theNotice

theNotice turns 10 | A decade of thanks (and a giveaway worth $560!)

September 26, 2017

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Today’s the day: as of this afternoon, I’ve been writing theNotice for the past ten years. Which is… I mean, it’s crazy. This blog is officially almost old enough to go to Hogwarts.

When I started theNotice, I never thought it would become part of my day to day life. I figured I’d blog a few times a week, as a hobby, and maybe (just maybe!) a few of my friends would read it. But it grew like an unstoppable, beautiful force, and it blows me away to be able to say that writing is now my full-time job. (Want to get started in blogging? I have a series on that, now, too.)

» Skip to the giveaway «

Blog posts you should totally hit up

Throughout this blog post, I’ve linked a few of my favourite posts from the past ten years. I’m particularly proud of my pieces on emotional abuse and IUDs, although I have a few favourite makeup looks, too.

The makeup look that I’m most proud of is this abstract ETOD, but I’ve done a lot of looks with graphic liner. My cut-out eye look gets a lot of game (it was even featured on Buzzfeed!), and it’s really easy to copy. I also really loved this YSL Arty Stone makeup look – it was one of my very first posts on Instagram, and I am forever aiming to one day look that well-composed again.

One of my favourite eye palettes from the years I’ve been blogging was this wonder from Lise Watier – oh man, and this guy from Shu. I’ve mishandled my em-dashes for a decade, and I’ve raved about Clinique Chubby Sticks and Clarins Eye Quartets (RIP the originals) for just as long.

What’s changed in 10 years

Not to be too overtly clichéd, but: everything. And nothing.

When I started theNotice, I was a healthy, able-bodied introvert finishing high school. Now, I’m 25, trying my best to live my brightest, most extroverted life. theNotice was the blessing I never expected to get, and it’s been my crutch over the past decade. It was there when I found out, at fifteen, that I would need to have heart surgery. It was there when, at seventeen, I found out that I had a chronic illness. And it’s here now, at 25, creating opportunities for me to work despite my disability.

I can’t tell you where I’ll be in ten years. What I can tell you is that I consider myself to be unbelievably lucky to have had the past ten. I honestly don’t know if I could have gotten though the past decade without theNotice, and it means so much to me to have an amazing support system here, on the internet, where all of us weirdos can come make sense of things together.

So whether you’re an OG reader (Sarah, Arianne), one of my fellow spoonies (Katie, Alison), you’ve sent me an email that broke my heart (Efraín, Shannon, Anna!) or you’re brand new to the blog, what’s coming up next is for you.

Win $560 of my favourite things from the past 10 years

I wanted to do something really special for my 10th blogiversary, so here’s one incredible gift bundle for one heckin’ lucky reader. (It’s worth $567.22 if you don’t adjust any of the currencies, but that just doesn’t roll of the tongue in the same way!)

Every single product in this giveaway is something that I love and use on a daily/weekly basis. These are the items that I re-buy as soon as I run out, from brands that I support because they’re made up of really beautiful souls.

Here are the amazing goodies that you can win:

Annabelle TwistUp Retractable Lipsticks in Vamp and Cherry ($9.95 CAD each), and Skinny Brow Liner in Universal Taupe ($8.95 CAD)
Aveeno Fresh Essentials Moisturizer SPF 30 ($23.49 CAD)
Lise Watier Twist & Sharp Eyeliner in Platine ($23 CAD) and Féline Eyeliner HD in Vert ($22 CAD)
Lovetica Natural Lip Balms ($18.99 CAD) and Natural Deodorant ($14.99 CAD)
Marcelle Translucent Face Powder ($15.95 CAD) and Precision Liquid Eyeliner Pen ($11.95 CAD)
MIYU Hydrate Mi Deluxe Pairing ($55 USD)
Pür Cosmetics Eye Polish in Satin, Suede, and Caviar ($32 CAD each)
SheVibe – Vixen VixSkin Mustang Dildo in Fluor-A-Pink ($140 USD) and Je Joue Mimi Soft External Vibrator in Black ($117 USD)

Giveaway swatches, L-R: Cherry, Vamp, Precision Liquid Eyeliner, Vert, Universal Ebony, Platine, Suede, Satin, and Caviar.

Want to win it? It’s easy – just enter using the giveaway widget below. (Full details in the widget.) This prize is shipping directly from my office, so it’s open to everyone: if you’re legally allowed to enter contests in your place of residence, I will ship it out to you.

Writing theNotice changed my life. Think of this as my way of saying “thank you” – thank you for reading, thank you for commenting, thanking for making my career a reality. ❤️

theNotice’s big 10th blogiversary giveaway (worth $560!)

Tags: /About theNotice, Giveaway

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New 23/09/17 & a few stellar deals from around the web!

September 23, 2017

Rae Chen

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I don’t even need to really preface this with anything, but… Fenty Beauty, you guys. Have you indulged yet? (It KILLS me that the Fenty Beauty foundation has silicones, but if it didn’t, you know I’d be there. Instead, I’m lusting after the ‘cone-free Match Stix (in Unicorn, obvi) and Killawatt Freestyle Highlighters.

I don’t know about the Fenty Universal Gloss Bomb that everyone’s so crazy about (like, it’s just a lipgloss?), but maybe it’s something with magic that needs to be seen in person.

Anyhow – here’s everything else that’s new this week.
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This weekend’s best sales

Doing a little weekend shopping? Here are a few weekend beauty sales (and sex toy deals) that might be of interest to you!

Beauty sales

25% off sitewide to celebrate Scarlet & Julia’s 3rd birthday! Use code HAPPYBIRTHDAY from September 21-24, 2017. Plus, get a free 50ml Decléor Cleansing Milk with every purchase.
Sephora: Week of Wow deals for $15 CAD or less, plus more on sale online.
15% off makeup at Nordstrom (yes, including MAC)!

Don’t forget to sign up for Ebates (or Ebates.ca) to get 4% cash back at Sephora, 3% cash back at Ulta, and 5% cash back at Tarte!

Sex toy sales

30% off at PinkCherry.com (some exclusions apply) with code FLASH30.
15% off at PinkCherry.ca (some exclusions apply) with code PINK15.
SheVibe: 10% off sex toy storage, 15% off Je Joue (including my fave, the MiMi Soft), and 10% off Nexus products.
30% off at Lovehoney.com when you buy 2 sex toys. (I recommend the super-cute Tokidoki Unicorn Massage Wand and the Womanizer Pro40.)

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

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Tokidoki x Lovehoney Unicorn Massage Wand review, photos, & more

September 21, 2017

Rae Chen

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The products: Tokidoki x Lovehoney Unicorn Massage Wand, Mini Vibe, and 7 Function Power Vibe

More than anything, I love being able to laugh in the bedroom. There’s something so special about your first bedroom laugh with someone, you know? And I’m not talking some demure giggle. Oh no: I mean a full-on, boisterous, belly laugh. That love of belly laughs that brought me to the Tokidoki x Lovehoney Unicorn Massage Wand (and associated bullets.)

I adore whimsical sex toys. I covet my friend Piph’s Jollies Jollet. I love my “forest elf” harness set from Beyond Delights. And nothing–nothing–says laughter and whimsy like a good heckin’ RAINBOW UNICORN VIBRATOR. (Donut-stealing bird mini bullets are also very okay.)

Tokidoki x Lovehoney review – packaging

But first: the Tokidoki x Lovehoney Bullet Vibrators

There are two models of Tokidoki x Lovehoney bullet vibrators available in this collection, in a few designs each. These are the first budget bullet vibrators that I’ve ever tried, and … Wow. WOW. They are buzzy.

I can never un-feel the feelings that I felt in my hand while trying ~~this tiny horror show~~ the Lovehoney Mini Vibe. It makes my fingers feel itchy and regretful, and don’t even get me started on how it made other things feel.

Can a vulva feel regretful and panicked? Because I think I just experienced that for the very first time with the Tokidoki x Lovehoney Mini Vibe ($16 CAD/$7.50 USD/$14.99 USD at Lovehoney), and I am Not A Fan™. My Mini Vibe is in the Swoop print, and while it’s very cute, I hate it with ~~every fibre~~ almost every fibre of my being.

I really do like that the Lovehoney Mini Vibe models are cheap, waterproof, and tiny. I’m a fan of the fact that they take AAA batteries, which are easy to find. But I HATE how buzzy they are. They’re noisy AND numbing, and I can’t abide by them. I can’t.

The larger Tokidoki x Lovehoney 7 Function Power Vibe ($36.99 USD at Lovehoney) is by far my favourite of the two. It takes two AA batteries, and while it’s very large, I think it’s a good vibe when on sale. (Pink Cherry has it for $17.50 CAD/$17.50 USD). It’s made of phthalate-free hard plastic, and its body is entirely waterproof.

While still buzzy, the Lovehoney 7 Function Power Vibe has 3 intensities, followed by 4 patterns. The buzz reverberates through the toy quite a lot, and it’s very noisy. But that being said, it still achieves its purpose for me – which is really good for a $17 toy.

GUYS. It’s the Tokidoki x Lovehoney Unicorn Massage Wand!

But enough about bullets. They may be a good introduction to affordable sex toys, but let’s face it: what you really want to read about (and what I really want to talk about) is that wand! The Tokidoki x Lovehoney Unicorn Massage Wand ($132 CAD/$65 USD/$119 USD at Lovehoney) is a thing of beauty.

What makes the Tokidoki x Lovehoney Unicorn Massage Wand special? Three things. First, there’s the scroll wheel control. It allows for incremental power control (I counted 20 different speeds while slowly scrolling), and it’s great for arthritic hands.

Second, there’s the unicorn head. It’s adorable and unabashedly fun, and it’s so. Darn. Squishy. It makes cleaning this toy really easy, and the different shapes around the head give you plenty of different angles to play with. The Unicorn Massage Wand is just Lovehoney’s Classic Plug In Massage Wand, rebranded, but the no-slip blue grip and the squishy unicorn sleeve make the wand infinitely better.

Tags: /Grouped reviews, Product Review, Sex, Spring/Summer 2017

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MIYU Beauty Essence giveaway | theNotice’s 10th blogiversary!

September 18, 2017

Rae Chen

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*sponsored post

theNotice’s 10th blogiversary giveaways continue today, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this feature. I have a special place in my heart for MIYU Beauty, and to be able to give away these these travel-sized MIYU Beauty Essence sprays makes me glow right down to my core.

MIYU was one of the first brands that I met with in person while working on theNotice, and it’s not an exaggeration when I say that I genuinely adore the ethos and #girlbosses behind this brand. Founder Connie Tai and PR maven Linda Nguyen are the embodiment of the platonic power couple. They’re gorgeous, driven, and wholly genuine.

Basically? These beauty babes are the kind of best friends that you only read about in books, but they’re the real thing.

On top of all that, Connie and Linda have always had faith in my work – even when I haven’t. (Any of my fellow creatives will know just how special that is to find.)

When I recommend MIYU to my friends and family, I’m not just recommending a great product. I’m recommending something made with love by people who I love, and that feels so much more meaningful to me than saying “hey, the new palette that everyone and their dog is talking about really is great!”

What makes the MIYU Beauty Essence formulas special?

The MIYU Beauty Essence concept is a really cool one: it’s a hybridization of a facial mist and a serum. It’s easier to apply than a serum, and more nourishing than your standard mist.

The MIYU Beauty Essence formula comes in two variations: De-Stress Mi, for irritated and inflamed skin, and Hydrate Mi, for dull and ageing skin. The mists can be layered or interchanged, especially if you have no skin concerns. Both formulas are free of synthetic fragrances, alcohol-, paraben-, and silicone-free, and Leaping Bunny cruelty-free.

MIYU’s De-Stress Mi Beauty Essence ($24 USD) is a “healing serum mist.” It’s great if you have a high-stress life, or if you live in the city. The De-Stress Mi formula features peppermint, ginger, Chinese liquorice, and honeysuckle extracts to detoxify skin and “deflate” any inflammation. It’s hydrating, too, though – both Beauty Essences contain sodium hyaluronate (which can carry up to 1000x its weight in water) and MIYU’s signature blend of green tea, white peonies, and pearl powder.

I use my De-Stress Mi when I’ve had a tough week, but my MIYU formula is the Hydrate Mi Beauty Essence ($24 USD). (Coincidentally, it’s also my favourite of their two beauty teas.)The Hydrate Mi formula is perfect for travel and for dry climates. Wild pansy extract helps boost skin hydration levels (by as much as 20% in 28 days), and goji berries and mangosteen extract are both powerful anti-oxidants.

Hydrate Mi is designed to hydrate, revitalize, and protect against free radicals – so, basically, it’s made to keep me fresh while I’m young and young when I’m old.

Win your own set of travel-sized MIYU Beauty Essence mists

When I told MIYU that I was running special giveaway posts for my 10th blogiversary, they knew what product they wanted to give away immediately. The MIYU Beauty Essence duo photographed here features brand new packaging, and it is gorgeous. (Fun fact: these were the first two bottles of this packaging to go out to anyone, including Connie herself!)

MIYU’s new look is chic beyond words, with delicate white and gold detailing on frosted bottles. The gold misters on each bottle finish off the look perfectly, and nothing about these mists feels “travel-sized” – they’re luxurious through and through.

theNotice’s 10th blogiversary giveaway – MIYU Beauty

This giveaway will be open for two weeks (closing on September 31st at 11:59 PM MST), and is open to anyone in the US or Canada who is over the age of majority. You can enter using the form above, and if you’re really determined to win, there’s also an option for daily entries. Good luck!!

Tags: sponsored/Canadian beauty, Giveaway, Indie brands, MIYU Beauty, Other, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Silicone-free, Skincare

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Womanizer Pro 40 + Sliquid H2O giveaway with Peepshow Toys | theNotice’s 10th blogiversary!

September 11, 2017

Rae Chen

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*sponsored by Peepshow Toys

When I started theNotice, I was a high school student who loved writing and had a little extra free time. I didn’t own a single sex toy, I barely wore makeup, and the Womanizer Pro 40 didn’t even exist.

Now, ten years later, I’m basically that same person … But there’s one big difference. Though I’m still a student at the U of A, I now have the privilege of writing pretty much full-time. I am forever baffled by how many funny, complex, wonderful people actually choose to read my shit, and to stick around for a decade?! You guys blow me away.

As my way of saying “thanks for reading,” I have a couple giveaways going up this month of my favourite products from the past 10 years. Whether you’re an OG reader or you’re brand new to theNotice, consider this the first of many ways that I’ll be saying “thank you” this month!

Enter to win the Womanizer Pro 40

I adore my Womanizer Pro 40, and I am beyond excited to get to share one with a reader for my 10th blogiversary. It’s one of my all-time favourite toys, and I can’t go without it anymore. It delivers reliable, quick, intense orgasms, and its mechanics and battery life are just so. Darn. Good.

I’ve taken my Pro 40 to five different cities since getting it this spring, and it’s held up like a champ through each one. So if you’re over the age of majority in your place of residence and you have a mailing address in Canada, the US, the UK, or Australia, then this giveaway is for you! It’ll be open for two weeks, and you can get extra entries every day.

One lucky winner will be getting my high-endurance “dream team” kit: a Womanizer Pro 40 and a bottle of Sliquid H2O lube, courtesy of Peepshow Toys. Good luck, and to the winner: enjoy!

theNotice’s 10th blogiversary giveaway – Peepshow Toys

PS: You DO NOT have to use your full name to enter this giveaway. Feel free to use a pseudonym if you’d like to protect your anonymity – Peepshow Toys ship discreetly, and I will never share your information with a 3rd party unless expressly agreed upon in writing. (In other words, unless it’s to get your prize to your mailbox!)

Tags: sponsored/Giveaway, Sex, Womanizer

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Miraj Hammam by Caudalie facial review: Resveratrol Lift + NUFACE

September 7, 2017

Rae Chen

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The service: Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Facial with NuFACE

One of my favourite spots in Toronto is the Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie, a luxurious spa tucked away in the Shangri-La Hotel in downtown Toronto. It ticks everything off on my list: it’s spacious, easy to get to, and very consistent. I stopped in during my Toronto trip this summer for my first Caudalie facial.

The spa’s design takes inspiration from Paris, Istanbul, and Marrakech, and features lots of dark wood and copper accents. It’s currently undergoing renovations to expand its change rooms and Alhambra Lounge, but most of the Caudalie services are still available. From what I experienced, the renos are really unobtrusive and quite quiet.

The Caudalie facial experience

The most all-encompassing way that I can convey to you how wholly good this facial was is to tell you this: I don’t remember all of it. I walked into my Caudalie facial caffeinated, stressed, and a little tense. I walked out fully energized and fresh off a light, restful doze.

The Caudalie Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Facial ($175 CAD) is a 60 minute experience that uses techniques to lift, tone, and firm the skin. I’m still young, so the effects aren’t prominent on my skin – but my skin still LOVED the facial.

Travelling really takes the glow out of my skin, so I noticed a big difference before and after this facial. Everything used in it was silicone-free, and my skin drank up the products. The Caudalie Gentle Buffing Cream ($42 CAD/$35 USD) was one of my favourite parts. My skin looked noticeably smoother and more radiant after the scrub, but it was really gentle.

Another little detail that I noticed during my Caudalie facial is that the signature Caudalie Beauty Elixir ($22 CAD to $49 USD) is used to mist the skin. It’s a small detail, but I loved it – it made the facial feel really Caudalie. My aesthetician performed a soothing massage of my hands, arms, shoulders, and feet while my mask was on, which added to the feeling of luxury.

My Resveratrol facial finished with a NuFACE Lifting Treatment add-on ($65 CAD for 15 min), which uses a microcurrent to contour the facial muscles and stimulate collagen and elastin production. A “lifted” effect is achieved similarly to a very low-level TENS treatment, but on such a small scale that I didn’t feel anything but the NuFACE touching my skin.

The lobby/relaxation room of the Miraj Hammam Spa

The Miraj Hammam by Caudalie amenities

The services at the Caudalie spa are fantastic, but what makes the experience so special is the spa itself. Its decor is unique, and the atmosphere at the spa is so relaxed and cozy. You can’t help but feel like every minute there is precious, you know?

I loved the spa’s original dark, wooded Alhambra relaxation suite, and I can’t wait to see the updated room. It’s my favourite part of the Caudalie spa: there’s always spicy Moroccan mint chai tea (or an unsweetened rooibos alternative), and each treatment ends with a single piece of baklava.

My post-facial, makeup-free, filter-free glow + that baklava and chai

I talked about Caudalie’s baklava at length in my Caudalie Hammam & Gommage and Deep Tissue Massage post in 2015, and it’s just as good as I remember. It’s the best baklava I’ve ever eaten in my life, and I kid you not, my foodie heart would 100% book a facial here just for the baklava. It’s THAT good, and it’s exclusive to the spa.

The rest of the spa’s amenities are great, too. There are showers to wash up after your treatment if needed, and the change rooms come equipped with Caudalie essentials, including body mists and moisturizers. You’re always supplied with a bathrobe and big, fluffy towels, and a small cupboard stocks anything you might have forgotten, like a q-tips or a razor.

I’m a sucker for a good spa, and despite the high price tag, I’m already looking forward to my next visit to the Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie. There’s no use fronting: I know that I’ll be back.

Tags: /Beauty destinations, Caudalie, Company Review, Paraben-free, Silicone-free, Skincare, Toronto, Travel

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Garnier Whole Blends Legendary Olive review, photos

August 31, 2017

Rae Chen

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The product: Garnier Whole Blends Legendary Olive Silicone-Free Replenishing Shampoo, Replenishing Conditioner, and Transforming Leave-in Conditioner

It can be tough to stick to a silicone-free skincare regimen, but it’s even harder to go totally silicone-free in your haircare. The really good stuff (like my fave Matrix Biolage R.A.W. line) can run you a pretty penny – which is why I’m always on the lookout for good silicone-free products from the drugstore, like the Garnier Whole Blends Legendary Olive range.

Don’t let the Whole Blends name fool you, though: this line isn’t all-natural. The olive oil products are the only Whole Blend products that are silicone-free, including the other shampoos.

Garnier Whole Blends Legendary Olive Shampoo & Conditioner

The Whole Blends Legendary Olive collection is formulated with virgin olive oil and olive leaf extract. It’s silicone-free and designed to deeply hydrate dry, sensitized hair, and it’s made to be great for fine hair like my own.

For drugstore products, I think that these are great. They leave my hair really smooth and nourished, if a bit flatter than I’d like. The shampoo suds up easily, and the conditioner is easy to rinse out. The basic bottles are easy to hold, too – I actually reach for these over my Kérastase when I’m tired, because while they aren’t quite as nice on my hair, at least they don’t have twist-off lids.

(I hate twist-off lids. Why would you do this to us? Do you want us to get shower water in our products??)

The Whole Blends price point is just right, too: each bottle is $5.99 CAD for 370 ml (pictured here) or $8.99 CAD for 650 ml.

Garnier Whole Blends Legendary Olive Leave-In Conditioner

As much as I liked the Legendary Olive shampoo and conditioner, the leave-in falls kind of flat for me. It’s generously portioned ($8.99 CAD for 300 ml), but it just … Doesn’t really serve a purpose.

Like, okay. The shampoo and conditioner are great, but they leave my hair SO smooth and flat. Adding in the leave-in conditioner makes no difference for my hair – I actually find I like my hair a lot more if I follow up with a mousse or texture spray through the roots instead of another smoothing product.

If you have a lot of frizz, the Whole Blends leave-in conditioner might be more helpful for you, but on the whole? I say skip it – the conditioner is plenty hydrating.

The Garnier Whole Blends verdict?

I love finding good products at a great price point, and these definitely make the cut. The silicone-free Garnier Whole Blends Legendary Olive line is easy to find and easy to use, and while there’s nothing stunning about them, I don’t always need my hair products to be stunning. Sometimes they just gotta get the job done, you know?

Availability: $5.99 CAD & up at drugstores and mass-market retailers across Canada, or at Amazon.ca with free shipping over $35!

Tags: /Fall/Winter 2016, Garnier, Hair, Product Photos, Product Review

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Henkaa Blume convertible dress review & lookbook | The dress that’s a shirt (and a skirt)

August 28, 2017

Rae Chen

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The product: Henkaa Blume Midi Convertible Dress

Henkaa is a Canadian company founded by an Asian-Canadian woman, and it’s focused on empowering women through fashion. Its core products are convertible dresses like the Blume, which change and adapt with you. If you’re hooked into the Canadian wedding scene, you might recognize the brand. Their Sakura dress is a go-to for brides and bridesmaids, and it’s customizable in over 60 styles!

I had the privilege of checking out Henkaa’s showroom while I was in Toronto this summer, and I brought home two beautiful multi-way pieces. My Blume has seen a lot of wear since then – it came out three or four times a week while I was away.

Henkaa Blume – Elizabeth style with a cropped tee

The concept behind the Henkaa Blume convertible dress

Henkaa’s dresses are made in North America from Lenaa™ fabric, a polyester-spandex blend with a tight, silky knit. It’s the perfect travelling fabric: it has a professional, satiny finish, and it’s incredibly wrinkle-resistant.

My favourite thing about the Henkaa brand is that their dresses designed to be size-inclusive. The Blume is offered in four size ranges, from the XS/S that I’m wearing to a 3X/4X that’ll comfortably fit up to a US size 24. They’re photographed on both straight-size and plus-size models, so you don’t have to imagine what each piece might look like on someone with your body type.

Henkaa Blume – Elizabeth style on the Toronto waterfront

How versatile is the Henkaa Blume really?

So. Heckin’. Versatile.

My aesthetic is half androgynous lesbian, half “pieces of clothing that look like they’re multiple pieces of clothing,” so multi-way dresses are right up my alley. I’ve waited a long time to try a truly multi-way dress, and the Henkaa Blume does NOT disappoint.

Henkaa promises that the Blume will turn into at least 17 styles, including dresses, skirts, shirts, and maternity wear. It’s offered in 24 colours, but I got mine in Night Black, because I’m basic like that.

Henkaa Blume – Maddie Style with cutoffs and heeled boots

To finish up this post, I thought I’d go over a few of my favourite Blume styles. I’ve photographed the Elizabeth and Maddie styles for this post, but they’re not all I’ve been wearing!

I really love the Blume’s Bella skirt style, and I tend to wear the Eliza when I’m going out at night. The Maddie is great for an all-day outing, because its sleeves pull easily into the Madison at night.

My one caveat about this dress is that the band sometimes slips down if I’m wearing it in the Elizabeth style (aka the dress in this post). While the extended section keeps the look going, I do end up flashing a good deal of size boob if I wear it braless. I’ve tried circumventing the problem with a heavy application of fashion tape, but the weight of the fabric is just too much for the tape.

It’s not a functional issue (because let’s be honest, I’m all about that sideboob), but it’s something to be aware of before you buy!

Henkaa Blume – Maddie Style

The verdict on the Henkaa Blume Midi Convertible Dress?

The Blume is $108 CAD, and I think it’s thoroughly worth it. That money is going straight to supporting a female-led business, and in exchange, you’re getting a durable, sweatshop-free item of clothing. (Or 17 items of clothing, depending on how you look at it.)

I love the versatility of Henkaa’s products, and they’re really well-made, too. The Blume Maddie style is my perfect slightly risqué, not-too-girly top, and it functions like a good half-closet in one single item.

Availability: $108 CAD at Henkaa. Use code BACK2COOL at Henkaa.com this August for 10% off your order

Tags: /Canadian beauty, Fashion, Henkaa, Indie brands, Product Photos, Product Review, Toronto, Travel

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Deciem Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Body Mist review, photos | Staple sprays for lazy days

August 24, 2017

Rae Chen

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The product: Deciem Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Body Mist

Question #1: How long do you think I can keep tagging products like the Deciem Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Body Mist as “indie beauty” for? Because like … If you haven’t noticed already, Deciem has been blowing up.

Question #2: If you have a bunch of cool new stuff from a brand, are you allowed to just keep reppin’ your old faves first? Because that’s 100% what I’m doing today, but I promise it’s worth the extra attention!

A deeper look at the Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Body Mist

I go through bottles of Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Body Mist like they’re water, but you guys. This stuff is SO good.

It’s lightly lemon-scented and smells squeaky-clean, and it’s a cinch to apply. This body mist has a really dense “next-generation, non-aerosol continuous mist,” with all the good stuff of an auto-spray without any of the CFCs.

For a body mist, it’s pretty hydrating, and it’s just all-around easy to use. The mist can double-duty as a face mist for those with dry skin, too, so don’t let its body-mist promises deter you.

As a spoonie, I like to keep a bottle of this stuff in my cupboard at all times. It can be really tough to find the energy to moisturize every day, but this stuff has my back whenever I’m too tired or too stiff to moisturize by hand.

It’s great for non-spoonies, too–if you’ve ever wanted a lightweight body moisturizer for hot summer days or post-workout showers, this is what you’ve been waiting for! It’ll leave you smelling fresh and clean, and it has a totally non-tacky finish.

Availability: $20 CAD. Permanent (but getting repackaged soon!) Available at Deciem, Look Fantastic, HQ Hair, and more.

Tags: /Indie brands, Moisturizers, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Silicone-free moisturizers and serums, Skincare, The Ordinary

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Womanizer Pro 40 review & Satisfyer Pro 2 comparison

August 22, 2017

Rae Chen

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The products: Womanizer Pro40 and Satisfyer Pro 2

It’s been a while since my last sex toy review, and today, I’m pulling out the big guns: a review and comparison of the Womanizer Pro40 and Satisfyer Pro 2 clitoral air stimulators, AKA my current favourite style of toy.

The cool thing about writing about sex toys is that they exist in a fast-growing industry. While a lipstick is a lipstick is a lipstick, new technologies are being invented in the sex-positive industry every day. These new clitoral toys use “pressure waves” of air to act as a touchless air pump. They’re not vibrators, and they’re not clit pumps–they’re altogether unique.

Womanizer Pro40 review ($129 USD)

The Womanizer was the first air pressure clitoral stimulator to hit the market. It was released in late 2014, and despite the original being ugly like space-age technology from the 80s, it quickly gained popularity.

What makes the Womanizer Pro40 so great? Even though I’m violently opposed to Womanizer’s branding, my body adores the product. It’s so good that it’s changed how I want to rate a product’s battery life. In a post-Womanizer world, I’ve been measuring battery life in number of orgasms instead of number of hours.

I can get 2-3 orgasms out of a vibrator with the Womanizer’s 2 hours of battery life, but I can get more than a dozen out of a single charge of the Womanizer. Its battery is really high-quality, too, holding a charge for the better part of a month and charging to full in 60 minutes.

No, really: On top of that, I’ve found that using the Pro40 is sensitizing rather than de-sensitizing, making it easier for me to get off even when I’m not using the Womanizer. As someone who has worried about anorgasmia for most of their life, that’s been a hugely impactful experience.

Satisfyer Pro 2, Womanizer Pro 40 #1, and Womanizer Pro 40 #2 heads

Other great stuff about the Womanizer Pro40: The Pro40 features 8 intensity levels (the lowest setting really is whisper-quiet), an ABS plastic body, and 2 silicone heads. The heads are easy to wash and made to fit most bodies, including plus-size ones.

The Pro40 is waterproof, and it’s the cheapest model offered from the brand. Plus, hitting the power button during use immediately takes the toy to its lowest intensity, which is a rare feature to find–but a really useful one.

Satisfyer Pro 2 review ($69.99 USD)

The Satisfyer Pro 2 is, in my opinion, just as problematic as the Womanizer–but for very different reasons. It was released hot on the heels of the original Womanizer, and its makers have publicly admitted to stealing Womanizer’s ideas to “improve” on them.

I prefer the Satisfyer’s look and branding, but let’s be honest: that kind of blatant plagiarism is just rude. It’s harmful to smaller makers and new creators, and it encourages distrust in an industry that I think could benefit from more collaboration. But at the same time, I appreciate the availability of air pressure toys at a lower price point, and while “Satisfyer” is still a pretty crap name, it’s not nearly as offensive as the “Womanizer.”

Satisfyer Pro 2 (L) and Womanizer Pro40 (R) charging cables

How does the Satisfyer promise to improve on the Womanizer? The Satisfyer Pro 2 charges with a super-sleek magnetic charging cable, is waterproof, comes in rose gold, and promises a head made from medical-grade silicone. It features 11 intensities to the Pro40’s 8.

But is it better? Not if you ask me. Yes, the Satisfyer range is cheaper and price accessibility is great, but the toys aren’t as good. The Pro 2 comes with only one head, and that one head doesn’t fit my body very well. It’s noisier, too, and takes a lot longer to charge–four hours instead of one.

The Satisfyer also only has one “mode” button, so you can’t reduce the toy’s intensity while you’re using it.

The Womanizer vs Satisfyer verdict?

The only thing better than a new technology is a new technology that works really, really well for you–and these do, at least for me. The Womanizer Pro40 has become my new toy of choice for everything but partnered PIV (its size makes it quite cumbersome), and the toy itself is very well-made.

I’ve heard that air pressure toys tend to be very love-or-hate, but I love them. They deliver a quick, reliable orgasm for me for the first time in my life, and the Womanizer Pro40 both makes me more sensitive and reduces my orgasm-related anxiety.

Both the Satisfyer and the Womanizer that I tried were good, but only the Womanizer was great. If you can stretch your budget to make it work, I think the reliability and interchangeable heads of the Pro40 make it worthwhile.

Availability: Womanizer products are easily available online at Womanizer and Lovehoney with great sales and discreet shipping. Satisfyer can be a little harder to find—in Canada and the US, I recommend purchasing at PinkCherry (US/CAN), which seems to consistently have the best prices on their products.

Tags: favourite sex toys/Grouped reviews, Product Photos, Product Review, Sex, Womanizer

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