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    Cozzette brush review roundup

    • Reviews of the D225 and D230 {here}
    • Reviews of the S125, S135, and S175 {here}
    • Review of the P350 {here}

    I know, I’ve kind of OD’ed on Cozzette over the last little while… but I have some serious love for these brushes, ladies. I may stop writing theNotice just so I can spend all my time with my S125.

    (Kidding! Calm down. It’s going to be okay).

    Anyhow, I did want to wrap this up with a bit more info about the Cozzette line (aside from the fact that all of the brushes feature gorgeous purple handles). There are some things inherent to the Divinity collection, so I didn’t bother to mention them in every single review!

    Things to remember…

    • These brushes run at about the same price (or less) as MAC brushes, so while they may be a bit of an investment, the prices aren’t too bad. (Plus, they’re totally worth it if you ask me!)
    • I’ve washed these numerous times already (I try to make sure to wash brushes at least 3-4 times before reviewing them), and I haven’t had a single problem with shedding — of any of the brushes. Gotta say; I’m impressed.
    • Cozzette brushes are all cruelty-free, and they’re made out of the *softest* synthetic ever. I challenge you to find a softer one, seriously. And you can’t be on hallucinogenic substances when you find it.
    • The line is independent. In other words, a really cool makeup artist is profiting from your purchase, not a huge multinational corporation. For some reason, that makes me really happy!

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    Cozzette Divinity S brush reviews

    What they are: Cozzette S-line brushes, in S125, S135, and S175.

    The S125 ($30)

    This one’s supposed to be a blush/powder brush, and it’s definitely my favourite of all of the Cozzette brushes. It’s ridiculously soft, but the bristles are still dense and firm — not very like an Ecotools brush, to be honest. The large handle is weighted gorgeously, and the brush feels luxe and is easy to use.

    Good for: applying powder, bronzer, face powder, and pigmented blushers (it’s perfect for getting just a tiny bit of product, but you do lose a bit of control as the head is quite large).

    Compare it to: MAC 150, maybe? I think it’s even larger, actually!

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    Cozzette Divinity P350 brush review

    What it is: Cozzette’s P350 brush

    The P350 ($18)

    Okay, this is a really weird brush. If you’ve never used one like this before… you’re in for a big surprise! The bristles are really springy and really smooth. Like, really springy. I can practically bounce this brush off my face!

    There’s a pretty good demo on how to use this brush on the Cozzette site; basically, you use the side of the cylinder (not the top) to blend your product. I like that they’ve chosen slightly thicker synthetic bristles, and that the brush is fairly dense — it “eats” less product, so you have to use less.

    Good for: undereye concealer, and for applying/blending concealer on red/ruddy/discoloured patches.

    Compare it to: I’m not sure! It’s sort of like a smaller version of Adesign’s Pointed Foundation Brush, or Stila’s One Step Complexion brush, I guess?

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    Cozzette Divinity D brush reviews

    What they are: Cozzette D-line brushes, in D225 and D230.

    The D225 ($16)

    Cozzette’s D225 is their “depositor,” made for applying pops of colour and hilights. And it’s great at both! However, I don’t reach for it often, simply because I don’t usually use this type of brush — I tend to opt for a thicker eye brush (this one’s fairly thin) so that I can use it to deposit colour and start buffing out the edges.

    That said, though… this is ridiculously soft, and it’s great at its job.

    Good for: depositing pops of colour, hilighting, foiling (but not buffing) shadows onto the lid.

    Compare it to: Sephora #12

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    theNotice’s Best of 2017 | Makeup, skincare, and haircare

    For a blogger, I feel like I don’t try that much new stuff… But compared to your average consumer, I definitely do. Here are my best of 2017 picks in makeup, haircare, and skincare, plus a little bit about why I love them.

    All of the products in this post are things that I use no less than weekly, and/or that I’ve re-bought at least once.

    My six top products of 2017

    There’s more on each of these in the appropriate sections, but here it goes: Annabelle Chrome Eyeshadows, Annabelle Skinny Brow Pencils, and Pür Cosmetics Eye Polishes for makeup; The Ordinary Squalane, Bioderma Atoderm Ultra-Soothing Balm, and SkinFood Black Sugar Honey Mask for skincare.

    Best of 2017: Makeup

    My top three makeup products of the year are the Annabelle Chrome Eyeshadows, Annabelle Skinny Brow Pencils, and Pür Cosmetics Eye Polishes, hands down.

    The Chrome Eyeshadows give an unreal “shattered” glitter finish to any eye look, and the Pür Eye Polishes are the perfect weightless base for that look. They don’t intensify eyeshadows like a proper eyeshadow primer does, but they do prevent creasing, at least for me. (I talk about the Skinny Brow Pencils non-stop, so you don’t really need to hear that again. They’re very good and very cheap, although I do wish they wore for longer.)

    FACE

    Base: Rodial Airbrush Foundation (transferred to a glass jar); Pür Cosmetics 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup SPF 15; Make Up For Ever Water Blend Foundation

    Powder: Marcelle Cosmetics Translucent Powder (loose and pressed)

    Colour: Make Up For Ever Pro Light Fusion in 01 Golden PinkCharlotte Tilbury Beauty Glow Instant Look palette; Rodial Blusher in South Beach

    Other: MAC Glitter in 3D Silver (okay; I don’t use this weekly, but it is super pretty.)

    EYES

    Lashes: Kiss Looks So Natural Lashes in Shy (which I carry around in an old Red Cherry container, because boxed lashes are super cumbersome); Esqido Mink Lashes in Starlet and Radiance; Duo Lash Glue in Translucent; Clinique Full-to-Flutter Mascara; Annabelle Supernova Mascara

    Eyeshadow: Inglot eyeshadow quad (these are so lovely to work with, but I always find that my Inglot eyeshadows disappear entirely by the end of the day); Clinique Wear Everywhere Greys Eyeshadow Palette; Pür Cosmetics Eye Polishes (no creasing! These are great solo or as a base); Annabelle Chrome Eyeshadows (SO pretty – Rose Gold and Gold are my favourites.)

    Pencils: Lise Watier Automatique Eyeliner Stylo in Platine (I’m on my second pencil); Annabelle Skinny Brow Pencil in Universal Ebony (I’m on like, my fifth of this one)

    LIPS

    Sheer: Burberry Lip Colour Contour Pen in 01 FairYves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy in Framboise CraquanteMake Up For Ever Ultra HD Lip Booster; Revlon Lip Butter in Plum Perfect

    Opaque: Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink in 50 Voyager (kiss-proof and sexy as hell!); Annabelle TwistUp Lip Colour in Vamp; Make Up For Ever Acrylips Lip Paint in 501 Eggplant

    Best of 2017: Tools & Brushes

    Tools: Tweezerman Mini Tweezers; Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

    Brushes: NYX Cosmetics Pro Fan Brush (the best for highlighter!); assorted brushes from Cozette; assorted brushes from Real Techniques

    Best of 2017: Skincare & Haircare

    My top three skincare products of the year are The Ordinary Squalane, Bioderma Atoderm Ultra-Soothing Balm, and SkinFood Black Sugar Honey Mask. They’re all really no-nonsense products that perform super well and all happen to be budget buys.

    The Ordinary’s squalane is high-quality and hydrating for under $10; the Bioderma balm is the same, but for a lotion. It’s a little pricier but it’s absolutely enormous, and it hydrates without feeling sticky. I’m also a die-hard fan of that SkinFood mask (I get mine from Take Good Care) – it makes my skin so darn soft.

    FACE

    Serums: The Ordinary Squalane; L’Occitane Divine Youth Oil (I’m on my second bottle); No. 7 Youthful Replenishing Face Oil; Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel (the best hyaluronic!)

    Treatments: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7%; Neutrogena Spot Treatment; SkinFood Black Sugar Honey Mask

    Cleansers: Paula’s Choice Resist Hydrating Cleanser; B.Liv Drench Me Cleanser

    Moisturizers: DHC Extra Nighttime Moisture (I’m on my second jar); Aveeno Fresh Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30 (I’m on my fourth)

    Lip balm: Lovetica Lip Balm, all the way!

    HAIR & BODY

    Hair: Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Night Cap; Batiste Lotus Dry Shampoo

    Body: Bioderma Atoderm Ultra-Soothing Balm (I just re-purchased this at Shopper’s!); Ahava Liquid Dead Sea Salt (use it before a shower for the closest shave you’ll ever get in your life); Paula’s Choice Resist Weekly Retexturizing Foaming Treatment 4% BHA (my holy grail for treating keratosis pilaris); Lovetica Natural Deodorant. LUSH Body Conditioners, Bath Bombs, Shower Gels, and Sympathy for the Skin Hand & Body Lotion

    Other: Thursday Plantation Eucalyptus Oil (for cleaning & as a mouthwash) and Tea Tree Oil (for yeast infections)

    Best of 2017: Fashion

    Here are a few of my most-worn items of 2017. I haven’t posted about all of these on theNotice yet, so I’ve included shopping links to help you track down the same (or similar) items. Some of them are affiliate links, but these are the only shoppable links in this post – everything else goes directly to a review.

    ACCESSORIES: BonLook Myrtle Glasses in Rose Dazzling (more photos); E.L.F. Zhou Monarch Choker in Black (matching cuffs)

    VELVET: WORKHALL Studio Moeah Dress in Plum (I looooove this dress); Ardene Crushed Velvet Crop Top

    COZY: Abercrombie & Fitch flannel (similar)

    BOOTS: Geox Inspiration Wedges (more photos)

    I’m going to close out this post with a few of my favourite fashion shots and product photos from 2017 (click to read the posts), but: What did you love last year?

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    Something Wicked Ava Collection review | Adventures in underboob

    Something Wicked Ava with flannel review

    It’s that time of year again when everyone is pulling out their beach bods*, but I’ll be frank with you. My body’s still not well enough to go to the beach–which is why I’m bringing it to the blog instead.

    *BEACH BODY: n. The body of a person, preferably live, who goes to the beach.

    One of my goals for 2017 is to expand my blog beyond beauty and sex toys. Today, I’m happy to finally reveal the next natural progression of theNotice: the occasional slip (pun intended) of fashion content.

    Something Wicked Ava half cup bra review

    Something Wicked Ava collection

    theNotice will never be a fashion blog, and I will never be built like a fashion model. But lingerie is for every body, healthy or sick, and the Something Wicked Ava collection was too beautiful not to share. (Look at all that glorious underboob!)

    The Ava Maxi Skirt is hand-pleated out of silk, and it makes me want to twirl around while yelling “fuck the patriarchy” with flamethrowers in my hands. (Although to be fair, that’s basically my #aestheticgoals). The Ava Half Cup Bra is obscenely comfortable, and the little peephole in the Ava Mini Briefs is delightfully cheeky.

    I’d recommend going down a size for the Half Cup Bra, but mine (a 32A, instead of my usual 34A) fits comfortably and snugly.

    Something Wicked Ava mini leather peephole briefs review

    The Something Wicked story

    Unlike most mass lingerie brands, which are owned and run by men, Something Wicked is designed by British designer Leanne Brooke¹. (Take that, Schmictoria’s Secret.) She began at the company in 2012, and is now a partner in the business.

    Everything in the line is manufactured in-house in England, and each piece fits like a dream with hand-rolled hems.

    My one issue with Something Wicked is that, as a smaller company, their size range is lacking. I know Leanne has mentioned that she’d like to do a range specifically designed for larger cup sizes, so I hope it’s something we get to see soon!

    Leather peephole underboob bra review

    How to wear a half cup bra

    If you’re a fan of lingerie as outerwear, the Something Wicked Ava collection is perfect for it. For the bold, the half-cup bra peeks out gorgeously under Parisian-inspired basics. For the timid, the pieces hide away as a confidence-boosting underpinning for any outfit.

    A crisp white dress shirt is my ideal pairing for this style of bra, done up without a camisole. (I have it unbuttoned in this post to show off the Ava.) Pair it with black slacks or ponte leggings and a little flick of black eyeliner.

    The lines of the Ava are pretty noticeable, but they can be hidden underneath your clothes with a little extra care. A fit and flare dress, or anything with a structured bodice, would be a great choice.

    Something Wicked Ava leather suede set review

    Get the look

    OUTFIT

    Something Wicked Ava Half Cup Leather Bra (£135)

    Something Wicked Ava Mini Leather Peephole Briefs (£95)

    Something Wicked Ava Maxi Skirt (£229)

    Uniqlo Easy Care Slim Fit Broadcloth Long Sleeve Shirt ($29.90 USD) / Women’s Supima Cotton Stretch alternative ($29.90 USD)

    MAKEUP HIGHLIGHTS

    Make Up For Ever Pro Light Fusion in 01 Golden Pink ($39 USD/$48 CAD; review)

    Make Up For Ever Acrylip Lip Paint in 501 Eggplant ($18 USD/$23 CADreview)

    Estee Lauder Matte Sculpting Lipstick in Commanding ($30 USD/$34 CAD; review) — last photo only

    Cozzette S125 Oval Powder Brush ($30 USD; review) — on sink edge

    Solotica Natural Colors Mel/Honey ($94.99 USD; last seen here)

    Lash extensions by Nikki at Lady Lash Ltd. ($140 CAD)

    LOCATION

    Candace & Danny’s Place, which I would love to return to! They have such a great space, and they’re just the sweetest couple. (Plus: bonus points for having a super friendly rescue pup.) Book with my Airbnb referral link here.

    TEAM

    Bryan Tran and Janelle Holod at Affinity Photography

    Edits and styling by Rae Chen

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    BISC Vol.10: ​What are essential makeup brushes everyone should own?

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    What are essential makeup brushes everyone should own?

    RAE | Canada | the Notice: a beauty blog

    I think everyone needs to own a dense foundation brush, a pinpoint concealer brush (I favour fine-tipped art brushes, or a lip brush like the Make Up For Ever 304), and at least three good eye brushes: an all-over shadow brush, a domed blending brush, and a soft angled eyeliner brush for getting right into your lashline without irritating your eyes!

    My favourite brushes of the moment are the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, the Cozzette S125 and 135 (which are a dream), and, weirdly, the Essence Gel Eyeliner Brush.

    DEE | Canada | How Does Dee Do It

    The only brushes that I would say I ABSOLUTELY need are my eyeshadow brushes. I love my fingers/beauty blender as makeup implements for my face so don’t have any MUST-HAVE face brushes. If I must, Id say a fluffy blush brush. For eyes however, I would go with 1. a flat eyeshadow brush for all over the lids 2. a crease brush 3. a fluffy dome brush to blend 4. a pointy outer-v brush.  I’m not a slave to any brand of makeup brushes and have good luck with budget as well as high-end brands alike. I say – experiment, have fun – you’ll know when you find the RIGHT brushes for –>YOU<–!

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    ANGELA | Canada | Do Want Makeup

    I love a good dense, domed concealer brush. I bought the Sephora Advanced Airbrush Set years ago and the round concealer brush is still my go-to. It is amazing at blending and concealing my dark circles without looking too heavy or cakey.

    It’s not exactly a brush, but my beautyblender dupe is also a must! It is great for sheering out foundations for daytime makeup, and is a lifesaver when I am dealing with an eczema flareup/dry patches because it doesn’t disturb dry, irritated skin the way a brush can.

    SHARI | Philippines| The Misty Mom

    I think every woman should have the MAC 217 blending brush especially if they’ve had trouble with eye makeup application. It’s my do-all eye brush. If you’ve slightly smaller eyes, maybe go a smaller/more tapered blending brush to avoid messy blending issues.

    For the face, I didn’t think a tapered highlighter brush is one I would consider essential.. until now. I can apply foundation with my fingers and blush with any kind of powder brush (sometimes even my fingers, too!) but I can’t ever apply highlighter properly without a brush. My favorite is the Zoeva 105 Luxe Highlight Brush.

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    LILY | Malaysia | Chloe Ash

    When it comes to makeup application, tools do matter. They do all the hard work for you. You can always apply foundation and concealer with your hands, and even pat on eye shadows using fingers. Blending however, is the key to makeup looking seamless and flawless. I’d say a good eye blending brush is a must. A medium sized soft blush brush is also the key to natural looking flushed cheeks. A bigger face brush for powder and bronzer is also very handy. Last but not least, if smokey eyes are your thing, always invest in a good pencil brush.

    JAA | Thailand | Hello Jaa

    For eye makeup, my staples include MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush(lid color), Chanel Eyeshadow Blender #19 (outer corner), MAC 217 Blending Brush (crease and blending), Smashbox Crease Brush #10 (all-over blending), MAC 219 Pencil Brush(smudging), and MAC 211 Pointed Liner Brush (lining). See more.

    For face makeup, my staples include Hourglass No 2 Blush/Foundation Brush (foundation), Tom Ford Bronzer Brush (setting), Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt Brush (highlighting), NARS Ita Kabuki Brush (contouring), Tom Ford Cheek Brush and MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush (cheek color), and Real Techniques Setting Brush (concealing). See more.

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

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    Five gift ideas for the woman who has it all | The Gift Guide

    For the luxury skincare lover: MIYU Beauty Hydrate Mi Beauty Essence

    Founded just this past year by fellow blogger Connie Tai, MIYU Beauty is a new Canadian brand that’s stealing hearts across the blogosphere. I’m having difficulties putting together a review of the line (I live in fear of the glycerine ratios in facial sprays, which do wonders for a few days but always seem to break me out after a week), but I can’t find a single bad thing to say about the aesthetic — or the people behind the brand.

    Beautifully housed in luxe-but-lightweight packaging with Ladurée-inspired details, the MIYU facial spray serums (!) are innovation at its best. { buy }

    For the green girl: Osmia Organics Sunset Body Oil

    Osmia Organics is a company that I was introduced to pretty recently, but I’m completely smitten with their range. Run by a former emergency room doctor who found her calling in all-natural skincare, the entire Osmia line up is exquisitely packaged, all-natural, and beautifully formulated.

    While perfumes and skincare can be hard to pick for someone else, though, Osmia’s body oils & soaps are a great way to gift a little luxury without the worry. Sunset, one of Dr. Sarah Villafranco’s newest creations, is a super-sexy (but not at all overpowering) jojoba-based blend that hydrates immediately with absolutely no oiliness left on the skin. { buy }

    Osmia Organics Sunset body oil review

    Osmia Organics Sunset Body Oil (2 oz)

    For the best friend: Je Joue MiMi Soft

    Here’s your not-so-fun science fact of the day: did you know that only 25% of women report frequently experiencing orgasms during intercourse? We live in a culture that’s so fixated on sex, and yet — from magazines (five surprising tips on how to please your man!) to porn, sex is all about male pleasure, not female.

    In the sprit of the season, consider giving someone the gift of self-love. Let them know that, like leaving the house without your makeup, sex isn’t anything to be ashamed of. And if we get to indulge in a bit of high-end tech while on the road to sexual equality? All the better.

    The Je Joue MiMi Soft is small, classy, and discreet, with a soft, comfortable silicone finish (the safest material a vibrator could possibly be made from), a fully waterproof body, and a rechargeable battery. And the charger, you guys. The charger is so cool. It magnetizes onto the up/down buttons and supplies the vibrator with power through science magic, and I won’t be told otherwise. { buy }

    If you’d like to see a review for the Je Joue Mimi Soft, click here to count your vote anonymously!

    PS: This vibe was sent in by SheVibe.com.

    Unlike everything else in this post, the Mimi was sent in by a storefront, not a brand. SheVibe.com is an online store that’s a far cry from the stereotypical blacked-out-windows sex shop in the bad part of town — I chose to work with them specifically because their site features reviews, articles, message boards, and tons of original artwork.

    Whether or not you’re looking to purchase a new toy this season, their comics and articles are definitely worth a look!

    Annabelle Cherry swatch TwistUp Retractable Lipstick

    Annabelle TwistUp in Cherry — from this post

    For the lip lover: Annabelle Cosmetics TwistUp Retractable Lip Crayon in Naked or Cherry

    These lip crayons may not feel super-luxe when you hold them, but oh my — do they ever pack a punch. With a lush, comfortable formula and way more pigment than any drugstore product has any right to have, Annabelle TwistUps are the perfect choice for a bit of luxury on a budget.

    Naked is a stunning satin-matte nude that suits my skintone (and a surprising many others) just perfectly, while Cherry is a drop-dead-gorgeous opulent red. Neither have shimmer, and (excuse my French) are classy as hell on the lips. { buy | review | swatches | win one! }

    For the luxury makeup lover: Make Up For Ever Artisan Brushes 

    I know I usually put my beloved Cozzette brushes in gift guides, and don’t get me wrong — I still love them. But while the Artisan brush range is just as soft, cruelty-free, and well-made as Cozzette’s S range, Make Up For Ever’s new brushes come with sleek, wood-finish handles and dark metal ferrules that Cozzette’s range just doesn’t have.

    I can’t speak for all of Make Up For Ever’s brushes, but the #150 Angled Cheek Brush, #174 Small Concealer Brush, and #304 Lip Brush all get my seal of approval. And, I mean, really — who couldn’t use just one more brush? { buy }

    What’s on your wishlist this season?

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    FOTD: green-gray eyes, inspired by Chanel

    After seeing the models’ eyes on the Chanel Fall 2011 runway, I knew that I had to try and dupe it. I absolutely fell in love with the gorgeous Épatant (one of three upcoming Illusion d’Ombre shadows) – it’s not quite green, not quite aqua, not quite blue… basically just perfection; undefinable perfection.

    I can’t be the only one who’s currently revering Peter Phillips, right?

    To get the eye…
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    The 2010 Survey: results!

    First off, I want to give a HUGE “thank you!” to the many of you who took the time to respond to our survey. I couldn’t have done it without you! (No, seriously. I couldn’t have. There’s no way that I could have seen into all of your heads and extracted the answers without your help.)

    (OR IS THERE?!)

    Anyhow… the results. Yes.

    As I was saying, the results for the first question were very close together, but base products won out in the end, followed by shadows and liners – which surprised me, to be honest. I always skip reviews for things like foundations, and read the ones about colour products instead ;) I was also surprised to see such low numbers for targeted skincare and fragrances; both are categories that we didn’t originally cover but picked up this past year because there were so many requests for them!

    What this means: I’ll try to test out more foundations this upcoming year, and keep on sharing my favourite colour products (or my least-favourites!) I’ll also try to get a few more general skincare reviews in, if possible, and tone down our posts on mascaras and fragrances.

    Of course, you all love reviews with swatches (so do I), with makeup looks coming in second, followed by a neck-and-neck affinity for dupe posts and Steals & Deals. That wasn’t much of a stunner, in terms of the responses, but I thought I should ask it just in case!

    What this means: not a lot, as I already try to focus on reviews with swatches. Perhaps a few less makeup looks, and perhaps a few more dupe posts! I don’t particularly like doing S&D more than once every week or two, depending on how often the sales change, so those should stay about the same.

    A few responses from early on in the survey. Sorry to break it to you, 16, but my being in Canada kind of limits my access to Australian brands :P

    I was really interested to hear which price range you ladies are most interested in, and to be honest, the results really weren’t that conclusive: drugstore and mid-range were literally equal for the votes, and high-end just barely less. So, I’m going to keep on keepin’ on – that is, trying to cover a really broad range of products, yeah?

    The brands that seemed to get the most shout-outs in the comment box were Urban Decay, BenefitRevlon, and Annabelle, which works just fine & dandy for me. (Unfortunately, Chanel and Dior lovers, I’ll have to point you elsewhere for your review fix.) What I found really cool was that your favourite brands varied in terms of category, even within each response – that is, there were a lot of answers like “Urban Decay, Clarins, and Wet ‘n Wild,” which really spans the budget range!

    I’d also like to give a shout-out to the following comment, and others like it: “I love reading about Canadian products (even though they’re mostly unavailable to me).” Two things to say to that, a) you’re very strange, and b) you’re very awesome. The next time I get my act together to organize a giveaway, I’ll try to slip some Canadian exclusives in there!

    Responses to “Anything that you’d change about theNotice?” comments…

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