Fragrances -Jo Malone - wild bluebell
Beauty4Ashes 5/1/2013 10:13:00 PM
Wild Bluebell will probably be my next Jo Malone purchase. It's uplifting, cool, romantic and feminine. I could see many brides choosing this for their wedding scent. It has that "new", starting over fresh feel to it. It's also soft and ethereal. The opening is a fresh melon/cantaloupe then it morphs into a refreshing lily of the valley. There's something aquatic about the fragrance, too. I strongly recommend to anyone who likes fresh floral fragrances. I have a sample now, but may purchase a full bottle soon. Interested to see how it blends with other Jo Malones. Once I try blending with other fragrances, I'll update this review.
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Fragrances -Jo Malone - Nectarine Blossom and Honey
Beauty4Ashes 5/1/2013 10:02:00 PM
Nectarine Blossom and Honey is a stunningly beautiful, sweet fragrance. It's the perfect warm weather scent. If you like fruity florals like the Escada limited editions (Taj Sunset, Sexi Graffiti, etc) you'll love NBH. At first spritz I knew I loved it and also recognized it smelled almost identical to one of my favorite fragrances of all time, Bond no 9 Madison Square Park. Seriously, these could pass for the same fragrance, but MSP is a tad greener and NBH is a tad more on the sweeter side. Longevity of NBH is fair at about 3-4 hours before reapplication. I strongly recommend this fragrance for anyone wanting a sweet summer scent. If I ever run out of MSP, I'll probably get NBH as it is at a lower price point, but no need for me to do that now. I'll continue to enjoy my sample and try to see how in blends with other Jo Malone fragrances.
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Fragrances -Jo Malone - Lime Basil Mandarin
Beauty4Ashes 5/1/2013 9:51:00 PM
Lime Basil and Mandarin is a polarizing scent. I doubt anyone would be on the fence. Either you like it or you don't. I don't, but I get why it would really appeal to some. On me it's a very sharp citrus with even sharper spice (the basil, obviously). I can see why it would be appealing to men as most men's colognes in the market are a citrus-spice or aquatic-spice blend. Something about this fragrance also reminds me of lemon scented Pledge furniture polish. One the other hand, LBM is very unique and wake-you-up-in-the-morning fresh. I can tell high quality ingredients are used in the composition and it's long lasting. The notes are very literal and the name of this fragrance is right on point. Overall, a unique, high-quality fragrance that's just not for me. Thankfully, I got LBM as a sample and didn't blind buy. As with any fragrance, I strongly suggest sampling before you commit to a full bottle.
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Polishes -Lippmann Collection - Private Dancer
Beauty4Ashes 2/16/2013 4:54:00 PM
Private Dancer is officially described as a "gilded ultra violet (mirrored chrome)" which is an accurate description. This color is absolutely beautiful and unique. Depending on your vantage point and the angle at which the light hits the polish, the color morphs from a dusty violet to golden orange to green. The multi-dimensionalism of the color is striking. You'll get a totally different look in daylight versus night time. If the 1980s could be summarized in a nail polish, it would be Private Dancer. I highly recommend.
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Polishes -Lippmann Collection - Lady Is A Tramp
Beauty4Ashes 2/13/2013 2:25:00 PM
Pretty, and somewhat unique, red polish. It's a mid-deep toned red that applies very well. The formula is like a gel-cream hybrid and requires two coats for opacity. The finish is high shine and the wear is very good. The color gives me a very retro, 1940-1950 vibe. Very classic, yet sexy at the same time. I highly recommend.
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Polishes -Chanel - Rouge Noir
Beauty4Ashes 2/11/2013 3:42:00 PM
If you only own one Chanel nail polish, it needs to be Rouge Noir. It's such a deep, classically sexy color. It's a color that men have complimented me on and it's rare that I get a man's compliment on nail polish. The quality of the polish is outstanding. It's opaque in one coat but I use two to deepen the color. The application is even and the finish is a glossy shine. It wears well and I recommend using a base and top coat to prevent nail staining and to prolong wear time. If I had to wear one nail polish for the rest of my life it would be Chanel Rouge Noir. I highly recommend.
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Mascara -Chanel - Mascara Base
Beauty4Ashes 2/7/2013 2:11:00 PM
I typically don't use lash primers. However, I was so impressed with Chanel's Inimitable Intense mascara, I decided to buy the lash primer to see if it would make the look even better. Unfortunately, it really didn't do enough to warrant the price. It helps the mascara glide on more easily and keeps it from flaking, but I don't notice an increase in length or volume when using the base. Overall, it's not something that I'll buy in the future. From my experience, Dior's got the best mascara base on the market, but even that isn't worth its high price tag. Not a product I recommend.
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Top/Base Coats -Lippmann Collection - Addicted to Speed
Beauty4Ashes 2/7/2013 1:49:00 PM
This is the best top coat I've used to date. It's incredibly fast-drying, so application must be done quickly. The finish is extremely shiny. I'm very happy to have found this product. It's now a favorite and I highly recommend.
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Polishes -Lippmann Collection - Naked
Beauty4Ashes 2/6/2013 8:36:00 AM
Naked is a very pretty nude nail color. It really is very true to the actual color of my natural nails. It's the perfect shade for that fresh, clean nail look that I love to wear in between my more vibrant, sparkly manicures. The formula is sheer and applies very easily. My preference is to apply 3 very thin coats between a base and top coat. The quality of the wear is remarkable. With the top coat, I could go several days without noticeable wear. I'm loving this polish, so far, as it is a recent purchase. I can see it being a staple in my stash for years to come. Highly recommend.
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Fragrances -Chanel - Chance
Beauty4Ashes 2/2/2013 8:43:00 PM
Chanel Chance EDP is such a classy, well-blended, warm fragrance. It's a softer, more well rounded and less shrill than Coco Mademoiselle. It's a fragrance I wear everywhere from the office, to church to a night out. I've received compliments from men while wearing this, too, as it's also a somewhat sexy scent. Of all the Chanels I own, Chance is my favorite because it blends so well with my chemistry. The longevity is amazing as one spritz will last a full day. Typically I wear two to three spritzes which last from one shower to the next. Sillage is noticeable yet not overpowering. I highly recommend, especially for those whom the other traditional Chanels don't appeal. Chance is a great gateway to the iconic brand.
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Polishes -Lippmann Collection - Diamonds and Pearls
Beauty4Ashes 2/2/2013 3:37:00 PM
Diamonds and Pearls is a stunningly beautiful shimmer that is best used as a top coat to give colors more dimension. It's filled with tiny gold, bronze, and pink micro shimmers. In the bottle it looks like a flesh-toned gold and depending upon which way the light hits it you see different tones appear. Once applied on the nail is gives a pearly glow and the different tones are less apparent than in the bottle. So far, I've only tried this on a nude nail color but I can't wait to try it on a black nail color as I think it will have more of an impact. I can see this easily working with any color and making it multi-dimensional and just more interesting overall. I highly recommend.
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Polishes -Lippmann Collection - I'm not innocent
Beauty4Ashes 2/2/2013 3:28:00 PM
I'm Not Innocent is a beautiful milky light peach shade. I absolutely love this color! However, the formula is lacking. Application was very streaky. After applying three thin coats there were still faint signs of bald spots. For this reason, I took off a lippie. I could see this polish appealing to brides as it adds such a light, fresh, clean look to the nails. It could easily be a my-nails-but-better polish for those with fairer skin tones than I. It's an easy shade to wear and gives an ethereal, effortless look. I recommend.
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Polishes -Chanel - Black Pearl
Beauty4Ashes 2/2/2013 12:35:00 PM
Black Pearl was the first Chanel polish I'd ever purchased. I purchased it right when it was first released back a few years ago. Black Pearl really impressed me. Since then, my Chanel stash has grown from one to six carefully-selected, stunning polishes. Every once in a while Chanel releases a true beauty and Black Pearl is one of them. It's a mesmerizing deep green shade with multi dimensional pearlized shimmer. It probably most appeals to those who like almost-black shades similar to Rouge Noir and Blue Satin. Chanel released it during a spring season but I pretty much wear it Fall - Spring. The application is smooth, the finish is nice and the wear is long. If you're into unique shades and don't mind the high price, I recommend.
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Polishes -Chanel - Jade Rose
Beauty4Ashes 2/2/2013 12:21:00 PM
Jade Rose is a lovely, fresh peachy pink polish. It's a beautiful neutral on my deep tan skin tone. Of the Chanel polishes that I own I find myself getting the most use out of Jade Rose because it's so easy to wear with anything and for any occasion. Unfortunately, the color isn't too unique compared to other Chanel polishes. It does, however, apply easily and last long without chipping. It's a semi-sheer polish and to achieve true opacity I use 3 thin coats. I prefer to wear Jade Rose on my toes as it gives such a fresh, clean, feminine look. If you're into neutrals or soft peachy pinks and can shell out $27 dollars on a polish, I recommend.
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Mascara -Chanel - Inimitable Intense Mascara
Beauty4Ashes 1/31/2013 4:47:00 PM
I've never been a Chanel makeup fan. I love Chanel perfumes and nail polishes, but the makeup never really impressed me until I recently tried a sample of Inimitable Intense Noir. The brush separates lashes very well and gives my lashes a fanned-out look. The formula is light and dries quickly. I don't experience flaking or smudging. Although it does lengthen, I feel its strong point is how voluminous it makes my lashes appear. I'd like to try this with an eyelash primer next just to see how it would perform. This is super expensive so at this point I'm not sure if I'll purchase a full bottle when an ample amount of samples from other brands are readily available for free. That being said, if I do purchase a full size high end mascara it will be Chanel Inimitable Intense.
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