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Clinique Chubby Stick Intense: let’s talk about those names | Pre-review bonus track

March 11, 2013

51 Comments

I’m working on a Chubby Stick Intense review for tomorrow (finally!), but I just had to take a moment and say: seriously?! No one at Clinique could do better than these for names?

I say this as lovingly as possible, but as much as I adore Clinique, this is ridiculous:

01 Curviest Caramel
~~02 Chunkiest Chili~~, because that doesn’t make you think of chili that’s already been consumed
03 Mightiest Maraschino » this one, I love
04 ~~Heftiest Hibiscus~~, seriously
05 Plushest Punch » this one, too!
~~06 Roomiest Rose~~
~~07 Broadest Berry~~ when it could have been a fitting, relatable “Boldest”
08 Grandest Grape

I get that Clinique wanted to use big-sounding superlatives for the Intenses, but there is no excuse for Roomiest Rose. Or, for that matter, Chunkiest Chili!

Why couldn’t we have had a Cheeriest Chili? A Revival Rose? A Heidegger Hibiscus (yes, I am joking about this one, but this gorgeous shade is practically a way of being), or the aforementioned Boldest Berry? Boldest Berry, at least, should have been a no-brainer — why on earth someone would choose “broadest” when you could go with boldest for such a gorgeous shade, I have no idea.

And for that matter, why is Oversized Orange not an Intense? It’s oversized!

If you have better names for these, come snark it up the comments!

Which names do you love, which do you hate? Can you think of any better names than these? I (and your fellow readers) would love to hear ’em!

Tags: Clinique Chubby Sticks/Clinique, Fall/Winter 2012, Lips, Product Photos

51 Comments

New 06/03/13: Playing catch up

March 9, 2013

Rae Chen

3 Comments

Man, it feels like I haven’t done one of these in forever! Here are a few (okay, a lot) of things you may have missed over the past couple weeks.

A bit of NARS Spring, a pair of quads that I have my eye on (which are not, admittedly, even vaguely new), the most recent MAC Viva Glam… a couple of fragrances (namely See by Chloé, which looks lovely from the press it’s been getting), and a metric ton of new Sephora launches. If they’re even half as awesome as the new eyeshadows, I highly doubt they’ll disappoint!

Of course, that only really covers a page or two of the nine, so I guess you’ll just have to flip through the widget to see the rest. ;)

I hope you have a great weekend! See you on Monday.

Tags: /New This Week (& etc)

3 Comments

YSL Jade Impérial La Laque Couture #34 review, photos, swatches | For nails so dysfunctionally gorgeous they look like they’ve been Photoshopped

March 7, 2013

Rae Chen

20 Comments

The product: YSL La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer in 34 Jade Impérial

An alternate title for this, I think, could well be “the perfect winter nail to take you into spring,” but then, that would depend on where you were in the world, wouldn’t it?

We’re starting to see warmer temperatures here, and it admittedly (unfortunately) makes me love Jade Impérial less. As a winter nail, though–and it can be, for the future; it’s a permanent shade in the La Lacque Couture line, new with the Arty Stone collection–it’s absolutely on.

The formula

In all honesty, what really gets me about this polish isn’t the (gorgeous) shade — it’s the phenomenal formula.

Smooth and very fluid, the La Laque Couture formula applies beautifully, settling in so easily that even the nails on my right hand looked hand-model-flawless (and I am terrible at applying polish with my non-dominant hand.)

While two coats was perfect for this formula, I think I could have gotten away with one if I really needed to — and on some of my (smaller) nails, a single brush stroke was all I needed.

The packaging

Just to note, the chic gold gap of the polish does come off (à la Chanel, etc.) with a firm “click” — it feels very sturdy and well-made, keeping in line with the luxe profile of the thick-walled glass bottle without sacrificing function.

The brush (medium-wide and thin/flat) works perfectly as well; it reminds me of the OPI Pro-Wide brush in the way that it fans out to make application a breeze. This one is less-wide, though, and the bristles less floppy and straight, giving more control over application on the whole.

The shade

While I didn’t get around to photographing Jade Impérial until just this past week, I’ve been fantasizing about the colour all winter — that gorgeous, smokey green-grey.

There are a lot of ways to describe it, but I like to do it as a feeling: it feels like an abstract representation of a mild winter, obscured; green, but with hints of blue and a marvellously heavy dose of grey.

I’ve never been a fan of teal, blue-green, or jade, for that matter, but YSL’s desaturated take on the idea absolutely hits the spot for me — it feels so wonderfully unique, so unexpected.

The verdict?

The price tag of the La Laque Couture line ($25 USD/$27 CAN) is a tough one to come to terms with, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love this polish.

From the colourful-but-melancholic shade to the flawless way that the formula applies, I can’t find fault in Jade Impérial — not even in the chunky glass packaging, which reads as wonderfully luxe instead of woefully cumbersome.

The shade isn’t exactly for everybody, but the formula — well, how can you not love a great formula?

Availability: Nordstrom; in Canada, Holt Renfrew & select Hudson’s Bay, Sephora, and Murale boutiques. This is a permanent shade.

The ingredients & layered holo swatches (because, well, why not) »

Tags: /Nails, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Spring/Summer 2013, Yves Saint Laurent / YSL

20 Comments

Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in Iris Blossom review, swatches, photos | Clarins Rouge Eclat (Spring 2013) collection

March 4, 2013

Rae Chen

27 Comments

The product: Clarins Ombre Minérale 4 Couleurs in 10 Iris Blossom

There are a lot of gorgeous (seriously; gorgeous) products in this Spring’s Clarins Rouge Eclat collection, but I have to say — Iris Blossom? Total. Stunner.

I know I promised this review ages ago, so without further adieu, I hope you enjoy the post!

The formula

Like the other Clarins Eye Quartets, Iris Blossom contains four eyeshadows with fairly hard-textured formulas. One is a sheer liner/crease shade that builds up easily and foils well; one is a translucent shimmer; and two (of course) are smooth, gorgeous mid-tones.

Again, as with the other quads, I found Iris Blossom very easy to create both day and night looks from — things like foiling (or focusing more on the bottom two shades) are great for adding drama, and the mix of tones and textures add a fantastic amount of depth to any look created.

See this quad used in a look here! Right here!

Clarins Iris Blossom quad, swatched in indirect sunlight (dry on primed skin)

The shades

To start with the top two shades, this gorgeous wheat-y taupe (which is to say, more yellow and brown than violet and grey) is perfect for creating a neutral lid — it’s very smooth, and delivers the most pigment out of these four shades.

As its shimmery shade (great for highlighting the inner corner or adding interest to the middle of the lid!), Iris Blossom contains an extremely sheer white, packed with shimmer. It’s still complex enough to add some interesting texture, but doesn’t have any shards of glitter — I like it, but I think it could be better.

Clarins Iris Blossom quad, swatched in indirect sunlight with flash

Then, for the depth and drama, we have a stunning violet with blue reflects… but warmer undertones. Without flash or foiling, it’s much more subdued (see the top swatch), but the temperature and shimmer difference really makes the shade pop! with movement. It has good pigmentation and texture, but isn’t quite as buttery as the taupe.

Finally, as with the other Clarins quads, we have a dark shade (perfect for use as liner or in creating a smokey eye). In this case, it’s a sheer, matte charcoal, and as always, I love it — Clarins’ darkest shades are always quite hard, making them easy to work with but still leaving room for foiling or layering.

The verdict?

At $42 USD/$42 CAD (look at that gorgeous lack of a price difference!), I would absolutely recommend Iris Blossom if you’re looking to get into colour, but you’re wary of going too far with it on your first try.

I was asked last week about what would make a great first Clarins quad, and I think it varies by person and need. To answer the question in context, though: while this one doesn’t show off just how awesome those sheer shimmers can be, I still do think it would make a great “first Clarins!” if you have a soft spot for violets and taupes.

(I know I do).

Keep reading! »

Tags: Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palettes/Clarins, Eyes, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Spring/Summer 2013

27 Comments

Violet Haze: Spring Smokey Eyes with the Clarins Rouge Eclat Collection

February 27, 2013

Rae Chen

21 Comments

Wow, okay, this look is really late. (I think I promised it for… Monday?)

All the same, though, here’s an easy violet smokey eye–seriously, this is super easy–eye done with the Clarins Iris Blossom Eye Quartet from the Rouge Eclat collection.

Don’t miss this post at She Said Beauty for the full tutorial!

Done first as a Valentine’s Day makeup look, this Iris Blossom-based eye creates a soft, luminous “haze” of violet around the eyes — honestly, you could do this with your fingertips. (But please don’t. Brushes are great.)

A bit of sculpting to the cheek, a neutral lip (yes, that’s Clinique Curviest Caramel!)…

Just by pulling the violet shade of the palette through the entire lid, then adding the shimmery white in the inner corner (for a little bit of texture & glow) and buffing in a tiny, tiny bit of the charcoal shade for definition, you can create an incredibly seasonal makeup look without adding any harsh lines or contours to the face.

It’s just so easy, you know? Add a flick of lengthening (not volumizing) mascara, and ta-da! you’re already done.

I’m a huge fan of really light, translucent eye looks, so (of course) I loved this one. No, it’s not the most exciting makeup you’ll ever wear, but it’s pretty hard to go wrong with something like this.

Especially when it makes you feel as ready for Spring as this look does — the Clarins Palette Eclat Face Blush & Powder smells amazing!

Shop the Look

Clarins Rouge Eclat:

Clarins Ombre Minérale 4 Couleurs Eye Quartet Mineral Palette Long Lasting in 10 Iris Blossom ($42 USD/$42 CAD)
Clarins Palette Eclat Face & Blush Powder ($35 USD/$40 CAD)
Clarins Poudre Multi-Eclat Mineral Loose Powder in 01 Light ($35 USD/$47 CAD)

The dressings:

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in 01 Curviest Caramel ($16 USD/$19 CAD)
Senna Voluptulash Mascara ($22 USD)
Anastasia Beverly Hills Bold & Beautiful Kit, Vol. 1 Bold Brows ($36 USD)

Keep reading! »

Tags: Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palettes, Clarins Face & Blush Powder, Clarins Palette Eclat/4. Makeup looks, Clarins, Clinique, Eyes, Makeup looks: colour, Spring/Summer 2013

21 Comments

The Week of Awesome: a weekend recap

February 24, 2013

Rae Chen

3 Comments

So, it turns out that I actually can’t manage a post a day any more, even when I have a week off. (Surprised? Nope, neither am I.)

Here’s what we covered during The Week of Awesome:

YSL Arty Stone makeup look

Clinique Chubby Stick Intenses

Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadows

Going forward, I think this week is going to be a Clarins one — I should probably review the Rouge Eclat collection before it’s off the shelves entirely! (The Sephora and Clinique followups will be delayed by a week, but they’re both permanent ranges — I think you’ll be okay to wait.)

Have a great week, lovelies. I hope you enjoy the Clarins Spring 2013 collection!

Tags: The Week of Awesome/Uncategorized

3 Comments

Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow Custom Palette Case: review, photos | (Colorful Eyeshadows Part 1/3)

February 22, 2013

Rae Chen

29 Comments

The product: SEPHORA COLLECTION Colorful Eyeshadow Custom Palette Case

As you may have guessed from Twitter, Instagram, or even this New This Week post, I’m having a bit of a Sephora Collection “moment” right now. They put out a new eyeshadow range recently, complete with a brilliant key-and-pan palette system, and I could not be more impressed by it.

I’m most excited about the eyeshadows in this range (coming up next week), but I thought I’d start off with a post on the system itself, just to acquaint you with it.

The Colorful System & Palette

The concept behind the Colorful Eyeshadow range is pretty simple, but I have to give the execution props. The palettes are sturdy, easy to open/close, and each slot is magnetised (including the one for the key, which is cleverly levered out by pushing down on the non-magnetized end.)

I think the key is what really makes the Sephora system stand out for me; the simple, sleek too makes it hard to gouge out your eyeshadows by accident without really adding any weight or size.

(Also worth noting is that unlike somebody, Sephora hasn’t chosen to annoyingly suspend their pans in half their packaging when in palettes!)

Worth noting is that the palettes are a little heavy, what with the large mirrors, but you could always just throw the singles into your makeup bag for something lighter — each shadow is sold in a case, which I think is brilliant! (Think more MUFE, less MAC: you won’t have to choose between singles and pans.)

The Sizing

Sephora Collection pan size vs. MAC, NARS, MUFE eyeshadow singles

The Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadows are 33mm pans, smaller than Make Up For Ever but larger than MAC. I can see why each brand wants to use its own pan size, but I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t have liked them to fit in with one of the other brands!

I think, optimally, I’d have liked to see smaller pans and slightly lower prices — who really needs that much eyeshadow all at once, you know?

The Pricing

The Colorful system is priced as follows:

Colorful Eyeshadows: $13 USD/$16 CAD
- Just to note, this is $186 USD per ounce; MAC’s singles are $300, Urban Decay’s are $360, NARS’ are $343, and MUFE’s are $250 (all USD per oz).
Colorful Eyeshadow Custom Palette Case, 3-shade palette: $12 USD/$14 CAD
Colorful Eyeshadow Custom Palette Case, 6-shade palette: $14 USD/$17 CAD

The verdict?

I know this post doesn’t get into the nitty-gritty of the shadows (reviews and swatches of these six coming up next week), but I love the Colorful Eyeshadow system. The shadows I’ve tried so far have been really impressive, especially from a house brand, and I’m smitten with the pan-or-palette options.

In a word? I am reluctant to use just one, but if I had to: awesome.

Availability: Sephora, of course!

For the launch, the 3-pans are free with the purchase of 2 eyeshadows, and the 6-pans are free with the purchase of 4 — it’s a USA-only offer, but I thought I’d give it a mention! (No word on if/when the deal will be over, sorry

Keep reading! »

Tags: The Week of Awesome/Eyes, Other, Product Photos, Product Review, Sephora, Sephora Collection, Spring/Summer 2013, Tools

29 Comments

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense: swatches & full-face photos | Part 1/2

February 20, 2013

Rae Chen

46 Comments

The product: Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm

↳ in 01 Curviest Caramel, 02 Chunkiest Chili, 03 Mightiest Maraschino, 04 Heftiest Hibiscus, 05 Plushest Punch, 06 Roomiest Rose, 07 Broadest Berry, and 08 Grandest Grape.

Clinique Chubby Sticks Intense: full product range (in numerical order)

The full review for these will be coming up next week, but I just had to slip them into the Week of Awesome — and understandably so, I think.

The new Chubby Stick Intenses pair everything I love about Chubby Sticks (comfort, packaging, and a scent-free formula) with everything I love about a great lipstick (wear time, colour, and intense pigment), and then adds some extra awesome (a gorgeous, smooth formula; colour that doesn’t move around; surprisingly great hydration.)

They’re… basically the best.

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense lip swatches

for reference

01 Curviest Caramel / 02 Chunkiest Chili

03 Mightiest Maraschino / 04 Heftiest Hibiscus

05 Plushest Punch / 06 Roomiest Rose

07 Broadest Berry / 08 Grandest Grape

A few shades I think you’ll love

05 Plushest Punch

07 Broadest Berry

08 Grandest Grape

In the tubes & with the rest of a face

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in 01 Curviest Caramel (my favourite Intense — will be featured in a look next week!)

Keep reading »

Tags: Clinique Chubby Sticks, The Week of Awesome/Clinique, Fall/Winter 2012, Lips, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Swatches

46 Comments

Spring pastels, with a smokey twist | YSL Arty Stone Spring 2013 Look

February 18, 2013

Rae Chen

41 Comments

To start off The Week of Awesome: a “moody pastels” makeup look with the YSL Arty Stone (Spring 2013) collection.

This was initially designed to be a basic Spring tutorial for She Said Beauty, but after pulling out all of the products I wanted to use, I realized that if I just grabbed one or two more YSL products… it would be all YSL.

So, I mean, I had to go for it (of course)!

Getting the Eyes: Y Facettes Palette

The eyes, for all you might expect otherwise, are actually pretty easy. Prime, then start off with YSL Waterproof Eye Pencil in 01 Black Ink and smudge it up from your waterline. Apply the smokey violet from the gorgeous Y Facettes Palette through the lid, then foil the dark blue into the outer corner and blend.

Pat the sheer pink into the inner corner, add the green to the lower lashline (the pointed rubber applicator is perfect for this!), and finish with a flick of Black Ink and YSL Shocking Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils.

(For the record, I hate Shocking. A lot. It smells amazing, but always tries to leave me with five clumpy eyelash-sticks poking aggressively from my eyes!)

Read the full tutorial here on SSB.

As I mentioned on the Y Facettes review, I copied this look onto my sister last week. And ,after she got over being horrified by her first glance at the palette (the pinks! the greens! the blues!), she loved the way it looked on her lids, too.

I swear, this palette works magic when translated onto the eyes!

hello, enormous photo of my face. (sorry.)

Keep reading! There is still so much more awesome to be had. »

Tags: The Week of Awesome/4. Makeup looks, Eyes, Lips, Makeup looks: colour, Spring/Summer 2013, Yves Saint Laurent / YSL

41 Comments

COMING UP | The Week of Awesome

February 17, 2013

Rae Chen

5 Comments

As you may have noticed (by which I mean I know you’ve noticed, so please don’t punch me on sight,) the posting schedule on theNotice has been a little patchy recently.

To make up for it, and hopefully start catching up on the massive backlog of products I have cluttering up my shooting table, I’m trying for a post a day (but only for a week). And, because a post a day is a lot for both your feed readers and my sanity, the five (weekday) posts will showcase a something that I think is, for lack of a better word, awesome.

In total, I hope to cover one look, three reviews, four different product lineups, thirteen different shades… and each of them a must-have. So: buckle your seatbelts, shake off a little seriousness, and get ready for a solid week of things I love.

I hope you enjoy the series!

Keep reading! »

Tags: The Week of Awesome/Uncategorized

5 Comments