Fragrances -Origins - Ginger Essence
strix 10/2/2011 9:03:00 PM
This fragrance is strong enough that it stays on all day, but it doesn’t make me sneeze. Double win! It smells like ginger and citrus, but also like an unidentifiable spice. Vanilla, maybe? It smells exactly like the Origins store, a scent that I can’t get enough of. It’s fresh, spicy, and green– no floral notes here. Every time I smell it, I think of a natural spa, an oasis with lush plants, marble tiles, tropical iced tea, and lots of Moroccan floor pillows. Maybe an elephant roaming by…but that’s just me. Very calming, relaxing, and natural. When I review a fragrance, I like to picture what kind of woman I imagine wearing it. The Ginger Essence woman is calm and collected–no frills and no drama. She is healthy and independent. She probably has a garden, a few animals, and a slightly bohemian, yet simple style. Ginger Essence makes a great signature scent because it is recognizable and unique, but appropriate enough to wear just about anywhere. I think it could pass as a unisex scent, though it is marketed as a women’s fragrance.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Honore des Pres Vamp a NY
strix 8/26/2011 6:09:00 PM
This perfume smells SO GOOD. I liked it the very first time I sprayed it. It smells like nature, that's the best way to describe it. Like roses, forest, and spices all in one. It's slightly masculine, but the rose keeps it feminine. Unlike so many perfumes in department stores, this one does not make me sneeze. I think the scent is unique enough that it can definitely make a good signature scent. It is also irresistible to men, at least in my experience because it smells mysterious and sexy without being too heady or overpowering. It doesn't last as long as some of my other perfumes, but I love the scent so much and it's all-natural so that's okay with me. UPDATE: After a couple months of use, I'm no longer in love with this scent. Some of the people I spend my days with have found it too strong. Someone even said it smelled like cat pee. I think the perfume smells good, but I find myself almost *never* wearing it, which is bad considering the price tag.
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Fragrances -Donna Karan - DKNY Golden Delicious
strix 8/8/2011 6:44:00 PM
I expected to like this a lot so I ordered it online without trying it out first. I thought it'd be a sensual, mysterious autumn scent. Instead, it smells like generic Pantene shampoo. It's a very clean scent, but I don't smell much apple, vanilla, or any of the other "notes" that are supposedly a part of the fragrance. It'd be good for the office because it probably won't offend anyone. I do feel like you could achieve a similar scent by just using Pantene detangling hair spray. When you first spray it, for the first couple of hours it smells like shampoo and then it mellows out to be a little more warm and spicy, so I like it more as the day wears on. The bottle is the best of the DKNY Delicious fragrances in my opinion. I like the copper gold color-- classy! I think it smells a little similar to Katy Perry Purr, though I like Purr better because it's a bit more unique and actually smells a little more like apple than Golden Delicious.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Katy Perry - Purr
strix 7/27/2011 12:02:00 AM
I usually hate celebrity scents, but this perfume makes me feel fun, fit, and sexy. It's fruity and oriental. Smells a bit like a lighter, younger D&G The One. The fruity notes are more noticeable at first, and then it settles into a sandalwood/vanilla scent. Purr is not the most recognizable scent, nor is it the strongest. I alternate between thinking the bottle is tacky and loving it. On the one hand, it does look like something a teenager would buy, but on the other hand, I love cats and the color purple. Call me a crazy cat lady, but I love the heart-shaped charm on the bottle that says Purr on it. This is less expensive than a lot of perfumes so I didn't feel like I was breaking the bank. Nordstrom sells a $45 bottle (1.7 oz)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Alima - Satin Matte Eyeliner - Denali
strix 7/17/2011 11:11:00 PM
A must for hazel-eyed beauties! This is a dark green gray that makes my eyes of the same color really pop. It is applied best with an angle eyeliner brush. Make sure to tap the brush before applying or you will get fallout.
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Highlighters -Fresh - Supernova Radiance Brightening Pen
strix 6/1/2011 10:08:00 PM
I am the type of person who likes to try lots of new things and I rarely repurchase items when I run out, but this one I have bought over and over again. I am shade #1, and I find it to be the perfect concealer with a built-in blush. (I have pale neutral-rosy skin) It's not really a highlighter in my opinion, but is great to cover acne, imperfections, redness, and under-eye circles. At $24, it's pretty steep, but for me it works so well that the price is worth it. I wear it underneath my mineral foundation or Origins Vitazing. Works great with both.
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Powder -Alima - Satin Matte Mineral Foundation
strix 6/1/2011 10:04:00 PM
PROS So easy to find your perfect match for any skin tone Good coverage Non-itchy Cute packaging Nontoxic ingredient list CONS Can be messy to apply, as all loose mineral makeup can be Will emphasize large pores but this can be fixed by using a moisturizer/primer underneath
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Chanel - Vitalumiere Aqua
strix 2/23/2011 11:38:00 PM
I have the Color BR10, which is the lightest shade and has a rosy undertone (versus the B line which is more of a straight beige) I have to admit, my opinion of this is a bit skewed simply because the color matches my skin tone better than any other foundation I've ever used. I think how well a foundation matches your skin is probably the strongest determining factor in whether or not you will like it. So I liked it immediately based on that alone. I never understood how makeup artists said that when you swipe a foundation on your face, it will look almost invisible if it is the right color-- I had never had this experience until now and boy is it fantastic! Ok, so perfect color match aside, how does it perform? Well, I personally don't like heavy foundations but I find tinted moisturizers to be invisible. This foundation is somewhere in between a tinted moisturizer and a foundation, which is awesome. Covers the rosiness of my cheeks and tones down blemishes, but isn't cakey or unnatural. I also love that it has SPF 15-- not many foundations come with sun protection. Now I don't have to worry about layering sunscreen under my foundation unless I want a higher SPF. Another problem I've often had with tinted moisturizers is that they are greasy and streaky on my somewhat oily skin. Vitalumiere Aqua isn't streaky or greasy-- it is matte but natural looking. However, it also does not emphasize the dry areas on my face. Another thing I love about this foundation is that it is meant to be applied with fingers. I've never liked using a brush because I feel like it wastes product that gets soaked into the bristles. I guess my only complaint is that the color line isn't very broad so if you have a darker or lighter skin tone, you may find that there is not a match for you. If you are going to have a lot of photos taken, I'd recommend a heavier foundation, but for everyday this is excellent. It is in a sturdy lightweight plastic bottle. Unlike my Nars Sheer Glow in the glass bottle, this is not heavy or breakable and very easy to travel with. When you unscrew the top, it has a tiny hole--just squeeze the bottle and a little bit comes out. Much much easier to dispense than other foundations. Ones with a pump tend to dispense too much, and ones without a pump are just messy. This is a happy medium for me. Bottom Line: Perfect lightweight foundation-- easy-to-use and portable packaging, sun protection, looks natural, even coverage. This is my new Holy Grail foundation!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Chanel - Rouge Coco Shine - Boy
strix 2/21/2011 9:10:00 PM
Boy is a pretty rose color. Rosier/pinker than my natural lip color but not over the top. Because it is sheer, how it looks on you may depend on how much pigmentation your lips have naturally. It has a subtle rose scent that may bother some people. It’s great that it is basically fool-proof and you can apply it without a mirror. For me, this is perfect for everyday because I don’t like to look too “made up,” and prefer a more natural look. One thing I love about it is that I don’t need to put chapstick under it because it’s already moisturizing. With EVERY other lipcolor I’ve used, I always put lip balm underneath. I’d say this lipstick is halfway between a tinted lip balm and a regular lipstick. The packaging has a satisfying click when you close the tube together. Has the Chanel logo on top and the gold band in the middle. No complaints whatsoever about the packaging’s sturdiness, and it looks fantastic on my vanity. Bottom Line: If you like a casual, sheer and moisturizing lip color this is for you!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Kate Somerville - Anti Bac Clearing Lotion
strix 1/31/2011 8:53:00 PM
When I turned 19 five years ago, I developed moderate acne on my cheeks and chin. I suspect it’s hormonal because I had a good diet and always washed my face 2x a day. I tried literally every type of face wash to clear up my skin, like Origins organic facial care, Neutrogena, Clinique, Clean & Clear, and smelly sulfur spot treatments. You name it, I had tried it, and nothing worked. My skin was dry but acne-prone– a nightmare! The sales woman at Sephora recommended Kate Somerville’s line to me a year ago but I didn’t buy it due to the expensive price– $39.50 for 1.7 oz. Finally with a gift card, I decided to go for it, but wasn’t expecting results since nothing else had worked. So, three weeks after using this everyday, my skin is MUCH clearer. The active ingredient, benzoyl peroxide, is usual found in prescription acne treatments, so that’s probably why this works so well. I still do have some scarring that will take a while to clear up, and my skin isn’t totally breakout free, but I no longer feel self conscious about my erupting face. I love that it has a pump, making it hygienic and easy to use. Quality packaging, quality product, totally worth the investment.
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Blush -Chanel - Joues Contraste in Espiegle
strix 1/31/2011 8:47:00 PM
I really like this color. In the pan, it’s the prettiest blush I own. It’s not pink at all, which makes it unique and fresh, but also a tad orange if you overdo it. I enjoy this peach as an alternative to pink blush. While pink says “demure,” peach says “powerful.” Unlike NARS’ Sex Appeal blush, Espiegle has no trouble showing up on my skin. Compared to other blushes I own, it is a bit grainier, which makes it pigmented but it is also slightly more obvious that I am wearing blush. Then there’s the scent– it smells VERY strongly of roses. Some days I like this, some days it smells like an old lady– I’m on the fence. The packaging is sturdy & chic, I love that there’s a mirror inside, and the brush that it comes with really does work. Of course, the brush isn’t an equal to a full-sized blush brush, but it does the job when you’re traveling, and unlike Benefit blushes, the brush has its own little compartment so it doesn’t get messy. The black compact is so shiny and reflective that it picks up fingerprints easily, but overall the packaging is fab.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -MAC - Calm Mode
strix 12/29/2010 7:26:00 PM
I'm not sure why there are so many bad reviews for this. The lavender vanilla scent doesn't bother me at all. It is a nude pink with a creamy and sheer consistency.There’s SPF 15 for sun protection too. If you are familiar with Feelin’ Good TLC from last year’s Warm & Cozy Collection, Calm Mode is virtually the same but less milky. Side by side they look almost identical. Calm Mode is great for everyday wear if you want to moisturize and even out your lips, or if you have very pigmented lips and want to tone down the redness a little. The only thing that bugs me about it is that you have to dip your finger in every time you want to use it. Thus, I don’t bring it to work to reapply throughout the day– too much hassle!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Almay - Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover Pads
strix 12/19/2010 11:09:00 PM
Hydrating? Nope. Greaseball? Definitely. I had used Almay's regular makeup removal pads, which were effective but drying, so I thought these would an upgrade. A waste of $5. They are so greasy on my eyes and they did not remove all of my eye makeup, which wasn't even waterproof. Stay away from these!
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Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Coralista
strix 12/19/2010 3:22:00 PM
Coralista is a beautiful pinky coral. Unlike other orangey corals, this is more pink. It is very pigmented-- does not take much at all to show up on my fair cheeks. I love tropical colors-- they really do a lot for my mood, especially in the dead of winter! Coralista is, by far, the most flattering blush color I have found for my fair skin. In fact, when I switched to all natural products, I made an exception for Coralista because it's just THAT good! The box seems like it would get beat up easily in a makeup bag, and the cover could come off easily if jostled while traveling. However, this doesn't bother me too much. The blush comes with a small brush. Everyone hates the Benefit brushes, and while they aren't ideal, I found it to be quite soft and usable. The packaging is a little wild-- not quite my taste, but you definitely can't call it boring!
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Lip Treatments -Weleda - Everon lip balm
strix 12/8/2010 12:30:00 AM
I take my lip balms for granted. I've tried so many that I forget which ones I have--both high end and drugstore. This balm really is the best one. It goes on matte (not greasy like vaseline or oily like other natural lip balms). The scent is pleasant-- like vanilla and rose. I usually don't like scented lip balms (like Fresh) because the scent bugs me, but this one is very subtle. There is no color, but it does emphasize your natural pinkness. Great as a base under lipstick. The ingredients are healthy so I don't worry about what chemicals are going on my lips. The packaging is easy to use, hygienic, and convenient, though I do wish it was just a little bit prettier because I like sleek packaging.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No