Lip Treatments -Sally Hansen - Volumizing Lip Shield - Va Va Voom
hesperia 1/13/2008 8:36:00 PM
I have this in the lightest color (sorry, I can't remember the name). It's a shimmery nude. No, it didn't make my lips fuller, but it gave them a nice pleasant-looking smooth finish. Also, although it is light - and although I DID layer it - it didn't leave me with frosty white lips, like those 60s lipsticks. I think I'm going to get a darker color and layer the light one on top. UPDATE: I got Va Va Voom and used it with the first one I bought (Fully Fabulous), and yes, they go SO well together. :)
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Palettes -Sonia Kashuk - Sheer Magic Mineral Face Palette
hesperia 1/13/2008 8:05:00 PM
My experience with this MMU is quite different. I also love the package. I have this in Medium. The foundation is nice for those days that you don't want full-scale makeup. It has a decent cover, but not total. I NEVER use MMU on my bare skin. Too drying, I wear it over my 7 Effect Anti-Aging Anti-Blemish cream and it works great (I must say, IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE, this cream works absolutely wonderfully with all my mineral/powder ftds). The blush is perfect. I tried it over foundation & setting powder, over other MMU, and it never failed. Great color, too. All in all, given the package, great for travel, especially if you don't want to pack too much.
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Moisturizers -Olay - Total Effects Anti-Aging Anti-Blemish Moisturizer [DISCONTINUED]
hesperia 1/4/2008 1:29:00 PM
I've been using this product for about a week and I'm sorry to hear it didn't work for some people because, so far, it's been working very well for me. I like the consistency: not too thick, not too thin. It goes on very nicely, it blends well, and it sinks right in. But what I really like is the way it makes my imperfect skin look much better. This actually dimishes the size of my pores (I never thought I would ever be able to say that). It doesn't make my combo skin oily, but it doesn't dry it, either. It took care of a few little pimples I got from using another product AND it does not give me little dry lines. Also, it works well with mineral foundation (that's the only kind I've tried so far; will try this with liquid fdt). I know. Sounds too good to be true. That's why I'm crossing my fingers and even my toes. The instructions say that it could cause dryness, but so far that hasn't happened. However, seeing as how it does have a high content of salysomething acid, I will keep an eye on it. I'm thinking maybe I can alternate this with the regular 7 Effects kind. Wish me luck, ladies. I really hope I won't have to return with a negative update.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Revlon - ColorStay Mineral Foundation
hesperia 1/3/2008 6:58:00 PM
I just bought (and tried) Revlon's new Colorstay Mineral Foundation, in Pale/Light (I'm sorry, I do not have a picture for this). I must say my first impression is very good. The container comes with its own retractable brush, which may be a bit small to some, but it is very soft. Also, the sifter cover, unlike most new containers, is a removable plastic one which can be put back. This makes it great for traveling as it avoids overspilling. I found it quite user-friendly. Once you remove the plastic sifter cover, screw the cover back on, tip the container very gently (to avoid overspilling), unscrew the top and turn it once to expand the brush. The coverage is very sheer, and this might be a disappointment to those who look for a more intense coverage. My skin is far (very far) from perfect. I have mild acne scarring, which by now, I know cannot be smoothed out unless I resort to laser correction (which I cannot afford), or to spackle (and I don't mean Laura Geller's primer, either). So I have learned to keep my expectations very realistic when it comes to makeup. Anyway, I put this mineral foundation over Olay's Anti-Aging/Anti-Blemish 7 Effects Moisturizer (mind you, I would not adivse to use a mineral foundation over bare skin, as it can be drying), and I really liked the results. My pores looked much smaller, and the overall effect was a nice soft-focus one. Those of you who prefer sheer powders, or who have an already nice complexion, are going to be pleased with this mineral powder, I think. Also, since it's so finely milled (a good deal more than any other mineral foundation I tried, regardless of price), it can be used over foundation as finishing powder. It has SPF 10 and is said to last up to 16 hours. It's been an hour since I put it on and my face is still matte, but not dry (I have combo skin), and I dusted quite a bit of it looking for more coverage. No dry lines, either, and I'm no spring chicken. It retails at $13.99, so it's not dirt cheap, but I do think you get your money's worth. I was also lucky that they had one of those "Buy one, get on free" thingies because Revlon has also launched mineral blushes and eye shadows (all Colorstay category and compact). I chose one of the blushes, Petal, a nice peachy pink color. Although it has shimmer, it's a very mild shimmer (me, I LOVE shimmery makeup; it spreads and blends so much better than matte) and the color is very flattering. I don't know if it's the foundation itself, the Olay cream, or the combination of both. But my first experience with Colorstay Mineral Foundation has worked very well for me. I hope it works for all other users. And yes, I would buy both the foundation and the blush again. Oh, one more thing. The foundation has no shimmer. Or at least, none I could detect.
53 out of 55 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Louve
hesperia 12/31/2007 7:00:00 PM
This was hubby's Christmas gift to me (after some very explicit hints - LOL). As usual with SL, I love it. It's a mixture of almond scent (which I love) and soft powedry something. At first, I feared it would be too baby powdery, but not on me, thank God. Very mild and tame, compared to other SL fragrances I've experienced, but lovely all the same. UPDATE 01/01/08: I had to come back and say once again how much I love this perfume. I wore it last night to dinner and I smelled so good it almost distracted me from the conversation. Now, I take second place to no one in my obsession with perfumes, but I'm sure you'll all agree with me in that there is not better sensation that than of being surrounded by a lovely/your favorite fragrance. Serge Lutens, je t'adore!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Comptoir Sud Pacifique - Lait Sucre
hesperia 12/31/2007 6:47:00 PM
The first time I smelled this I wanted to drink it. It smelled so sweet and yummy, exactly like the name says: sugared milk. I don't like foody scents (which is why I won't buy this), but it was a cold, rainy day, and this really felt comforting.
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Fragrances -Cartier - Delices
hesperia 12/31/2007 6:44:00 PM
This was hubby's last Christmas present and I wear it only on special occasions. It's sweet w/o being overwhelming, and oh-so-elegant. And the bottle. How can you not like the bottle? A great Cartier creation.
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Fragrances -Cartier - Le Baiser Du Dragon - Parfum
hesperia 12/31/2007 6:41:00 PM
I love this scent! I have a lot of Cartier perfumes and this is one of my favorites. So glamorous. My skin must do really good with oriental and strong scents because I always get compliments when I wear them. I'm so glad! :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Versace - Crystal Noir
hesperia 12/31/2007 6:36:00 PM
Sigh! I so wanted to like this one. I love the name, love the bottle. When I saw the tester at Sephora, I made a bee line for it. But when I smelled my wrist, my head almost snapped back. Whoa! What a stench! A SA caught my reaction and stifled a giggle. How could that be? I LOVE sandalwood. And I SO wanted to like Crystal Noir. Blast my skin chemistry. That's why I gave it 3 lippies instead of one. One woman's scent is another one's poison. Bummer. :(
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Fragrances -Hermes - Un Jardin sur le Nil
hesperia 12/31/2007 6:30:00 PM
LOVE this scent. It's my HG of scents for summer because it is different. It's not the run-of-the-mill weak, floral thingy that some people think is the thing for hot weather. However, I gave it 4 lippies because of the weak staying power. :(:(:(
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Fragrances -Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - Perfume Oils
hesperia 12/31/2007 6:23:00 PM
Black Phoenix Lab is a totally different experience. I tried some of their samples and liked all of themm scent-wise. They are quite original (not to mention the names :) ). The reason I did not order full sizes is a very personal one: I hate oils (which is why I gave this 4 stars). I really do not care for feeling oily all over, especially in summer. Other than that, their creations are very interesting.
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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Ambre Sultan
hesperia 12/31/2007 6:18:00 PM
My second SL bottle, and one that I especially love. The thing with SL is the uniqueness of his creations. His scents are not always a love-at-first-sniff affair (though they are with me), but you have to give them time. Most are a bit disconcerting at first BECAUSE they are so unique. But, really, give the fragrance time. Wear it on different days, in different moods, for different occasions. Let it grow on you. At any rate, if you don't want to smell like everyone else (and who does!), SL is the thing for you.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Jean Patou - Joy
hesperia 12/31/2007 6:13:00 PM
Wonderful scent! It was my mother's signature scent for a long time (after Nina Ricci misguidedly discontinued Fille d'Eve). My parents were in the diplomatic service and this scent brings back memories of my mother, dressed up to the nines, preparing to go to a reception or other. The sillage would remain long after she was gone. I never wore it myself (it was almost an impertinence), but I would gladly do it now.
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Fragrances -Calvin Klein - Obsession
hesperia 12/31/2007 6:04:00 PM
Another all-time favorite! AND very popular when I wear it. I used to have a co-worker who literally begged me to wear this scent, he liked it so much. LOL. My sister just gave me a full bottle (she does not tolerate strong perfumes, poor dear) and I was thrilled.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bulgari - bvlgari femme
hesperia 12/31/2007 6:00:00 PM
This perfume is heavenly! I don't usually go for florals, but I love this one. So elegant. So refined. So femenine. A winner.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No