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BICS Vol.11: How do you ensure your makeup stays flawless all day?

July 12, 2015

2 Comments

How do you ensure your makeup stays flawless all day?

KRISTEN | USA | Glambunctious
In the heat and humidity of summer, my face gets much oilier so my routine is different than in the winter. I cleanse my face in the morning with a cleanser containing kaolin clay, then I apply a serum foundation if I’m going out. My skin gets the tiny amount of moisture it needs from the foundation and stays pretty shine-free throughout the day. For years I applied moisturizer like all the experts recommend, and I’d wind up mopping oil off my face all day with blotting sheets and powder. My advice: you don’t have to follow “the rules.” Experiment!

MELISSA | Switzerland | Kiss & Make-up
One of my biggest make-up must-haves is a translucent setting powder that I can reapply throughout the day to take away shine and excess oil. Without it my face turns into a total oil slick after a couple of hours and whatever face make-up I applied in the morning will just slide off. To ensure that my eye make-up stays put from AM to PM I make sure that I don’t apply any skincare on my eyelids and I always use a good primer before applying my eyeshadow. As far as lips go I don’t mind touching up during the day, so I don’t really take any special measures there.

RAE | Canada | the Notice: a beauty blog
I’m not one for touchups, so I like to pick only products that (a) basically stay on until you die or (b) still look great as they fade. For base products, that means using only extremely pigmented products (like the Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer or theBalm timeBalm Concealer), using them sparingly, and buffing them REALLY REALLY WELL into the skin, followed by mineral powder concealer (for blemishes) and a setting powder.

For flawless eye makeup, I always wear tubing mascara (currently: Déjàvu Lash Up) and wear only gel or liquid liners.

SHEILA | Canada | Maddy Loves
I have dehydrated skin so I start off with properly moisturizing my skin so that foundation won’t “flake” off. I love using a non-silicone primer such as Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer, followed by my foundation of choice (currently Guerlain Meteorites Baby Glow), topped with a light dusting of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light for a bit of glow and oil control. Throughout the day, I blot whenever I feel a bit of oil surfacing, and then I reapply powder if needed. On eyes, I use an eye primer to help eyeshadow stay vibrant, longer.

JAA | Thailand | Hello Jaa
For face, I blot excess shine from my skincare before following with a mattifying primer such as the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. Next I apply a long-lasting base using a Beautyblender and really press it in the skin. I always finish everything off with a light dusting of loose powder. For eyes, I prime with a slightly matte eye primer before I do my eye makeup. For lips, I apply a lip liner all over the lips as a base for my lipstick. I also like to keep blotting sheets handy to get rid of excess oil when needed without disturbing my makeup.

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

Tags: /BISC

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Stila Waterproof Brow Colour review, swatches, & dupe (Marcelle Eyebrow Pen)

July 8, 2015

Rae Chen

17 Comments

I’ve made a lot of big changes this year, but the most important of them all has been getting my brows in order. (Yes. Definitely.) For the longest time, I had to mix shades and layer powder and pencil products to get my brows just right, and for all of my efforts, the silicone content in the products would still leave me with awkward brow breakouts.

No longer.

At the start of the year, I found the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour in Medium, AKA my Holy Grail of brows… and then I found the Marcelle Eyebrow Pen in Universal Dark, which does everything the Stila does, except faster and for half the price.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour in Medium ($21 USD/$27 CAD)

The Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour in Medium (which has since been re-packaged) is pretty much perfect. It’s fine-tipped, sheer, and cool-toned, and I can finish my brows in under a minute using this pen.

The formula wears all day long and can be used to either create fine, hair-like lines or a brow “shadow” (my preferred method), and the shade itself is really well-suited to those with dark hair who don’t want warm “Instagram brows” for their everyday life.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour brush tip

My only problem with the Stila brow pen is that it’s pretty expensive at $27 CAD, and while I’m not out of product yet, most reviewers say that it only lasts 1-3 months with regular use. Enter: the Marcelle Eyebrow Pens.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour ingredients: view

Water, Acrylates Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Honey Extract, Propylene Glycol, Matricaria Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder. +/- Yellow 5, Red 33, Blue 1.

Swatched L-R: Marcelle Eyebrow Pen in Universal Light, Universal Dark; Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour in Medium

Marcelle Eyebrow Pen in Universal Dark

Marcelle Eyebrow Pen in Universal Dark ($13.95 CAD)

It’s been a little while since I’ve fallen hard for a Marcelle makeup product, but these brow pens have me swooning. They’re half the price of Stila’s version and double the size, and because I always go for a “shadow” brow rather than drawn-in hairs, I can apply and smudge this one faster and more easily than I can with the Stila.

Marcelle Eyebrow Pen in Universal Dark felt tip

Universal Dark isn’t quite as perfect as Stila’s Medium, but the cost difference more than makes up for it. With the Marcelle brow pens, you still get easy application, a silicone-free formula, and all-day waterproof wear, but you trade off a small degree of control for a quicker application.

I think the felt tip is a more versatile format (the broad side for quick application & the tip for drawing hairs), but it really does just come down to personal preference!

Marcelle Eyebrow Pen in Universal Dark ingredients: view

Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerine, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Methylisothiazolinone, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate. +/- Red 40, Green 5, Black 2, Yellow 5 Lake

The verdict?

If you like a natural brow, these are the only brow game in town anymore. They’re essentially North American versions of the Suqqu Liquid Brow Pen that Lisa Eldridge loves so much, and they are perfect for anyone who finds most brow products too warm for them.

When I run out (and can I just mention that I went to an actual store and bought the products pictured here), I will definitely be re-buying the Marcelle. Which isn’t to say that there’s anything wrong with the Stila; it’s just a little pricey to be re-buying every 3 months! (Assuming 0.02 fl oz will last you 3 months, the Stila comes out to $108 CAD/year; the Marcelle, just $27.90 CAD.)

Availability: Stila (0.7 ml) – $21 USD/$27 CAD at Shopper’s Beauty Boutiques and Murale. Marcelle (1.4 ml) – $13.95 CAD at Marcelle.com (US & Can shipping) and drugstores across Canada.

What’s your favourite brow product right now?

Tags: /Canadian beauty, Eyebrows, Eyes, Grouped reviews, Holy Grail, Marcelle, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Silicone-free, Steals and Deals, Stila

17 Comments

The Decant Index scent sampler review | Frédéric Malle En Passant, Maître Parfumeur Cuir Fétiche, Ineke Field Notes from Paris

July 2, 2015

Rae Chen

19 Comments

Getting into perfumes is hard. I mean, I’ve been doing it for the past five years, and even I still think it’s hard. And scent sampling makes it easier, but generic sampling sets just aren’t an option if you want something a little more unique than a mass-market perfume.

That’s where The Decant Index comes in.

The service

I was contacted by Shana at The Decant Index (@decantindex) to try the service, and… on my god. It was amazing. Shana personally matches people to perfumes based on what they like and what they’re looking for, and there’s none of that generic “if you like woody florientals, you’ll like…” stuff.

Shana looks at feelings, places, and past perfume loves, and despite the fact that I only gave her a quick paragraph of information to go off of, her picks for me were spot on. I literally could not believe how much I liked all three of these — I have NEVER had anyone match me to perfumes this well.

The scents

Maître Parfumeur Et Gantier Cuir Fétiche ($117 USD/100 ml)

↳ The Decant Index 3 ml sample: $17.50 USD. Notes listed: mandarin, bergamot, lemon / leather accord, ylang-ylang, rose / musk, ambergris, patchouli, cedar wood, sandalwood.

Cuir Fétiche was the first of this trio that I sprayed, and oh my god is it ever gorgeous. It’s one of the sexiest scents I’ve ever smelled, but sexy in a sort of… literary way, you know? It’s all high collars and first editions without a whiff of “date night perfume” in sight.

I get a lot of bergamot and leather from this one, with a bit of patchouli and lots of sandalwood and ylang-ylang in the delicious, creamy drydown. For a mass market perfume comparison, this one reminds me very much of the Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum — but if Chanel (under Jacques Polge, not Olivier) had created it.

Cuir Fétiche was formulated to reference the history of the perfume industry in Grasse, which originated to cover up the scent of the tanning process in fine leathers. (Thank you, Lucky Scent, for this little history lesson!) Until the French Revolution, the master perfumers in Grasse were the glove-makers, hence the brand’s name.

If you only sample one of the scents in this post, let it be this one. Cuir Fétiche is absolutely exquisite, and bookishly edgy in a way that would be heart-stopping on both a man or a woman. I hear that the brand’s Santal Noble and Ambre Precieux are also a dream.

Ineke Field Notes from Paris ($95 USD/75 ml)

↳ The Decant Index 3 ml sample: $9.50 USD. Notes listed: coriander seed, orange flower, bergamot / tobacco flower and leaf, patchouli, cedar / tonka bean, leather, beeswax, vanilla

Field Notes from Paris is one of the most interesting scents I have ever encountered, and I couldn’t be happier that I got to experience it. It is immediately delicious, strange, and manly, and transforms completely over the course of 2-3 hours.

This Ineke creation opens with a wall of coriander seed, which I didn’t think I would like but was, for some reason, completely enraptured by. The initial shock fades, but the coriander note remains distinct and astringent for hours. (It smells, to me, almost like tasting a little bit of tea tree and lavender oil simultaneously.)

Field Notes from Paris is bizarre and unisex in a quizzically appealing way, with fresh, interwoven notes of orange flower, tobacco, bergamot, and cedar. It’s not something that I would buy a full bottle of, but if you love perfume, I think you need to sniff this one — it’s very, very engaging and definitely an experience worth having.

Frederic Malle En Passant ($165 USD/50 ml)

↳ The Decant Index 3 ml sample: $18.50 USD. Notes listed: white lilac, cucumber, wheat, orange tree leaves.

My last scent from the Decant Index was Frédéric Malle’s En Passant by Olivia Giacobetti, a fresh, springy perfume full of fruity lilac and fresh cut flowers. I just have to share my notes on this one with you, because nothing says it better: “Fruity, flowers — but littles ones. Like little lilacs or something. Fresh. Green.”

I don’t know why it’s important to note that this one smells like little flowers, but you know what? It is. And it does.

If $165 USD sounds like way too much to pay for a fragrance, though (because erk!), you can try En Passant in a 10ml refill for $46 USD (Barney’s) or get the 3ml sample from the Decant Index for $18.50. I also love Musc Ravageur from Frédéric Malle (it’s the sexiest scent I have ever smelled in my life).

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

19 Comments

Bioderma Sensibio (Créaline) Tolerance+, Cleansing Milk review, photos | Skincare for intolerant skin

June 30, 2015

Rae Chen

15 Comments

The products: Bioderma Sensibio (Créaline) Tolerance Plus+ Moisturizer, 3-in-1 One Step Cleansing Milk

Like many of you guys (I’m convinced that theNotice is becoming some sort of hub for the ill and the allergic) and a reported 62% of women, my skin can be extremely reactive. It freaks out in the presence of silicones, it hurts when I touch it too much, and certain sensitive-skin-approved products still make it burn or break out in a rash.

Bioderma Sensibio Tolerance + for neutralizing hypersensitivity ($26.95 CAD)

The science: According to Bioderma, there are two types of skin reactivity: sensitive skin and intolerant skin. Sensitive skin only really rears its head when the skin’s tolerance threshold is reduced, but intolerant skin reacts to stimuli nearly constantly. It’s caused by a hyper-excitability of the skin’s nerve fibres, a weakened barrier function, and inflammation (both keratinocytic and neurogenic).

The Sensibio line is aimed at intolerant or allergic skin, and Tolerance + uses a neutralizing hypersensitivity agent to reduce the hyper-excitability of the skin’s nerve fibres and diminish the skin’s inflammatory cascade reaction. It also helps fortify barrier function with Sodium PCA and comes in simple, functional packaging with a 100% airtight hermetic seal (so it’s preservative-free at no risk to your skin.)

The formula: Tolerance + is a simple, fragrance-free moisturizer with a very dermatological feel. It’s thin and smooth, but it leaves my skin feeling velvety and thoroughly protected — and it never makes my face burn or tingle, no matter how dry or irritated it is.

A couple of the products that I’m using right now to help lift some old scars make my skin sting a little, so I’ve been applying them mixed with Tolerance + or in alternating applications. It’s a hard to say quantitatively how much the Tolerance + has helped, but my skin feels less reactive to touch and cleansing throughout the day, and the moisturizer itself is pleasant to use even without the “neutralizing hypersensitivity” aspect.

Bioderma Sensibio Tolerance + ingredients: expand

Aqua, Cocoglycerides, Glycerin, Silica, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Citrate, Capryloyl Glycine, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Sodium PCA, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-15, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Hydroxide.

Bioderma Sensibio 3-in-1 One Step Cleansing Milk ($18.95 CAD)

The Sensibio line now contains a cleansing milk too, which cleanses, tones, and removes eye makeup. (I think it replaced the old Sensibio Lait.) Like the Tolerance + moisturizer, this 3-in-1 milk is gentle and fragrance free, and contains Toléridine to soothe and decrease inflammation.

The packaging sort of reminds me of SACHAJUAN, for some reason, and the cleansing milk itself is made to be a rinse-free, surfactant-free formula. (I totally rinse it off anyways, though. No-rinse cleansers are way too weird for me.) It’s most similar to my Neutrogena Creamy Cleanser (similar), but the two are actually so different that the small price jump feels totally justified.

Bioderma’s Sensibio cleansing milk is a white, milky gel, and it doesn’t have that “cushy” feeling going on that some gel cleansers do — but it washes away leaving my skin feeling more comfortable than almost anything else from the drugstore, and it’s not at all stripping.

Those with really oily skin will probably feel like this one leaves a bit of a film behind, but for my dry, sensitive skin, this is pretty much the dream.

Bioderma Sensibio 3-in-1 One Step Cleansing Milk ingredients: expand

Aqua, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mineral Oil, Polypropylene Terephthalate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hydroxide.

The verdict?

If you like your skincare simple, the Bioderma Sensibio line is going to be right up your alley. More importantly, however, if your skin is sensitive or reactive, I think you’ll like these products a lot. They’re very affordable for treatment products, and even if you can’t commit to them for a whole month, my skin really loves both of these products when it’s feeling sensitive.

The Bioderma Sensibio cleansing milk and moisturizer are definitely worth having on hand for use when everything else just burns (filed under: things only those with reactive skin will understand), and I’d say I would be quite likely to re-buy them both once I run out!

Availability: Eyelash wishes & drugstores across Canada.

Tags: /Bioderma, Cleansing, Grouped reviews, Moisturizers, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Silicone-free moisturizers and serums, Skincare

15 Comments

BISC Vol.10: What are essential makeup brushes everyone should own?

June 28, 2015

Rae Chen

6 Comments

What are essential makeup brushes everyone should own?

RAE | Canada | the Notice: a beauty blog

I think everyone needs to own a dense foundation brush, a pinpoint concealer brush (I favour fine-tipped art brushes, or a lip brush like the Make Up For Ever 304), and at least three good eye brushes: an all-over shadow brush, a domed blending brush, and a soft angled eyeliner brush for getting right into your lashline without irritating your eyes!

My favourite brushes of the moment are the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, the Cozzette S125 and 135 (which are a dream), and, weirdly, the Essence Gel Eyeliner Brush.

DEE | Canada | How Does Dee Do It

The only brushes that I would say I ABSOLUTELY need are my eyeshadow brushes. I love my fingers/beauty blender as makeup implements for my face so don’t have any MUST-HAVE face brushes. If I must, Id say a fluffy blush brush. For eyes however, I would go with 1. a flat eyeshadow brush for all over the lids 2. a crease brush 3. a fluffy dome brush to blend 4. a pointy outer-v brush. I’m not a slave to any brand of makeup brushes and have good luck with budget as well as high-end brands alike. I say – experiment, have fun – you’ll know when you find the RIGHT brushes for –>YOU<–!

ANGELA | Canada | Do Want Makeup

I love a good dense, domed concealer brush. I bought the Sephora Advanced Airbrush Set years ago and the round concealer brush is still my go-to. It is amazing at blending and concealing my dark circles without looking too heavy or cakey.

It’s not exactly a brush, but my beautyblender dupe is also a must! It is great for sheering out foundations for daytime makeup, and is a lifesaver when I am dealing with an eczema flareup/dry patches because it doesn’t disturb dry, irritated skin the way a brush can.

SHARI | Philippines| The Misty Mom

I think every woman should have the MAC 217 blending brush especially if they’ve had trouble with eye makeup application. It’s my do-all eye brush. If you’ve slightly smaller eyes, maybe go a smaller/more tapered blending brush to avoid messy blending issues.

For the face, I didn’t think a tapered highlighter brush is one I would consider essential.. until now. I can apply foundation with my fingers and blush with any kind of powder brush (sometimes even my fingers, too!) but I can’t ever apply highlighter properly without a brush. My favorite is the Zoeva 105 Luxe Highlight Brush.

LILY | Malaysia | Chloe Ash

When it comes to makeup application, tools do matter. They do all the hard work for you. You can always apply foundation and concealer with your hands, and even pat on eye shadows using fingers. Blending however, is the key to makeup looking seamless and flawless. I’d say a good eye blending brush is a must. A medium sized soft blush brush is also the key to natural looking flushed cheeks. A bigger face brush for powder and bronzer is also very handy. Last but not least, if smokey eyes are your thing, always invest in a good pencil brush.

JAA | Thailand | Hello Jaa

For eye makeup, my staples include MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush(lid color), Chanel Eyeshadow Blender #19 (outer corner), MAC 217 Blending Brush (crease and blending), Smashbox Crease Brush #10 (all-over blending), MAC 219 Pencil Brush(smudging), and MAC 211 Pointed Liner Brush (lining). See more.

For face makeup, my staples include Hourglass No 2 Blush/Foundation Brush (foundation), Tom Ford Bronzer Brush (setting), Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt Brush (highlighting), NARS Ita Kabuki Brush (contouring), Tom Ford Cheek Brush and MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush (cheek color), and Real Techniques Setting Brush (concealing). See more.

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

Tags: /BISC

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Silicone-free L’Occitane hand cream review | Currently obsessed with…

June 26, 2015

Rae Chen

7 Comments

L’Occitane hand creams are a pretty big Thing (capitalization totally necessary) both in and outside of the beauty blogging world, but because so many of them contain silicones, they’ve never been a thing that I’ve really gotten into.

Until now.

» Availability: $12 USD/$12 CAD for 30ml (which usually equals 1 oz) at Hudson’s Bay, Sephora, and L’Occitane.

L’Occitane Pivoine Flora Hand Cream review

Over the past few months, I have been absolutely in love with my silicone-free L’Occitane hand creams. (They come in quite a few different formulas, so while most of them–including the original shea butter formula and the recent Collection de Grasse additions–do contain silicones, there are a few that don’t.)

I’ve been using them at my desk, throwing them in my handbag, taking them to school… I very, very rarely leave the house anymore without a little tube of L’Occitane with me.

L’Occitane 20% Shea butter Hand Cream review (Rose Petals)

The three that I’ve particularly fixated on are photographed here. First, there’s the Pivoine Flora Hand Cream ($12 USD/$12 CAD), which is a light, liquidy lotion with a strong but sophisticated peony fragrance. (It smells a little sharp in the tube, but the top notes fade quickly.)

Next, there’s the L’Occitane Rose Petals Hand Cream from a charity collection a few years back; it’s more of a true creme formula, like the other 20% shea butter hand creams. It’s more hydrating than the Pivoine Flora, and I love the very feminine rose scent.

L’Occitane 25% Shea Butter Whipped Hand Cream review

Finally, there’s my favourite of the bunch: the 25% Shea Butter Whipped Hand Cream ($12 USD/$12 CAD). This one smells like the rest of L’Occitane’s shea line (comforting, like one of my favourite moisturizers!) and it absorbs really well, leaving my dry hands feeling smooth and hydrated for hours.

More importantly, though… the Shea Whipped Hand Cream comes out of the tube like FROSTING. Which, if you ask me, totally makes up for the fact that (because it’s whipped) it contains only 59% as much product as a regular tube of L’Occitane, making this hand cream a particular treat to use.

Because frosting.

Tags: /Grouped reviews, L'Occitane, Love Letters, Moisturizers, Product Photos, Product Review, Product snapshots, Silicone-free, Skincare

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Charlotte Tilbury The Ingénue makeup look & review | #CBBLovesTilbury

June 23, 2015

Rae Chen

23 Comments

Every makeup line asks a question.

For some, it’s how can we help you look your best? For others, it’s who are you inside? And for more still, it’s how can we pack as much pigment as humanly possible into this eyeshadow?

The Charlotte Tilbury line asks something different. Not who are you, or even who do you want to be, but:

Who do you want to be today?

There’s nothing quite as pretty as a present from Charlotte Tilbury…

L-R: Charlotte Tilbury Chic to Chic in Love Glow, Coachella Coral lipstick, Full Fat Lashes, Portobello Girl lip lacquer, Champagne Dreams eye pencil, Pink Venus lip cheat, Audrey eyeliner

This week, I and nine other Canadian Beauty Bloggers are helping bring Charlotte Tilbury into Canada with a splash. The line launches in Toronto as of June 22nd at Holt’s on Bloor (there’s a meet & greet with Charlotte herself this Wednesday at 6-8!), on July 6th at Holt’s Vancouver, and online with free Canadian shipping for all of June.

So, today, I’m sharing The Ingénue with you. It’s a look that’s meant to be pretty, fresh, and effortlessly gorgeous; the “cool” girl; the fresh-faced, wide-eyed stock character and the low-maintenance It girl who plays her… you know, the girl we all wish we were but that nobody–aside from Blake Lively and Kate Bosworth, probably–actually is.

Charlotte Tilbury makeup look

The Ingénue

The Ingenue focuses on that electric coral lip, so I started with the skin and eyes to keep the suspense going.

I started off with just a bit of homemade tinted moisturizer — the tiniest amount of Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer ($48 USD), which I am completely obsessed with, plus a bit of Bioderma Sensibio Tolerance+ and Odacité Ca+C serum. Then, I filled my brows in just a touch with some Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour ($21 USD) and prepped my lids.

The eyes for this look are just the Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon in Champagne Diamonds ($27 USD), which is a total glitterbomb, paired with the Audrey Classic Eye Powder Pencil ($22 USD), which is gorgeously velvety and blendable — it’s just a brown liner, but I think it wowed me more than anything else here!

Then, a quick coat of Full Fat Lashes Mascara in Glossy Black ($29 USD), the line’s #2 bestseller — it’s right up there with the Filmstar Bronze & Glow and Charlotte’s Magic Cream.

The cheeks are Cheek to Chic Swish & Pop Blusher in Love Glow ($40 USD), which I really liked — the whole “swish and pop” thing really appeals to me, because it’s such a subtle way to add definition to the cheeks. (You “swish” the outer ring up the cheekbone, then “pop” the inner shade on the apples of the cheeks.)

Then, for the lips, I went a little crazy and layered all three of the included lip products on at once: first, Charlotte’s Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pink Venus ($22 USD) (I’m not a huge fan of those velvety-waterproof lip liner formulas, and this one was no exception), then, a quick coat of the super-pretty K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in Coachella Coral ($32 USD), and finally, a touch of Charlotte’s Lip Lustre in Portobello Girl ($22 USD).

Charlotte Tilbury The Ingénue lip

Keep reading! »

Tags: /4. Makeup looks, Charlotte Tilbury, Cheeks, Eyes, Grouped reviews, Makeup looks: neutral, Product Photos, Product snapshots, Travel

23 Comments

Lise Watier Rivages review, swatches, photos | Summer 2015

June 18, 2015

Rae Chen

16 Comments

The product: Lise Watier Rivages, LE Summer 2015

» & don’t forget about the super-pretty Palette Rivages!

I like getting super in-depth when I’m reviewing products, but every now and then, a collection comes along and you’re just like, BUT I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF IT. Lise Watier has a tendency to churn those out, so here are some quick (but no less detailed!) reviews of their summer Rivages collection (available mid-April to July 2015).

For those too lazy to stick around and read the whole thing, here’s what you really need to know: the eye products in this collection (palette included) are absolutely killer. And, yeah, you kind of need all of them!

What to buy

Smokey Kohl Velours in Nude Velours ($21 CAD)

I’ve wished for a great nude eyeliner from the drugstore for years, and finally (just weeks after I caved and bought one in a moment of weakness) one exists!

Described as the “ultimate eye brightener,” Lise Watier’s new Nude Velours Smokey Kohl eyeliner can be used to brighten the waterlines, lashlines, and inner corners of your eyes. It’s creamy, pigmented, and easy to work with, and the matte Nude Velours shade works perfectly against my complexion to brighten up my eyes without looking stark on my waterlines.

» How does it stack up? Nude Velours is cooler, lighter, and more smudge-resistant than Rimmel’s 005 Nude ScandalEyes Kohl.

Lise Watier 24hrs Glam Eyeshadow swatches in Sexy Glam, Chic Glam; Lise Watier Nude Velours Smokey Eye Kohl swatch

24hrs Glam Eyeshadow in Sexy Glam and Chic Glam ($23 CAD)

The last must-have from this collection is yet another eye product: the 24hrs Glam Eyeshadows. I tested these in Sexy Glam and Chic Glam, both from Lise Watier’s permanent line, and I really liked them — they set within seconds, but it’s pretty easy to buff out their edges and they wear very well.

» Sexy Glam is a glittery light pink; Chic Glam is a smooth, shimmering cool taupe.

Lise Watier swatches, L-R: Sexy Glam, Chic Glam, Nude Velours

Like a lot of automatic cream eyeshadow/base/liner pencils, the 24hrs Glam shadows are waterproof and have a sort of chunky-glittery finish. I like them best layered underneath powder eyeshadows (may I suggest the Lise Watier Palette Rivages?), where they add an interesting sparkle to satin and matte finishes. Worn with primer, I can get a solid 10 hours out of these without creasing or fading, which on my lids is really good.

Lise Watier Sexy Glam (L), Chic Glam (R) 24hrs Glam Eyeshadow

What to try

Blush Fondant Suprême in Shell ($30 CAD)

Shell is a skip for me, but I can think of a few fellow bloggers and beauty addicts who it would be an absolute must-have for! (I’d kill to see this on Natalie and Divya — it would look bloody amazing on both of them.)

The Blush Fondant Suprême formula is layerable, velvety, and silicone-y, with Concentrated Labrador Tea Extract and a satin-matte cream-to-powder finish. I like it applied best (sparingly!) with fingertips, but I think it’s rather overpriced at $30. It really is a gorgeous, unique colour, though, so pick it up if you’ve been dying to get your hands on a shade like this! (Swatches if you scroll down.)

Magic Lip Colour Enhancer ($24 CAD)

The Lise Watier Magic Lip Colour Enhancer is apparently part of the brand’s permanent line now, and it’s a pH-adjusting lipgloss with a shimmer-free formula. I like it, but I like all pH adjusting lipglosses — it’s kind of a weakness of mine.

I think the packaging on this one is particularly sleek, but honestly, I prefer my Physician’s Formula pH-adjusting lipgloss. It’s just a touch more muted and can be picked up for a mere $8 when it’s on sale at Shopper’s.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Canadian beauty, Cheeks, Eyes, Grouped reviews, Lips, Lise Watier, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Spring/Summer 2015

16 Comments

L’Occitane Vervine Agrumes Fresh Shampoo, Body Milk review, photos

June 15, 2015

Rae Chen

4 Comments

The product: L’Occitane Verveine Agrumes Fresh Shampoo & Fresh Body Milk

I’m not a huge fan of L’Occitane’s original Verbena scent, but for some reason, I always really love their summer limited edition flankers.

This year, the line is doing Verveine Agrumes (Citrus Verbena), and they’re introducing a few unexpected products to the range — deodorant, shampoo, an conditioner.

The Vervine Agrumes scent

Verveine Agrumes smells good. Like, really good. It smells like lemons, oranges, and grapefruits being squeezed for their juice — there’s that almost bitter undertone to the oils in the rind that no one ever seems to get quite right, but with Verveine Agrumes, L’Occitane gets it just right.

There’s something immediately very real about this scent (unlike so many synthetic lemon-cleaner and lemon-sugar fragrances), and it’s paired with a cedar base for a very “fill in the blank” kind of effect. I really like the way these products smell, but they’re not overpowering — they’re definitely unisex-friendly, and they pair well with most summer perfumes and colognes, too.

L’Occitane Verveine Agrumes Fresh Shampoo ($23 CAD)

Okay, but like — was anyone else even aware that L’Occitane did shampoos up until now? Because let me tell you, I was very much not aware of this. But apparently they do a bunch: a Roses et Reines shampoo, a Shea Ultra Rich shampoo, a whole bunch of Aromachologie shampoos… apparently I’ve just been very (very) behind the times.

The Verveine Agrumes Fresh Shampoo pairs with a Daily Use Conditioner ($23 CAD) that I didn’t have a chance to test, but I really like the shampoo on its own. It’s tingly and minty and just a little acidic (I’m guessing; I don’t have any pH testing strips right now), leaving my hair feeling clean and weightless without stripping it too badly.

To note, however, this one gets very sudsy. It plays well with my dry scalp, but I wouldn’t recommend it for really overprocessed or heat-damaged hair.

(I couldn’t test the Verveine Agrumes Fresh Body Milk ($32 CAD) due to its silicone content, but it smells just as good!)

The verdict?

I don’t love Verveine Agrumes as much as last year’s Frisson de Verveine (which I bloody adored; I still regret not buying the EdT), but I do really like it. The shampoo is pretty good, especially from a brand that isn’t really known for its haircare range, and it’s worth a try fo a little dose of summer in your shampoo.

For anyone who loves the scent of citrus fruits being peeled, though (and really, who doesn’t?), definitely give the Verveine Agrumes EdT a look — I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Availability: Available online and at L’Occitane boutiques beginning this July. Limited edition.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Grouped reviews, Hair, L'Occitane, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Skincare, Spring/Summer 2015

4 Comments

What are the 3 most frequently asked questions by your readers? | BISC Vol. 9

June 14, 2015

Rae Chen

2 Comments

What are 3 most frequently asked questions by your readers?

ERIN | USA | Clever Girl Reviews

All of my questions usually revolve around the wine I review on Wednesday! Where can they get it, when will it be in stock, and can I ship it to them. The only beauty questions I get asked are where to find pale foundations!

SUNNY | Belgium | Mostly Sunny Blog

I wouldn’t say there are FAQs, but I get these questions sometimes:

1) Does it really work that well?
Occasionally I make a product sound amazing, but in 100% of the cases that’s because it works for me/speaks to me personally. I’ll never sing anything praises if I am not convinced.

2) I have X type of skin. Is Y or Z better for me?
Assuming I have tried both Y and Z, I can make an educated guess. However, in the perfect world, especially when it comes to base products, it’s better to get a sample and test it out!

MELISSA | Switzerland | Kiss & Make-up

1. Can you do a tutorial on that look?
2. What are you wearing on your lips here?
3. How do you think product X compares to product Y?

RAE | Canada | the Notice: a beauty blog

Honestly, my most frequently asked questions are all variants on the same thing: how do I make my photos look like yours/what kind of camera do you use/etc. My answer is always this: I shoot with a Sony a6000 or Canon T3i, but the most helpful thing any beginner can do is put in the time! (And, okay, maybe reference my Tips for Bloggers: Photoshop and Photos series if you still need a hand.) Familiarize yourself with your camera’s manual settings, shoot somewhere with lots of sunlight, and edit your images in Photoshop, Lightroom, or even just Preview to get the brightness and colours just right.

And then maybe one day we’ll get as good as Jaa. Maybe. One day. :p

JAA | Thailand | Hello Jaa

I do get asked a lot about my photos. Most FAQs include: what camera/lens/image optimization plugin I use and how to use a macro lens to get sharp focus. For makeup-related questions I’m often asked: what foundation/foundation primer controls oil the best while still giving a natural finish, what I’m wearing in the post, and sometimes product comparison.

I find Rae’s Photoshop series really fun and useful for enhancing image quality! Do check it out!

Tags: /BISC

2 Comments