Fragrances -Juicy Couture - Fragrance
leGingbot 9/10/2011 5:46:00 AM
I know a lot of people are just 'eh' on this Juicy fragrance, and it really is nothing out of the ordinary, but I like it very much. It's one of the most girly scents I own; I usually favor spicier scents, or florals that lack sweetness, but this is a refreshing break from all the other perfumes I own. Top notes include: pink passion fruit, water hyacinth, watermelon, mandarin, marigold, and a green element. All very girly, very fresh. Heart notes: wild rose, tuberose, and good ole' lily. You'd think there was some gardenia there, but nope. Gardenia-free (which I really appreciate. Gardenia can be VERY overpowering). Base: vanilla, caramel, patchouli, creme brulee, and woody notes. My nose can't detect the vanilla, caramel notes, or the creme brulee. I'm sure there in their somewhere, but what is dominant for me (on my skin-everyone is going to be different)-I smell a soft, pleasant aquatic floral that is fresh, subtly sexy, and incredibly girly. I think it's really the best scent Juicy Couture has done. It reminds me SLIGHTLY of Sila Creme Bouquet, actually, but a little more grown up, and less powdery.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Unlisted Brand - Nfu Oh-#61
leGingbot 8/30/2011 3:19:00 AM
I'd long been coveting this polish-it's supposed to be one of the most blinding, blingy silver holos on the market. I had also heard the mixed reviews out there about whether or not it was necessary to use the Aqua Base coat with it. The website that I bought #61 said that it was 100% necessary, and it sounded gimmicky to me, so I just passed on it. I'd read that some people had luck with other base coats while others said the Aqua Base had to be used. I threw up a question on Specktra to see what others thought and tried it with the two base coats I own, Seche Base, and Essie All In One. The Essie fared only slightly better than the Seche Base, but both were hot streaky messes. I was starting to feel like a moron, but luckily a girl on Specktra said to try it without any kind of base coat. And that's what did the trick. My nails came out so bright and beautiful I felt like I had to squint when I saw them in sunlight. And while I don't have any other silver holos to compare it to, I can safely say this is the most holographic polish I have in my collection and am looking to get the rest of the colors in the set.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Ecotools - EcoPouf Bath Sponge
leGingbot 8/30/2011 2:56:00 AM
As a loofah, this is quite rough, but as an exfoliating tool for the body it is ah-mazing. I bought this at Target thinking I could replace my old loofah which finally unraveled, but was a bit apprehensive because it felt so dense and rough. In the shower, it didn't soften up, and I was all set to give this the worst rating ever, but the minute I emerged from the shower my mind did a 180. My skin felt so unbelievably soft!! After the lotion I slathered on myself had sunk in, it felt even softer. I've never had my lotion sink in so quickly! For everyday use, this would be a little much, but I plan on using it maybe twice a week, to ensure my lotion keeps absorbing the same way. I'll probably go back to Target and pick up a 'regular' loofah, to use in conjunction with this. This is the first Ecotools product I've purchased, and I'm eager to try more!
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Fragrances -Prada - Amber Por Homme
leGingbot 8/29/2011 1:34:00 AM
I'm a really big fan of Prada perfumes...I really like how unfussy they are; someone gave me a sample of this a couple years ago, and I completely fell in love. It starts out really clean, like expensive barber's soap, with a hint of citrus, really fresh and basic; then it dries down to a nice husky scent that has hints of sandalwood and patchouli. The closest thing I can think of that is similar in smell might be Nag Champa incense, only lighter. It's a very interesting scent, and I can't remember ever having smelled anything like it.
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Fragrances -Versace - Versense EdT
leGingbot 8/29/2011 1:32:00 AM
Versense is very modern, feminine, and light. It's classified as woody floral musk, but with such energy and vitality. Nothing about this scent is languid, sweet, or thick. Each layer is light, understated, and blends seamlessly with the one before it. It begins with top notes of Mediterranean fruits-bergamot, green mandarin orange, and fig. I smelled freshly grated lime peel, mixed with sour oranges. The fig sweetens the bergamot and green mandarin slightly, but not enough to be fully detected. It's a fresh, happy smell that makes you just want to go somewhere, anywhere with air and sunlight and laughing people. The fruits gradually blend into the floral heart of watery sea lily, with further adds a clean, fresh effect, jasmine, and bitter cardamom. I like that combination; the bitterness of the cardamom counteracts the sweetness of the jasmine without ruining its softness, while the aquatic element of the lily gives you an image of deep blue Mediterranean water. What I think I like best about Versense is the base. Or mainly, the absence of the base. I don't know how they crafted it, but all the way to the drydown I smelled the citrus and the flowers. The woody base of olive wood, Virginia cedar, sandalwood, and musk was so delicate and subtle, serving only to strenghten the lighter notes above it. Versense is optimism, bottled. I'm going to be wearing this one straight through summer.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Lollia-No.19 Breathe
leGingbot 8/29/2011 1:30:00 AM
As far as perfumes go, this one is fairly inexpensive, around $46.00 a bottle. Breathe is labelled as a Floral Green, but really, I'd say it was more of a Floral Aquatic...it's got more of a watery element than green. The stars of this show are lily and peony, with the peony slightly out in front. Combined, they form a creamy-sweet floral that just screams spring. There are slight hints of citrus, orange, and grapefruit in the top notes, but they fade out quickly, as citrus scents do. The drydown is demure and slightly powdery, with notes of milk and honey, which enhance the floral element of Breathe and really makes it last. The aquatic element comes from the lily; it makes you think of water lilies floating on top of a pretty Japanese pond with white koi gliding underneath the surface. It's the epitome of delicacy, from the exquisite fragrance down to the crystal chandelier piece wrapped around the bottle with ribbon. And even better, while reading about it, I discovered that it's a favorite of Susan Sarandon. And who doesn't love Susan Sarandon?
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dolce & Gabbana - La Lune No. 18
leGingbot 8/29/2011 1:10:00 AM
“The Dreamer: La Lune is the perfect enigma: fresh yet sensual, dazzling yet forever retaining her secrets. She enthralls everyone she encounters with her radiant ethereal beauty.” La Lune is made up of white florals on a pale leather base: lily and tuberose make up the heart with sandalwood, musk, orris root, and white leather as the base. I couldn’t find the leather at all, no matter how many times I tested it. The D&G website puts emphasis on the fact that it is pale leather. I sat back and wondered what the hell pale leather was supposed to smell like. Usually, when I see that a perfume has notes of leather, it simply says ‘leather’. I wanted to understand what the difference between plain ole’ leather and “the softest, most exquisite pale leather” was. I came up with a few good tidbits after researching leather notes in perfume. Differences in leather scents depend upon the tanning process. Leathers can smell warm, rich, smoky, dry, creamy, etc., which is why they make such good base notes. The general consensus is that it is a dominant scent, but for La Lune, I have my doubts. The dominant elements in La Lune were, to my nose, the white florals. Now don’t get me wrong, I love floral perfumes, but I feel the whole “too much of a good thing” rule applies here. For me, the tuberose dominated everything, even the lily. I could barely scent out the orris root, and, like I said, the leather was neigh undetectable. I will say though, I loved the dry down. The sandalwood really emerged then, and gave it a delicious, almost bitter finish which counteracted the overly-sweet florals. I’d say this is the perfect scent for someone who is very much into florals-male or female. I will say this also: despite being so flowery-sweet, it does have an androgynous quality to it, and would work equally well on a man or a woman. And I like that. I like duality.
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Fragrances -Dolce & Gabbana - No. 6 L'Amoureux
leGingbot 8/29/2011 1:09:00 AM
“The Charmer-an incurable romantic in possession of an inherent nobility, dashing L’Amoureaux melts the most cynical of hearts. Desired by all he meets, this charmer is all about intensity." I’m notorious for loving intense, spicy fragrances, and L’Amoureaux delivers both: a perfect subtle intensity with a spicy, fragrant bouquet that makes you want to lean in for a closer sniff. It’s sensual with just a whisper of masculine sexuality to it. The top notes of pink pepper (a personal favorite of mine), bergamot, and juniper sort of dart forward the moment L’Amoureaux touches the skin; it’s crisp, spicy, and tantalizing; lazily exhilarating, if that makes any sense. The heart of L’Amoureaux blends beautifully with the top notes; the birch leaf, orris root, and cardamom mute the sharpness of the juniper, deepen the pink pepper, and soften the bergamot. The base of musk and sandalwood complete the blend and give it structure and sexiness. If I had to compare it to a color, I’d say it smells like a deep, masculine claret; warm, seductive, and…well, romantic. While I would say that the overall feel of this one is very masculine, like with La Lune, there is a definite androgynous, dual element to it-the orris root might have a handle in that, and it makes this scent all the more irresistible. I smell L’Amoureaux and I feel warmth, and an appreciation for the deeper, richer things in life; I can see someone enjoying it with or without the company of a significant other…sort of like really nice, expensive underwear. And when you’re in the mood…it’s the dark chocolate on the strawberry.
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Fragrances -Dolce & Gabbana - 10 La Roue de la Fortune
leGingbot 8/29/2011 1:08:00 AM
“The Player: adventurous and creative-the epitome of surprise-La Roue de la Fortune is governed by the roll of the dice. Its wearers are intrepid, experimental, players of life’s game.” I will admit that the only two adjectives I could think of to describe this one were similar to adventurous and creative-and this was before I read the description. When I first spritzed it however, I thought ‘How can they market this as a unisex fragrance?’ The introductory notes of jasmine, tuberose, and gardenia quite literally burst forward, and you’re overwhelmed by a floral, slightly fruity sweetness. But as it warms and mixes with the skin, the base of benzoin and patchouli emerge through the bouquet of petals and mellow the sweetness out. This gives it a more masculine aura, and lends richness and dimension. Though it starts out as a very floral, feminine fragrance, almost aggressively so, it matures into true non gender-specific territory. Overall, this scent is bright, confident, almost nonchalant.
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Fragrances -Dolce & Gabbana - Fragrance Anthology L'Imperatrice
leGingbot 8/29/2011 1:07:00 AM
“The Star-flamboyant and energetic, for L’Imperatrice life is a movie and she is its heroine. All heads turn when she enters a room. Vibrant, magnetic she exudes charisma and force of character.” L’Imperatrice is succulent, sparkling, and juicy. It starts with notes of watermelon and kiwi. In my opinion, the only thing that smells like fresh watermelon is fresh watermelon; it’s one of those flavors/scents that just can’t be recreated; the same goes for grape(like gum…you don’t know what the hell it is, but it sure isn’t grape…tasty though); if you really want to smell like watermelon, just rub a slice all over yourself. And keep away from picnic sites. However, I will say that D&G does an excellent job making the fresh watermelon, and when the kiwi mixes with it, it creates a mouth-watering aroma that just makes you long for cold fruit salad on a hot day. And it may just be me, but I detected slight hints of green apple. Anyway, when the fruits blend with the heart of pink cyclamen they mature and fade slightly, hovering in the background. The pink cyclamen sort of takes over from there, blossoming out and exuding sophistication while maintaining a playful sweetness. It dries down to a soft, demure musk that retains the sweetness of the watermelon and kiwi, and the floral sophistication of the pink cyclamen. It is, without a doubt, a perfume that commands attention, but not in an obnoxious way. Like its character, The Star, it’s charming, vibrant, elegant, bright, and beautiful.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dolce & Gabbana - Fragrance Anthology - 1 - Le Bateleur (The Magician)
leGingbot 8/29/2011 1:06:00 AM
“The Seducer-provocative and playful-ragingly passionate, yet enviably cool-this is a man who gets what he wants. Dominant and distinctive, resolutely direct, Le Bateleur is an accomplished Mediterranean lover.” What I like about this scent is although it contains elements of fieriness, fluidity, and earthiness, three elements that couldn’t be more different, each seems only to further compliment the next. I can smell each note independent from another, but with only slight concentration, I can smell them merging into what I can only describe as wood soaking in salt water.What I dislike about it is how quickly it turns into a generic “sport scent”, that really has no distinction, and doesn’t stand out. It opens with aggressive notes of citrus, spice, and something slightly sweet…melon maybe? It’s not quite an assault, but it’s very up-front and in-your-face. This blends with a pure aquatic heart with a salty tang to it. It then makes a complete 180 at the dry down, when the cedarwood and vetiver take over and it becomes slightly sporty, and almost professional; as though once the brilliance and unique notes were unleashed, it becomes business as usual. Like a one-night-stand, maybe? It would make sense, since this is a perfume based on a seductive Mediterranean horn-meister. Despite this, it’s not an unpleasant scent. It’s clean, it’s spicy, and it’s conventionally sexy. Le Bateleur certainly resonates confidence, and I can definitely see it evoking a naughty smile the morning after.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Coty - Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker
leGingbot 8/29/2011 1:04:00 AM
The scent begins with crisp notes of mandarin orange, bergamot, and just the faintest hint of lavender, all of which are softened by rosewood. Middle notes are orchid and patchouli, which, in my opinion, is a bold move, and one that works. Patchouli is quite a heavy element in terms of fragrance, and is really only appropriate (in my opinion) as a base note, but the blending is so perfect that it mixes seamlessly. The base is made up of a blend of woodsy notes, cedar, and white musk. It does smell different on different people. On an acquaintance of mine, it is a dark sort of elegance; light glinting off of polished wood, with only the merest hint of a floral. On me, the orchid is slightly stronger, and it sweetens the cedar, rosewood and patchouli, making it warm and creamy. It has a sweet, feminine quality; just enough floral to stay light, and is overall very, very classy. I try to limit myself to patchouli only for night, but this is definitely a patchouli you can wear during the day. It’s silky and creamy, delicate and incredibly feminine. I feel like such a lady wearing this.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Orly - Galaxy Girl
leGingbot 8/29/2011 12:51:00 AM
This is one of my favorite Orly polishes. It reminds me of MAC Blue Brown pigment. It's a deep burgundy/purple jelly base with blue/green duochrome glass fleck glitter particles. Applies evenly and smoothly. Admittedly, the glass fleck really only hits the spotlight when you're in the sun, but it's still a beautiful color. I've done a good five mani's with it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -LORAC - Pot Lip Gloss in Cherish
leGingbot 8/29/2011 12:17:00 AM
I am beyond frustrated that I can't find this gloss anymore. It is my most-used lip product. It's a beautiful sheer red-brown that actually applies more like a stain than a gloss. And that's what I use it as. I'll apply it with my ring finger thinly, and it goes on lovely and dark, and once I rub it in gently, it turns nice and sheer. I love wearing it throughout autumn-it's perfect. But what I love the most about this 'gloss' is how light it feels on my lips-it's like I'm wearing nothing. If I'm able to track this color down, I'm buying as many as I can get my hands on.
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Fragrances -Lolita Lempicka - L de Lolita Lempicka
leGingbot 8/28/2011 11:56:00 PM
It’s hard to write an objective review on perfumes, mainly because our sense of smell is so deeply attached to our emotions. It was very hard for me to separate myself from this perfume, and I still feel that emotion can only heighten one’s appreciation for scent, but in the pursuit of objectivity, I will try to keep the poetic tangents to a minimum. This scent is classified as an oriental vanilla, and there is a salty, beachy twist to it that reminds one of mermaids; NOT the Disney version of mermaids, but rather, what mermaids would exude if they were real. The moment you spritz L on, you immediately smell the top notes of bitter orange and bergamot. It’s fresh, sweet,sugary, playful and intoxicating. Heart notes of immortelle flower and cinnamon bleed through the citrus sweetness, and as the progression of the scent goes, slowly overpower and give it spice and attitude. In the grand finale of the dry down, notes of musk, tonka bean, sandalwood, and vanilla create a warm, rich creaminess that is almost blatantly sexual. When the sandalwood and vanilla mix, I can smell sweet driftwood growing warm in the sun. And yet, as you smell it, all the way down to the base, there is a saltiness that doesn’t seem to go away. It lingers, and you feel like you’re wearing a hidden part of a beautiful, undiscovered lagoon. Everything about this perfume charms me, from the colorful box right down to the bottle and its contents. The bottle is really ingeniously designed-a clear glass in the vague shape of a heart, shiny and small, like the heart of the sea, displaying its aqua blue liquid contents. The top is covered with delicate gold netting, and small gems-a sparkling golden L, an opalescent teardrop stone, and a clear glass starfish-are attached to the neck with golden wire . The overall effect is very aquatic and jewel-like; a scent for a mermaid princess.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No