Follow:

    Balenciaga Paris L’Eau Rose | On Our Radar

    As I’m sure you all know by now, I’m a huge fan of the Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum (review here; seen also here and here). With key notes of violet and patchouli, it’s a dreamy, fresh-cut scent with a smooth, grounded base — particularly as a scent from a fashion house, this 2010 Olivier Polge creation always takes me by surprise.

    Balenciaga L'Eau Rose

    Balenciaga L’Eau Rose EdT, the second flanker in this line, comes out everywhere March 2013 (though it’s already available at Nordstrom). Described as a “sparkling violet fragrance” with notes of blackberry and musk, I’m a little concerned (does that not sound like your typical celeb perfume?), but I’m curious to smell this one in person!

    [I’m a little less sold on the bottle, though — I feel almost as if the matte black top and airy rose base glass are a little too discordant, but think I’ll have to see if it fits the olfactory aesthetic first.]

    Share:

    Tips for Beauty Bloggers | Don’t forget about colour management!

    Did you know that around 35% of computer users browse the internet on Chrome? And in some cases, of that 35%, exactly zero are viewing the same image that you spent so long getting internet-ready: Chrome doesn’t fully colour manage, and there’s no add-on or extension you can download to get it to do so.

    Colour profiles

    Above image: a Chrome-friendly rendition of YSL’s Spring creme blushers

    Below image: what happened the first time I uploaded this image to theNotice!

    There’s no perfect fix for this problem, I’m afraid, but it’s a good thing to keep in mind. Colour management lets users see more or less the same colours in an image despite differences in colour profiles, devices, etc., so when a fair few of your readers are seeing something totally different from what you’re seeing —

    Well, you might want to double-check your colour settings when you save!

    P.S. This is a great page for checking your browser for colour-management!

    Share:

    YSL Arty Stone (Spring Look 2013) | Collection Overview & Preview

    Yves Saint Laurent Spring Look 2013

    With a pretty serious cold (the kind of serious wherein the cold virus means business, not the kind where it glares grumpily at everything though that, too) and spotty sunlight at best, my progress photographing and testing out the new YSL Arty Stone collection is plodding along pretty slowly.

    Here’s a collection overview to get you started — I’m most excited to test out the Rouge Pure Couture Vernis à Lèvres in Pêche Cerra-Colla, Volupté Sheer Candy in Framboise Craquante, and the Crème de Blush formula. While I’m not much of a nail girl, La Laque Couture in both Jade Impérial and Bronze Pyrite will be coming up as well!

    On counters this January & online now at Nordstrom, for those of you who’d rather not venture out into the cold.

    YSL Arty Stone Spring 2013 preview

    The inspiration

    YSL Spring Look 2013 Arty Stone

    Gems fascinate with their magnetic beauty and their mysterious power of attraction. The Spring Look 2013 is a palette of mineral and crystalline colors, inspired by the brilliance of precious stones.

    “After an acid pop trend in 2012, the Spring Look 2013 is a return to calm. I wanted a palette of colours in halftones, pastel but intense, fresh and powdery, almost milky. To use as a play of harmonies for a chic Parisian look or contrasted to show-off a rock attitude.”

    Lloyd Simmonds, Creative Director Make-up Yves Saint Laurent Beauté

    The collection

    YSL Y Facettes Eye Collector Palette - Pure Chromastics No 14, Face Collector Palette

    Y Facettes Palettes

    Face Collector Palette, limited edition ($70 CAN)

    Eye Collector Palette (Pure Chromastics No. 14), limited edition ($74 CAN)

    YSL Volupte Sheer Candy Frosted Mint, Tasty Raspberry, Griotte Mocha

    Volupté Sheer Candy ($38.00 CAN)

    No. 11 Frosted Mint, limited edition UK exclusive

    No. 12 Tasty Raspberry, new permanent shade

    No. 13 Griotte Mocha, new permanent shade

    YSL Rouge Pure Couture Vernis a Levres N-27, 28, 29, 30

    Rouge Pure Couture Vernis à Lèvres ($34.00 CAN)

    No. 27 Pêche Cerra-Colla, new permanent shade

    No. 28 Grenat Acrylique, new permanent shade

    No. 29 Rose Forreau, limited edition

    No. 30 Mauve Fusain, limited edition

    YSL Creme de Blush Red Agate, Baby Doll, Rose Quartz

    Crème de Blush ($52.00 CAN)

    No. 7 Rose Quartz, new permanent shade

    No. 8 Red Agate, new permanent shade

    No. 9 Baby Doll, new permanent shade

    Keep reading! »

    Share:

    Playing with textures | A violet-eyed makeup look done entirely with cream products

    Easy cream eyeshadow tutorial

    I love playing with different textures when it comes to my makeup, but it’s not a regular thing for me — I have a set few products that I use all the time (mainly powders), and I don’t really get much of a chance to work with other methods of delivery.

    My sister, though, is hugely into creme products. Like, hugely-hugely. She has this weird–and notably false–preconception that the pigments in cream products will stick around for longer, but it means that her stash is easily 80% cremes.

    Illamasqua Zygomatic Cream Blusher

    Anyhow. For something a little different, I borrowed a couple of her favourite creme products (the Estée Lauder  cream eyeshadow and Illamasqua blusher) and threw together a violet-eyed, neutral-cheeked look.

    For the full tutorial, don’t miss this post on She Said Beauty! 

    !Violet and brown eyeshadow tutorial (s)

    The eyes

    For the eye, I started with a base of Estée Lauder Ivory Lace (the ShadowCremes are being discontinued; try something like MAC Bare Study instead), added Ellis Faas Light in E304 to the outer half of the lid, then layered Clinique Lid Smoothie in Born Freesia overtop in the centre. And it… went actually horribly, to be honest.

    I’ve never tried to layer one of the Lights before; I will never try to layer one of the Lights ever again. 

    (Actually, now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure I’ve come to this conclusion before. Anyone else find that Ellis products are glorious only if used without a primer underneath?)

    !Winter violet lids (s)

    I don’t know if it was the layering or the blending, but — never; never again. Fingers or brushes didn’t matter; drying time didn’t matter… again and again, I ended up with flaky bits of fallout and an increasing amount of eye irritation.

    To get around this, I actually mixed the two violets on the back of my hand & applied. It went really well, surprisingly — E304 added an intensity that Born Freesia doesn’t usually have, but the texture of the Lid Smoothie was maintained and led to a really easy, smooth application.

    The escapades continue »

    Share:

    Adele at the 70th annual Golden Globes: not Ellie Goulding; still pretty awesome.

    So, I’ve been seeing this guy who thinks–actually thinks, not a word of a lie–that Adele and Ellie Goulding are the same person, with like, different hair or under a different record label or something. I don’t even know.

    The only explanation I can give you is that ridiculous music hipsters hate Billboard artists like beauty bloggers hate brands who don’t understand copyright law. It’s kind of the best thing.


    Anyhow. Fun fact of the day, because I’m too feverish and disoriented to start covering Spring until next week (spoiler alert, it’s going to be an absolutely amazing season) — Adele showed up at the Globes last week with drugstore polish on her nails.

    Shock and horror!

    Celebrity manicure - Golden Globes 2013, Adele

    (Image courtesy Coty Canada)

    Copy the look at home with a sheer coat of Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in So Much Fawn topped with two coats of Copper Penny.

    The Globes winner was wearing an additional topcoat to enhance the colour of Copper Penny, but you’ll just have to do without, I’m afraid: it was created exclusively for use at the Globes.

    (I am secretly convinced that it was a reinforcing layer of vibranium covered in gold microparticles. Those nails talons are pretty hardcore; reinforced fingertips are totally the new exploding pen.)

    Share:

    Clarins Rouge Eclat, Instagram, and Anastasia Bold & Beautiful | A brief update…

    I feel like I’ve managed to get away with surprisingly few “teaser” posts recently, but that is possibly just because I’ve been cheating & not posting at all. Either way, here’s a brief update on why there isn’t a proper post for today!

    (But not an actual, proper post. Apologies.)

    Clarins Rouge Eclat (Spring 2013)

    Clarins Palette Eclat - Rouge Eclat Spring 2013 face palette

    Clarins Rouge Eclat Face Palette (Palette Eclat) & Rouge Eclat Lipstick (in Red Wine)

    I wanted to have a teaser up for this today, but it just didn’t happen — I was up until three editing photos before I gave up and went to bed. I always overshoot collections (one of the main reasons why it takes me so long to get new material up on the blog), and the hundreds of images were just too overwhelming.

    A snap review, though: Spring this year is going to be amazingI am absolutely loving the bits of Clarins Rouge Eclat that I have on hand; from the gorgeous detailing, to the textures and pigment… the collection is quite impressive so far, even by Clarins’ own high standards.

    [Finally] On Instagram: theNotice

    No promises, but we’ll see how it goes. Follow here for early teasers, trivial updates, and the occasional makeup look/full-face swatch!

    theNotice on Instagram

    Anastasia Beverly Hills Bold & Beautiful Kit

    Another “coming up”! I just got this one yesterday (haven’t even opened it up to swatch yet), but I am so smitten with the aesthetic — the entire concept is based around classic novels & book characters; how awesome is that?

    Out next month (February 2013) as part of the brand’s Spring offerings.

    Anastasia Bold & Beautiful Kit

    Have a wonderful Thursday, my dears!

    Share:

    Lancôme x Alber Elbaz | Summer 2013

    Lancome x Alber Elbaz Summer 2013

    (Adorable doodle credit Lancôme x Alber Elbaz, of course!)

    This summer, Lancôme will be releasing a collection with renowned designer Alber Elbaz, artistic director at Lanvin (since 2001).

    In the words of Youcef S. Nabi, the president of Lancôme, “his sense of luxury, his vision of femininity and that hint of audacity resonate perfectly with the new values of the Maison Lancôme.” This will be Elbaz’ first foray into make-up, despite his varied work in the fashion industry over the years.

    The Lancôme x Alber Elbaz collection will launch June 2013 worldwide.

    Share:

    L’Occitane Magical Leaves Body Milk | A post-holiday review (& thoughts on uncooperative packaging)

    L'Occitane Feuilles Magiques, Holiday 2012

    The product: L’Occitane Magical Leaves Body Milk

    Last month, L’Occitane released two scents inspired by the enchanted forests of Provence to capture the magic of the season. Available in a number of formats, from eau de toilettes to shimmering dry oils, Marvellous Flowers and Magical Leaves were/are limited edition — my apologies for having gotten this review up so late.

    While not readily available online, I did see these in-store earlier this month.

    L'Occitane Body Milk - Magical Leaves

    I’m actually quite fond of the Magical Leaves scent, but the packaging was such a turn-off. In a sentence: it quite literally took this body milk from the top of my “post immediately!” list to — well, to the middle of January. 

    The Body Milk has a good texture, sinking in quickly with light hydration and softly scented without too much throw. L’Occitane describes the fragrance as a (unisex) “zesty, mouthwatering composition,” with notes of verbena, hazel, citrus fruits, and vanilla — my nose doesn’t pick out any of the specifics, but it’s just… tasty.

    It’s very fresh; unexpected for a holiday release but absolutely appreciated. A faint woodiness/sweetness keeps the citrus blend from coming off too sharply, but it does smell a little “standard.” I quite enjoy the fragrance, but won’t be stocking up on it.

    L'Occitane Feuilles Magiques Lait Corps review

    As for its downfall? The wonderfully whimsical Feuilles Magiques packaging (which makes me think of storybook woodland fairies or something) is actually a pain to use — the plastic is hard to squeeze, and while thin, the formula isn’t so runny that it just comes pouring out of the bottle.

    I can see this shape working much better for the shower gel, shimmering oil, and eau de toilette (all in the Marvellous Flowers fragrance), but for a body milk… I mean, I liked the scent, but it would’ve had to have been something pretty darn special to justify this much hassle.

    Keep reading! »

    Share:

    New 12/01/13: Urban Decay, Bobbi Brown, Dior, & more

    With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I actually haven’t done one of these in over a month — the last was on November 25th! So, my apologies in advance for the obscenely extensive product widgets, but I hope you enjoy nonetheless.

    In cosmetics

    Notable new products include extensions of the Urban Decay Naked line, the Bobbi Brown Brighten, Sparkle & Glow collection (I think I’ll be doing a full product spread on that one), Dior Cherie Bow, a whole bunch of Benefit palettes and kits, and a numer of new MAC brow products.

    And worth a mention: Sephora has picked up quite a few more OCC products, and ciaté has finally (finally!) come out with an interesting nail kit that’s more intriguing than gross. So, um, that’s pretty cool.

    Good job, ciaté.

    Ciate Very Colourfoil Maicure Kit - Carnival Couture

    In skincare, fragrance, & tools

    I spy, with my little eye… Clarins Double Serum, Bobbi Extra Bright, and a super weird Tarte vibrating eye… stick… thing that apparently only Ulta is nuts enough to carry.

    It sounds really weird, you guys. I need help responding to this.

    Share: