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    Mother’s Day gift guide | FOREO Luna Mini 2 review

    *sponsored by FOREO 

    Not sure what to get for Mom this Mother’s Day? Neither am I, but here are a few suggestions… If your mom likes candles more than she likes power tools. (What? My mom is hard to buy for.)

    !Foreo-for-Mother's-Day

    1. Get her buzz on with the FOREO Luna Mini 2

    I’ll be upfront with you guys: I’m a big fan of FOREO, and when they asked me to put together this Mother’s Day gift guide, I jumped at the chance. A facial cleansing device makes for a great gift, because they’re such a little luxury–they’re really effective, but at the same time, they’re not a mandatory part of any skincare regimen.

    I’ve reviewed the Luna Mini before, but the FOREO Luna Mini 2 is a big step up. It has longer bristles and more power, with 8 different power intensities. It’s also larger on the whole, with a softer silicone. It’s a lot closer to the Luna 2 than the Luna Mini was to the Luna, and it really is a joy to use.

    » Get 15% off all devices until May 14th with code FOREO4MOM at Foreo.com.

    2. & 3. Add a matching cleanser & mask duo

    I like my skincare matchy-matchy, but with my picky skin, that almost never happens.

    The FOREO Luna Mini 2 comes in a swath of different colours, though, so it’s not too hard to colour-code your skincare. I really like the black Midnight FOREO Luna Mini 2 with a foamy cleanser like Bella Aura’s Gentle Purifying Cleanser & a nice purifying mask (this one is the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask.)

    !FOREO Luna Mini 2

    !Foreo Luna Mini original vs mini 2

    FOREO Luna Mini vs Luna Mini 2

    4. Create a relaxing frame of mind

    I like doing little pamper sessions every now and again, and there’s no better way to set the mood than some soothing tunes and a great fragrance. A candle with a lot of throw, like the Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay candle, will easily do the trick.

    5. Add some height

    Okay, so it’s time for some real talk: once you’re over the hill, things change. I had a great talk with my mom the other day about, you know, dryness, but that’s not the only way in which things change after menopause.

    Most women find that their hair naturally thins once they’re over the hill, so a little volume boosting root powder never goes awry. I really like the new generation of gritty, water-based root powders like the Matrix Height Riser for fast, easy volume.

    6. Get obnoxiously matchy-matchy

    My mom and I are pretty close. So a few weeks ago, while shopping online for a few new essentials, we bought matching flash drives.

    It’s not necessarily a big gesture, but it’s one of my favourite Mother’s Day gift ideas. Whether it’s matching thumb drives, matching phone cases, or matching FOREOs, buying in twos is just a really lovely way to say “hey, I love you and I want to carry you around everywhere with me, mom.”

    What are you doing for Mother’s Day this year? 

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    Tatcha The Essence Plumping Skin Softener review, photos

    Tatcha The Essence review

    The product: Tatcha The Essence Plumping Skin Softener

    How the Tatcha Essence works

    The Essence is 98.7% made up of Tatcha’s “hadasei-3” complex, which, honestly, I’m a little unclear on. It’s a filtrate of a combination of ingredients, which could mean a lot of things.

    Tatcha The Essence Plumping Skin Softener

    From the sounds of it, the hadasei-3 complex is water infused with green tea, rice, algae, and yeast, and then filtered for impurities. (Think Whole Foods asparagus water, but with skin-conditioning agents and antioxidants.)

    I am inherently wary of paying more than $100 for water in any context, but the fermentation of the ingredients produces low levels of lactic acid. It’s always nice to have something in your skincare regimen that will gently try encourage cell turnover, and a small amount over a long period of time is a great way to introduce acids if you have sensitive skin.

    Tatcha The Essence Plumping Skin Softener review

    My experience with the Tatcha Essence

    One of the first things that I noticed about the Tatcha Essence (I’m sorry; I just can’t bring myself to say “the Tatcha The Essence”) was that it doesn’t contain any glycerine. Instead, it’s light and hydrating without any heaviness or stickiness.

    Beauty essences are basically just fancy toners that you use without cottons, but I really like this one. The packaging is luxurious and easy to use, and it’s easy to press just the right amount of The Essence into your skin. The essence itself pours slowly out of a sculpted spout, and it has the texture of a heavy water.

    As a young and spry 24-year-old, I can’t speak toward dramatic anti-ageing results. But after just a few weeks using the Tatcha Essence, my skin does look pretty good. The fine lines that I’m starting to get around my mouth (thanks, super dry skin) are less noticeable, and I’m feeling less dry around the perimeter of my face.

    Tatcha The Essence Plumping Skin Softener packaging

    The Tatcha Essence verdict?

    I was never a fan of the toner movement, but I’m kind of into essences. They’re a splurge, but they’re lightly hydrating and easy to add into your skincare regimen. Tatcha’s The Essence is beautifully formulated and packaged, and for each bottle sold, some of the profits go to Tatcha’s Beautiful Faces, Beautiful Futures partnership.

    The most surprising thing that I learned while writing this review, however, was that the price point for the Tatcha Essence is totally on-par with the market. Niche beauty essences typically seem to run anywhere from $80-140 CAD, and that’s not even the high end. SK-II’s sits at $225 CAD for the same amount, so $114 isn’t that bad–but it’s still pretty crazy.

    I think I could definitely live without The Essence in my life, but as far as beauty essences go, I do very much enjoy this one.

    Availability: $95 USD/$114 CAD at Sephora, Spring, and Barneys.

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    Ecotools Perfecting Blender Duo, Real Techniques Eye Shade + Blend review, photos | Drugstore gems

    Ecotools sponges, real techniques eye brushes review

    The products: Ecotools Perfecting Blender Duo complexion sponge, Real Techniques Eye Shade + Blend eye brushes

    When I started wearing makeup, it was tough to find affordable tools and brushes that were actually good. The market has really opened up in recent years, though, and two of the brands at the forefront of everything are Ecotools and Real Techniques.

    Ecotools perfecting blender duo review

    Ecotools Perfecting Blender Duo ($15.99 CAD/intl)

    Ecotools were one of the first super-soft synthetic makeup brushes on the market, but they can be a bit of a mixed bag. Some of their brushes can be poorly made (I can’t tell you how many of my Ecotools ferrules have just popped right off their handles), and their bristles are a little too soft. They can feel almost staticky or oily, which is a little bit too much like being petted by the Penguin–or a penguin–for my tastes.

    Ecotools perfecting blender duo review lg sponge

    Where the brand excels, though, is its breadth. They make makeup brushes, konjac sponges, exfoliating puffs, dry brushes, hair brushes… the list goes on.

    This spring, Ecotools is adding the Ecotools Perfecting Blender Duo to their lineup, and these little guys are absolutely excellent. If you’ve tried the Real Techniques complexion sponges, these are very similar–both brands are owned by Paris Presents.

    Ecotools perfecting blender duo review small sponge

    I prefer using the Ecotools Perfecting Blender Duo damp, although it can also be used dry. Both sponges are soft, bouncy, and durable, and the flat angles are a great compromise between precision and speed. The wedge tip lets you get really sharp edges where and when you need them, and the rounded base stipples them out really easily.

    I know that not everyone always wants two sponges, but the fact that these are sold in a kit is really helpful. The smaller one is firmer and smoother, delivering heavier coverage in a more precise location. It’s also less absorbent, so it’s perfect for creamy undereye concealers.

    Real Techniques eye shade and blend brushes review

    Real Techniques Eye Shade + Blend brushes ($14.99 CAD/intl)

    When it comes to choosing between the two brands, though, Real Techniques is definitely my favourite. They make great products, and I love the long ferrules on their makeup brushes.

    I already own an alarming number of Real Techniques makeup brushes, but these ones don’t seem extraneous. If you don’t own the Real Techniques Starter Set, there was probably a gap in your eye brush collection; these satisfy that need perfectly.

    Real Techniques eye brush review

    I’ve always thought that what made a great brush (or a great anything, really) is that it isn’t interchangeable, and these aren’t. The Deluxe Crease Brush (the rounded dome) is a lot firmer and denser. It picks up a lot of eyeshadow with a light touch, and it blends it out just as rigorously.

    The Base Shadow Brush is more tapered and lightly-packed, and it delivers and blends a medium wash of colour. Both are excellent brushes, if a little bit large for my lids, and neither can be swapped out functionally for the other.

    Real techniques eye shade blend review

    The verdict?

    Sure, it used to be hard to find great tools at the drugstore–but it isn’t anymore. The Real Techniques Eye Shade + Blend brushes round off the Real Techniques range nicely, and the Ecotools Perfecting Blender Duo is an affordable, durable alternative to high-end sponges like the Beauty Blender.

    Availability: Look for these brands at Walmart and Rexall in Canada.

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    Dove Shower Foam review, photos

    Dove Shower Foam review

    The product: Dove Shower Foam in Shea Butter with Warm Vanilla, Deep Moisture, and Cucumber & Green Tea Scent 

    Did you know that Dove hasn’t developed a new format for a shower product in 20 years? It’s true: the last time they did, it was 1987.

    This year, they’re changing things up with a skin cleanser that’s altogether new to the brand–a foam. It follows the same mentality as the Bioderma Atoderm Shower Gel that I reviewed last spring, with a lighter texture that rinses off more easily (and gently).

    Dove Shower Foam texture review

    The Dove Shower Foam formula

    The new Dove Shower Foam focuses on cleansing the skin without stripping away its moisture. It uses Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate and Glycinate as its main surfactants, which are gentler alternatives to SLS. (They’re so gentle that they’re used in facial skincare as well!)

    The formula also contains stearic acid and glycerin to help lock moisture into your skin, and it’s easy to rinse off. I’ve been using it all month to soap and shave, and it works well for both.

    I’ve been a little spoiled when it comes to shower products over the past few years, and I can’t remember the last time I used something mass market. But guess what? While they’re a little more stripping than the shower oil that I was using previously, I’m happy to say that the Dove Shower Foam formula is pretty neutral! These foams aren’t too drying, and they never sting.

    Dove shower foam cucumber green tea scent review

    The Dove Shower Foam scents

    Dove released their Shower Foam lineup with three different scents: a soapy “Deep Moisture” scent, a sweet Shea Butter with Warm Vanilla scent, and a light Cucumber and Green Tea scent.

    The three are virtually identical in use, so feel free to choose based on fragrance, not function. I love the way Dove does cucumber scents, so I really like the cucumber and green tea one. I don’t get any green tea notes from it, but it’s a refreshing smell nonetheless!

    Dove shower foam shea butter with warm vanilla review

    The Dove Shower Foam verdict?

    The new Dove Shower Foams are simple, easy products. Each bottle contains more than 250 pumps of product, and they’re just so satisfying–like, they’re inexpensive, but the plastic pumps don’t feel cheap

    The Shower Foam formula is about as hydrating/drying as Dove’s Beauty Bar formula, so let that guide your purchase. I’d definitely reach for one of these over a bar, but I’m biased: I’m not a fan of bar soap, and I’m a sucker for anything whipped or foamy!

    Availability: $7.79 USD/$7.97 CAD at most drugstores, mass market retailers, and grocery stores. Permanent as of January 2017.

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    Annabelle Cosmetics Eye Primer, Eye Shadow, Skinny Palette review, swatches, photos

    Annabelle eye primer beige, matte eyeshadow pink lemond review

    The products: Annabelle Cosmetics Spring 2017 eye launches

    ↳ Annabelle Eye Primer in Beige, Chrome Single Eyeshadow in Rose Gold, Matte Single Eyeshadow in Pink Lemonade, Skinny Palette in Taupe Neutrals, Skinny Gel Eyeliner in Black Onyx, and Brow Show Gel in Medium/Dark

    Annabelle dropped a huge eye collection for spring/summer this year, and I’ve been itching to share it on theNotice. Unfortunately, my review was delayed by a week thanks to a rather farcical mistake that I made last week, but now we’re back and ready to go!

    It’s a big collection, so I’ll try to get through it as quickly as possible. Think of this as a Cole’s Notes review, except more wholesome.

    annabelle rose gold, pink lemond swatches review

    Annabelle Cosmetics swatches: Skinny Gel Eyeliner in Black Onyx, BrowShow Gel in Medium/Dark, “Rose Gold” Chrome Eyeshadow, Eye Primer, “Pink Lemonade” Matte Eyeshadow. On lightly primed skin in indirect sunlight.

    The new Annabelle Cosmetics eyeshadows

    Annabelle has revamped their range of single eyeshadows, and the new line is organized by finish. Annabelle Cosmetics eyeshadows have always been a favourite of mine from the drugstore, and I swear–with each reworking of the line (which they seem to do every five years or so, as technologies advance), they just get better.

    The new Annabelle Single Eyeshadows ($5.95 CAD) are available in a matte, metallic, satin, or chrome finish, and (lo and behold,) I LOVE THEM. I tried the matte Pink Lemonade and the chrome Rose Gold, and both performed really well.

    Annabelle chrome eyeshadow rose gold review swatches

    Pink Lemonade provides a really nice, blank canvas to work on if you have fair skin, and the formula wasn’t too thick or too chalky. For a drugstore eyeshadow, it has great pigmentation.

    Rose Gold, on the other hand, is just a fucking stunner. It gives the same wet-look shimmer as you’ll find in brands like Clarins and Shu Uemura, but again: it’s five bucks. It has a “metallic foil finish” and a moist texture, reminiscent of bouncy blushes and fresh Colourpop singles.

    The Annabelle Cosmetics Chrome Eyeshadows are a little light on pigment, but they’re gorgeous popped onto the middle of the lid after you finish your eyeshadow look.

    Annabelle skinny eyeshadow palette review

    Annabelle Cosmetics Skinny Palette in Taupe Neutrals Basics

    The Annabelle Cosmetics Skinny Eye Palette

    The new Annabelle Cosmetics Skinny Eye Palettes ($9.95 CAD) are offered in six “colour harmonies.” I checked out the very neutral Taupe Neutrals Basics, which leans a little warm.

    Annabelle skinny palette taupe neturals basics swatches review

    Annabelle Cosmetics Skinny Palette in Taupe Neutrals Basics – swatched on bare skin (above) and with the Annabelle Eye Primer (below)

    I honestly don’t know why anyone with the Annabelle Smokey Nudes and Eye & Brow Palettes would ever need other eyeshadow palettes, but the Skinny Eye Palettes are nice. They’re extremely compact, and texturally, they’re good for the price. I would have preferred if the chocolate brown shade was an eyeshadow (it’s actually a powder eyeliner), but it’s still a nice inclusion.

    My only complaint is that the Skinny Eye Palettes are a little boring. For just a few dollars more, I think the full-sized Annabelle Cosmetics palettes are a lot more fun to work with.

    Annabelle skinny gel eyeliner review

    The Annabelle Cosmetics eye accoutrements

    I was really excited to try the new Annabelle Eye Primer ($8.95 CAD), but primers in pots are not usually my friend. This one was about the same–it does a great job of adding intensity to your powder products, but I found that my eyeshadows creased after 3 hours. It’s definitely better than nothing, though, and it’s worth noting that the formula is both paraben and silicone-free.

    That’s rare as heck, so I’d still recommend giving it a try if you’re ‘cone-free.

    Annabelle BrowShow gel medium dark review swatches

    I also checked out the new Annabelle BrowShow Gel ($8.95 CAD), which was nice–but not a must-have for me. I’m not crazy about tinted brow gels, so I’m sticking to their Skinny Brow Liners. (The BrowShow Gels are also paraben and silicone-free!)

    Annabelle seems to be really into the “skinny” and “gel” thing right now, because their Skinny Gel Eyeliner ($8.95 CAD) is new to the range, too. It has good intensity and creaminess, but like with Annabelle’s EyeInk2 Liquid Eyeliner Duos ($10.95 CAD) from last year, it didn’t last. I get raccoon eyes with both in under 2 hours, primer or none.

    Annabelle Skinny Palette Taupe Neutrals Basics review swatches

    The verdict?

    Dooooo it.

    The new Annabelle Cosmetics eyeliner is a skip for me, but the rest of these launches were pretty solid. The Annabelle Chrome Eyeshadow Singles are a total must-have–I’ve literally used mine in every eye look I’ve done since opening it, including this one. And, hey. If you buy them in every single shade available, I promise not to judge.

    (Although I might be a little envious of you.)

    Availability: $5.95-$9.95 CAD at Annabelle.ca (US/Canada shipping) and at drugstores and mass market retailers across Canada.

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    New 11/04/17 | So I did a really dumb thing

    Estee Lauder Defining Powder Brush

    In a move surprising absolutely no one, I did a REALLY dumb thing this week.

    The What:

    My fibro has been pretty bad recently, and as my fellow sufferers of chronic pain and fatigue will know, that can only lead to one thing: brain fog. I can do some pretty silly stuff when I’m all groggy and disoriented, but this is by far my worst-ever move.

    I accidentally shipped my laptop to another blogger.

    [show_shopthepost_widget id=”2598623″]

    The How:

    “How on Earth did you manage to do that, Rae?” You may be thinking. Or, for the less generous and forgiving of you, perhaps that’s just a simple, “What the fuck, Rae.”

    Well. I was filming some backpacks for a new post on Best Buy this week, and part of the filming involved putting my laptop in a backpack. As soon as I was finished filming and taking notes, the bags went back into their shipping boxes and onwards to my French counterpart on the blog.

    I think you can infer the rest from there.

    [show_shopthepost_widget id=”2598631″]

    The Now What: 

    So, while I can’t give you this week’s planned post because all of my files are AWOL (but hopefully on their way to Myriam and back to me soon), I can give you this instead: a little lust list of the beauty world’s newest and shiniest.

    Click on the widgets to shop!

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    LUSH New Shampoo Bar, Veganese Conditioner, R&B: review, photos

    LUSH be cruelty free 2017 review

    The products: LUSH New Shampoo Bar, Veganese Hair Conditioner, and R&B Hair Moisturizer

    I recently got the chance to try out a trio of Lush silicone-free, vegan haircare products, and I wanted to get them up on the blog as soon as possible. Though they weren’t the right products for my hair type, the Lush New shampoo bar shares an important message that I’m happy to see being broadcasted.

    LUSH BeCrueltyFree shampoo bar review

    #BeCrueltyFree with LUSH New Shampoo Bar ($11.95 CAD; tin $3.95 CAD)

    I’ve seen a lot of weirdly named products, but this is the strangest. Lush’s spicy new shampoo bar is simply called “New.” (It’s labelled as “Lush New Shampoo Bar 2017” on the packaging).

    Each bar is labelled with a wooden stick reading “#BeCrueltyFree,” in English and Chinese, so I’m not really sure why they didn’t just name it that. It would have been so easily searchable and hashtagable!

    LUSH New cruelty free shampoo bar 2017 review

    I really like having the option of a solid shampoo, and the Lush New Shampoo Bar is par for the course. A little goes a LONG way (two swipes is plenty for my entire scalp), and it smells like cinnamon hearts.

    As much as I like the cruelty-free theory behind this bar, though, I didn’t love the execution. While the bar contains rosemary and nettle to soothe irritation, the large amounts of SLS and cinnamon leaf oil dried out my scalp and left my skin feeling sensitized.

    I LOVE that Lush formulates all of their products in a cruelty-free environment, but I’d love to see them modernize some of their formulas. The Lush New shampoo bar would have been so much more awesome if it was SLS and artificial dye/fragrance-free!

    Lush Veganese conditioner review

    Go weightless with the Lush Veganese Hair Conditioner ($9.95 CAD)

    Alright, I’m gonna say it: for my hair, Veganese is a crap pairing for the Lush New Shampoo Bar.

    If you have baby-fine hair or you’re looking to co-wash, then sure, Veganese is going to be awesome. But I have dry-ish hair to begin with, and these two together turned my hair into straw. 

    The Veganese formula is really interesting, though. It’s made on a lavender and rosemary infusion base, and thickened with agar agar. You have to use a ton of it for coarser hair, but it’s vegan and optimized for super-fine hair!

    LUSH R&B Hair Moisturizer review

    Stay smooth with the Lush R&B Hair Moisturizer ($25.95 CAD)

    I am nowhere near as smooth as this “hair moisturizer” (AKA leave-in conditioner) smells. It’s perfumed with orange blossom and jasmine, and the formula features fair trade olive oil, avocado butter, and coconut oil.

    My hair definitely feels smoother and silkier when I use this, but it weighs it down as well. Lush R&B is ideal for hair that’s curly and thick, not straight and thin. Is it a good moisturizer for thin, dry hair? Yeah, it’s not bad. But the formula shines on curls, and I just don’t have those to give.

    LUSH R&B Hair Moisturizer leave-in conditioner review

    The Lush New, Veganese, and R&B verdict?

    I really just want to take all of these products and push them at my friends. They’re all great in their own rights–but none of them are ideal for my hair.

    New would be fantastic for travelling with, Veganese would be great on super fine hair (think natural blondes), and R&B would do amazing things with naturally curly hair. Actually… As I type that, I think I know exactly who these products should go to.

    I’ll see you on Monday, folks. I’ve gotta go be a product fairy for the weekend.

    Availability: All permanent products at Lush.

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    Burberry Kisses in Peony Pink, Military Red: review, swatches, photos

    Burberry Military Red swatch review

    Burberry Kisses in Military Red – swatch

    The products: Burberry Kisses Hydrating Lip Colour in No. 37 Pink Peony and No. 109 Military Red

    You know those mornings when you wake up and nothing can fix you up aside from a shot of whipped cream and just the right lipstick?

    These lipstick are for those days.

    Burberry kisses 37 Pink Peony swatch review

    Burberry Kisses in No. 38 Peony Pink review

    The shades: The second I opened up these Burberry Kisses lipsticks, I was enamoured with the look of Military Red. It’s such a soft, fresh red. With its creme finish and buildable coverage, it’s one of the most forgiving reds that I’ve encountered thus far.

    Surprisingly enough, though, Pink Peony turned out to be the shade that stole my heart. It’s a neutral pink that runs almost a tiny bit coral on me, with a touch of shimmer and… I don’t know. It just does really nice things to my face? It’s springy and brightening and it makes me feel like I’m wearing a Snapchat filter all the time.

    Burberry Kisses lipstick Military Red swatch review

    Burberry Kisses swatch – No. 109 Military Red

    Burberry Kisses Pink Peony lipstick swatch review

    Burberry Kisses swatch – No. 37 Pink Peony

    The formula: The Burberry Kisses formula is really lovely and basic. For the most part, it has a soft creme finish, leaving lips looking hydrated but no-fuss. I’ve found that the finish varies a bit from shade to shade. Military Red, for instance, looks a bit glossy, while Pink Peony has a true creme finish that errs almost on the side of “soft matte”.

    Both shades settle into the lips well and fade evenly. They slip around for the first few minutes, avoiding the inner rim, but the colour stays put after that. Moisture-wise, I like to top up with lip balm 2-3 hours after applying these, but colour-wise, I can make it to the 4 hour mark with a light, uniform stain.

    Burberry kisses 109 Military Red lipstick review

    The verdict?

    The Burberry Kisses Lipstick formula is a nice compromise between hydration and a gloss-free finish. They’re lightly hydrating, and they deliver a velvety finish.

    Plus, if you’re on the market for a brightening, everyday shade this spring, Pink Peony is a great place to start your hunt. I swear that it’s like a Snapchat filter for my whole (fair, olive-toned) face!

    Availability: $34 USD/$38 CAD. Available at Sephora and Nordstrom.

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    Burberry Lip Velvet in Magenta Pink review, swatches, photos

    Burberry Lip Velvet 419 Magenta Pink lipstick review

    The product: Burberry Lip Velvet Matte Lip Colour in No. 419 Magenta Pink

    Burberry Magenta Pink… How would one describe thee?

    The shade: If I had to pick one term to refer to this lipstick with, it would be “distinguished pink.” There’s something about the strong red tones in this pink that just lifts up my complexion. It adds an air of refinement, pushing me up a little taller; casting my cheekbones a little higher.

    I tremor to think of how beautiful it would be in a darker shade. Something like No. 439 Black Cherry, or the brand’s classic No. 437 Oxblood…

    Burberry kisses pink peony military red swatch review

    Top: Burberry Kisses in Pink Peony and Military Red / Bottom: Burberry Lip Velvet in Magenta Pink swatch

    Burberry Lip Velvet Magenta Pink swatch review

    Burberry Magenta Pink Lip Velvet swatch

    The formula: The Burberry Lip Velvet formula is a little sticky, in a comforting, clingy way. It applies smoothly and settles into the lips evenly. There is no obvious clinging to fine lines or dry skin. I like it best with a really soft edge, so I run my finger along my lip line after applying to blur it out.

    Overall, it’s pretty comfortable for a matte. It’s drying, but not too sticky (like the Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist mattes are). The Lip Velvet formula doesn’t transfer too much on glassware, but it begins to show wear within the hour, so I’m not really sure where it’s going.

    (I may be eating it. Oops.)

    Burberry lip velvet lip colour review photos swatches

    Even the tubes are matte! (Burberry Lip Velvet featured in the middle.)

    The verdict?

    The Burberry Lip Velvet formula isn’t perfect, but I have yet to find a matte that is. These are super smooth and slightly less drying than most, and their colour range is excellent.

    I find the Burberry Lip Velvet formula to be a little more comfortable and true to colour than the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipsticks, so I would recommend them with reservations. They wear away quickly, but for just the right shade, I would reapply the heck out of one of these.

    Availability: $35 USD/$39 CAD. Permanent. Available at Sephora and Nordstrom.

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    Sephora birthday gifts 2017 | Beauty Insider

    Sephora birthday gifts 2017 beauty insider

    I go back and fourth on my love for Sephora, but I have to admit: they are killing it with their Sephora birthday gifts for Beauty Insiders this year. (I am so over their “all Asian cultures are “close enough” to be categorized as K-Beauty” stance, though.)

    Someone at Sephora has wizened up to the fact that makeup addicts ≠ skincare addicts, and it’s reflected in this year’s gifts. There are now three different gift sets that Beauty Insiders can pick up during their birthday month: one makeup, and two skincare.

    Sephora bi gifts 2017

    As current Beauty Insiders will know, gifts can be picked up two weeks before or after your birthday, and no purchase is necessary. (Which is great if you’re on a birthday month no-buy!) Each gift contains a duo of deluxe sample-sized products.

    Sephora birthday gifts for makeup lovers

    Tarte birthday suit tarteist lip paint swatch review

    The BI pros went nude for this year’s Sephora birthday gifts, with two popular products from Tarte. The makeup gift set includes Tarte’s Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Paaarty and Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Birthday Suit. Both are a mauvey-nude.

    I really like the baked Tarte Amazonian Clay blush formula, which is just a really reliable, no-nonsense formula. This shade in particular is well-pigmented, but the formula is a little dusty. I also really like birthday nudity, so good work, Tarte. (Birthday suits: the only comfortable way to do a birthday.)

    Tarte tarteist birthday suit swatch review

    Tarte paaarty amaon clay 12 hour blush swatch review

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    Sephora birthday gifts for skincare junkies

    I’ve never understood why skincare is a distinct category from men’s skincare, but hey, that’s the beauty industry for you! 2017’s Sephora birthday gifts for skincare junkies feature Caudalie (available in stores and online) and Jack Black (online only).

    Caudalie vinoperfect serum, vinosource sorbet review

    The Caudalie set includes the Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet and Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, both of which are silicone-free. I’ve used both in the past, and I think they’re best for normal to dry skin. They weren’t hydrating enough for my super-dry skin, but they’re well-loved by the beauty community.

    Jack Black Clean Break, Deep Dive

    The Jack Black birthday gifts feature the brand’s Clean Break Oil-Free Moisturizer (which contains silicones) and Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser. Both products are made for normal to oily skin, because the beauty industry is nonsensically gendered like that.

    Also worth noting that the Jack Black tubes contain 3x as much product as the Caudalie ones. (See again: nonsensically gendered.) If you have oily skin, take advantage of the fact that men automatically get more for their money and go for the Jack Black set! If you don’t, come despair at the state of the world with me. I promise lots of crying and cuddles.

    Sign up for the Beauty Insider program here to make sure you get your Sephora birthday gift this year.

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