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Gaea Cosmetics review: Simple Canadian beauty finds

May 21, 2018

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The products: Gaea Cosmetics Bath Bombs and Charcoal Face Mask

If a person who likes people is a people person, is a goose who likes other geese a geese goose? And if that person prefers baths to other people, does that make them a bath person, or just an introvert?

I like baths – but I prefer geese to these bath bombs from Gaea Cosmetics.

(I really like geese.)

The Gaea Cosmetics bath bomb range

Gaea Cosmetics is a Montreal-based cosmetics company that hand-makes a small selection of bath bombs. They were founded in 2017, and are still a very young company: their shop opened its doors just this past February.

The brand currently offers a curated selection of just six bath bombs, four of which are photographed in this post. I… didn’t love them. I wanted to love them, because they’re made by a lovely husband and wife team, and I really like their gold packaging with simple, effective French-English labelling.

But the bath bombs underwhelm. The scents are very basic – you’ll recognize them if you’ve ever purchased a DIY bath bomb kit. I’ve been spoilt for choice when it comes to bath products, and these aren’t as moisturizing or foamy as I’ve come to expect. One of my tests for a good bath bomb is whether or not I can comfortably shave my legs without having to reach for a shaving cream. With most, I can; with these, I can’t.

I’d love to see a range of bath bombs from Gaea in the future that gets more inventive with each bomb’s ingredients or scents. I know things are hard for a new company, but there’s so much to be played with when it comes to bath bombs. The brand’s Manly bomb, for instance, is uniquely cool. It’s blue-black with a speckled composition, and makes me think of hot pavement in the middle of summer – sweaty afternoons playing team sports and cooling off with iced lemonade.

My only suggestion? It’s described as being “enjoyable for men and women.” Let’s remove that binary language and encourage its use for all identities!

The Gaea Cosmetics Charcoal Face Mask

I love charcoal face masks almost as much as I love Canadian geese, and this mask is where Gaea redeems itself for me. Charcoal face masks are pretty much all one in the same, as far as I’m concerned: some of them have fancier ingredients, but what you really want out of them is that rubberized peel that they do to gently(ish) remove dead skin and select sebaceous filaments. I love that Saran wrap-like layer that they dry into; the way charcoal masks sting as you peel them off; the way your skin instantly looks brighter once it’s over.

At $20 CAD, the Gaea Charcoal Face Mask offers an option for a peel-off mask that’s a little cheaper than Sephora prices. It’s not the cheapest option on the market, but I see comparable results from both this and my Boscia mask. The brand recommends its use on the nose and forehead, but I’d encourage you to use it on any area with large pores. (I do my nose, between my brows, and on my cheeks right by my nose.)

Availability: Gaea Cosmetics is available online with shipping to Canada.

Tags: sponsored/Canadian beauty, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Skincare

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Rosso Pizzeria Edmonton: A custom pizza experience + May specials

May 19, 2018

Rae Chen

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This month has been a super cool month for me. Don’t get me wrong; it’s been tough, but it’s been a lot of fun. I leave for Europe in five (!) days, and a little while ago, I got to make my very own custom pizza with the chef at Rosso Pizzeria here in Edmonton.

Rosso is a #yeg favourite from owner Dave Manna. It’s done well: not only is Rosso thriving in the Garneau area, but Dave has plans for a new restaurant called Bianco in the Phipps-McKinnon building later this year. (It’ll be right across from my very favourite building in Edmonton, so I’m sure I’ll see a lot of it.)

Bianco sounds beautiful – fresh pasta, an extensive wine list, and an “industrial Italian chic” aesthetic. But, while it’ll have a few Rosso favourites on its menu, it’s mostly new things. Rosso, as Dave told me, “is done. We like it; you can come here.” He had no desire to duplicate the experience.

Rosso Pizzeria’s 5-year anniversary

He isn’t wrong: Rosso is done, and done well. It’s a boutique pizzeria celebrating its fifth anniversary this month; for May, they’re offering five items at $5 each. (Perfect for date night!) The food items are a breakfast panini, a full-sized margherita pizza (do it), and panna cotta; the drink items are a 4oz glass of wine or a 16oz draft beer (full details at @rossoyeg).

The pizzeria uses high-quality unbleached, organic, non-GMO flour, and emphasizes ingredients. Things like ketchup and jam are made from scratch in-house; they source their meats locally from organic farmers when possible. They even marinate their own olives – served warm and dripping in olive oil.

My custom pizza experience

The pizza that I made with Chef Chavez Murguia was a white pizza with goat cheese and fleur de latte (I’m really into goat cheese right now), sprinkled with roasted grapes, kalamata olives, pancetta, spicy soprasetta, and finished with basil. I totally botched my first crust, but the second one looked good – and tasted even better.

They’re baked in a legit, wood-fired oven in a tiny, open kitchen, but the restaurant itself doesn’t get smokey. The crust is beautifully elastic and chewy, and it’s something that I’ll be back for, time and time again.

It’s just a shame that I can’t ever get my pizza there again. But we’ll see: maybe one day at Bianco, if I can ever be persuasive enough.

Tags: /Edmonton, Event recap, Food

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Make Up For Ever M853, D410, D926 Artist Color Shadow review, swatches, photos

May 18, 2018

Rae Chen

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The product: Make Up For Ever Artist Color Shadow in M853, D410, and D926

Make Up For Ever updated and reformulated their pressed colour products this winter. If you’ll remember, I liked the Artist Face Colors – but had chosen colours that were a little too “out there” for me. Spurred on by how chaotic things have been recently, I did something similar with my Artist Color Shadow picks, in cooler hues.

(Basically: I fucked up the first time, so instead of returning to the status quo, I doubled down and did it again the second time. Nobody in my life was surprised.)

These bright eyeshadows are as unlike me as anything, but I loved working with them. The new range, like the face colours, also sells as refills and palettes. There are 121 shades available in five finishes, which promise 12-hour wear, “complete color saturation with one swipe,” and a “smooth, even texture.”

The Artist Color Shadow matte finishes (M853)

Mattes are something that Make Up For Ever has always done well. If M853 (“matte neon pink”) is any indication, this new formula is no deviation from that.

My first Make Up For Ever eyeshadow was a beautiful, vibrant, matte purple – #92. I still have it, and even though the range has been revamped twice since then, I still use it on a regular basis to cool down/muddy up my eyeshadows. (Mattes were never intended to be eyeshadow toppers, but I use it as one on a fluffy blending brush. It’s never done me wrong.)

#92 was an exceptional matte when I bought it, probably back around 2011. But it pales in comparison to M853. While my old matte was beautifully pigmented, the formula is quite dry. The updated mattes are smoother, completely opaque, and easier to blend. They remind me of Shu Uemura mattes, somewhat, but pack considerably more pigment.

Make Up For Ever Artist Color Shadow swatches: M853, D410, D926 (over primer; indirect sunlight)

The Artist Color Shadow diamond finishes (D410 and D926)

The Make Up For Ever Artist Color Shadows aren’t what I was expecting out of a diamond finish, and I love them all the more for it. (It’s a theme that seems to be running through my life right now. Perhaps it’s the overarching one for this particular instalment.)

While I was anticipating more of a metallic finish, these are a glitter. As described on the Sephora site; D410 is a “glitter gold nugget” and D926 is a “glitter blueberry.” That means that they’re inherently semi-sheer rather than something that delivers “complete color saturation,” but they’re woven throughout with a beautifully dispersed glitter finish.

It’s best evidenced in the D926 swatch and in this eye look: a beautiful iridescence and a rather otherworldly glow.

The look: a graphic glow

I was really impressed by these eyeshadows, but I don’t love this makeup look. I’ve been foggy all month, and it’s been hard to be creative. Every look I’ve done recently is more of the same: neutral eyeshadows, a bit of a cheek, and a dark lip.

But this eye makeup did what I wanted it to; that is, it shows off how iridescent those diamond shadows are when foiled, as well as how stubbornly translucent they remain. It shows off, too, how the matte seems to glow with its vibrance – and how easily its edges blend.

I paired these eyeshadows with the Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Ink Eye Liner ($24 USD/$30 CAD) in L-90, a satin-finish lilac that’s also only semi-opaque. The lashes are KISS Lash Couture in Boudoir ($5.99 USD).

The Make Up For Ever Artist Color Shadow verdict?

Yes. As with the Artist Face Colors, I would absolutely recommend these. I know that everybody loves Make Up For Ever’s foundations, but if you ask me, their pressed pans are really what made them an industry icon.

These eyeshadows are a pleasure to work with, and I have no doubts that all 121 shades are equally as impressive. Turn to these if you ever need a matte – they won’t let you down.

Availability: $17 USD/$22 CAD at Sephora. Trios are $50 CAD ($68 CAD value) with a palette.

Tags: /4. Makeup looks, Eyes, Make Up For Ever / MUFE, Makeup looks: colour, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches

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Satisfyer Pro Penguin, Plus Vibration review, comparison, photos

May 10, 2018

Rae Chen

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The products: Satisfyer Pro Penguin Next Generation, Satisfyer Pro Plus Vibration

I’m a Womanizer fan. I don’t want to be, because I hate the name and I hate the price points, but I am. The Pro 40 was a total game-changer for me, while most Satisfyer models leave me a little underwhelmed. When push comes to shove, I would much rather be a Satisfyer Pro Penguin fanatic – yes, even though Satisfyer is notorious for ripping off Womanizer’s design and bragging about it.

(Like many other orgasm-inducing things, sex toy companies can be problematic.)

Satisfyer Pro Penguin Next Generation review ($55.99 USD)

With anything that gets you off, I find that you always have to sacrifice something. (Or maybe I’m just too goddamn picky, and I need to stop listening to my mom. “What if there’s someone better out there!”)

I’ve spent a lot of time making small sacrifices, but the Satisfyer Pro Penguin seems just right. It’s a toy that hits 95% in every category, instead of hitting 100% in three and topping out at 40% in the very last one. And maybe, after years of perfection mixed with utter bereavement, that’s what I want.

About the toy: The Pro Penguin Next Generation is cute–it has a little white belly and a removable bowtie; how could it not be cute–and it works well for me. Its nozzle has significantly thinner edges than most Satisfyer toys, which makes it work better with my anatomy. It’s waterproof and silicone-bodied, with a rechargeable battery that lasts for about two hours and charges in four. It’s just under five inches long (4.75″), with 11 quiet intensities.

Why I love it: If you haven’t tried pressure wave technology/air pulse technology/etc. etc. before, I can’t tell you if you’ll like this toy. I can, however, tell you that this is how I’d try it. It’s a really good product, and at $55 it’s far less of a gamble than a Womanizer Pro 40 ($129 USD) or even a Satisfyer Pro 2 (CAD). It has a great range of intensities, and offers a unique, vibration-like sensation.

Satisfyer Pro Plus Vibration review ($69.95 USD)

When the Pro Plus Vibration launched, I waited to try it with bated breath. After all, it was an air pressure stimulator and a vibrator: so couldn’t it take the risk away from trying new technology?

The long and short of it is: yes, technically. The practical answer, however, is: nah, not really.

About the toy: The Satisfyer Pro Plus Vibration is a waterproof, rechargeable, silicone sex toy. It features two motors, which operate independently: the air-pulse one, controlled by the power button and +/- controls, and the vibrating one, controlled by the single button on the back end with the little tilde.

The air pulse: The air-pulse portion of this toy functions like most other Satisfyers, with a head that sits somewhere in between the Pro 2 and the Penguin. (It’s fleshy, but not as overwhelmingly fleshy as the Pro 2. I like it, but I still don’t love it.) There are eleven speeds.

The vibrations: The vibrating portion, on the other hand, is… weird. Its motor sits further back in the toy, transmitting as many noisy vibrations to your hand as it does to your clit. The vibrations are buzzy, and the speeds start on high, then go down to medium and low before starting a series of seven patterns. While I usually hate patterns, I need them with this toy – otherwise, it’s almost immediately numbing for me.

My Satisfyer Pro Penguin and Pro Plus Vibration verdicts?

I’m very pleased with the Satisfyer Pro Penguin Next Generation – so much so that it’s become my top air pulse toy to recommend. I prefer the Womanizer Pro 40 to it, but this one is more affordable, easier to transport, and just generally cuter. Its first three speeds are truly whisper-quiet, and even the ones past that are quiet compared to most vibrators.

I like the Satisfyer Pro Plus Vibration a lot less. Its shape makes it great for those with arthritis or weak wrists, but the vibrations just don’t work for my body. It’s still a good toy (and might work for you), but I have a sneaking suspicion that mine will end up under my bed in three months and never come back out.

Availability: I find that PinkCherry, which ships discreetly to Canada and the US, consistently offers the best prices on Satisfyer products. Make sure to check out their store-wide sales on days like Black Friday and Boxing Day to stretch your budget even further (if you can wait that long!)

Tags: /Grouped reviews, Product Photos, Product Review, Sex

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Lusomé Daphne Chemise review | The perfect Mother’s Day gift

May 7, 2018

Rae Chen

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The product: Lusomé Daphne Chemise in Mysterioso

My mother is impossible to buy Mother’s Day gifts for. She’s practical and self-sufficient to a fault, with seemingly no desire to own things or enjoy… anything. So as you read this post, just imagine that the Lusomé Daphne nightgown is a gift for an other mother (like maybe me, in 10 years) – not my mother.

The Lusomé signature fabrics: Xirotex and more

Much of the Lusomé line is crafted from the brand’s signature Xirotex fabric. The Xirotex dual-layer construction wicks sweat, odour, and bacteria away from the skin and onto the top surface of the fabric, where it can evaporate harmlessly away.

The Lusomé Daphne nightdress, however, isn’t Xirotex. It’s part of the Lusomé Everyday line, and it’s just a regular cotton-poly-spandex blend… which is somehow no less impressive. It’s SO SOFT, and even after a dozen wears, my Lusomé Daphne nightdress still smells fresh and clean. The texture is perfect; stretchy like athleisure, but thin and velvety-smooth.

It’s the perfect nightdress material. I know, intellectually, that Xirotex itself must be better, but I will fight you on how good the Daphne feels against my skin.

Why Lusomé is the perfect Mother’s Day gift

Like all good things, Lusomé hits a great blend between practical and luxurious. It’s a company that was designed for those experiencing night sweats and hot flashes, making it great for new moms, menopausal folks, and anyone undergoing chemotherapy.

But it’s great for the rest of us, too. The silhouette of every single Lusomé nightgown is elegant and sexy, with soft fabric and stretchy lace. I love the Lusomé Daphne nightgown for its simple front and appealing open back, but it’s not the only Lusomé design that catches my attention. The maxi-length Grace Chemise is absolutely stunning (and 50% off today), and the Gabriela offers a little more coverage with a really unique hemline.

The Lusomé Daphne nightdress is perfect because it’s a functional piece, so well-done that it’s luxurious.

The Lusomé Daphne verdict?

You don’t need Daphne in partuclar – but you do need some Lusomé in your life. It’s been one of my favourite style finds of 2018, and this is taking into consideration the fact that I’m just now beginning to incorporate maxi dresses into my closet!

If you’re looking for comfy, super-soft sleepwear that’ll help cut down on sweat and odour, I definitely recommend checking out the Lusomé range.

Availability: Available at Lusomé and Bare Necessities. Most of the Lusomé site is on sale for Mother’s Day (ending today)!

Tags: /Fashion, Other, Product Photos, Product Review, Steals and Deals

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Modern Skin Co. Overnight Detox + Hydration Booster

May 3, 2018

Rae Chen

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The product: Modern Skin Co. Overnight Detox + Hydration Booster

Last fall, a little white bottle appeared in my mailbox. It was entirely inconspicuous: packaged in a simple white box, it didn’t look like much. But inside this standard little pump bottle is a gem – the Modern Skin Co. Overnight Detox + Hydration Booster.

About Modern Skin Co.

My skin always freaks out when I have a lot on my plate (and when the seasons change, and when I’m not sleeping enough, and when I get silicones on it… you get my gist). So, of course, it’s been freaking out all month. (Basically since I lost all will to get out of bed).

Enter this little guy from Modern Skin Co.

MS Co is a “natural-based” Canadian skincare company by Lauralynn Baxter. They currently make just this one product, which “fuses botanicals with scientifically proven delivery systems.” The brand shares a belief that’s echoed here on theNotice: that natural is good, but it isn’t always better.

Their aim is to create products that create balance – all, of course, without animal testing.

The magic of the Modern Skin Co. Advanced Repair Overnight Detox + Hydration Booster ($65 CAD)

The Modern Skin Co. Advanced Repair+ serum is super-simple. It’s a totally weightless gel concentrate that’s made to gently exfoliate the skin while adding hydration. The formula contains small amount of glycolic and salicylic acid, as well as schisandra extract (to detoxify) and botanically-sourced hyaluronic acid.

It’s designed for all skin types, and mine totally loves it. I apply two pumps before my moisturizers and other serums as needed, then let it sink in completely. And, crazily enough, it always seems to help sort my skin out over the course of 3-4 days: my dry patches disappear, my breakouts are minimized, and my skin just looks… brighter overall.

The Modern Skin Co. verdict?

I love a good indie beauty find, and the Advanced Repair+ serum from Modern Skin Co. is a diamond in the rough. The formula is, at least for me, utterly perfect – but I think the brand still has room to improve.

I’d really like to see an updated version of this serum with either a lower price tag or more luxurious packaging. The product inside is great, but there are a lot of gently exfoliating serums on the market. At $65 per ounce, I want something that’s going to make me feel like I’m doing good for my skin!

Availability: $65 CAD, with shipping currently limited to Canadian addresses.

Tags: /Acne, Canadian beauty, Indie brands, Other, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Silicone-free moisturizers and serums, Skincare, Small Business Saturdays

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Polatam Deep Moist Cream: Another Take Good Care favourite

April 27, 2018

Rae Chen

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The products: Polatam Deep Moist Cream and Simplistic BEGIN Cleanser

This month has been… interesting, to say the least.

So, as it wraps up, let’s take a recap. The number of Sephora orders I guiltily made during the sale is one; the number of times I’ve had the energy to see my cat this week is zero. The number of times I’ve listened to Still Night, Still Light since the beginning of the week is like… I don’t know; a half-dozen? It’s been a lot (in a good way).

Infinity War was fun but not amazing; apparently all problems are caused by men being emotionally immature (NOT SURPRISED, Marvel); and I get to go for my favourite high tea with my favourite person tomorrow.

Polatam Deep Moist Cream ($31 CAD)

As this month closes, a new love is struggling to the forefront of my beauty cabinet: the Polatam Deep Moist Cream ($31 CAD). My friend Shana at Take Good Care sent this over during the winter, and it’s really getting me through!

The Polatam Deep Moist Cream isn’t just affordable – it’s really effective, too. It’s hydrating, unscented, and silicone-free, with oak tree sap and ceramides in its formula for extra hydration. It has a lovely, glossy texture, and reminds me quite a bit of the DHC Extra Nighttime Moisture that you all know I love.

My favourite thing about the Polatam Deep Moist Cream? Check out that tube: it’s cute and lightweight, and it contains a whopping 100ml. That makes it $31 CAD per 100ml, to DHC’s $102 CAD per 100ml.

Simplistic BEGIN Cleanser ($29 CAD)

I also checked out the Simplistic BEGIN Cleanser ($29 CAD) over the winter, but this one gets a “skip” from my dry skin and I. It has a gentle, low pH of 5.5 with no added fragrance, but I just… Didn’t love it. Its natural herbal scent was lovely to use, and its gentle foaming texture was pleasant, but it was just too stripping for my insanely-dry skin.

For someone with normal to oily skin, this would be a great option for sensitive skin – but not super-dry skin.

The verdict?

Take a pass on the Simplistic Cleanser BEGIN if you have dry skin, but definitely think about adding the Polatam Deep Moist Cream to your skincare cabinet! It’s a lovely, simple, silicone-free moisturizer at a great price, and Take Good Care makes it easy to get your hands on in Canada.

And go see Avengers: Infinity War if you want to see shit getting blown up because men are The Worst™. You won’t be disappointed.

Availability: Both products are available (perm) at Take Good Care, who hand-picked them for my skin and sent them in for review!

Tags: /Canadian beauty, Cleansing, Grouped reviews, Indie brands, Moisturizers, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Silicone-free moisturizers and serums, Skincare

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Esqido Unisyn lash review: Bread & Butter, Love & Peace, Smoke & Fire

April 19, 2018

Rae Chen

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Firsts are a tricky currency. Their being implies a certain limited nature: not a perfection, or a finality, but a first. There are a limited number of firsts to go around, and Esqido has conquered one of their remaining ones with the Esqido Unisyn False Lash collection.

I’ve been thinking a lot about firsts recently. They’re an ever-depreciating collection of commodities, but what makes them tricky is that they don’t exist. They are, like so much of our world, purely symbolic – and, as someone who can’t decide if they believe in firsts or not, I struggle to treat them with the “correct” amount of reverence.

I left the first big, functional love of my life last month, and I’m still feeling the echoes of that decision every day.

The Unisyn first: Synthetic lashes from Esqido

Esqido toes an interesting line with the Unisyn collection because it’s so not what the brand set out to be. For a company that built itself entirely on mink lashes, introducing a synthetic substitute–and therefore suggesting that synthetic false lashes can be as good as mink ones–risks being detrimental to the brand.

But the market is changing. This launch tells consumers not only that Esqido is listening, but also that they still believe that mink really is the best. The Unisyn lashes retail for $22, while Esqido’s mink lashes sit at $24-$32: a premium price for a premium product.

I’m still in knots about my firsts. I’d like for them to be something I treasure, but I am sometimes gripped by the (ironic) urge to be a rational agent. Firsts are like stuffed animals, or mementos, or old letters; they are something for sentimentalists.

Esqido Unisyn Bread & Butter ($22 USD)

I liked all of the Unisyn lashes that I tried, but the Esqido Unisyn Bread & Butter lashes ($22 USD) took the cake. They’re a delicate band with (get this) extra-fine 4-7 mm black and translucent brown lashes.

The resulting look is more natural than any other false lash I’ve ever seen. They deliver the perfect natural, everyday look for small eyes, and I have a sneaking suspicion that the brown lashes will make them even more wearable for fair skinned or light-irised folks.

Before/after – bare, curled lashes

Esqido Unisyn Bread & Butter lash review – before/after

Esqido Unisyn Love & Peace ($22 USD)

The Esqido Unisyn Love & Peace lashes ($22 USD) were another hit for me. While Bread & Butter is listed as a light volume lash, Love & Peace is a nice step up to “medium.” These lashes are a wispy, criss-crossed 7-11 mm, in all black.

Love & Peace offers more volume and length than Bread & Butter, and these lashes are more noticeable at a distance. They’re as full as I’d go in the Esqido Unisyn line for my eye shape and preferences.

Esqido Unisyn Love & Peace lash review – before/after

Esqido Unisyn Smoke & Fire ($22 USD)

Finally, the Esqido Unisyn Smoke & Fire ($22 USD) lashes are gorgeous… but a little too much for my eyes. Because I have to trim my lashes a little on the short end (my fellow sensitive-eyed monolidded folks will know the struggle of being stabbed in your inner crease with a false lash band), the density of a lash like this makes the trimming look obvious.

Those with smaller eyes can still wear the Esqido Smoke & Fire lashes, but know that at 9-15 mm, they’ll be a Look. These straight lashes are very voluminous, with tapered inner and outer corners. Trimmed (I trim about 8 mm from the outer corners of Esqido lashes for comfort), you lose that outer taper.

Esqido Unisyn Smoke & Fire lash review – before/after

The Esqido Unisyn Lash verdict?

Firsts may be tricky, but not when it comes to the Esqido Unisyn lash collection. At $22 USD each, these are a wonderful first synthetic lash collection from a mink lash brand. They’re a little more affordable than the mink lashes that made the brand famous, but look just as natural, wispy, and fluffy as the “real thing.” I find them to be slightly more comfortable, though this may be due to the lash styles rather than the line itself.

For those on a budget, I also really like the Kiss Lash Couture Faux Mink collection ($5.99 USD), which has a more limited selection of synthetic lashes. Many of the Lash Couture lashes are long, dense, or spiky, with few light volume/natural-looking lashes available; with the Unisyn collection, you’re paying more per lash, but you have many more options for light to medium volume.

It’s hard to get things right on the first time – but Esqido knocked these out of the park.

Availability: $22 USD each at Esqido.com. Permanent as of April 2018.

Buy one, get one 50% during this launch; use code raec for an extra 15% off your order (indefinitely!) Fully customizable lash trios are available with a tube of Esqido Companion Lash Glue as the Unisyn Lash Kit ($50 USD; $76 USD value).

Tags: /Esqido, Eyes, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Spring/Summer 2018

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Excited about this April: E.L.F. Zhou and 4 more favourites | SHINY THINGS

April 12, 2018

Rae Chen

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1. E.L.F. Zhou Monarch Choker

I know: I’ve talked about this before. But the E.L.F. Zhou Monarch Choker (£102 GBP) is one of my favourite possessions, and I feel like I never get the chance to wear it (less even, now that it’s summer). So, I’m talking about it again.

My honey bought me this choker near the beginning of our relationship, during my last trip to Toronto. It’s a gorgeous, extremely sturdy leather band with “two d-ring buckles in a butterfly wing arrangement,” which suited us perfectly: we’re not lifestyle kinksters, and E.L.F. Zhou doesn’t require its customers to be. (Although it’s definitely sturdy enough to be – which I guess we are, too.)

There are a number of things that I remember about that trip, besides how short it was. I remember my phone dying on me right as I was supposed to meet him on the Friday. The hokey little restaurant where we stayed too late and had the best fries of my life. The way he looked at me the first time he slipped this around my neck, like he was falling endlessly and was wholly all right with that fate.

2. Je Joue Mimi Soft Vibrator

It’s no secret that I adore Je Joue’s Mimi Soft vibrator ($94.99 USD). My original one’s battery wore out last September, and I hadn’t gotten around to replacing it – even after giving one away for my blogiversary.

The brand was kind enough to send me a replacement so I could compare the updated version, and I’ve given it a spin around the block already. My initial response? It’s still good… But isn’t quite the same as it was in 2014. Stay tuned for more.

3. The Body Shop French Grape Seed Scrub

Did you know that The Body Shop’s spa line includes four different body scrubs?? Because I didn’t, but they’re all fantastic.

This is my favourite of the bunch, and well worth picking up: The Body Shop French Grape Seed Body Scrub ($32 CAD). It’s so thick that it seems almost sticky, with a hydrating green base that’s full of grape seed oil, grape seed powder, and grape bud extract. It smells mostly like grape seed, but also–inexplicably–like the base notes of The Body Shop’s Absinthe Purifying Hand Cream ($21 CAD).

I’ve used this scrub twice this week. Even that buttery E.L.F. Zhou British leather has nothing on how soft my butt is right now.

4. The iPhone 8

After months of deliberation, I finally bought a new phone: the iPhone 8 in Gold. (It’s not very gold.) It’s bright and shiny and it ended up being the only major smartphone option for me – the Pixel, Galaxy 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X are all so large that I can’t hold them in one tiny, arthritic hand.

I’ve been spending a lot of time recently thinking about systemic biases in design. (If “recently” means “over the past three years.”) Modern design is so thoughtlessly catered towards men that it’s even made for biologically male bodies in “female” spaces: the height of the toilets in women’s washrooms; the depth of the chairs used in nursing areas; the weight of the doors to women’s changing rooms.

How different would smartphones look if they were made for a 5’4″ frame, rather than a 5’10” one? Would I be able to stay in public for more than a few hours at a time if chairs were designed with my body in mind? What about cars – would women have a lower motor vehicle accident mortality rate if seat belts were made for us, too?

5. Saje Spa Spirit

My final April favourite is something that’s helping me get through my most recent breakup. Saje Spa Spirit ($16.95 CAD) is a scent I started using in January, and it came with me in the move.

It’s bittersweet: Spa Spirit is mostly eucalyptus and benzoin, and my ex and I loved it equally. Smelling it makes me wish I could go home again – to step through the door into the always-too-hot apartment and tell my cat he wasn’t allowed into the hallway; to lean into my partner and kiss him hello. I want to feel his threadbare t-shirts under my palms; to nestle up against his tall frame and let his chest hold the entire weight of my body through my face.

Spa Spirit smells like home, and in doing so, it makes home portable. It isn’t a place where I was once very happy, and once very sad: it is a warmth that I hold in my chest, and I share with you.

Even if you don’t like dogs.

Tags: /Fashion, Je Joue, Product Photos, Saje, Sex, The Body Shop, The Edit

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Lise Watier Urban Velocity review, swatches, makeup look: BALANCE

April 2, 2018

Rae Chen

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Here is what I know: no matter what I do, I will be doing you a disservice. I’ve run the scenarios again and again – there is no way for me to get it right every time.

Here is what else I know: I am as cruel as I am clever, and you are the only thing that makes me want to write.

This Lise Watier Urban Velocity makeup look is one that I put together weeks ago, and posted on Instagram in February. It got lost in the mess of my life (read: I mixed up these photos with these ones, because apparently my face looks the exact same always), and I couldn’t find the words for it until now.

The Lise Watier Urban Velocity collection

I can handle a breakup. I can even handle two. But, now, given the stress of four in fewer weeks than that: I may actually shatter.

This collection is a tiny capsule (a feeling that I know all too well.) It contains three baked and marbled products; each Lise Watier collection launching just a little bit farther from the norm. The brand picked a beautiful Asian model for this collection, with stunning pastel pink hair. (Annabelle, owned by the same parent company, also gracefully launched a Spring collection featuring a male model. Because I didn’t already love Group Marcelle enough.)

Lise Watier Urban Velocity swatches: Blush, Eyeshadow Trio, and Lipstick

I liked the smooth, plummy eyeshadow trio in the Lise Watier Urban Velocity collection, though it’s pricy at $44 CAD. The baked blush was a bit of a letdown; the colour just isn’t right for me, though the product itself is gorgeously pigmented. (If you’re looking for a gorgeous blush from Lise Watier, their Blush-On Powder in Libertine is spectacular. It came with me during my move in a separate bag from everything else, because I couldn’t bear to go a week without it.)

The lipstick was odd – gorgeous, with a semi-sheer finish that made my lips look full and kissable, but I just don’t get marbled products. I want to be reassured of consistency!

My limitations are as strict as my habits, and I want my lipstick to be the exact goddamn same in every swipe. I have spent so much time bending – I am almost out of energy, but I would to take everything I have left and put it in you. (I hate your dark wood fetish; the side panel that I always bruise my thigh on. They make me never want to leave.)

The Urban Velocity makeup look

The problem with this writing is that it is undefined. You are an ever-changing concept in a stream of thought; an indivisible many. You are all of my dark shadows–you are something I cannot stomach–you are my only good thing.

(You will waste away on library shelves, and I will be here, waiting to decay.)

(These photos don’t really fit this post any longer, do they?)

This look was mostly plum, so I paired it with something crisp: a chilly lace bralette (last season; similar) and a soft white button-up (this one). The lashes are my current favourite: Kiss Little Black Dress lashes ($5.99 USD). I’ve gone through three pairs – they look so natural on my small, monolidded eyes, but so full.

I used the base that I always do (Pür Cosmetics Eye Polish Eye Base + Topcoat in Satin, which keeps my eyeshadow from creasing), and topped the look off with a few Annabelle Chrome Eyeshadows.

You know the story from there: and then I mixed these photos up, got overwhelmed, and set them aside until I could start getting my life in order again.

Tags: /4. Makeup looks, Canadian beauty, Cheeks, Eyes, Indie brands, Lips, Lise Watier, Makeup looks: colour, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Spring/Summer 2018

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