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    Back to school: show us that school makeup!

    Some of you started this week, some of you started last week, some of you will start in the weeks ahead… either way, a ton of us are going back to school this month! So, we’re inviting you to send us your school-appropriate FOTDs! (Details behind the cut.)

    Here are some of our school-appropriate FOTDs (click through the images to get to the posts,) though I mean, you could really wear anything, at least as an undergrad…

    And once more, in colour! (Those are from separate posts, and again, click through for said posts!)

    If you’re not into that (I know it can be nerve-wracking the first time you post a FOTD online,) how ’bout you just answer this questionnaire in the comments? ;)

    What’s your one must-have back-to-school beauty product?
    How long does your morning routine take you?
    To mascara, or not to mascara?
    What one course are you most looking forward to this term?

    Our answers…

    What’s your one must-have back-to-school beauty product? Lancome Blush Subtil in Rose Fresque! I wear it whenever I’m too tired in the morning to pick my blush — probably two or three times a week, in a bad month :/
    How long does your morning routine take you? Fifteen minutes or so, usually.
    To mascara, or not to mascara? Depends on the day! Only if I feel like it.
    What one course are you most looking forward to this term? Sociology. The rest of my courses are boring!

    The details

    If you’d like to submit a photo, please have it in by Saturday night at 12:00PM! We’d love it if you could include a short “products used” list with your FOTD (or EOTD,) and if you have your own blog, make sure to include that link as well! Just send it all to ethicnote (at) gmail (dot) com, with the subject line “Back to school FOTD.”

    Here’s a checklist for your image:

    • Must be 900 pixels across, no bigger or smaller! 
    • Must be properly colour-balanced, and not blurry — if your entire face is just orange, orange, orange from the tungsten lighting, try going into the daylight to take your photo, or changing the colour settings on your camera.
    • Just include a face shot or eye shot; we don’t need to see a metre above your head and then right down to your waistline ;) It’s a FOTD, not an OOTD!

    I can’t wait to see your photos, and I do hope some of you ladies send ’em in! Don’t be shy — we’ll love you either way!

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    Picspam + Review: Revlon Mauvy Night

    Too tired to think today, so here’s a bunch of photos for you ;) Mauvy Night is a Revlon Super Lustrous favourite of mine — it features their gorgeous creme formula, which both feels great and looks great! 

    Here’s a point-form review of the Creme formula for any of you interested. It’s definitely my favourite formula out of the drugstore, though I haven’t tried the new Colorburst lipsticks yet!
    Revlon Super Lustrous Cremes are…
    • pretty moisturizing, for lipsticks,
    • well-priced (or as well-priced as things can be, nowadays,)
    • creamy and pigmented,
    • one of the few formulas that doesn’t catch on my dry bits or migrate to my lipline!
    They’ve also introduced a new cap, recently, with a clear top — super handy for those of us with way too many lipsticks. The only changes I’d make to the Super Lustrous line would be (a) adding more of these awesome creme finishes! and (b) taking the price back down a few notches. The price ($9 CDN,) is good… but it’s not quite “right!”

    Availability: SLs can be found in tons of drugstores and grocery stores, but also online in shops like Target and drugstore.com

    Ingredients, plus more photos…
    the lovely, lovely tube…

    … and again, the tube.

    swatch on NW20ish skin

    another lip swatch with slightly different lighting

    the ingredients
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    Steals and Deals 03/09/10

    Origins is offering free samples of Modern Friction with any order; just use CLEAN at the checkout!

    Benefit’s new pearly primer, Girl Meets Pearl, is now available! Use the code PEARLY10 for free US shipping through the Benefit site.

    Tarte is celebrating it’s tenth birthday! From now until Labour Day, use the code  BDAY for $10 off any purchase over just $20.
    For all you lash lovers — this weekend at Clinique, get three free mascara minis and free shipping with the code MASCARA. I’m in love with their Buttershine lipsticks, and Smoldering Plum is one of my favourite end-of-summer blushers!
    And, at Sephora… (please note that some of these are Beauty Insider exclusives and may be limited to US orders)
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    L’Artisan Parfumeur Coeur de Vétiver Sacré

    L’Artisan Parfumeur Coeur de Vétiver Sacré indeed smells like the “sacred heart of vetiver” — unlike many fragrances which list vetiver as a note, this scent is based around the dry, grassy scent of vetiver itself. However, its concentration on one single note does not deter from its beauty, and it is far from boring.

    The opening reminds me of what Elizabeth Arden’s Green Tea wanted to be, for about forty five seconds: bergamot black tea makes a sharp statement, but refrains from being harsh. The top notes begin to evaporate from the skin immediately, like most L’Artisan Parfumeur scents, taking away a bit of the sweetness of date and dried fruits. From there, it reveals a more peppery, exotic base, with saffron and ginger reminiscent of an ancient spice market, softening the feel with sweet, pink berries.

    Finally, Coeur de Vétiver Sacré dries down to a gorgeous vetiver mingled with incense, musk, and just a touch of vanilla. It has a divine ancient-spice quality in its sillage, but close to the skin, it’s deliciously woody and practically edible, evoking memories of saffron rice and other delightful dishes.

    The vetiver in this blend is grassy — not green in a stems-and-leaves kind of way, but grassy as if you’ve literally taken a (wonderful!) nose-dive into a pile of vetiver. No dirt, nothing mulchy, just clean and dry, made woody and spicy by the incense and ginger. Vetiver, as if it was grown in eroding desert soil, then pulled from the sand, left to dry in the hot sun, and sold in a spice market.

    Overall, I do think that Coeur de Vétiver Sacré is gorgeous, but not the type of fragrance I’d wear. It’s very fresh and grassy-green (neither of which are my usual “type,”) and has a feel that is almost… sour. It’s certainly more masculine and feminine, and is by no means the star of the L’Artisan Parfumeur lineup, but do I think it would be amazing on the right guy (or girl, depending on your fragrance tastes!)

    Coeur de Vetivér Sacré was crafted by the divine Carine Vinchon, and will be launching September 2010. 

    Availability: In the US, Coeur de Vétiver Sacré will launch exclusively this month to Barneys New York, but will expand to other retails in the new year. In Canada, it will launch in Ogilvy’s.

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    Eye palettes that "ick me out" less than the Stila palette

    (Read the original post about the Stila here, if you missed it!)

    After less-than-loving the new Stila palette’s design, I decided to embark on a little mission: to find some eye palettes that I did like the construction and design of, or at least that I liked a bit more! So, here are a few of my favourites. To be fair, I left out palettes with any less than seven shadows — it’s not exactly a level playing ground if you’re comparing a quad with a “blockbuster” palette for design!

    As usual for these “list posts,” all images can be clicked to go to the product pages.
    1. The new Sephora Color Diary palette looks really interesting — five different sets that pop out and have lids of their own, then pop back in at the end of the day.

    2. These other Sephora palettes are great, too — I love the simple, clean design of the Artist palettes, and the Enchanted Eye Palette just looks so sophisticated and glam.

    3. You honestly can’t go wrong with equally-sized circles, in two lovely, clean rows, as shown by Le Metier de Beaute and Chantecaille!


    4. Also tried and true? Boxes filled with orderly rows of circles…


    5. … and palettes in strip form, like this Kat Von D.

    6. NYX palettes have to get a nod, too. The pigmentation’s really impressive for something that’s usually found at about $10, and they’re basic-but-clean.

    7. Lastly, this totally doesn’t fit any of the requirements, but can you believe that this Forever 21 palette is only $2.80? It makes me wonder if it would be any good — has anyone tried the line yet?

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    Review: Annabelle Hype (Fall 2010, National)

    Don’t miss yesterday’s Hype EOTD!

    Annabelle Mono Eyeshadows always impress me, as I’m sure you know by now. Not only are they great drugstore shadows, they’re simply great shadows. I’m not saying they’re the be-and-end-all, but I am saying that I’d be a happy camper paying anything up to about $9-10 per shadow… but they’re only $4.25. So, colour me impressed!

    Anyhow. I’m sure you’d much rather read the mini-reviews and see some swatches than listen to the ravings of a madwoman this blogger’s innermost thoughts!

    • Fantasy: *Needs* to be foiled — it’s pretty used dry, but it’s really pretty used wet. Foiling really bring out its vibrancy, making it a lot more teal/turquoise and a lot less steely.
    • Lagoon: I’m not sure if anyone noticed in yesterday’s EOTD, but Lagoon goes on a little patchy when foiled — it just doesn’t buff out quite right. But for $4, if you’re on a budget, its so worth the hassle! Lagoon is absolutely gorgeous; super-pigmented with an incredible, rich, blue finish.
    • Ultraviolet: Goes on patchy wet or dry when swatched, but blends gorgeously when used in a look. Note that it is NOT any more patchy than any other matte violet shadows I’ve tried, including the much-adored MUFE 92! Matte violets are just really hard to formulate, I guess :o)
    • Rainforest: A pretty mid-to-light green, but it’s the only shade I’d deem “skippable.” It does a great job balancing out the quad, but isn’t dazzling on its own.
    swatched dry / swatched wet

    Don’t miss: Fantasy and Ultraviolet. I love them to death; honest.
    Possibly pick up: Lagoon, if you’re looking for a great medium-dark blue for less than $5, and/or you’re okay with having to take an extra minute or two to blend it out. (I totally am, and just adore the shade!)
    Skip: Rainforest, unless you’re buying the whole quad.

    Hype also repromotes the Volumelip glosses. Check out our review here!

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