Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Sheer Lipstick #17
Marianne 4/8/2003 9:12:00 PM
This is a more difficult to wear color, which didn't quite suit me, thus the lower rating. It's a pretty tangerine/mango color with a lovley shimmer. If you can carry off a bright lipstick, you will love this... but it "clashed" with my skintone. Same wonderful smooth, silky quality as the other lipsticks.
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Highlighters -Giorgio Armani - Fluid Sheer #9
Marianne 4/8/2003 9:10:00 PM
Wow! I never use bronzer, etc, and when I saw this, I thought it would be much to dark for me. But the MA decided it was a "must" and when she was done, I was amazed. It gave a warmth and glow to my face, and wasn't too dark. The shimmer was also more glowy than "shimmery." This would last forever... a little really goes a long way! And no streakiness at the end of the night!
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Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Jour de Fete (new)
Marianne 4/8/2003 9:00:00 PM
Three cheers for dearest dinahad for sending me her very generous spray sample of this lovely scent! I have been on the hunt for an almond fragrance for quite some time now, and this is lovely... it's not syrupy sweet, like SL Rahat Loukoum, nor does it have that cherry cough medicine undertone... it's just a light, sweet scent of warm sugared almonds! Soothing and satisyfing. I really love this. I just wish that there was a bit more of a sophisticated nuance to it... I don't quite catch the milkiness which other reviewers have described... I think that would have put it over the top to 5 lipsticks, IMHO. I wasn't able to detect the other notes, just pure almonds and sugar.
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Hair -Dove - Volumizing Color Care Shampoo
Marianne 4/5/2003 11:49:00 AM
I was very skeptical about this line... but I was pleasantly surprised! Even when I use this alone, without conditioner, my hair feels lighter, but smooth and soft as well! My hair feels so much healthier than it has in months, and I am putting away my pricier Fekkai items!
Update: I am allergic to this shampoo, and can no longer to use it... sigh. But it was nice while it lasted!
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Conditioner -Dove - Volumizing Color Care Conditioner
Marianne 4/5/2003 11:46:00 AM
Wow! I really love this conditioner... I have very straight, fine hair. This didn't weight my hair down, and really revved up the shine factor! Also, my hair hasn't felt this soft in such a long time! Love it!
Update: it turns out I am allergic to this conditioner. Sigh. But it was nice while it lasted.
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Eye Shadow -Giorgio Armani - Eye Shadow #26
Marianne 3/28/2003 5:30:00 PM
Wow! after reading all the fab reviews, I knew I had to get this! It really is a lovely color... changes in all sorts of lights. But not holographic... it's just an exotic blend of taupe, charcoal, and plum. Perfect for smokey eyes, and with just a hint of a glow to it!
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Sheer Lipstick- #11
Marianne 3/28/2003 5:28:00 PM
Lovely, just as all the other MUAers have said! Perfect sheer pinky-beige, with more pink than beige. A warmer, pinkier version of the nude lip, and the exact color of what my lips should be! Love it! It really does define the lips, making them seem poutier, more "kissable." And the reviewer who said it was "angelic" was right on the mark!
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Eye Shadow -Giorgio Armani - Eye Shadow #37
Marianne 3/28/2003 5:26:00 PM
One of my favorite e/s! It's a lovely warm color, a bit more pink than peach, and with a lovely subtle sheen. The perfect rosy gold color. So glad that it isn't limited edition... it's too pretty! Warm and glowy, gives eyes a subtle warmth, and perfect alone or with a smokey eye (as the MA did on me.) And the same Armani quality, perfect, velvety, smooth finish!
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Torrini Donna Caterina
Marianne 3/16/2003 3:31:00 AM
I was very lucky to be able to test this, thanks to dear Victoria! This is one of those scents I can't quite label as "cool" or "warm" as it seems to be perfect for all seasons. It's wonderful for layering, and seems to give a more complex nuance to many different varieties of scents! I feel like it gives some sort of "deep forest" feel... there are light patches of clearings in the woods where flowers grow, but also deeper, darker areas as well... I feel like I am writing a fairy tale! The oak moss is the predominant note... it rises above the floral notes, and I can imagine the green moss, warmed under a ray of sun, or cold and earthy, in the shade. It tickles my nose just a bit, the way my allergic nose feels tickled in the forest. But not in bad, way... more in a "once upon a time" way. LOL! Does that make any sense? The sandalwood is very soft in the drydown, and gives a nice anchor for this scent. It's a fresh scent, with just a bit of mystery to it, like the dark woods, and perhaps even a bit of the dark nature of Catherine di Medici.
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Fragrances -Demeter - Blueberry
Marianne 3/16/2003 3:21:00 AM
Terrible... I love blueberry scents, but just can't find the perfect one which doesn't smell too artifical... I want the scent you get from blueberry muffins, from overly ripe blueberries in cereal. This started off with about 10 seconds of promise... then immediately turned rather sour and artifical right away. Gave me a headache, and like many of the Demeter scents... it just disappeared.
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Fragrances -Caron - Parfum Sacre
Marianne 3/16/2003 3:19:00 AM
I have recently learned that I have a penchant for incense-y fragrances. This is lovely, but still unique. In the beginning I smell the peppery notes, and the spices... I felt like I had been playing in the kitchen! But the pepper was just perfect... my nose is very sensitive and I didn't feel the urge to sneeze... Then the myrrh and cedar, which are the "incense" notes start to emerge, and there is a very nice delicate balance of culinary delight and spiritual incense. The florals are lost to me... they must be muted with the deeper, more pungent dominant notes, as I could not detect them well. Finally, in the final drydown the vanilla gives a bit of gentle sweetness to the fragrance, but doesn't overwhelm with over-sweetness.
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Moisturizers -DHC - alpha Arbutin White Cream
Marianne 3/16/2003 1:41:00 AM
Wow... I thought that the White line from DHC couldn't get any better. I was wrong... this is the newest "skin brightening" addition to the DHC brand. Like the rest of DHC's brighteners, it is hydroquinone free. It's based on "Arbutin" which is also the active ingredient in Shiseido's very expensive Whitess. It comes from either bilberry or mulberry extract, depending on who you talk to.
Unlike the original "White cream" this cream is not sticky at all!! This is a major plus, b/c then you can actually use this during the day for more moisture if the milk is just not enough. I really love it, and feel this is a bit more effective than the milk, so if it's on or the other and you are very dry, pick this one! It's hardly heavier than the milk, in all honesty. I just hate that it's in a jar... feel like it can be more contaminated. Be sure to wear with sunscreen, or your hyperpigmentation will be worse! You might notice a bit of a flush to the skin a few minutes after using, but it doesn't cause discomfort. It lasts for a while, but fades away soon, I believe it's the reaction of the skin to the arbutin (I have used several items with arbutin, and have had the same reaction.) It sinks in very well into the skin, and leaves no weird cast or oily residue on the skin. Light and great for the day, esp. if you wear makeup over it, and since you will have to put sunblock over it.
I have used this and the rest of the alpha- Arbutin line for 5 weeks now, and feel my skin is smoother, the tone more even, and my hyperpigmentation on my chin much less noticable, although still apparent.
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Moisturizers -DHC - alpha Arbutin White Milk
Marianne 3/16/2003 1:36:00 AM
Wow... I thought that the White line from DHC couldn't get any better. I was wrong... this is the newest "skin brightening" addition to the DHC brand. Like the rest of DHC's brighteners, it is hydroquinone free. It's based on "Arbutin" which is also the active ingredient in Shiseido's very expensive Whitess. It comes from either bilberry or mulberry extract, depending on who you talk to.
The product comes in very nice pump, so that you know that the product is kept as fresh as possible, which is nice. I find that 1-2 pumps are enough, and this thin lotion is very light and moisturizes pretty well on my very dry skin. You might notice a bit of a flush to the skin a few minutes after using, but it doesn't cause discomfort. It lasts for a while, but fades away soon, I believe it's the reaction of the skin to the arbutin (I have used several items with arbutin, and have had the same reaction.) You must use a sunblock after using this, or your skin will have more hyperpigmentation problems! It sinks in very well into the skin, and leaves no weird cast or oily residue on the skin. Light and great for the day, esp. if you wear makeup over it, and since you will have to put sunblock over it.
I have used this and the rest of the alpha- Arbutin line for 5 weeks now, and feel my skin is smoother, the tone more even, and my hyperpigmentation on my chin much less noticable, although still apparent.
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Toners -DHC - alpha Arbutin White lotion (toner)
Marianne 3/16/2003 1:32:00 AM
Wow... I thought that the White line from DHC couldn't get any better. I was wrong... this is the newest "skin brightening" addition to the DHC brand. Like the rest of DHC's brighteners, it is hydroquinone free. It's based on "Arbutin" which is also the active ingredient in Shiseido's very expensive Whitess. It comes from either bilberry or mulberry extract, depending on who you talk to. This is wonderful, great for any skin type... it leaves the face feeling refreshed, never tight and stinging. (and I have very dry skin.) And no residue! You might notice a bit of a flush to the skin a few minutes after using, but it doesn't cause discomfort. It lasts for a while, but fades away soon, I believe it's the reaction of the skin to the arbutin (I have used several items with arbutin, and have had the same reaction.) I have used this and the rest of the alpha- Arbutin line for 5 weeks now, and feel my skin is smoother, the tone more even, and my hyperpigmentation on my chin much less noticable, although still apparent. When used with the "milk" during the day (with a very good sunblock-- otherwise your skin will get worse!) and with the "Cream" at night, they make a great combo. I feel that you really need to use the toner with one of the moisturizers to be most effective... somehow I always run out of toner first, and when I only use the moisturizers, it's just not the same. I will buy this over and over again!!! pricey, but worth it!
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Fragrances -Chanel - Gardenia
Marianne 3/13/2003 5:01:00 PM
I have been dying to try this fragrance for months! I have heard that it's the parfum or the EDP that I must try, and it's been hard to track down without paying $$$$ for a large bottle! I was able to get my paws on a parfum mini, and was so excited! I was amazed, since parfum usually seems to be much stronger and headier, at least in other fragrances... this was soft, beautiful, and elegant. The predominant note I can detect is the jasmine, which I love. But it's a very subdued, lady-like jasmine, not too heady, very refined. There is a very soft quality to the whole balance to this fragrance, and I was amazed b/c it's not powdery in any sense. I can just detect a hint of vanilla which lends its warmth,and I feel it's somehow keeping the jasmine in check, kind of like a chaperone! ;-) Very pretty. If you are trying to find a white floral that suits you, but are not a fan of extreme sweetness/headiness, this is it! I do confess, now I am wondering what the EDT is like, since I hear there is a huge difference!
update! I have had a chance to experience the the EDT from a very kind swapper... and it is just as the reviewers before me have stated! Just a bit sweeter, with hint of cherry-syrup sweetness in the top notes. It dissipates with time, and then settles to the lovely refined floral scent I adore. I don't mind this sweeter version, but I do prefer the *parfum*. =)
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