Fragrances -Escada - Lily Chic EDT
ocarina 3/16/2004 8:09:00 PM
I was excited to try this one as I love lily-based fragrances. Lily Chic indeed has a fleeting top note of sweet, pure lily, but you'd better sniff fast. Within two minutes this settles down into what I call a "fuzzy" floral--a generic scent of too many flowers. Like when you buy bathroom cleaner, and you have a choice between "citrus fresh" or "floral fresh"? Completely old-lady and institutional. I actually had to scrub this one off myself. Shame, because the package is adorable (I have a weakness for lime green) and the price is right: it can be had for under $20 on Ebay. But a bargain is no bargain if you never use it, so I beg you, try it before you buy it.
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Primer/ Corrector -The Body Shop - Mattifier IT
ocarina 3/4/2004 9:45:00 PM
This will not likely do anything for you if you have serious oilies. It did not prevent breakthrough on me. BUT, I've found a use for the rest of my tube. I use it as a mixer for my loose minerals and other loose powder colors, to make really beautiful matte lipcolors and eyeshadows. Leaves a velvety beautiful finish, and it gives two extra lippies to an otherwise useless product.
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Fragrances -Guerlain - Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune
ocarina 2/28/2004 3:02:00 AM
Oh how I wanted to love this. I was very excited by the description of the notes: grapefruit, blackcurrant, sandalwood and vanilla. All some of my favorite things. And the initial spritz was promising: the most gloriously true-to-life unsweet citrus hit this side of Fresh's Jus. But about five minutes after the initial application, I started to detect a (literally) unsavory note. It was body odor. Like me after a workout when I've forgotten my deodorant. Maybe I'm too American but I found this a total turnoff. When it dried down it was briefly nice, with the sandalwood and patchouli melding nicely. But believe it or not, the body-odor hung around even after the dry-down was fading. Sorry. No can do. Smelling unwashed is not my idea of pretty.
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Fragrances -Perry Ellis - America
ocarina 2/27/2004 9:45:00 PM
This is probably my favorite floral fragrance. I'm admittedly not a fan of smack-you-over-the-head-strength florals, and anything with a prominent rose note (aka YSL Paris, Lancome Tresor) turns sour on me. America is much more of a fresh, fruity floral scent. It starts out with a glorious citrus and berry topnote that is not too sweet, but not excessively dry like a men's cologne. Then it opens up to a spring meadow of flowers... honeysuckle? hyacinth? lily of the valley? that just smells so heavenly and fresh. I've had many compliments on this fragrance, and I'm sorry it's no longer in broad distribution. Seek it out if you can. God bless America! UPDATE: I have since discovered that this fragrance can be found on Ebay for a proverbial song. Do try it if you like florals: it won't set you back too much.
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Fragrances -Jil Sander - Jil EDP
ocarina 2/23/2004 12:05:00 AM
Call me crazy but this went completely Bazooka on my skin. That's Bazooka as in bubble gum, not rocket-launcher. I do like sweet scents but there's no way I'd pay designer bucks for this when I could get something just as sweet in the teen aisle of the drugstore. I'm reviewing a sample, the bottled fragrance may smell different. (God, I hope so.)
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Fragrances -Comme des Garcons - Comme des Garcons Parfum
ocarina 2/22/2004 9:35:00 PM
This is the mother of all spicy scents....not for delicate flower-lovers! Apply with a light hand for sure, but when you do you will attract every man in sniffing range (Ask me how I know!). Cinnamon, incense, and heavy spices abound. If you smell in color this is a darkest brown, almost black scent. It lasts for yonks too: imagine Comptoir Sud Pacifique's Safranier but more intense, a dash of cinnamon added and with 10x staying power. Some may not like the flat bottle that lies on its back instead of standing up, but this scent is too amazing to care.. EDIT 4/2010: Years later and I still adore, and wear, this. Can be found on Ebay for not much $$.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chopard - Casmir by Chopard
ocarina 2/22/2004 8:57:00 PM
To my nose, this is note-for-note identical to the very inexpensive "Vanilla Fields" fragrance you get at the drugstore. Nicer bottle, jacked-up price, but the juice smells the same, from the mellow floral top to the vanilla-musky-amber drydown. Try them both on either hand, and you can't tell the difference.
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Fragrances -Avon - Rare Sapphires
ocarina 2/22/2004 7:44:00 PM
The best of Avon's "Rare" perfumes. The main notes are an unusual but glorious combination of cedar and gardenia. The cedar tempers the richness of the gardenia, and the gardenia (and supporting florals) cuts the sharpness of the cedar and prevents it from smelling hamster-cage-y. Dries down to a sensual ambery musk but not the cheap-smelling "Avonnade" that usually anchors their fragrances. I really liked this one a lot. Shame it's gone, because I really used to get a lot of compliments on it.
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Fragrances -Fresh - Jus
ocarina 1/24/2004 10:28:00 PM
I tend to like unique fragrances that don't smell like everything else on the market. This definitely falls into that category! The first impression I get of Jus is an arresting hit of cranberry and sour orange. Not sweet at all like so many fruity fragrances. After a while it settles down to a unusual but irresistible blend of berries and musk. Not the longest lasting of scents but perfectly acceptable compared to thers I've tried. Goes wonderfully with the Fresh Jus soaps. I'd venture to say that this fragrance has redefined the entire fruity fragrance category. For me anyway.
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Lipstick -Club Monaco Beauty - Lipstick in Beam
ocarina 1/24/2004 10:12:00 PM
This is one of my favorite evening-out lipsticks. It's a very wearable neutral red-brown (like my all-time HG lipstick Trucco Stained, or a slightly redder Clinique Black Honey) with green shimmer. Don't be scared, the green isn't Frankenstein green, it is very subtle but it definitely adds a certain "je ne sais quoi". It is a totally unique color that I've not seen in any other line. Lasts decently long too. Sephora stopped carrying this line a while back and most CM stores I've been to don't carry the makeup, so I'm not sure where to buy this line anymore
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Lip Gloss -Chantecaille - Lip Gloss in Kir
ocarina 1/24/2004 8:46:00 PM
I bought Kir, a cool mauve wine shade, even though my usual lip colors range from neutral to warm. This is such a gorgeous color! The texture is creamy but not sticky. Nice medium-high gloss, but not water-wet shine like a MAC Lipglass. For once I don't mind the pot, because I actually prefer to apply this with a retractable brush... I get better control that way, from slight hint of color to full-on glossy glamour. And the mirror is a nice touch. If I buy more of these (big if considering how $$$ they are) I want to try Molasses and Nougat.
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Eye Shadow -Almay - Almay Bright Eyes Color Cream Shadow in Lilac Lustre
ocarina 1/21/2004 7:36:00 PM
About a year ago I was on a search for the perfect lavender eyeshadow. This is the final result of that search! Very pretty light lilac, applies easily, dries fast but not too fast, and stays put well so I don't even need an eyeshadow base. I usually use this as a sheer wash but if you wanted to use it as a base for a more complex eye design I bet it'd work great for that. Can be applied with fingers or a Taklon brush for a bit more oomph. A great, great buy for sure.
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Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Justice
ocarina 1/8/2004 10:35:00 PM
It's a good neutral tan brown, but it is almost indistinguishable from Pebble, Faux Fox or Cashmere. If you have one of those, you don't need this.
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Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Glimmer in Drama
ocarina 1/8/2004 9:39:00 PM
Ignore the name :) Drama is a sparkling brown-taupe that is one of my essentials. Not overly dramatic, it is a staple that looks good on any eye color, and while it's shimmery, it's not OTT like some BE glimmers. It's a rare day that I don't wear this.
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Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Ecstasy/Glimmer
ocarina 1/8/2004 9:15:00 PM
One of my staples.In the pot it looks like a plain ordinary frosted white eyeshadow, but dip the brush and apply it and oh my.... the most beautiful pale white/lilac that does magical things to brown and hazel eyes. I can't be without it. Also makes an amazing, fabulous lip color when mixed with a nude or pink lipstick... trust me, I usually wear warm shades but this really works!
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