Fragrances -Christian Dior - Dior Addict EDP
Caitsidhe 2/13/2011 10:42:00 AM
Addict is a strong, dry vanilla and jasmine scent with extreme sillage. Many reviewers have said that it is sweet; I would disagree. It is certainly less sweet than many other popular vanilla-based fragrances (Hypnotic Poison, L de Lolita Lempicka, etc.) and its strong jasmine note makes it smell "soapy" in a side-by-side comparison to those other, sweeter fragrances. Men who like "bad girls" seem to adore this one, because it smells like.. well.. sex. One guy I dated briefly (whom I later discovered to be a womanizer) kept bugging me (in vain) to tell him what the name of it was-- no doubt so he could buy it and make all his girls wear it. Women, however, seem to be annoyed by its intensity. Therefore, not recommended for day wear.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -The Body Shop - Love Etc
Caitsidhe 12/18/2010 10:43:00 AM
As several others have mentioned, this is not an exotic fragrance. However, it is an excellent daytime fragrance for both summer and winter. The price is reasonable; they actually spent money on the fragrance rather than on making a fancy bottle. I have the EDP, which has quite a bit of dimension in comparison to the EDT. Strawberries, jasmine, and vanilla. Youthful without being princessy. A really well-made fruity floral.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Terra Nova - Island Song
Caitsidhe 5/26/2010 8:26:00 PM
Terra Nova seems to have slightly altered their flagship fragrance, Rain, for this one. It's Rain with a little coconut. When it fades after an hour, it smells just like Rain. It's ok, but I expected something new.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Nina Ricci - Ricci Ricci
Caitsidhe 1/12/2010 1:46:00 PM
Like several others have mentioned, the "official" notes of Ricci Ricci don't accurately describe how it smells. Upon initial spraying, it does smell a little "80's" or outdated, like a fruity Chanel Coco. The similarity to Coco disappears after 20 minutes or so, and the fragrance settles into a sweet, deep fruity fragrance. This is exactly what I was looking for: a young, modern fragrance without the acrid grapefruit or green apple notes that seem to be in every fruity fragrance lately. Ricci Ricci is outwardly flirtatious, not innocent. I really love this one, and wish I had bought the larger bottle in the Duty Free shop!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Frownies
Caitsidhe 3/22/2009 8:50:00 PM
I really do think this must be a natural alternative to Botox as far as wrinkle prevention. Frownies are paper and natural gum adhesive that are moistened with toner mist and applied to the forehead, between the brows, or at the corners of the mouth. Although you can use the Frownies brand toner, any mild toner in a mist bottle will do (I use Thayer's rose petal witch hazel). The paper gently prevents you from moving those facial muscles, which seems to be what Botox claims to do for wrinkle prevention. I've been using it between my eyes for about half a year, and my wrinkles are much less noticeable. They haven't clogged my pores, and come off easily when I wash my face. Yes, they do look a little silly. I don't know how I would feel about wearing them when someone is next to me. But, they DO work. If you live in Seattle, they are available at most Bartell's Drugs near the nail section.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Everyday Minerals - baby bath
Caitsidhe 3/22/2009 8:38:00 PM
For people with pale, cool skin who want a natural look (and want to avoid the pink/lavender shades that make the eyes look tired), this sheer, cool/neutral taupe is the best. It wears for a long time, and makes warm hazel or green eyes pop. Baby Bath would probably be a good highlighter for people with darker, cool skin tones, as well. The only gripe I have is Everyday Mineral's failure to label the tops of their eyeshadow containers. It's difficult to find which is which color in the morning without picking them up and looking at the bottom.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Everyday Minerals - Foundation Original Glo Formula
Caitsidhe 3/22/2009 8:28:00 PM
Hands down, this is the best foundation powder I have ever used-- natural or otherwise. The "Original Glo" is not shiny or sparkly; instead, it is-- slightly glowing. Natural looking and sheer, it still does the job of evening out my skin without worsening my mild rosacea or causing acne. If you want more coverage or have oily skin, however, you might prefer the semi-matte or intensive finishes. Also, I give EM huge kudos for their reasonable shipping costs (they offer USPS first class by weight!), fair product prices, *cheap* sampler sets, and natural ingredients. They have pale shades to match my cool, fair skin, and a ton of other shades for people of diverse skin tones. They even recently improved the foundation containers to have writing on the top and a flip sifter on the inside to prevent the powder spilling inside the lid during transportation.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Damask Rose
Caitsidhe 3/22/2009 8:23:00 PM
The Damask Rose in jojoba oil is the only rose fragrance I have experienced that truly reminds me of the bold, natural deep velvet roses blooming in the hot sun of my parents' garden. Don't let the website's description of this rose as "bready" put you off-- it is not. It is very sultry yet natural.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Rose Vert
Caitsidhe 3/22/2009 8:20:00 PM
I received a sample of this with my order of Damask Rose moisturizing cream. It just doesn't smell harmonious; it doesn't smell like real roses to me at all. Instead, it reminds me of a strong, ubiquitously floral women's perfume from the 80's.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Most Popular
Caitsidhe 3/22/2009 8:05:00 PM
Beautiful bright berry color that really pops without being a drama queen. This shade looks great on people with pale, cool skin, and it compliments the "80's hipster" styles without being over the top. Also, guys seem to have their heads turned by this color almost as much as red lipstick.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Jane Iredale - Pure Pressed Base
Caitsidhe 7/3/2008 2:55:00 PM
I posted a review on here earlier giving this product a low rating, but I must retract that because having the *right* color made all the difference. . This stuff is amazing. It gives good, medium coverage and looks very natural at the same time. It has SPF 20 and comes in "Ivory," a pale shade suitable for redheads. I've been using it for 2 months now, and have had no increase in blackheads or acne. Also, my dermatologist sells Jane Iredale, which further confirmed the good health safety ratings of Jane Iredale products on EWG's Cosmetic Safety Database. . The cons are the price ($48!) and the heaviness of the metal compact. Minus one lippie. If they are going to use a metal compact, they should at least make refills (which they don't).
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Miel de Bois
Caitsidhe 5/1/2008 2:05:00 PM
I received a sample from Aedes. When wet, Miel de Bois smells like Aveda Cherry Almond Bark conditioner. In the drydown, it is a very fine sandalwood with an airy, nondescript sweet top note. Miel de Bois has my kudos for being a very harmonious, three-dimensional scent, but the notes themselves are not particularly special.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Weleda - Calendula Shampoo
Caitsidhe 4/10/2008 8:34:00 PM
Nice, creamy natural shampoo-- just as good for adults as for babies (it's marketed as a baby shampoo). The scent is mild and herbal. It has a low-foam lather, but distributes much more evenly than other low-foaming shampoos I've tried. I only have to use less than a tablespoon on my mid-back length hair. For those who avoid protein, this is protein-free and still leaves the hair soft and bouncy. Comes in an orange squeeze tube.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Unlisted Brand - Larenim Pressed Foundation
Caitsidhe 4/10/2008 8:27:00 PM
A good, all-natural pressed foundation. Nice, lightweight plastic case that contains a decent quality sponde applicator separately from the mirror and makeup. The coverage is excellent and it has sun protection from the titanium oxide content. The only con I have is that when I use it under my eyes, it dries the skin and makes the wrinkles more visible. Otherwise, it would be a HG. I didn't notice a smell or increase in acne, as other reviewers mentioned. I've been using it as my daily foundation for about four months now. Larenim foundation comes in lots of colors for both pale and darker skin tones, and is widely available at Super Supplements, Wild Oats, and Whole Foods here in the Seattle area.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Arcona - Gentle Solution
Caitsidhe 4/10/2008 8:18:00 PM
Excellent nighttime repair serum suitable for normal, sensitive, and combination skin. It comes in a pump dispenser that (thankfully) rations the rather expensive liquid into single doses. It's helped control my chin blackheads, too, with the fruit acid ingredients. $48 at drugstore.com
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No