Gels/Soaps -Claus Porto - Parada - Pear sandalwood
Quilley 11/27/2006 12:27:00 PM
I dislike bars of soap in the bath and kitchen. I think soaps in a pretty pump or bottle are a bit prettier to look at, so right before the Holidays, I bought the liquid soap of Parada. The soap is fairly balanced and so well scented that it lasts well after you have dried your hands. It also makes your bathroom smell great. I'd say the sandlewood notes are a bit stronger than the pear, so, I mixed a bit of pure pear note in and now it is perfect, however, my nose is not sensitive, so you may feel that the soap is already perfectly balanced. Finally, the plastic bottle is a generous size and is beautifully done in a partial, high quality shrink wrap that looks as if it has been painted on.
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Fragrances -Hermes - Un Jardin sur le Nil
Quilley 11/26/2006 2:33:00 PM
I was shopping in downtown SF Saks and the nicest salesperson (Rena) walked right up to me and asked me what perfumes I liked. I said fresh and green, she introduced me to Un Jardin sur le Nil and I flipped. I also bought a gift set of Mediteranee that included a purse spray, larger EDT and a tube of body lotion. I wore the SLN it to the Napa Valley and when the breeze blew I got a lot of compliments from the staff. It smells fresh and green and just right for Spring/Summer. Yes it is expensive, but the whole experience of wearing it from begining to end makes me happy and therefore worth every penny.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Ben Nye Fireworks Fantasy Wheel
Quilley 11/15/2006 4:32:00 PM
Ben Nye's Fireworks Fantasy Wheel was featured on Essence or Allure - can't recall. It is a nice-sized wheel filled with white, bronze, gold, silver, copper and pink nicely pigmented creams for highlighting the face. The wheel costs about $16.00. You get plenty of product. It is of very good quality for the price. You can apply them as subtly or as boldly as you please. The colors look bold in the pot, but blend out really well. I love the bronze for everyday wear to the office blended out up to the crease. I also plan on using it to highlight my cheekbones, but BEWARE the second ingredient is petroleum, which means I can wear it for only a few hours or it will break me out like mad.
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Skincare - Face -Sage - Acne/Sensitive Try-Me Pack
Quilley 8/14/2006 12:03:00 PM
My skin is sensitive/acne prone, which I find a tough combination. After years and years of wasted money, facials, breakouts, Accutane sessions, antibiotics, etc. I learned that nothing beats regular thorough gentle cleansing with these products. A lot of people don't like Sage, but Sage works for me, I love the products and will continue to use them. I've used the following routine for about two years now (I waited a long time before writing a review) and use the following combination of products: I wash with the Gentle or Regular Cleansing Grains, then the Gentle or Regular Facial Shampoo (Barbara sent me both) then use the 2% MSSR liquid, The Sage Sunscreen (SPF 25) and either the Gelloid Moisturizer or the Old Lady Cream. Generally I use the gentler versions in the am and the regular versions in the pm. All that business about how the sunscreen leaves you ashy, well it does, but I apply to a damp face (I re-dampen after the MSSR) and wait a few minutes until my skin absorbs it. Barbara keeps after me about icing, but I just can't bring myself to apply ice to my face. She sent me these cute little cubes to put on the freezer, but it's still a challenge. I also use two masks - The Redefinition and the Biologial Refining about once a week. Yes, the products are expensive, but very concentrated. I order only twice a year. I could care less about the packaging - I'd rather Barbara put the quality in the product, not the bottle design. Also, the packaging is fine with me, since I don't keep products on my vanity. I get great results with these products, meaning practically zero breakouts, soft, even skin tone and minimal hyperpigmentation issues. For me, the key was consistency with the routine. Finally a skin care regimen that actually works!
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Palettes -NARS - Tropical Heat Wave
Quilley 7/17/2004 8:25:00 PM
I bought this for Fall. The shades are spicier and richer than the Skin Deep Pallet, which is great because I'll be ready for more pigment come Fall. I think this pallet looks especially great on olive tones, however I am light golden. Eyeshadows: Marienbad II Java Night Star Key Largo II Blush: Orgasm Silvana Lipsticks: Fever Blond Venus Barbarella Zanzibar I call this "elevator makeup" as it is so well made and easy to use, I can apply it in the elevator on my way to the office.
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Palettes -NARS - Skin Deep Palette
Quilley 1/8/2004 12:35:00 PM
I swore that I would not pay $58.00 for a pallette, but, what can I say? We got a 20% discount that at Sephora that day, which helped. After my Sephora makeover using the pallette and much prompting from some pals, I bought it(sigh). I'm "golden" (light olive) with dark brown eyes and hair. I wanted colours I could apply in a few minutes, i.e. on the elevator on my way to work - and this is it. Everything blends together beautifully so that you look pulled together, not overly made-up. Perfect.
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Lipstick -Sephora - Satin Lipstick
Quilley 10/6/2003 9:40:00 PM
This review is for Sephora Satin Lipstick in Shade # 337. My favourite thing to do at Sephora is to pick out all the shades I like in the high-end brands and then find the Sephora equivalent. This particular shade is a dead ringer for SD's Great Austrailian Bight; a perfect, sexy, come hither, satiny red-brown. On those days when I have on a ten year old suit, last season's pumps and a run in my hose, I whip out my #337 and suddenly I feel glamourous. What can I say, this is $9.00 worth of va-va voom and works day and night.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Lipglass in clear
Quilley 10/6/2003 9:02:00 PM
MAC Lipglass (clear) deserves it's own theme song. I can take any cheap gloss and make it look special with a slick of Lipglass. I can use a liner with this on top and lt still looks great. It really holds up and my tube has lasted forever. Love it.
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Crème -Shu Uemura - Nobara [DISCONTINUED]
Quilley 10/6/2003 8:36:00 PM
I'm golden olive and find many foundations are either too green, too pink, too yellow or too orange. Shade 754 is a near-perfect match and covers everything I don't want to see. Nobara gives major coverage, so I use it sparingly and dab it only where I need it; along my chin and around my nose where I have redness. Set with a little loose powder, it stays put and does not break me out. A winner and a true staple.
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Polishes -Essie - Mademoiselle
Quilley 1/1/2003 10:48:00 PM
Mademoiselle is a very pale pink, your-nails-only-better shade. It is definately on my Holy Grail list and I wear it everyday. Still using my first bottle, which I have had for over a year. If you work in a conservative office, or just like a natural, healthy looking nail, this is it - simply classic.
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Top/Base Coats -Seche Vite - Dry Fast Top Coat
Quilley 12/21/2002 11:58:00 AM
After reading so much about this "Rolls Royce of topcoats", I splurged. It is all it claims to be with one drawback - it turns certain shades of Essie sheers (polishes) a murky, purplish color that makes your nails look diseased. It seems to do this only with those shades that have shimmer or sparkle in them. The greatest thing about this product is no sheet marks/smudges if you polish just before bedtime! Whoo-hoo!
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Fragrances -Roger & Gallet - Eau de Cologne Vetyver Natural Spray
Quilley 12/21/2002 11:52:00 AM
Clean, sexy, light, and fresh smelling. (read citrus and eucalyptus) It fades rather quickly, but that's what I like about it - especially in the summer. It smells so good, I don't mind reapplying it. Besides, I hate the idea of smelling to perfumey - especially in the warmer months.
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Fragrances -Gucci - Envy
Quilley 12/20/2002 11:59:00 AM
If you are a fan of "green tea" fragrances, you might try this. It has that green tea/sandalwood smell that is spicy and fairly strong. The body lotion moisturizes well and is heavily scented. The eau de parfum lasts a long time, particularly when layered with the lotion. I've been wearing both for over a year and have received a lot of compliments. Because it was a fairly expensive purchase, I don't wear it everyday.
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Lip Treatments -Kiehls - Lip Balm #1
Quilley 12/1/2002 3:30:00 PM
Kiehl's Lip Balm is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get product. I like it. I buy it 4-5 tubes at a time and use them as stocking stuffers at Xmas. They are not flashy or pretty, but they do moisturize and work well under lipstick - as long as you don't apply too much.
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Skincare - Body -Carol's Daughter - Carol's Daughter Tub-O-Butter - Unscented
Quilley 12/1/2002 3:25:00 PM
I bought the large size of Tub-O-Butter in unscented. Great product if you have chronically dry skin and don't mind a greasy product on your skin until it is absorbed. Comes in a huge mason-like glass jar, which I disliked. It slipped out of my hands and broke - there were glass splinters everywhere - including in the product. I had to throw the whole thing away. I will buy a smaller jar next time just because it's easier to handle.
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