gives me the fullest (and fastest) brow look of any of the brow pencils or powders that I own, and the colour stays in place all day long. Ash is a great shade for me; it looks grey in the tube, but on my skin, I find that it looks like a very natural, cool dark brown. True to its name, it’s quite an ashy shade, and it’s an excellent choice if you find that most brow products look way too red on you.

    Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil review Ash

    The price per ounce: I flinched at the$32 USD/$37 CAD price tag of the Arch Brow Sculpting Pencils, but after doing a price-per-oz breakdown out of curiosity, I feel quite a bit better about it.

    Of the angled brow pencils that I looked at, the Hourglass pencil was actually the cheapest per oz by a wide margin. It contains way more product than most twist-up brow pencils, so if you’re looking for a single workhorse product to add to your kit, the Arch pencils are actually a very economical option!

    • Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil (0.014 oz/$32 USD) = $2286 per ounce
    • Anastasia Brow Wiz (0.003 oz/$21 USD) = $8000 per ounce *not an angled pencil; just added to serve as a popular comparison!
    • Smashbox Brow Tech to Go (0.007 oz/$28 USD) = $4000 per ounce
    • Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Long-Wear Brow Pencil (0.01 oz/$42 USD) = $4200 per ounce

    Hourglass brow pencil filler review

    The verdict?

    I wasn’t expecting to, but over the past few weeks, I’ve become very fond of the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencils. Ash is a great match for my skintone/hair colour, and it looks very natural on me — even if I just sort of scribble the pencil into each brow and blend by mussing up the product with the brow spoolie.

    I like my brows quite understated, so I have to be careful with the Arch brow pencils. For those who like a full brow, though, I would very much recommend these! They’re gorgeously packaged, very economical per oz, and blend and wear beautifully. 

    Availability: $32 USD/$37 CAD at Sephora.

    Keep reading! »

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    Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara review, swatches, photos

    Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara review

    The product: Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara in 01 Jumbo Jet, 02 Portly Plum, and 04 Massive Midnight

    The collection that I have, without a doubt, fallen the most in love with this fall is Clinique’s. Usually, when I’m testing makeup products, I really go at it for about a week and then let them fall by the wayside as the next big thing comes along. But with these Clinique launches…

    I mean. I’ve had these mascaras since July, and I’m still wearing them almost every single day this September. In the words of ’90s Posh Spice, they are major.

    Clinique massive midnight chubby mascara swatch review

    The shades: The new Chubby Lash mascaras are currently available in a few different shades, depending on where you are. If you’re at Nordstrom, for instance, you can pick up Jumbo Jet (black), Massive Midnight (blue), and Two Ton Teal — but if you’re at a Sephora, you have at your disposal Jumbo Jet and Portly Plum (eggplant).

    I’ve tried this mascara in black, blue, and eggplant, and I love them ALL — but Massive Midnight is by far my favourite. It’s a beautiful royal blue that shows up even on my black lashes, and it’s perfectly done: in some lighting conditions, my lashes just look black; in others, the blue is so evident that I can see it in the mirror from a meter away.

    Clinique Portly Plum Chubby Lash Mascara swatch

    Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara in Portly Plum (1 coat, plus the Pretty Easy liquid liner)

    Clinique Chubby Lash mascara swatches midnight eggplant

    Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara swatches (L-R): 04 Massive Midnight, 02 Portly Plum, 01 Jumbo Jet

    The formula: If the allure of perfectly-tinted lashes wasn’t enough, Clinique hit it out of the ballpark with the Chubby Lash formula and packaging, too. These feature a chubby silicone brush tipped all around with short, thin bristles, and they really deliver.

    All three of these mascaras give me completely clump-free, voluminous lashes, and the formula holds a curl well. They wear for a good 10-12 hours (!!!) without dropping the curl, flaking, or smudging, and give me results that are extremely similar to the Charlotte Tilbury mascara ($29 USDat a fraction of the price.

    Clinique Massive Midnight Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara swatches review Clinique Portly Plum chubby mascara swatch review

    The verdict?

    For once, I can’t think of a single way that I could improve these mascaras — and that’s saying something. They’re well-priced, come in a beautiful range of colours, and deliver a voluminous, clump-free lash that wears for 12 hours with zero smudging.

    These are some of the best mascaras that I’ve ever tried, and I think it’ll be a good, long time before something replaces them as my favourite!

    Availability: $17 USD/$20 CAD at Sephora, Nordstrom, and Clinique. New permanent items, available in different shades depending on where you buy from!

    Keep reading! »

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    L’Amourose Rosa Rouge Rechargeable Heated G-Spot Vibrator review | Incredibly chic temperature play

    L'Amourose Rosa Rouge Rechargeable Heated G-Spot Vibrator review photos

    The product: L’Amourose Rosa Rouge Rechargeable Heated G-Spot Vibrator

    It’s been a while since theNotice’s last toy feature. Missed the last couple? Check them out here! { Je Joue Uma G-Spot Vibrator / We-Vibe 4 and Tango }

    L’Amourose’s Rosa Rouge is, I think I can fairly say, a vibrator like no other vibrator that you’ve ever tried before. Its shape, design, and heating element (yes, you heard that right) are entirely without compare, and the not-so-hidden tech geek in me gets a little thrill every time I pull this one out.

    L'Amourose Rosa Rouge Rechargeable Heated G-Spot Vibrator

    The heated vibrator difference

    What makes the L’Amourose Rosa Rouge so utterly unique is that it’s a heated toy. As in, “designed to heat to a perfect 42 degrees Celsius,” (104 – 107˚F) which is a far cry from the usual, “accidentally heats up sometimes during use,” seen in most vibrators.

    An upgraded version of the brand’s un-heated Rosa vibrator–which is otherwise identical–the Rosa Rouge maintains a steady 40-42˚C (normal internal body temp is about 37 degrees), warming up within a minute to skin temperature and reaching its final, toasty destination within 4 minutes.

    L'Amourose Rosa Rouge Rechargeable Vibrator review photos

    The warmth of the Rosa is focused on the g-spot ridge and is limited to the insertable portion, leaving the base only barely warmed no matter how long it runs for — which I think is quite a shame, because temperature play is typically most effective at skin level.

    That said, however, the Rosa is lovely both in and externally. (I guess 42 really is the answer to life, the universe, and everything.) For those who have never experienced temperature play, I would absolutely urge you to! For me, warm objects feel like satisfaction–not even sexual satisfaction, but like… that feeling you get when you step into a hot shower on a cold day; that’s just calm and quiet and good. Like a little moment outside of time, or a really great massage facial totally above-board spa treatment.

    L'Amourose Rosa vibrator review photos

    L’Amourose Rosa Rouge motor and settings

    Umpfgh. Oh my god. You guys, the motor on this thing is so rumbly — like, MiMi Soft levels of rumbly, but without the rattling. It’s a constant, demure ruh-ruh-ruh, and it goes up HIGH, too: L’Amourose has tricked this baby out with a whopping 12 speeds and 9 vibrating modes. 

    And y’know what? I’m usually a pattern-hater, but I have to give L’Amourose credit for these ones. They let you use only the internal or only the external motor (yup, this vibrator has two motors; it’s that high-tech), alternate between the two, or slide from one to the other in a slow, hypnotic transition.

    The motors totally aren’t “whisper-quiet” as promised, but they’re still very quiet. Despite this being one of the most powerful vibrators I own, it’s near-silent under a blanket!

    L'Amourose Rosa Rouge G-Spot Vibrator review charging dock

    Design

    Apart from a super-sexy, gemlike silhouette, the Rosa Rouge is equipped with all the good stuff, too. It’s made from silicone and ABS plastic (for the shiny, multifaceted base), is fully waterproof, charges by simply sitting on its pedestal (LITERALLY A PEDESTAL), and has a battery that’ll last for 3 hours at medium speed on a 2 hour charge. 

    What makes the Rosa design truly brilliant, however, is the fact that, once inserted, it’s basically a hands-free toy. It pairs well with clit vibes like the We-Vibe Tango, but it stays in place easily on its own, too.

    And, finally, in terms of its g-spot design, I find the Rosa Rouge to have quite an intense curve to it. The flexible shaft keeps things relaxed, however, so no matter how filling it may be, the Rosa’s shape is never bruising or sharp. I find that it’s best used in a nudging/rocking motion (like the Tex), and if I pair it with the Tango, I can get off in an unbelievably short timeframe–the two together are a dirty, efficient, mind-blowing dream.

    L'Amourose review photos

    The verdict?

    As a big fan of rumbly vibrations and temperature play, I can’t not recommend the L’Amourose Rosa Rouge. It’s an absolutely beautiful piece of technology, covered in velvety-soft silicone, and it is by far my favourite internal vibrator.

    At 4.5″ insertable and 1.5″ around, the Rosa Rouge is something of a work of art. It’s not something that I reach for all the time and it’s not a toy designed for thrusting, but when I feel like I’ve been very, very good, the Rosa Rouge makes me feel simultaneously like a princess and an–actually, nope, it pretty much just makes me feel like a princess.

    So… my final recommendations. A $240 toy isn’t feasible for all of us (I was lucky enough to have mine given to me by the lovely folks at SheVibe), but the Rosa and Rosa Rouge offer things that other vibrators simply don’t: a comfortable hands-free design, temperature play, and (and!) 3+ hours of near-silent play on a single charge. If you can do it, I say do it.

    Availability: $239.99 USD at SheVibe, or $179.99 USD for the non-heated Rosa (currently available at SheVibe in Emerald or Cerise). To help take the sting off of the price tag, L’Amourose pieces come with an 18 month warranty and a lifetime quality guarantee (50% off any replacement piece if yours breaks, even 25 years down the road), as well as a beautiful storage box and a satin-lined velvet pouch.

    Keep reading! »

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    BISC Vol. 15: How do you overcome blogger’s block?

    bisc-ft-vol15-group2-ft

    AGATA | USA | Her and Makeup

    In my opinion “blogger’s block” can mean two things. One, like a writer’s block, having a hard time with writing itself. You do have pictures and the idea in your head but words just won’t flow. If that happens, I usually try to just jot down some loose ideas on a piece of paper, start with a short few sentences and later on build up on that. I think a bigger problem though is running out of ideas in general. That can happen quite easily in blogging, especially if you don’t receive PR samples and you cannot buy every new makeup item that comes out. Then I usually read a lot of other beauty and lifestyle blogs to look for inspiration, I check Pintrest to see if there are any looks that tickle my fancy that I could recreate.

    RAE | Canada | the Notice: a beauty blog

    Honestly, I’m not the person to ask about blogger’s block. When it comes, I often just kind of… let it come. I’ll take a little bit of a break, posting minimally as it happens, and just wait patiently for something to grip me again! Travelling always helps, and so does testing out a really great new collection, but I’m more likely to try and wait it out than I am to try and “overcome” it!

    bisc-vol15-authors-group2

    SUNNY | Belgium | Mostly Sunny Blog

    Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to sit it out. I used to push myself really hard. However, with my increasing workload, my options really come down to finally getting some sleep and writing a blog post on some days. Learning to let go is a big part of staying happy as a blogger (for me). Other times it’s good to read, talk to people, go out for a coffee, or admire some stunning photos. You never know when inspiration might come to you!

    MATROMAO | Philippines | FoodWorldMe

    I don’t force it, because that only burns me out faster. Usually, if I take one or two days on break, I’m okay to start writing again. I also accept that some posts can’t be finished in one day. Sometimes, I’ll just start with an outline, then I’ll come back tomorrow with “renewed vigor” and the ability to edit and finish immediately. It also helps to switch up topics every now and then. I also do restaurant reviews, so I can just transition back and forth.

    JAA | Thailand | Hello Jaa

    I usually just let it be. Sometimes I even think of it as a blessing because I’ll have more time to spend with my friends and family doing “life” things. I’ll try to stay off social media, too, if possible. I find that when I’m happy, I’ll have a lot of energy, and ideas will flow naturally. I also find it easier and more fun to write about things I’m genuinely happy and excited about!

    [Interested in joining BISC Network? Send your request to jaa*at*hellojaa.com]

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    Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré review | The BEST primer for dry skin

    Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre review moisturizer

    The product: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Nourishing Moisturizer

    I don’t typically buy products due to hype, but when the Pixiwoo sisters say something is really good… I have a tendency to believe them & buy. (What? Anyone with that much makeup prowess and standards high enough to make my favourite brush range is to be trusted implicitly.)

    Net a Porter Embryolisse review

    The Lait-Crème magic 

    I was pulled to the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré because it was one of the only cult-followed, silicone-free moisturizers that I had left to try, but the real magic (and the thing that pulls most people in) is how brilliantly it works as a primer.

    This “milk-cream” formula is the silkiest skincare product I’ve ever tried, and creates a gorgeous, hydrating veil over my dry skin. It does a better job smoothing over my dry patches than even the popular Korres silicone-free primers (available at Beautylish), and multi-functions as a moisturizer and primer in one.

    Embryolisse review lait creme concentre

    Embryolisse says the Lait-Crème Concentré can be used on all skin types as a moisturizer, makeup remover, mask, after-shave cream, or baby-care product, but I think where it really shines is as a moisturizing primer. I use it on my “bad skin days” and whenever I feel like giving my skin a bit of a treat; with its French pharmacy packaging and subtly perfumed formula, it feels simultaneously utilitarian and luxurious. 

    Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre primer review

    The verdict?

    Embryolisse’s Lait-Crème Concentré is French pharmacy goodness at its best. I love the silky, glossy texture of this moisturizer, and it is both the best primer I have ever found for dry skin and the best silicone-free primer I’ve ever tried.

    To top it all off, the Lait-Crème Concentré is delicately scented and extremely affordable, and currently ships free at both Look Fantastic and Birchbox (US)!

    Availability: 30 ml for $16 USD at Net-A-Porter, $20 with free shipping at Look Fantastic (use code LFNEW for 10% off); $16 USD with free shipping at Birchbox; $16 at Beautylish.

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