Fragrances -Burberry - Brit
captainflamingo 11/11/2011 4:19:00 PM
Brit is such a peculiar perfume. It reminds me of Alien by Thierry Mugler. They both have this hard-to-pick-out quality about them that reminds me of the dentist's office or a new car. I love Alien, however, but Brit reminds me of a car freshener that my grandfather used to use. The notes always seem oddly blended then bathed in sweetness. I can't categorize it in anything, but I guess it's closest to floral. It has a bitter quality to it that many wildflowers posess. Its notes are lime, icy pear, green almond, white peony, sugared almond, mahogany wood, amber, vanilla beans and tonka beans. I don't detect any of those. I just detect "grandpa's car freshener" Price is steep and packaging is bland, but still attractive. I don't recommend.
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Fragrances -Coty - Pulse EDP by Beyonce
captainflamingo 11/10/2011 11:19:00 PM
Pulse is very different from the Heats. Its blue liquid shows a clear contrast to Heat and Heat Rush, which are a sort of sticky-sweet scent. Pulse is cool and fresh, but still sweet. It's not aquatic or green, but it does remind me of a nice tropical ocean. The notes are described by the official website as a citrus, floral gourmand. I do not capture much floral, but a zestiness is present, though not overwhelming. Pulse is a refreshing scent of fruitness that manages to remind me of glorious summer days without the traditional pineapples or coconuts. It lasts about 5 hours, the packaging is cool. I wouldn't buy it again because I can't imagine it becoming a signature scent. I will get lots of use out of it in the summer, though.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Paris Hilton - Tease
captainflamingo 11/10/2011 11:09:00 PM
Like other reviewers said, I don't understand what Paris was doing with this ad. Nothing is sexy about this perfume. It's a nice, solid floral. It's very familiar. Actually, it's basically identical to Britney Spears' Curious, just a bit soapier. It's a pretty scent, but nothing to write home about, not to mention completely unoriginal and deceiving. None of the notes seem to exist, the fragrance is flat with no changes. The packaging is cute but not something I would proudly present on my vanity. Overall, this fragrance is a pass, like most of her others, with the except of her first one and Can Can, which are the only ones I can distinguish from her slew of others.
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Fragrances -Vera Wang - Lovestruck
captainflamingo 11/6/2011 1:54:00 AM
In an interview I read that Vera Wang wanted this fragrance to smell like the feeling of falling love. For me, Lovestruck is more of... Developing a crush on somebody. You admire him/her from afar, get giddy when they're near, but never really want to spend your life with them. I give it a 3.5. Positive, but not a rave. When I first smelled Lovestruck, I was impressed. The smell was nice, floral, woodsy, and a tad-just a touch fruity. The woodsiness was blended seamlessly into the floral and the zing of the guava note(although it doesn't scream guava, just a fruity essence) really made it complex. I sighed in joy and carried on with my day. 10 minutes later, when I went to smell that aroma again, I was instead greeted with a rather flat smell. It was woodsy and floral, still, but rather than forming what I imagine to be a ribbon strands of DNA-like aromas that intertwine and mingle, they are two traintracks that lay perfectly flat next to each other. Still lovely scents, but no wow factor. I gave the fragrance another shot, then another- about a dozen total. But it was never the same as the first time. Perhaps it was the fact I smelled another perfume before Lovestruck the first time. The amazing sensation was never created again, and I don't think that's Vera's ploy to emulate the feeling of love- the first bang and a gradual, sad fade. The scent is still nice. It's a nice, welcome change from the everyday gourmand we're so used to, but it's not worth the very hefty price tag. Tuberose is very prominent, as is a soft musk. The notes are described as guava, angelica blossom, tuberose, lotus flower, wood, and musk, so what's there is what you smell, minus the guava. If you like those notes, give Lovestruck a try. The bottle cap, I find gorgeous. It is bulky and awkward, however, and one day the ribbon fell off, but it was fixable. I don't love the "fake nail varnish label" (those were Vera's words!). I feel it cheapens the product. The campaign leaves lot to be desired as well. The most this has lasted me was 5-6 hours. Way better than any of the Princesses, but again, not what I want from a $105CDN perfume. Overall, I like the fragrance but not the way I want to- head-over-heels. It's nice to spritz occasionally.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Katy Perry - Purr
captainflamingo 11/5/2011 3:18:00 AM
I work at a department store and we carry Purr. It is selling really well since it came out and I have spritzed it on myself a fair number of times and I am confident I can give a fair review. Purr is a fruity scent, typical for celebrities, but unlike one I've smelled before. When I first smelled it, I smelled coconuts and a woody note. Then I began to smell some grape. Then some cherry-esque tartness. The fragrance is definitely more complex than I would have given a fuirty celebrity scent for, especially one by Katy Perry. The smell is pretty close to being wonderful. It's bright and happy and suits everybody's body chemistry, as far as I can tell. The notes are pretty linear throughout the 3-6 hours of wear time. The notes according to fragrantica are "top notes of peach, forbidden apple, gardenia and green bamboo with the heart of jasmine, pink freesia and Bulgarian rose and the base of vanilla orchid, creamy sandalwood, white amber, coconut and musk." I detect little floral in the fragrance. The bottle is, of course, adorable to the max, but the top is rather clunky and we've had a couple defective spray nozzles which stopped working mid bottle. The price is one of the most reasonable one would see in a department store. I would recommend this to women of all ages as a fun, fruity scent that lasts a while and doesn't break the bank, but it is certainly not a remarkable or extremely memorable perfume.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Marc Jacobs - Lola
captainflamingo 11/5/2011 3:09:00 AM
This perfume is a bombshell, no other way to put it. When it first came out, I was mesmerized by the gorgeous bottle, but being in 14, I thought the fragrance was too strong for me. And I was right, I think. I'm 17 now, and Lola, although definitely my signature, is not my every day scent. This is for the days when I'm wearing my black lace dresses or my leopard print pencil skirt. With Lola by my side, I feel empowered and confident. Lola is one of the very few heavy floral fragrances I own. It's heavy and decadent with layers of gorgeous florals that bloom repeatedly throughout the day. There is the slightest zing of fruitiness and a touch of earthiness which ties everything together. I'm not telling you the notes mostly because I can't distinguish all the notes, which I think is a sign of a well made perfume. I don't want somebody to tell me I smell like peonies or roses, I want people to tell me I smell like a garden or like "heaven." And they do quite often. I own the limited edition velvet version with the matte bottle and every time I look at my vanity, I smile at its beauty. I spritz half a pump in my hair and neck and a single pump on my wrists and cleavage and it lasts me from when I get ready for school(8) to when I get back home from work or extra cirriculars(6-9) and the drydown is a soft, lingering musk of florals that I want to smell forever. Lasting power is great, bottle is great, price is right(I've had my bottle for a month and it is still full), and the fragrance is to die for. My perfect perfume!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -J. Lo - Glow
captainflamingo 11/5/2011 2:57:00 AM
I am on a fragrance kick and I work at a department store which has been carrying a lot of discounted perfumes lately for a nice price. This is one of those perfumes I've heard so much about but couldn't exactly pinpoint. I knew tons of girls I know who love it, so if I don't like it, I can just give it away, and I'd only be out $15. Glow is a pleasant perfume. It's light and a floral/musk blend. It's soft and lingers. But it doesn't blow me away, and for me fragrances should have a "wow" factor. I do have a bottle of Clinique's Happy around for the days I do not want to smell too overpowering, but I've decided I don't need another "safety" scent. Glow is a fragrance I find hard to believe has such a cult following because it seems so plain to me. I've always found the bottle horrendously tacky as well, even when it first came out in the early/mid 2000s. The dinky necklace/bracelet around that awkwardly shaped bottle is just a crime against all the beautiful bottles out in the world right now.
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Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Wear Infinite Single in Satin Tutu
captainflamingo 10/6/2011 2:00:00 AM
I bought this in the old, beige for $3 CDN at Shopper's. My guess is that they were trying to get rid of the old design. Price was good. Packaging isn't an eyesore but definitely not something to flaunt around. I bought it because I love soft pinks with dark browns. This isn't pink at all, however, on my NC40/Caramel skin. It's just a warm-ish toned shimmery white. I don't mind because for school, my eye makeup consists of a highlight on the inner corners and a black winged eye. I've been using it every day and I'll probably have it forever. But I set it down on my vanity too hard one day and got a crack in the eyeshadow. Now it's in crumbles and I'm pondering whether to toss it or make some sort of shimmery lotion with it. Overall, the colour is deceiving, the colour is not pink at all, but it's lasts all day and provides a nice highlight. Price was good for product, but I wouldn't write home about it.
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Polishes -Sinful - Let's Meet
captainflamingo 9/11/2011 12:50:00 AM
On my Caramel/NC40 dark Asian skin with yellow undertones, this colour is not flattering at all. The yellow looks ghastly and I am not a fan of the shimmer. It's also very sheer. However, on top of my orange or red nail polishes, it provides a very cool duo-chromey shimmer that makes things more interesting for summer. I won't toss it, but it's a purchase I kind of regret.
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Nails -OPI - San Tan Tonio
captainflamingo 9/10/2011 9:53:00 PM
I bought some OPI polishes today and this was the first one I put on. I'm a "Caramel" in most drugstore foundations and NC40. This shade is the epitome of a nude shade. It's like OPI put my foundation's pigments in a polish form. It was really cool to see the "perfect nude." Except it wasn't perfect since I think it makes me look scary and dead. The formula is a lovely, opaque in one thick-ish coat, two for good measure. Dry time is great. But I wouldn't repurchase because I don't think it's flattering to have the color of my skin extend to my nails. It would be a great color for darker skin.
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Blush -Cover Girl - Cheekers Blush in Golden Pink
captainflamingo 8/23/2011 12:28:00 AM
I have just finished this product. Not hit pan on, but FINISHED. The pan is empty. I have never done this with any product before. I have so much makeup, hitting pan is newsworthy to me. I reach for this blush every day and I'm going to buy a(or a couple) new one tomorrow. It's a perfect shade for my NC40/Caramel skin. I apply it at first under my cheekbones then blend slightly upwards to the apples. It gives me a significant boost in dimension and healthiness. I can do without the shimmer, but it does help add a glow. The packaging and smell isn't my favorite, but it doesn't hinder me in giving this product a big whopping 5. It's about $4-$6 where I live and so pigmented that it's lasted me a whole year of pretty much every day use. That's what, fifty cents a month? Repurchasing forever.
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Polishes -Revlon - Revlon Red
captainflamingo 8/23/2011 12:16:00 AM
I have nail polish ADHD. I constantly change the colour of my nails and I usually have contenders battling to win over my hands for the week. They usually consist of two or three colours I'm attracted to/haven't tried in a while and Revlon Red. Revlon Red is always an option because I know it has beautiful wear, colour, and price. For four bucks, I get a great, timeless, true and bright red that makes me feel like a bombshell. The formula is thin so it makes for even coats, the drying time is good, and it wears extremely well. I don't ever wear top coats(just a base coat) and this polish has minimal tip wear by the end of the full seven days which consists of working as a cashier, texting, taking notes, and more. This is the only nail polish I ever see myself repurchasing. It was flawless to me.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Sally Hansen - Fuchsia Power
captainflamingo 8/23/2011 12:11:00 AM
Summer's almost over, but I am going to review this polish anyway. In May, bought this nail polish with a bright orange, a creamy teal, and a white to prepare for myself for summer. But for some reason, it kept on being pushed back in my list of "colours to paint my nails." Perhaps it's because the colour is fairly boring- a flat(although very bright) fuchsia. Or maybe it's because, due to past experiences(Blue Me Away, Gunmetal, Flirt, and more) I know the horrendous formula of the Xtreme Wear line. It's rather notorious-goopy, takes forever to dry, smudges, stains, etc. But one day early in July, I painted them anyway. I was in a hurry, so I laid it on thickly. And without laying it on thickly on this review, I admit the experience sucked. They peeled in a day, so I picked at them, and my nails were left stained. So I sighed and pushed this one away further in my polish collection bin. But I decided to give this another shot four nights ago when I had ample time. After my base coat dried, I painted two(three on a couple nails) thin coats and gave them twenty minutes each to dry. The results were great! I have no chips on this fourth night, which is saying a lot because I'm a sales clerk and cashier. I'm constantly punching buttons, putting up signs, hanging clothes, etc. Most manicures say farewell after two days. Overall, I'm impressed with the wear which, when I have the time, makes the PITA application worth it. The price is easy on my minimum wage paid wallet, too. I will use up, but not repurchase.
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Lipstick -Cover Girl - Lip Perfection - Spellbound
captainflamingo 7/24/2011 3:12:00 PM
-This product has a plastic-y scent/taste that doesn't bother me too much but can get unpleasant. -This can be a pro to some, but this lipstick stains my lips. I've never had this happen with any other lipstick, even the super dark, vibrant colors. Even with makeup remover or cleanser, a distinct hot pink stain is left on my lips for a few hours, which contributes to longevity but definitely isn't something I look for in lipstick. -Can slip around without lipliner -Paid $10CA at a local Rexall Drugstore, higher than what I would have paid for a normal Covergirl product but I was still suffering from the winter blues and desperate for a spring-like perk and was curious about the product Pros: -Lasts a few hours very well, I reapply every few hours just in case but I can do without -Super vibrant color, gorgeous! -Sleek, easy-to-find casing that's very cute, not obviously Drugstore-y -does not dry lips out- in fact, moisturizes I wouldn't repurchase this specific colour because it stains my lips/has an unpleasant taste so I tend to go for my other fuchsias, but I do love the tube and the formula. I have gotten more compliments on this lipstick than I have any other lipsticks, and I own more than a dozen.
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Shampoo -Johnson & Johnson - Baby Shampoo
captainflamingo 7/24/2011 3:05:00 PM
I bought some baby lotion the other day for nostalgia's sake and it came with a generous sample of baby shampoo. When I was spending some time at a friend's cabin, I decided to take it with me to wash my face with. I haven't looked back since. Baby shampoo cleanses my skin of all oil, dirt, and especially makeup! It's gentle so I can really lather it on my skin and wash my makeup off without the stinging pains(It's "tear-free" but I never really test it out, I just know it's gentle enough to put near my eyes). This shampoo basically gives me a clean slate for my moisturizer and my tea tree oil. I have cystic pimples pop up here and there, as well as some whiteheads that come and go a couple times a month. Baby shampoo has my skin clearer than it was when I was using several benzoyl peroxide/salicylic acid cleansers. I still have a benzoyl peroxide cleanser on hand for when my skin really acts up and cleansing isn't enough, I need to medicate but 99.5% of the time, I'm faithful to my huge orange bottle. I've bought the huge bottle three times now, in the past year. It sets me back about five dollars a bottle which lasts me months. Compare that to $10-$30 I was paying for cleansers before. My philosophy is that cleansers just stay on your skin for a very short time and all they can really do is CLEANSE. I'd much rather invest in products that stay on my skin afterwards. I'll be a lifelong user, for sure.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No