Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Fou d Absinthe
martika 5/29/2006 3:59:00 PM
I hesitated several days before making a review on the new L'Artisan scent, Fou d'Absinthe. This scent is a big (excuse me, HUGE) "No, thanks!" for me. I was eager to try it as I have been reading various positive comments. It turns out that not only it is a totally masculine scent (thus totally unwearable by me), but also totally unwearable by my husband, it smells like cheap after-shave on him. The lasting power is very poor like with most L'Artisan's. The 2 lippies go for the new design of L'Artisan's bottles.
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Fragrances -Thierry Mugler - Angel Garden of Stars Rose
martika 5/8/2006 7:04:00 AM
I love the original Angel but have to say that I was pretty disappointed with the other 3 Garden of Stars (Peony, Lys, Violette) so I wasn't eager to try La Rose. I am happy I did because this is close to perfection! This is what the other 3 versions failed to achieve. It is a softer version of the original (due to the rose touch) and will satisfy all Angel lovers, I am sure!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Annick Goutal - Masque Splendide
martika 5/1/2006 7:02:00 AM
Thanks to this unique gel-cream texture, skin is invited to experience a true shower of freshness and instant relaxation. In 15 minutes flat, having removed the excess with a cotton-wool pad soaked in Rosée Splendide, Masque Splendide delivers youthfulness and radiance to the complexion. Recommended for weekly use, it allows skin to regain all its vitality. The features are smoothed, skin appears well-rested.
At the heart of its formula. Ultra-concentrated in active rose sap, Masque Splendide also contains an extremely vitamin-rich cocktail designed to recharge the skin and help it to feel full of energy.
I have become a true addict of Goutal's Splendide line. The scent of the Splendide line is simply decadent, a lovely soft rose scent. I had high expectations for this mask. It was just ok. The texture was fine (half gel, half lotion) but I did not see any spectacular results that would justify me investing in the 60 ml pot. There are many other masks in the market that provide better results for a much lesser price. Recommended only to serious Splendide lovers who can afford the price-tag...
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Annick Goutal - Creme Splendide Corps
martika 4/29/2006 11:07:00 AM
Be as good to your body as to your face! This highly refined care product tones, firms and protects the skin, leaving it satiny-soft. Its luxurious, creamy texture is seductive, just like its scent, in perfect harmony with the other Annick Goutal skincare products. This body cream is highly concentrated in principal phyto -energizing active ingredients, active rose sap and caffeine. The latter is reputed for its action against adipose cells and its activity is aided by the presence of a synergetic active ingredient, palmitoyl-carnitine , which can improve caffeine absorption and assists the breakdown of fatty acids. Lactic acid simultaneously delivers an instant youthful cure to the skin by stimulating its renewal. Finally, macadamia, apricot and camellia oils nourish and protect the skin.
This cream is simply decadent! Its texture is what I like a cream to be: not too thick but not liquid either. It absorbs quickly into the skin and leaves it very soft with a lovely rose scent (my whole bathroom smells lovely for hours later every time I use it). It comes in a 200 ml jar. Only drawback, its price, it retails around 75 EUR (for that price, I can get myself no less than 15 pots of Dove Body Silk, lol)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Les Parfums de Rosine - La Rose de Rosine Perfumed Body Cream
martika 3/24/2006 9:04:00 AM
Les Parfums de Rosine launched a new body cream line to compliment the fragrances. I got myself the La Rose de Rosine and I couldn't be happier! The scent is amazing (an exact duplicate of the fragrance) and the texture is also great. The only drawback is the price, it costs almost as much as the fragrance itself... thus 4, and not 5, lippies...
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Fragrances -Lolita Lempicka - L de Lolita Lempicka
martika 3/20/2006 3:56:00 AM
I have been a fan of the original Lolita Lempicka since I was a teenager. I never thought Lempicka could come up with another hit but I am nicely surprised with "L". First, let me say that I find the ad around the scent very misleading, especially when I read words like "sea", "mermeids", "salty kiss"... all these words make me think of a light, breezy, aquatic fragrance. Wrong! It turns out that "L" is none of these but rather a gourmand vanilla oriental scent. I am sure that it will appeal to all gourmand lovers. It is not sickenly sweet, it is just nice and lovely and could well soon become a hit like Lempicka's first scent! UPDATE JAN.3, 2009: This have been my signature scent for over a year. It is a perfect alternative to FM's Musc Ravageur as both turn out pretty much the same on my skin. My search for a HG is at last over, who would have thought?
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -L'Occitane - Immortelle Eye Balm
martika 3/17/2006 8:54:00 AM
A nice light eye moisturizer that I would recommend using before bedtime. It absorbs quickly and is easy to apply. However, I would strongly discourage you using it in the mornings because, like other MUAers already mentioned, it peels off, argh!
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Treatments (Eye) -L'Occitane - Immortelle Eye Balm
martika 3/17/2006 8:52:00 AM
A nice light eye moisturizer that I would recommend using before bedtime. It absorbs quickly and is easy to apply. However, I would strongly discourage you using it in the mornings because, like other MUAers already mentioned, it peels off, argh!
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Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Mandarine Tout Simplement
martika 3/17/2006 8:33:00 AM
I was lucky to test this today, before its official release. It is the 3rd of L'Artisan's summer limited editions (after Ananas Fizz in 2004 and Extrait de Songe in 2005) and will be available in 250 ml bottles. As its name evoques, this is a fresh and sparkling mandarine fragrance, very true to its name and perfect for warm weather. However, as with most L'Artisan scents, it has very poor staying power, I could hardly smell it after an hour.
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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Santal Blanc
martika 3/16/2006 8:17:00 AM
One of the very few Lutens I dislike, I ended up swapping away my bottle. Bleh!
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Fragrances -Hermes - Terre d Hermes
martika 3/15/2006 4:39:00 PM
LOVE AT FIRST SNIFF !!! Another masterpiece from JC Ellena !!! It is marketed as a masculine fragrance but I see myself very well wearing it, for me it is a perfect example of a unisex fragrance. Terre d'Hermès is a fruity/woodsy scent that will seduce, I am sure, all lovers of Eau des Merveilles and Un Jardin Sur le Nil. It starts off quite fruity/citrusy but then it settles into a wonderful spicy woodsy note. The lasting power is also remarkably good! Just FYI, here are the notes: Top notes : Grapefruit, Orange, Flint Middle notes : Pepper, Pink Pepper, Geranium leaves, Patchouli Base notes : Cedar, Vetiver, Benzoin
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Aesop - Marrakech
martika 3/11/2006 5:22:00 PM
Certainly not for the light-hearted. This is a very strong spicy perfume (cardamom), almost suffocating. I can only see it appealing to serious cardamom fans. Outrageously overpriced for what it is. It can be found at Colette in Paris for 80 EUR, the roll-on is a 10 ml one.
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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Gris Clair
martika 2/17/2006 9:02:00 AM
Fresh and cold, this is the impression I get from this new Lutens. The lavender came pretty strong upon the initial application but it has cooled down an hour later and is more subtle and soft. I get more incense now. I find a vague ressemblance to "Le Male" of JP Gaultier. This scent is very disturbing to me. I think Lutens better stick to orientals, he's a master with these. UPDATE: I have come to truly love this fragrance. I do realise it is a very particular one and won't appeal to the mass but I really love it now thus... 4 lippies from me!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Aquolina - Bagno Fraganza - Liquirizia - Licorice
martika 2/11/2006 2:38:00 PM
I have been wanting to test the Aquolina bodycare line since ages but couldn't find it anywhere near me. A store nearby started carrying the whole Aquolina body care line and the SA was so nice that she gave me samples of almost all scents. Licorice was the 4th Aquolina bath/shower gel I tested and I have to admit it is pretty true to its name (for those liking the scent). Still, like the other Aquolina bath products I tried, I also find this a bit drying for my skin. A so-and-so product, which is definately not for me (licorice is not my cup of tea).
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Idole de Lubin
martika 1/25/2006 3:54:00 AM
Idole was love-at-first-sniff for me. This is not so surprising as the initial spray reminds me of Dinner by Bobo and Dk's Black Cashmere while the drydown is exactly like SL's Douce Amere, all three fragrances which I love. I am hoping to get a full bottle eventually. Taking one lippie off because, as much as I love the fragrance, it is not very original (many similarities to other existing ones).
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