Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Creaclip
DuchessofGrapes 10/14/2012 12:08:00 AM
Wonderful tool! I can't even imagine how much money I've saved on trips to the salon. I've always wanted to cut my own hair and this tool makes it so easy. Creaclip has a great youtube site with lots of tutorials on how to cut different styles. It's super easy to use and it definitely gives great results just like you would get in a salon. I am never paying for a haircut as long as I have my creaclip! I'm so pleased.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Pacifica - California Star Jasmine
DuchessofGrapes 9/29/2012 11:57:00 PM
I'm a big fan of jasmine scents and this is one of the most fresh and beautiful jasmine fragrances that I've ever come across. It's light and florally, yet it still has the jasmine bite to it and just a little bit of grass. And it lasts! I wear this one around August. It's perfect for those last few days of summer. I think that just like rose and sandalwood, jasmine is one of those classic scents that's amazing when it's done right, but awful when it's done wrong. But this is definitely done right! Fresh, grassy, and sweet. It smells like a walk through a orchard. I can see myself using this for a long time to come.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Pacifica - Hawaiian Ruby Guava Solid Perfume
DuchessofGrapes 9/29/2012 11:50:00 PM
Maybe it's just the solid rather than the sprays or other products, but this reminds me so much of Tuscan Blood Orange but with less spice. It still has that juicy, fruity, sweet, yet slightly musky smell to it. I find it a bit too much for the summer months, which I feel is the only season where a very "edible" scent like this is appropriate. At least for me. I'm also not a big fan of coconut and while it's subtle, I can still smell it in this fragrance. However I can see this being a great scent for many other girls. I just prefer warm and herby scents rather than fruity. Still, it's very pleasant and it's strong enough to have some staying power. It's just not for me.
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Fragrances -Pacifica - Tuscan Blood Orange 
DuchessofGrapes 9/29/2012 11:40:00 PM
I was surprised by how much I liked this fragrance. I'm not a big fan of oranges (eating them or having them as the main note in fragrances). Usually I like orange in fragrances if it's combined with something more woody or grassy, like in the other Pacifica scents like Sandalwood and Tibetan Mountain Temple. But the spice in this really speaks to me. I use this around May. It's a bit too much for me around the summer, but around spring it's just right. Very edible! It's almost got a bit of a ginger undertone to it. It's not my absolute favorite Pacifica scent (although I do think that it's the most popular), but it's definitely a regular in my rotation.
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Fragrances -Pacifica - Sandalwood Perfume
DuchessofGrapes 9/29/2012 10:55:00 PM
My November scent! I love the warmth of the sandalwood mixed with the sweetness of the orange. It's a great mix for cooler weather. I love woody scents for fall since we have a lot of bonfire parties where I'm from around October/November, so the slight smokey kick that this fragrance has is something that I really love. It does kind of smell like incense, but I have about 15 different kinds of incense in my house, so that's not something that's a downside for me. I love it. It's not my favorite Pacifica scent, but it's definitely made it's way onto my list of regulars.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Pacifica - Spanish Amber Hydrating Perfume
DuchessofGrapes 9/29/2012 8:29:00 PM
Sexy and mysterious! It is a beautiful scent. I actually feel kind of sad since I use this in February, the shortest month of the year. But this warms me up during those cold winter months like a cup of hot chocolate. It's exotic, yet familiar, and classic, yet unique. I love that warm, but not spicy, and fresh, but not sweet, aroma that amber gives. Creamy, soft, and a little bit smokey, but with the staying power that is sometimes lacking in Pacifica fragrances. It is absolutely my favorite Pacifica scent.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Pacifica - French Lilac - Solid Perfume
DuchessofGrapes 9/29/2012 6:05:00 PM
The most true lilac scent I've ever smelled. It's actually quite strong, but it is divine! I use this scent in April since lilacs have always reminded me of the rain. We had a gorgeous lilac tree right next to our house when I was growing up, so this is a very special fragrance that brings me back to those warm, rainy days of spring where I ran around looking for worms to put in the compost pile (which sounds gross but it makes me really happy). I've always been a fan of jasmine and similar fragrances, so this is right up my alley. I do feel like this is a bit too strong for really hot summer days, but it would be great year round otherwise. I exclusively use Pacifica fragrances now and this is definitely in the top 5 (along with Avalon Juniper, Spanish Amber, Mediterranean Fig, and Bali Lime Papaya). Such a beautiful, classic scent. I can't get enough of it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Pacifica - Bali Lime Papaya Solid Perfume
DuchessofGrapes 9/29/2012 5:56:00 PM
The scent is absolutely heavenly! Sweet, juicy, slightly florally, and still sexy. The staying power is not so heavenly. As with the other reviewers, I had issues with this staying on. Even with my layering (conditioner, soap, and body lotion) it still fades pretty fast. Although that is slightly annoying if I'm inside, when I'm out in the hot summer I don't mind a lighter, softer scent. Therefore this is my July scent. It's perfect for a day at the beach or a night out at the bar. As I said before, the layering does help, so I just keep the solid in my purse to reapply. The solid is extremely convenient and versatile, so I always go for this form of fragrance. Even with the problems with the staying power, it still stays on well enough and definitely smells good enough for me to buy again. Yum!
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Fragrances -Pacifica - Malibu Lemon Blossom - Solid Perfume
DuchessofGrapes 9/29/2012 5:39:00 PM
This says June to me! It's the perfect scent to kick off beach days, bbq's, and (in my case) golfing. It's a lovely scent. Very fresh and clean without being overly sweet or edible. You can smell a bit of grass in here. It smells like the outdoors, which to me speaks in volumes with a natural line. If I wanted an overly sweet, sharp lemon scent, I would go to another line. But since I love those scents where you can place what you smell, but it smells almost like you just came in from mowing a lemon grove. Even though I only use this one once a year, I can totally see this scent working great for certain girls as a signature fragrance. As with a lot of Pacifica fragrances, the staying power isn't the best. I find that layering the scent really helps. I use this solid to make my hair conditioner, soap, and body lotion, then I just keep the solid in my purse. It really keeps it lasting all day. I'm on my third pot, and I definitely plan on going through more!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Pacifica - Persian Rose Solid Perfume
DuchessofGrapes 9/29/2012 5:12:00 PM
I was surprised at the low reviews of this fragrance. It might not be my absolute favorite (actually probably the least favorite of my regular fragrances) but I still really love it. It's a very sweet rose. Not powdery, not grassy. I use this scent for March. It's perfect for the rainy, cool first days of spring. I will admit that when I first saw this, I expected a bit more of a spicy or exotic rose when it said Persian on it, but I'm still very happy that I bought it. I'm a big fan of violet, and I can totally smell it in here. The packaging is super adorable, even though I put this in my homemade soap, body lotion, and hair conditioner. The staying power is not that great, but I find that layering it helps a lot. So obviously this is not a scent for everyone, but if you are a rose fan, I would definitely recommend taking a look. It's a very classic, yet fresh.
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Fragrances -Pacifica - Thai Lemongrass - Solid Perfume
DuchessofGrapes 9/29/2012 1:36:00 AM
This is my September scent! I find that it's perfect for warm or cool weather. Very versatile. The lemongrass smells almost like thyme. It's herb-like but still fresh and sweet. You get a warm spicy kick from the ginger and layers that are just heavenly. I'm a huge fan of herb fragrances and this one is top-notch. Very young and sexy.
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Fragrances -Pacifica - Mediterranean Fig - Solid Perfume
DuchessofGrapes 9/22/2012 3:33:00 PM
I LOVE this scent. I'm a huge Pacifica fan (they're all I use) and this is no exception to the quality and beautiful earthy fragrances they produce. I make my own body lotion from whipped oils and add some coconut milk to my regular conditioner. So since I like to have my body and hair smell lovely, I melt about 1/4 of the solid perfume in with my oils and coconut milk to give my overall product a beautiful smell. I have a different fragrance for every month, and this is my October scent! It reminds me so much of Halloween and the leaves changing. It's sweet, yet earthy, and warm, but not spicy. To me, it's the perfect fall fragrance. In addition to that, it's cheap, made in the U.S., eco-friendly, and doesn't break my sensitive skin out in a rash. Go Pacifica!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Pacifica - Tibetian Mountain Temple - Solid Perfume
DuchessofGrapes 9/22/2012 3:25:00 PM
I pretty much only buy Pacifica scents since I've never had any sensitivities to them. Over the years I've gotten into making my own products and these little solids have come in VERY handy. I just melt about 1/4 of the solid in with my oils (for a body lotion) or with my coconut milk (for conditioner) and the mix smells like whatever scent I used without the sometimes alcohol-smell of the sprays. I use a different scent for each month in my conditioner and body lotion, and Tibetan Mountain Temple is my December scent. It's so warm and spicy, it's perfect for the holiday season. It's also my husband's favorite scent since he's a big fan of ginger. It doesn't fade that quickly on me, which I know is a big complaint against Pacifica perfumes. I've noticed that the spicier fragrances seem to have a bit more staying power. I've been a big fan of this scent for about 3 years now and with how much I love it so far, I can see it still being a favorite in the years to come.
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Hair -Unlisted Brand - Unrefined Shea Butter
DuchessofGrapes 8/9/2012 10:01:00 PM
I'm a big fan of making my own products and unrefined shea butter is a key ingredient in so many of my products. During the colder winter months, I use it in replacement of cocoa butter in my homemade moisturizer. And I use it year round in my body moisturizers. My personal recipe is equal parts cocoa butter, shea butter, coconut oil, sesame oil (avocado in the fall/winter). I melt them in a double boiler until completely liquefied, then let them cool (the mix hardens). Then I whip it up with my hand mixer and it turns into the fluffiest, creamiest body lotion ever. If it's hot out, I'll mix half of the oil mix with aloe vera gel to make a cream-gel that soaks in a bit better. I'll add some witch hazel and lavender essential oil to make a hand cream, and some liquefied aspirin, and tea tree and peppermint essential oil to make a foot cream. I will also melt equal parts shea butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil and cocoa butter, and let it harden. It's perfect for a post facial balm or for chapped skin. I really love getting a bit box of it from amazon since I use it so much. SO CHEAP! I can buy 5 lbs for the same price as a single 16 oz body lotion. Love it. Glad to see other people love it as much as I do.
14 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -LUSH - Colour Supplement
DuchessofGrapes 8/6/2012 8:31:00 PM
I've only been using this foundation for a little while but I am absolutely in LOVE with it. I was looking for a foundation that was not tested on animals, not sold in China (again, for the animal testing purposes), natural, good quality, matches my skintone (a huge problem as a super pale natural redhead), and didn't cause any irritation on my very sensitive skin. That's a large order to fill, but I think I've found it! LUSH is a company with a lot of integrity, so I feel comfortable using their products, but I was reluctant since the fragrances in their products have caused irritation in the past. I had no trouble with this foundation. My husband said that I smelled like a horse (like hay not manure), and that it was a sweet smell that he actually kind of liked. I didn't feel to strongly one way or the other on it, but I can see how people might have some issues with it. Luckily that was not me because Jackie Oates is a great color for me. I'm hard to match since I'm very pale but I'm blue undertoned instead of pink. This had a very golden base to it that covered up the redness on my chin (the only place I have a lot of redness) but blended with my skin and neck flawlessly. It stood up to the Hawaii weather very well (about 10 hours which is a LONG time here) and looked totally natural. Foundations tend to separate on me, this did not. It gave me a very glowy look, but I didn't look shiny. I haven't have any dry patches since I've been using it (even though I'm dryer skinned), so I'm still waiting to see if it highlights those, since that was a complaint. But even if it does, it'll just encourage me to make sure that I don't slack off on my skincare routine. The price is definitely an added bonus, despite the fact that with all the issues with foundations I'd be willing to pay a lot more. The issue with the expiration date is not a concern to me since I'm used to using products with expirations. It's a whole year, and I'm sure I can use it up in that time even though I only use a small amount. I'm so thrilled that LUSH decided to branch into the makeup arena. I can't wait to try a few more products. A great foundation!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No