Fragrances -Paris Hilton - Heiress by Paris Hilton
MalibuMands 6/8/2012 6:20:00 PM
HEIRESS applies with energetic, fizzy fruits; Yeah, not the greatest description ever, but it just seems so bubbly on skin. The passion fruit is the strongest on me. I honestly can't tell any difference between the heart and the base. Both are comprised of sweet, but jumbled florals. The only floral note I can clearly seperate is the violet. The passion fruit notes are either very strong or else mixed into the heart and base too, as I can still smell it as the fragrance dries down. Scent notes: Passion fruit, orange, peach granite, champagne mimosa, star jasmine, tiare flower, honeysuckle and violet. It may not be 'grown up' or sophisticated, but I love HEIRESS. Honestly, the whole Paris Hilton line has been enjoyable. Who cares about the name on the bottles? With the typical British weather it spends more time in a drawer then it does on my dresser, but I'm not strong enough to give it away. It's fun in a bottle.
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Fragrances -Elizabeth Arden - Midnight Fantasy Britney Spears
MalibuMands 6/8/2012 5:52:00 AM
MIDNIGHT FANTASY is strong on the fruit notes. The notes of plum and cherries stayed with me all the way through the floral hearts notes, the result was that I couldn’t separate any of the floral notes - except for a vague powdery/sweet note that is similar to vanilla, which I'm guessing is the orchid. I’d have thought the base would be sweet, but it’s not; the notes of pure vanilla and amber in the base was also very subtle. I could pick out the musky tones, but the plum still manages to linger and remain the star attraction. MIDNIGHT FANTASY is all about the fruity notes. Personally I love plums and cherries so I do adore MIDNIGHT FANTASY, though I have to caution that it can be sickly in warm weather. I’d definitely stick to autumn/winter for wearing this. Key scent notes: Black cherries, framboise, plum, orchid, freesia, iris, musk, amber and vanilla. MIDNIGHT FANTASY has great staying power, a stricking bottle, and always seems to be on offer in stores. So an already reasonably priced perfume becomes a bargain.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Clinique - Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer
MalibuMands 6/4/2012 5:36:00 AM
I was already a bit of a fan of Clinique skincare because it doesn't cause breakouts, itches or rashes on my dry and sensitive skin; something which 90% of creams I've tried do (I've tried many different brands from all price ranges), so I thought that Superdefense Moisturizer would be a safe bet... There's not much to say for this product. I used it twice a day for almost two months and I still had visible dry flakes of skin, about three hours after application. Also; the formula felt gritty upon application. I didn't notice any other improvements either i.e. skin tightening, glowing or fine lines being reduced. A disappointing waste of time and money. I've added a star for the SPF and the fact that Superdefense didn't irritate my skin.
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Fragrances -Elizabeth Arden - Fantasy Britney spears
MalibuMands 6/2/2012 6:06:00 AM
FANTASY opens with fruity scents of lychee, quince and kiwi. Sweet, but not sickly sweet. The fruit isn't as overpowering in it's sweetness as FANTASY's flanker Midnight Fantasy, so if you don't like that it's still worth testing this. The key note of vanilla cupcake lingers from the heart to the base, giving FANTASY a lovely warmth that whispers "come closer" to passers by - making this perfect for people who work in public based settings as you'll seem even more approachable. Of cause; FANTASY is also superb for when you're feeling flirty ;) Scent notes: lychee, quince, kiwi, vanilla cupcake, jasmine, white chocolate, creamy musk, orris root, and woods. Seriously, can cupcakes and chocolate ever be a bad thing? I admit I was a little wary of trying FANTASY - I suffer from migraines so can't wear many sweeter fragrances. However; I'm pleased to say that's not the case with FANTASY. The fact that this is in a pink, diamante studded bottle and has the name Britney Spears attached makes this seem like just another 'tween' release, but I think women of any age can wear this. I seriously think that FANTASY is a modern classic in the making. Finally: FANTASY always seems to be on offer in stores, so an already reasonably priced perfume becomes a bargain.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Rebelle EDP by Rihanna
MalibuMands 5/18/2012 6:10:00 PM
I was surprised by REBELLE - in a good way. I was expecting a sickly, syrupy kind of fragrance, but instead I found an incredibly well-blended, sweet/sour fragrance. It is stronger then Reb'l Fleur, yet is still quite subtle in comparison to Rihanna's first fragrance release, if that makes any sense... REBELLE opens with berries and a bit of plum, but the sweetness is toned down as the fruit notes are combined with a sharp hint of ginger. I'm not able to separate any floral notes, as the patchouli and coffee develop quickly. The mix is dark and rich, with a hint of vanilla to contract with the stronger masculine coffee. I love sweeter fragrances, so the base of coca and amber is a real winner for me. The scent notes sound like they'll be too much together, but by combining them with the patchouli and coffee we get a warm, comforting sweetness, with a slightly masculine sharpness, preventing the sweet notes from becoming sickly. Official scent notes; Plum, strawberry, ginger, heliotrope, vanilla orchid, cocoa absolute, musk, coffee, patchouli and amber.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Victoria's Secret - Angel Eau De Parfum
MalibuMands 5/16/2012 4:39:00 PM
VICTORIA'S SECRET ANGEL is different from Victoria's Secret usual fragrance releases; it's more 'adult' and subtle, in comparison to their largely gourmand output. This such a lovely, light, floral-with-a-hint-of-zesty-fruit fragrance, yet it is also a warm and slightly powdery and spicy perfume. I detect lemon, rose, peony, violet and a woody/amber blend, as well as a spicy bite of pepper. There's possibly some peach too, but the plum note is very light and is largely hidden under the florals and pepper. The staying power is much better then VS's other perfumes; six to eight hours. This is something I wear often now that the weather is warming up, but I did buy it in winter and would occasionally wear it then too. Official scent notes: Pink pepper, violet, plum, ambergris, musk, gardenia and agarwood (oud).
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Jennifer Aniston
MalibuMands 5/16/2012 4:25:00 PM
I keep trying JENNIFER ANISTON [aka Lolavie] whenever I see a in-store tester as I keep reading glowing reviews on sites, in magazines etc, but I'm just not smelling what everyone else is smelling. It's hard for me to describe scent-wise as - in all honesty - this doesn't really smell of anything on me. There's just a vague artificial, chemical scent. This scent is more akin to a chlorinated swimming pool or maybe a permanent marker, rather then powdery florals, citrus fruits or something beachy. The faint chemical scent burns out within the hour, so even if the scent does work for you, it doesn't last. Official scent notes: Citruses, rose, jasmine, violet, lily, musk, sandalwood and amber.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Boots - 17 - BB Blemish Balm; All In One Magic Make-up
MalibuMands 4/30/2012 6:58:00 PM
For reference: I have very pale skin, so none of the Boots 17 foundations are actually light enough for me; even the Porcelain and Ivory shades. My skin is dry and sensitive and keeps having rebellious phases, so I need something that corrects visible pores and any unevenness and discolouration, yet won't feel heavy and show up the dry patches and make my skin flake, like foundations can. I find the base in tinted moisturizers too yellow and, anyway, they just don't wear long enough for me to bother with. After hearing/seeing the hype about BB Creams I set out to find one light enough for me and after months of looking for a fair, non-yellow shade I've finally found a winner; 17 BB BLEMISH BALM feels a bit watery, so I wasn't expecting much. But the formula actually works in it's favour; it feels very light and silky on my skin and blending is super easy. Once blended, the results are a smooth satin finish, with surprisingly good coverage. OK, it won't cover my hormonal breakouts, but my main problem is discolouration, which this product solves. It even reduces the appearance of my pores AND undereye circles too. I've found it to be transfer resistant, long lasting and it doesn't settle in my fine lines. Flaky skin? a thing of the past. Oh - it has a SPF of 15 too. I think the packing is very user-friendly; It's in a squeezable, slim tube, so you can squeeze all of the product out. Plus; it's a ideal size for small bags and the lid is very secure. 17 is a brand which is exclusive to Boots stores in the UK.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Boots - 17 Blush Powder
MalibuMands 4/29/2012 5:51:00 AM
I have this in CHINA PINK: a medium shade of candy pink. The powder is lightly shimmering and gives me a healthy gleam, so I happily skip highlighting products when I'm wearing it. I'm around a n10, but still find this brighter colour easy to wear. I'm impressed with the pigmentation; a little goes a long way. You don't get a lot of product, but it'll still last a while since you just need a light dusting of powder. The powder isn't very tightly packed, so it can be a bit messy. Not a deal-breaker for me, but if you're using this for the first time bear it in mind. I've found that my 17 Blush Powder lasts all day with no touch-ups, and it doesn't enhance my dry skin. I'll be sure to pick up more colours in the range, as I'm so happy with the performance of this. I don't really have a problem with the packaging - yes, it looks and feels a bit cheap, but for a great blush for £3.50 I don't really care about the outer packaging as long as it does it's job and protects the blush [it does].
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -J. Lo - Glow
MalibuMands 4/24/2012 9:06:00 AM
I’m not sure how to describe GLOW, other then fresh and clean. I don’t pick up on the individual notes, so I just get the overall impression of the notes; it creates a fresh, energetic burst and gives a clean, soapy feel to the wearer. It’s great for everyday wear, as it has great staying power. Keep a bottle in your bag for when you have to use public transport – one spray really helps you to feel cleansed. Suitable all year round. On the down side you must spray lightly. I've been too heavy handed a few times and have had migraines as a result. Scent notes: orange flower, pink grapefruit, Neroli, rose, sandalwood, soft amber, jasmine, vanilla, musk & orris.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Dana Classic Fragrances - Love's Baby Soft
MalibuMands 4/24/2012 4:13:00 AM
My body chemistry is not made for this at all, because I can't detect a single floral note or any sweetness whatsoever. There is a musk infused with baby powder scent and, despite the suffocating thickness, I think I'd enjoy it... That is if there wasn't a sharp, sour under-bite to the fragrance. I'm not sure what this unpleasant tang is, so I'll just go with 'herbal', crossed with BO. A cheap version of patchouli, perhaps? At first I stubbornly kept on wearing it in the hope it'd suddenly transform into the magical blend everyone else seems to enjoy, but it never did change, so all I got were a number of headaches and nausea. Official scent notes: Geranium, jasmine, rose, lavender, patchouli, vanilla and musk.
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Hair Color -L'Oreal - Recital Preference in Havana 6.35
MalibuMands 4/19/2012 8:49:00 AM
I grabbed the 'golden brown' shade HAVANA based on the photo of the model on the box [new March 2012 design], as I wanted to keep my hair colour light, so it'd be easy to re-colour over it later. The model on the box has honey soft hair with a lovely golden overtone, that all together looks more blonde then brown. What the packaging's picture doesn't show is the mahogany highlights my chosen colour has in it. This is strange because - as I discovered at home - the mahogany tones in HAVANA are much stronger then the gold tones in real life, so my hair had a red tinge for around two weeks. Plus, without the vividness of the golden overtone showing through, the brown base tone to HAVANA looked a little bit darker too. I've been dying my hair for over half of my life, so I'm aware that the picture on the box is rarely accurate, but on this occasion I relied on what it showed me. What if someone else was harried, stressed, or was dying their hair for the first time? They'd probably pick a shade based on the picture on the box too, so L'Oreal should stop putting photo-shopped pictures on their products. It's dishonest and just leads to disappointment. *** But, although this wasn't the shade I wanted or expected, after a week or two it grew on me and I came to like it. Which is why I was dismayed when it came time to touch up my roots; the dye covers my roots, but they are still noticeably darker then the rest of my hair. Of course, if my hair were naturally dark I'd expect this, but it isn't. My natural hair colour is ash [not quite light enough to be truly blonde, but still too light and colourless to be classed as brown], so I don't understand why a brown dye covers it so much darker then the brassy blonde that was on the rest of my hair. At first I thought the uneven results were my own fault and I hadn't applied it properly the first time around. So, within two weeks of first dying my hair, I recoloured my whole head again, to try to even the shade out. So now this is possibly my own fault, but the base shade is even less like I wanted AND - as a third box of HAVANA revealed - the roots still cover a differing shade to the rest of my head. Two boxes of colour stripper, two boxes of bleach, three boxes of HAVANA and two months later, I'm left with a shade that I don't want, or even like. I now just feel stupid for trusting the picture on the packaging and wish that I'd trusted my gut instinct. *** I want to clarify that I do love the new and improved Recital Preference formula; it doesn't have a harsh smell, it doesn't stain or irritate skin, it covers my gray streaks perfectly, it is fade resistant and has a long lasting shine. The last shade my hair had been was red, meaning that I only had a colour protecting shampoo/conditioner for red hair, so ever since I used Recital Preference I've been using the dregs of old shampoos and conditioners I had laying around. Plus; for the last few weeks I've been washing my hair with Vosene and hasn't been using a conditioner, in a attempt to cause the dye to fade, but the hue hasn't noticeably faded. It's still silky smooth too. Observation; I mainly used to use Schwarzkopf XXL dyes, and found that you get more product with them. Right now my hair is shoulder length [my trainee hairdresser sister thought it'd be funny to chop 12 inches off my hair] and I used one bottle to colour my whole head, but it took a lot of messaging to cover all of my hair with the mixed formula. *** Considering the time and money I'd spent stripping and bleaching my hair before using HAVANA, I was disappointed in the results - even though the resulting colour grew on me and the formula is top notch. I was left with the options of spending more money and time re-stripping the dye from my hair, or just giving up and buying a darker dye to go over HAVANA. I decided not to waste more money [and possible damage to my hair], so will spend the summer months with dark brown hair. The packaging is the main source of my disappointment, as it is basically used to lie to customers. The main picture bore no resemblance to the finished result, and the little swatch pictures on the side of the box promised to colour the natural colour of my roots the same colour as the ends of my hair, which it failed to do. Maybe I just picked up a iffy tube of colour? Hmmm, based on L'Oreal's history of over photo-shopping their ads I doubt it. As the formula has proven to be shade resistant and left my hair soft, I'm prepared to try again with a Recital Preference hair dye. In fact I've bought the dark brown shade Paris 4.01. I'm not sure what colour hair I'll up with though - I suspect I may end up with Morticia hair. To be continued...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Illamasqua - Freak
MalibuMands 3/13/2012 8:04:00 AM
FREAK applies with a crisp tang [maybe there is a hint of mint?] that has a slightly salty, almost coppery, undertone to it. I suspect that the perfumers are trying to mimic blood and I have to say the result, though it sounds iffy, is actually enjoyable. This effect lasts for about ten minutes at most, after which it sweetens up with something that I can't place, but reminds me slightly of coke. The 'coke' leads to the floral heart of FREAK, where it fully develops into something jammy and rum-like, with a splash of burnt orange. I think this is the davana; I've never smelt davana before, but people describe it as fruity and alcoholic. Davana's main use is in higher end perfumes as it enhances the wearer's natural perfume, so the overall impression of FREAK appears to be slightly different each time that I've tried to sit down and write out a review. I'm also not overly familiar with any of the other floral notes so I'm not sure which is which, but everything gradually becomes warm, peppery and reminds me overall of white floral blends like those found in Michael Kors Very Hollywood. After the dramatic opening notes I was surprised by the sweeter warmness in the heart scent notes and was initially disappointed, but quickly came to appreciate that the softer heart does make FREAK more wearable. After a hour or so a faint wisp of smoked woods and musky spices develop, and hides the sweeter jammy notes. The star note in the base of FREAK is rich and earthy, which I believe is the hemlock. The hemlock seems similar to patchouli, but I find patchouli too heavy and cloying, whereas I don't have this problem when wearing FREAK. The hemlock gradually overtakes the floral notes one one, so after a few hours the base notes are all I can detect. Scent notes; Black davana, opium flower (poppy), belladonna, poison hemlock, datura (moonflower), queen of the night blossom (night-blooming cereus), frankincense, oud and myrrh. FREAK was made for evening wear, but I did happily wear it during the day over the colder months, as although it is a noticeable fragrance I don't find it cloying or irritating. But admittedly now that it is lighter and starting to warm up, I stick to using it for special occasions because I find it a 'statement' fragrance and a bit too much for day to day wear.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Schwarzkopf - LIVE Color XXL in Hypnotic Red
MalibuMands 3/9/2012 9:39:00 AM
HYPNOTIC RED isn't recommended for use on darker shades of brown hair. HYPNOTIC RED is my favourite shade of red dye I've ever tried by any brand - and I've spent over half of my life frequently trying out new hair colours. It doesn't fade as quickly as Real Red and Red Passion. Red Passion is a touch darker, but if your natural hair colour is darker then medium brown then I'd recommend using that, rather then HYPNOTIC RED. Real Red is brighter then HYPNOTIC RED, but has a stronger copper undertone, which makes the colour look tired within a few weeks of colouring. I use Boots Botanics Radiant Red shampoo and conditioner and try not to wash it more then a couple of times per week. Grubby I know, but we all know that red hair dye fades the quickest, so infrequent washing helps the colour last longer.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Revlon - PhotoReady Makeup - Vanilla
MalibuMands 3/4/2012 5:06:00 AM
I'm around n10 in MAC. When I first pumped some PHOTOREADY in Vanilla onto the back of my hand it looked a little darker then the tester had been, but it’s really easy to blend into the skin. PHOTOREADY is now infamous for the 'Sparkles'. But the fine particles mainly reflect the light, so they honestly aren't very noticeable, you have to hold a mirror inches from your face to be able to see them. And yes, it really does work; whenever I've looked back over photos from nights out etc, my skin ALWAYS looks crystal clear, regardless of what redness, spots etc I may have been suffering from at the time. As mentioned above, PHOTOREADY is very easy to blend and has a silky, satiny finish which - coupled with the light reflecting particle - leaves my skin nice and glowy. Given my lacklustre skin tone, I think this is close to miraculous! Best of all: PHOTOREADY feels light (despite the medium to full coverage), plus there are no patches of dry skin at the end of the day, even though I have dry to very dry skin. I also love the glass pump bottle. It's very easy to grip and dispenses just the right amount. I've been using PHOTOREADY since it was launched and have had no problems with oxidising, blocked pores, spots or any other skin reactions. PHOTOREADY continues to be my favourite foundation.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No