theNotice

theNotice’s little-big holiday giveaway: shu uemura, Hourglass, & Annabelle

December 22, 2014

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Sometimes, when people say things, I listen. Rarely, but — sometimes!

Case in point? This holiday season, I’m taking a few days off to rest & relax with my family (which, if you knew me, is pretty much unprecedented). I’ll have a new post up on Christmas as my gift to you–it’s a really good one, so don’t miss it!–but for the rest of the week, I leave you with this: a giveaway.

mika for shu nail stickers

Hourglass 0.5mm gel liner & Annabelle lip pencil (not the same one you’ll be receiving, of course!)

Enter now to win a Hourglass 0.5mm Mechanical Gel Liner, a package of Mika for Shu nail stickers, and (my favourite) Annabelle Cosmetics TwistUp Retractable Lipstick in Cherry. This giveaway is open internationally to everyone over 18, and closes on New Year’s Eve!

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I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season with your family (or friends, or pets, or bed), dear reader. I will see you on the flipside!

(Well, or on Thursday. You’ll definitely see me then, but I might not see you.)

More peek-shurs »

Tags: /Annabelle, Giveaway, Hourglass, shu uemura

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Sephora + Pantone Marsala Color of the Year collection

December 20, 2014

Rae Chen

14 Comments

For once, the colour of the year is one that I think we can all appreciate: Marsala. It’s a little drab, a little red, and a little rustic — so, basically, a colour that I should hate (but totally don’t).

Unlike the bright green and violet that we’ve seen these past two years, Marsala is more or less wearable… maybe a little more on the less side, for us cool-toned girls. But it’s work-appropriate, at least, and that’s definitely a start!

And that rose gold packaging — I mean, Sephora isn’t even playing fair anymore.

How do you feel about Marsala?

Tags: /New This Week (& etc), Sephora + Pantone Universe, Spring/Summer 2015, The Edit

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Aveeno Eczema Care Body Wash, Moisturizing Cream reviews, photos

December 17, 2014

Rae Chen

6 Comments

The products: Aveeno Eczema Care Body Wash & Moisturizing Cream with colloidal oatmeal

Winters in Edmonton are — well, let’s just say that I run my humidifier pretty much 24/7 and still wake up with dry, cracked skin. So, as soon as I was finished testing that gorgeous Osmia Organics soap, I switched up my shower routine and started testing AVEENO’s Eczema Care Body Wash ($13.99) immediately.

Aveeno Eczema Care Body Wash

Steroid- and fragrance-free, Aveeno’s Eczema Care line is made to help treat the signs and symptoms of eczema — things like itchiness, roughness, and irritation. (They also have Skin Relief and Intense Relief lines for dry skin). It’s estimated that 10-20% of Canadians suffer from eczema, and I recently found out that I was one of them, so I had high hopes for these products!

(I mean, I’ve always had eczema, I’ve just — denial. Denial and years and years of painfully dry skin.)

Anyhow. I couldn’t test the AVEENO Eczema Care Hand Cream ($9.18) because it has ‘cones, but I am really enjoying using the Eczema Care Body Wash! It uses oat essence, colloidal oatmeal, and ceramides to help soothe itchy, rough skin, and I think it’s doing a pretty decent job of it for $10-ish. It’s very gentle and slippery, and feels kind of like washing yourself with lotion — smells like it, too.

All in all, it’s kind of a weirdly clinical experience, but I’m happy with it. This is not the range to try and treat serious eczema with on its own, but it’s a nice, sensitive-skin-friendly way to round out your skincare regimen without spending a lot of money.

Availability: The AVEENO Eczema Care range is available for $7.47-$12.99 CAD at drugstores and mass market retailers across Canada.

Tags: /Aveeno, Grouped reviews, Moisturizers, Other, Other, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Skincare

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Six (super sexy) scents to consider for the season | The Gift Guide

December 15, 2014

Rae Chen

15 Comments

I know, I know: perfume is a hard thing to gift. It’s hard to select one from the hundreds, it’s hard to choose the right scent family and bottle size, and it’s hard to get it right.

That said, here are six scents that I absolutely love for the winter. (Confession: I actually started this post last year and forgot about it, but I’m still loving all six of these this year!) Whether you’re indulging in a little holiday gift for yourself or you’re choosing something for the androgynous-leaning femme in your life… I hope you love these as much as I do.

>this image is clickable!<

-Serge Lutens Chergui ($135) – If I had to pick an all-time favourite perfume, this would be it. It’s the perfect blend of dry, warm, smokey, and sweet, and wears just beautifully in the winter chill. (Plus, it’s like catnip for M — but don’t tell him I told you; I’m not sure he knows yet.)

-Prada L’Eau Ambrée ($56) – L’Eau Ambrée has been discontinued and is getting harder and harder to find, but it’s one of the cornerstones of my fragrance collection — so snap it up now, if you can. It’s simple a wisp of silvery smoke in the night, simple but not boring, and it is my longest-standing perfume love. Full review here.

-Tom Ford Black Orchid ($75) – This is definitely the most feminine of the bunch, but it’s far more outrageous and brash than it is girly. Expect a loud perfume, but a well-blended one — it carries none of the astringent or sticky-sweet notes most “loud” mainstream perfumes. Read my full review here.

-Osmia Organics Cedar Smoke ($75) – I really wanted to include an all-natural perfume in these picks, and Osmia’s Cedar Smoke had to be it. Not quite as sharp or as strong as Juniper Fire, it smells wonderfully natural and woody.

-Illume Woodfire ($10 and up) – This one’s not a perfume, but it’s definitely a scent. Woodfire may be my favourite candle scent ever (so far), and is an amazing steal for $10. It smells like wood burning in an outdoor fire pit, and even my mini sized tin has enough throw to fill my whole room within minutes. (Also, Illume makes matching matches!)

-Bottega Veneta ($103, on sale at Nordstrom) – Read my full review here! This one has lots of bergamot and patchouli, and it leaves behind the most divine tendril of leather…

What scents are on your wishlist this year?

Tags: /Fragrance, Holiday 2013, Holiday 2014, The Edit, The Gift Guide

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An easy holiday makeup look & giveaway with Marcelle’s new Trio+ eyeshadows

December 12, 2014

Rae Chen

57 Comments

As I was writing my Marcelle Trio+ Eyeshadow review, it occurred to me that (seeing as Marcelle is one of my favourite brands) it might be nice to put together a little Marcelle makeup look and giveaway for you guys. So, today, I have a really light, simple makeup look to share with you — and a giveaway with three party-ready products, so you can put together your own Marcelle makeup look.

(Also, I’m pretty sure this is only like, my second makeup look of 2014, so — well, sorry. Oops.)

Marcelle Chocolat Vanille Trio+, Double Precision liner (I used both ends), and Fiberwig mascara

I’m wearing Chocolat Vanille here, but the giveaway features the Eye Shadow Trio+ ($15.95) in Smoky Chestnut, Marcelle’s Golden Glow CC Cream ($29.95; paraben-free but not ‘cone-free) and their Double Precision Liquid Eyeliner Pen ($14.95) — which, oh my god, you have to try this. Seriously, even if you don’t want the Trio+ or CC cream, it’s totally worth entering the giveaway just for the liner. It makes its 12hr+ wear claims look easy.

Seriously. You need this liner. (And it’s on sale for a measly $8.97 CAD on their website right now, so you have no reason not to buy it! And stock up, dude. Definitely stock up.)

Enter the giveaway

The giveaway goodies!

This giveaway is open internationally, and it runs until December 21st at 11:59PM — I figured I’d add on the weekend since this is going up so late in the day. Good luck!

PS: Congratulations to Lika D and Brittnie C, who won last week’s Neutrogena Rapid Repair giveaways. I will be emailing the two of you tonight!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shop this look & more photos »

Tags: /4. Makeup looks, Canadian beauty, Eyes, Giveaway, Makeup looks: neutral, Marcelle

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Je Joue Uma G-Spot Vibrator review, photos, comparison | An eco-friendly, body-friendly way to get off

December 9, 2014

Rae Chen

17 Comments

The product: Je Joue Uma G-Spot Vibrator

This February, I introduced you guys to one of my favourite gadgets ever made: the Je Joue MiMi Soft. So, today (you know, before the Christmas shipping deadlines), I thought I’d show you a little bit more from the line.

Je Joue is one of my all-time favourite tech brands–when you create a motor that rumbly, you get to be classed as a tech brand rather than a toy brand–and the Uma is no less well-made or well-packaged than the rest of the line. If your partner is still grasping at straws to try and find out what to get you this holiday season, send ’em this review and tell them to get you something from Je Joue. (You’re welcome.)

Also, yes, I did just learn how to code that in for this post.

The specs

Like the Je Joue MiMi Soft that I reviewed in February, Uma is 100% waterproof, silicone, and rechargeable (via two little magnetic charging points on the end, which also serve as insanely stiff +/- controls). It’s fully submersible for and features five vibration levels and six independently-controlled patterns.

Why you want… SILICONE – non-porous and completely stable, silicone toys won’t leech chemicals into your body (or trap bacteria beneath the surface). WATERPROOF – safe to use in the bath, and easy to soap up and clean thoroughly after every use. RECHARGEABLE – no additional costs over time (basic AAA batteries are $12 for four!), and they help keep used-up batteries out of landfills.

Gently curved, the Uma measures in at 7″ long and 1.25″ at its widest, and comes in four colours: purple, light lilac, fuchsia, and the matte black pictured here. If you look at it from the end, it looks a little bit like an adorably confused sloth.

I really love Je Joue’s silicone, which has a velvety matte finish and doesn’t pick up too much lint — it definitely screams luxury, and is safe to use with both water-based and natural oil-based lubricants (I recommend Sliquid Sassy and Yes Organics, respectively). But unlike some other luxury brands, you really do get what you pay for with Je Joue: their silicone is flawlessly seam-free, and their battery holds a charge well over time.

The experience

Uma comes inside of a sturdy, discreet set of boxes, and features the usual ruh-ruh-ruh-ruh-ruh Je Joue motor — which, yes, is just as strong, deep, and rumbly internally as it is externally. It’s gently curved and narrower in the centre, which never catches on the pubic bone (ouch) and gives a degree of maneuverability that I think most will appreciate. I mean, except for those who prefer extremely pinpoint g-spot pressure, though really, do those people even exist.

(I’m just kidding; those people do exist, and they should opt for the G-Kii instead.)

Side view of the Je Joue Uma

The Uma is extremely lightweight despite its impressive motor (which is slightly quieter here than in the MiMi), and my only complaint is that I would have liked to see it with a Soft option: Je Joue has proven that they’re able to add a very realistic texture without dampening their vibrations, and I think the Uma could have been a must-have with that soft, bouncy finish.

Uma’s length makes it easy to use internally with either a rocking or a thrusting motion, but I’d say skip it if you want to use it externally more than, like, 20% of the time — that length makes it awkward to use close-up.

The verdict?

When it comes to sex toys, “your mileage may vary” is a term that can’t be taken seriously enough — but things like aesthetics and quality are still irrefutable. I personally prefer Je Joue’s MiMi Soft ($95) to the Uma, but I know some of you skipped the MiMi last year because you wanted an internal/external toy. For a mix of both worlds, Uma is great, if weak.

For a discreet, rechargeable internal vibrator with a medium-intensity motor, Uma is a great toy to have on hand… but without Je Joue’s Soft finish, it’s just a nice-to-have, not a must-have. You definitely need at least one of the two, though, so choose as you will!

Availability: $109 USD at SheVibe (US) / $110 CAD at Come As You Are (Canada) / £74.99 at Lovehoney (UK) with free delivery within the country at each. Special thanks to the ever-wonderful SheVibe for sending this in for review!

Remember to buy before the end of this week for delivery by the 25th.

Additional photos & more »

Tags: /Feminism, Je Joue, Other, Product Photos, Product Review, Sex, The Gift Guide

17 Comments

L’Occitane Mer & Mitstral review, photos: the perfect gift for him (or her!)

December 5, 2014

Rae Chen

4 Comments

The product: L’Occitane Mer & Mistral Eau de Toilette (La Collection de Grasse)

So, it’s a pretty well-known fact that I’m obsessed with the L’Occitane La Collection de Grasse — but did you know that there’s a unisex scent in the line, too? And, as a cologne lover, I am all over it.

Behind the scent: I usually like my unisex scents a little more masculine (you know: woods, amber, pepper), and this one certainly isn’t — but it’s still a complete stunner. More department store than, say, Vanille & Narcisse, Mer et Mistral is a proper sparkling aquatic: it smells shimmery and extremely fresh, with bright citrus notes paired with pine and sea salt.

The name “Mer et Mistral” means sea and wind — specifically, the extremely fast, turbulent winds in southern France blowing north into the Mediterranean Gulf of Lion. The mistral wind controls the climate of Grasse and plays a huge part in Provençal culture, dictating everything from how bell towers are built (open iron frameworks, so the wind can pass through) to the direction that homes face (south, with their backs to the wind).

The notes & wear: A little [too] sharp at first spritz, Mer & Mistral features top notes of lemon and mandarin, heart notes of pine, cypress, and rosemary, and base notes of cedar, white amber, and musk.

The top notes fade pretty quickly, and 20 minutes later, the scent really settles in — it gets a lot more pine-y and less sparkling close to the skin, but retains its aquatic nature in the sillage. The herby accords really come out to play not long after, and the scent just transforms. Once you get past the run-of-the-mill opening, the rosemary makes this scent almost… aquatic-foody. Which sounds super gross, I know, but think of it more like this: lemon balm and pine, herbs in a mortar and pestle, and a cabin next to a rough sea.

The bottle: While the scent of Mer & Mistral is wonderfully bright and complex, the bottle is even better. With a blue lacquered base, this glass bottle takes on a mesmerizing, watery look — the blue comes and goes depending on what angle you look at it from, like the sea as it’s pushed and pulled by the wind.

The verdict?

I like things that match. I just… do. I like the visual coherency, and I like rotating between fragrances that have a similar thread that weaves through all of them.

If you’re a lover of La Collection de Grasse, do yourself a favour this season and get your guy (or girl) a bottle of Mer & Mistral. Not only will it look beautiful on the dresser next to your collection, but L’Occitane’s in-house perfumer Karine Dubreuil will make sure the two of you smell great next to each other, too.

Availability: $75 CAD at L’Occitane boutiques and online.

Keep reading! »

Tags: La Collection de Grasse/Fragrance, L'Occitane, Product Photos, Product Review, The Gift Guide

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Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle & Tone Repair: theNotice’s Month of Giving begins!

December 3, 2014

Rae Chen

9 Comments

Happy December, readers! This month, I have a very special surprise for you: a solid month of giveaways, starting with the very dermatological-looking Neutrogena Rapid Repair line. Today, we’re giving away TWO prizes: a Rapid Tone Repair duo and a Rapid Wrinkle Repair trio.

I’ve been pretty much stockpiling Neutrogena Rapid Repair all year, but I haven’t been able to try any of it since I’m allergic to silicones. So, instead, I’m giving two lucky readers the chance to do it for me! The method of entries for this giveaway are the same as usual, but I’m also offering a big bonus entry (10 pts) for anyone who’s up for sharing their Neutrogena before/after results. It’s definitely not mandatory, but we’d love to see those selfies!

(Am I the only one who hates the world “selfie” with a passion?)

The Rapid Wrinkle Repair trio ($90 CAD value)

Neutrogena’s Rapid Wrinkle Repair range is formulated with “Accelerated Retinol SA” (the fastest-working retinol the brand offers), and promises results in just one week. Each product is designed to help minimize the irritation that often comes with using products containing retinol, and also contains hyaluronic acid and a glucose complex to help moisturize the skin while making the retinol even more effective.

PS: Make sure to pair these products with a daytime moisturizer that contains sunscreen, like the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Day SPF 30.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Rapid Tone Repair duo ($60 CAD value)

For those of you who struggle more with tone than wrinkles (like I do), the Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair line contains both Accelerated Retinol SA and Vitamin C. With a very high concentration of active ingredients, this duo promises results in just one week, too — and again, it should be paired with an SPF 30 moisturizer during the day (even in the winter)!

The Rapid Tone Repair products fight wrinkles just as well as their Rapid Wrinkle counterparts, but also help diminish the look of dark spots. Go for the Rapid Tone Repair Dark Spot Corrector Serum if you spent too much unprotected time in the sun as a kid.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Additional photos & fine print »

Tags: /Giveaway, Moisturizers, Neutrogena, Other, Skincare

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Osmia Organics Milky Rose Soap review, photos + 15% off with free shipping!

December 1, 2014

Rae Chen

10 Comments

The product: Osmia Organics Milky Rose Soap

…also known as the perfect gift. Forgot about a Christmas party that you need a hostess gift for? Osmia Milky Rose. Got a mom that’s crazy hard to buy for? Osmia Milky Rose! Spent the whole year working so hard that you forgot to get yourself something this holiday season? Osmia Milky Rose.

(Or a vacation. If you have not taken a vacation all year, you should probably get yourself one of those, too. Pronto.)

The formula: Like the Oh So Soap that M shared with you last week, Milky Rose is made from a base of saponified oils/butters and buttermilk powder, which make it both super gentle and thoroughly cleansing. It leaves my skin feeling squeaky-smooth, which is kind of like squeaky-clean, except without the stripping, drying half of the equation.

I usually use Dove’s Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar, which leaves my skin feeling a little less squeaky than Milky Rose, but isn’t actually any more moisturizing. The big pull for Milky Rose, however, is that Osmia products never seem to get mushy the way drugstore bar soap does. (You know how it is; you find a great bar soap and five uses in, it’s half gooey-mush-puddle. As far as I’ve seen, Osmia’s bars are quite literally made of ~~sterner~~ firmer stuff than that.)

The look and feel: Most natural soap bars are 3-4 oz, but Osmia’s clocks in at a hefty 5.5 oz — and a whopping 6 oz for their wavy-topped bars. They’re quite stiff, and get quite slick (not soft!) in the shower.

Milky Rose comes topped with organic rose petals and is blended with bitter orange and palmarosa essential oils, and it smells very fleetingly herb-y. Osmia says that this bar “feels like a serious splurge – luxurious, elegant, and so moisturizing,” and I have to tell you — I agree with them on all three counts.

I would, however, totally love to see Milky Rose change into a wavy-topped bar, like many of Osmia’s other soaps. They’re so pretty.

The verdict?

Yes, yes, yes! I know that $12 ($10 today) is a lot to pay for one bar of soap, but if you want something small to “splurge” on (is $12 even a splurge??), get this soap. It feels utterly luxurious, works really well on dry skin, and makes an absolutely beautiful gift year-round.

And, in case you need any more convincing, it’s also cruelty-free, 15% off, and a great way to support a small businesses! Buying it practically makes you a saint. :P

Availability: $12 USD at Osmia Organics, but the entire site is 15% off with free shipping in the US for their holiday sale, so today it’s only $10.50! (And when you buy it, make sure you pick up Sunset, too — it’s generously perfumed with one of my favourite scents ever.)

Additional photos & more »

Tags: /Cleansing, Indie brands, Osmia Organics, Other, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Skincare, The Gift Guide

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Black Friday (& Cyber Monday) in the beauty world

November 28, 2014

Rae Chen

5 Comments

First things first: Don’t forget about cash back!

Whether you’re shopping in the US or Canada, make sure to sign up for a cash back program before shopping — they’ll send you x% of the value of your order back to you in the form of a cheque, which is just like getting that much extra off of your sale prices! Sign up for Ebates in the US or Ebates.ca in Canada for…

US: 10% cash back at Lancôme, 8% cash back at Ulta, Bloomingdale’s, The Body Shop, and Sephora; 6% cash back at Nordstrom and Bobbi Brown.
Canada: A whopping 20% cash back at Shop.ca, 8% cash back at Bobbi Brown, 7.5% cash back at Marcelle, 7% cash back at Clinique, 6% cash back at The Body Shop and Paula’s Choice, 5% cash back at NARS, Lancôme, and Clarins, and 4% cash back at Sephora and Shu Uemura.

A quick list of sales you don’t want to miss…

Aerie: 40% off + free shipping with code GOBBLEUP
Annabelle: 40% off + free shipping over $25
Anthropologie: site-wide sale
Asos (US): 30% off with the code TGIBF
BeautyBar: $15 off $75, $35 off $150, and $65 off $250 until Dec 9th with code BBCYBER14
BeautyBridge: 20% off site wide
Banana Republic (US): 50% off 1 full-priced item with code BRFIFTY, 40% off sitewide with code BRFORTY
Banana Republic (CA): 50% off 1 full-priced item with code BRCFIFTY; 40% off sitewide with code BRCFORTY

Dynamite: 40% off all orders + free shipping until the 30th, plus get a free $25 cash card with every $50 purchase. (Returns are free to any Dynamite store if they don’t fit, which I love!)
Gap: 50% off sitewide with code GAPBFRIDAY
Nordstrom: Items at 40% off throughout the site, plus Black Friday beauty deals and Cyber Monday beauty gifts with purchase.
Marcelle: 40% off + free shipping over $25
Pretty Indulgent: 15% off with code thanks15 (that includes BPAL!)
Urban Outfitters: Extra 25% off sale items.
SheVibe: 10% off $75+ with TURKEY10, 15% off $100+ with TURKEY15, and 20% off $125+ with TURKEY2o. Go get yourself a MiMi Soft on sale with free shipping!
Shu Uemura: 20% off and free shipping over $75; 25% off and free shipping over $125.

From Sephora: Fragrance minis and $10 steals

Along with $10 USD/$12 CAD beauty deals from the 28th to 30th (online and in-store), use code SCENTMINI to get a free miniature bottle of one of six scents with orders over $25 USD/$25 CAD. Or, use code PARTYPACK for 11 sample sachets in a free Sephora bag of your choice, SEASONSET for eight sachets and minis in a bag (choose 1 of 3 sets), or TRYOIL to get a free mini size of Fresh’s Seaberry Oil, Boscia’s Cleansing Oil-Gel, or Josie Maran’s Light Argan Oil.

{ Shop Sephora’s Black Friday sale here, their regular sale section here, and see the rest of their deals here. }

From The Body Shop: Deals Galore

No one does holiday sales like The Body Shop, so from the 28th until the 30th, almost everything is 3 for $33, 4 for $44, and 5 for $55 and their special Black Friday Tote Bag is $30 ($125 value) with orders over $30. ~~I will update this post on Monday to let you know about their fantastic Cyber Monday sale, too!~~

For Cyber Monday, The Body Shop is doing 50% off site-wide, plus free shipping over $40 CAD! Sale starts at 6:30 am ET.

{ Shop the sale here. }

My favourites from the brand: Honestly, I haven’t tried a lot from their current line. I love their Satsuma fragrance, though, (who doesn’t?) and am really curious about their Vitamin E Serum-In-Oil! Along with the serum, their hair butters and new Body Sorbets are notably silicone-free.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Steals and Deals

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