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    The Lipstick Bandits | Clinique Heftiest Hibiscus Chubby Stick Intense: His Pick (+ a surprise bonus selection!)

    Clinique Heftiest Hibiscus Chubby Stick Intense review

    This month’s Lipstick Bandits collaboration is something a little different. Instead of a colour or challenge theme, Lily suggested that we do a “his pick” post, featuring a lip colour chosen by a guy in each of our lives.

    I gave M free swatching reign of my collection, and lo and behold: he picked a Chubby Stick. It’s like we were made for each other.

    Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Fall 2012 review

    The pick

    My boy is pretty terrible (like most) at being able to tell when I’ve got makeup on, but he has one thing down pat: his taste in products. Out of everything he could have picked, Mathew gravitated straight toward my Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in 04 Heftiest Hibiscus ($16 USD/$19 CAD), which–despite its terrible name–is one of my all-time favourite Chubby Sticks.

    I want it noted, right now, that I did not coerce him into this decision in any way, despite my fanatical love for Chubby Sticks. (And wow, brain, please stop with the terrible innuendo, I cannot deal with you at present.)

    !Jesus can I please go to bed now

    Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Hibiscus swatch review

    Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Heftiest Hibiscus swatch

    Heftiest Hibiscus is a gorgeously vivid hibiscus-hued lipstick: a bit tomato, a bit fuchsia, and almost a bit fluorescent, it might just be the boldest shade out Clinique’s entire product range. The Chubby Stick Intense lineup is full-coverage and comfortable to wear, lasting a good 3-5 hours on me — which is to say, however long I need it to last before I give up and wipe it off to eat things.

    (Remembering to eat things: very important.)

    Availability: $16 USD/$19 CAD at CliniqueSephora, & Nordstrom. Permanent.

    The boy

    If I was a better blogger, I’d have put together a smokey eye to pair with this lip, had Mathew photograph it, and written up a humorous tale of how we met.

    I love this boy.

    I did not take this picture of M (but damn, is it pretty.)

    We’ve been busy all summer, though (okay, he’s been busy mixing the upcoming Ghost Cousin album; I’ve just been sick), and we never really had a meet-cute. I met him at a quiet basement show, we parted ways. I think it was September. It slipped our minds — I ran into him by chance, months later, and we started talking.

    We never really stopped.

    Mathew and I have nothing in common, past the way that we think, but I’d like to believe we make each other better. He prods at the way I phrase things; I poke at the words he chooses. He tells me about audio engineering; I talk to him about brains. I tell him that I’m not a fish; he sweeps me off my feet just to hear me laugh.

    !The Lipstick Bandits His Pick post

    Keep reading! »

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    2013 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: Beauty Picks

    Good morning, gorgeous! I know this is a little delayed (I wanted to have something to post for the weekend, so it’s been waiting in my drafts since Friday), but here’s a few quick beauty picks from this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

    The products are a blend of exclusives, sets, and discounts, and the sale will be running until August 4th (two weeks from today). Shop it here, or click on the products below!

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    Clinique Chubby Sticks for Eyes review, swatches, photos | A fan favourite, translated to the lids

    Clinique Chubby Stick for Eyes review swatches photos

    The product: Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes

    ↳ in 03 Fuller Fudge, 04 Ample Amber, 05 Whopping Willow, and 09 Lavish Lilac

    When I heard Clinique was doing a Chubby Stick for Eyes, I was thrilled. A longtime fan of the original Chubby Sticks, I couldn’t wait to see how these would fare on my finicky lids: would they be just as chic, smooth, and sheer? Or would they let me down, like so many other cream eyeshadows?

    This review has taken me much too long to put together (I think I’ve had these since the end of January), but I hope you enjoy the post nonetheless.

    Clinique Fuller Fudge Ample Amber review

    L-R: Clinique Fuller Fudge, Ample Amber, Whopping Willow, and Lavish Lilac

    The formula: Designed to be sheer, buildable, and long-wearing, the Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tints for Eyes apply smoothly and blend out easily. I know layerable, medium-sheer products get a lot of flack in beauty blogging, but it’s hard to fault these for it — after all, that’s what they’re designed to be.

    I find these to be drier and more silky than most cream eyeshadows, in a way that makes themdream to work with. There’s no catching, sticking, or rush when you blend these out, and they’re not going to crease if you open your eyes before they’re fully set. The formula isn’t flawless (more on that in “the wear,”) but I really enjoy the shades & texture of the Chubby Sticks for Eyes.

    Clinique Shadow Tint for Eyes review swatches

    Clnique Chubby Sticks for Eyes

    The packaging: The formula paired with a soft-click lid means that I have no worries about these drying out — I’ve been testing them on and off for at least five months, and the texture is no different. It’s a nice change from potted cream eyeshadows with a six-month lifespan, and I like not having to store these upside-down to keep them from becoming unusable!

    Clinique Lavish Lilac Whopping Willow review

    The wear: Like every other eyeshadow I’ve ever tried, I don’t get all-day wear with these. I do get good wear, for my stubborn lids, however: overtop NARS Smudge Proof, I get 6-8 hours from these before the creasing becomes noticeable. (For comparison, 2-3 hours is the norm for cream eyeshadows on my lids.)

    These weren’t a holy grail product for me, but I’ve heard really great things about them from other bloggers — Christine, for instance, gets a solid 10-12 hours out of them!

    Clinique Ample Amber Fuller Fudge swatches review

    Swatched L-R: Clinique Fuller Fudge, Ample Amber, Whopping Willow, and Lavish Lilac

    The shades: Finally, I get to talk about sparkly things!

    As someone who likes colour, but doesn’t always love a super-bold look, I really like the Clinique aesthetic. These Chubby Stick Shadow Tints are no exception: soft, flattering, and medium-sheer, they tout a slightly frosty finish (think “soft metallics,” not “era makeup,”) and contain gorgeous, dimensional microshimmer (everything from fuchsia to light blue, all in tiny amounts) to add mesmerizing depth.

    Clinique Chubby Stick for Eyes swatches

    So, quickly: 03 Fuller Fudge is a warm bronzed-brown with a frost finish and red undertones. 04 Ample Amber is a bit similar (in that they’re both warm and would pair together beautifully), a slightly-coppery soft amber “everyday” shade.

    05 Whopping Willow is an mossy olive/khaki green with a distinct “old gold” sheen — a great not-quite-neutral for anyone starting to wear colour. Finally, the metallic 09 Lavish Lilac is my favourite of the bunch: a beautiful, silvery-grey lilac, it’s perfect for both spring looks (try it with a cool taupe) and autumn ones (pair it with a chocolate brown in the crease).

    Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tints for Eyes review

    The verdict?

    If you love cream eyeshadows, I’d probably skip these. But here’s the catch: if you love the theory of cream eyeshadows, these might just be perfect for you. 

    With a drier, smoother formula and a softer finish, these are sort of the cream-to-powder product of the eyeshadow world. I’d say give them a pass if you want startling, opaque colour, but try them out if cream eyeshadows have never quite worked the way you wanted them to.

    (Or if you love subtle, shimmering shades. These are actually medium-opaque if you ask me, and they’re very, very pretty!)

    Availability: $16 USD/$19 CAD, in-stores and online. All 12 shades are permanent.

    Keep reading! »

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    LUSH Gorilla Perfumes Vol. 2 | Collection Overview & Preview

    LUSH Gorilla Perfumes On Tour

    About the collection

    The facts

    Like the first collection of Gorilla fragrances, Volume 2 features nine new unisex fragrances, available in six sizes. They’re limited edition for the year, available online and in these ten shops throughout the summer, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of them end up joining the permanent range. (My money’s on Sikkim Girls, and maybe Flower’s Barrow).

    LUSH Devil's Nightcap The Bug Voice of Reason Gorilla Perfume

    LUSH Gorilla Perfumes The Voice of Reason, Devil’s Nightcap, & The Bug

    The line ranges from $14.95-$174.95 CAD, with prices varying by fragrance and size. I haven’t spoken to anyone at LUSH about why this is, but I’d bet it’s based upon the varying ingredients and percent of perfume solids by volume — the more expensive ones tend to have better wear time and sillage.

    These vegan*, natural-synthetic blend perfumes are alcohol-based, which took me by surprise. With five splash bottles and one dropper, I had expected an oil base!

    (*With the exception of Hellstone.)

    LUSH Gorilla Perfumes sizes

    The feelings

    Created by the father-son team of perfumers Mark and Simon Constantine, Volume 2 was inspired by music, emotions, literary figures, and the British countryside. Meant to be “an antidote to boring mass-market scents,” each fragrance has a story behind it, and sometimes sits a little discordant.

    (For a more “normal” scent, try something like Furze or The Sun; for something completely unexpected, give The Voice of Reason or The Bug a sniff.)

    LUSH Sikkim Girls Hellstone Sun Gorilla Perfume

    LUSH Gorilla Perfumes The Sun, Sikkim Girls, and Hellstone

    LUSH Flower's Barrow Furze Euphoria Gorilla Perfume

    LUSH Gorilla Perfumes Euphoria, Furze, and Flower’s Barrow

    See the full collection past the jump! »

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    YSL Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy Framboise Craquante swatches, review, photos | A luxury lip balm that’s worth a second glance

    YSL Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy review swatches photos

    The product: Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy Glossy Balm in 12 Framboise Craquante (Tasty Raspberry)

    As far as sheer lip balms go, you can’t get much more chic than YSL’s Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy Glossy Balm line. As the name promises, these lip balms are both sheer and glossy — and they do a fabulous job of both.

    Pay attention to the details: Be sure not to get these mixed up with the similarly-named YSL Rouge Volupté Shines, which tout a similarly glossy formula (but with more pigment, and a tube finished in gold)!

    YSL Framboise Craquante review swatches photos

    The wear and pigment: Like most lip balms with a glossy finish, the Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy balms won’t last you through an eight-hour day. I feel the need to touch these up every 2-3 hours (the same as any other gloss-balm hybrid), but I don’t mind it at all — more on that in a bit.

    The twelve Sheer Candy Glossy Balms sit on a spectrum from almost-clear to medium-sheer (I’m sorry, I had to say it), and Framboise Craquante/Tasty Raspberry sits on the sheerer end of the spectrum. A medium pink with just a hint of shimmer, it swatches with sheer colour on my arm but reads mainly as a lightly glossy, “perfectly naked” finish on my pigmented lips.

    See Framboise Craquante worn on its own here, and layered overtop a stain here.

    YSL Spring lip launches 2013

    YSL Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy in Framboise Craquante/Tasty Raspberry (leftmost swatch)

    YSL Framboise Craquante Sheer Candy review swatches

    The luxury factor: Where the Sheer Candy balms really excel, however, is in the experience of the product. This is easily the most luxurious lip balm I’ve ever come across, and likely the most luxurious one I will ever come across, at that.

    With a heavy, intricate metal tube and the YSL logo pieced in overtop a translucent ring of colour, the Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy packaging feels very much like an indulgence. The no-fuss application and mouthwatering fruity scent are great, sure, but you’re really paying for the YSL factor with this lip balm — and I don’t just mean the brand name.

    These are so solidly made, so elegantly designed… they’re essentially luxury lipsticks for those of us who don’t like lipstick. 

    YSL Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy packaging tube

    YSL Tasty Raspberry review swatches photos

    The verdict?

    As a treat to yourself (or to someone you really, really like), I think YSL’s Rouge Volupté lipsticks are the perfect choice. You can’t do much better than these chic, well-built tubes–Guerlain doesn’t even hold a candle to these, if you ask me–and I love the sheer, deliciously-scented Sheer Candy formula.

    These fail spectacularly from a cost-weighted standpoint, but as far as luxury gloss-balms go, this is as good as it gets. I like to think of these as a no-fuss, mirror-free mid-day touchup for both my lips and my spirit: they pair just as well with a smokey eye as they do with a bare face, and there’s nothing like a fresh, fruity scent to really perk up your afternoon.

    Availability: $32 USD (Nordstrom)/$38 CAD (Sephora). Permanent.

    A few alternatives: Try a Burt’s Bees Lip Shine ($7 USDreview) for an equally sheer, equally delicious lip gloss at a budget price point. Go for a YSL Rouge Volupté Shine ($34 USD/$39 CAD) for more pigment without sacrificing formula or luxury.

    Keep reading! »

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    Fall 2013 Beauty from YSL, Dior, and Laura Mercier | New 12/07/13

    I’m knee-deep in a new silicone-free list, so today’s post is a little bit of a cop-out. Let’s look at a few Fall 2013 collections and call it an early weekend, yeah? :)

    Yves Saint Laurent City Drive

    A nod to the masters of Pop Art celebrated by Monsieur Saint Laurent and a tribute to New York City street art.

    Dior Mystic Metallics

    Discover an enchantingly elegant collection inspired by Dior’s ultimate lucky charm: the Star. Vibrant, brilliant shades capture the mystery and magic of the Dior Star, a Parisian street ornament that guided Dior to his destiny as worldwide fashion icon.

    Laura Mercier Dark Spell

    Mystical. Seductive. Captivating.

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    100 Pumps of Marcelle Essentials Cleansing Milk | A question asked, answered.

    100 pumps of Marcelle Cleansing Milk

    Have you ever wondered what a hundred pumps of your favourite product would look like?

    I have. This is it, emblazoned by the sun — one hundred evenings’ worth of Marcelle Essentials Cleansing Milk ($14.50 CAD), the one cleanser I just can’t quit. It’s perfect for balancing out my dry, dehydrated skin, and cleanses away the day’s detritus without stripping out an ounce of moisture.

    I’m borderline fanatical about Marcelle, and I think this cleanser has a lot to do with it. I can’t find anything else (at any price point) that ticks all the boxes I’m looking for: scent-free, non-stripping, gentle, balancing, comforting.

    Marcelle Essentials Cleansing Milk review holy grail

    Marcelle Cleansing Milk on steroids. Available in-stores now (and at a great price)!

    Cleansing milks take a little getting used to, sure, but I think they’re worthwhile for anyone with dry or combination-dehydrated skin. Even my [very dry] complexion will overproduce oil if it’s being overcleansed, and this cleansing milk absolutely helps keep my skin from getting oily throughout the day — with the help of a heavy moisturizer and my Marcelle Face Powder ($14.50 CAD), of course.

    You could almost say that it’s… Essential. (I’m sorry! I couldn’t pass on such a terrible pun.)

    Best cleansing milk - Marcelle Essentials old packaging

    My first bottle of this stuff (long since repackaged). We’ve been through a lot!

    The ingredients:

    Water, Carbomer, Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Cucumber Extract, Diazolidinyl Urea, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Aroma, Glycerin, Methylparaben, Polysorbate 60, Propylene Glycol, Propylparaben, Peach Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Stearate, Triethanolamine.

    P.S. I love the Marcelle Essentials Cleansing Water ($14.50 CAD), too!

    P.P.S. It’s kind of weird that all of my Marcelle favourites are the exact same price. Clearly, what we can learn from this is that all $14.50 Marcelle products are cosmetic gold!

    Marcelle Essentials 400ml

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    Burt’s Bees Blush, Petunia, & Autumn Haze swatches, reviews | 3 Lip Launches Worth Buzzing About

    Burt's Bees Lip Gloss review swatches - Autumn Haze

    The products: Burt’s Bees Lip Shine in Blush, Tinted Lip Balm in Petunia, and Lip Gloss in Autumn Haze

    Burt’s Bees Blush Lip Shine ($7.00 USD/$9.99 CAD)

    Burt’s new Lip Shine is the star of the show for me, so I have to lead with it, of course. Blush is a sheer, shiny light pink, and the Lip Shine formula is everything that the now-retired Super Shiny formula wished it was: glossy, lightly hydrating, softly tinted, and completely non-sticky. What really seals the deal for me, though, is the Lip Shines’ mouthwateringly delicious scent. I’ve run into great-smelling lip balms before, but nothing quite like this — they call it a “natural apricot fragrance,” but it’s so much tastier than that.

    Burt's Bees Lip Shine review swatches - Blush

    Burt’s Bees Lip Shine in Blush

    Despite not being much of a gloss girl and liking a bit more of a tint in my lip products, I can’t stop using this gloss. I think I’m going to need a few more shades (uhh, like maybe the other five), because I’m going through my tube like there’s no tomorrow.

    Burt’s Bees Lip Shine ingredients:

    Castor seed oil, oleic/linoleic/linolenic polyglycerides, sunflower seed oil, lanolin, silica, beeswax, acacia decurrens/jojoba/sunflower seed wax, polyglyceryl-3 esters, natural flavour, apricot kernel oil (& hydrogenated, unsaponifiables), shea butter, cocoa seed butter, tocopherol, ammonium glycyrrhizate, soybean oil, alumina. +/- carmine, CI 77491, CI 77492, iron oxides, titanium dioxide.

    Burt's Bees Lip Shine Blush swatch review

    Swatched L-R: Burt’s Bees Lip Gloss in Autumn Haze, Lip Shine in Blush, & Tinted Lip Balm in Petunia

    Petunia Tinted Lip Balm ($7.00 USD/$7.99 CAD)

    I told you how much I loved the Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balms when they launched, and Petunia is no different. The brand launched four new shades in this range this past January (the others are Sweet Violet, Caramel Daisy, and Blush Orchid), and this soft pink balm has secured itself a place in my handbag for lazy days.

    Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm review swatches - Petunia

    Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Petunia

    It’s a lot more sheer than my first shade (Pink Blossom), but this almost-clear balm is still comfortable, lightly scented, and moderately hydrating.

    And as a bonus: You know that chunky cardboard tube that these come in? Burt’s recommends using them to store bobby pins or cotton swabs — not only are they recyclable and 60% recycled, but they’re reusable, too.

    Keep reading! »

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    Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase review, photos | A weightless summer skin saviour?

    Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase

    The product: Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase

    The formula

    Designed to nourish the skin at multiple levels, Clarins’ approach to the HydraQuench serum is one that encompasses the best of both worlds, relying on both plant extracts and synthetics to achieve the best results possible.

    Clarins bi-phase hydraquench review serum

    With a focus on hyaluronic acid and fair trade, ethically sourced Katafray bark extract from Madagascar, this bi-phase blue liquid works to lock in water at the surface & restore hydration deeper in the dermis. It’s made to be suitable for all skintypes, from dry to oily, and has a very lightweight lipid phase — honestly, with the matte finish and weightless texture, I wouldn’t have thought there were any oils in the formula at all. It can be a little tacky, but isn’t greasy in the least.

    To top it all off, the HydraQuench Intensive Serum is fragranced with a fresh, summery scent: not ever a company to do fragrance by halves, Clarins lists a green apple top note, a rose heart, and a woody base.

    Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum review

    My experience with the HydraQuench Serum 

    In my own personal experience (the italics are totally necessary, because you have to remember that my skin is weird), I didn’t find the Clarins HydraQuench serum to be, well, intensive enough. However, I happen to have extremely dry skin that isn’t caused by systemic dehydration or over-stripping — it’s the kind of skin that takes well to night moisturizers being used during the day, and doesn’t even blink in the face of a Vaseline or Aquaphor “sealant” on dry winter days.

    That said, though, I honestly believe I’m in the minority with this product. Wherever I go (on the internet; I don’t go places in real life), I hear nothing but raves for this serum. It’s a far cry from my personal experience (which is that I like this, and do use it, but it won’t make my dry patches disappear), but I think it’s much closer to the norm.

    Clarins Hydra Quench review serum dual-phase

    Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase – separated

    Where the HydraQuench serum really excels is on combination oily/dehydrated skin. From what I’ve read, the people who really love it (and I mean who really, fanatically, all-out love it) tend to be the ones who find most serums too heavy or greasy, but still really need that boost of hydration.

    It makes sense, with the incredibly lightweight formula and non-greasy finish, at least in my head! If you’ve loved (or hated) this one, tell me about it in the comments — I’d love to hear more about your skin type and results.

    Clarins Hydra Quench serum mixed

    Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase – shaken/mixed

    Don’t believe me? Believe Lisa Eldridge. 

    Like a lot of the makeup world, I take Lisa Eldridge’s word as gospel. With over two decades of experience, Lisa’s career is something out of a [makeup artistry] fairy tale: not only has she done countless celebrities, covers, and fashion shows, but she’s currently working as the Creative Director of No. 7, creates makeup tutorials for Chanel’s Make-Up Confidential, and writes ELLE UK’s monthly The Beauty Guru column.

    When someone with that much experience calls a serum “the best product for hydrating the skin I’ve used in a long time,” well. You kind of have to give it its dues, you know?

    (Sources: 1 / 2 / 3)

    Clarins HydraQuench Serum dry skin review

    The verdict?

    I’m very hesitant to give a “verdict” for this one, but in the spirit of review-based beauty blogging: you’ll just have to take it with a grain of salt.

    If you have normal to oily skin with dehydrated patches, I honestly think that this will work quite well for you. For extremely dry skin, however, it may not be enough! With its light, non-greasy finish and functional-luxurious packaging, I think the Clarins HydraQuench serum is a pretty darn good bet for anyone who needs an extra boost of weightless moisture in the hot summer months — but not if your skin is stubbornly dry.

    Availability: $58 USD/$58 CAD for 1 oz; $70 USD for 1.6 oz.

    Keep reading! »

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    On Google Reader’s imminent closure, & keeping up to date with theNotice

    I really hate writing housekeeping posts, so let’s keep this short and sweet.

    As I’m sure many of you already know, Google Reader will be permanently shutting down today. So, to keep up with theNotice (and all your other favourite blogs), make sure to move your feeds to another reader — something like Feedly (where you can do a quick, one-click Google Reader import) or Bloglovin’ (where the beauty & fashion worlds seem to gravitate toward, for some reason; the one-click import here is in your heart dropdown).

    Google Reader shutting down

    Join our other awesome readers, & follow theNotice on…

    Feedly Bloglovin move

    See you around, gorgeous!

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