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Neutrogena Naturals vs Bioderma Sensibio H2O Make-up Wipes review, comparison | The Make-Up Removing Wipe Showdown

April 22, 2015

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The products: Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Make-Up Removing Wipes vs Bioderma Sensibio H2O (Créaline H2O) Dermatological Wipes

I’m not a makeup remover wipe kind of girl. But I will admit that they do have their appeal, and when these two packages of wipes landed on my desk at around the same time… I mean, I’d have to be a monster to not want to see how they measure up!

(Here’s how.)

Neutrogena Naturals ($9.99 CAD/25 wipes)

Today’s first contender is a flashy new package of makeup wipes from Neutrogena. These are the brand’s first silicone-free wipes (finally!!!) and launched nationwide this March/April.

They come generously soaked in green-apple-scented makeup remover, aren’t tested on animals, and are both bio-degradable and are made from fibres from sustainably-managed forests. They’re designed as a no-rinse way to remove face and eye makeup, and are formulated with Peruvian Tara Seed bionutrient to gently cleanse without any residue.

I have no idea what Peruvian Tara Seed is, but it sounds cool and I approve of anything that smells this crisp and uplifting.

Bioderma (left) vs Neutrogena Naturals (right) — wipes rubbed 5x over three different eyeliner formulas.

(Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil, Clinique Quickliner for Eyes Intense, and Annabelle Retractable Eyeliner)

Bioderma (L) vs Neutrogena (R), scrubbed over the liners until nothing else would come off

The fast facts:

$0.40/wipe
Paraben- and silicone-free
Smell AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS
97% naturally derived
Double-sided smooth/bumpy texture

How they compare to the Bioderma wipes:

Not as soft and velvety
Remove makeup more quickly and effectively (I was really surprised about this, and actually ran three different tests to double check. The Neutrogena wipes won every single time!)

Bioderma Sensibio ($14.95 CAD/25 wipes)

Today’s second contender launched last fall from Bioderma (yes, that Bioderma). The Sensibio H2O wipes–which go by Créaline H2O overseas–are soaked in Bioderma micellar water and are made to cleanse and remove makeup on both the eyes and face.

(Note that these aren’t just saturated with the bottled Bioderma Sensibio water, though; this is a micellar water formulated specifically for these wipes.)

These are very gently fragranced (I think they smell kind of clinical and plasticky, honestly) and are very thick and soft.

Weirdly, my very favourite thing about these wipes is that they come in a really luxe, matte cherry package. It’s thicker and smoother than most wipes’ packaging, and it doesn’t crinkle as badly over time — so even 10 wipes in, the package still looks respectable and seals tightly.

The fast facts:

$0.59/wipe
Silicone-free
Great packaging
Thick, soft, velvety sheet texture

How they compare to the Neutrogena Naturals wipes:

Much more gentle (especially noticeable in the eye area, though both were a little prickly)
Leave skin feeling softer

Neutrogena vs. Biodrma texture

The verdict?

I’m not a fan of using makeup removing/cleansing wipes everyday, but sometimes, the situation calls for them.

Both of these are great options, but honestly, I’d re-buy the Neutrogena wipes first. They’re a little bit rougher, but they do a better job of removing stubborn makeup… and they smell insanely (INSANELY) good!

Availability: The Neutrogena wipes are $7.49 USD/$9.99 CAD at drugstores across North America; the Bioderma wipes can be found at Murale and select drugstores across Canada for $14.95.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Bioderma, Cleansing, Grouped reviews, Neutrogena, Other, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Skincare, Spring/Summer 2015

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Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo review, photos – Gentle Radiance Cleanser (Airy Touch)

April 20, 2015

Rae Chen

10 Comments

The product: shu uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo Gentle Radiance Cleanser Airy Touch

By now, I’m sure you’re all familiar with the giant, iconic Shu Uemura Cleansing Oils (oh, sorry, skin purifier cleansing oils), but did you know that Shu’s The Art of Hair line has a few cleansing oils in its lineup, too?

Yup. All of you cleansing oil fans can now oil cleanse your hair, too — and it is just as hysterically awesome as you’d expect.

The science: The Airy Touch Cleansing Oil Shampoo and Conditioners are formulated around the idea of onsen, the classic Japanese hot mineral-spring-water bath. To achieve this, both of the products are enriched with volcanic ferments sourced 2000 metres below sea level, and are formulated to leave the hair squeaky-clean and with an “airy touch” of volume.

The formula: My favourite part about this Cleansing Oil Shampoo is that there is, in fact, something distinctly oily about it. It functions just like a normal shampoo (gentle, no oily residue, and a good amount of lather), but the formula is really silky. There’s no other way to put it — it just feels like a really luxe, thick, smooth, silky shampoo, and its texture is entirely unique.

Functionally, I think this one performs like a normal shampoo (maybe a touch more stripping than I was expecting), and just like with the face cleansing oils, you get a lot of bang for your buck. (I can easily shampoo my entire scalp with just one small pump from this giant bottle!)

The scent: One of the weird things that I’ve always liked about shu uemura is that their skincare and haircare products, for some reason, often have an actual, dedicated fragrance associated with them.

This one is scented with yuzu calm, which lists citrusy top notes, watery middle notes, and base notes of cedar, sage, and musk. Honestly, I don’t really think that it smells like yuzu, but I do like it! It smells like fancy shampoo; that’s the best I can do.

The verdict?

I could’t try the yellow Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Conditioner due to its silicone content, but I’ve been using the Cleansing Oil Shampoo on and off for about a month, and I quite like it.

For my dry skin and scalp, it’s a little too stripping to use every day, but it gives a good amount of volume — and its silky formula is quite a unique experience. If you’re really into textures (which you really should be; textures are great), then you definitely need to give this one a try!

Availability: $56 CAD/$57 USD for 400 ml at Shu Uemura – The Art of Hair (or $19 USD for a 75 ml travel size).

Keep reading! »

Tags: shu uemura cleansing oil/Cleansing oils, Hair, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Product snapshots, shu uemura, Silicone-free

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Sephora sale, Commodity perfumes, & niche skincare innovations | New 17/04/15

April 17, 2015

Rae Chen

4 Comments

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I was browsing the Sephora app from my bed the other day (dangerous, I know) and there were SO MANY cool new things that I absolutely had to put together a fresh New This Week post for you guys.

“Products like what,” you ask? Like the Bite Beauty Watercolor Lip Gloss Library ($49 USD), which features five absolutely beautiful pastel lipglosses and seven pretty (and entirely wearable) shades. Or products like the new Clinique Cheek Pop Blushes ($21 USD) — I want Heather Pop so bad. Or the AERIN and Commodity perfumes that are now available on the Sephora site. (I need AERIN Lilac Path and Waterlily Sun in my life, like, yesterday. They’re amazing.)

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But most importantly, I wanted to share these product launches with you guys today because (!!!) Sephora is currently running their Beauty Insider Spring Sale, which is 10% off for BIs until the 20th and 15% off for VIBs and VIB Rouges until the 21st!

» Use codes BILOVE, VIBLOVE, and ROUGELOVE at Sephora for your discount, and don’t forget to use Ebates or Ebates.ca to save a little more.

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”669263″]

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

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Clinique Sculpting Chubby Sticks & Defining Roses review, swatches, photos

April 16, 2015

Rae Chen

31 Comments

The products: Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour in 01 Curvy Contour, Sculpting Highlight in 01 Hefty Highlight, and Sculptionary Cheek Contouring Palette in 03 Defining Roses

⇒ Seriously, Clinique, WHY HEFTY. You had the option to go with Hypnotic Highlight and you went with hefty? Again???!

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour ($21 USD/$24 CAD)

Like most people out there (I assume), I’m crazy about the idea of being able to scribble makeup on your face — and these sculpting/highlighting Chubby Sticks are absolutely perfect for the job.

If you’re familiar with Clinique’s Chubby Cheek Sticks, you’ll recognize the formula of 01 Curvy Contour — it’s the same creamy, emollient, blendable goodness. To contour, you just swipe this one directly onto your face (along the hairline, under the cheekbones, and below the jaw and down the sides of your nose for extra impact), then blend.

I like blending the face Chubby Sticks out with my Make Up For Ever 150 Contouring Blush Brush, but they blend really well with fingers, too. (No fancy tools needed!)

My one hangup with 01 Curvy Contour, however, is that it runs so orange. It’s a tone that I’m sure would work a lot better on someone warmer, peachier, and darker than I am, but if you’re AT ALL fair, cool-toned, or (especially) olive, I recommend staying far, far away from this one.

Clinique Defining Roses, Hefty Highlight, Curvy Contour swatches

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight ($21 USD/$24 CAD)

The other Clinique sculpting Chubby Stick that’s available right now is 01 Hefty Highlight, a pretty, shimmery highlighter that (again) really shines on light-medium skin tones. It’s a little more emollient than the other Chubby Sticks for the face, and sheers out a little wider, so apply sparingly if you do pick this one up.

While I’m not usually big on shimmery highlighters, I do really like this one. It’s very punchy and shows up even on my fair complexion, and it glows like WHOA. If standard highlighters aren’t too glittery for you, you need this — it’s so pretty and easy to work with.

(Also worth noting is that this one looks awesome on both warm and cool skin tones, which is handy!)

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight, Contour swatches: 01 Hefty Highlight & 01 Curvy Contour (both heavily/blended)

The Sculptionary Cheek Contouring Palette & more! »

Tags: Clinique Chubby Sticks/Cheeks, Clinique, Grouped reviews, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Spring/Summer 2015

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True Nature Botanicals Noble Floral Solid Perfume review, photos

April 14, 2015

Rae Chen

6 Comments

The product: True Nature Botanicals Solid Perfume in Noble Floral

Over the past year, I’ve done my best to share some natural, niche, and just overall unexpected fragrances with you guys on theNotice. Today, that journey (can you really call it a journey?) continues, with an all-natural solid perfume from True Nature Botanicals, who split off from Marie Veronique Organics late last summer.

The scent: Noble Floral lists main notes of rose, jasmine, and tuberose, but what struck me about it is that it doesn’t smell like your run of the mill floral perfume. It’s absolutely gorgeous; creamy and enveloping with a pepperiness that’s rare in florals.

Noble Floral wears very close to the skin, however, and it doesn’t last for long — I’d say only around 3-4 hours before it really starts to fade. If you have a lot of chemical sensitivities and you’ve struggled to find an all-natural perfume that doesn’t just smell like astringent leaves, however, then definitely try the (free) scent sampler that True Nature Botanicals offers. This one was my favourite from the bunch, but honestly, I really liked all three.

True Nature Botanicals scent sampler

The formula: True Nature’s perfumes are all crafted from 100% natural ingredients (which are notorious for sitting close to the skin and fading quickly), and are presented in solid form, not spray.

The perfume discs are about the same size as an eyeshadow (3.5 cm in diameter), and are offered in both refill and compact versions. The compact is very small, but it’s solid metal, so it’s actually extremely heavy — which feels wonderfully luxe, but isn’t something I’d want to throw into my handbag!

Finally, these solid perfumes warn that they will stiffen up in cooler temperatures, but mine has stayed consistently soft through both the winter and spring (and trust me, our house is cold in the winter). Expect something with whipped-butter consistency instead of fridge-butter consistency, I guess?

The verdict?

The True Nature Solid Perfumes are definitely a luxury, but you could do far worse from an all-natural perfume. If you’re looking for something that wears close to the skin but is absolutely gorgeously blended (these would be perfect for an office environment), then give these a look!

(They’d also make a great Mother’s Day gift, if you’re thinking that far ahead.)

Availability: $95 USD at True Nature Botanicals (refills are $75 USD).

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Fragrance, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review

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BISC Vol.5: Hyped products that just aren’t worth buying

April 12, 2015

Rae Chen

5 Comments

What was the last product you bought because of the hype and now regret?

LILY | Malaysia | Chloe Ash
The Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara. So many people say this is THE mascara to gorgeous lashes, but it did absolutely nothing on me. It was very disappointing because I had high hopes for it. I guess I just have to stick with what works. Dior and Estee Lauder work well on my lashes. Clinique Power Lash is great and some Japanese drugstore ones work much better. It was an expensive mistake though.

RAE | Canada | the Notice: a beauty blog
They were a great deal, but I really regret buying The Body Shop’s Body Sorbet moisturizers. Everyone always says they’re the best thing ever, but they leave my skin feeling sort of… powdery? And tacky. My only other hype-haul this year has been for ColorPop eyeshadows, though, and they more than made up for it!

SARA | Germany | Color Me Loud
I feel like it is part of my blogger duties to hunt down hyped products before others and review them so I end up making mistakes very often. Last three products which disappointed me were:

YSL 10 color eye palettes (reviewed here): These had very cheap looking linear shimmer, almost like drug store quality, plus fall out.
By Terry Eye Designer Palette in Color Design (reviewed here): The colors looked very vibrant in the pan. Instead they turned out to be very soft and muted, also they fade on me.
Giorgio Armani Runway Nail Polish (swatched here): It costed more than the regular nail polishes but is almost the same as their regular one called Incense Velvet.

AGATA | USA | Her and Makeup
This is the hardest question so far! I thought about it for days, I went through my makeup stash a few times and I can’t find one thing that would fit the criteria. I am normally not a very spontaneous buyer and I do a little research before buying makeup, especially if it’s more expensive. Don’t get me wrong- I bought makeup because of a hype (urban Decay Naked palettes, Hourglass blushes) but none of these products disappointed me.

JAA | Thailand | Hello Jaa
Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover! It does a good job at removing waterproof and long-wear eye makeup but that’s about it. I don’t like the scent (strong and unpleasant), nor the greasy residue it leaves behind. I just don’t get the rave reviews at all. I have to always follow up with a separate cleanser to get rid of the oily film.

Tags: /BISC

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COLAB Sheer Invisible Dry Shampoo review, photos | For those lazy days

April 10, 2015

Rae Chen

10 Comments

The product: COLAB Sheer Invisible Dry Shampoo in London (“classic”) and Rio (“tropical”)

So, you know how some dry shampoos make it look like tiny birds spilled tiny bags of cocaine onto your hair?

These ones don’t.

The formula: I’ve tried a few dry shampoos in my day (not a lot, but a few), and these are my favourites of the bunch by far.

As promised, the original COLAB formula goes on totally transparent, absorbs oil like a champ, and leaves my hair looking (and feeling) very clean. They’re actually very unlike traditional dry shampoos, which bulk up your hair and have a bit of grit to them — these Sheer Invisible Dry Shampoos just make your hair look freshly washed again.

» If you like a lot of body from your dry shampoos, COLAB now does an Extreme Volume formula, too!

I get the best results with these by shaking, spraying very liberally, giving them a few minutes to work their magic, and then tousling my hair gently to make sure the product is evenly spread out.

Contouring before/after from this Rodial review. 2nd day hair + COLAB Sheer Invisible dry shampoo in BOTH frames!

Tiny, tiny travel bottles

The scents: Rio (tropical) and London (“classic”) are unfortunately the only two COLAB scents available here, but both are pretty well done for budget products. They do definitely smell like “fashion fragrances,” (their words, not mine), but both will cover up any scalp/sweat smells right away!

If you sniff these in person, note that Rio opens with a particularly chemically blast that fades within the first 60 seconds. (Past that, it’s very fruity and tropical.)

The verdict?

If you’re looking for a dry shampoo that’s going to be super easy to use and won’t make your hair feel gritty, then these are a total must-have. My bottle of London is already pretty much empty, and I will definitely be re-purchasing soon!

You do need to use a lot product with these, though, so I’d definitely recommend getting the full-sized bottles (50 vs 200 ml). The minis are great for overnight trips and important end-of-day emergencies, but they are tiny!

Availability: $5.49-$9.99 at London Drugs, Jean Coutu, Lawtons, and select Pharmasave and PharmaChoice locations. (£2 to £3.50 in the UK!)

Keep reading! »

Tags: /CoLab, Hair, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free

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MYH TOTL ME Eyeliner & Mascara: A 2-in-1 that’s literally two. In one.

April 8, 2015

Rae Chen

13 Comments

*sponsored post

The product: MYH Cosmetics TŌTL M.E. Revolutionary 2 in 1 Eyeliner & Mascara in Black Forest

Okay. So, before I begin this post, I just want to take a moment to look at how hilariously fantastic TŌTL M.E. (total mascara/eyeliner) is as a product name. Because that? That is impressive, dude. That’s impressive and the word-nerd in me likes it a lot.

MYH Cosmetics TŌTL M.E. Eyeliner & Mascara (liner brush twisted up)

How it works: You know that old wives’ tale about how liquid liners and mascaras are totally interchangeable? (Full disclosure: not actually a wives’ tale, but definitely something that people say.) Well, MYH has taken this idea to the next level.

Their TŌTL M.E. Eyeliner & Mascara is a mascara with a cream formula (I can’t actually think of the last time I tried a mascara that was quite this thick) and a spoolie that hides a little liner brush inside of itself. You just twist the back end of the wand, wipe the excess product off of the brush that comes out, and line away.

No product vs. with the MYH TŌTL M.E. worn as liner + mascara

MYH Cosmetics TŌTL M.E. Eyeliner & Mascara (liner brush twisted down)

But keep this in mind! I find the liner half of the TŌTL M.E. to be pretty hard to use, and (because the mascara spoolie and liner brush are one in the same) the mascara bristles get product all over my lashes while I’m lining my eyes.

So, if you do give this one a try, the trick is to put on your liner first — that way, your lashes will comb themselves through when you use the mascara part of the wand.

My favourite thing about this mascara/liner: is definitely that packaging. I was expecting something really gimmicky, but this mascara tube is actually pretty darn cute.

Plus, the product itself reminds me a lot of Annabelle’s Expandable mascara, which is one of my favourites. Same twisty end, both with plastic bristles, similar thick/cream formula in each. The wear on the TŌTL M.E. is really good, too, much like the Annabelle mascara; I wear-tested it for nine hours & two naps (what? Don’t judge me.) and it didn’t budge at all.

Keep reading! »

Tags: sponsored/Eyes, Product Photos, Product snapshots

13 Comments

The perfect sculpting brush: A Make Up For Ever 150 brush (re-)review

April 6, 2015

Rae Chen

6 Comments

The product: Make Up For Ever 150 Precision Blush Brush (Wavy)

I totally wasn’t feeling the whole blogging thing last night, so instead of the CoLab review that I was supposed to have ready for today (don’t worry; that’s still coming up this week), I have a really short re-review for you guys.

The Make Up For Ever Precision Blush Brush last seen here has been in my right hand pretty much every day for the past two weeks, and it’s been there for one reason only: this season is going insane over the contouring products.

So, girls and boys, take note. If you’re going to be contouring with cremes (especially stick-cremes), there’s nothing better to blend them in with than the MUFE 150. This thing works in product like a dream, and it’s pretty tiny, so you can get really good control with it, too.

The 150 has been great with everything I’ve tried it on so far, but it’s been the very, very best with the Clinique Chubby Contouring Sticks ($21 USD; totally not their real name). They’re worth buying together, if you’ve been on the fence about either one!

Availability: ($40 USD/$46 CAD) at Sephora.

Tags: /Make Up For Ever / MUFE, Product Photos, Product Review, Tools

6 Comments

Nip + Fab Dragon’s Blood Facial Radiance Pads review, photos | One for the adventurers…

April 3, 2015

Rae Chen

15 Comments

The product: Nip + Fab Dragon’s Blood Facial Radiance Cleansing Pads

DRAGON’S BLOOD, YOU GUYS. Dragon’s blood.

How it works: Rodial and their budget line, Nip + Fab, currently do these really cool “dragon’s blood” products featuring the bright red resin of the Sangre de Grado (Croton lechleri) tree — which literally translates to the dragon’s blood tree. The latex sap of the Sangre de Grado is used by locals as a liquid bandage, and it has strong antioxidant properties.

These pads contain “dragon’s blood” (to plump, sculpt, and protect the skin), witch hazel (to repair broken skin and reduce swelling), salicylic acid (to open blocked pores and gently exfoliate), and hyaluronic acid (to deliver intense hydration). I mean, they basically have it all.

How they perform: For a measly $15, you get 60 of these thin, soft, strong cleansing pads. They’re nicely saturated with product, and they remove makeup like a dream.

I’ve never been crazy about makeup wipes (though I’m testing some out right now), but these? These, I love. One thin cotton pad is more than enough to remove the makeup from your entire face, so there’s very little waste involved, and they’re both really effective and super gentle.

I can get all of my eye and face makeup off with one of these wipes, and they leave my skin feeling super clean and exfoliated. They also (surprisingly enough) don’t sting my eye area, and I can use the bumpy side for a little extra exfoliation or the smooth side if my skin’s feeling a little sensitive.

The only caveat(s): I really had to stretch to find these, but the Nip + Fab Dragon’s Blood Cleansing Pads don’t smell super great. A little astringent, like a peel.

The verdict?

To this day, I still have no idea if you’re supposed to rinse after using these (I do), but I like them. Kind of a lot, honestly.

The Nip + Fab Dragon’s Blood Cleansing Pads are a fantastic way to up the dragon content of your life, and they perform really, really well. For a gentle exfoliation that won’t leave your skin peeling (or a gentle makeup remover that’ll really clean out your pores while getting everything off super quickly), definitely give these a try.

Availability: $12.99 USD/$14.95 CAD (for 60 pads) at Shopper’s Drug Mart, Ulta, or ASOS.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Cleansing, Nip + Fab, Other, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Rodial, Silicone-free, Skincare

15 Comments