diff --git a/modules/NotifCenter.qml b/modules/NotifCenter.qml
index a8f72aa..0ba2372 100644
--- a/modules/NotifCenter.qml
+++ b/modules/NotifCenter.qml
@@ -410,24 +410,10 @@ M.HoverPanel {
             }
 
             // ---- Individual notification ----
-
-            // Vertical connector line — visually ties notifs to their group header
-            Rectangle {
-                visible: notifDelegate._type === "notif"
-                anchors.left: parent.left
-                anchors.leftMargin: 3
-                anchors.top: parent.top
-                anchors.bottom: parent.bottom
-                width: 2
-                color: M.Theme.base02
-                radius: 1
-            }
-
             M.NotifCard {
                 id: _notifCard
                 visible: notifDelegate._type === "notif"
                 anchors.fill: parent
-                anchors.leftMargin: 8
                 notif: notifDelegate._notif
                 showAppName: false
                 iconSize: 24
diff --git a/modules/NotifPopup.qml b/modules/NotifPopup.qml
index 425a962..c811ad5 100644
--- a/modules/NotifPopup.qml
+++ b/modules/NotifPopup.qml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import QtQuick
+import QtQuick.Effects
 import Quickshell
 import Quickshell.Wayland
 import Quickshell.Services.Notifications
@@ -49,6 +50,16 @@ PanelWindow {
                 readonly property real _targetHeight: _card.implicitHeight
                 property real _heightScale: 0
 
+                // Glow on critical — layer effect composites everything including NotifCard
+                layer.enabled: popupItem.modelData.urgency === NotificationUrgency.Critical
+                layer.effect: MultiEffect {
+                    shadowEnabled: true
+                    shadowColor: M.Theme.base08
+                    shadowBlur: 0.6
+                    shadowVerticalOffset: 0
+                    shadowHorizontalOffset: 0
+                }
+
                 M.NotifCard {
                     id: _card
                     anchors.fill: parent