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Valentine’s Day 2019: Showing your love language with novel gifts

February 11, 2019

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Love language tests fail me on a pretty consistent basis. This isn’t a critique of the tests themselves; rather, I think I just struggle to give adequate answers to each question. I need all of the five love languages in pretty equal amounts, whether it’s Valentine’s Day or any other day of the year.

But the one I miss the most when it’s gone is gift-giving.

When people hear “gift-giving,” they tend to think of it in simple, materialistic terms: I want X, Y, and Z. You have to spend however much on me for each holiday. It’s a plastic sort of consumerism, focused in on creating waste. But for most of us, I think, gift-giving is a love language that’s all about being frivolously thoughtful in all the little ways.

Think of the term as something built instead on micro-gifting, centred on the action rather than the gift. A bouquet of supermarket flowers once or twice a year; new markers by the sink so we can leave messages on the mirror; my favourite ice cream in the freezer, instead of yours. Suffering through eating only thinly-sliced bacon for eight months without ever mentioning that you only buy it because I can’t chew through the thick slices that you love from the butcher’s shop.

Shower staples for him (or whomever)

As someone who’s sensitive to silicones, dating can be hard. Even a couple of goodnight kisses will make me break out if the other person has silicones in their foundation or moisturizer, so finding someone who’s already silicone-free is a blessing.

For those who aren’t, though, switching over is usually pretty easy—and it’s the best gift that I could ever be given. I’m testing out some new products from Wise right now, including their silicone-free Wise Hemp Seed Oil Conditioner ($38 CAD) and Neem Wood Comb ($15 CAD). I have to make sure to wash the conditioner out really well (there’s plenty of rich, fatty oils in it), but the pair would be perfect for someone with dandruff or short hair. It smells the way you’d expect, with small amounts of essential oils like hops, tobacco, and vetiver root.

My best friend immediately switched over to Live Clean when we met, upon my recommendation—it’s a really affordable range. But Wise introduces something different to the ‘cone free market in the form of low-waste packaging. Their soaps and combs come in cardboard containers, and their shampoo and conditioner are sold in thin “refill” bags that come with a free glass travel bottle. Each bag contains a whopping 450 ml, and cuts down on packaging by using 80% less plastic than the average bottle.

Valentine’s Day date-night prep

The lashes on the Wise bag are, sadly, not included with your conditioner purchase. Instead, they’re KISS Lash Couture Little Black Dress lashes ($5.99 USD), a lash set that I fell in love with through a product sample a year or two ago. I’ve easily gone through a dozen pairs since then, and I finally managed to find them at London Drugs this month at 20% off.

I bought out almost their entire stock, of course, leaving just one set for the next person. They deliver the perfect, eye-opening amount of intensity, and they’re so comfortable once you trim them.

The other Kiss find featured here is their Purifying Charcoal Peel-Off Mask, which I was introduced to at a Kiss event last summer. I can’t get enough of it: it’s a little gentler than others that I’ve tried, easier to find, and a fraction of the price. The packaging says to use the product 2-3 times a week and let it dry for 20-25 minutes, which kind of makes me think that no one in their entire office has ever tried it; I’d recommend using it weekly (or the day before a big event). It should take about 10-12 minutes to dry, and peeling it off never gets any less fun.

(The Kiss mask smells really good, too, which isn’t always true of charcoal masks!)

Indulgent scents and serums

Scents are another one of the ways that I show love, both to myself and to my partners. I’m a low-scent person when I’m going out (fragrance allergy awareness!), but for a night in, I like to indulge in a little fragrance.

I am forever recommending the Kerastase Aura Botanica Concentre Essentiel Serum ($60 CAD), a rich, nourishing treatment for the hair and skin. It’s a product that I never use in my hair or on my scalp (ironically), but I love it enough that I’ve gone through more than one bottle. The serum is fragranced with a heady, botanical scent, and is the perfect consistency for a massage oil—not so thick that it’s sticky, nor so thin that your hands slip weightlessly over the skin. It even looks like it belongs on your nightstand for Valentine’s Day!

When it comes to perfume, I’ve been wearing Balenciaga B. ($87 USD for 1 oz size) and Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur ($55 USD). B. is a lovely, airy fragrance that wears close to the skin—it smells kind of the way a washed-out pink satin dress looks. It’s very light and fresh, with soft iris notes and a powdery, woody base. Maurice Roucel’s Musc Ravageur is almost the opposite, with spicy cinnamon and clove notes on a bed of bergamot and vanilla. Powerful and perfectly unisex, it clings to the skin for days.

Lip products to love

It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without a couple of lip products, so I’ll leave you with a few last products to consider! One is a lip that you all know I love: Maybelline Voyager. The deep red and crisp lines of Voyager are a favourite for both my partner and I, but I’ve been mixing things up recently—we don’t go out a lot anymore, and I’m told that matte liquid lipsticks “feel like plastic” when you kiss them.

Lise Watier’s Rouge Fondant Supreme lipsticks ($27 CAD) dropped very recently at Sephora, and they’re well worth checking out. This one is in Chloe, a light mauve. The Rouge Fondant Supreme lipsticks are really creamy, with sheer to medium opacity and a soft, moist finish. I have a few that I was sent last year that I’m trying to find the time to swatch for the blog, so you’ll definitely see more of them soon!

Finally, for those who want a liquid lip in a lighter colour, Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Flurries ($5.20 USD) is there to save the day. I bought a couple of the brand’s lipsticks during Boxing Week, and this one is my favourite. It’s a medium pink, and sits a little drier than Voyager—although it still creates that tight seal!

What are your Valentine’s Day plans this year? I’ve never gone out for it (and that’s not changing), but I’m always curious as to what everyone else gets up to!

Tags: Maybelline Matte Ink/Fragrance, Hair, Lips, Product snapshots, Silicone-free, The Edit

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What to do in Edmonton winters: Ice Castle & Cora’s Breakfast

January 30, 2019

Rae Chen

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I’ve tried pretty hard not to make this blog too Edmonton-centric (what if I move one day!), but… Sometimes, you gotta cave. Edmonton has been having a warm winter this year, and it’s been perfect for getting outside and exploring the city! I love the idea of a family-friendly day in downtown Edmonton. If you live in #yeg or you happen to be stopping by, here’s what to do in Edmonton this winter.

I love breakfast, but I find that I don’t often go out for it. Edmonton restaurants are notorious for not taking brunch reservations on the weekends — but wait times can be up to an hour long.

When I’m feeling up to the wait, my favourite breakfast place is Under the High Wheel. But on days where I just want to grab a quick bite with a friend, Cora’s is a standby. They just opened a new location downtown, and it’s right next to my physiotherapist’s office. (Forever shouting out Kerri at Corona Station Physio for her TMJ dry needling technique!)

Cora’s Raspberry 4 Lucie. In background: Western Skillet.

Breakfast at Cora’s on Jasper

I’ll cop to it: I don’t really come across as a Cora’s person. (In fact, when I ‘grammed it last week, I got a text from my friend asking who kidnapped me.) But their new PR gal is an old friend who invited me to their opening, and Cora herself was going to be there — how could I say no!! I had a super-sweet raspberry crepe with a side of sausages, and it was plenty of food for breakfast and an afternoon snack.

The Cora’s on Jasper is located underneath the Day’s Inn on 106th, and it’s owned by Winnie and Kwong, two Bruneian business partners. I love supporting AsAm-owned businesses, so I’m definitely going back for another cappuccino. I can’t speak for those in other franchise outposts, but theirs is pretty darn good. It comes in a cup, which I asked for, but the server also offered it to me in a bowl… Which I have to know more about.

Meeting Cora herself! (Top: Dynamite V-Neck Tunic.)

Cora’s has over 130 locations throughout Canada. And Cora? She’s every bit as amazing as you’d hoped. She’s so lively and committed to the restaurant. She raised three teens as a single mother, and bought a small snack shop in Montreal to support them. With the Cora magic that you can see in her every gesture, she turned it into the breakfast empire that it is today. The company is now run by her son, Nicholas, but she still attends every opening and egg-cracking ceremony!

What to do in Edmonton — and its very own Ice Castle

For a badass-but-family-friendly day out, the Edmonton Ice Castle is open during the day on the weekends. (Otherwise, it opens at 4.) I got the chance to attend their media night with my partner, and we had a blast!

The Ice Castle took us about 25 minutes to go through, so I think it’s a little pricey for a whole family to attend every year — but it’s an awesome date night spot or a once-every-few-years kind of deal. Pick a warmer day so you can enjoy the light-up ice walls and three ice slides. Take what you will from the fact that it’s a short night out: it won’t keep your kids occupied for as long as a museum would, but they’ll enjoy it a heck of a lot more.

The Ice Castles are made from solid ice walls and hand-hung icicles, with an average wall thickness of 120 inches. On the whole, the structure is estimated to weigh 250 000 000 pounds, which includes the utterly ridiculous ice couch. (I totally got heckled while taking this photo, which didn’t stop me for a second!)

Wearing: Babaton Pearce Wool Coat in Tailor Tan. Michael Kors Savannah Tote (hiding in pics).

The best bars in Edmonton for cocktails

If you’d like a nightcap once the kids are already in bed (or with your family), there are a few great locations that aren’t far from Cora’s and the Ice Castle. What to do in Edmonton gets tricky, especially during the week, as our businesses tend to close pretty early.

That being said, we do have a few great cocktail bars that are worth checking out! My favourite right now is Clementine, where you can get any of their 25 favourite classic cocktails for only $9 on Tuesdays. I’m a big fan of their penicillin — a must for lovers of smokey scotches. They offer a semi-traditional absinthe service as well, if you love liquorice!

Tags: /Edmonton

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How to talk about safe sex with your partner(s)

January 22, 2019

Rae Chen

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It’s the start of a new year, and Valentine’s Day is creeping up on us again — so what better a time for a post on how to talk about safe sex? Whether you have one partner, no partners, or many partners, safe sex is vital. theNotice has a sex category specifically because I’m passionate about the idea that everyone is entitled to a healthy sex life, and “health” plays a big part in that.

I’ve talked about safe solo sex a lot, but let’s start this post by condensing that information.

*sponsored post

How to have safe solo sex

I know: safe sex isn’t really something that you think about when you’re having it by yourself. But if you’re using toys to masturbate, it’s essential that you’re cleaning, choosing, and using them correctly. Any post on how to talk about safe sex needs to talk about solo sex.

theNotice only features reviews of body-safe toys. These are products that are made from non-porous materials, like silicone and ABS toys. (I tend to prioritize waterproof toys, and have yet to review anything made from glass or stainless steel.) Nothing featured on theNotice is made from Sil-A-Gel, jelly, or rubber, which can leak phthalates into your body and commonly cause bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, or dermatitis.

With every toy, it’s recommended that you wash at three stages: coming out of the box, before use, and after use. (Realistically, I sanitize out of the box, wash after every use, and store in a clean area.) Make sure to use soap when you wash, and sanitize between partners. This can be done with a 10% bleach solution, an antibacterial soap or toy cleaner, or boiling water.

Finally, give your body a break by using lube, which you can read more about it in my Introduction to Lube. Add a bit of body-safe lubricant to reduce friction, and always use lube during anal play.

STDs can be transmitted during oral sex, too! These coloured guys are flavoured but sugar-free.

How to talk about safe sex with your partner(s)

So you and your partner are ready to have sex. Congratulations! Before anything happens, it’s time to talk about using protection.

The most common form of protection used during sex is the male condom, which I’m ~~sure~~ hopeful that you learned about in health class. What your awkward gym teacher probably didn’t tell you, however, is that fit is really important. A condom that’s too big is prone to slipping off during sex, and a condom that’s too tight will be hard to put on properly. I really like the original Skyn condoms. They’re latex-free, and I’m frequently told that they’re one of the most comfortable brands. Skyns are easier to find than the popular Kimono MicroThins, and often cheaper. I always bring a strip of Skyns and a bottle of Sliquid H2O with me on dates just in case!

» Stock up on Skyns, Kimonos, female condoms, and dental dams at Come As You Are (CA), Well.ca, and drugstores like Walgreens (US).

It can be awkward to have “the talk” before intercourse, but in it’s essential — even just for oral sex, which commonly passes HPV and herpes (among other STDs). I like to broach the topic by discussing our last test results, and what I expect from them in terms of condom usage. I’m not always in a relationship with my partners, but I always have a relationship with them — for me, a big part of keeping myself safe is feeling comfortable with my level of knowledge of a person before heading to the bedroom. (Or the living room, or the kitchen, or the open side of the converted VW bus, as it were.)

Date night essentials: a great lip (the Colourpop Ultra Mattes don’t budge), a sexy candle, and an up-to-date STD test.

When to get tested

Getting tested for STDs can be tricky, because it takes 24 hours to 3 months for body to develop antibodies. Plus, you can come into contact with different versions of the same sexually transmitted disease (like an oral, genital, or antibiotic-resistant version).

To keep you and your partner(s) as safe as possible, I encourage thorough, frequent testing unless you’re in a long-term situation with no new partners. I’m lucky enough to live in Canada, where all STD testing is covered by provincial healthcare. (EDIT: Amanda has noted that HPV testing may not be included in this coverage, depending on your province of residence.) Tests can be ordered by any doctor, and in many cities (mine included), there are free STD clinics that take anonymous, walk-in appointments.

In the US, however, sexual healthcare is a little different. Testing is significantly more expensive, and the American healthcare system doesn’t have universal coverage for diagnostics. Clinics like Planned Parenthood offer free STD testing, but they’re not always a safe or accessible choice. That’s where services like STDcheck.com come in. I’ve been planning this post since last fall (it’s a follow-up to this one), and they offered to sponsor my final product. The site matches you directly to a clinic in your area (within the continental US) for an STD panel, and emails you your results in 1-2 days. You can choose which tests to take, as a 10 test panel may not always be necessary.

Finally, STDcheck.com is great because they offer some early detection tests. If you’re at risk for a particular STD, you can check their site to make sure you’re ready for testing.

How the sex talk changes with more than one partner

I’ve spent parts of my life casually dating, polyamorously dating, or open dating. If you’re having any form of non-monogamous sex or group sex, the problem of how to talk about safe sex gets a little more complicated.

For starters, you’re going to have to have “the talk” multiple times, and think in a broader scope. How does the risk of pregnancy affect each person, and is everyone comfortable with their risk factors? The same thing applies for STD testing: you may find that you want to be tested more frequently if you or your partner has other partners. It’s healthy to discuss testing throughout the entire group if you’re having sex with more than one partner, because one person’s decision to have risky sex affects everyone.

Even if you’re just casually dating, it’s your responsibility to make sure your partners understand their risk factor. Who’s “fluid bonded” (having unprotected sex) with who? Are there safety expectations that you expect your partners and their partners to uphold? What’s the protocol for letting everyone know if someone breaches those expectations? Having safe sex doesn’t exclude you from having casual sex, it just means that you need to sacrifice a couple minutes of your date night to talk things out first.

As part of a longer discussion, I also like to talk to my partners about their opinions on abortion. My personal rule is simple: I choose to be childless at this point in my life, so I won’t get involved with anyone for whom that’s an issue for. As a uterus owner, I have the final say on my body, but I don’t expect to have the final say on anyone else’s.

When to have the talk

Talking about safe sex has a place in every sexual relationship. I have “the talk” on any date that I think might end in sex, and have it again throughout the relationship. As your expectations of your partner(s) change, talking about safe sex can create a safe space to discuss your relationship on the whole. It allows for a dialogue to state clearly what you expect, and where you feel the boundaries of your relationship lie. Think of the safe sex talk as an easy way to stop your life from becoming a bad rom-com. If you’re open and honest with your partners, no one gets left crying at the airport — and you can skip the middle 90 minutes of the movie where person A is miserable because they misunderstood person B’s offhand remark.

(You can really tell that I love rom-coms, eh?)

(But for real, I LOVE a good rom-com. I just hate the trope-y ones!)

If you haven’t gotten tested in a while, consider today the perfect day to get back into the game with STDcheck.com.

Tags: sponsored/Sex

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Kiss The Scandal “Temptation” Creamy Lipstick review, swatches: When mattes aren’t matte

January 15, 2019

Rae Chen

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The product: Kiss The Scandal Creamy Lipstick in Temptation

Kiss The Scandal: How matte is matte?

In a sentence? Not very matte. It’s so weird to me that companies are making “mattes” nowadays that aren’t matte at all — but it’s a pretty common phenomenon all across the beauty world.

Just like how beauty magazines are calling vulvas “vaginas,” more and more brands are calling cream finishes (typically lightly-moisturizing formulas with no shimmer or gloss) “mattes.” It’s frustrating, because we already have a word for that. But as more publications move to digital platforms, SEO becomes king.

Even, apparently, at the cost of common sense and a healthy grip on reality.

The texture and shade of Kiss Temptation

The formula: As a lip product with a “semi-matte finish,” these are mediocre; however, as a lip product with a cream finish, this shade is excellent. The Kiss The Scandal lipsticks are soft and comfortable, and I find that they wear for about three hours before I need to reapply. They’re not particularly hydrating, but they don’t strip my lips of moisture, either. Each lipstick has a fruity scent.

The shade: Temptation is a really well-balanced “nothing” lip for fair skin. It’s a mauvey nude with medium opacity and fairly neutral undertones.

I’ve tried the Kiss The Scandal Creamy Lipstick in Irresistible as well (at a Kiss event), and I definitely think this is a formula that excels in nude and natural shades. Irresistible is a blackened violet. It’s gorgeous, but in a formula that never sets… it just doesn’t work. Darker colours go on patchy and are prone to smearing.

Kiss The Scandal Creamy Lipstick in Temptation (swatched in indirect sunlight)

Kiss The Scandal Creamy Lipstick in Temptation. This is how I usually take my lip swatches (as above), but I really like how this photo turned out — it shows off Kiss’ Lash Couture Faux Mink Lashes in Boudoir really well, and shows how this lip shifts in different lighting! Great skin texture, too. This is Pür Cosmetics 4-in-1 Pressed Power Foundation in Porcelain.

Other creamy mattes at the drugstore

Calling a cream (or “creme”) product a “matte” is one of my cardinal beauty sins, but Kiss isn’t the only company who does it. Remember the Maybelline Vivid Mattes? This is the same idea: a “matte” liquid lipstick that finishes with a cream finish. (For what it’s worth, I like these more — the Vivid Mattes, for those who remember them, were pretty shiny. These have a more effortless finish!)

Kiss The Scandal in Temptation (middle) alongside Kiss Top Brow (in Medium Brown, Brunette, and Deep Dark Brown) and Magical Ink Eyeliner. I love The Scandal, but the Top Brow spoolies are a little too harsh for me, and I find that the Magical Ink liner smudges after about two hours.

The Kiss The Scandal verdict?

If you go based on Kiss’ marketing materials for these, they’re pretty terrible. They’re not matte (or “semi matte”), they’re not high-pigment, and they definitely aren’t fully opaque.

However, if you’re going based solely off of how these perform… I like them. They’re comfortable and creamy, and Temptation is an awesome medium-nude for Asian skintones. It can be tough to find a neutral lip that works for olive skintones, so despite these falling short of my expectations, I find that I quite enjoy them for other reasons!

If you’re purchasing a tube of Kiss The Scandal, make sure to opt for light and medium shades, as the darker ones don’t perform as well.

Availability: $7 USD/$9.99 CAD. Permanent. Find these at London Drugs and Rexall.

Tags: /Kiss, Lips, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches

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3 more masks for dry skin to start the year off right!

January 7, 2019

Rae Chen

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I’ve always been a little bit in awe of people who can keep up a multi-step Korean skincare regimen, but on the whole, I’m pretty lax about my skincare. My face gets moisturized at least twice a day (other than the rare exception where I don’t shower until 5pm, in which case, it gets moisturized only once), and my body is slathered in hydration after every shower. But I like to apply everything all at once, and I very rarely use any of my many masks for dry skin.

When I do, though, there are a few that I tend to reach for. My favourite of all time is the Skinfood Black Sugar Honey mask, which I used to get from Take Good Care. They’ve since stopped carrying it, but you can get it now at Ulta, which is really handy. It exfoliates and hydrates at once, and there’s nothing better for sloughing off dry skin. I love Take Good Care, though, and I kind of want to go back for some dry skin sheet masks — these three options caught my eye!

But I digress. My skin needs a lot of care in order to stay hydrated here in Alberta, and it doesn’t always get it. So, when I have the time, I like to take a few minutes during my nightly reading time to slap on a quick mask from a pot or enjoy a sheet mask. I’m re-reading The Belgariad right now, and my most recent sheet masks for dry skin adventure involved The Magician’s Gambit and Yes to Coconut. Nothing is likely ever to surpass my love for Black Sugar Honey, but I know not everyone wants their mask to be exfoliating, so here are three more options!

Yes to Coconut Hydrate & Restore Ultra Hydrating Sheet Mask

The “Yes to…” line of sheet masks are unexpectedly stimulating, and I honestly couldn’t tell you why. There’s no cinnamon oil or menthol in them, but they begin to tingle immediately, and it’s intentional. For my sensitive skin, the Yes to Coconut Hydrate & Restore Sheet Mask was too much; it went from a tingling, to a burning sensation, to an intense pain. The feeling went away after 7 minutes, but when I removed the mask at 10 to rinse, the water seemed to sear my face.

I’m not alone in this, either. 607 reviews (at time of publication) of this mask on Ulta give it an average of 2 stars, and 432 (71%!!!!) of those reviews are one-star ones. More than half of reviewers said that this mask irritated their skin. And it sucks, because despite the pain, my skin felt super plump and smooth after using the Yes to Coconut Hydrate & Restore Ultra Hydrating Sheet Mask.

I love the Yes to line. The price point is great. The packaging is adorable. They make cool, effective products, like scrub sticks, zit zapping dots, and unicorn peel-off masks, and they do it all without testing on animals. But their sheet masks need a non-tingling alternative!

Availability: $2.99 USD at Ulta.

Bio Beauté Vitamin-Rich Detox Mask with Orange Water

Okay. I don’t mask often, but I also don’t usually spend a lot on my masks. I love the Skinfood Black Sugar Honey because it’s great, but I keep it as a staple because it’s only $16. This one from Bio Beauté is a little pricier, but as a mask in a pot, it’s a great deal.

$27 isn’t bad for a mask that’s this effective, and I swear that this pot of Bio Beauté Vitamin-Rich Detox Mask never runs out. I’ve had mine since 2014. It has magically not gone off, not dried up, and not run out. This silicone-free beauty still feels just as silky as the day I first cracked it open, and with my infrequent masking, it’s barely half empty.

With weekly use, I’d say this will last you 4-6 months. I like using it only in the areas where I really need it (around the mouth, lower cheeks, and above my brows), letting it sit for 5-10 minutes, and then massaging it in. The formula is designed to go on sort of like jelly and then break down into an oil as you massage it, rinsing off as a smooth, milky-white emulsion.

Availability: $27 CAD at Shopper’s Drug Mart.

Keep up with my masking adventures on Instagram!

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating 100% Hydrogel Mask

I’m in the mood to end things on a high note, so let’s talk about last year’s big find. I like sheet masks, but I don’t love them — unless, apparently, they’re this one.

The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating 100% Hydrogel Mask is a totally different experience from most sheet masks. Instead of being made out of thin, poorly-fitting cotton, this mask is squishy and luxurious. It doesn’t look like anything special (sort of like a thin layer of silicone), but it feels great. It has the texture of cushy agar agar, and it’s all I can do not to bite right through each sheet. The mask is made from a seaweed-derived polymer, so its agar agar roots aren’t entirely out of the realm of possibility, either!

Hydrogel masks come with a plastic layer that you peel off, so they’re a little more wasteful than paper masks. (I use them as a little “treat” for my skin because of it.) They’re also usually more expensive than paper ones, which is why this mask is such a unique find. At $2.99 USD, this mask fits well to the face in separate top and bottom halves without slipping off. Its serum is rich and hydrating without being sticky. My skin laps up the moisture from this mask, whose origins you can see on the Neutrogena site as they work to add ingredients for every product.

I’m out of this mask right now, but you can bet I haven’t used it for the last time yet. For those who hate paper masks, this option from Neutrogena offers silky hydration at an extra-affordable price.

Availability: $2.99 USD at Ulta, or B2GO at Neutrogena right now. $3.99-4.49 CAD.

Tags: /Charlotte Tilbury, Extremely dry skin, Grouped reviews, Neutrogena, Other, Product Photos, Silicone-free, Skincare

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How to plan your trip to the Louvre (with a wheelchair): The best things I did in 2018

December 31, 2018

Rae Chen

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By far the best thing that I did in 2018 was go to Europe & the UK. I talked about it a little while ago, but I still have more to say. The trip that I took this spring was my first big excursion with a disability, so I wanted to share some tips that I picked up along the way. This post is all about how to plan your trip to the Louvre, with a little twist for theNotice: how to plan your trip to the Louvre with a wheelchair.

How to plan your trip to the Louvre

Going to a tourist hotspot is tough at the best of times, but it’s a bigger struggle when you need accommodations. (The Palace of Versailles was way harder—although that’s a story for another day). My top trips for travellers are pretty simple: go early, and buy a timeslot ticket if possible.

Arrive before 9. The Louvre opens at 9 AM daily and is closed on Tuesdays, so it’s best to arrive at or before 9:00. I’ve read on other blogs that Mondays are the busiest days to go.

Buy in advance. If you’ve already purchased your ticket, you’re unlikely to wait more than 15 minutes in lines (which can stretch for up to 3 hours without a pre-purchased ticket.)
Use a side entrance. We arrived early enough not to need this, but the Porte des Lions entrance (before the pyramid, in the wings) and the underground Carrousel du Louvre entrance have shorter lines all day long.
Plan in advance. The layout is tricky, so if you already know which wings you’re most interested in, the day will go by a lot more quickly.
DO go underground! The Sully wing gave me a look into the Louvre that I wasn’t expecting, which includes the architecture of the medieval Louvre and a look into its long history.

Travelling with a disability

How to plan your trip to the Louvre changes when you have a disability. I stay in most mornings while I travel, resting up while my companions explore the city. On days when I need to be up early, I almost always use a chair.

As an occasional wheelchair user, I travel without my wheelchair. It makes airport security easier, and means that I can borrow one whenever I need to.

Many countries in the EU have accessibility laws requiring museums to have wheelchairs available to the public. France’s 2005 disability law ensures this, but we found it to be the case in London and Berlin as well. Some museums will hold your ID to make sure you return the chair (the Louvre is one of them), but for the most part, you just have to explain your situation and they’re happy to accommodate.

Use a checklist

If you have a disability, here are a few extra tips that I found helpful!

Bring your paperwork, and keep it handy. It gets checked frequently and thoroughly.
Don’t be shy. If you have trouble with fatigue, go straight to the front of the line in your wheelchair or politely ask for one while you wait. They’ll either bring you one or have you skip the queue entirely.
Pull your documentation immediately. This is almost never the case in Canada, but many museums in the EU give free admission to people with disabilities plus one attendant. Because I frequently run out of energy and have to cut my day short after an hour or two, having the entry fee waived (otherwise $53 CAD for two people at the Louvre) gave us the option to come back for multiple short visits without racking up a huge bill.
Ask for help! Older museums aren’t always accessible, and the Louvre is perhaps the guiltiest offender. Some areas are impossible to traverse in a wheelchair, but museum attendants can take you through staff passageways to circumvent sets of stairs. Plus, as a bonus, the passageways are super cool!

Crying in the Louvre…

…is just a thing that’s going to happen, so you may as well accept it. I’m a pretty emotional person, and being surrounded by thousands of pieces of human excellence was a lot for me to handle.

What really got me was my experience with the Mona Lisa. I planned on skipping it: I was in a wheelchair, and it’s notorious for being so popular that you can only get a glance at it from a distance. But when we stumbled upon it by accident, the Louvre attendant in the room immediately walked over to my mother and told her to push my chair up in front of the guide railing.

I was completely gutted by the action. The Mona Lisa wasn’t that impressive; it was tiny and cracked and holds so much history that it would be impossible for it to live up to its name. Having someone go out of their way to make sure that I could see it too was a hundred times more impressive.

I cried. There are hundreds of things that I will never be able to do because of my disability, but very few things that I am able to do because of it. It’s difficult to put into words how incredible it was to be given a perfect, unobstructed view of the most famous piece of art in the world simply because someone at the Louvre decided that people with disabilities—who often struggle ten times as much just to get to the museum doors—deserve to enjoy art with the same abandon as everyone else.

The Mona Lisa was just okay. The people surrounding it were incredible.

One other great thing I did in 2018

I re-wrote my life plan for a future with a disability… and then I bought myself a couple of demi-fine rings. I thought for a little bit that I has a craving in my belly to run into the sunset and immediately get hitched, but I was wrong. What I actually wanted was a couple little cluster rings, so I solved the problem and put a ring on it.

What can I say? I’m pretty great and rings are shiny. It’s simple math, and apparently, I’m good at math.

Emerald cut black onyx: from Villani Designs on Etsy. I wouldn’t recommend this one; it sits quite high, and is almost definitely a 5 instead of a 4 1/2. I never heard back from the shop owner when I asked for it to be re-sized to the correct dimensions.

Amethyst, opal, and white topaz cluster ring: from Minette. This Jeni Moon Cluster Ring ring fits really well, and its holding up nicely. The Minette international shipping rates are outrageous, so I’d recommend purchasing from Local Eclectic if they have your size!

What did you love this year?

Tags: /Fall/Winter 2018, Fashion, Lips, Product Photos, Travel

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Sephora Collection stocking stuffers review & swatches

December 22, 2018

Rae Chen

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Things have been crazy on my end, but I wanted to fit in one last feature before the holidays. Sephora Collection always release my favourite stocking stuffer-type products, and this year is no exception! I love their kits, the variety of everything, and the sheer number of great products that the brand manages to push out for under $20 a pop.

Sephora Collection stocking stuffers

Okay. My big pick from Sephora Collection this year? Their sheet masks. They have a ton, and they’re so. darn. cool.

Each mask is $6 USD/$8 CAD, and the variety is wild: everything from The Silver Mask, a foil mask that’s enriched with pearl extract to brighten out dull skin (perfect for the holidays) to the detoxifying, spirulina-enriched The Bubble Mask. The Sephora Experiential Masks Set upgrades the brand’s masks from stocking stuffers to main gifts: it contains their charcoal sheet mask, mud mask, bubble mask, and 3-minute primer mask.

Sephora Give Me Some Glitter Set

Sephora Give Me Some Glitter swatches

Even cooler is the Sephora Give Me Some Glitter Set ($10 USD/$13 CAD), which includes three sizes and colours of glitter alongside a lightweight adhesive. It’s designed for the hair and body, but let’s be real: every makeup lover out there will be immediately using these glitters on their face. I love the chunky silver glitters in this set!

Finally, the Sephora In the Blink of an Eye Palette ($6 CAD) is a little on the sheer side, but awesome for the price. These neutral eyeshadows create a really natural-looking eye on fair to light skin, and fit neatly into a little holiday clutch.

Sephora In the Blink of an Eye review

Sephora In the Blink of an Eye swatches (primed skin, studio lighting)

Last-minute Sephora Collection gift ideas

Going for the big last-minute gift, Sephora Collection offers two things that I think are awesome: their annual mega eyeshadow palette (in a lovely star theme this time), and a tube of brushes that I can’t stop using.

The Sephora Star Catcher Eyeshadow Palette ($28 CAD) houses 34 eyeshadows at a crazy-cheap, already-on-sale price. It’s more or less what you’d expect; none of these eyeshadows will knock your socks off, but none of them are total duds, either. They’re medium-opacity shimmers and mattes that are a little dry, but wear well over a primer.

Sephora Collection Star Catcher Eyeshadow Palette

Sephora Rising Star Canister Brush Set

Sephora Rising Star Canister Brushes (I love those glitter star handles!)

While I’m not always a big fan of mega eyeshadow palettes, I can make an exception during the holidays. This one stuck out to me in particular thanks to its muted palette—a lot of these are shades that I would wear.

And finally, before I drop off the face of the world for the next little while (everyone needs a holiday break, and my fibro and I are going to take this one very seriously): the Sephora Rising Star Canister Brush Set ($49 CAD). These brushes are velvety-soft, and the brush roll is perfect as both a glittery brush stand and an easy-to-transport kit. I love the domed foundation brush for both powder and liquid, and the angled contour brush is thin enough to use on the nose as well as the cheekbones.

Happy holidays!

Tags: /Eyes, Grouped reviews, Holiday 2018, Other, Product Photos, Product Swatches, Sephora Collection, Skincare

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Milk Makeup Supernova review, swatches + mental health chat!

December 13, 2018

Rae Chen

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The product: Milk Makeup ‘Supernova’ Holographic Highlighting Powder

I’m starting to see a new therapist next Friday. Of all of the highlights of 2018… this might be the one thing that I am most looking forward to. Even though I’m surrounded by an absolutely amazing support system, I’ve struggled through the past 12 months. (This Milk Makeup Supernova Highlighter has helped take the edge off of things, but highlighters can’t fix everything. Probably. Unless maybe I’m just not trying hard enough, and owning a twentieth highlighter is what’ll really do the trick?)

One of the major issues that I’ve faced this year is that I don’t know where I’m headed. It feels a lot like I’m learning to be alone, which is great, except apparently I am terrible at it. It’s tough to look at your future when your peers are achieving their wildest dreams, and you’re trapped in a body that just won’t quite work.

So here are two things that are powering my sunlight-deprived, extra-depressed December: a seriously luminescent highlighter, and a handful of brain and body pills.

Milk Makeup Supernova. Look at that WILD violet reflect!

Milk Makeup ‘Supernova’ Holographic Highlighting Powder review & swatches

The shade: Okay. So this lavender is… perfect. I struggle with finding a great highlighter because most golds and peaches are darker than my skin itself. But this? This is practically white with a violet shift. It’s cool-toned and ethereal, and intensely finely-milled.

I thought I wanted this in stick form, but having tried the stick in Stardust, I recognize now that I was wrong. The real crown jewel of the Milk Makeup collection is not their Holographic Stick ($28 USD), but their Holographic Powder ($24 USD/$30.50 CAD; I bought this inexplicably on sale for $15). It’s soft and silky, and the texture is perfect for applying with a dense highlighting brush. You can blur the edges without losing any intensity, which is basically the highlighter dream.

Wearing the Milk Makeup Supernova Holographic Highlighting Powder

Supernova swatched in indirect sunlight on primed skin

The wear: This formula is “sticky” enough that it gives you a flashy reflect, but soft enough that your edges disappear upon application. I’m a big fan of applying this highlighter with a dense brush like the NYX Pro Fan Brush, and I tend to apply it only to the tops of my cheekbones. It lasts a solid workday on me, but because of the intensity of this shine, it looks odd on my nose or Cupid’s bow—the violet duochrome is evident.

Availability: $24 USD/$30.50 CAD at Sephora. Permanent.

Brighter days for 2019

I can’t say that this new therapist is going to be any better than the last few, but I’m hopeful. Unlike a lot of providers, she was able to offer a start to our sessions now—when I need it—instead of a few months into 2019. I’m the kind of person who needs to make a change immediately if it’s ever going to happen, so I’m excited to get my therapy ball rolling again. Who knows: maybe she’ll be my Milk Makeup Supernova after all; my goldilocks therapist.

I found my new maybe-therapist using the Psychology Today listings, filtered for clinicians specializing in chronic pain and either hypnotherapy or psychoanalytic therapy. (I haven’t been getting a lot out of CBT, so I thought I’d try something different to see if a fresh perspective will help). That directory is linked here. While I’m hoping to switch in the spring to someone who offers more accessible coverage, for now, I’m happy with my forward momentum. The listings—which I was turned onto by the My Favourite Murder podcast—let you filter though different providers, and then check your results against healthcare coverage, sliding scale options, and location.

I’m going to be sharing some of this post on social media as well with the #myfavouritemeds hashtag, so here’s my ask for the day: I’d love to read about your journey, too. Come share your meds with us if you need a listening ear, and don’t be a stranger—tag me in your posts for a digital hug.

See you next week (it’ll be another mid-week post) for some last minute Christmas coverage. xo

Tags: /Cheeks, Milk Makeup, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Ramblings

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New 07/12/18: Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask and more

December 9, 2018

Rae Chen

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Happy Sunday, folks! This week’s post is going to be a little late, so let’s chat about some new launches instead—just in time for the holidays. I haven’t done a New This Week in forever, but there are plenty of new things that have caught my eye.

My rewardStyle are acting up this week, which means that this post is going to be different in more ways than one. First, it’s on a Sunday, which basically never happens. Second, it’s a ShopStyle widget, which only true OGs of theNotice will recognize. And third, it contains a mix of new beauty products that I love… and a few handbags that are way out of my price range. (They’re on sale for the holidays! On sale!)

As a Canadian, I don’t get the Panera bread cult following. Can someone please explain it to me?

Wrapping my mind around the Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask

This week’s most notable include the Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask, the Ellis Brooklyn MYTH Hydraparfum, and Sephora’s 12 Days of Masking gift set. Why? Uhhh… because this is an avocado melt, perfumes were never made to be hydrating (can you imagine how eye-wateringly smelly you’d be if you kept spritzing your perfume every time your hands got dry?), and mask sets are awesome.

Not as awesome as a Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask substituting itself in for a proper avocado melt, but okay. I can see how you got there. I don’t like it, and it makes me kind of hungry, but it’s kind of funny.

Tags: /New This Week (& etc)

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2018’s Gift Guide of Unexpected Items | Ft. holiday gifts from We-Vibe!

December 3, 2018

Rae Chen

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This gift guide is sponsored by We-Vibe and contains affiliate links and product samples.

Every year, I struggle to arrange my gift guide compendium cohesively. Which lipsticks are the best ones to feature; which body butters are the creamiest? So, this year, I’m doing something a little different: posting one large, comprehensive gift guide of all of the items that I’m loving and all of the little luxuries that I think are the most giftable for 2018.

This year’s theme is something new: unexpected items, like the We-Vibe Discover Gift Box. These are products that don’t always scream “HOLIDAYS!” but make an amazing holiday gift regardless. From shampoos to lip balms, they’re gift ideas that you or your loved one can enjoy all year round; gift ideas that you probably haven’t seen on any other gift guides.

Here’s what I’m loving.

Holiday hair (and a couple extra gift guide ideas)

My top gift pick of the year is the Kérastase Aura Botanica Riche line ($23 to $65 CAD) that I reviewed this winter. I can’t get enough of this shampoo and conditioner duo, which smells amazing (like botanicals and coconut) and leave my hair so, so soft. The shampoo is rich and foamy without being stripping, and the conditioner is buttery and hydrating.

To pair with your new Aura Botanica products, I recommend the NuMe Fashionista Hair Straightener ($119 USD), a one-inch wonder. I now own four straighteners (don’t look at me like that), and this is by far my favourite. Its tourmaline ceramic plates are super-smooth, it’s easy to grip, and it’s non-digital—so there’s no accidental pushing of buttons or high-pitched beeping noises. If you usually opt for CHI or ghd, I wholeheartedly recommend asking for a NuMe this Christmas instead!

I love playing with new brushes, and Real Techniques offers two cool, travel-friendly ones this season: the Real Techniques Brush Crush Diamond Sponge ($13.99 CAD) looks super cool and blends out foundation like a dream, no matter how dry or humid your destination is. Then, for your cheeks, the Mini Multitask Brush ($8.99) is tiny enough to fit in your clutch, but features a full-sized head. (It’s even small enough to hang on the tree as an ornament, if you’re gifting to someone you’ll be travelling with after the holidays.)

And, for your day-after-the-party needs, I love the squishy Sephora Glitter & Chill Cooling Mask ($8 USD). This one is already sold out online, so snap it up in-store if you still can!

The extras

For bedroom extras, we have a super-cool Sephora #MOOD Lash Vault ($60 USD), which houses eight sets of false lashes in a lovely gold box. I started wearing lashes for date night last year, and I kind of love it—even just the act of putting them on helps put me in the “date night” headspace, now. Coach Platinum ($92 CAD) sets the mood, with clean notes of black pepper, geranium, and sandalwood.

For a little later on in the night, there’s the We-Vibe Match ($159 CAD) — read more about it here. It’s a unique sex toy in an unexpected colour, designed with partnered play in mind. (For a gift, I’d actually scale up to the We-Vibe Sync, but I find the sensation of the two to be almost identical.) The Match is waterproof and rechargeable, with ten vibration modes at a medium intensity.

And finally, from my neuroses, the most ridiculous thing that I own and love… Poo-Pourri ($14.99 USD+). I’m in two camps: on one hand, I think that Poo-Pourri is the physical manifestation of everything that’s wrong with the world. On the other, it helps with my weird bathroom anxieties, and I choose to believe that it helps keeps my love life alive. I don’t want the person who I’m playing with my Match with to be all up in my business, you know?

(If I’m wrong and it doesn’t actually work, I don’t want to know. Please, never tell me. Just get your spritz on and LET ME POOP IN PEACE!!)

The classic gift guide: Brushes, blindfolds, and bougie lip balms

These picks are a little more traditional: lipsticks, fragrances, and buttery-soft feathers. But they have one thing in common: I haven’t seen any of these items in any other gift guides this year, even though they make amazing gifts!

Take the Rodial Rose Gold Lip Balm ($20 USD, available at Murale in Canada), for instance. It’s literally everything that you’d want out of a holiday present: it’s not too expensive, it’s practical, and it’s super luxe. Castor seed oil and shea butter are richly hydrating (I can wear this for up to six hours), while the lip balm’s rose gold cap and brush-tip applicator make it unique enough to be a special treat. Then there’s Thierry Mugler’s Alien ($96 CAD), just to make things weird—it has an interesting bottle and hits you in the face with a bouquet of jasmine sambac and ambergris. (It smells like lilacs to me, which always breaks my heart.)

For your face, two little special somethings: the Sephora Rising Star Canister Brush Set ($49 CAD; the super-dense brushes are here), along with a few insanely soft, mermaid vibe-y Real Techniques Brush Crush ($17.99 CAD) brushes.

Unwind with the We-Vibe Discover Gift Box

And finally, the big kahuna: the We-Vibe Discover Gift Box ($289 CAD). I know I’ve talked so much about this already, but you guys, I legitimately love it. It’s such a good way to give your partner the gift of pleasure, without any risk. There are so many different options in the box, and even if they don’t like any of the vibrating toys (which would be unlikely; the three included in this are all really different), there are sensual items to indulge in as well. I love the discreet rumble of the Tango, the soft touches of the feather tickler, and the sweet vanilla scent of the massage wax candle.

The Discover Gift Box would be a super fun advent calendar, but it’s a great way to spice up a long-term relationship, too. Just slip into something comfortable, smooth on a Lise Watier Rouge Gourmand Lipstick ($25 CAD; these ones are Acai Berry, Red Delight, and Dragon Fruit), and open up one new Discover box per date night, starting on January 1st.

Tags: /Grouped reviews, Holiday 2018, The Edit, The Gift Guide

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