Product Reviews by Artifical4

Treatments -Lisa Hoffman - Night and Day
rated 5 of 5
Artifical4 12/31/2010 2:45:00 AM

I love ALL of the facial & body care products. They are perfect for my face which is sensitive.And even if I have 300 perfumes I wear Madasgar Orchid or Agarwood ALL the time LOVE THEM But being in Canada it s very hard to get them.we have no stores that are selling these products. I hope this changes as I for 1 would like to wear them or use them for ever. TSC bring back the facial spa products & body line ,

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Fragrances -Lisa Hoffman - Madagascar Orchid
rated 5 of 5
Artifical4 4/19/2009 4:15:00 AM

UPDATED: INTRODUCTION: This is a review for two perfumes and a complete spa & bath line. I have simply fallen in love with these two perfumes from Lisa Hoffman called Variations available in Madagascar Orchid and Japanese Agarwood. I recently obtained these two perfumes and I can still smell the enduring Madagascar Orchid scent, I certainly can’t stop thinking about it, and yes how to get more.Same with the agarwood it is very hypotic as well. The Japanese Agarwood, I am simply mad over and must have one of the two perfumes on at all times. I reached for a jacket yesterday and this fresh and clean but never soapy smell rushed to envelop me. All I can say is that these scents are so feminine and entrancing, I simply MUST wear them. Sniffers beware you are going to want one or both of these variations. PS: I have already bought more, back-ups in both scents, that is how highly I feel about them. THE CONCEPT: The perfume comes with an interesting concept “Variations”. It comes in 4 vials which are specific blends designed for different times of day (morning, daytime, evening and bedtime) for your sensitive nose and daily needs. It came packaged in a lovely sage green leather wallet that is very soft and elegant. The blends are very close and the concept is to use a specific blend for the time of day and/or your different moods. I personally really love the morning in the morning, daytime at any time, the evening is a little sexier and bedtime has a light soft & tranquil smell. Importantly, there are no conflicts between the specific blends as they all have the same base scent but with subtle changes, e.g. tweaked “variations” on the same scent. THE SCENTS: Madagascar Orchid: This is a gorgeous scent, in a floral and this seems to me the more feminine and sexy of the two scents. It smells like a light tuberose and reminds of lily, not lily of the valley, but a large bold lily. I also sniff jasmine and it is very fresh and yet deep. My nose is not good enough to tell if it is all white flowers used, you will have to smell it for yourself as it is simply so new. The only other perfume that smells close is L’Artisan’s “Indiana Tuberose” and maybe a touch of “Joy”.Meaning good Jasmine! Japanese Agarwood: Now the surprise, Japanese Agarwood which could not smell more different and it simply blew me out of the water. This is completely different than any perfume you have ever smelled, so it is very hard to review as it has no comparison. I cannot put into words the smell of Japanese Agarwood. It really clears your head, but is not a cough drop smell yet in the beginning a zing is clearly there. It weaves a spell this one does, I cannot get enough of it. If the Madagascar Orchid is sensual, beautiful and very and very female, I dare say Agarwood is a perfume a man would love, just like the girl next door. Fresh, friendly, happy, energetic and yet Zen like. I have never been to a Japanese garden but I can imagine it might smell like this. i did not twig to this one first ,being i love florals i picked the Ordhid. Oh but her perfumes to not let you forget them, it haunted it me so .These are not srtong fumes but oh so hypnotic ,I have not had tis happen to me before, It is like a craving , to smell it again & again. My Husband now lets me have the shower first as I make the room smell so good for him to use next. * & me LOL THE PRODUCT LINE: The perfume as previously mentioned comes in an elegant leather wallet with 4 roll-on vials that each about lipstick size for around $150. You can also purchase refills for $90 without leather case, but you simply must treat yourself to one wallet set at least. The carry case or wallet is a treat in itself; it is gorgeous, with a little spot for your money or credit card and most importantly your perfumes. Importantly there is also whole spa line to use with it, which is divine. My skin was never softer than after just one use of these products. The bath line is scented with the Madagascar Orchid and is amazing. The shower line is scented with the Japanese Agarwood and is energizing. Layering is a big part concept, you are left with a light feminine scent with very little sillage, but an oh so dreamy feeling of a relaxing bath with scents from the rain forest which is where the ingredients for these products originate. Check out the web site (www.lisahoffmanskincare.com). These two perfumes are available with the complimentary spa shower and bath items, but more are on the way as I hear it. All of these products are of such high quality, and in scents never before experienced they are a real pleasure to use. Lisa Hoffman did try to think of everything. I do however have one wish, some shampoo & conditioner to go with it all. Samples are readily available and you can buy small kits (not really so small) for the complete line. Final Thoughts: Lisa Hoffman may not have a background in perfume, but she has the good taste to recognize a wonderful smell, and to develop a comprehensive line of high quality perfumes and spa products. This is one talented woman. I for one, am so glad she pushed ahead to introduce the spa line for bath & shower to compliment these amazing perfumes. Whichever one you pick of these two stunning scents, you will not be disappointed. If just for the fact Lisa is all about quality .It is said you cannot buy Class but we may have something that can with her products = PURE Class all the way ,now that is something that has been lacking in the perfumes of today . I would so enjoy meeting her as I can envison a wonderful chat we could have & on what else..Perfumes Katie

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Fragrances -Lisa Hoffman - Variations Madagascar Orchid Perfume Collection
rated 5 of 5
Artifical4 2/21/2009 3:03:00 PM

I seem to be in love with her skin products and with it I received samples of the perfumes. That was a day ago I got the Madagascar Orchid and I still can smell it faintly on me. I certainly have been thinking about it= yes how to get more. As I am in Canada this will not be a easy task. All I can really say is that the tuberose & orchid are so feminine and entrancing I MUST wear this. I adore her skin care and think it is the finest I have ever used. Their customer service is excellent I found out as I needed a pump and Courtnay helped me. I hear Lisa herself is coming to the next sniffa. Which unfortunally I will not be able to attend. WE have a WINNER here in LISA HOFFMAN. Her perfumes or scents for different times of day are simply devine. You ask if they are well made OH YES she may not have a back ground in makeup or perfume but you can't replace her good taste with a education in skin care this lady is a natural. ON the first review I put a second one of Japanese Agarwood as there is not a spot yet to review it alone. Katie

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Fragrances -Elizabeth Arden - Mariah Carey - 'M'
rated 3 of 5
Artifical4 1/11/2009 4:03:00 PM

I am so surprised , I was given a lot of samples at one of Canada's Boutique SDM (which is a drugstore which sells high end to low make-up .They will be bring in Serge Lutens soon as SDM is eager to be cutting edge in stores. They even sell leather purses ,gold jewellery and some clothing. So back to the perfume , and it is a eau d Parfum. I admit I am a snob about it celebraty fumes as they are so fleeting. But this is a gem , if your skin chemistry is right. It has one note(amber) that I cannot wear in it and it smells deli-sh in M. Go figure? No huge sweetness here or nor do I detect much marshmallow but a yummy sweetness, dry it is NOT.It is a cozy smell ,very wearable I believe they have attempted to make a soft eveningscent for the crowd who like to switch scents & possibly follow celeb scents. This is a GOOD scent , it is not scary strong or a scrubber. Yes it goes on strong when it dries and settles it is enchanting(really). The person who does not care for heady florals might like this one. I smell a oriental with just the right amount of amber in it ,which makes it long lasting on me. I put it on in evening sniffed it all night, took a shower next morning and yes a hint of it was still there! Shock for me again as most perfumes last at most a hour or 2! Yes it does have some depth , a mild sophistication,or a good entry level scent for those who are not committed to perfume like we on the perfume board are usually. Young men to seniors will love it as it makes sexy vibes on ,well it is by or for Mariah gals LOL, I am not about age in our choice of scent I am fine wearing it. I don't always want a serious scent , Some sillage but not enough to annoy. I really cannot say too much bad about it. Except the price which is 62.00 in CAN which is more for a established perfume. I would price it in the 49 to 60 dollar range but you can find deals on it. So out of all the celeb scents I have tested and I try to test them all , I give this a okay rating. UPDATE I did not open the bottleI bought as I lost all interest in it after taking a good sniffa / maybe I was far to hasty it is so so to me now

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Hair Color -L'Oreal - Couleur Experte -hair dye / highlight
rated 4 of 5
Artifical4 5/26/2007 1:37:00 PM

Discontinued IN CANADA (and now in the USA as of june 1) the numbers 9.0, / 9,1 ,/ 9.2,/ 8.0,/ 8.1 or any level 8 colours are now gone from the shelves! + + Bad NEWS for us bottle blonds or like me a true blond but dull now ALL BLOND COLOUR'S HAVE BEEN DROPPED FROM THE LINE + This is very annoying L'oreal as it is the only product that did NOT give me a rash ! I guess not a lot of bondes could do blonde highlights very well or wanted to do blonde streaks ,YES we do want blonde on blonde don't we? what was L'oreal thinking + + If you are a blond and love this product stock up as they are doing the US Next !

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Fragrances -Borsari - Violetta Classica
rated 1 of 5
Artifical4 12/22/2006 12:48:00 AM

We have a tiny conflict here, my gift of violets given to me by fey sparrow had two bottles of perfume in it. I thought they were both the same as they were labeled identically except for one having a green ribbon (this one) and one having a lavender ribbon which is Violetta di parma. AH but ONE smells different yes this one with the green bow and Marcelle hair lady on it. OH MY TWO !And after much research I have found out it is Violetta CLASSICA , yes ladies there is a second violet one by Borsari. It is a little sharper in the top notes of violets and offers a lasting zing . I could just bury my hands in a wet earth growing with these violets as this is the same smell minus the earth , it is. A very close second to Violetta but perhaps it is the evening mood to Di Parma's sunshiny day. AS they are so compatible. SIGH so beautiful and if I look out on my land on a cool day in April I can see them over by the tulips and crocus clusters , my favorite.. Flower the Violet who is nudging the lily of the valley ,both waiting for a lilac to open and complete them as the saying goes LOL.wink*

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Fragrances -Borsari - Violetta Di Parma
rated 5 of 5
Artifical4 12/22/2006 12:27:00 AM

Love this one! Feysparrow gave me a surprise of the cutest kit of two of these. I have a fondness for violets and this gives it in spades , which is nice as others fade very quickly like meteorites or the Violet in En Passent.It has a rose note in the way Lipstick rose does winding it way between other notes. It has gone beyond quaint ( which I love) to quirky. I mean by that it would wear well in unexpected areas. NOT for a lace dress and ribbons but a Vamp wearing violet ,is how I see it. Major attitude can be made with how you wear this one. Anyone with dyed red frizzy hair , sniffing into her hankie ,straighting her fishnet hose so her veins do not show need not apply that would be expected or not???It is a thought? As you may have guessed by now I love to create moods with my perfumes ,this may be the best violet to work it with. I have a elderly auntie with a Huge bird cage from ceiling to floor , it has not only birds but stuffed animals in it .This item had a huge impact on me as a child in forms of nightmares LOL. Never the less my redheaded auntie above would have loved it as I do. I must buy a full bottle for capturing moods like this , as I love it.

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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - cedre
rated 5 of 5
Artifical4 11/9/2006 1:23:00 AM

Go find a Cedar tree take a nip of green leaf with your fingernail and sniff deeply , then carefully break a small branch off smell the sap where the Branch came off the tree. THEN imagine a floral of great beauty over this !Sound impossible ? well it is not. Cedre made by anyone else except the perfumers at SL would be predictable,and the SL'S are many things but predictable NO. This is a gorgeous floral berry scent if it works for you and it does for me. This a beautiful but so hard to describe .In seconds after first trying it I was sniffing my arm in disbelief I was expecting a cedre but the cedre left quickly. Cedre is not cedar at all , it is tuberose and sweet but then not it is not? It is very rich an creamy like many of his perfumes. It is musky and so smooth . What a masterpiece done by the perfumer at SL! All I can say to help you is you must try it before buying a full bottle.As when it works it is pure beauty but when it does not it is terrible mess. Right now I simply cannot stop wearing it ,I have raced through one bottle faster than any perfume and I am just opening another. It is haunting in its beauty. Never too sweet or too dry to me it is perfect!

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Fragrances -Rich Hippie - Kalachakra
rated 5 of 5
Artifical4 9/25/2006 9:05:00 AM

AH the beauty of orange blossoms mixed with fine jasmine & rose! The sharpness of the orange is so uniquic next to the lushness of Jasmine! I really love the contrasts and I am sorry when the top note of citrus goes.( for those who can visualise it smells like a 4711 opening served on a platter of jasmine).I would have bought this one first if Wild Thing had not aready had my Heart. Note it will have your wallet as well as it runs ~~~500.DOLLARS~~~plus for a plain drugstore for liquid medications bottle ( ug) for a 1/2 oz and that does not last long.As you must reapply offen Update There is a strange & scarry sameness but not between my new love Variations by Lisa Hoffman. They are both perfumed oils of high quaily. But Stop now! Wild Thing which I have worn a lot is almost 3 hundread dollars in a tiny brown medicine bottle housed in a gaudy bright flimsy box and same with this one which runs for 500.00 dollars is crazy.Yes it smells good but all the lack of things and cost are making me change my mind about spending one more cent of it. I have found greener grass....in Variations !!!!!

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Concealers -Shiseido - Optimal Cover Concealer [DISCONTINUED]
rated 1 of 5
Artifical4 9/16/2006 10:56:00 AM

I am rating the newest one. I felt it deserved a rating of its own as I found and rated the one I wanted. But if you want a thick oily dense one this is it. Oh did I say dense well not enough to cover my light not dark circles under my eyes and I needed to run not walk to the next store for some remover as it made my eyes burn and itch so much ? ADD please READ all the lovers of the thich Old one that is gone will love this NEW one as it seems to be as thick as that D/C was ....just hit the stores yesterday which was sept 13 /06

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Concealers -Clarins - Instant Light Perfecting Touch
rated 4 of 5
Artifical4 9/16/2006 10:49:00 AM

This is my first ever concealer and I looked at all the high end ones before buying and reading here. I had a complaint about most of them.Please note: I am not a daily foundation wearer but when I do I like Clarins 03 face Firming. So I looked here as well ,and found just what I wanted , which were....a good color match( O3 )which is so close to my face color one cannot see if I am wearing it. That I did not need to wear foundation and concealer together for the right effect! It covers my mild dark circles perfectly. Stays put all day. I like the brush with the tube, works nice a simply for me. Fits in my bag well and red is good as I can find it in the mess my bag gets into. And lastly it is easy to remove. I must add I have oily skin , but mature and it does not show up and crinkles ,my circles very mild ones and no puffing.And all the other about 10 I tried were too thick or dark in color for my pale skin with NO yellow tones in my skin. I needed the pink .So I am very pleased with this concealer .

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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Muscs Koublai Khan
rated 5 of 5
Artifical4 8/26/2006 7:02:00 PM

Wow this one is very chemistry or skin sensitive. I am one of the blessed ones it smells wonderful on me. I smell a bit of shaving cream first and then a musky citrus/ FLORAL ???I know that desciption sounds odd but that is what it smells like on me. It is my DH reaction to it that is amazing , when ever I wear it he says " Wow you smell wonderful today !

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Fragrances -Annick Goutal - Ce Soir Ou Jamais
rated 4 of 5
Artifical4 7/22/2006 9:20:00 PM

I like my Rose Perfumes in many forms one is dried rose petals and quaint. I really like the mood , a off the bloom rose sets ,as it is moody almost a dirty for a rose ? I dry my roses which are given to me, as a gift mostly from a special person for a special occasion ,and when they are wilted then put them in a book for a keepsake ,this is what it reminds me of. If you like fresh rose this is NOT for you. I find it calming and just plain lovely. No shocking rose here, but something to sit and read a (classic ) book while wearing it. It fits well, like a skin scent , I would imagine not that many can appreciate that dried rose petal quaint quality but I look for this in a rose scent just as I would also look also for fresh lively ,sexy rose scent = Joy . Many kinds of roses in the making of it,but I think you can find this dried roses scent for less $. In fact I use one to scent my sweater drawers which is close to this but I would buy this perfume for day wear as it has something specialabout it.

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Fragrances -Bond No.9 - Park Avenue
rated 5 of 5
Artifical4 5/17/2006 12:15:00 AM

Oh I am in love!! this a a house of perfumes I had not tried until a friend sent me a huge load of bond no 9 candies. I love them so much I almost did not want to open them but I wanted one . I read up on them an Park Avenue seemed like it would be for me. AH it is for sure and the notes do not tell me why it is Rose and Chamomile , possible lily. It smells like my favortie perfume in the world only it doesn't. It has a note that is in JOY but not the same way yet they come out to feel the same to me ...happy , dressed well, perfumed and all is well. YES Park Avenue is for me ,just as JOY is for me. This starts out sweet as does JOY not jasmine as a top note however.Then it start drying down to the scent that makes my toes wiggle.LOL the womanly smell the scent my skin loves , I really don't know the combination of notes that makes this Divine scent but this has it!!!! And I have never smelled it before except in JOY. Note pls it is less sweet & cloying .But how different hey are how can this bethis similarity I call it the French smell? Only the master perfumers know ,but I love it and will have two HG from now on ....this is A wonderful PERFUME !!!!

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Fragrances -Creed - Original Santal
rated 4 of 5
Artifical4 5/13/2006 9:21:00 PM

I have just recently discovered my love of sandalwood and it is in high form here. Zingy and zesty very unlike my true Blue blood florals. But the odd thing is that is is going floral and lady like on me. Since others have listed the notes beautifully I will skip them and just say it smells wonderful on me. And bonus it also smells good on my DH but on him it is completely different with shades of old spice in it. That by the way is a compliment as I love old spice one of the best scents ever for a a man with lots of memories of our Fathers and grandfathers wearing it. But I like this on me better , man or woman you should try it for your self it is in the chemistry. Love it

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