Bronzers -NARS - Laguna
vvalencia 4/11/2005 5:15:00 AM
I am a MMM that is NC35, LSF 6.5 and Stila 40/E. I brushed this on and it is pretty much my natural skin color for the spring/summer months. I could almost use it as a powder foundation if it were not for the slight shimmer...But on me it makes me glow nicely and I find I am almost using this as a setting powder. I take my Versace powder blush and lightly use it on top of YSL Teint Parfait #4 or #5 complexion enhancer and it works very well! So I am not knocking it completely, it just doesn't really bronze my skin like my GA #1. I just use my GA Sheer Bronzer as a contour to the hollows of my cheeks, nose bridge and temples...I was just looking for an alternative to my GA. I will try Casino next to see how that works for me...
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -L'Occitane - Vanilla EDT
vvalencia 4/10/2005 4:23:00 PM
I received a decant of this in a swap and had left it on my dresser for ever. I tried it about 2 weeks ago and am completely hooked. This is the best, warmest, coziest Vanilla I have EVER had a chance to smell. Up until now I was a big fan of the original formula CSPs...It is discontinued, but I got my hands on 2 bottles on eBay. I'm sure these will last a while!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Chantecaille - Lemongrass shine eye shade
vvalencia 4/8/2005 12:10:00 AM
Not sure why this is getting a so-so rating. This is the perfect spring time green color to wear as a wash all over the lid! Actually swapped mine away and starting to regret it...
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Giorgio Armani - Sheer blush #4
vvalencia 4/7/2005 12:38:00 AM
I have never been one to be able to wear blush without it feeling or looking "obvious". GA blushes have definitely changed that for me. This gives me a warm peachy glow, but without looking like I slapped color on to my cheeks. You can control the intensity and of course you must use the right blush brush. My gold handled M22 does the trick beautifully...It is a total struggle between choosing which is better between the sheer powder or the sheer cream. I love them both!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Acqua di Parma - Blu Mediterraneo Mandorlo Di Sicilia
vvalencia 4/6/2005 4:40:00 PM
I got a sample for this from drinbanana so props go to her. This REALLY took me by surprise. At first when I took a whiff I had a Scooby Doo look on my face trying to figure out if I liked it or not. At first I was thinking, "rootbeer?!??!" Then the initial shock went away and the drydown was just a lovely and comfortable, subtle amande fragrance. Another scent I discovered and never would have even had a chance if it were not for MUA! I will update once I get the full size...
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Comptoir Sud Pacifique - Vanille Canelle
vvalencia 4/6/2005 4:37:00 PM
I'm going to echo moonsista's review. It would be great as an air freshener or room candle, but it is too expensive for either so off to the swap list it goes! Again, I am disappointed with the new formulations from CSP. I am on a manhunt for the original scents I fell in love with years ago...
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Comptoir Sud Pacifique - Vanille Banane
vvalencia 4/6/2005 4:33:00 PM
I love tropical and foody scents, but this just comes off too synthetic to me. I've tried it on 3 occassions on me and just can't get what everyone is raving about. I am finding all the new formulations from CSP just aren't as good as the originals. I even got a weird playdoh smell off of this on the dry down. I was really hoping to like this since I love the smell of bananas!!! This is too expensive for something that doesn't even smell accurate!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Demeter - Kahala Blue Hawaii
vvalencia 4/6/2005 4:18:00 PM
Can you say pineapple Jolly Rancher? This is what this smells like to me. Extremely candy and fake. I have had better luck with the other Demeters before, but this turned out to be a complete miss. If you want authentic pineapple succulence go with L'Artisan Ananas Fizz or Aquolina Ananas Body Milk!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Ananas Fizz Summer 2004 Limited Edition
vvalencia 4/6/2005 4:04:00 PM
I was able to sample this from a generous rollerball lipgloss size decant from nucmed1975, so props to her! I LOVE THIS SCENT!!! It is truly tropical and fruity without smelling synthetic AT ALL. Even though it smells sweet, the sweetness is reminiscent of the ripeness of something succulent like pineapple! Meaning it doesn't smell like the sugar was added, it smells like the sugar that developes from ripened fruit! I've been going through and trying a bunch of tropical scents like the Demeter Kahalas and the Escada type scents and they all smell artificial/synthetic to me. This is the only scent that I have found aside from Des Filles à la Vanille - Garçon Manqué (which I am also lemming and trying to get my brother to get this as my birthday gift) that truly smells at least authentic in its rendition of tropical! Definitely the scent to wear while vacationing on the Islands wearing your Tommy Bahama best! I can't stuff sniffing my wrist...and broke down and bought the full size bottle from beautycafe. Even though it seems pricey, at this size it will last FOREVER!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Sheer Lipstick #5
vvalencia 3/23/2005 4:46:00 AM
Well, this is the third sheer red I have tried. My first was #6, then #3 with the main difference being that #6 is more like kool aid red tint and #3 more of a brighter coral/tomato tinge. Then I tried this one and it is definitely more of a muted red with maybe a tendency towards brown since it's not as bright as the first two! I didn't think it would work for me at first, but then I wore a white summer top today and it showed off my lips well without being super noticeable. So far almost every sheer I try works, with the exception of the occasional one or two that match my pigmented lips too much and don't show up at all. Otherwise another winner for the GA lip sheers!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Trish McEvoy - #7 Basil and Tonic EDP
vvalencia 3/23/2005 4:43:00 AM
I was at the Trish counter at Saks this past Saturday afternoon recently trying to find the retractable powder brush. While waiting I decided to spritz this on my wrist. Lo and behold it totally reminds me of Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin Cologne! Only difference is that there is no citrus note to it at all. I think it has to do with the fact that they both have Basil in them...This was a little stronger and made me feel this was a little more masculine scented. Nothing wrong with it, just not my type of scent. It lasts a long time though. I got up the next morning and could STILL smell it faintly on my wrist before hopping into the shower!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Giorgio Armani - Loose Powder for Eyes #2
vvalencia 3/21/2005 9:37:00 PM
Well, I LOVE this loose powder eyeshadow. I am trying to figure out how to get the other ones since they are LE. It makes a beautiful highligher in the browbone area, but most of all it's great as a sheer wash over the entire eye. One day I had used #21 on the lid and #33 on the "V" and it was looking a little too dark. I applied this as a sheer wash over my entire eyelid including the brow bone and it helped lighten the whole eye without completely covering the existing colors completely....As with all GA, I WANT MORE!!!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Fresh - Lemon Sugar
vvalencia 3/20/2005 3:40:00 AM
Wow! I mistook this for the original Sugarbath Sugar EDP I purchased over 5 years ago. I purchased this thinking it was a smaller version of that original scent I love! I honestly think it is way too strong. Initially it's a violent lemon onslaught, but it's a synthetic lemon...Not refreshing at all. Then the drydown is like a sharp lemonhead candy smell and then there's this musky afterthought of cat urine. I kid you not...After being a Fresh fan all my life I'm wondering...What the hell were they thinking?!?!?
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Giorgio Armani - Sheer Cream Blush #5
vvalencia 3/19/2005 2:01:00 AM
Okay, I've got almost every color of sheer blush and I got this one in a swap...All I can say is I've been wearing this for 3 straight days in a row! I love how natural this looks like a REAL flush from within...At first I tried to use my fingers to apply with, but read in the reviews here that the MAs at the counter recommend using the GA Blending Brush...Ahhh, all I can say is perfection! Now I can't wait to get #3 which I am also waiting for in a swap. I went to my GA counter today in Costa Mesa to hunt down #2 and it was SOLD OUT! That should tell you something...They had just gotten their shipment in!!! So I settled on #1...
So I ended up getting #1 because I had read some great feedback here on the board. It's a pretty color and it looks like it could easily be used as an eyeshadow base. Haven't had a chance to try it yet, but I don't think I'll be disappointed. I have combo to oily skin and have never been able to wear cream blush at all. Of course this is somewhat of a misnomer because it's a solid powdery texture with just enough moisture to make it more cream...Here we go again...I'm hooked and I want them ALL!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Giorgio Armani - All Lip shimmers
vvalencia 3/19/2005 1:54:00 AM
I have never collected one brand of makeup as much as I have Giorgio Armani. I went through a phase a few years back trying Awake, Anna Sui, Trish McEvoy, Bobbi Brown, MAC, Versace...sorta like a cosmetic counter ho running from mall to mall...You get the picture!
My collection of lip shimmers has grown pretty considerably since I got back heavily into lemming on makeup. I now have numbers 1,2,3,5,6,11,13,14,15 and counting...The colors I do not have are usually the really cool toned hues that don't work with my MMM to tan skin, BUT needless to say I have enough to keep me busy and to choose from depending on my mood. One thing I love about the GA shimmers and glosses is how you can make practically any lipstick color look better when you use these over them and simply how you can wear these alone by themselves. I love the versatility and the luxurious feel these lip shimmers impart when I use them. I half way go insane if I think I've misplaced one! I think they are the best glosses around! The only other ones I even consider to use now are the lip venoms...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No