Fragrances -Yves Saint Laurent - Paris
cete 1/2/2008 8:24:00 PM
OK. When I was in my first job, at about 18, I used to wear this. I totally, totally adored it, and felt like an elegant Parisienne. I had the handbag refill; man, I miss that style. I liked those refillables. Anyhoo..... I stopped wearing it. Too many other fragrances to try. For some reason, my mum has latched on to the recollection that I wore this scent for a while. I think it is because it is a classic rose, and she likes YSL herself. In fact, I think I might prefer to be given Tresor or Champs Elysees to this, but no matter; my mum has reinstituted the lovely Paris on my fragrance shelf, or more precisely, in my handbag. I have the EDP dagger shaped bottle, and the classic round EDT. The packaging is timeless and lovely. Someone remarked earlier that Paris is rather 80's. I admit I was disappointed when I saw mum had given it to me again, because I think that is probably true; it has that blockbuster, sense you coming 2 blocks away feel to it. But, it also has the weight and elegance of a classic, so I am beginning to see beyond the 80s surroundings that it really did typify. One of my friends (who likes watery scents) recoiled and said it was very old lady. I could see that. I don't think it is a very young woman's scent, as I once did. Tresor would do better for someone in their late teens or early 20s. But it is not the preserve of the older lady, either; I think it would be great on anybody over 30. It is powdery, and has an aldehylic note. But the rose is very warm and charming, and I have fallen in love with it again. I think this is a fragrance to be worn with a crisp shirt and cufflinks, elegant hair, discreet manicure and well turned LK Bennett heels. It is commanding and womanly, quite sparkly and mature. It has some green leafiness underneath the powder. It dries down to be not so overpowering as the first spritz and it is ok to be generous in application as long as you have a half hour to dry down before joining company. It smells expensive. It is rather against the fashion for dilute fruity florals or sickly indistinguishable sugar which everyone seems brainwashed into thinking "modern" but I think that makes it a good, easily available haven for anyone who wants something a bit more timeless and grown-up. It is, above all, a beautiful tribute to the adorable smell of roses, and any rose lover should get to know this lovely, sophisticated fragrance. I give it 3 simply because it is, for me, so significantly outshone by my other "I want to be a French lady" fragrance, the utterly fabulous Champs Elysees. And a number of other rose fragrances would probably beat this one if I had them in front of me to choose one. But it is definitely worth a look, and I would think well of anyone who chose it as a HG. I just wish I had sampled Paris Jardins Romantiques, as I suspect that would have been a real winner for me.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - blushcreme ladyblush 
cete 1/2/2008 7:15:00 PM
I am a lover of all things MAC. But if I could only take one product from my MAC stash to a desert island, I would take this. It is a beautiful texture, a perfect match for my Autumn colouring, and it goes on like a total dream with a blusher or foundation brush. It makes me look glowing and healthy, in a way that I think people love NARS Orgasm for. But this stuff has a slight sheen to it; not shimmer, just creamy glow, that looks like you just stepped out of a fresh shower, all day. People say that it looks like I am not wearing anything, like it is my natural colouring. Just a note, I never wear foundation, only moisturiser, so I can't say how this looks applied over a base, but I should imagine it would be significantly more intense and smooth. I cannot recommend this product highly enough. I wear it every day, and yes, yes, yes, I will repurchase. I used to used Clinique's Rosy Blush. That is just totally rubbish in comparison to this, I'm afraid.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -The Body Shop - Almond Oil Nail & Cuticle Cream
cete 1/2/2008 6:59:00 PM
Wow. I think I stumbled on cuticle holy grail here. I bought this in an outlet store for £2 ($4). I was pretty desperate (which is a bit sad when you consider it is JUST my cuticles; nobody is going to die). My nails were all scraggly and dry, and my cuticles would have a nail tech tutting and frowning and nagging. So I bought this to get me by until I went home from travel 4 days later. It is so much better than solar oil, or nailtiques, or a couple of other totally forgettable brands, which are what I've used in the past. It fixed the horror overnight. I've been applying it daily, and my nails and cuticles are the happiest they have ever been. If you are in a place where you can get this, you should really, really try it. People have mentioned the smell. It is pretty strong. But I don't mind, I like almond, even fake almond :-) and I must say it disappears pretty quick. People have also said that it makes their fingers too sticky when they are out and about. I don't find it so, but I only use a tiny smidge and massage it in. The test for me is this: I hate sticking my hands in my duvet jacket pocket, because even the tiniest little catch on my fingers drags on the lining and I hate the feeling. But this magical balm totally stopped that from happening in a way that nothing else manages to do. A weird vote of confidence ladies, I guess, but hey, I can't give it any better praise than that.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Pixi - satin mimosa oil
cete 1/2/2008 6:53:00 PM
Pixi perfume oils are just lovely. I've written reviews for the fig and rose oils which say most of what I wanted to put on MUA about these charming products. The mimosa is, like its stable mates, a very true, clean and clear smell. It is a creamy, sensual smell, that would not be amiss for a seductive summer evening with a bottle of rose wine and a drapey silk dress. I really like it. It is fresh, understated, calm and the smell of it is like a smile in a bottle. Paired with the rose, it makes a very pretty combination. The mimosa and fig both have a very sophisticated and modern feel. I wish I could share these fragrances with the world, they are really wonderful.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Pixi - satin rose oil
cete 1/2/2008 6:49:00 PM
I confess to being a die-hard rose lover. My very first perfume was Taylor's of London Rose Water. At that time it came in a charming Victoriana bottle with a little bird on it. It was a fresh, watery although alcoholic and short lasting toilet water of the sort hard to find these days. Perfect start for a twelve year old and a much nicer choice than the ghastly sugary confections littering our stores at present. Anyway; the Taylor's set a habit of a lifetime. If it's got rose in it, I'm there, baby. I'm not as well versed or as clever a nose as lots of the very articulate and informed ladies (and men) on this site. But I have tried most of the mainstream roses, and some of the high end names too. I think the Pixi satin rose oil comes out as a very strong leader in the pack for a clean, true, cut rose fresh-from-the-garden smell. I think I am right in saying it is quite a tea rose type smell, there is something a little sharp and acid behind it. But very, very natural, like a real flower. The benefit of it being an oil based scent I think. For an oil, it lasts amazingly well on me. Oils don't usually stick with me for more than an hour, which is a shame because they have a beautiful character not found in alcohol based fragrance. But this, along with its stable mates, lasts all day. Seriously. It is there, but not overpowering, and as I have said in relation to the fig smell, it is incredibly feminine, elegant and ladylike. Not a sexy smell. But massively charming, and I have been wearing it nearly every day since I bought it. It smells somehow very wholesome and I always feel healthy and good about myself whilst I'm wearing this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Pixi - Fig perfume oil
cete 1/2/2008 6:39:00 PM
I really adore the Pixi perfume oils and would love to introduce them to as many people as possible. I own all three; fig, rose, mimosa. They mix very well together. I wanted to buy Hermes Un Jardin en Mediterranee. I just loved the warm green fig note in that scent. I didn't get around to it, and then in London recently at the Pixi store, I met these oils. They are amazing. They last extremely well. All day, in fact. That is unusual for me; usually oils have very poor lasting power on my skin, even expensive ones. The fig is a very fresh, clean scent, and reminded me of what I loved about the Hermes, only more so. It is on the lighter, green side of fig. It has a note of coconut to draw out that greenness. It is a really feminine fragrance. Combined with the rose oil, it makes a very pretty fragrance. Not sexy. But elegant, something very womanly and delicate. It makes quite a warm winter fragrance. They come in adorable cute boxes and would make excellent gifts for that reason. The actual bottle is a little too utiliitarian to be charming in my opinion but I do like it. It is a roller ball. It fits very neatly in my tiny MAC lipstick bag. This was suggested to me by the lovely and enthusiastic SA and she was totally right; I've been using that combination very frequently since purchase. The pricing is very reasonable indeed at £14 a bottle. I believe Pixi do sell online for those not anywhere near their one and only London store in Fouberts Place off Carnaby Street. However the store is a fun little treasure trove if you can get to it. They are are at pixibeauty.com and I don't know if they ship overseas.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -TiGi - Bed Head Self Absorbed Conditioner
cete 1/2/2008 6:26:00 PM
I'm sorry. I just didn't like Self Absorbed. I had Fashionista from the Catwalk range before, and it was much better. My hair is highlighted, washed and blowdried daily, straightened infrequently, and has naturally horrifically oily roots so is a weird combination of dry as a bunch of tinder, and oily as a tin of sardines. Self Absorbed just don't cut it. My hair is dry, and my roots get irritated and oily when I use this stuff. But - great orangey smell!! Will not repurchase.
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Shampoo -TiGi - Self Absorbed Shampoo
cete 1/2/2008 6:23:00 PM
I'm sorry. I just didn't like Self Absorbed. I had Fashionista from the Catwalk range before, and it was much better. My hair is highlighted, washed and blowdried daily, straightened infrequently, and has naturally horrifically oily roots so is a weird combination of dry as a bunch of tinder, and oily as a tin of sardines. Self Absorbed just don't cut it. My hair is dry, and my roots get irritated and oily when I use this stuff. But - great orangey smell!!
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Conditioner -TiGi - Catwalk - Fashionista Conditioner
cete 1/2/2008 6:21:00 PM
I love Fashionista shampoo and conditioner. My stylist recommended it, and in the face of an onslaught of highlights, daily blowdry and regular straightening irons coupled with naaasty oily roots, Fashionista did a Herculean job of keeping my hair smooth, shiny, tamed, and generally sexy. I've also tried Bed Head Self Absorbed, and Fashionista beats it hands down.
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Lip Treatments -LUSH - Honey Trap Lip Balm
cete 1/2/2008 6:18:00 PM
I just love Honey Trap. I have wandered around looking for great lip balms for a very long time. I thought I had it with Carmex, but I went off it. I think it was actually pretty drying. Subsequently, I've heard people speak about Carmex in disapproving, dark tones. This stuff, though, is a holy grail for me. It is moisturising. My lips don't die if they don't get fed it for a while (which I take as a good sign that I have finally found a balm that does what it is supposed to). I put a caveat on it: it smells very strong. To me, I love this smell. And I mean LOVE. In a sort of, sit around smelling the tin like a freak type way. It smells vanilla, honey, chocolate, minty and menthol. The menthol gives it a minty tingle when you put it on, too. Mmmmmmmm. But not everyone shares my love of this smell, by any means. Now, people who don't like it are just plain WRONG. But, I get strong reactions from people when I open this up to reapply. Like, "ugghhh, what is that smell?" and "that stinks". Since I became a Lush devotee, I have got used to such polarised reactions. Their stuff has a knack for inducing love / hate reactions. But if you want to be everyone's friend, instead of being able to separate the right and WRONG folks of the world, you might want to steer clear of this particular wonderment. Although, if Lush ever stop making it because of insufficient love, I will CRY. I gave it as a stocking filler for Christmas this year to vanilla lovers. Spread the word! EDIT: 2012, still my go-to lip balm, always in my bag, and I also use it for fixing my eyebrows as I found it great for that!
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Cleansers -LUSH - Baby Face ] [DISCONTINUED]
cete 1/2/2008 6:08:00 PM
Yes. This is brilliant. I was looking for a new, good, cheap cleanser, to get my makeup off at night, because I can't afford to buy ALL my skincare from Clarins. I wanted something quite rich, because my skin is getting drier as I move into my thirties, and those fine lines are starting (sob). I support all the comments here that this product needs to be used correctly to work well. Here is what I do: Wash my hands in hot water (to stop getting buggies in my babyface bar). Run a sink of hot water. Immerse washcloth. Dry hands. Pick up babyface and work a good slick oily layer on my hands (being hot from the wash helps the bar melt). Work it into my face, gently massaging eye makeup off. Take the hot washcloth. Wring it out well. Wipe off babyface. Voila! Clean, soft face. No need for moisturiser. My face is soft, there have been no problems with breakout or upset. My skin is not particularly sensitive, but it is on the dry side of combination. You do need something to keep this in. A babyface bar has lasted me about 6 weeks and is nowhere near finished. I was keeping it in the waxed paper but it went all manky and made my bathroom look untidy, so I bought one of the solid shampoo tins and that is much, much better.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Viva Glam VI
cete 1/2/2008 5:52:00 PM
A very sexy red. Like a pearlescent finish, with some coppery sparkles, but not so much that you lose the sense of reeeddddddddd. A hot, foxy colour, for when you are on the prowl. Sadly, I find this finish a little drying, so my hand doesn't often gravitate towards this tube.
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Lipstick -MAC - Lustre in Sweetie
cete 1/2/2008 5:50:00 PM
Another MAC favourite. Sweetie is a slightly glittery lustre finish, and I admit I would love it more if it were a plain creme. I am a bit old for all that frosting. But... when I slick it lightly, it is very elegant and fresh, particularly teamed with a lovely rose perfume. I am a sucker for the Lustre finish. I used to be a lipgloss girl all the way, but lustre has won me back to lipstick.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Jest Eyeshadow
cete 1/2/2008 5:44:00 PM
Would I buy this again? Yes, yes, yes. I am Mrs Boring when it comes to eyeshadow for work. I own vast swathes of subtle, nude, shimmery shades. I wear a simple style: light shade slicked across brow bone; darker shade slicked across lid; smooth sable in the corners, with various coloured liners to add interest. Jest is my absolute favourite for my lid shade. I can barely tear myself away from it. When I can't be bothered, I wear it on its own, with no mascara, nothin'. It never fails to lift the face. It is a subtle sheen, a delicate peach pink that is just perfect for "Autumn" complexions, for those of you out there that do colour swatching for your wardrobes etc.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Prada - Prada Beauty Eau de Parfum
cete 1/2/2008 5:40:00 PM
I got given a freebie of Prada EDP some time ago. I found I was constantly drawn to it out of all the fragrances in my collection, and so when it came time to choose an EDP for my birthday, after agonies of indecision I settled on Prada. To give you an indication of my tastes, other contenders were: Narcisso Rodriguez Musc oil; trusty Angel; trusty Pure Poison; Stella EDP; Vera Wang EDP and in a style completely unlike the others, Creed Virgin Island Water - love that coconut and lime!! Anyway; the Prada won, because it has been a reassuring go-to bottle when I want to feel sexually alluring, womanly, sensual, in control, well dressed, noticeable, mysterious. Interestingly I really hate the new wave of synthetic patchoulis sweeping the market, but I don't feel that way about Prada. Many of the other descriptions here about the structure of the scent capture it very well. Definitely need to wait for the dry down to get the best of this. It goes exceptionally creamy with gentle spice. There is amber, and a smooth floral construction that I am not well-versed enough to dissect for readers here. I think if you like Prada's clothing style, of sharp, intelligent, lateral and devastating femininity, you will find that style characterised very well by their scent. Oh and I did not buy the atomiser version. I think the simple bottle with its silver top is stylish enough without it, and heeded the warnings about the atomiser by other MUAers. I have had no problems with my bottle.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No