theNotice

Annabelle Zebra Biggy Bronzer review, swatches: Haute, Matte, & Dark Gold

June 10, 2015

2 Comments

The product: Annabelle Cosmetics Biggy Zebra Bronzing Powder in Haute Gold, Dark Gold, and Matte Gold

I’m entering week 7 of Rae’s Epic Tonsillitis Fest of 2015, so today, I’ve chosen a really easy product to review: Annabelle’s Biggy Bronzers. They’re just updated versions of the brand’s original Zebra bronzer (which, as a few of you might even remember, was my first bronzer love back in the day), and darn it, their big, silly, striped design makes me happy.

Annabelle “Matte Gold” Biggy Zebra Bronzing Powder review

Annabelle “Dark Gold” Biggy Zebra Bronzing Powder review

The product: Each Biggy powder bronzer is zebra-patterned with light and dark bronze stripes in either a subtle shimmer (Haute Gold, Dark Gold) or matte (Matte Gold) finish. Each shade blends seamlessly to give you a perfectly gold-hued bronze, and the yellow/red undertones never look ruddy or fake the way many orange-brown bronzers can.

Annabelle Biggy Bronzer swatches: Dark Gold, Haute Gold, Matte Gold

The shades: I still adore the subtle shimmer of Haute Gold (there’s a reason why it won the 2014 ELLE Canada Beauty Grand Prix for Best Bronzer Under $30, you know), but the new shades are pretty great, too!

Dark Gold is an intense, metallic yellow-bronze. Haute Gold is ever so slightly redder, and has more of a shimmer finish. Matte Gold is the most sheer of the three, and is impressively close in tone to the others — it’s slightly more red and desaturated, but if you loved the original Zebra bronzer (Haute Gold), it’ll definitely still work for your skin tone.

Annabelle Zebra Biggy Bronzer swatches: Dark Gold, Haute Gold, Matte Gold

BEST USED: Apply Haute Gold (for everyday wear) or Dark Gold (for a more metallic finish) to the cheekbones, collarbones, and décolletage to give a golden glow without looking like you’ve had an accident with the fake tanner.

Apply Matte Gold to subtly sculpt and bronze the face — lord knows it’s better for contouring than most of this season’s contouring launches.

Annabelle Zebra Bronzers in Dark Gold, Haute Gold, and Matte Gold

The verdict?

At just over $10 apiece, these bronzers are some of my favourites — and not just from the drugstore. They’re one of those products that does all the work for you, blending out easily and imparting a really healthy-looking glow with almost no effort at all.

I love that Annabelle has expanded the Biggy Bronzing Powder shade range, but Haute Gold is still my favourite of the three. I recommend applying lightly all summer long with a large powder brush!

Availability: $11.95 CAD at Annabelle.ca and at drugstores and mass market retailers across Canada.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Annabelle, Canadian beauty, Cheeks, Grouped reviews, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Spring/Summer 2015

2 Comments

shu:palette review, swatches, photos | A shu uemura eyeshadow palette made just for Asian eyes

June 6, 2015

Rae Chen

19 Comments

The product: shu:palette pressed eyeshadow palette

The palette: What makes the shu:palette special is that, unlike almost everything else available here, all 16 eyeshadows included in it have been specifically selected to work well on Asian skintones, which is — I mean, pretty darn exciting. (Plus, all of the application suggestions are designed to accent monolids, not disguise them!)

Included double-sided synthetic brush

The eyeshadows: I was very, very happy with the formulas here, as always. Yes, shu products are rather pricey, but you always get what you pay for — which is more than I can say for some other brands (ahem, MAC).

That said, I wish there were more light/medium shades in here. For some reason, it contains six highlighters, which seems a little excessive to me? Like, they’re all great, but… that’s a lot of highlighters in one palette.

Top row

shu:palette top row swatches – indirect sunlight; over primer

G beige 821 – A sparkling, transparent yellow gold glitter. (I do love the way shu uemura does their glitter eyeshadows — they’re wonderfully flaky and sparkly.)

M soft beige 814 – A sheer yellow nude; great for neutralizing any lid redness.

ME light beige 825 – A beautiful, peachy metallic shade.

ME medium brown 856 – Taupe lovers, unite! This is a gorgeously buttery taupe with a warm red base and a cool silver sheen. The more of this you apply, the cooler it will look (and vice-versa).

shu:palette top row swatches – indirect sunlight; over primer

M soft brown 851 – Matte camel brown. (The texture of this one is just fantastic.) Not too warm, not to cool.

ME medium brown 862 – Metallic copper. Simple, but lovely!

IR light beige 811 – Medium-pigmented butter yellow frost.

IR dark blue 690 – Functionally, this one reads as a cold, satin-matte black — not a dark teal, as it appears in the pan.

Synthetic double sided brush (included). This is the point/liner end.

Bottom row

M light beige 813 – Matte bone shade with sparse microshimmer for depth (reads as a medium-sheer matte white.)

P soft beige 823 – A very pretty, sheer shimmer with a very fine particle size. Can lean either pink or yellow, depending on the light. I’m quite fond of this one!

S light beige 815 – Creamy, satin-finish light beige.

P light beige 822 – Peachy and medium-sheer with very fine, uniform shimmer.

shu:palette bottom row swatches – indirect sunlight; over primer

P medium brown 875 – Warm (orange, not red) brown with distinct gold shimmer and an absolutely gorgeous texture. (You can really see the gold shimmer in the swatches below).

M dark brown 895 – Dry matte brown with very good pigmentation. This one is actually very neutral/cool, and doesn’t warm up as it sheers out (which is a rare find!)

ME medium olive 471 – Cool grey with a strong metallic finish and green (!) undertones.

M black 990 – A very, very neutral, dry black. Good pigmentation, but not the blackest black to ever black.

shu:palette bottom row swatches – indirect sunlight; over primer

The verdict?

It took me a horrifyingly long time to test each and every one of these shades to finish my review, but if you can still get your hands on this palette, do. Each and every one of these eyeshadows is up to snuff, and with 16 full-sized pans, you’re only paying $6.56 per eyeshadow — which is less than a lot of drugstore eyeshadows out there, and far less than shu’s usual $19 CAD price tag.

The only thing that I’d change? I’d love to see a version 2.0 with more light-medium shades!

Availability: $105 CAD at shu uemura counters in Holt Renfrew.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Eyes, Fall/Winter 2014, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, shu uemura

19 Comments

AERIN Waterlily Sun EdP review, photos | Or, how to bottle happiness

June 2, 2015

Rae Chen

15 Comments

The product: AERIN Waterlily Sun Eau de Parfum Spray

I first met Waterlily Sun on a hectic day in Toronto with Liz/Reductionista. (For that matter, that’s when I first met Liz, too. And yes, for the record, her hair is just as amazing in person.) We were at the Eaton Centre Sephora to sniff the Serge Lutens line, and upon finding out that almost all of their Lutens had to be sent back to the distributor due to water damage, we were wandering around…

And I came upon the AERIN range in person for the first time ever.

The packaging: All of the AERIN perfumes look, like their namesake, like old money and flawlessly curated good taste. They come in thick, carefully cut glass bottles topped with gem-like stones (each in a soft, unique shade) and touched with gold accents, and are packaged in boxed with designs by Lee Jofa, a textiles/home decor company that has produced fabrics and carpets for everyone from Oscar de la Renta to Lilly Pulitzer.

Waterlily Sun looks exquisite in front of all of my La Collection de Grasse perfumes, but I can only imagine how perfect two or three of these would look together on a hammered-metal gold tray…

The scent: I fell immediately in love with both Waterlily Sun and Lilac Path ($110 USD/$125 CAD by Richard Herpin, which smells just like passing by a lush lilac bush in a garden), but Waterlily Sun was the one that I had to go back for.

For a lack of a better descriptor, Waterlily Sun ($110 USD/$125 CAD by Annie Buzantian, Master Perfumer) smells like sunshine. It’s crisp and very light, and doesn’t smell like any one thing or flower or perfume in particular — its scent is, honestly, encapsulated perfectly in its name and packaging.

The story – Waterlily Sun is inspired by Aerin Lauder’s trip to Monet’s garden in Giverny, France as a young girl. It “inspires serenity and calmness with a floral watery scent that leads the senses to a warm and peaceful place. Like sunlight reflecting on water.”

Listed notes – Sicilian Bergamot and Lush Dewy Greens / Waterlily and Jasmine Sambac / Musk

The bergamot in this makes Waterlily Sun’s opening very lemony, like the perfect cold lemonade on a hot summer day in the garden. It’s balanced out very nicely with some crisp green notes (I usually find “green” to be too mulch-y, but I love it here) and a base of musky florals.

Like all light, citrusy fragrances, Waterlily Sun fades long before dinner, but I love it nonetheless. It’s reminiscent of something like Fresh Citron de Vigne ($88 USD/CAD), but with its bergamot opening and jasmine sambac heart, it smells far, far less generic.

The verdict?

Waterlily Sun smells the way a bright summer day makes you feel; it smells like nothing in particular other than happiness. It has just the right amount of sillage and tenacity for warm weather, and it’s the kind of scent that makes you spritz, sniff, and sigh.

As far as light, citrusy scents go, Waterlily Sun is in a class of its own. It manages to be transparent and pleasant without ever becoming boring (even after months), and it smells, somehow, both effortless and complex at once.

Give this one a sniff — you won’t regret it. And hey, while you’re there, check out Lilac Path, too.

Availability: $110 USD/$125 CAD for 1.7 oz at select Nordstrom, Sephora, and Holt Renfrew locations.

Keep reading for more photos! »

Tags: /Estee Lauder, Fragrance, Holy Grail, Product Photos, Product Review, Spring/Summer 2015, Travel

15 Comments

Besame Boudoir brushes, Formula X Infinite Ombré, and more | New 01/06/15

June 1, 2015

Rae Chen

4 Comments

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”768128″]Can you believe that it’s already June?! Because dude, I cannot. It is way too soon for this, and I am not ready.

In other news, though, here’s what’s new this month at Nordstrom and Sephora! Sephora has actually done a great job of picking up niche beauty brands again this year, which is really exciting — I feel like they were definitely moving away from that for a long while, but with weird new products like that Eborian Pâte au Ginseng mask, those Besamé Boudoir brushes, and the Make Up Eraser (I’m dying to know if that works), they’re definitely branching out into niche finds again.

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”768133″]

I also have my eye on the Formula X Infinite Ombré Nail Design Set, which makes me think of the new OPI Color Paints. It doesn’t look like much at first glance, but some of the looks Sephora has up on their Beauty Board make it look really cool.

What’s your favourite unexpected beauty find?

Tags: /New This Week (& etc), Sephora

4 Comments

Clinique Pop Lip Color + Primer review, swatches, photos | Beige Pop, Poppy Pop, & Fab Pop

May 29, 2015

Rae Chen

24 Comments

The product: Clinique Pop Lip Color + Primer in 04 Beige Pop, 06 Poppy Pop, and 12 Fab Pop

New this spring from Clinique are sixteen Pop Lip Colour + Primers, which are designed to pair rich colour with a smoothing primer. They’re part of Clinique’s current strategy of releasing pretty, accessible products without any complicated steps, and just like the rest of the no-fuss products Clinique has released recently… these rock.

The formula: It’s been a long time since I fell in love with lipstick formula, but the Pop Lip Colour + Primers had me at hello. The formula is perfect: creamy and comforting without feeling too heavy, slippery, or drying, and absolutely packed with smooth, velvety pigment. These remind me a lot of the (mosly discontinued) Marcelle Rouge Vitality Lipsticks, AKA my favourite lipsticks ever — but the Clinique Pop lipsticks might just be even better.

Formulated with shea and murumuru butters and designed to provide “moisture maintenance” with a flexible polymer blend, these are one of the only lipsticks I’ve ever worn that don’t leave my lips crinkly and dry. They feel just as rich in texture as they are in colour, and on top of all that, the formula is totally scent-free.

Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer swatches in Beige Pop, Fab Pop, and Poppy Pop

A quick, messy iPhone shot of Fab Pop, filched from my Instagram — @thenotice

The shades: I tried three of the sixteen Clinique Pop shades, and surprisingly enough, Fab Pop was the one that I realy fell in love with. It’s bright and milky with lavender undertones, and really brightens up my face without looking like TOO MUCH (caps lock totally necessary.)

I wasn’t as crazy about Beige Pop, which is an objectively lovely medium-nude (I need a little less pink from my nude lipsticks to counteract my natural lip colour, unfortunately), and Poppy Pop wasn’t really for me, either — poppy reds make me look, for some reason, both flushed and yellow-toothed.

But Fab Pop — oh, my. What a shade.

Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Beige Pop

Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Fab Pop

Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Poppy Pop

The verdict?

You need. You absolutely, totally, definitely need. I’ve been wearing Fab Pop bascially non-stop for the past two weeks, and it hasn’t lost its appeal by even a bit. (Plus, for once, my lips don’t feel stiff and dry when I’m wearing lipstick.)

The Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Prime formula is fast becoming one of my all-time favourites, and for anyone looking for creamy, luxurious, scent-free lipstick, these are totally it.

Availability: $18 USD/$21 CAD at Sephora, Clinique, and Nordstrom.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Clinique, Grouped reviews, Lips, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Spring/Summer 2015

24 Comments

Get ready for summer with a Leonisa swimsuit | US/Canada giveaway!

May 26, 2015

Rae Chen

28 Comments

I like to do something a little different every summer if I can, whether that’s a Summery Summary or a big ‘ol bunch of giveaways.

This year, that “something different” is, well, even more different. Leonisa (a brand you might recognize from their features in Marie Claire or Jezebel) has generously offered to give one of theNotice’s readers the swimsuit of their choice, which I thought would be a great way to start the season!

Leonisa combines shapewear with swimsuits, which is awesome if you need a little help getting super body-confident for the beach. (Not that anyone “needs” shapewear, but heck, going out onto the beach mostly-naked is hard. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want at least a little more nipple coverage out of my regular flimsy swimsuit every now and again.)

The brand hails from South America, where they’re doing some pretty cool work in terms of social responsibility. Supply chain employees get free meals on-shift, forgivable student loans for themselves and for their families, on top of things like housing loans (almost all Leonisa employees own their own homes) and the basics, like health and life insurance.

To enter, use the giveaway widget below! (You can pick which swimsuit you want to win here.) This contest is open from May 26th to June 8th at 11:59 PM MST to all residents of the US and Canada. (For more details, check out the fine print in the widget).

Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
—
*sponsored giveaway

Tags: sponsored/Fashion, Giveaway

28 Comments

BISC Vol.8: What’s your current morning and evening skincare routine?

May 24, 2015

Rae Chen

1 Comment

What’s your current morning and evening skincare routine?

RAE | Canada | the Notice: a beauty blog

I try to keep my skincare routine as simple (and affordable) as possible, so it stays mostly the same. In the mornings, I rinse my face and apply a little German Nivea with the Odacité Camelina Chamomile serum/oil, or something with SPF if I’m leaving the house.

In the evenings, I remove my eye makeup with Marcelle 3 in 1 Micellar Solution, wash my face with Marcelle Essentials Cleansing Milk, and moisturize with German Nivea blended with Odacité Pomegranate Rose Geranium (review), which I LOVE for dry skin. I don’t use a lot of masks or scrubs, but if I’m breaking out, I’ll also spot treat with Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion — that stuff is magic!!

AGATA | USA | Her and Makeup

My morning routine is pretty simple. I just wash my face and apply a moisturizer with an SPF. The evening routine is where it gets more complicated. First, I remove my makeup with Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towlettes. Next, I use Garnier Cleansing Oil to remove the rest of makeup and my waterproof mascara. Then I cleanse my face using my Clarisonic Mia 2 brush with Nude Skincare Omega Cleansing Jelly or Vichy Normaderm Gel Cleanser. Next, I apply a toner- either Pixi Glow Tonic or Murad Hydrating Toner. Lastly, I apply a moisturizer- currently I am using Aveno Ultra-calming moisturizer and an undereye cream- Vichy Idealia Eyes.

MELISSA | Switzerland | Kiss & Make-up

AM: First I cleanse with the The Body Shop Aloe Gentle Facial Wash and exfoliate and tone with the Paula’s Choice Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution and the 5100 Skincare Glacier Moist Refresh spay. Then I apply my Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Serum followed by my Olaz Regenerist moisturizer, including around the eyes. And for sun protection I use the Glo-Therapeutics Oil-Free SPF 40+ sunscreen.

PM: Usually I double cleanse with a milk cleanser first – at the moment the Eucerin Gentle Cleansing Milk – and then a cleansing oil – at the moment the L’Occitane Shea Cleansing Oil, followed by exfoliating and toning with the same two products that I use in the morning. Then I apply Differen gel for my acne, followed by my Caudalie serum and my Clinique Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer, eye area included again.

LENA | USA | Lenallure

I have just started with new routines and I’m pretty happy with them.

[Morning] Cleanse with Tatcha Polished Classic Rice Enzyme Powder / Tone with Avéne Thermal Water Spray / Moisturize with Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum / Protect with Sofina Perfect UV SPF50 PA+++ Sunscreen

[Evening] Remove makeup with L’Oreal Clean Artiste Eye Makeup Remover and Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil / Cleanse & Exfoliate with Tatcha Polished Classic Rice Enzyme Powder / Tone with Boots Botanics Rosewater / Treat with Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10 and Serum 10 Yeux & Cils / Moisturize with Vichy Aqualia Thermal Riche

[Exfoliate] Radical Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads (twice a week)

JAA | Thailand | Hello Jaa

Morning: cleanse with either Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powder or Verso Foaming Cleanser; tone with homemade Apple Cider Vinegar; moisturize with Bobbi Brown Extra Bright Advanced Serum followed by Verso Day Cream and Dior Diorsnow White Reveal Ultra Purifying Liquid; protect with either Dior Diorsnow Brightening Illuminating UV Protection with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Translucent SPF 50 or Benefit Specialist Dream Screen Invisible Silky-Matte Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Sunscreen for Face.

Evening: remove eye makeup with Chanel Démaquillant Yeux Intense Gentle Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Remover; remove face makeup with Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm; cleanse with Glamglow Powercleanse Daily Dual Cleanser; tone with homemade Apple Cider Vinegar; moisturize with Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II followed by Verso Night Cream and Eve Lom Brightening Cream.

For eyes, I’m not loyal to any particular eye cream but I’m currently using La Prairie Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Eye Cream.

Tags: /BISC

1 Comment

Odacité Camelina Chamomile Facial Serum Concentrate review, photos | The perfect summer serum

May 22, 2015

Rae Chen

15 Comments

The product: Odacité Ca+C Camelina Chamomile Facial Serum Concentrate

Today was the unofficial start of summer in Edmonton, with the mercury rising to just past 20 degrees. 21 is, admittedly, not a lot for most places, but with the bright sunlight and a big bay window, our kitchen was verging on sweltering by dinner time.

With the summer heat comes changes to my skincare routine, and this serum/oil is the one thing that I’m crazy about at the moment.

The texture: When I first tried this oil back in February, I actually… hated it. I wanted to use my beloved Pomegranate + Rose Geranium oil instead! I didn’t want this thin serum that smelled, for lack of a better term, like a regular facial oil. I wanted that lush, syrupy-thick Po+R Serum Concentrate, with its intense scent and comforting weight.

But as the months got warmer, and warmer, and, eventually, hotter, I thought, hey, why not give Ca+C another go.

And am I ever glad I did. This oil is thin, yes, but it’s smooth and delicate. Two small drops will turn even the thickest of moisturizers into silky fluids, and impart their pasty bases with a good dose of hydration.

The ingredients: Unlike the Pomegranate/Rose Geranium oil that I’m so in love with, Ca+C contains a lot more than three ingredients. It’s mostly camelina seed oil, which is anti-inflammatory and helpful in treating eczema, but it also features a blend of essential oils: ingredients like calendula and German chamomile, which help heal the skin, and Blue Tansy, which for some reason Into the Gloss has decided will be the next big trend. (I have my doubts.)

It’s still a very short ingredient list (silicone- and paraben-free), and like the rest of the Odacité booster serums, Ca+C is made fresh from high-quality ingredients and packaged in thick-walled violet glass.

Best as: A basic, simple serum-oil to use with a moisturizer or tinted moisturizer. This one is perfect for sensitive skin, so it’s a great place to start exploring the Odacité line if your skin tends to react to new products!

Best for: Blending into your moisturizer (and thinning out thick ones, like many of those with physical SPF!)

The verdict?

Camelina Chamomile isn’t as uniquely singular as Odacité’s Po+R serum, but it’s still a really lovely, simple oil to add to your skincare regimen this summer. It’s very thin and blends well with most moisturizers (especially those that are a little too thick), and is a great “starter oil” for anyone with normal, dry, or sensitive skin.

Availability: $39 USD/$46 CAD at The Detox Market.

Keep reading! »

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

15 Comments

Klorane Dry Shampoo Natural Tint & Leave-in Spray with Flax Fiber review | For lazy Sunday mornings

May 20, 2015

Rae Chen

16 Comments

The products: Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk (Brown to Dark Hair) and Leave-in Spray with Flax Fiber

What’s that, you say? It’s not Sunday morning?

Well, no. Not even a little bit. But I’m crabby and sleepy and I’ve had strep throat for going on three weeks now, so you can shut your pretty, beautiful face and imagine that it is, in fact, Sunday. Because these two products are great for a Sunday morning, or for any other morning that you’re short on time or energy and just want to take it easy and still end up with great hair.

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk – Natural Shade ($20 USD/$24 CAD)

The one Klorane product that you NEED (yes, need) to own is their dry shampoo. Everyone keeps telling me that it’s the best, and after all this time, I can finally confirm that, yes, it’s the best. (Way better than Colab, even, thanks to the scent.)

They make four: a green-lidded one with nettle (Oil Absorbing Dry Shampoo), this one (Natural Shade Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk), their Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Extract, and the non-aerosol Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk. The non-aerosol powder and the tinted aerosol (this one) are the only ones that are silicone-free, so be careful when you purchase!

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk for brown to dark hair, “swatched” covering palm

I couldn’t get to a legendary seven days with this stuff, but I love it all the same. It smells fantastic; a very clean, subtle scent (sort of a powdery-floral), and applies as a sheer, even veil of light brown powder. You’re supposed to leave it on for 2 minutes and then brush thoroughly, but in a pinch, I find that it works just as well to simply spray on as you head out the door and then tousle lightly on the train.

This stuff is so good that if I apply it on second-day hair, my third-day hair still looks like first-day hair when I wake up. It’s that good. It makes hair look at feel clean, and adds just a touch of volume without making my hair feel gritty.

Klorane Leave-in Spray with Flax Fiber ($16 USD/$20 CAD)

Klorane operates on the very cool concept of one problem/one plant, and for volume, it’s flax fiber. (For gentle balancing/second-day-hair, it’s oat milk.) Tracy from Beauty Reflections really loves this one, and when she mentioned that it doesn’t feel like anything at all on the hair, she had me.

When Klorane figured out that flax was naturally soluble, they put it in their volumizing products to provide actual, physical plant-lift to the hair. But while I think this one is a dream to use (it smells lovely, like a very subtle veil of perfume, and has a really solid, even mister) and looks awesome on Tracy, it didn’t quite work for me.

Check this one out if you have short or fine limp hair, but skip it if you want instant volume for stick-straight Asian hair. Unlike what it does for Tracy (which looks awesome and natural; I’ve seen it in person and can attest to this), it doesn’t give me much in terms of air-dried root lift.

It does get major points for touch-invisibility, though, so give it a look if you’re willing to put in the styling time but want something 100% non-sticky and non-gritty!

The verdict?

The Klorane Leave-in Spray with Flax Fiber feels touchably natural, but unless you have fine, limp hair (not just straight/limp hair), it’s not an instant fix-it.

The Natural Tint Dry Shampoo, on the other hand, is a total must-have. It’s a little bit pricy, but the next time you’re due in for a hair treat, you need to try this!! It absorbs oil like a champ, has the best scent of any dry shampoo I’ve ever tried (light, pretty, and clean-smelling), and makes hair look and feel clean.

Availability: Natural Tint Dry Shampoo – $15.24 USD at Escentual.com; $20 USD/$24 CAD at Sephora. Leave-in Spray – $16 USD/$20 CAD at Sephora. Klorane products are available at Shopper’s Drug Mart locations across Canada.

Ingredients & stuff »

Tags: /Grouped reviews, Hair, Klorane, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free

16 Comments

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo 01 review, swatches, photos + 156 Large Flat Brush

May 15, 2015

Rae Chen

16 Comments

The product: Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo in 01 Pink Beige & 156 Large Flat Brush (Wavy)

This season, Make Up For Ever joins that insane contouring craze with their Pro Sculpting Duo, which they billet as an “undetectable face contour” and recommend using with their 156 brush (the Large Flat Brush or Flat Round Brush, depending on who you ask).

I think this pillow-topped, gel-powder formula is far from undetectable, but still worth checking out. It works well with both the 156 and the 150 brush that I love so much, and comes in two shades: 01 Pink Beige (“light with cool undertones”) and 02 ??? (tan with warm undertones).

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo in 01 Pink Beige review

The sculpting shade: I’m gonna start with the not-so-great stuff, which is to say: like many other contouring products I’ve tried this season, this one totally didn’t work for me. It leans quite orange and looked like an obvious bronzer against my complexion, and I’m not the only one. The best look that I’ve seen with 01 Pink Beige so far has been on Chelle, but even she found the contour shade in this duo to be more of a bronzer than a sculpting shade. (This duo–the highlighter especially–looks totally bangin’ on her, though!)

You can see her look here, but, well… take that into consideration when purchasing, because it’s not just me who was hoping for a much cooler contour out of this one.

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo in 01 Pink Beige swatched heavily/lightly

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo in 01 Pink Beige

The highlighter: Okay folks, THIS IS WHERE IT’S AT. I don’t love a really bold highlight most of the time, but this highlighter is gorgeous.

You can see individual sparkles from about 3 ft away under incandescent lighting (that’s so not “unbelievably natural,” MUFE), but it’s one of the (very) few highlighter shades that really pops against my fair complexion. Normally, highlighters look really shimmery on me, but are too dark or yellow to give more than a sheen — but this baby lifts the cheekbone right up. It’s still more shimmer than I want from day to day, but I’m smitten!

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo in 01 Pink Beige swatches – contour & highlighter heavily/lightly

THAT BRUSH, THOUGH: The 156 Large Flat/Flat Round Brush is insanely kitten-butt soft and relatively small, for a blush brush. It’s great for loosely applying a small amount of product and blending it out, and is extremely versatile — it’s great for blush, contour, and setting undereye concealer, plus it can easily handle setting powder and highlighter in a pinch.

And did I mention that it is so soft? I have at last count forcibly petted four people with zero interest in makeup with this brush, and all of them begrudgingly admitted that yes, it’s as soft as a kitten-butt Rae; please stop stroking my face with that.

Make Up For Ever 156 Flat Round Brush review

Make Up For Ever 156 Large Flat Brush review

The verdict?

At $45 CAD, I think this Sculpting Duo can be skipped — unless you want it as a high-impact highlighter/bronzer duo, in which case, go for it.

For an invisible, high-def contour, this duo isn’t the product that you want. However, the highlighter is just gorgeous, and the brush is a total must-have. (Oh, this brush!) If you only have room in your life for one of these two, definitely invest in the brush instead!

Availability: $39 USD/$45 CAD for the sculpting duo; $37 USD/$43 CAD for the brush. Both permanent products available at Sephora and Make Up For Ever boutiques as of March 2015.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Cheeks, Make Up For Ever / MUFE, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Spring/Summer 2015, Tools

16 Comments