theNotice

Fresh Sugar Lip Serum Advanced Therapy review, photos

November 20, 2015

12 Comments

The product: Fresh Sugar Lip Serum Advanced Therapy

I skipped over the Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Serum ($35 USD/$41 CAD) while reviewing the Fresh Sugar Lip Lovers set yesterday, but with good reason: I wanted to give it a full review today for everyone else who has been curious about this one.

The premise: Lip serums are becoming more and more popular nowadays, but they’re still a rarity in the beauty world. Fresh’s Sugar Lip Serum is one of just a few that I can think of. I know that Lancer and Murad do one, and the Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil and NIOD Lip Bio-Lipid Concentrate are similar, but nothing else comes to mind.

The Sugar Lip Serum Advanced Therapy is made to nourish the lips and improve definition, so maybe I’m not the best candidate for it — after all, I’m not really in the market for “fuller, younger-looking lips.” But I had hoped that all of those skin-firming amino acids would result in a more hydrated, plush lip area, so I did as I was told and dispensed a drop every morning and night to spread over my lips.

The practice: Sadly, after using this one on and off for a month and a half, I can’t report that I saw results with this one. My lip contour area was not “immediately nourished and soothed;” my lips did not look “firmer and toned;” the serum did not immediately decrease lip roughness.

Instead, I found that this serum tasted bad, made my lips feel tight, and needed a healthy heaping of lip balm immediately thereafter to prevent dryness and cracking. Not only did it not smooth my lip area, I think it actually dried out my lips — and while I know that it doesn’t promise to be the ultimate nourishing lip balm, I certainly don’t think a lip product should dry out your lips!

The verdict?

I’m really glad that I tried this one out, because as cool as I think it is, and as much as I adore its packaging, I think it’s a solid “fail” for me. I’ll continue using up this mini bottle if I can, just to see if I get results at any point, but for now… I’m not impressed.

The Fresh Sugar Lip Serum made my lips feel tight and dry, and comes with a metaphorically bitter $41 CAD price tag and a literally bitter formula. I say skip this serum, spend your $40 on a new pair of Fresh Tinted Lip Treatments, and apply an anti-ageing moisturizer to your lip area instead!

Availability:$35 USD/$41 CAD at Sephora.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Fresh, Lips, Product Photos, Product Review

12 Comments

Fresh Sugar Lip Lovers review, swatches, photos | The Gift Guide

November 19, 2015

Rae Chen

12 Comments

The product: Fresh Sugar Lip Lovers set

I get pretty excited about the Fresh gift sets each holiday season, but this year was a good year for the brand. Their Fresh Sugar Lip Lovers set ($45 USD/$55 CAD) contains minis of one of my favourite Fresh products (the Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15), plus four other products that I was dying to try.

Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 ($22.50 USD/$26 CAD)

The Sugar Lip Lovers set contains one of my favourites, the Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 ($22.50 USD/$26 CAD). But, while I think it’s great to include a bestseller in your sets every now and again, Rosé is becoming the MAC Carbon or NARS Laguna of the Fresh brand — beloved, but in way too many things.

So, while I think Rosé is a great inclusion for a gift set, I’m crossing my fingers and hoping for a different shade in 2016. Rosé is far from their only wearable colour, and I can’t be the only beauty junkie out there who now has three of them kicking around!

Fresh Sugar Rosé Shine Lip Treatment ($18.50 USD/$22 CAD)

Now, being a longtime fan of the original Tinted Lip Treatments, I’ve been meaning to try the Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatments ($18.50 USD/$22 CAD) since they launched. And, I am happy to report, I really like them, too!

Fresh Sugar Rosé Lip Shine Treatment swatches

They’re not as hydrating as, say, the new Estee Lauder Lip Volumizer, but then, almost nothing is. They are, however, scented with the same sugar lemon scent as Fresh’s other tinted lip products, and they have a great shine and comfortable texture to accompany their sheer pigmentation.

I’m not chomping at the bit to buy a full-sized tube of any of these, but the mini size has been in my handbag for the last two weeks and I’m still pulling it out daily!

Swatched L-R: Fresh Sugar Rosé Lip Shine (gloss), Fresh Sugar Rosé Lip Treatment (stick), Fresh Sugar Lip Polish, Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy (stick), Fresh Sugar Lip Serum Advanced Therapy (cream)

Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment ($25 USD/$29 CAD)

And now the good stuff: Fresh’s Advanced Therapy line. These products are entirely new to me (I know; I’m late to the game), but, sadly, they didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m really glad that I finally tried them, but the Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment ($25 USD/$29 CAD) lip balm didn’t do any more for my lips than the regular one. I tested it for a few days at a time on three or four occasions, because I figured hey, I must just be confounding my testing somehow, but… nope.

If you get great results with this one, I would love to hear about it in the comments, because it’s just not working for me!

Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Serum ($35 USD/$41 CAD)

The Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Serum ($35 USD/$41 CAD) was the biggest appeal of the Fresh Sugar Lip Lovers set for me, and I hate to keep you in suspense, but… I want to take a little more time to go over it on the blog.

Come back tomorrow for a full review of this one! ;)

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish ($22.50 USD/$26 CAD)

And, finally, we have the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish ($22.50 USD/$26 CAD). I was the least excited about this one (I mean, $26? For a lip scrub?) but I was surprised to find that it was actually one of my favourites of the bunch!

The Fresh Sugar Lip Polish tastes, smells, and looks like brown sugar creamed with butter, and it leaves my lips feeling super soft and extremely hydrated. It’s very scrubby, so I have to remember to apply it with a light hand, but a little goes a very long way — you barely need half a pea-sized amount for each use.

The verdict?

As someone who never finishes products, I am always very reluctant to buy Fresh products at full price. Come the holidays, however, I am always sure to stock up!

The Fresh Sugar Lip Lovers set is a great way to try out a whole bunch of Fresh products at a pretty reasonable price (especially if you use Ebates/Ebates.ca), and it would make a fantastic holiday gift for a lucky loved one in your life. This one gets two big thumbs up from me!

Availability: $45 USD/$55 CAD at Sephora.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Fresh, Grouped reviews, Holiday 2015, Lips, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, The Gift Guide

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FOREO LUNA mini review & Clarisonic comparison | + Enter to WIN a Luna Mini of your choosing!

November 17, 2015

Rae Chen

192 Comments

The product: FOREO LUNA mini in Cool Grey

It’s hard for me to tell you everything about the Foreo Luna Mini without just listing off facts. So I’ll do a little bit of fact-listing in a little bit (because when something looks this much like a sex toy but it’s actually for your face, it’s kind of important to know how to use it correctly), but I’m going to start today off with a different list.

Here are my five favourite things about the Luna Mini!

1. The Luna Mini only needs to be charged once every 5 months if you’re using it twice a day… and only needs an hour to make it to a full charge.

2. Foreo’s cleansing tools (both the LUNA and ISSA product lines) are designed like any motorized, high-quality silicone product: they’re 100% waterproof…

3. And completely non-porous, so they don’t store bacteria the way that nylon bristles do. (Tests show that they’re up to 35 times more hygienic than brush-type cleansing tools!)

The FOREO LUNA mini

4. The Mini is perfect for sensitive skin. I love my Clarisonic, but it always really hurts to use. Using the Luna Mini, on the other hand, feels like getting the best facial massage of your life (and we all know how great facial massages are for stimulating blood flow and preventing wrinkles!)

5. Because the Luna is so gentle, you don’t have to limit yourself to one-minute cleansing sessions. The device will pulse to let you know when it’s time to switch zones and when a minute is up, but it’s a lot less stressful to use than my Clarisonic, which turns off after exactly 60 seconds.

How it works & how to use it

The Luna Mini is more compact (and cheaper) than the Luna, and it’s made to be a sort of “do-all.” Instead of having one Luna for each skin type, the Mini has smaller, softer touch-point silicone “bristles” for sensitive and dry skin on the front, larger touch-points for oily skin/deep cleansing on the back, and two cleansing speeds for the face and eye area.

Charging the LUNA Mini

To use it, you just wet your face and Luna, apply cleanser (foaming is best, but cleansing milks and oils work well, too — just make sure not to use any silicone-, clay-, or exfoliating cleansers with your Luna), and cleanse with gentle upward and outward strokes.

I always think “facial massage” when I use this one, so I use even pressure and long, curved motions, spending a little extra time making sure the pores in my t-zone get really clean.

Push the button a second time to reduce speed before cleansing the eye area (where I still find the Luna Mini to be extremely comfortable to use), and rinse off your face and device when you’re ready!

Foreo’s Luna Mini. I really wish it was more grey (like it is on the Foreo site) and less blue in person!

The verdict, a coupon code, and a giveaway!!

Okay, so here’s the really exciting part of this post. I have been loving my time with my Luna Mini (I’ve had it for about a month, and my skin has been just eating it all up — I had my first skin analysis the other day, and it looked great even under the blacklight), and now… I get to share it with you guys!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

That’s right: one lucky reader is going to get a free LUNA Mini in the colour of their choice. The giveaway will be open for two weeks and is open internationally, so enter now using the widget above! (If you’re on a mobile device, just zoom in and back out of the page if the form fields are hidden.)

Good luck on the giveaway!

Availability: $139 USD/$159 CAD through Foreo and Sephora. Use code “TheNotice” for 15% off + free shipping on all Luna and Issa models until December 16th!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However, all opinions included are my own, and my priority is still (and always will be) to you guys — my readers!

Tags: sponsored/Acne, Cleansing, Foreo, Giveaway, Product Photos, Product Review, Skincare, Tools

192 Comments

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Defining Wet/Dry Eyeshadow, Lip Volumizer, Matte Sculpting Lipstick review, swatches, photos

November 13, 2015

Rae Chen

14 Comments

The products: Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy collection

↳ Lip Volumizer, Matte Sculpting Lipstick in Commanding, Defining Eye Shadow Wet/Dry in Blue Fury

Pure Color Envy Lip Volumizer ($28 USD/$32 CAD)

I love a good pH-adjusting lip product, so I wanted to start off today’s post with the Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Lip Volumizer ($28 USD/$32 CAD), a plumping gloss that adjusts to a sheer pink once applied.

The Estée Lauder fall launches this year mainly consist of two collections: the New Dimensions range, which I talked about on Monday, and the Pure Color Envy line, which is an extension of the brand’s colour cosmetics range.

All of the Pure Color Envy products are just gorgeously packaged (especially the lipsticks), and this volumizing gloss is no exception. I don’t really see plumping results with this one, but it definitely delivers on sheer colour (nothing like the hot pink applicator!) and an extremely moisturizing, shiny, minty finish.

I think that $32 is a lot to pay for a gloss, but if price was no object, I’d be recommending it to everyone! It’s crazy hydrating, super-smooth, and smells delicious — definitely one of the most comfortable glosses that I own.

Pure Color Envy Matte Sculpting Lipstick in Commanding ($30 USD/$34 CAD)

I also tried out the brand new Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Matte Sculpting Lipstick in Commanding ($30 USD/$34 CAD), which comes in just the most exquisite, weighty, magnetic packaging.

Commanding is too bold for my tastes (all 12 of the Matte Sculpting Lipstick shades are “statement” shades), but the formula of these is fantastic — even a shade this dark feels creamy and smooth as it’s applied, and the finish is as velvety and comfortable as it is opaque.

I couldn’t wear Commanding for a full evening without topping up with lip balm, but I’m not kidding, you guys: the Pure Color Envy Matte Sculpting Lipstick formula is the #1 most comfortable matte that I own. I’m just a serious dryness wimp!

(Note: these are not, however, a “hard matte” the way that MAC Ruby Woo & co. are. Rather, they’re fairly matte, but have a slight creme sheen to them.)

Swatched L-R: Estee Lauder Commanding Matte Lipstick, Lip Volumizer, and Blue Fury Wet/Dry Eyeshadow (dry, then wet)

Pure Color Envy Defining Eye Shadow Wet/Dry in Blue Fury ($25 USD/$28 CAD)

And, finally, my least favourite Pure Color Envy product: the Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Defining Eye Shadow Wet/Dry in Blue Fury ($25 USD/$28 CAD).

I can’t speak for the rest of the Pure Color Envy eyeshadows (Ominous, for instance, looks absolutely stunning ), but Blue Fury is just kind of underwhelming. Like every single other dark blue eyeshadow out there, it applies as a sheer, patchy charcoal with blue shimmer when used dry, and shines only when used wet: it’s luminous, pigmented, and even, with a lovely dark blue glow.

Estée promises a “tri-brid” formula with these, though, combining “the best properties of a cream, powder and gel,” but all I really see here are the old Estée Lauder eyeshadows, rebranded with a made-up word.

Would you ever buy a “tri-brid” product? Or would you just angrily yell “THE WORD YOU’RE LOOKING FOR IS HYBRID” while shaking your fist at the sky?

Check out these other Pure Color Envy reviews:

Temptalia – wet/dry eyeshadow reviews by shade (not all of them are great, and not all are terrible!)
Writing Whimsy – wet/dry eyeshadow and matte lipstick reviews
A Beautiful Zen – featuring Joan Smalls’ matte violet lipstick and one of the matte wet/dry eyeshadows
Fun Size Beauty – a rave for the wet/dry eyeshadows!

Tags: /Estee Lauder, Extremely dry skin, Eyes, Fall/Winter 2015, Grouped reviews, Lips, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches

14 Comments

Shu Uemura Haute Street review, swatches, photos | Vision of Beauty Vol. 02

November 12, 2015

Rae Chen

7 Comments

The products: Shu Uemura Vision of Beauty Collection – Vol. 02 Haute Street

Haute Street is shu uemura’s interpretation of street art for the face. However, the brand’s artistic director, Uchiide, is adamant that this collection (which is the second in a series; see Vol. 01 Brave Beauty here) is not “graffiti for the face.”

Instead, it’s meant to bring the “essence” of street art into everyday makeup looks, but here’s the thing: street art, and especially graffiti (which the visuals of this collection centre around) isn’t about beautifying streets or letting overprivileged youth express themselves. It’s a form of protest and a way to claim spaces; a way to disrupt, interrupt, and change the discourse when your voices aren’t being heard.

So, while I think the bright hues and mixed-media textures of the Haute Street collection are wonderful, I also think it’s kind of uncool that shu uemura is re-appropriating graffiti culture to sell $90 luxury eyeshadow palettes.

Shu Uemura Dual-Ended Eye Color Pencil in Cool x Chic

Cool x Chic

The Haute Street collection is a really big one, so it’s separated into “cool x chic” colours and “warm x vibrant” colours. I started, of course, with the cool tones!

First up: the Shu Uemura Dual-Ended Eye Color Pencil in Cool x Chic ($30 CAD), which is a double-ended matte neon green and neon blue shadow/liner. I loved the bright matte colours of these liners, and the colour payoff is so good, but I couldn’t get behind the “traditional” dry pencil texture.

I find that I have to make multiple stiff passes to get an opaque line with these, and they perform best as an eyeshadow base.

Swatched L-R: Shu Uemura Dual-Ended Eye Color Pencil in Cool x Chic, Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in City Neon, Tint in Gelato in Street Rose (heavily/lightly)

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in City Neon

Next, we have the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in City Neon ($36 CAD), which is sheer, juicy, and so, so pretty, and the gorgeous Shu Uemura Haute Street Eye Shadow Palette in Cool x Chic ($90 CAD), which is full of beautiful plums, blues, and greens.

Shu Uemura Haute Street Eyeshadow Palette in Cool x Chic

Swatched over primer in indirect sunlight: Shu Uemura Haute Street Eyeshadow Palette in Cool x Chic

Shu Uemura Tint in Gelato Lip and Cheek Color in Street Rose

The Tint in Gelato lip/cheek colours (repackaged without a doe-foot in the Haute Street collection) have always fascinated me, but they’ve never worked for me. Something in the formula makes my lips tingle (in a bad way), and on the cheeks, the silicone content always breaks me out — but oh, they are an artist’s dream!

Each Tint in Gelato is wildly pigmented and features a mousse texture with a velvety matte finish, and the Shu Uemura Tint in Gelato Lip Color in Street Rose ($28 CAD) is no exception.

Shu Uemura Haute Street Tint in Gelato packaging vs. original/regular packaging

Warm x Vibrant »

Tags: /Cheeks, Eyes, Fall/Winter 2015, Grouped reviews, Lips, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, shu uemura

7 Comments

Estee Lauder New Dimension reviews: Expert Liquid Tape; Shape + Sculpt Face Kit; FW15 previews

November 9, 2015

Rae Chen

8 Comments

I spent one lovely morning at the dream-inspiring 130 Bloor St. West (also known as the Lauder building) while in Toronto this summer, and at long last, I finally have a post ready to share them with all of you guys about all of the lovely gems I got to learn about while I was there!

I’ve got a Pure Colour Envy makeup follow-up to finish for you guys tomorrow, but for now, here are all the skincare goodies ;)

Estée Lauder New Dimension collection

The New Dimension collection is your standard high-tech anti-ageing collection, designed to address the structure and volume of the skin to maximize contours and minimize wrinkles, but it contains one product that (I think) makes it really special: the Estée Lauder New Dimension Expert Liquid Tape ($70 USD/$78 CAD).

The Expert Liquid Tape is made to be used like actual tape, which is… kind of super cool. You’ll want to apply it to clean, dry skin and let it tighten and lift the area over the next 10 minutes, laying down thin, even strips of product from the brow bone, undereye, and nasolabial fold to the temple.

Unfortunately, I didn’t see a lot of lift from the Expert Liquid Tape, and it’s definitely not (as I know some of you were wondering) strong enough to lift a monolid or add a double fold. It’s a very unique product, though, and I think it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re a fellow product nerd! ;)

The other New Dimension product that I really got to test out is the Estée Lauder New Dimension Shape + Sculpt Face Kit ($50 USD/$55 CAD), which features two neutral-toned cream products and a sponge to blend them with.

Like the Expert Liquid Tape, however, the Estée Shape + Sculpt Face Kit didn’t quite work for me. The contour shade was too warm for my skintone, and the cream highlighter was actually darker than my face! (Which, yes, looks just as weird as you think it would.)

Estée Lauder New Dimension Shape + Sculpt Face Kit swatches

Everything else!

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Cheeks, Estee Lauder, Fall/Winter 2015, Grouped reviews, Other, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Skincare, Travel

8 Comments

BISC Vol.19 | Do you find yourself spending more money on beauty products since you’ve become a beauty blogger?

November 8, 2015

Rae Chen

2 Comments

Do you find yourself spending more money on beauty products since you’ve become a beauty blogger?

LILY | Malaysia | Chloe Ash
There was a time when I’d buy anything new, with the excuse – it’s for the blog. This was on top of getting PR samples. So yes, I spent quite a bit. It got out of hand at one point, but since last year, I’ve been reducing. For a few months now, I hardly bought any makeup and I think that’s a feat. I want to continue with this low/no buy trend, and use what I have. It’s tough reminding myself not to chase shiny new things, and reading so many blogs doesn’t help!

RAE | Canada | the Notice: a beauty blog
Funnily enough, not really! I’m lucky enough to get a lot of press samples that help me keep theNotice up and running, but as for personal purchases, I spend about the same amount (maybe a little more) each year. That said, I make purchases a lot more sparingly nowadays, so it’s definitely become a quality over quantity type of thing!

AGATA | USA | Her and Makeup
I actually started blogging because I was buying so much makeup that I decided it would be nice to share my collection and thoughts with other makeup loving people. In the first few months of blogging I was definitely buying more beauty products and I felt the need to buy a ton of new makeup that came out to keep my blog current. And I felt like being a blogger justified my excessive purchases. However, soon I discovered that I don’t need to do that and with a little creativity I can still make my blog interesting, even if I don’t review every new item that comes out.

MATROMAO | Philippines | FoodWorldMe
Come to think of it, yes! But it’s not so much intentionally spending more as it is being more conscious with what I get. I’ve become much more critical of beauty products and services since I started blogging, so I’ve become more willing to try out different things and expand my price range.

JAA | Thailand | Hello Jaa
A little bit probably but I was already spending a lot of money way before I started my blog. Now that I’m a beauty blogger, I try to branch out and try new things that I probably wouldn’t if I weren’t a beauty blogger so that there are varieties on the blog. I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy every new makeup that comes out, though. I still only buy things that I know I will get a lot of use out of.

[Interested in joining BISC Network? Send your request to jaa*at*hellojaa.com]

Tags: /BISC

2 Comments

My EPIC 2015 Sephora VIB sale & holiday recommendations list | Weekend hauling

November 7, 2015

Rae Chen

8 Comments

If you’ve been living under a rock recently, have I ever got a surprise for you: it’s the Sephora annual holiday sale again, and that sale starts with 20% off your entire order for all VIB Rouge members.

I’ve broken down my top picks into three simple categories: things I bought, things I want, and things that would make super badass Christmas gifts!

Not a VIB Rouge? Try these other weekend sales! 25% off at Jurlique until the 12th, L’Occitane pre-holiday sale, $10 off at DHC on all orders over $40!

What I picked up (and you totally should, too!)

B. Balenciaga ($20 USD on sale), whose fleeting celery top notes I completely fell in love with this summer (I was a good girl and only picked up the rollerball), and
The much-loved Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer ($38.40 USD on sale), which I’ve been mixing with my moisturizers and serums to make just the most gorgeous tinted moisturizers in the morning. My current favourite blend? Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX02 + Hylamide SubQ Serum ($38 CAD) + Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentré ($12.80 USD on sale), for a fuller finish that I can get throw on and head out the door with.

Things I’m coveting

Sephora Favourites Beauty Sleep set ($24 USD on sale).
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit ($64 USD on sale), because seriously, who isn’t lemming this palette right now,
And pretty much all of the YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipsticks ($28.80 USD on sale), but especially Mauve Nihiliste.
Make Up For Ever Artist Palette Volume 1 – Nudes You Need ($33.60 USD). Everyone needs MUFE nudes in their life, seriously.

Get black, white, red, and gorgeous with the Sephora Favourites Beauty Unmasked ($22.40 USD on sale) set.
Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Dear Brachiosaurus Blotting Paper ($6.40 USD on sale). It has a dinosaur in the name! And on the compact! There are dinos everywhere and I love it!
And how cute is the Sephora Collection Cat Nap Sleep Mask ($9.60 USD on sale)???!
I kind of wish that I had thrown the Etat Libre d’Orange Perfume Sampler ($9.60 USD on sale) into my order, too — that, and a Tangle Teezer. Oh, if only I could have a do-over!

Things that would make super badass Christmas gifts »

Tags: /New This Week (& etc), The Gift Guide

8 Comments

Reversa 3 in 1 Mild Gel Cleanser review (AKA how to cleanse your face with MAGICAL UNICORN PEE)

November 5, 2015

Rae Chen

10 Comments

The product: Reversa 3-in-1 Mild Gel Cleanser

That’s right. I just said unicorn pee, because this cleanser is not only a rare find and a powerhouse worker, but it’s also full of secret glitter (two of the best words you can put next to each other when you’re talking to a beauty blogger.)

What it does: The Reversa Gel Cleanser is a bit of a diamond in the rough. It’s a boring-looking product with a boring-looking name, made by what could be conceptualized of as a boring company… if you haven’t been paying enough attention recently.

Unlike most 3-in-1 cleansers, however, Reversa’s doesn’t do the whole cleanse/remove/tone schtick. Oh, no. Instead, it’s a facial cleanser, makeup remover, and moisturizer!!

Yup, that’s right: it’s a moisturizer. It’s a normal gel cleanser, made to be used on wet or dry skin, but if you massage into the skin and leave it for 30 seconds… it’s also a flash moisturizing mask.

How well it does it: Dude, so well. The Reversa 3-in-1 Gel Cleanser is a great cleanser, a good makeup remover, and a freaking awesome moisturizing mask. It’s a silky, thick, scent-free gel, and it’s equal parts gentle and moisturizing. This baby moisturizes just as well as some 10-minute masks that I’ve tried, but it takes next-to-no time to do and it doesn’t add an extra step to your skincare routine.

My favourite thing about this mask, though–aside from the glitter–is how gentle it is. Somehow, Reversa has managed to formulate this one without oil and without that lotion-y texture of most hydrating cleansers, so it’s great for texture-oriented folks who want to cleanse their skin without feeling slippery or greasy (after or during.)

And no, for those who are wondering, it doesn’t leave you sparkling like a deranged disco ball.

My current cleansing dream duo (I use my Foreo while the Reversa cleanser/mask works its magic!)

The verdict?

Um… this thing is basically magic, and it’s a great way to start off the holiday season. This adds just a little bit of extra glitz and glam to your morning (or night) routine, and it counteracts the dry winter air like a champ.

At $23 CAD, it’s not the cheapest cleanser at the drugstore, but I think it’s a great buy. If you’re looking for something magical, makeup-removing, and really nourishing, you need to check it out!! You’re not going to find another moisturizing mask that works this quickly, and I can guarantee you that if you do, it’s not going to be this glittery. ;)

Availability: $23 CAD online at Reversa.ca and at Shopper’s Drug Mart, where I frequently see it on sale for around $17.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Canadian beauty, Cleansing, Extremely dry skin, Other, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Reversa, Silicone-free, Skincare

10 Comments

Back to basics: 8 mass-market beauty finds to try this November

November 2, 2015

Rae Chen

8 Comments

[show_ms_widget id=”28549471″ image_id=”30826292″ width=”630″ height=”845″]

INSTANT FIXES

They say that everything worth having is worth working for, but by the looks of 2015’s beauty trends, the industry is still trying its darndest to prove that particular old adage wrong.

This year has seen a lot of really cool “instant fix”-type products (like this one from Deciem), and the brightening Neutrogena Healthy Skin Instant Tone Corrector SPF 15 ($19.97 CAD) and vivid orange The Body Shop Vitamin C Instant Glow Enhancer ($20 CAD) are two more examples of this quick-fix trend–which, can I just say, I am loving.

NEW CLASSICS

The Clinique Dramatically Different and Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit ranges are two of the beauty world’s most popular ranges for people (especially teens!) with acne-prone skin. And this year, I am happy to say, BOTH ranges are getting a long-awaited update.

Clinique is adding a Dramatically Different Cream ($14.50 USD) for those with dry skin, and Neutrogena has created an Oil-Free Acne Moisturizer ($8.78 USD/$12.99 CAD) with 0.5% salicylic acid. Starting at under $15 each, they’re great picks for the teen or tween just getting into skincare — and just as good for those still struggling with acne in their college years.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Acne, Clinique, Fall/Winter 2015, Maybelline, Moisturizers, Neutrogena, Skincare, Sun, The Body Shop, The Edit

8 Comments