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Black Friday sex toy sales & makeup deals

November 22, 2018

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This Black Friday sex toy sales & makeup deals post was a pretty close thing. Sale roundups take a lot of work—and when you’re trying not to buy into consumer holidays, it’s easy to just say no to them.

But I’m kinda all about making high-quality products accessible to all, so I caved. This isn’t a big batch of sales. Instead, it’s the best of the best—only the sales that I would (or have) shopped. I’ve focused on sex toys because they’re the big investment piece, and added in a few other things that caught my eye.

It’s easy to pick up a great lipstick at under $25, but I challenge you to find a single truly great vibrator at less than $25. Less than $50, even! Black Friday sex toy sales help shave as much off of that price as possible, making orgasms just that little bit more universal and affordable.

Here are the Black Friday sex toy sales that I would shop, plus a couple of extras.

Black Friday sex toy sales

Come As You Are: 10% off $100+ with BLACKFRIDAY10, 20% off $200+ with BLACKFRIDAY20, and 30% off $300+ with BLACKFRIDAY30. CAYA uses Canadian pricing, so you can land some pretty sweet deals if you live in the US or shop in US currency!

Je Joue: 20% off site-wide.

Lovehoney: 30% off. This is the best deal for the Je Joue Mimi Soft.

Peepshow Toys: 25% off site-wide. That’s the best price on the We-Vibe Adventure Kit, and a great deal on Sliquid and the We-Vibe Tango. It’s the best deal out there for the VixSkin Mustang.

Pink Cherry CA: 40% off with BLACK40. Free shipping over $49. This is the best deal for Sliquid, the Satisfyer Pro Penguin, and the We-Vibe Tango.

Sliquid: 30% off through November 26th. I go through a lot of Sliquid H2O, but their flavoured lubes are the best fruity flavours on the market.

SheVibe: 10% off $75+ with JINGLE10, 15% off $100+ with JINGLE15, and 20% off $125+ with JINGLE20, plus free US shipping on all orders over $75. Through November 26th.

We-Vibe: 20% off. The We-Vibe Tango is a forever-favourite of mine, and with its battery life (I replace mine once every 1-2 years), I like to stock up when I can.

Black Friday sales on makeup & more

Charlotte Tilbury: 40% off Cyber Week products and bundles. I really like their Instant Look In A Palette kits!

Colourpop: Changes by the day. So far, we’ve seen 30% off all lips and free worldwide shipping with no minimum. I bought two of their liquid lipsticks, in similar shades with different finishes, and a duochrome eyeshadow. (I was good!)

Esqido: Up to 40% off. Use code raec to support theNotice! (It might give you an extra 15% off, but I’m not sure.)

Henkaa: Up to 50% off sale items, plus an extra 20% off your entire cart with BF20. Through November 26th. I love their Blume and Ivy styles!

Nordstrom: Up to 60% off through November 26th. My picks are this cashmere sweater, this 60% off dress (in green), and these half-off Topshop heels.

PYT Beauty: 33% off Black Friday through Cyber Monday. I’m itching to try this new line out!

Sephora: Up to 50% off in the Beauty Sale and Daily Wow sections. I’m eyeing the half-off Violet Voss palette and the great prices on YSL lipstick! Sephora’s Black Friday deals are always great, too, with $15 USD & under and $20 CAD & under sections. (I’m tempted to buy the Bite Agave set, but I’m definitely not braving the Black Friday crowds.)

This post contains affiliate links.

Tags: /Steals and Deals

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London Sky Garden: Kerastase Aura Botanica Riche review

November 19, 2018

Rae Chen

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What’s more important: the things that were always going to happen, or the things that you made happen?

I made you happen. You were there and I just… built myself around you, like you asked me to, like it was a challenge. Maybe if I just. You’re wrapped up in a notebook in my office, scattered subsequently through dozens of pages: a little soft; a little rough; a little ambiguously plain. (You caught me once, in the bedroom in the late afternoon, and you told me you could tell by the way that I was frowning.) I’ve been in line for our sunny Sunday naps forever, scrabbling for the heavy weight of your limbs through an overflowing dance card.

I want it to count more that I had to find you, develop you, drag you halfway across the country with me in the dead of winter. Or maybe I just don’t want it to count less—less that you’re already a little empty, lying on the kitchen floor.

Photos taken at the London Sky Garden, May 2018.

Bringing home the London Sky Garden with Kérastase Aura Botanica

Featured also: updates to the Kérastase Aura Botanica line, which makes me feel like I’m back up in the London Sky Garden. It’s rich and hydrating. Think of the line as elevated—a step above, despite not reaching the full 38 stories of the Sky Garden.

The entire line is free of silicones, parabens, and sulfates. In it, the new Kérastase Aura Botanica Riche Shampoo and Conditioner suit my dry hair perfectly. They feel like maybe they were made for me; like their deficits are my own. (Both a little too comforting.) The Masque Fondamental Riche ($68 CAD) is a standout; it’s thick and buttery, and easy to use in the shower. You could turn this upside down and not lose a single drop. In conjunction, the Bain Micellaire Riche Shampoo and Masque Fondamental Riche conditioner make my hair feel thick and hydrated, and leave it smelling like a coconut version of the original Aura Botanica scent.

For your ultra-luxe body needs, reach for the Baume Miracle ($57 CAD) and Concentre Essentiel ($60 CAD). Both are for the hair and body, but they smell amazing—like a Sky Garden cocktail you can’t quite afford. They’re wildly hydrating, and the Concentre Essentiel oil is a spa in a bottle for at-home massages.

Tags: /4. Makeup looks, Hair, Kérastase, Makeup looks: neutral, Product Photos, Product Review, Ramblings

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theNotice’s super-sized We-Vibe giveaway! ($448 value)

November 12, 2018

Rae Chen

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It’s been months since theNotice’s last giveaway, but I promise: it’s been for a good reason! I’ve been scaling things back to better balance my fibro with my blog, and it’s made me pretty picky. But this We-Vibe giveaway is something a little different than the norm, and I think you’ll really enjoy it.

Right now, I’m neck-deep in testing new moisturizers and sex toys for holiday gift guides. I’ll share more of the products soon, but the one thing that really stuck out for me was the We-Vibe Discover Gift Box. It’s an advent calendar of sorts; ten days of sex toys and other play accessories. I love it because it contains a lot for an incredible price, and it’s something that the winner can explore with me, sort of. The winner of this We-Vibe giveaway will get an email just as I finish testing it, and it’ll arrive at their doorstep as it’s time to start opening up the doors.

Read on to enter to win the We-Vibe Discover Box (limited countries). Click the following link to skip to my international giveaway for the We-Vibe Match.

We-Vibe giveaway for the We-Vibe Discover Gift Box! ($450 CAD value, retail $289 CAD)

The We-Vibe Discover Gift Box is really, really cool. I get a lot of questions asking where to start for sex toys, and honestly? This box is IT. It’s the perfect place to begin building a collection for a vulva owner, and I think a lot of people will find that it’s the perfect place to complete a collection, too.

I’m going to place the giveaway widget for it below, and then talk about what’s in the box. You know—just in case anyone wants to be surprised! This giveaway will run for two weeks, and is open to limited countries as listed in the giveaway widget (AKA everywhere but Europe).

In the box is my most often-used toy, the We-Vibe Tango. It sits alongside the Womanizer Starlet, a pocket-sized version of one of my other favourites. Following those two are three other excellent, exploratory toys: the Dusk (a silicone plug that pairs with the Tango), a silicone Kegel ball, and a battery-powered We-Vibe Couples Vibrator, AAA battery included.

It also contains We-Vibe pjur Lube (lube is a must for any sex toy collection!) and three foreplay tools: some silly, sexy dice, a vanilla-scented massage candle, and a purse-sized feather tickler in a soft black with a green duochrome.

If you already have a mountain of sex toys, this box may or may not be for you. But if you’re just starting out, or if you’re not sure what to buy for your partner, the We-Vibe Discover Gift Box is awesome. It’s really well-rounded, and has a little something for everyone to try out.

Win the We-Vibe Match, open internationally

The second piece of my We-Vibe giveaway is the We-Vibe Match, a periwinkle version of We-Vibe’s infamous couples toys. Since my last We-Vibe (I have the We-Vibe 4 and my partner owns the We-Vibe Sync), the brand has been working on a few tweaks. The Match charges with a new-to-me base, which it clicks into securely.

The We-Vibe Match is a silicone couples vibe, and it’s fully waterproof. It offers 10 vibration modes and intensity levels, and a 90-minute charge gives you two hours of play time. Unlike the more expensive Sync, it isn’t app-enabled, but it comes with a small remote.

And the best thing about it? It’s available worldwide, which means that this We-Vibe giveaway for the Match is open worldwide, too. Click into the widget below to enter, and GOOD LUCK!

Tags: giveaway/Holiday 2018, Sex, We Vibe

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Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat review, swatches, photos

November 6, 2018

Rae Chen

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The products: Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat (Holiday 2018 collection)

If you’re looking for chocolate-scented lipstick treats and rich brown eyelash curlers, look no further than the Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat holiday collection. And, if you’re looking for a blogger who’s trying their best to keep up with holiday content but is seriously having trouble getting out of bed during a major depression slump… also stop here, but maybe try not to stay, because I’m extra grumpy.

I’ve been having another rough couple of weeks recently, but having a loose editorial schedule to stick to is helping me to keep trudging along.

Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat eyes

Maybe it’s just that I can’t get my brain chemistry right, but these palettes didn’t feel quite right to me. They’re totally stunning, don’t get me wrong—but a lot of the shades could have used more pigment.

I gravitated towards the Shu Uemura Ganache & Praliné Eye Palette in Dark Cacao ($99 CAD), which contains an array of totally chocolate-oriented nudes. While I think the tones in this palette are just right, and each of the shades wears well over a sticky eyeshadow primer, the palette on the whole verged on the side of dryness. (One shade, the last brown on the bottom, could even be described as—dare I say it?—chalky.)

For standout shades in the Dark Cacao palette, I think you’d be looking at the top left brown (such a good tone!) and the two taupes, which are undoubtedly lovely.

Shu Uemura Dark Cacao swatches on primed skin in indirect sunlight

The Shu Uemura Ganache & Praliné Eye Palette in Framboise Berry ($99 CAD) really showed up its neutral counterpart, and I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t choose this one for my Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat makeup look. I might still go back and add one in, though, so don’t despair; just let me know if you really want one!

Framboise Berry is full of rich reds, in line with this season’s popular eyeshadow palette look. It’s a very similar colour scheme to what you see in Urban Decay Naked Cherry ($66 USD) and Charlotte Tilbury Stars in your Eyes ($95 CAD), but with a Shu twist to it. The mattes in this palette are really smooth, and once you get to the burnt red that’s second from the right in the top row: w o w. It’s rich, metallic, and opaque, and looks incredibly dimensional.

Shu Uemura Framboise Berry swatches on primed skin in indirect sunlight

I’d say that this palette is sheer on the whole (that burnt red is by far the most intense), which has a niche appeal. I personally think it suits Shu’s Asian market very well, but if you want more opacity, then opt for Naked Cherry instead. The dark red in the bottom right corner of this palette is inexplicably dry, but overall, it’s well-composed.

This palette is the highlight of Shu’s holiday collection for me, and it even contains one of the brand’s classic flakey shimmers. Have a look at the top edge of the gold shimmer swatch if you haven’t been introduced to the loveliness of this texture in person—now that Clarins have stopped production of their flakey shimmers, Shu is the only brand where I can find this kind of eye-catching, multi-dimensional finish.

Shu Uemura Shimmery Powder in Luster Rosé Dust (back) and Luster Gold Dust (front) review

Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat lipsticks: Rouge Unlimited in Hazelnut Ganache (the Rouge Unlimited lipsticks have a straight base, while the Rouge Unlimited Supreme Mattes curve in at the base!)

Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat lipsticks

I have mixed feelings about Shu lipsticks, which I mentioned briefly in last week’s post. It’s not that I don’t like them—I do. But they’re not my favourites, and at their price point, they really should be.

I love Shu’s liquid lip products, and still reach for their lipgloss/lipstain Laque Sparklers on a regular basis. But their Rouge Unlimiteds don’t quite sit right with me. As a lipstick traditionalist, I like my mattes liquid, my glosses sheer, and my lipsticks heavy. I need to be able to eat in each of them, okay? And I don’t feel like I can eat in Rouge Unlimited Supremes. Their mattes are light and feathery, and their cream-finish lipsticks are moisturizing and almost slippery.

Shu Uemura Ripe Cherry Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte lipstick review

Shu Uemura Deep Raspberry Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte lipstick review

Swatched front to back (left to right) on primed skin in indirect sunlight: Shu Uemura Rich Hazelnut, Ripe Cherry, Deep Raspberry, Lustre Gold Dust, Lustre Rosé Dust

(Last Wednesday’s Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipstick in Ripe Cherry ($36 CAD) makeup look should have been done with the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in Hazelnut Ganache ($36 CAD), though. It’s dark and totally stunning, although like any other Rouge Unlimited, it does move around a little when I press my lips together.)

Shu always does one thing inarguably right with their lipsticks, though, and that’s their reds. Check that to-die-for red hue in Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipstick in Deep Cranberry ($36 CAD)!

Also swatched alongside these are the Shu Uemura Shimmery Powders in Luster Gold Dust and Luster Rosé Dust ($36 CAD). Loose glitters are a totally standard holiday item, but even though they’re always gorgeous… no one really ever needs another one of them.

(Glitters? For holiday? Groundbreaking.)

» Peep my Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat makeup look here. I promise major cheekbone action! «

Tags: /Eyes, Holiday 2018, Lips, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, shu uemura

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KISS Boudoir lashes x Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat review: A false lash fantasy look

October 31, 2018

Rae Chen

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How the KISS Boudoir lashes deliver on a false lash fantasy

I know you know that I love the KISS Lash Couture Faux Mink collection: I know this because I talk about it all the time. It’s cruelty-free and the lashes wear for a good 5-15 uses, depending on how gentle you are with them, so the KISS Lash Couture Little Black Dress lashes ($5.99 USD) are my go-to. I’ve easily gone through half a dozen sets of them, and they’re insanely hard to find in stores—whenever I do manage to find them (I’ve had the best luck at London Drugs), I buy out the whole shelf.

I’m down to my last pair of Little Black Dress lashes again, and I’m struggling yet again to find new ones. So, I tried something different last month and went with a trimmed-down pair of KISS Lash Couture in Boudoir ($5.99 USD) lashes. It went well—so well that I’ve decided to wear this set through before switching back.

They’re a different look. The KISS Boudoir lashes are significantly fuller than the Little Black Dress ones, and it makes a big difference for the band. While the LBD band is flexible, the KISS Boudoir lashes have a band that’s almost rigid. It makes them harder to place (and terrible for newbies), but it gives an interesting effect: on my monolids, the band can result in a double lid. (To prevent this, I just trim them down by 1/3 and place them farther to the outer corners.)

It’s a trick that isn’t guaranteed to work for everyone, but I’ve seen it mentioned by a few other monolidded bloggers in the past. If you want a comfortable way to try out a double-lid fantasy, give the KISS Boudoir lashes a chance!

KISS Boudoir lashes, Magical Ink Eyeliner (this one smudges on me, so beware!) and KISS Mani Pop Nail Accents. Lip: NARS New Lover ($27 USD). More of this look here!

Chocolate scents and luxe lashes with Shu Uemura

I’ve started playing around with holiday collections, and this one from Shu Uemura is gorgeous. La Maison du Chocolat boxes everything up like a tray of fancy chocolates, and the Rouge Unlimited lipsticks have a chocolate fragrance to match.

(However, the squares on the eyeshadow palettes are not scratch-‘n-sniff. I double-checked.)

I’ve been in a major funk recently, and it’s resulted in a months-long makeup rut. Which is to say: winged liner, lashes, and more or less no lip or eyeshadow. This is the first time I’ve actually put colour on my lids since the summer, and it felt good—almost like I was cracking a little, just at the effort of trying.

This look is pretty simple, and I’ll be following up with more in-depth coverage (and swatches!) of the products soon. On my eyes I have the Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat Ganache & Praliné Eye Palette in Dark Cacao ($99 CAD), with lashes curled using the Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat Chocolate Topped Premium Curler ($21 CAD) and topped with my KISS Boudoir lashes.

The Chocolate Topped curler is my favourite Shu curler so far: the brown hue is stunning, and something about the coating makes it feel a little more plush than my other Shu curlers. If your lash curler need replacing any time soon, I would absolutely recommend this one—it somehow knocks the brand’s own silver curler out of the park.

Shimmery goodness with Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat

On my lips is the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipstick in Ripe Cherry ($36 CAD), which I’d honestly skip. I’m not huge on Shu’s Rouge Unlimited Supreme Mattes. While I love their eyeshadows, the Rouge Unlimited lipsticks are too slippery for my liking, and the Supreme Mattes too drying. (There are exactly zero Shu lipsticks in my frequently-used makeup drawer, despite how gorgeous they are.)

Finally, I’ve highlighted here with the Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat Shimmery Powder in Luster Gold Dust ($36 CAD). It’s really, really glittery—I think it’s insane that Shu recommends using it almost as a setting powder, using the “puff or face powder brush to spread powder smoothly and evenly from center of the face outward.” As a highlighter, it’s pretty, but even then, it’s too much shimmer for me.

But I don’t know: maybe that’s just a mood thing. Do happy people wear more glitter? Answer Y/N in the comments, or pick up your nearest landline and scream endlessly into the void to reply.

Stay tuned for follow-up reviews and swatches.

Tags: /4. Makeup looks, Eyes, Holiday 2018, Kiss, Lips, Makeup looks: colour, Product Photos, Product Review, shu uemura

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BonLook review: Imagine II + Uniqlo Crepe Pleated Skirt

October 25, 2018

Rae Chen

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I don’t usually rock a fall look. Or — that’s not true. I don’t usually rock BonLook sunnies with a badass pleated skirt. (I usually just… wear a lot of plaid and get slightly too damp for comfort. It’s not a great look on me, or anyone.) Seeing as I’m now officially on the other side of 25, I kind of figured that it was time to start dressing like an adult.

I have mixed feelings about putting thought into dressing on-trend: it’s an uncomfortable mix of wanting to look like my peers and being ashamed of my own attentiveness to aesthetics. When you focus on dressing solely for practicality, you’re afforded a certain degree of freedom; you and your seven identical t-shirts (hopefully not worn simultaneously) are disregarded. Your outfit speaks for you, but it mostly just says “I’m uncomfortable.”

It’s an excellent tactic for walking down the street as an introvert, but just generally really bad planning as a style writer and beauty blogger.

The BonLook Imagine II Sunnies

Aesthetics always have a social origin, whether that’s as a reactive measure or as a class-conscious one. There’s always an aspirational nature to an outfit of the day, as if each item you wear truly says something about you. Mass fashion comes from the trickle-down from high fashion, and often from cultural appropriation: here’s a great, short read on that, which includes a transcript of the monologue from the trickle-down fashion link.

I like to refer to my BonLook Imagine II ($145 CAD) sunglasses as my rich bitch glasses. They’re lightly tinted and perfect for pairing with a pleated skirt – you know, to give it a bit of an edge. They’re stellar with a moto jacket. For the late fall and early winter, these frames look just as chic with my Babaton Pearce Wool Coat ($350 CAD), which I’ve always thought was (despite being fantastically well-made) the perfect example of a college student’s status object.

How disruptive fashion is inherently subversive

Let’s face it: no one wears anything from Aritzia solely because they need to be clothed, and no one actually needs more than one pair of sunglasses. We choose nice coats because we’re a little chilly, but mostly because status competition tells us that they’re the most aesthetically-appealing coats out there at a middle class price point. We buy new glasses because our old ones are looking dated. Each tells the world that we have money under the guise of “dressing practicality” and “spending conservatively”: they let us languish in our privileged comfort and vocal distain of the 1%.

We like the things we like not simply because we like them, but because we like the idea that’s been societally reinforced to magically exist within them. There’s nothing inherently wrong with either side; it’s just frustrating to me that bloggers never discuss the privilege that’s inherent in the development of popular aesthetics.

These sunnies serve the same purpose as a “great coat.” They’re aesthetically pleasing, but not because aesthetics objectively exist. They are, simply, subjectively monied. The big, acetate frames make my jawline look strong and my nose look small, and they make me look like maybe I was cool in high school.

What makes the BonLook Imagine II Sunglasses so interesting, though, is that they somewhat subvert the system. They offer the suggestion of middle-class mediocrity, but aim to make that suggestion branding-free and moderately accessible. Think of BonLook (and all of the other glasses disruptors) as a very small-scale democratization of vision, in the ways in which we access opportunity via aesthetics: a way to buy into trends without hefting over $600 per pair of frames with prescription lenses.

A Uniqlo Crepe Pleated Skirt to snap up

I’ll finish this post quickly, with a pleated skirt that ties up this outfit and sits in a similar position. This Uniqlo High-Waist Crepe Pleated Skirt in Wine (~~$29.90 USD~~ $14.90 USD) is on sale for $14.90 in both CAD and USD, and comes in a thick fabric with an attached slip. It’s warm — wear-it-in-the-winter warm, and heavy.

I love it with these glasses: a flowing design juxtaposed against a woollen texture, paired with sunnies that are both aggressive and femme. (It’s also very good with a relaxed white blouse.) My only complaints are that the elastic on the pleated skirt is quite stiff, and the tinting on the BonLook frames could be more opaque. The pleated skirt keeps my legs warm, but I feel like these sunglasses leave my eyes exposed.

Tags: /Bonlook, Fashion, Product Photos, Product Review

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Neutrogena Hydro Boost Multivitamin Booster review, photos

October 22, 2018

Rae Chen

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The product: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Multivitamin Booster

Ever since I started wearing makeup, I’ve been obsessed with the idea of a lit-from-within glow. I lust after the Guerlain Météorites ($63 USD) every season, and feel my heart fall as each rendition continues to contain silicones. And I long for their Météorites Primer, a beautiful vial of pink pearls that I just can’t justify spending $74 USD on. But no longer: Neutrogena has answered my prayers, bringing illuminating, hydrating pearls to the drugstore with the new Neutrogena Hydro Boost Multivitamin Booster ($19.97 CAD).

Neutrogena Hydro Boost’s effectiveness

Finding a good hyaluronic acid serum is harder than it seems. It’s a delicate balance between stickiness and hydration, and I always end up breaking out when formulas contain too much glycerin for my skin. My current go-to hyaluronic acid is outside my budget for a simple hyaluronic (SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel, $82), so I’ve been open to stumbling upon a new one.

The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Multivitamin Booster is all that and then some. It quenches even the driest of skin textures, leaving your skin feeling smoother immediately. Purified hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and olive extract work together in a “liquid crystal gel matrix” to hydrate and replenish the skin, fortifying it’s natural moisture barrier so that the effects last.

I love it. It’s part serum, part hydrator, and part primer. The pearls are glittering vitamin E capsules, and the booster’s super-smooth finish is paired with the signature fresh, aquatic Hydro Booster scent. For once, I feel like it makes a noticeable difference in skin texture and foundation application – which, as someone with relatively youthful skin, I rarely see.

LEFT: Bare skin / MIDDLE: With Neutrogena Hydro Boost Multivitamin Booster / RIGHT: With Hydro Booster + foundation, blush, and highlighter

The Neutrogena Hydro Boost glow

Y’all. The glow from this thing is insane. It’s super finely milled and sparkles in a rainbow of cool tones.

The one thing that always holds me back from achieving my pearl-serum dreams is the risk of walking into a room sparkling like a disco ball, but this serum has the perfect amount of glow. It truly makes your skin sparkle the way that skin naturally “glows” in areas with tiny pores and good moisture levels. It’s so natural that I routinely use this to combat my partner’s insanely dry, rough skin — and it looks totally natural on him, smoothing dehydrated areas and diffusing the look of fine lines without hinting at all that there might be some shimmer involved.

I use one pump of this for my face and one for my neck and décolletage, but even if I go a little over or under, it’s always the perfect amount.

Full face with makeup & Neutrogena Hydro Booster Multivitamin Glow

The Neutrogena Hydro Boost verdict?

You absolutely need this. I have never gone through a serum this quickly before — but I can’t stop using this one. I apply it both day and night, and slather it on my partner’s face whenever he holds still for long enough. I’ve gone through 1/4 of this bottle in 3 weeks, because it’s the perfect pairing: a great product with a price that’s low enough that you don’t use it sparingly.

This is bar none my favourite hyaluronic acid serum, primer, and Guerlain Météorites alternative from the drugstore. I couldn’t recommend it more wholeheartedly.

Availability: $19.97-$24.99 CAD at drugstores and mass market retailers across Canada. $19.99 USD at Ulta and $14.99 USD on Amazon.

Tags: /Base, Moisturizers, Neutrogena, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Skincare

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Kiss Mani Pop Nail Accents review (Halloween & Holiday 2018), swatches, photos

October 15, 2018

Rae Chen

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The products: KISS Mani Pop Nail Accents (and other Halloween & Holiday 2018 releases)

Kiss Mani Pop Nail Accents are not simply a nice, fun thing to add to your manicure in your spare time. They are, in fact, nothing less than a cheat code to real life.

Like so many other people out there, I take forever to paint my nails. It takes a painstakingly long time for me to put down an even coat on each hand, and for most polishes, you then have to go back and do it all over again. And that’s not even the worst part! After all of that effort, you still have to wait for what seems like two hours for the polish to fully set!

I scoffed at appliqués like these ones from Kiss for years. They look like children’s playthings in their packaging, and they’re aggressively themed more often than not. But after trying them out just once, I am an absolute convert.

The Kiss Mani Pop Nail Accent process

If you take longer than 15 minutes to put these on, you can email me and shout at me for as long as you’d like. I can’t offer you your money back (because I’m not a vendor), but you can yell your heart out.

To apply Kiss Mani Pop stickers, you literally just clean off your nails, peel them off of their plastic backing (which is super easy) and stick them on. Then, you press down to make sure they’re evenly adhered, and you file off the free edge.

That’s it. That’s the whole thing. There’s no glue, no second coats; no topcoats or liquids or waiting. They trim off with a good nail file in seconds, and peel off just as easily when you’re done with them. I only tested them for two days, so I can’t guarantee wear time, but they held up well without any peeling within that short timeframe.

The caveat(s) of the Kiss Mani Pop Nail Accents

As with all things, these come with a few small caveats. Nothing in this world is perfect (except, perhaps, Jennifer Garner), and these are no exception.

They won’t wear for as long as traditional nail polish will, and because they’re single-use, they’re considerably more expensive if you’re going to go off-label and use them for a whole manicure instead of just a few accent nails. There are also a limited number of sizes per package, so if you want them to fit your nails exactly, you’ll need to very carefully trim them.

But for a quick manicure that looks great at a distance and doesn’t need to dry – well, these are unbeatable.

Halloween and Christmas Kiss styles

Kiss was lovely enough to send me home from Toronto with a mountain of nail products — including some awesome Halloween and holiday styles. (What? Edmonton has had snow for weeks! I’m in the mood!) The ones that stuck out to me from their fall/Halloween collection are the autumnal accents (Kiss Mani Pop in Chai Latte, worn here), their spooky black spider web nails (Tombstone), and their shiny, navy imPRESS Press-On Manicure (Flash Mob).

For a super sexy accent to your Halloween costume, look towards the vampy, point-styles KISS Gel Fantasy line, which come with glue and press-on stickers. (I tried these on in burgundy and they were a breeze to apply!)

Another thing I’ve learned about nail products recently: press-on nails come in different sizes. I have a few different Halloween sets, and the box with “medium” noted in the top left corner has nails of a distinctly different size and shape.

For the holidays, I’m loving the Kiss Jewel Accents (Treasure Trove) — which really are accents, so you’ll need to polish underneath them. The Face Time Mani Pop stockers are super cute as well, with little Santa faces and Rudolphs to keep you company through the holidays. Face Time is another truly accent-oriented style, but I think it could look cool as nail wraps without polish underneath, too!

The Kiss Mani Pop Nail Accents verdict?

I’m slowly getting more and more into femme-adjacent nails (basically, think a lot of black and green) in my everyday life, and I couldn’t be happier to have finally tried the KISS Mani Pop Nail Accents. They’re not quite as precise as traditional nail polish, but they’re a breeze to use — and a major time-saver.

I’m going to be looking for these in plain black (or as close to it as possible), and would absolutely recommend them. They’re pretty sweet in general, but I think they’re a major win for those with coordination difficulties or scent sensitivities!

Availability: $3.99 CAD KISS Accent Stickers, $8.97+ KISS imPRESS Press-On Manicure (one-step with pre-applied gel), $4.99 KISS Mani Pop Nail Accents, $9.97+ KISS Gel Fantasy Nails (traditional glue and glue stickers included). Retailers across Canada.

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

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Azzaro Wanted by Night reviews, photos

October 10, 2018

Rae Chen

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The products: Azzaro Wanted Eau de Toilette and Wanted by Night Eau de Parfum

The new Azzaro Wanted by Night campaign is… pointed. It’s sexy in a mass-market-typical, in-your-face kind of way. Think bright, clear gin and gun cylinder-style flacons in an ash-brown duffel. The incredible amount of confidence that radiates off of this campaign convinced me not only to give these scents a try, but to switch my anniversary gift from [REDACTED FOR FUTURE USE] to a gorgeous leather duffel bag at the last minute.

(We made it an entire year!)

Azzaro’s Wanted by Night imagery is everything you could hope for in a tongue-and-cheek fragrance campaign. This is what women call him, it coos, with mixed blue and orange lighting. It talks about “his pedigree,” with a little bandage glued over model Nikolaï Danielsen’s eyebrow. It promises that he “obeys his every desire. Forever in motion with invincible fire.”

The Azzaro Wanted by Night notes

Designed around the idea of the perfect cocktail, Azzaro Wanted by Night lists itself as being a woody-oriental-spicy flanker to the Azzaro Wanted’s “woody-citrusy-spicy” beginnings. (More on those scare quotes in a few.) Created by perfumers Quentin Bisch and Michel Girard, Wanted by Night highlights top notes of white cedar and fair trade natural cinnamon, heart notes of red cedar and cumin, and base notes of Atlas cedar and cypress.

It isn’t often that I see fair trade ingredients used in mass-market fragrances, making this one pretty unique. The cinnamon essential oil used in Wanted by Night is sourced from a protected network in Laos through a partnership with iconic fragrance manufacturer Givaudan. It’s an exclusive botanical variety produced just for Azzaro.

The Azzaro Wanted and Azzaro Wanted by Night experiences

Azzaro Wanted (2016, Fabrice Pellegrin) is, truth be told, far more boring than Wanted by Night. Its note listing is gargantuan: top notes of lemon, ginger, lavender and mint; middle notes of Guatemalan cardamom, juniper, apple, and geranium; base notes of Hatian vetiver, tonka bean, and amberwood. The results bristle, with an overwhelmingly lemony initial spritz.

It’s not a bad fragrance, but it’s the polar opposite of what I love to wear. I see it pinned down pretty frequently as a Paco Rabanne Invictus clone (which I can’t confirm), and it makes its “woodsy-citrusy-spicy” promises feel flimsy. It definitely has woodsy and spicy notes, especially in the drydown, but its body is overwhelmingly clean.

On the other hand, Azzaro Wanted by Night smells like a totally different take on the same concept. It’s a good flanker: similar appeal, with very different practice.

Wanted by Night is as warm as the amber tones of its bottle, with a fuller body than the original Wanted. To me, it smells a little bit like a spicy apple pie, especially in the first 30 minutes – like the blend of spice and citrus brings up memories of fall festivities in years gone by. But something about its body is a little thin, for an Eau de Parfum. It clings to the skin more than its notes suggest that it would, making it woodsy but still wearable.

At the price point of an EdP, I’m not thrilled by its intensity. As a person who loves scents that make you want to lean in, however, I love it. It’s just strong enough that one small spritz will scent you deliciously, without (as so many scents marketed towards men do) filling an entire elevator with eye-watering fumes.

The Azzaro Wanted by Night verdict?

Azzaro Wanted is a solid “next, please” from me, but I’m enjoying Wanted by Night. It’s spicy and sexy, and wears close enough to the skin that I think it would be a great pick all year round.

If October isn’t too early to start adding things to Christmas lists… this is a good one to start with.

Availability: $82 CAD (50 ml) and $102 CAD (90 ml) at Hudson’s Bay, Jean Coutu, Shopper’s Drug Mart, London Drugs, Brunet, and Uniprix. In the US: Macy’s and Ulta.

Tags: /Fall/Winter 2018, Fragrance, Product Photos, Product Review

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Hand and Stone Facial review: Dermalogica vibes with a beachfront view

October 3, 2018

Rae Chen

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I wrote last month about my favourite facial, at the Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie. They do some amazing work, and at a very high price point – but that’s not always what you want. A Caudalie facial is great for when you’re on vacation and you’re out to treat yourself; a Hand and Stone Classic Facial is for when you feel like your skin is aching for some TLC. It’s the perfect antidote to too much sun, weeks of brisk winter winds, and one too many gin & tonics.

Hand and Stone is my favourite chain of spas out there, and for good reason. It’s a little utilitarian, and very blue – but so am I. Each treatment is professional, affordable, and most importantly, effective.

I always stop into the Hand and Stone on College Street when I’m in Toronto for a trigger point massage with Tommy Tran. This time around, though, I popped into the one on Dan Leckie Way as well, on my last afternoon in the city. I came dressed from brunch at Planta: wearing false lashes, dripping in the 28 degree heat, and armed only with my smartphone.

Some spas feel ethereal, like sacred spaces that you need to be a little careful in. This one does not. Instead, it feels ship-shape and smart, like somewhere you stop between work and grocery shopping because you’ve been up until 2 AM hitting deadlines for five days straight. It exists around you, with no pressure for you to be meek.

Hand & Stone facial room (image c/o Hand & Stone)

What a Hand and Stone Facial is like

To understand what a Hand and Stone facial is really like, you first need to take a peek at the brands that the spa uses. Their treatments centre mostly on Dermalogica: clinical, results-oriented, and known throughout the entire beauty industry for being effective. They also dip into Diego Dalla Parma (created in Italy by RVB, which stands for Research, Value, and Beauty) and Yon-Ka.

Let’s get frank. The beauty industry is just as much about things that aren’t beautiful as it is about things that are. And the Hand & Stone Classic Facial is there for you when you’re feeling the lack more so than the presence. I left their Dan Leckie Way location with my face feeling squeaky clean and tingly… But my skin was glowing.

My Photoshop-free skin immediately post-treatment. Left: no foundation / Right: with full makeup.

Every facialist has a slightly different technique, but this facial went exactly as I was expecting. My facialist used brisk movements with even pressure, beginning by double-cleansing my skin with Dermalogica’s Special Cleansing Gel (a cornerstone of the brand) and Skin Resurfacing Cleanser on warm, wet cotton pads. My Hand and Stone facial was pretty standard after that, with a long exfoliation, two masques, and a soothing mist.

I’m always wary of trying out new facials because I’m never sure who’ll be willing to work with my silicone intolerance and who won’t. The Hand and Stone facial team falls firmly in the former category, going out of their way to make sure I could comfortably use each and every product.

A pre-facial brunch at Planta / My skin 14 hours later, when my plane landed

Three cool Dermalogica products from my Hand and Stone facial

Dermalogica is a brand that I’m not too familiar with, but my facialist at Hand and Stone introduced me to three really fascinating products in their line.

The Dermalogica Scaling Fluid is a unique liquid that helps dissolve sebum – essentially loosing up your clogged pores before you extract them. My facialist paired it with the brand’s Exfoliant Accelerator 35 (pro), turning my facial into a mini-peel. Then, because I was headed to the beach, she blended their Solar Defense Booster SPF 50 in with my SPF 30 moisturizer to finish. The Scaling Fluid and Defense Booster can both be purchased at Hand and Stone, whether or not you have a treatment booked.

I don’t say this lightly, but the results from my facial were instant. My skin was noticeably smoother the second I walked out of the spa, and my foundation stayed on for hours longer than usual. I walked into the spa in the afternoon (fresh from brunch at Planta) and rolled out with skin so bright that it still looked good when I got home 14 hours, 2700 km, and two timezones later.

Which spa delivers your favourite facial?

Tags: /Beauty destinations, Skincare, Travel

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