theNotice

Burt’s Bees promises a “pure and simple” solution – and delivers

April 26, 2011

7 Comments

The product: Burt’s Bees Fragrance Free Shea Butter and Vitamin E Body Lotion

It’s taken me forever to review this one, because it’s really very basic… so, I mean, I haven’t a lot to say. I use the word “basic” in the very best way possible, though; this is exactly what I reach for when I’m looking for something without any frills whatsoever. The company’s claims are right on the nose for this one: “all-day hydration – pure and simple.”

I’ve been using this as both a hand cream and a body lotion, because I’m at a loss for an unscented, silicone-free product for both those roles. The good news, though, is that it’s been doing a wonderful job at both! The cream is on the heavy side, but sinks in quickly and doesn’t leave my skin slippery or sticky, and moisturizes well.

The ingredients:

Aqua, glycerin, decyl cocoate, sunflower seed oil, beeswax, shea butter, polyglyceryl-3 stearate, glyceryl stearate citrate, cetyl alcohol, coconut oil, olive oil, grape seed oil, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, buttermilk powder, matricaria flower extract, calendula extract, centaurea cyanus flower extract, tilia cordata flower extract, rosemary leaf extract, anthemis nobilis flower extract, hypericum perforatum extract, tocopherol, sucrose stearate, xanthan gum, soybeanoil, canola oil, lactic acid, citric acid, glucose, sodium chloride, sodium stearoyl lactylate, sodium benzoate, magnesium aluminum silicate, phenoxyethanol, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase

The verdict?

$13 is on the pricey side for a body lotion, but if you’re looking for something more natural, it may well be worth it. Because I’ve had a lot of trouble finding a silicone- and scent-free body and hand lotion, I would definitely recommend this one – especially if it’s on offer!

P.S. Have you seen Burt’s Bees’ oh-so-adorable video for their tinted lip balms? Cutest lip balm spot ever, I kid you not!

Tags: /Burt's Bees, Moisturizers, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Silicone-free moisturizers and serums, Skincare

7 Comments

Marcelle Rouge Xpression: Couture

April 25, 2011

Rae Chen

18 Comments

I’ve been trying my best not to overwhelm the blog completely with Marcelle Rouge Xpression lipsticks, but I thought I’d share another lip swatch! This one is Couture, a gorgeous sort of russet red. Marcelle lists it as a pearl finish, but don’t let that disuade you from trying it on – it has a really pretty, subtle pearl to its finish, but nothing chunky or 90’s!

The mini-review:

Rouge Xpression lipsticks are, in short, absolutely gorgeous. They wear well, don’t strip my lips of moisture, and come in an impressive range of shades. Paraben-, silicone-, and scent-free, they’re fast becoming one of my go-to formulas for opaque, non-irritating colour!

More Rouge Xpression:

Skin swatches and product photos of Couture {here} and {here}
Full review {here}

Tags: /Canadian beauty, Lips, Marcelle, Paraben-free, Product Swatches, Silicone-free

18 Comments

You “hair” about it, but you never think it’ll happen to you

April 24, 2011

Rae Chen

58 Comments

So I got my hair cut yesterday, and I went in expecting… well. Not this.

My stylist and I agreed to cut it about four inches, just below my collar bone, so I really wasn’t expecting to walk out seven inches later with a chin-length shag. Wasn’t expecting to; had to anyways.

Is it the end of the world? Of course not. Do I completely hate how it looks? Only on principle. The cut itself is fine, I suppose (the back looks horrendous, but the front is alright). For me, the problem isn’t the cut itself. The problem is that I went in looking for one thing, and we agreed upon it, and then I walked out with something entirely different.

I’m not going to march in there, guns blazing, because I really don’t see the point – not even the most amazing stylist could make my hair magically regrow (especially when it’s falling out at this rate)! I’m cutting my losses and will simply find a new salon in the future, and I guess I’ll spend the meantime waiting patiently (okay, impatiently) for it to grow out.

Anyhow, here’s today’s question:

What’s your worst hair story?

Hit me up in the comments! Misery loves company, after all, right?

To be totally honest, this isn’t the worst thing that’s ever happened to my hair; it’s just the complaint of the day :P But I hope you find the cut at least tolerable, because it’s going to be infiltrating our FOTDs over the next few months!

Tags: /Hair, YOU

58 Comments

YOU Fridays: what do you think of huge bronzers?

April 22, 2011

Rae Chen

23 Comments

Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a bit of an interesting trend arising – that is, huge bronzers. I’m not talking about slightly-larger-than-normal bronzers, or even very-large-bronzers, but rather: bronzers on steroids. The ones that are as big as your face, or possibly bigger.

(Okay, so I’m exaggerating a bit. But only a bit!)

There’s this gorgeous, gorgeous Clarins Mosaïque Summer Bronzing Compact sitting on my desk, and I’m almost afraid to swatch it. Because I’m not a bronzer girl, I know there’s no way I’d finish it – even if I wore it every day for the next three years. Now, normal bronzer pans are larger than blush pans, which does make sense (you wear more bronzer per application than blush, and it’s a popular body product, too), but… this one’s big, ladies.

Really, really big.

(And gorgeous!)

Just a note, though – going big would be absolute perfection if you were into body bronzing! This one is $20/10g, while MAC is $27.50/10g, Too Faced is $41/10g, and NARS is $47.86/10g…

How do you feel about huge bronzers?

*Press sample. Comes out in department stores this May – just a few days from now! Oh, and it has an SPF of 10 :)

Tags: /Cheeks, Clarins

23 Comments

Givenchy Le Prismissime palette: gorgeous or garish?

April 21, 2011

Rae Chen

14 Comments

I’m torn between “god this is hideous” and “IT MUST BE MINE.” The new Le Prismissime 9-Colors Eyeshadow palette definitely lacks the sophisticated je-ne-sais-quoi of the Le Prisme Eyeshadow Quartets, but I don’t know. I think I’d have to see it in person before deciding if it was crazy and wonderful or just… crazy.

Could go either way.

Thoughts?

Tags: /Uncategorized

14 Comments

theBalm Shady Lady review: Jealous Jordana

April 20, 2011

Rae Chen

22 Comments

The product: theBalm Shady Lady eye shadow/liner in Jealous Jordana

Jealous Jordana is a really gorgeous blackened green – think dark teal/forest shimmer on a dark grey base. There’s something about the shade that I just can’t put my finger on, and I think it’s because the base is cooler in tone than the shimmer; depending on the lighting, this can look very teal-on-grey or very emerald-on-black.

Whether used wet or dry, I find this shade is deliciously pigmented and blends easily. I’d say it’s a frost finish, but not a “true” frost per se; there’s just a bit of fine-milled shimmer mixed in there, too.

Jealous Jordana swatched dry / dry over primer / wet

Jealous Jordana swatched dry / dry over primer

The verdict?

This is my only eyeshadow by theBalm, but I was really impressed with it! The pans are huge (0.12 oz, though I believe they’re 0.1 even, now), which makes the $16 (US) price tag quite reasonable, and the quality is lovely. The only thing I’d change about them is the packaging; I’m a klutz, so I’d definitely prefer a sturdier (read: plastic or metal) package.

Catch it in action:

More images, ramblings, and ingredients after the cut…

Tags: /Eyes, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, TheBalm

22 Comments

Let’s play a guessing game…

April 19, 2011

Rae Chen

6 Comments

Wearing one of my favourite lip products today – can you guess what it is?

Hints:

This gloss was reviewed on theNotice during the 2010 Holiday season.
The swatches shown here are applied very sheerly – this swatch and the one in the review look almost nothing alike!
This shade was limited edition.

(I think it’s a pretty easy one, so that’s all I’m sharing for now – but I’ll update with some more if you girls are having troubles puzzling out the product!)

Answer: Behind the cut! »

Tags: /Lips, Product Swatches

6 Comments

A green-on-green makeup look

April 18, 2011

Rae Chen

22 Comments

A number of you were quite excited for the Jealous Jordana feature, so I thought I’d work it into another look for you. (The review itself will be up later this week!) I find that a look based entirely on a shadow with such a blackened base looks too heavy on my lids, so I’ve used MAC Humid as the main lid colour… hope you like it!

The eyes

Base and basics: NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (base), Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Zero (upper lashline, waterlines), Smashbox Matte Eyeshadow in Smoke (brows), Marcelle Liquid Eyeliner in Very Black (winged liner)

Eyeshadows: MAC Frost Eye Shadow in Humid (vibrant green), theBalm Shady Lady Eyeshadow in Jealous Jordana (blackened green), Lancome Eye Colour in Honeymoon (gold), MAC Matte2 Eye Shadow in Blanc Type (skin tone)

Lips and cheeks

Lips: Clarins Crystal Balm in Crystal Coral (sheer coral; comes out in May)

Cheeks: MAC Blush Powder in Harmony and Smashbox Eye Shadow in Smoke (blended together to contour), Clarins Barocco Face Powder (peachy blush)

More looks featuring Jealous Jordana

Tags: /4. Makeup looks, Eyes, MAC, Makeup looks: colour, TheBalm

22 Comments

New 17/04/11 + Sunday Steals and Deals

April 17, 2011

Rae Chen

2 Comments

New products and product listings (nothing too exciting this week, if you ask me):

There are, however, a ton of great deals to be had!

Of course, there are a bunch of codes, too – Sephora BI and VIB should have codes in their email inboxes for 15%, Philosophy is giving away a free Summer Grace duo with purchases $25 or more (use code summerduo; April 18th and 19th only), Stila Cosmetics still has 20% off if you sign up for their newsletter, StrawberryNET has up to 65% off their Easter specials until the 24th…

Okay, I think I’ve fully enabled you at this point :P Happy hauling!

Tags: /New This Week (& etc), Steals and Deals

2 Comments

NARS Summer 2011: now online

April 16, 2011

Rae Chen

7 Comments

Alright, so I know that we don’t usually post about collection launches – but this is one of the exceptions, mmkay?

I’ve recently become fixated on the new NARS hilighter, New Order. With the cult-fave Albatross, it’s one of just two products listed on the NARS “Hilighting Blush Powder” page, but it sounds so very… blush-like! It’s listed as a soft pink with gold and silver shimmer, and because I haven’t seen any swatches yet, I really have no idea what effect it would give (though my guess is that it will look somewhat like a more finely-milled version of Lancome Glowy Ballerine).

In and of its own, I don’t actually think it’s that interesting – but I do think it’s a rather curious choice to be NARS’ only other hilighter. I would have expected something more a long the lines of a gold or a peach, first, though I suppose they do have quite a range of liquid and creme illuminators for that purpose.

Anyhow. Curious!

P.S. Here’s the rest of the NARS Summer 2011 details:

EYES: Trio Eyeshadow in Cap Ferrat, Duo Eyeshadow in Dogon and Exotic Dance, and Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Queen
LIPS: Lipgloss in Wonder, Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bolero, Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage, and Lipstick in Mayflower
CHEEKS: Blush in New Order
NAILS: Nail Lacquer in Écume and Kismet

The eye and nail products are all limited edition, the lip products are all permanent, and the hilighting blush is being introduced as a new permanent item.

Tags: /NARS

7 Comments