theNotice

Clinique Superprimers, Nail Basics from Dior, and Jason Wu for Lancôme | New 15/09/13

September 15, 2013

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Oh, man. Okay. So I put these together three weeks ago and totally forgot about them, only now stumbling across them again because I figured I was probably overdue for another round of “New This Week”.

Anyhow, here are a few things that have caught my eye over the past — month, I guess. Hope you enjoy!

Nail Basics from Dior

I’m not actually sure if any of these are new, but I’m pretty sure that at least some of them are. And they’re just — they’re so pretty. Nail basics have absolutely no right to be this pretty.

Clinique Superprimers

THEY’RE SO CUTE. Undoubtedly filled with ‘cones as well, but from a more objective (ha) standpoint — so cute.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /New This Week (& etc)

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Behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week SS14 with Maybelline New York

September 11, 2013

Rae Chen

6 Comments

I’ve managed to come down with (yet another) cold, so today’s post is something a little different — a bit of behind-the-scenes action from New York Fashion Week, through the eyes of Maybelline.

I hope you enjoy the backstage photos & info, and I’ll hopefully be recovered enough to blog in a few days!

The runway standard: Super-dewy skin at SUNO

(Yes, that’s a Baby Lips balm being applied to the lids!)

To start us off, a look that we see time and time again on runways. Makeup artist Alice Lane created a really flawless, really dewy base with Maybelline Fit Me Foundation and Fit Me Shine Free Powder (though I’ve no idea where on earth the powder went), then added Dream Bouncy Blush in Candy Coral to the cheeks.

As an aside, I love the texture of the Bouncy Blushes, but the pigmentation and wear time have always left me wanting. For a cheap, super-fun fix, though, you can’t do much better than a blush that feels like a happy marshmallow!

On the matte side of things: Satin perfection at Lacoste

Though dewy skin is always a hit on runways, I’ve always been more of the “more is more” camp when it comes to matte and satin finishes. Makeup artist Mayia Alleaume (what a beautiful name) used Maybelline Fit Me Shine-Free Powder to perfect the skin, then added the blush and bronzer of the same line to add a sun-kissed effect to the skin.

On the eyes, the models wore Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel Shadows in (what else?) Tough as Taupe and Bad to the Bronze, topped with one of the new Master Smoky Longwearing Shadow Pencils in Smoking Charcoal.

Glowing eyes at Tibi, bold orange lips at DKNY, and a violet haze at Mara Hoffman

These looks need no further introduction.

Okay, maybe just a little bit more of an introduction. The looks at Tibi and Mara Hoffman are both so beautifully ethereal & easy to do at home — I’m really hoping to see them on the streets next spring.

On the other hand, there’s nothing easy about flushed cheeks paired with an orange lip, but can you really fault me for including the look at DKNY it in these photos? If someone drops a photo of Karlie Kloss in your inbox, you post that photo. You post it good.

All images courtesy of Maybelline New York & edited for theNotice.

Tags: /Fashion, Maybelline, Spring/Summer 2014

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Senna Brilliant Bronze Bronzer & Highlighter review, swatches, photos | Senna Sunglow collection, Summer 2013

September 6, 2013

Rae Chen

5 Comments

The product: Senna Cosmetics Brilliant Bronze Baked Mineral Bronzer & Highlighter in Sunset and Dawn

Every now and then, I’ll come across a product that’s strangely, inexplicably difficult to review. Senna’s new Brilliant Bronze baked bronzer/highlighters are the perfect example of this: they’re limited edition in this summer’s Sunglow collection, and I really want to love them, but I’m still not sure if I actually do.

The packaging and aesthetic: Let’s start with an easy one, then. I love the glossy black boxes that these bronzer/highlighters come in — everything from the sharp, sturdy lines to the Senna logo & design. There’s just something so fresh and chic about them, and opening the compacts to reveal almost-veined domes really completes the effect.

Mirrored compacts aren’t always something that I’m a fan of, but I think they work here. The size makes them big enough to be useful, but the thick plastic (as opposed to glass, metal, etc.) means that the addition of a mirror doesn’t make things too heavy, either.

Senna Brilliant Bronze Bronzer & Highlighter in Dawn

Senna Brilliant Bronze Bronzer & Highlighter in Sunset

Senna Brilliant Bronze swatches: Dawn, Sunset (highlighter/bronzer/mixed)

The shades: The Brilliant Bronze Bronzer & Highlighters are available in Sunset, which pairs a pigmented brown bronzer with a sheer buttery-yellow highlighter, and Dawn, featuring a lighter, cooler bronze shade and a soft pink highlighter. Sunset has mainly golden shimmer, while Dawn has mainly silver shimmer.

As you might expect, Sunset is better for darker and warmer skintones, while Dawn shines on paler, cooler complexions. Both shades are beautiful, but while I prefer Sunset on an aesthetic basis (I’m loving gold highlighters at the moment, and the bronzer is gorgeous), Dawn is definitely better for my skintone.

My advice? If your skintone is warm or medium-to-deep, go for Sunset. If you’re fair-to-medium with cool undertones, opt for Dawn.

My experience with these: I applied these with the Powder Point 33 brush (also featured in the Sunglow collection), and while I absolutely adored the shape of the brush, I thought it was a little too large and disperse for these products.

The thing about the Brilliant Bronzes is that they’re absolutely loaded with shimmer, and while I know a lot of bronzer lovers are into shimmer, I always end up with it everywhere by the end of the day. These have great staying power, each lasting easily through nine hours and two naps on a hot summer day, but the shimmer has a tendency to migrate. (The dusty texture of these doesn’t help, either — I bet they’d fare better with a smaller, more controlled brush.)

Senna Brilliant Bronze swatches, to show off the shimmer: Dawn, Sunset (highlighter/bronzer/mixed)

The verdict?

If you’re into makeup that you can see, then these are a really lovely example of a glowing bronzer-and-highlighter done right. The tones, shimmer (of which there’s a noticeable amount), and packaging are excellent, and they stand up well through daily life.

If you don’t want your makeup being spotted from two paces, though, give these a pass. Being able to catch glimpses of individual shimmer particles can be pretty visually interesting, but it also means that these Made-in-Italy baked domes are quite obvious on the skin!

Availability: $42 USD online & in-store. To my knowledge, these are limited edition while available.

Makeup daydreaming, a how-to video, & ingredients »

Tags: /Cheeks, Indie brands, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Senna

5 Comments

LUSH Sun Review, Photos (Gorilla Perfumes Vol. 2) | A bitter orange splash to end the summer

September 4, 2013

Rae Chen

2 Comments

The product: LUSH Gorilla Perfumes – Sun

↳ from Volume Two, the 2013 Gorilla Perfumes collection

Sun, packaged and tinted in a bright, lemony yellow, speaks toward traditional citrus splashes. With minimal sillage and unimpressive tenacity, it’s really best for use as a summertime cologne — bright and juicy, like the bitter rind of an tangerine as you peel it, with its sticky-sweet flesh hiding just inside.

Mark Constantine (LUSH co-founder & one of the noses of Gorilla Perfumes) crafted Sun to remind him of “warmer, sunnier climates;” of a roadtrip he had taken down the East Coast, from the New Jersey Turnpike to Cape May. In all honesty, he did an amazing job: though this isn’t my sort of scent, I’d have loved it when I was first getting into perfume, and it’s well-composed in terms of its notes.

Sun opens as a freshly-cut tangerine, and transforms over the next few minutes to reveal its sandalwood base. One thing I’d say about it is that you really need to treat it like a splash: expect it to be gone within an hour or two, and be prepared to apply both liberally and frequently.

The overview

It’s a bit like: A Marc Jacobs Splash or Guerlain Aqua Allegoria (though the Guerlains are really in a class of their own). The notes of Sun make it a good non-perfume perfume, but it’s nothing you couldn’t find elsewhere.

You might notice: Brazilian orange, tangerine, mimosa, sandalwood.

Availability: Online & in select stores now, $14.95 – $55.95 CAD. (Featured here: 9 ml, $14.95 CAD).

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Fall/Winter 2012, Fragrance, LUSH, Product Photos, Product Review, Spring/Summer 2013

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Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi Cleansing Oil Review, Photos

September 1, 2013

Rae Chen

13 Comments

sponsored post

The product: shu uemura anti/oxi skin refining anti-dullness cleansing oil

[ Get 10% off your shuuemura.ca order with the code NOTICESHU ]

The formula: Shu Uemura has a lot of different cleansing oils, so I thought I’d take a moment to first go over the new Anti/Oxi formula. This one–lighter in texture than the Ultim8 or A/O, but heavier than the fresh pore clarifying–is designed to cleanse environmental pollutants from the skin’s surface, preventing damage to cellular functions lower in the dermis.

Now, all cleansers cleanse, but the science behind this one is pretty cool. The Anti/Oxi formula uses moringa seed extract to bond to negatively-charged pollutants, detoxifying the skin — think of it like dragging a magnet through a pile of lead shavings.

(Moringa seeds are commonly used to as a water purifier in areas where it is grown, which, if you ask me, is pretty cool.)

The other oils featured here are the fresh (pink/pore cleansing), high performance (light yellow/balancing), ultime8 (brown/full review here), and whitefficient (blue/brightening). There’s also the cleansing A/I (dark yellow/sensitive skin), which isn’t featured here but does exist!

How cleansing oils work: Shu Uemura recommends you use 3-4 pumps of cleansing oil, worked into dry skin and then emulsified and rinsed off with water. I actually find one pump to be more than enough, but then again, I don’t tend to wear much makeup unless I’m product testing.

(Confession: I’ve always found cleansing oils to be a lot of fun. It’s pretty cool that such a thick oil turns into a comforting soap with just a bit of water!)

Keep reading! »

Tags: shu uemura cleansing oil, sponsored/Cleansing, Cleansing oils, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, shu uemura, Silicone-free, Skincare, Spring/Summer 2013, Sun

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NOW WATCHING: The only red is Ellis Red

August 28, 2013

Rae Chen

2 Comments

Ellis Red may or may not be your perfect red, but this gorgeous, blood-inspired shade has been captured beautifully in ELLIS FAAS’ newest film.

Mesmerizing and eerie, the camerawork and music behind The only red is Ellis Red are the perfect complement to Ellis’ concept and artistry. The short film (two and a half minutes — or five, if you’re like me and couldn’t help but watch it twice back-to-back) is soothing, hair-raising, and does a wonderful job of summing up the artistry-based ethos of the brand.

Availability: $35 USD, available in Creamy Lips L101, Milky Lips L201, and Glazed Lips L301. All orders containing Ellis Red ship for free worldwide on the ELLIS FAAS site.

Tags: /Ellis Faas, Indie brands, Lips

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IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer in Light: Review, Swatches, Photos | A creamy, silicone-free concealer you (and your under eyes) will love

August 27, 2013

Rae Chen

17 Comments

The product: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Waterproof Concealer in Light

Two months ago, IT Cosmetics was just another “QVC brand” to me — over-marketed, under-formulated, and probably not worth paying attention to.

Following an email from the brand, however, I found out that both their bestselling concealer & their new foundation are silicone-free, and I decided to give them a try: after all, ‘cone-free base products are no small feat, especially from a company that doesn’t even bill itself as “natural” or “organic.”

Since then, IT Cosmetics has been leaving me gobsmacked at every turn, so I thought — well, why not kick things off with a review of their most popular product?

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye (R) with their Celebration Foundation in Fair (L)

The texture & general feel: Created to offer highly-pigmented coverage without creasing or cracking, the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye concealer is good for so much more than the under eye area.

It comes out of the tube thick, creamy, and very emollient, its heavy texture making it feel almost sticky before it sets. The formula blends easily, though, heavy but spreading out well over larger areas, like around the nose, jawline, or (yes) the under eye.

Swatched L-R: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer in Light (heavy/blended), IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundation in Fair (heavy/blended)

It’s best used as: A concealer for hiding discolouration over a large area, like under eye circles, darkness around the hairline/mouth, or patches of redness. It’s high-coverage enough for blemishes, but the texture really isn’t suited for it — while the Bye Bye Under Eye concealer can certainly hide away scars, veins, and small spots, it’s not ideal for something like point-concealing cystic acne.

IT Cosmetics says that you can use this as a foundation, too, something that I do with all my concealers anyways. (What? I’m lazy.) I think it’s best suited as a concealer, but it makes an okay foundation. It struggles a little over dry patches, but it’ll certainly do in a pinch.

The way it wears (in lines, etc): In one word? Fabulously. I haven’t been testing this on my under eye area (it’s too dark for me, especially there), but that’s not actually where I have the most problems with concealer creasing on me.

Instead, formulas tend to settle into my fine lines of dehydration on my forehead & between my brows, and catch on my dry patches on my nose & right cheek. This has done absolutely none of the former, and very little of the latter — it’s not perfect for dry patches, but I have yet to see it settle obviously into any of my various fine lines throughout the day.

Swatched L-R: 1) MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC15, 2) MAC NW15, 3) IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye in Light, 4) IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundation in Fair, 5) MAC NC15 (again), 6) MAC NC20

The shade (Light): According to IT Cosmetics (this is interesting, and probably based off sales figures), 70% of skin tones fit Neutral Medium in their Bye Bye Under Eye concealer.

Unfortunately, even their lightest shade (Light, which is actually closer to their Fair foundation than it is to the Light shade) is just a hair too dark on me. I’ve been using this instead along my jawline and hairline, where I get redness and darkness respectively — and it blends into both areas fabulously, delivering completely invisible coverage, even for my stubborn little patch of jawline redness.

The verdict?

If it hasn’t become clear in the last six hundred words, I think this is a fantastic product. I love that it’s free of silicones and fragrances, and that IT Cosmetics doesn’t test on animals… but I particularly love that it blends in flawlessly and easily, delivering great coverage without ever settling into lines or looking greasy and obvious.

I think it speaks volumes that this concealer has found a place in my daily makeup routine, even though it doesn’t match for most of my face. If you’re on the market for a new concealer, check this one out — if you can find a match for your complexion, it’s definitely up there in the ranks with cult-classics like timeBalm and Make Up For Ever Full Cover.

Availability: $24 USD/0.28 fl oz through Ulta, QVC, & IT Cosmetics. $29 CAD in Canada through The Shopping Channel.

Please note that the Bye Bye Under Eye concealer featured here is NOT the regular size; it’s a super-sized 1 fl oz tube from QVC/The Shopping Channel’s Your Most Beautiful sets ($65.96 USD/$79.95 CAD).

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Base, IT Cosmetics, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Silicone-free

17 Comments

There’s more than one of everything | Or, things that exist in many forms

August 24, 2013

Rae Chen

3 Comments

I was thinking the other day (on very little sleep, might I add) about product ranges that stretch beyond a single product: more specific than a brand’s entire lineup, and a far cry from products that are simply offered in different shades.

You know — the products that all fall under the same name, or series, but that aren’t actually the same formula at all. The flankers of the cosmetic world, if you will; the long-stretching follow-up to a product that’s done particularly well for the brand.

The big three

What got me thinking about this post initially was a Shu Uemura cleansing oil post that I was working on. Different in scent, formula, and targeted concerns, the oils are far more extensive than your usual product X for daytime wear/nighttime wear. The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized that this wasn’t an isolated incident at all.

Take Lancôme’s classic Hypnôse mascaras, for instance. With the same name as their Hypnôse fragrance (fun fact: Daria Werbowy’s campaign for the fragrance was the first time that I paid any attention to perfume, packaging, or models), the line now composes of seven different mascaras, all “Hypnôse” but all completely different.

Or, in an even more recent example, the nigh-iconic Laura Mercier Foundation Primers & Tinted Moisturizers. There weren’t a lot of tinted moisturizers on the market before Laura came along (or was it simply that no one paid them any heed, prior to?), but they didn’t just show up on the scene — they exploded onto it.

Both lines now contain quite a range of formulas, from Illuminating to Oil-Free, and the Tinted Moisturizer has even recently branched out into a solid (crème) format.

Two more (give me some lip)

In the lip world, there are two main formulas that I can think of which always confuse me. You’ve got the YSL Rouge Volupté lineup, in everything from the full-finish Rouge Volupté lipsticks to the sheer shine of the Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy balms, and then you have the Dior Addict lipsticks and glosses — Addicts, Addict Extremes, Addict Lip Glows, Addict Glosses, Addict Lip Maximizers, Addict Lip Polishes…

I can never decide if ranges like these are a great showing of brand coherency or just the beginnings of a really bad headache. (I think I’m going with the former, though!)

And that awkward shade that just won’t go away

It has to be said: NARS Orgasm. This one shade, NARS’ glistening crown jewel, exists in so many forms that I find myself often alarmed — from polish to illuminator, and (of course) all of its Super Orgasm incarnations. But, then again, perhaps I would feel differently if it was simply a different finish, or a different name, or a different shade altogether.

One that I liked, preferably.

—

Shop this post

A quick primer: theNotice’s readership is pretty evenly split throughout North America, so the brackets link to Sephora.ca & the brand names link to Nordstrom. I hope it’s helpful!

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oils ($38-$98 CAD)
Lancôme Hypnôse Mascaras ($26-$33 CAD)
Laura Mercier Foundation Primers ($40 CAD)
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizers ($55 CAD)
Yves Saint Laurent Beauté Rouge Volupté Lipsticks ($34-$39 CAD)
Dior Dior Addict Lipsticks ($31-$37 CAD)
NARS Orgasm, assorted products ($21-$46 CAD)

Tags: shu uemura cleansing oil/Base, Cleansing, Dior, Eyes, Lancome, NARS, shu uemura, Skincare

3 Comments

Sephora + Pantone “Night Fall” Eyeshadow Palette review, swatches, photos | A singular palette, for a colour-loving crowd

August 22, 2013

Rae Chen

10 Comments

The product: SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE Night Fall Full Spectra Eye Shadow Palette

This summer’s Sephora + Pantone Universe collection was based around duochromes: from their gorgeous liquid eyeshadows to their Full Spectra palettes, they promised colour-shifting pigments and pearlescent-matte finishes.

My swatches hardly do these shades justice, but hopefully they’ll be helpful in context!

The shades, as organized by duos

Gravel & Ocean Wave pair a gorgeous, medium-opacity matte seafoam green with a sheer, duochrome champagne. Gravel (the gold) is quite an interesting shade; straight on, it’s a light toffee on my skin; at an angle or on darker skintones, however, it’s a pure, shimmering champagne.

Eggnog & Yellow Iris are actually both mattes; Eggnog is a very light ivory (think MAC Blanc Type, but lighter) with sparse silver microshimmer if examined from an inch or two away, while Yellow Iris is a punchy matte yellow leaning almost chartreuse.

Top: Eggnog & Yellow Iris / Bottom: Gravel & Ocean Wave

Swatched L-R: Gravel & Ocean Wave, Eggnog & Yellow Iris

Coral Pink & Parisian Jewel pair a smooth, opaque, metallic burnt orange (I’m not sure if this is a true duochrome, but it certainly looks brighter and more pink at some angles) with a dusted-down primary blue. It’s the most flashy duo in this palette, but I’d have liked to have seen just a touch more pigment in the blue.

Crystal Pink & Pink Lavender, the last duo in this palette, consists of a stunning pink-violet confection with a gorgeous, dense, buttery, mesmerizing crystal pink. I am so crazy about the larger shade — it really does make me think “crystal pink,” with its duochrome (clear/white to metallic light pink), and it’s beautiful blended into the matte shade.

Top: Crystal Pink & Pink Lavender / Bottom: Coral Pink & Parisian Jewel

Swatched L-R: Coral Pink & Parisian Jewel; Crystal Pink & Pink Lavender

The verdict?

At full price, this would have been a pass — while I think Night Fall offers very interesting shades and finishes, it wasn’t quite good enough to warrant its $46 CAD price tag.

At half price, however, I think the two Full Spectra eyeshadow palettes are worth a look, especially if you like your makeup interesting. The mattes aren’t flawless, but they’re pretty good, and the mix of finishes is quite singular — you have everything from punchy mattes to metallic duochromes, and all in rather unique shades.

And, of course (you know, in case you missed it), I am smitten with the last duo in this palette!

Availability: ~~$46 CAD~~ $23 CAD, online & in-stores now at Sephora. Limited edition.

Additional photos & more »

Tags: /Eyes, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Sephora + Pantone Universe, Spring/Summer 2013

10 Comments

LUSH Furze, The Voice of Reason: Reviews, Photos | Gorilla Perfumes Vol. 2

August 21, 2013

Rae Chen

16 Comments

The product: LUSH Gorilla Perfumes – Furze & The Voice of Reason

↳ from Volume Two, the 2013 Gorilla Perfumes collection

I had meant to get this review up first, but my plans were thwarted by Sikkim Girls’ undeniable, heady scent. With that in mind, here’s a very quick rundown of the “feel” of the most recent Gorilla Perfumes collection, overviewed earlier on theNotice.

The four scents I’ll be reviewing are all vegan, alcohol-based, and very, very LUSH. There’s something interesting about all of them, really, and I don’t think LUSH fans will be disappointed: despite their “mainstream” alcohol base, they still smell like something a super-cool tree-hugging environmentalist would wear.

Giving off a vibe more akin to a LUSH store than a perfume counter, Gorilla Perfumes layer well (if you ask in-store, the sales associates should be able to show you some layering duos so surefire they’ve named them), and all seem a little earthy in their base notes. For quick reviews of the entire line, I really enjoyed this post over at Perfume Posse — its a great “primer” for Volume Two on the whole.

Y’know. If you didn’t like mine enough (hysterical sobbing).

Furze

Furze is a bit of a weird one: it opens coconutty and brash, almost like a sour garden — fresh and bright, but with a clinical, acidic surprise.

Had Furze been softer around the edges, as it was promised to be, I think I’d have have been a lot more fond of it. As it is, though, I’m on the fence: I think it’s an interesting take on your classic summer coconut scents (you know, the ones you see in everything from perfume to sunscreen), but I’m not sure if it’s the good kind of interesting.

Furze dries down to a wisp of vanilla against the skin (deliciously soft, but you have to push your nose right up to the skin to smell it.) I’d have loved to see this open with a creamy coconut & then settle into a vanilla halfway through, but as it is, Furze is a “skip” for me.

A fun fact, though: LUSH perfumer Simon Constantine, one-half of Gorilla Perfumes, keeps furze bushes in his backyard to protect the home from curses and hexes.

The overview

It’s a bit like: A coconut rendition of Lavanilla (Lesnoixdecoco?), or an olfactory rendition of a nondescript, coconut beach drink. You know the kind — obnoxiously coloured straw, maybe a flower or pineapple sitting awkwardly on the rim, either too much or not nearly enough rum.

You might notice: Vanilla, coconut, mimosa, neroli

Availability: Online & in select stores now, $14.95 – $44.95 CAD. (Featured here: 25 ml, $24.95 CAD).

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Fragrance, LUSH, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Spring/Summer 2013

16 Comments