Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - The Different Company - Bergamote
msp12 10/4/2004 4:35:00 PM
I had put off sampling The Different Company fragrances due to mixed reviews and limited availability in the US; thanks to lusciouscargo.com, I now have a couple of new, over-budget lemmings in the closet. The Divine Bergamote caught me by surprise with its sunny citrus top notes. I very much agree with tournesol's characterization of the citrus accord as 'round', and neither overly wet nor dry. Instead of spherical kids cereal, on my skin the fragrance blossoms mysteriously into a transparent, yet diffuse cabbage rose. It is a mysterious turn as rose is not listed as one of the fragrance's major floral components. A very gentle musk note appears only as the fragrance begins to disappear from the skin, which is just a few hours for me. The Divine Bergamote is incredibly expensive for a fragrance which I feel I must apply lavishly in order to enjoy in full stereo, so to speak, nevertheless, if I were not saving up for the next big move, I would snatch this scent up in a heartbeat.
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Fragrances -Comptoir Sud Pacifique - Ecume de The
msp12 10/4/2004 4:10:00 PM
Very much agree with dear R's review below. Citrus, light floral accord, black tea, mild spice. A bit of bothersome toilet-tablet scent in the background, but it does fade away before the rest of the fragrance does. Overall, a nondescript, but non-offensive CSP with decent, although subtle, lasting power. Although I would not purchase this scent for myself, I would recommend it hands down over similar fragrances by I Profumi di Firenze and elizabeth W.
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Sunscreen -Lancome - Soleil Ultra Very High Protection Face Cream SPF 60
msp12 10/3/2004 10:56:00 AM
Yes, the fragrance in this Lancome sunscreen is indeed strong. However, since I like tropical, tiare-like smells, and good sun protection, this sunscreen was right up my alley. I purchased this sunscreen over the summer, but I have only started using now that I am back in the US. My combination/dry skin loves the moisturising properties of this sunscreen, but I admit that the fragrance of the product, while it dissipates eventually, does conflict with my enjoyment of wearing other fragrances.
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Sunscreen -La Roche Posay - Anthelios W Gel Ultra Protection UVA SPF 40 (IPD 34 PPD 19)
msp12 10/3/2004 10:46:00 AM
I have only tried two Anthelios sunscreens so far (W Gel and XL Fluide Extreme), and the gel formulation is by far my favourite of the two. No breakouts, ease of application, excellent protection. Also very kind to my combination/dry skin. Once I have used up my bottle of XL, I will move on to purchase a bottle of W Gel.
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Sunscreen -La Roche Posay - Anthelios XL SPF 60 Fluide Extreme
msp12 10/3/2004 10:43:00 AM
An excellent European sunscreen that actually is not terribly oily on the face in temperate climates. I prefer this Anthelios for summer use however (I enjoyed using it thoroughly all summer in the Philippines, although oiliness and shine is inescapable in any case in tropical climates), since the alcohol content is a bit too high to work well for my combination/dry skin during an American winter. I also love this product since for some reason or another my face has become allergic or sensitive to the ingredients in Avene Emulsion. My only quibble with anthelios XL is the packaging, as I wish the bottle could stand on its own.
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Styling Products -Kerastase - Mousse Nutri-Sculpt [DISCONTINUED]
msp12 10/3/2004 10:30:00 AM
I have never been a fan of mousse products, however Kerastase Mousse Nutri-Sculpt quickly has become one of my styling staples. I have colour-treated hair with a layered cut, just below the shoulders, and the Kerastase mousse works wonderfully to achieve a natural, piece-y look while imparting a slight sheen. Oftentimes I don't even follow up with a blowdryer, as the product does not weigh my hair down nor does my hair feel hard and saturated with product. The directions recommend using an orange-sized ball of product, however I tend to use half that amount for daily wear and a bit more if I want to achieve more volume. The product's fragrance could be improved--smells faintly of blowdried hair!--but overall, this mousse is one of the most worthwhile salon products I have ever purchased. It is also currently discounted at drugstore.com, with an extra discount if you log on through ebates.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Keiko Mecheri - Fleurs D' Osmanthus
msp12 9/13/2004 12:17:00 PM
Although I don't enjoy the aqueous green notes so much in KM Fleurs d'Osmanthus (much prefer the seemingly 'unadulterated' blooms of SL Datura Noir), overall I think it is a lovely way to be introduced to white flower fragrances and it's long-lasting at that. If you are attracted to the likes of both KM and SL but cannot abide by their prices, I would recommend obtaining a bottle of Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Ylang et Vanille, which is still widely available on discount websites.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Anne Pliska
msp12 9/13/2004 12:05:00 PM
Anne Pliska reminded me very much of Gobin Daude Jardins Ottomans and PoTL Luctor et Emergo, or perhaps I should say in retrospect that AP really needed to be broken apart into something like the latter two fragrance gems. I loved the orange creamsicle bit in AP, however what I will call the PoTL element went very awry as it turned into that notorious play-doh scent on my skin. It's really too bad, as I would be doing my wallet a tremendous favour by falling for Anne Pliska.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Aveeno - Skin Smoothing Body Scrub
msp12 9/11/2004 9:21:00 PM
A fantastic mild scrub. I do wish that the scrub contained more grains, as I do seem to go through the product very quickly, however I can also say that it is suitable for daily use. Perfect for travel when one does not want to worry about a wet loofah or washcloth in the suitcase. What I like most is the scrub's creamy base, which is incredibly moisturising, and its mild almond scent. Definite repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -L'Oreal - Exfotonic
msp12 9/11/2004 9:14:00 PM
Very surprised by the high marks given to this overpriced scrub. Exfotonic scrubs indeed, but I would get the same results taking a brillo pad to my skin. I enjoy the grittiness of sugar and salt scrubs, but the particles in these scrubs feel much kinder to the skin, unlike the fiberglass shards that seem to comprise Exfotonic. The packaging is also horrible for the shower (and one must apply this scrub to wet skin as it threatens to rip off your epidermis altogether when applied to dry skin), and I'm not wild about the smell of the green goo. Overall I'm hugely disappointed in this product.
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Fragrances -Christiane Celle Calypso - Rose
msp12 9/10/2004 1:03:00 PM
For the lover of simple and sheer rose soliflores, Calypso St. Barth's Rose EdT fits the bill nicely, and at $50 for 3.4 oz, it is quite reasonably priced for similar concoctions. Great lasting power on my skin, too. I tend to like my rose fragrances with a bit more oomph and originality, but I find no fault whatsoever in immensely wearable creations like Calypso's Rose.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Helena Rubinstein - Force C Premium
msp12 8/22/2004 4:43:00 PM
Unfortunately I did not even last a week on my sample pot of this cream, as it was not friendly to my breakout-prone skin. And guess what cleared up the problem? St. Ives Gentle Apricot Scrub. If you are going to invest in an extraordinarily-priced face cream with vitamin C, I highly recommend Darphin Arovita C for its gentle and effective formula.
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Eyeliner -Helena Rubinstein - Silky Eyes 07 Sunset Yellow
msp12 8/21/2004 11:13:00 AM
A magnificent pencil colour which contrasts beautifully with darker skin tones. On my skin, Sunset Yellow is a gold-coloured coral, more light orange-red than pink. The look is bold, but not as overwhelming as a gold-coloured liner and there is no danger of a dreadful pink-eye simulation. Just the pencil and black mascara alone creates a dramatic yet simple daytime look.
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Eyeliner -Helena Rubinstein - Silky Eyes 03 Shimmer Khaki
msp12 8/21/2004 11:06:00 AM
Against my medium-tan complexion, Shimmer Khaki takes on a light green olive tone which is shot through with gold sparkles. I take a point off since the green is barely noticeable once I line my eyes, however, the pencil really serves to brighten up my eyes at the lash line. Definite repurchase should I ever run out.
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Eyeliner -Helena Rubinstein - Silky Eyes 02 Shimmer Turquoise
msp12 8/21/2004 11:01:00 AM
HR posseses a fantastic range of glitter eye pencils, and I was so thrilled to pick up a few of these at Tokyo Duty Free this summer. The pencils have excellent lasting power (which is saying a lot for me, considering that most pencil lines quickly melt onto my lower eyelid) and contain the finely milled glitter which is characteristic of many HR products. The tip of the pencil is soft and application is a dream, as with their regular range of eye pencils and lip pencils. One could achieve this look applying shadow over a pencil, however the convenience of using just one product is a big selling point for me. Shimmer Turquoise is a gorgeous deep shade of blue-green packed with fine gold glitter. I should not hesitate to repurchase this product when I run out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No