theNotice

Clinique custom phone cases & more | New 14/09/14

September 14, 2014

6 Comments

New this week are a few long-awaited launches (like the NARS Audacious lipsticks), as well as a couple new-to-store ones (Charlotte Tilbury at Nordstrom, and that pastel Shiseido trio!) and a few unique items that caught my eye. If you’ve tried the new Micro.mini Beautyblenders, for instance, or that new Sephora makeup-removing lip gel, I’d be curious to hear what you thought of them! (And those new Bottega Veneta perfumes, hrrrnnnngh.)

New (& more than noteworthy)

Also upcoming this week is an event — and a very, very cool one at that. Manhattan residents are invited to the Clinique counter at Bloomingdale’s on 59th St. to receive a complimentary Smart Skin Consultation and create a customized smartphone case designed by fashion illustrator Brooke Hagel.

The event will be held this Thursday, September 18th, and while I obviously won’t get to go… I can only hope that one of you will take this opportunity to have a phone case custom-illustrated with Chubby Stick sketches!

What: Complimentary Smart Skin Consultations, a fall trend fashion preview, and a custom-illustrated phone case with the purchase of Clinique’s Smart Repair Serum.

When: Thursday, September 18, 6pm-8pm

Where: Bloomingdale’s 59th Street Beauty Studio (1000 3rd Ave at 59th Street, NY)

Pre-book an appointment at the counter or by calling (212) 705-2879.

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

6 Comments

MIYU Beauty Hydrate Mi, De-Stress Mi Beauty Essence & Tea reviews | Canadian beauty at its best

September 11, 2014

Rae Chen

17 Comments

The products: MIYU Beauty Hydrate Mi Beauty Essence and De-Stress Mi Beauty Essence

A lot of blogs work on deadlines; SEO; what’s-new-now. But on theNotice, as you may have (heh) noticed, I work on a different metric: the product itself.

When I received these Beauty Essences (and their tea pairings), just hammering out a review on them didn’t feel right. So, even though I had waited long months for their launch, I kept waiting: an entire year past their initial release. But, finally, I feel like I know exactly what I want to say about these delicate, one-of-a-kind serum mists, and I’m beyond excited to finally be able to share my thoughts with all of you!

MIYU Hydrate Mi Beauty Tea

What exactly is a beauty essence? The long and short of it is simple: beauty essences are a cross between a facial mist and a serum. They were formulated by Connie Tai, cosmetic chemist and founder of MIYU Beauty, who has both the extensive industry background and approachable-but-no-nonsense chicness that make you want to trust her products… and buy everything she tells you to.

I had a chance to meet with Connie while she was still developing these beauty essences, and even in rudimentary sample packaging, these mists and teas still made me go, “oh.”

A misting tip from Connie: if you’re going to do it, do it. The packaging she chose for the MIYU Essences works beautifully, delivering an unusually full, diffuse mist — but only if it’s sprayed with conviction. Half-depressing a mister won’t just deliver half the product, it’ll make the spray weak and uneven!

The beauty essence formula

As someone who loves only the idea of facial mists, I was surprised to find that these beauty essences didn’t ever irritate my skin or break me out, even with repeated use. Instead, they have consistently helped to add hydration both under my moisturizer and overtop my makeup, and they do so with packaging that’s both luxurious and lightweight.

The magic, I think, lies in the formula: these alcohol, paraben, and silicone-free mists are comprised not only of water and glycerine, but also include large amounts of pentylene glycol (a humectant with anti-microbial properties) and sodium hyaluronate (think of this one as a more effective hyaluronic acid). As a result, the formula of MIYU’s mists is just as hydrating as other facial mists–if not more hydrating,–but leaves behind a smooth, silky finish with no stickiness at all.

Hydrate Mi Beauty Essence & Tea ($42 CAD/$42 USD for both)

I reach for Hydrate Mi most often, which uses extracts of wild pansy, goji berries, and mangosteen to boost water transport and retention in the epidermis. It smells sweetly floral, like a rosewater facial mist, and is optimized for dehydrated skin, frequent travellers, and dry climates.

I wasn’t crazy about the Hydrate Mi tea, but then again, I don’t like sweet teas! It’s definitely one of the prettiest teas I’ve ever seen, however, and contains green rooibos, goji berries, white pear essence, and candied pearls. (My mom keeps trying to get me to eat goji berries; we have some in our garden. I hate them.)

MIYU Beauty Hydrate Mi Beauty Essence ingredients: view

Water, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Pearl Protein, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Lycium Chinese Fruit Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Proline, Serine, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine, Alanine, Arginine, Threonine, Sorbitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin.

De-Stress Mi Beauty Essence & Tea ($42 CAD/$45 USD pairing)

I reach for the minty De-Stress Mi Beauty Essence less often, but I do still really enjoy using it — the peppermint extract can be quite refreshing, especially in the summer.

De-Stress Mi is packed full of good stuff (even more so than the Hydrate Mi essence), including peppermint leaf, licorice, ginger, honeysuckle, and dandelion root extracts, as well as skin-conditioning aloe vera and a number of newfangled yeast/iron ferments that are said to have antioxidant properties. All in all, De-Stress Mi targets strained skin and targets inflammation, and would be great if you’re worried about pollutants in the air.

Like the Hydrate Mi tea, the De-Stress Mi blend is a little bit sweet, too — so skip it if you’re a peppermint-spearmint purist like myself. It contains organic peppermint, licorice root, chamomile blossoms, and candied pearls.

MIYU Beauty De-Stress Mi Beauty Essence ingredients: view

Water, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Pearl Protein, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment, Peppermint Leaf Extract, Licorice Root Extract, Ginger Root Extract, Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Dandelion Rhizome/Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Proline, Serine, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine, Alanine, Arginine, Threonine, Sorbitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin.

MIYU De-Stress Mi Beauty Tea

The verdict?

I waited an entire year until I could tell you this with utmost confidence in what I was saying, but at long last: if you’re looking for gentle, effective hydration, the MIYU Beauty Essences are my No. 1 recommendation for a facial mist or serum. They’re beautifully formulated, wonderfully packaged, and a great way to buy Canadian.

I am usually loathe to recommend a facial mist for more than $20 (after all, they’re usually sticky messes of glycerine and water), but at $34 CAD, I think you’ll find these to be worth each and every penny.

Availability: The MIYU Beauty Essences are available for $34 CAD; the teas are $16 CAD. Get them at MIYU Beauty, Birchbox, Gloss48, and Anthropologie.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Canadian beauty, Indie brands, MIYU Beauty, Moisturizers, Other, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Silicone-free moisturizers and serums, Skincare

17 Comments

Shu Uemura Pink Hues Prêt-à-Palette review, swatches, photos | Pulling off an easy, pretty pink makeup look

September 8, 2014

Rae Chen

27 Comments

The product: shu uemura prêt-à-palette (“Ready-To-Wear palette”) in pink hues

As someone who has always, always loved pink eyeshadows, I’ve never understood how they ended up with such a bad reputation. Like, sure, they can be unflattering, but — so can any colour. It’s never the colour that’s the problem, as far as I’m concerned; it’s the way the wearer has chosen and applied it, or the way the manufacturer has produced it.

So, if you find your pinks are too pink, or your pastels are too chalky, add a bit of black eyeliner to your tightline. And if that fails, prepare yourself for a rave review and buy this palette, because, dude, it makes pink easy.

shu uemura matte smokey purple (new), matte smokey dark bluish pink (new), G135, pearl rosy pink (new)

The shades: The Pink Hues palette begins with a matte plum, dusty in colour but not texture. Next, there’s a matte medium pink, which feels very bridal to me — I think it would look incredibly soft and pretty on medium skintones (especially medium Asian skintones!) The matte pink is followed by a pan of clear sparkles, which reflect green, pink, and silver and impart a base colour only in a very heavy swatch over primer. [ I fracking love sparkles, you guys. ]

The palette winds down with a frosty pink-white, which is rather cool, a frosty beige (quite similar, but smoother in both texture and shimmer), and a muted matte ivory, which applies surprisingly solidly but is a little… grey. It’s a rather corpse-like, but it’s designed to act as a base to intensify and brighten the other shades, and it does a wonderful job of it.

shu uemura pink hues prêt-à-palette swatches

shu uemura G135, pearl rosy pink, ME126, M813 eyeshadows

The textures: Honestly, I’m smitten with every single texture in this Prêt-à-Palette — but I have to tip my hat to the matte plum in particular. It applies sheerly with each swipe but layers incredibly well, revealing a darker, richer hue that never starts looking chalky.

Overall, these satin mattes preform very well, with a dense, smooth formula and sparse microshimmer that adds depth without being apparent. (I’m partial to the frosty beige for a wash of colour, because, you know, I’m boring.) The frosts perform equally well, and none of the shades kick up any dust.

shu uemura pink hues eyeshadow palette swatches: matte smokey dark purple and matte smokey dark bluish pink (new), G135, pearl rosy pink (new), ME126, M813

shu uemura pink hues ready-to-wear eyeshadow palette

The verdict?

I love a lot of things about this palette — and there’s no “but…” attached to that.

With both delicate and dramatic shades, this is easily the most elegantly executed palette of pinks that I’ve ever seen. Each different finish (man, I love it when palettes mix finishes) has the quality to back up these wearable shades, and the shiny black compact is so sleek it practically makes me shiver. Which, in retrospect, may be TMI.

I think Pink Hues plays best on the light to medium Asian skintones it was designed for, but it works well with other fair, yellow, and neutral skintones, too. For darker skintones, however, perhaps pick a pink palette with less light frosts and more fuchsia — that way, you’ll get more distinct colours on your lids.

Availability: $85 CAD (ouch) with free shipping at shuuemura.ca, or at select Holt Renfrew and Sephora locations across Canada. Also available in warm brown, black and white, and blue morning.

The shimmery pink (G135), frosty beige (ME126), and base colour (M813, the No. 3 top selling shade in Japan) may be available for $19 CAD each, or are available in Japan.

Additional photos & more »

Tags: /Eyes, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, shu uemura, Spring/Summer 2014

27 Comments

Back to school beauty with I love…

September 4, 2014

Rae Chen

7 Comments

Fall term started yesterday, and so far it’s been… kind of hellacious. So today I’m doing a brief overview of a bright, fruity back-to-school kit sent my way by Farleyco Beauty (thanks, guys!) It’s not a review, because guys, I want to go to bed, but hopefully those happy-looking stripes will make up for it. They certainly cheered me up.

I love…

Despite having the worst name in the history of ever (you try Googling a company called “I love”), these Shopper Drug Mart exclusives actually smell delicious — and they’d be a great send-off for a first-year college student, at their door or in a care package.

The Raspberry & Blackberry Bubble Bath and Shower Crème ($9.99) directions are, honestly, kind of creepy (“pour me seductively under running water… squeeze me generously into the palm of your hand”), but the product itself smells like candy, and the not-as-explicit Strawberries & Cream Nourishing Body Butter ($9.99) makes up for it — though I do prefer the raspberry scent.

You can check out the rest of the I love… range at Farleyco (though, again, it’s a Shopper’s exclusive), but keep in mind that the body butter is not silicone-free!

Perspirex and X3

This particular back-to-school kit also included a bottle of Perspirex Roll-On Antiperspirant ($19.99), which claims to last up to 3 days, and a thing of X3 Labs Foaming Hand Sanitizer ($4.99) — you know, for dorm life. I prefer to wash my hands than use hand sanitizer, but in a pinch, this has always been my brand of choice! It’s alcohol-free as well as fragrance-free, so it plays well with my crazy-dry skin. And also my tendency to put my hands in or near my mouth.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Product snapshots, Skincare

7 Comments

Make Up For Ever 150 Precision Blush, 174 Concealer, 304 Lip Brush reviews, photos

September 2, 2014

Rae Chen

23 Comments

The products: Make Up For Ever Artisan Brush Collection – 150 Precision Blush Brush (Wavy), 174 Concealer Brush – Small (Straight), 304 Lip Brush with Cap (Straight)

I’ve been testing Make Up For Ever’s Artisan brushes for the better part of a year, now, but it was just a few weeks ago that I finally fell in love with one of them. I’m fond of the collection on the whole, from the gorgeous design to the fact that all of the brushes are synthetic, but it just — I don’t know. It took me a little while.

Dany Sanz and the MUFE team worked on these brushes for five years, and the finished product is a line of 76 brushes with beech wood handles and straight (for heavier, more precise application) or wavy (lighter, more splayed) bristles. Each brush features a beveled end to help with applying false lashes or retrieving product on set, and the range is broken up into four categories: complexion (100s), eyes (200s), lips (300s), and artistry brushes (400s).

Make Up For Ever “Artisan” Brushes (detail)

150 Precision Blush Brush ($40 USD/$46 CAD)

I thoroughly believe in starting with your best foot forward (or, at least, I do this week), so here’s the brush that I’m loving right now: the wavy-bristled Precision Blush Brush. Its angled bristles are smooth but firm, and don’t feature the “oily” feeling that some of the Artistry brushes are said to — instead, it’s just kind of narrow and fluffy.

Make Up For Ever 150 Precision Blush Brush

Make Up For Ever recommends this brush for loose or pressed powders including blush, contour, and highlighters, but I actually think it excels at applying and blending cream blushes and stains — a tip I got from my sister. I find it to be a little too stiff for everyday powder contour or blush, but does a beautiful job of really working cream products into the skin. (It would also be a wonderful brush to work with for that severe, “Kardashian/Instagram” sculpting!)

MUFE 150 Precision Blush Brush

174 Small Concealer Brush ($21 USD/$24 CAD)

The straight-bristled Small Concealer Brush is pretty standard, as far as concealer brushes go, but it serves its basic function well. This one is great for applying and blending concealer on a large blemish or around the nose, but I don’t find that I reach for brushes like this anymore — I prefer sheer, all-over coverage paired with precision spot concealing, so this style of brush just too wide for me.

That said, if you’re looking for a brush of this size to work with cream or liquid concealer, you could do far worse than the 174. It’s well-priced and easy on the eyes, and the bristles have just enough give to deposit product without irritating a blemish.

Make Up For Ever 174 Small Concealer Brush

304 Lip Brush ($25 USD/$29 CAD)

The last brush I have to share with you today is the 304, a collapsable lip brush. Now, I don’t usually use a lip brush when applying lipstick or gloss, but I love brushes like this all the same — they’re perfect for applying concealer on the go.

Make Up For Ever 304 Lip Brush (cap used as handle)

You know those days when you have a really bad blemish, but you’re going to be out from 9 ’til 9, too? Brushes like this one are the perfect thing to throw into your handbag, because they have a small enough tip to cover your blemish just right, and the brush handle will then pop off to cover the tip of your brush. Super clean, super compact, and awesome especially if you’re working with a creamy concealer.

The Make Up For Ever Artisan brushes are my favourite brush range, aesthetically, at the moment — what’s yours?

Keep reading! »

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

23 Comments

The multitaskers: Five skincare picks that do it all

August 27, 2014

Rae Chen

31 Comments

Multitasking products??? MULTITASKING PRODUCTS! I love multitasking products, dude — give me something that’ll preform more than one function for me and I am there.

(You have no idea how crushed I was to find out that there aren’t any 2-in-1 ‘cone-free shampoo-conditioners. There may have been tears.)

The multitaskers

Marcelle Ultra Gentle Cleansing Gel ($1.99–$12.95 CAD) – a silicone, fragrance, paraben, and sulfate-free makeup remover and cleanser. This one is great for removing makeup (it even took off that new Hourglass 1.5mm liner I’ve been testing!), but I still definitely think Marcelle’s Cleansing Milk is better for extra-dry skin.

L’Occitane Immortelle Brightening Eyecare & Mask Duo ($42 CAD) – also silicone-free, this one’s not your usual kind of 2-in-1: used sparingly, it’s an eye cream; slathered on more heavily, it functions as a 10-minute mask to moisturize, luminize, and de-puff. Also worth noting is that it has a metal tip similar to that of the Clinique Lid Smoothies (but larger and more round), so application is mess-free and very cooling.

Marcelle Ideal Skin Perfector ($24.95 CAD) – this one’s not silicone-free, but it does do a whole bunch of things — and it’s brand spankin’ new. If you’ve had your eye on the Clinique Smart Custom Repair Serum, this might be a good option instead if you’re on a budget!

Neutrogena Healthy Skin CC Cream SPF 30 in Fair to Light swatches

Neutrogena Healthy Skin CC Cream SPF 30 ($16.99 CAD) – you guys, this CC cream breaks my freakin’ heart. It doesn’t just do everything well, it does everything perfectly — except for one big, glaring thing. Lightweight and insanely comfortable, it minimizes redness and smoothes over dry, flaky patches like a champ, but leaves the skin looking and feeling totally natural… until you walk into the sunlight.

See, the thing is, this CC Cream is actually packed with disco-ball levels of completely unnecessary microshimmer, which is a total deal-breaker for me (and probably some of you, too!) Skip it if you’re one of the shimmer-free camp, but definitely, definitely give it a go if you’re not adverse to shimmer. Lovers of Annabelle’s BB Pressed Powder, Guerlain Meteorites, etc., this means you!

Clinique Smart Custom Repair Serum ($59.50 USD/$69 CAD) – our last product today is the ultimate do-it-all: a serum that claims to target skin concerns based on the distress signals being sent out by your own skin. I don’t buy that for a second (despite the 37 patents backing this product), but I do believe in the six zillion actives crammed into this serum (including soothing caffeine, plumping hyaluronic acid, and brightening Vitamin C, to name just a few.)

Tags: /Cleansing, Clinique, L'Occitane, Marcelle, Moisturizers, Neutrogena, Other, Product Photos, Silicone-free, Skincare, The Edit

31 Comments

Clarins Ombre Matte Earth, Nude Bronze review, swatches | Smooth nudes in Clarins’ Fall 2014 Ladylike collection

August 25, 2014

Rae Chen

22 Comments

The product: Clarins Ombre Matte Cream-to-Powder Matte Eyeshadow in 01 Nude Beige and 06 Earth

The formula: Like other potted cream-to-powder eyeshadows, these aren’t really a cream, per se — more like a slightly damp, very creamy powder eyeshadow. (Which sounds super gross if you haven’t tried an eyeshadow like it before, but trust me, they’re actually pretty cool!)

(It’s funny because the dampness makes them feel cold.)

These are drier than similar iridescent formulas I’ve tried, but apply more sheerly and with zero fallout as a result. It takes a bit of time to layer them, but when you do, they create a really lovely satin-matte eye that doesn’t ever look chalky or flat.

Clarins Ombre Matte Eyeshadows

The shades: The “skintoned” 01 Nude Beige wears more matte than its chocolate-brown counterpart, but while it applies smoothly, I’d skip it if you’re intending to use it as an all-over base — I find that this formula doesn’t wear as well as other eye bases, so it’s not a practical choice. Also, I mean, it’s kind of boring, and at $24 each, I just don’t do boring.

06 Earth, on the other hand, has a more complex satin finish — and an absolutely beautiful tone that makes up for any shortcomings its formula may have. It also feels a bit wetter than Nude Beige, which kind of gets rid of said shortcomings altogether (as it’s easier to pick up and build.)

Clarins Ombre Matte Eyeshadows in 01 Nude Beige and 06 Earth worn with the sparkly gold from Clarins’ Odyssey palette.

Clarins Ombre Matte Cream to Powder Matte Eyeshadow swatches: 01 Nude Beige, 06 Earth

The packaging: Like the rest of the Clarins line, the packaging on these is absolutely lovely. It’s chic and sharp-edged, but very lightweight — Clarins has opted to make these out of plastic rather than glass, which sacrifices the luxury feel (but maintains the luxury look) in favour of making them portable and perfect for travel.

Also wearing Imju Fiberwig, Lise Watier 24Hrs Gel Liner, and Clinique Chubby Cheeks & Baby Tint Sticks.

The verdict?

You know how I’m always talking about “the Clarins eye”? Well, with five mattes (two of which are nudes; skip the nudes) and one sparkling finish, the Ombre Matte eyeshadows are perfect for crafting the iconic Clarins eye: that wonderful mix of satin and sparkle that create something special from something very subtle. (Much like the Eye Quartet Mineral Palettes ($42 USD/$42 CAD) that I adore.)

Like all of Clarins’ mattes, the Ombre Matte formula is perfect for layering, and never has any fallout or chalkiness. Skip them if mattes bore you–don’t even front; I know mattes bore some of you–but if you love mattes or if you have yet to find a matte to love, this formula is a gorgeous one to begin with.

Availability: $24 CAD at Clarins.ca & Clarins counters.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Clarins, Eyes, Fall/Winter 2014, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches

22 Comments

Clinique Cheek Chubby Sticks, Baby Tint swatches, review | Fresh, flawless lips & cheeks in 10 seconds or less

August 21, 2014

Rae Chen

27 Comments

The product: Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm in 02 Robust Rhubarb and 03 Roly Poly Rosy; Chubby Stick Baby Tint Moisturizing Lip Balm in 01 Poppin’ Poppy and 02 Coming Up Rosy

New this month to Clinique are two all-new Chubby Stick formulas — which, duh, I am super freaking excited about.

And guess what? They’re both awesome.

Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm in 02 Robust Rhubarb, 03 Roly Poly Rosy

Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm ($21 USD/$24 CAD)

The Clinique Chubby Cheek Sticks are the same length as your average Chubby Stick, but they’re much wider, with a nice, domed tip — and they make applying blush really quick and easy. Just scribble a bit of the product onto your cheeks (straight from the stick!) and blend with a fingertip, and voila! perfect blush in under ten seconds, no brushes needed.

The Cheek Colour Balm formula is smooth and scent-free, medium-sheer with a texture that blends with a light touch without blending away. It’s a treat to work with, but I think it would be particularly perfect for makeup beginners and busy moms! (Much like this bronzer blush that I talked about on Thursday.)

Wearing Robust Rhubarb on cheeks, Poppin’ Poppy on lips

Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm in 02 Robust Rhubarb

These feel comfortable and lightweight on my cheeks, and they give an all-day glow without making your skin look shiny. I think the shimmer-free Roly Poly Rosy would make a great basic medium-pink blush for cool skintones like my own, but I actually really loved the coral-pink Robust Rhubarb, too.

Robust Rhubarb is the only coral blush that I’ve ever thought looked good on me (no joke!!), and it has some incredibly flattering cool pink nuances tucked in there alongside super-subtle shimmer. I’ve actually been wearing Rhubarb on the apples of my cheeks, with Roly Poly Rosy relegated to adding depth like some kind of backup dancer, and it’s been awesome.

Clinique Chubby Stick Baby Tint in 01 Poppin’ Poppy, 02 Coming Up Rosy swatches; Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm in 02 Robust Rhubarb, 03 Roly Poly Rosy swatches

Chubby Stick Baby Tint ($17 USD/$19 CAD)

Clinique Chubby Stick Baby Tint in 02 Coming Up Rosy

Like most of the regular Clinique range, the Baby Tints are sheer — but unlike the rest of the Chubby Sticks, they’re pH adjusting to “custom fit” the wearer.

This is, obviously, a load of crock, but you know what? Who cares. pH-adjusting products may not actually be made to suit your unique skintone, but they go from clear to tinted in a matter of seconds, and they’re fun. Show me a person who doesn’t think that colour-shifting makeup is cool and I’ll show you a liar.

Clinique Chubby Stick Baby Tint in 01 Poppin’ Poppy

Clinique Chubby Stick Baby Tint swatches – 01 Poppin’ Poppy, 02 Coming Up Rosy

Both of the tints that I tried, Poppin’ Poppy and Coming Up Rosy, are shimmer-free, comfortable, and glossy. I find that they appear much more tinted on the lips than they do when swatched on the back of my hand, but they’re definitely sheer enough that you could pick up whichever shade suits your fancy.

Like any tinted lip balm, these aren’t going to last all day (unlike those Chubby Cheek Sticks — which, yes, I know that’s not their real name, but it should have been), but they do alright. Expect to reapply with the same frequency as lip balm, but no more often than that.

Wearing Clinique Chubby Stick (Cheek) in 03 Roly Poly Rosy, Baby Tint in 02 Coming Up Roses

The verdict?

I squealed out loud when I first saw these teased online, and for once, I’m 100% comfortable telling you that yes: these are every bit as good as I was hoping. (Especially Poppin’ Poppy! If you love corals but always find them too warm, try it. You’ll thank me later.)

The Clinique Chubby Stick Baby Tints are nice to have around (that purple!), but it’s the new Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balms that really steal the show for me. I can’t find a single flaw in them, from the way they apply to the way they blend, and they’re an absolute steal at $24 CAD. I love stick blushes, and these are the best that I’ve ever tried.

Availability: August 2014. Cheek – Nordstrom, Sephora, Clinique / Baby Tint – Nordstrom, Sephora, Clinique.

Keep reading! »

Tags: Clinique Chubby Sticks/Cheeks, Clinique, Grouped reviews, Lips, Makeup looks: neutral, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Spring/Summer 2014

27 Comments

Marcelle Trio+ Eyeshadows | (Also) New This Week

August 18, 2014

Rae Chen

15 Comments

They’re heeeere!

Teased last week by @MarcelleTweets (the brand’s English Twitter account), the brand-new Marcelle Trio+ Eyeshadow quads ($15.95 CAD) are now up for grabs through Marcelle’s online site. Perfume and paraben-free, the quads promise three intense, velvety powder eyeshadows with one ultra-glittery shade — exactly the way I like it.

Available now in six different colour palettes (but I only have eyes for Smoky Chestnut and Chocolate Vanille, of course — how beautifully do those look like they would swatch?!)

Ingredients & individual photos »

Tags: /Eyes, Fall/Winter 2014, Marcelle, New This Week (& etc), Paraben-free

15 Comments

Silicone-free primer list (+ paraben-free)

August 18, 2014

Rae Chen

18 Comments

Today’s list of silicone-free makeup primers is one that came requested by a few of our readers — and, unlike the last instalment of silicone-free cream foundations, it’s sorted by (US) price ascending rather than brand. If you prefer one over the other, please let me know — I can’t decide!

More of these primers were paraben-free than not, so primers with parabens listed in their ingredients lists are denoted with a hyphen (-). If you are extremely sensitive to parabens, however, please check the packaging or contact the manufacturer to double-check each product’s status before buying!

See more silicone-free beauty products here, and check out our old lists here.

NYX Cosmetics Dewy Finish Makeup Setting Spray ($7.99 USD)

{ ULTA }

NYX Cosmetics Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray ($7.99 USD)

{ ULTA }

The Body Shop Skin Primer Moisturize It ($15 USD/$16 CAD)

{ The Body Shop (CA) }

Sephora Collection Silicone Free Foundation Primer ($15 USD/$19 CAD

{ Sephora }

ULTA Hydro Prime ($18 USD)

{ ULTA }

Alima Pure Balancing Primer Powder ($20 USD/$22 CAD)

{ Alima Pure | Fresh Faced }

Cover FX Blemish Treatment Primer ($22 USD/$26 CAD)

{ Sephora }

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics OCC Skin Primer ($27.50 USD/$33 CAD)

{ Sephora | OCC }

Korres Vitamin E Face Primer (original) ($28 USD/$36.50 CAD)

{ Sephora | Korres }

-Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix ($29 USD/$34 CAD)

{ Sephora }

Korres Greek Yoghurt Nourishing Primer ($30 USD/$39 CAD)

{ Sephora }

Tarte Clean Slate Flawless 12 Hr Brightening Primer not Clean Slate original ($30 USD/$39 CAD)

{ Sephora }

Too Faced Primed & Poreless Powder loose only ($30 USD/$38 CAD)

{ Sephora }

Benefit Cosmetics Dr. Feelgood ($31 USD/$37 CAD)

{ Sephora }

Pür Minerals Correcting Primer Hydrate & Balance ($31 USD)

{ ULTA }

Urban Decay Brightening & Tightening Complexion Primer Potion ($31 USD/$37 CAD)

{ Sephora }

Cargo Blu-Ray Activating Face Primer ($32 USD

{ Nordstrom }

LORAC “I’m So Sensitive” Soothing Face Primer ($32 USD)

{ Nordstrom | ULTA }

-Japonesque Color Radiance Primer ($32 USD)

{ ULTA }

Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer ($32 USD/$40 CAD)

{ Sephora }

Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Primer ($33 USD/$43 CAD)

{ Sephora | Korres }

Korres Quercetin & Oak Age-Reversing Primer ($33 USD/$43 CAD)

{ Sephora | Korres }

-Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Original, not Hydrating $33 USD/$40 CAD

{ Nordstrom | Sephora | Space NK }

-Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance ($33 USD/$40 CAD)

{ Nordstrom | Sephora | Space NK }

-Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance Bronze ($33 USD/$40 CAD)

{ Nordstrom | Sephora | Space NK }

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Protect Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen PA+++ ($33 USD/$40 CAD)

{ Nordstrom | Sephora }

Urban Decay B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray ($33 USD/$39 CAD)

{ Sephora }

Ardency Inn Americana Ultra Lightweight Skin Perfecting Primer ($34 USD/$39 CAD)

{ Sephora }

-Skindinavia The Makeup Primer Spray ($35 USD)

{ Skindinavia }

-Skindinavia The Makeup Primer Spray Oil Control ($35 USD)

{ Skindinavia }

-Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector ($36 USD/$44 CAD)

{ Sephora }

Jouer Cosmetics Anti-Ageing Moisture Primer ($38 USD)

{ Jouer }

Jouer Cosmetics Anti-Blemish Matte Primer ($38 USD)

{ Jouer }

-Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Primer ($38 USD)

{ Beauty Bar }

-Gorgeous Cosmetics First Base Foundation Primer ($39 USD)

{ Beauty Bar }

Dior Glow Maximizer Primer ($42 USD/$42 CAD

{ Nordstrom | Sephora }

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm ($47 USD/$50 CAD)

{ Nordstrom | Sephora }

Vapour Organic Beauty Stratus Instant Skin Perfector ($48 CAD)

{ Vapour | Fresh Faced }

Vapour Organic Beauty Stratus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector ($56 CAD)

{ Vapour | Fresh Faced }

Tags: /Base, Other, Silicone-free, Silicone-free lists, Skincare

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