Fragrances -Acqua di Parma - Lavanda Tonica
Chevere 2/9/2007 6:02:00 AM
Oh, so very wonderful. And one of the most unique fragrances I have ever experienced in my life. I lack the expertise to get too technical about the notes, so I'll be practical. It is the most beautiful, powdery lavendar. It always reminds me of what a young Russian prince might wear. So absolutely lovely. I gave it to a young college aged male relative as a gift, years ago. It has become his signature scent. He says he simply won't bother trying another scent, as he can't imagine finding anything this special!
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Fragrances -J. Lo - Glow After Dark
Chevere 1/9/2007 1:52:00 PM
Highly unpleasant concoction that smells like a poor knockoff of Estee Lauder White Linen. The mirrored bottle is also extraordinarily ugly and would embarrass any woman to have it sitting on her vanity table. The drydown is simply awful; I hope it launders off of my blouse.
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Fragrances -Comptoir Sud Pacifique - Vanille Amande
Chevere 11/27/2006 9:18:00 PM
I greatly dislike Vanille Amande. The description sounds dreamy. How different the actual fragrance is. A very hollow vanilla smell with a cloying synthetic like almond scent. The drydown is truly awful. I never experienced the original, but I believe it when others say the new "tweaked" formula is a shell of the original. Avoid.
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Fragrances -Comptoir Sud Pacifique - Vanille Citrus
Chevere 11/26/2006 8:27:00 PM
I love this scent. A lemony-cakey sort of scent. Smells beautiful for this time of year. Gorgeous citrus top notes, a sparling explosion. Settles down the "lemon poundcake" others have mentioned.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Sabi by Henry Dunay EDP
Chevere 11/26/2006 10:48:00 AM
Sabi is the most unpleasant fragrance I have ever taken a whiff of. I am certainly not one of those reviewers that cries foul on every scent, screaming that it "gave me an instant migraine," and "I couldn't wash it off no matter how hard I tried." I tend to immediately disregard reviews like those. But I experienced a particular sort of revulsion with Sabi. To me it smelled like a slightly more complex Estee Lauder Beautiful with a very distinctive note of cat urine. I was actually nauseated after smelling Sabi. Priced very expensively, it is just horrific.
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Fragrances -Guerlain - Insolence
Chevere 11/23/2006 6:27:00 PM
Insolence smells like a mixture of "pink" and new Barbies! I know that sounds sort of silly, but that is the effect I get from this fragrance. I did get a compliment. But I will not make this one a regular. I would also liken it to those hard pink candies they used to sell in tins for the holidays back when I was a kid in the 70's/80's. It is a bit sassy, quite feminine, and to my nose, very very young smelling. I can see a teen/girl in her 20's reaching for this. It feels silly to me, and lacks any of the woodsy depth I prefer.
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Lip Gloss -NARS - Stolen Kisses
Chevere 10/11/2006 4:42:00 PM
Stolen Kisses looks absolutely gorgeous in the package. And who could resist the delicious description put out by Nars? Want to know the truth? Stolen Kisses has NO color. Reportedly richly pigmented, it simply has no color. It does provide a very glossy finish. But if glossy lips are all you're after, wouldn't a dollar gloss at the corner pharmacy do just as well? I repeat--this shade does not provide any pigment. SAVE your money on this one is my advice. Nars is far too expensive a product to waste on a dud like this one.
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Hair Color -Clairol - Nice N Easy Color Boosting Glaze
Chevere 8/16/2006 10:57:00 PM
The Cons: Very, very messy! Splashes everywhere. Takes forever to rinse out and caused a tiny bit of breakagee. Does not add much pigment. Pros: Really left hair feeling shiny, glossy, and deep conditions. Thicker fuller, smoother hair. I liked that! Plus the conditioner is amazing. I'll buy again. But I so wish the glaze was a thicker gel type formula and not so 'splashy.'
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Fragrances -Gucci - Envy Me 2
Chevere 5/14/2006 1:13:00 PM
Very mediocre rehash of Gucci Rush, really. I don't see what the point was. The top notes are fairly nice; the dry down is a boring version of Rush. If its a heavy and notable dose of Jasmine you're longing for, go ahead with the Rush. The bottle is very pretty, lacy looking aqua rectangle shaped looking.
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Treatments -Elizabeth Arden - Allergen - Prevage MD Anti-aging Treatment (1% prescription-strength Formulation)
Chevere 4/18/2006 12:21:00 PM
I've been using Prevage for about a month and a half, right about where I should be seeing results--If I'm going to see any. My opinion: For significant wrinkling, and/or freckling and marks on the skin, see a derm! The Prevage has been highly celebrated even in the media, as having the most potent anti-oxidant on the market. What is less focused on is that this is much less potent than the version available only from dermatologists. Prevage seems to have an mild exfoliating effect. However, I've had similar results from L'Oreal Visible Results. I suppose I don't have to rail about the price of Prevage? Less important is that the product comes in a startlingly ugly aluminum can. That might sound petty, but when a woman shells out half a car payment for a skin cream, one might like something that would have a trace of aesthetics? I am starting to see the effects of years spent in an outdoor swimming pool minus sunscreen. The smell of Coppertone lotion brings back great memories. Unfortunately my skin remembers those summers with an even better *clarity.* I think it is time to see a dermatologist and STOP spending ransoms on products that have very little effectiveness. Remember ladies--the old adage still holds. If it sounds too good to be true...One last comment: Prevage does seem to cause fine breakouts on forehead and chin.
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Moisturizers -La Mer - Creme de la mer moisturizer
Chevere 4/18/2006 12:08:00 PM
I have been using a very generous sample of La Mer Creme. I live on the very edge of raw desert and you can't imagine how dry my skin gets. It's awful! Naturally, I was very interested in La Mer. Smells lovely and is moisturizing. BUT, so are many other moisturizers, many of which can be found at the dollar store. Shadow_Witch shared a super great idea with me. Apparently Nivea cream in the blue tin is a similar preparation to La Mer Creme. She wasn't wrong! I found the blue tin, which was .99 at Walgreens, and the consistency, moisturizing capacity, and even the scent are very similar. Given that La Mer has no real hard-hitting ingredients as far as anti-aging creams are concerned, I'll take the Nivea! La Mer does have a very rich feel, but so does the Nivea, and the difference in price is astounding. I believe that many cosmetic companies are fleecing consumers who have been led to believe that because some celebrity uses a particular product, or the product has some sort of cult-like following, that it MUST have some special properties. The truth is often less than wonderful. I would strongly suggest that for signifcant skin problems, spend the money on a visit to a derm. La Mer does nothing special. Moisturizes well, as does Nivea in the blue tin for 99 cents.
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Hair Color -L'Oreal - Excellence Creme
Chevere 4/10/2006 12:13:00 PM
I always liked L'Oreal hair colors so I was quite surprised when a recent application of Excellence left my hair very broken and bone dry. I have been going for broke trying to repair the damage this product left. I am shocked; full head bleaching never left my hair this damaged! I can only wonder if the formula has been changed? I would strongly advise anyone thinking of trying Excellence to run, run very fast.
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Treatments -Frederic Fekkai - Protein Rx Reparative Spray
Chevere 4/10/2006 12:07:00 PM
Horrid product! Left my hair like bark, couldn't drag a comb through it. Given the dreamy description, I fully expected a near-miracle product. My hair felt exactly as though I had sprayed it heavily with hairspray while wet. Comes in an ugly, generic white plastic bottle.
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Hair Styling Tools -Unlisted Brand - Tourmaline Featherweight/Travel Hair Dryer (Original and Bespoke versions)
Chevere 4/10/2006 12:03:00 PM
I'll feel foolish for a loooong time to come for shelling out such a && ranson for this gadget. You know how you tell yourself, "I deserve it. I work so hard..." blah blah. Even a family member expressed utter shock that I basically spent a 'car payment' to buy this silly thing. The idea of blowing my locks "glossy" with rare "crushed jewels" sounded so lux, I just couldn't resist. Bleh. This blower is way too hot and leaves hair feeling significantly fried. The gloss and lusre? Where? Overly fried hair is not glossy, but is dull as the cuticle has been roughed. I continue to feel fleeced as there are many reputable ionic blowers coming out for more reasonable prices to the tune of about $50. Well--no one forced me to buy it. I should have known better. I should mention that the blower is encased in cheap, lightweight plastic. If you asked your dad, or anyone who wouldn't have a clue about beauty tools, they would estimate the price at about 12.00 from the local discount shack.
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Treatments -Clairol - Natural Instincts Shine Happy clear shine treatment
Chevere 3/29/2006 9:38:00 PM
Very disappointed. This did nothing but leave my hair a little drier. I guess I'm having a bad hair spell, but this glossing treatment certainly did not perform as promised. Very easy to apply, and not a messy preparation. The conditioner smells great, but ultimately the product is, IMO, a dud.
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