Fragrances -Floris of London - White Rose
ChildOfTheMoon 6/11/2010 1:49:00 PM
Creamy white rose petals combined with sparkling aldehydes, other flowers and some subtle sweetness.There is something about White Rose that reminds me of Agent Provocateur's Maitresse, and having compared listed notes for both of these fragrances I see that they share several of them. If you are familiar with Maitresse I will only add that White Rose is rosier and smells more genuine/natural and fresh even with its musky aura. But even though this fragrance does have a distinct white rose note, it is far from being traditionally rosy or overbearingly sweet. On the contrary, the rose here is delicate, musky and a bit soapy without being heavy. I am yet to discover a white floral fragrance more elegantly composed than this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Bloom - Pure Mineral Powder Foundation
ChildOfTheMoon 6/11/2010 6:03:00 AM
Pros: +Shade "light" matches my summer skin tone nicely. +Provides decent medium coverage. +Not tested on animals. +Very cute logo. :) Cons: -Amount of the product is ridiculously small. -Expensive! -Tiny pan with a tiny lid isn't ideal for working w/ a kabuki. -Contains bismuth oxychloride which can be irritating. -Only 5 shades available.
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Treatments -Ren - Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask
ChildOfTheMoon 6/7/2010 3:36:00 PM
This mask stings! Nothing unbearable but worth mentioning. Now the good part: it gets rid of dead skin like no other treatment and does so without damaging my skin. And it smells like apricot marmalade! Yum. I do not use it consistently though, never more than once a week, but more likely once a month when I feel that I really need a proper peel, as using it too often dries me out. There is some redness when I wash it off, so I follow up with a good nourishing oil such as rosehip and some aloe vera gel for an extra treat. I do this before bedtime and next day my skin looks more even and well rested. I keep the pump bottle refrigerated, and in its box because this product contains many natural ingredients, so just to stay on the safe side.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Deluxe Eyeshadow - Ruthless
ChildOfTheMoon 6/7/2010 3:13:00 PM
Urban Decay describes Ruthless as "pale sandy taupe shimmer" which I find very appropriate. This is a nice nude shade that barely shows on my pale complexion. It's an all around color that I either wear on its own for a natural look or combined with a matte black for more drama. This shade is not terribly unique, but the texture of deluxe eyeshadows is of excellent quality and this particular shade is suitable for vegans. The packaging is cute and fun (with a picture of a robot and a dinosaur!) but also useful with a mirror inside.
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Fragrances -LUSH - American Cream Solid Perfume
ChildOfTheMoon 6/7/2010 11:43:00 AM
I never tried the conditioner so I don't know how close this solid is to the original scent, but I like what I smell. This is not a terribly complicated fragrance- vanilla with something else (is that clary sage?) which makes it more interesting. Delicious and comforting without being toothachey sweet. Instant love.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Nuit de Tubereuse
ChildOfTheMoon 6/7/2010 11:27:00 AM
Listed notes: Pink Pepper, Cascarilla, Angelica, Tangerine, Ylang-Ylang, Mango, Tuberose, Rose, Genista, Clove, Sandalwood, Labdanum, Musk. My experience with this fragrance (sample): when I first sprayed this it smelled purely floral and not that interesting. I like flowers accompanied with spices, powder or musk. I'm not afraid of strong scents. (Youth Dew, Aromatics Elixir, Karma are some of my old loves) What I don't like is soapy clean florals. Nuit de Tubereuse eventually turns very sharp and clean, almost like those overly perfumed washing detergents. This sharpness doesn't calm down, it is very persistent and long lasting. It gets to the point when it smells almost metallic, but mostly it is old fashioned laundry soap- and very very sharp. There are some spices in the background, but they never really come through completely. The drydown is a mishmash of high pitched green notes - nothing unusual or interesting. It is such a disappointed because the description and the notes sounded so good to me.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Korres - Lip Butter - Jasmine
ChildOfTheMoon 6/2/2010 6:09:00 AM
Jasmine Lip Butter does what any lip balm should; it is moisturizing and softening, plus it ads a bit of nude pink color. My lips are not terribly pigmented, so if yours are maybe you won't get much color payoff. This was a very impulsive purchase (when will I learn?) and even though I think it's an OK product, I have to say it is not worth the price. I should have invested in a good nude lipstick for more color, or buy a cheaper balm that performs just as well as this one. Korres boasts with natural ingredients but this product doesn't contain that many. All things considered I would give it strong 3,5 lippies.
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Blush -E.L.F. - Studio Blush Peachy Keen
ChildOfTheMoon 6/1/2010 8:03:00 PM
This is my favourite elf blush too. Peachy keen is a wonderful peachy shade without any brown- so it won't turn muddy. I'm pale and usually go for pink shades as they compliment my complexion, but this blush is a perfect transition towards more orangey shades. It still has enough pinkness, so if you are used to pink blush this one won't be an extreme change, but it will be different enough. This blush definitely shows on my pale skin with only two swipes. I am not sure how well it will show on darker complexions. It is not terribly pigmented, but that makes it easier to control. The texture is alright- maybe a bit chalky/dusty, but considering the price I won't complain too much.
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Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Tea Tree Oil
ChildOfTheMoon 5/30/2010 6:15:00 AM
I think this oil is too strong and unpleasant on its own. (I dont like that cool minty smell) I used to use it as a spot treatment but then found that lavender essential oils works better for that, and also smells nicer. Tea tree oil works better diluted in my opinion. A simple and cheap trick is to add a few drops in a spray bottle filled with water. Works nicely as a face refresher or a toner. (Supposedly good for oily scalp too)! A drop or two can be added to daily moisturizer as well. But I still prefer lavender and ylang ylang for that purpose, so for those of you who feel that TTO didn't do much I suggest trying those two oils. (read reviews for more info)
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Dolma - Vegamusk
ChildOfTheMoon 5/29/2010 2:08:00 PM
Dolma is a cruelty free company approved by BUAV and the Vegan Society. They have a nice little collection of perfumes including Vegamusk, which is one of my favourites from the bunch. (I ordered ten samples) This is a cozy musk scent- no wild interpretations, but that's exactly what I wanted. A delicate "skin-scent", more creamy than powdery, clean but still sensual. Not obviously cool or warm, more of a neutral, well balanced musky scent. I find that it is especially nice on a rainy day. Quite good lasting power.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Akamuti - Buttered Rose & Almond Aromatic Roll-On Stick
ChildOfTheMoon 5/25/2010 2:03:00 PM
Description on the bottle says: "Gorgeously scented with flower oils and a hint of marzipan this rollette conjours up happy thoughts of wedding cakes & old fashioned rose gardens. " And it kind of does. What I get is an immediate kick of mouthwatering, creamy marzipan with roses. I would label this oil a floral gourmand, which is the only kind of foodie fragrance that I enjoy. If you're a fan of uncomplicated sweet roses and/or sweet almond then this is worth checking out. It is not terribly complex but it is lovely and even addictive. Unfortunately the almond scent is too fleeting, and even though I like the practical (and very portable) roll-on I wish there was a liquid version which I could spray on my clothes. This product is suitable for vegans and the 12 ml bottle is bigger than I imagined! :)
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Toners -Unlisted Brand - Rosewater
ChildOfTheMoon 5/16/2010 10:42:00 AM
I use flower water and herbal tea as a toner. It is affordable, simple, gentle on the skin and all natural. I must have saved a fortune since I switched to a more natural skincare (pure plant oils & butters, EOs, herbs, flower water, clays, etc...) and it also saved my skin! Now let me tell you specifically about rosewater. I'm talking about alcohol-free, genuine rosewater. There are some good cheap versions to be found and some not as good, but if you're aiming for best quality, then organic is the way to go. It is still pretty affordable compared with drugstore toners. Rosewater, when used as a toner acts calming and feels incredibly gentle and refreshing. It is such a treat to use after a long, busy day, after I remove makeup, but also in the morning before applying moisturizer. I keep some in an old spray (glass) bottle- and just spray on my face, or all over my body, right after shower. (this leaves my bathrobe smelling divine!) Rosewater can also be used as a (final) hair rinse if you want your hair to smell like roses. I use the cheaper type for this. :) (ps. If you're in Europe, akamuti.co.uk has a nice selection of organic flower water, including rosewater)
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Aubrey Organics - B-5 Design Gel
ChildOfTheMoon 5/15/2010 1:59:00 PM
First of all, I generally dislike hair gels. They remind me of the sticky, stiff, dry mess my hair was when I was in my early teens. I used to be addicted to that stuff. But... when I received a free sample of this B5 design gel, I thought I'd give it a try. Well, let me tell you, this product is far from the typical sticky gels from my past. It doesn't leave hair stiff, but soft and shiny with light-to-medium hold. It is silicone free and feels light like a feather, there is no heaviness at all. It is vegan friendly and aloe vera based with some other natural ingredients. My hair tends to frizz, and this is just strong enough to make it behave. I usually apply it to dry hair, but it works in damp hair too. If you want a more natural, light hold hair gel, then this is definitely worth testing.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Florame - Absolutely vanilla organic perfume
ChildOfTheMoon 5/13/2010 2:38:00 PM
When I first tested this edt I admit feeling a bit disappointed because I expected something heavier- a fragrance more complex, I guess. But it was my fault entirely to expect something else than vanilla from a fragrance simply named "Absolutely Vanilla". Duh! But here is my experience: when first sprayed I smell the distinct caramel note, which is really just a smart combination of a very rich gourmand vanilla and cocoa, (without any trace of floral notes or that typical synthetic sweetness found in many one-note vanilla fragrances). This one is sweet too, but so very close to genuine vanilla pod, somewhat tempered with raw cocoa beans. If you handle these ingredients in the kitchen you will recognize them immediately in this composition. But like I said, initially this just didn't impress me enough. I wish there was more depth. Patchouli or sandalwood would make this fragrance so much more interesting in my opinion. But then in the middle notes, when the fragrance "warms up" there is this really distinct resinous booziness, which I can best describe as "gourmand liquor". I simply adore that part. It is like an unexpected sinful, rich filling in a seemingly light dessert. But unfortunately I find that this fragrance doesn't last longer than 3 hours on me (when most other fragrances I own last a whole day) So my final statement is: this is not a terribly groundbreaking or different fragrance, but it is an interesting and good quality vanilla scent. I think it stands out among other gourmand/vanilla scents and as such it is definitely worth a sniff. Being 100% natural, over 80% organic and vegan friendly works in its favour too. :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Other -Weleda - Plant Toothpaste
ChildOfTheMoon 3/30/2010 6:13:00 PM
I discovered this toothpaste about 3-4 months ago and have to say I like it even better than my old favourite salt toothpaste (also by Weleda). At first it doesn't feel like it's cleaning properly- because it is so gentle without any harsh foam, but I assure you it does leave your teeth and mouth clean. I even noticed some slight whitening effect at first, even though this toothpaste doesn't promise any. It has safe, natural ingredients, it's vegan and it works- so I'm 100% pleased. _____ From Weleda's site: "All Weleda toothpastes are suitable for vegans and are free from added fluoride, detergents, bleaches, foam boosters, optical brighteners plus synthetic colours, fragrances, flavourings, sweeteners, deodorants, emulsifiers, disinfectants and preservatives."
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