Fragrances -Givenchy - Le Bouquet Absolu
TacoFlavoredKisses 3/8/2012 12:27:00 AM
Top Notes- Bergamot, Neroli, Wild Berries Middle Notes- Jasmine, Vanilla Orchid, Rose Base Notes- Musk, Ambergris, Juniper For some reason, the middle notes are the ones that I can smell the most- Mostly Rose, Jasmine and a bit of Musk... I was told that this was a Limited Edition fragrance so I was already very interested (since I tend to love Givenchy fragrances, typically). Once I sprayed it on and kept sniffing it throughout my visit to the salon, I decided I had to have it- especially since it was LE. What a sucker they make us into with these ridiculous LE items!! GRR. I have, like, 3-4 "Limited edition" items that I am frantically trying to purchase before they're all gone :( I like this fragrance! It smells of Rose, for sure, but the other notes make it smell less like "your grandmothers' Rose"... haha! Cute bottle- the glass is Faceted! Cute.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Peter Thomas Roth - clinical peel and reveal dermal resurfacer
TacoFlavoredKisses 3/8/2012 12:07:00 AM
This is a wonderful chemical as well as manual exfoliator- much like ExfoliKate- EXCEPT definitely not as harsh! If you are one who thinks ExfoliKate is great but a little too harsh on sensitive skin, and leaves your skin quite reddened and angry, you will love this PTR Clinical Peel and Reveal Dermal Resurfacer. It is so much more gentle, and yet, it gave me the same, if not better results as my beloved ExfoliKate! Plus, this comes in a 3.4oz tube and is a little less $$$ than Kate. PLUS! This smells like heavenly pumpkin!! When I'd use ExfoliKate, I'd always have a really red face (irritated) for sometimes hours after I used it.... but not with the PTR. My skin felt firmed up, smooth, shiny, and perfectly exfoliated!! I may just have to start buying this over my precious Kate :/
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Deodorants -Lavanila - The Healthy Deodorant
TacoFlavoredKisses 3/6/2012 12:58:00 AM
I have always, as an adult, had problems finding a really great anti-perspirant/deodorant that really did the job, since I do sweat, and tend to stink if I'm not wearing a good deodorant! I have been using Mitchum which has been a life saver for me, since it works better than any other deodorant on the market, IMO. However, there is an exception, and wow- it's natural, too! I chose the Coconut Vanilla scent since it smells divine (mostly just really vanilla smelling) and I'll tell you what- I was impressed! It smells wonderful and it kept me covered almost just as good as Mitchum! I like to wear this when I want my deodorant to smell nicer than good 'ol Mitchum (no offense, my dear Mitchum)... It looks like it might last me a long time, too. I'd re-purchase of course, but will always have Mitchum in my "rotation" ;)
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Cleansers -Kinerase - Dr. LeWinn Hydra Balance Foaming Cleanser
TacoFlavoredKisses 3/5/2012 6:23:00 PM
I typically use SK-II gentle cleanser, and love it SOOO much! It's so gently and creamy yet effective and not oily- it does the job! However, seeing as there are times when one cannot justify paying an obscene amount of money on a tube of face wash, I decided I would cut back, and tried this. It's really not much of a "cut-back" in the quality dept, which is one of the reasons I don't mind, and LOVE using this cleanser! I have dry skin, and it definitely does not make my skin feel dry after cleansing. It does the job of removing makeup just fine, and I use it on my Clarisonic and it works well that way. It doesn't have a scent that I can tell, and it does not irritate my somewhat-sensitive skin. For $8, you can't go wrong here. I have absolutely NO complaints whatsoever! UPDATE- I'm on my second tube of this- I really like it and it's so reasonably priced!!
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Lips -Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pur Couture #19 Beige Aquarelle
TacoFlavoredKisses 2/29/2012 8:16:00 PM
This is one of the many Glossy Stains I have purchased so far and wanted to add these reviews so people can view the colors on the lips (instead of those awful Sephora.com swatches)... I love these so much- But if you're looking for something with color, this isn't the one. if you want a stain/gloss that is muted, understated, and just like, MLBB, basically a light caramel/putty/beige with a hint of pink, this would be the color for you! I might not re-purchase this particular shade, only because it doesn't show up as well as I'd like (and my lips aren't even pigmented in the least)!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain 15 Rose Vinyl
TacoFlavoredKisses 2/26/2012 9:26:00 PM
These Glossy Stains are absolutely perfect! I have never been a lipstick wearer- always gloss only. These have changed that. i can't see myself being without these- ever! I wrote my initial review on #17- Encre Rose, which I think is my favorite. It is slightly less rich than Rose Vinyl. #17 is also more Violet. Rose Vinyl is a true Rose Pink. Very stunning. Does not look like your typical generic lip stain. The formula is SO comfortable- feels like nothing on the lips- which is important to me... and even after it has dried, after a few hours of wearing, it looks like it was JUST applied, and still looks fresh and flawless. I love these stains and will continue to buy them as long as they continue to make them! I'm sure I will pick up more colors as I go, since I adore this stuff.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain 17 Encre Rose
TacoFlavoredKisses 2/26/2012 12:47:00 AM
I had been anticipating these Gloss/Stains for SO LONG it seems! I tried ordering a few based on the horrific swatches of color on Sephora.com, and of course, they arrived to me looking nothing of what I wanted or pictured them to be... So I was THRILLED to walk into Sephora this evening to find their BRAND NEW DISPLAY of these Glossy Stains!! Of course they didn't have the extensive selection as they do online, but I was drawn to #17, Encre Rose, and it looked FANTASTIC on my barely-pigmented lips! It's a Pink, but it's not a Barbie Pink... It is Rose-Pink, with some slight Violet undertones. #15, Vinyl Rose, was more of a "look at me" Pink, much brighter with a deeper Rose base... Definitely a shade or two brighter than #17. I grabbed it as well, but I am SO fond of #17, I honestly do not believe I can ever live without it! The application wand is almost tear-dropped shaped and slightly slanted so you can apply the gloss effortlessly and with precision, especially around the contours of your lips. The formula is comfortable, and lasts HOURS (even through eating, drinking, running errands in the chilly weather, licking my lips once or twice... and what I ate was a greasy slice of Pizza)! It stains your lips the color you want, and leaves lips looking hydrated and SO polished! It's midnight now, and looking at my lips, I can see they still have a tint of color, which is nice for me, being pale and having NO pigment (especially in my lips). I found my favorite color, Encre Rose #17, but I love this new product SO much- they did SUCH a great job with this, I'll be purchasing more for sure.. Finally! A stain for the lips that isn't that same old generic berry Kool-Aid look, regardless of which brand the stain is! I hope this never goes away... I honestly don't want to be without this. $32.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Nicole - Kardashian Kolors: Kim-pletely in Love
TacoFlavoredKisses 2/14/2012 8:24:00 PM
Yeah, yeah, OK, it's Kim Kardashians KOLOR, but this is really really nice! You know what it looks like to me? It looks like an "updated" version of OPI Bubble Bath... Same base color, pale milky pink, but with a teeny tiny touch of shimmer, just to give it that slight glimmer. I know that Bubble Bath is a popular color- I know *I* love it... and I like this one just as much now, if not more. The touch of glimmer does not make it look tacky in the least, IMO.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Pedal Faster Suzi!
TacoFlavoredKisses 2/10/2012 8:04:00 AM
This color is one of the beautiful shades in the Holland Collection which just came out. Of course, I gravitate towards the pink. But I swear it is a little more unique than some of the others! It's a medium pink (kind of like 'Got A Date To-Knight') except for the added bonus of a very, very fine silvery micro-glitter! It kind of helps the pink to sort of 'glow', since it's definitely not a gaudy all-out SPARKLE like a lot of colors lately. It's pretty. It reminds me of Nicole 'Kim-Pletely in Love" but the shade of Pink is a lot lighter/softer in "Kim-Pletely". Same general idea- the pretty, tiny silver micro-glitter is very similar :) I can see getting a lot of wear out of this one.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - TCA Peel
TacoFlavoredKisses 2/9/2012 2:33:00 AM
My skin issues are, mainly, that I have some significant hyperpigmentation spots, or "sun damage" spots- especially on the left side of my face (from driving)... I started out using Lactic Acid Peels with some small results, nothing amazing... Then I ordered the 12.5% TCA Peel from MUAC, and just finished my second of these peels, and I am VERY impressed with the results! I was smiling and "Wow"-ing OUTLOUD when, on the 3rd or 4th post-peel day, I looked closely at the sheet of dead, peeled skin that came off of my left cheek (where the worst of my sun damage is) and could actually SEE the brown spot ON THE FLAKE of peeled skin! What was revealed underneath was the slightest detection of sun damage, I'd say it had reduced the pigment by at least 70%! I cannot WAIT to do a few more of these peels so I can get rid of ALL TRACES of sun damage on my face! My experience was not bad at ALL, considering how scary TCA can seem... I just stood in front of the bathroom mirror so that I could keep a close eye on what was happening- I applied the TCA with a Q-Tip, and after a minute or two, when there was still no frosting, I applied another layer, focusing on the sun damage spots. After another minute or two, those areas I had gone back over were starting to frost, so I went ahead and neutralized. I really wasn't in any pain. I was told to apply Neosporin right after the peel. The next day my face felt a bit tight, no peeling. The 3rd day, my face was noticeably tighter, and when I would touch my skin or move my facial expression, I could see the skin crinkling. I figured I'd be starting to peel in the next few days. Next day, peeling began. If I went out somewhere, to a dr's appt or the store, I didn't care what people thought of my peeling face. If someone asked, or if they were looking at me funny, I'd simply say "I just had a chemical peel" and they'd ask me about it, blah blah blah. I'd say by the 4th day, I helped my peeling along by using a chemical exfoliator (ExfoliKate) just briefly, and a lot of pieces rolled off my face in the hot shower. It's about day 6, and the peeling is pretty much over, except for a few little pieces here and there. I'm so happy with my results, and have just ordered the 18% TCA for my next few peels... I can tell by the results thus far that I can get rid of these icky brown spots! Yay! I love MUAC- When you consider how much money a TCA peel costs in a clinical setting? $500? It is SO worth doing yourself. Just go slow, follow the directions, and do your research :)
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -L'Oreal - EverCreme Deep Nourishing Masque
TacoFlavoredKisses 2/7/2012 12:24:00 AM
This whole entire EverCreme line has really impressed me. I am in love with everything. I am amazed at how soft and well-behaved my hair is just by using the Cleansing Conditioner alone! I never thought I'd be able to wash my hair without finishing with a heavy conditioner- My hair is bleached, and fine but dense, and dry, of course. This masque is nice! I've tried many deep masques, and for the money I've spent, this one stands up to even the more pricey ones. Like I said before, with the EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner, I am left with the softest, shiniest hair with no conditioner required- but on occasion, I will use this, and it's awesome. It comes in a jar, and the scent is the same wonderful exotic Vanilla scent s the rest of this line. Sulfate Free!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Tarte - Maracuja Divine Shine- Charmed
TacoFlavoredKisses 2/7/2012 12:09:00 AM
I'm a lipgloss/lip product junky, for sure- This lipgloss grabbed my eye because of the pretty packaging (Looks like a Stila LipGlaze but with pretty floral print on the tube). I grabbed this in "Charmed" because it's typical of me to gravitate towards a pink, fun Barbie-type color- I have hundreds of glosses that look so much a like... but anyway! It's a very high shine formula which reminds me of a mix between BE Buxoms and Stila Lip Glaze... (Reminds me of Buxoms because it has a slight minty taste to it- not overpowering tho). Not overly sticky, but they are a bit sticky. Nothing bothersome. The pigment is pretty nice- it leaves my lips looking pretty much the same color as I see in the tube. It also dispenses like Stila Lip Glaze, as in, it has the "clicker" on the end, which primes the bristle brush at the other end. I like this gloss! It's comfortable, pretty, and will look cute in my bag (along with several other lip glosses) :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Shiseido - Bio-Performance Super Restoring Cream
TacoFlavoredKisses 2/3/2012 12:47:00 AM
I normally use Shiseido's Bio-Performance Super Revitalizer Cream which I love and have loved for a long time now. It's great for extreme moisture and softness. I decided since this was a newer formula more targeted towards anti-ageing and firming/wrinkle reduction, I thought it would be a good idea, being as I am in my mid thirties (OMG I never thought I'd be saying these words). Anyway! It's kind of like my lovely Super Revitalizer Cream but the texture is somewat richer. If I had to use my previous cream, I would absolutely have no problem with that- I love it. I am interested to see if this does any better at reducing the signs of aging- Will report back. This comes in the same type of glass jar, and it also comes with a nice little "spoon" so you don't have to stick your fingers in it ;) The smell is wonderfully pleasant, just like the previous. I love it already. It is slightly higher priced than the super revitalizer cream... UPDATE- I think I'm going back to the Super Revitalizing Cream... It is so much easier to work with, it melts into my skin so much better/easier, this one is VERY thick and is hard to get to emulsify into your skin. Just like the review above mine, it's consistency reminded me of La Mer, which I didn't like, and La Mer has to be emulsified between your fingertips before applying... Thats exactly what this cream is like. I found that even when I used that "La Mer technique", it was still so darn rich and hard to press into my skin. I opened a jar of Super Revitalizer right after finishing this one, and I immediately realized that I preferred the old one. This is good, but it may be too thick/rich for a lot of people. I'm super dry, and it's still too much for me, I think.. After using this for a whole jar (3-4 months maybe?) I didn't see any difference than when I use the previous.
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Treatments (Eye) -Shiseido - Future Solution Eye and Lip
TacoFlavoredKisses 2/1/2012 5:32:00 AM
I really did not want to like this stuff. The price tag is not very pleasant... However! I LOVE it. I have been using this for about a month now, around my eyes, on the lids (as it instructs), under the eyes, and around- on crowsfeet. My eye area has definitely softened, and is always sufficiently hydrated thanks to this cream. I have very dry skin, and this is so rich- it goes on thick, almost like a baby's butt paste- it even goes on leaving a whitish cast before it completely sinks in... But oh, it feels so wonderful, and smells so lovely- the whole process is nice. I don't typically look forward to night time skin regime, but this stuff makes it enjoyable, even pleasurable! I'm also using a bit of this on my upper lip area as it says it is an eye and lip cream... I figure prevention wont hurt! It does come in a jar, but it also comes with a sealed "spoon-like" scoop so you don't need to stick your fingers directly into the cream itself. If you can get yourself a sample, try it out... but I'm warning you- You may end up justifying the cost to go back and get the full-size! It's the best eye cream I've tried, and for my dry and (ageing? 34 years old :/) skin, I need all the help I can get. UPDATE- Ive compared this one to the Benefiance Concentrated eye cream, and I really think that one is much better. It's cheaper, too. It's just so much more smooth and sinks in a lot better...
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Hourglass - Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15
TacoFlavoredKisses 1/22/2012 2:05:00 AM
This stuff feels great on my skin! I'm used to Primers that are silicone based, and I can tell that this is definitely not. It feels very different than, say, Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. That one feels silicone-y to me. Hourglass feels like a matte lotion and a little goes a long way! It comes out as a white, opaque color, and as you spread it along your face, it does leave a slight white-ish sheen, which is nice for me because it evens out my skin tone for a clean, clear palette to set my foundation on. It doesn't feel greasy at all, to me. My foundation glided right over my face after application of this primer, and after I wore it a few hours, then I ended up falling asleep, and not washing my face for the whole next day :/ That's definitely not typical of me, but it was nice to not see my bare skin showing through even after sleeping and having my face buried in a pillow for hours. I'm happy with this primer and won't be looking for anything else (unless of course something new comes out that I absolutely HAVE to try)!! Haha :)
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