Fragrances -Creed - Red Leather Atomizer (Refillable with gold plated funnel) 
Mayra 2/1/2004 4:06:00 PM
Birthday gift right off of my MUA Wish List from a dear, dear friend who was crazy and thoughtful enough to think this would make my day, week, month and year. It did! Its gorgeous and so elegant. Luxurious without being too flashy or gaudy. Gold and red. Leather. THE most perfect vessel to decant all 8 ounces, 1 at a time, of Creed's Fleur De Thé Rose Bulgare for years and years to come. I shall cherish this beauty forever.
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Fragrances -Loewe - Angel Schlesser Homme
Mayra 1/21/2004 4:08:00 PM
Created in 2001, Angel Schlesser Homme is an interesting combination of exotic ingredients that comes across very fresh yet with a slightly woody finish. The predominant notes are woody, spicy without being too in your face masculine, pungent or too strong for daytime wear. Very hip and light. Schlesser Homme and sexy bottle. This scent is perfect for the man that does not usually wear cologne or that finds scents like Chanel Antaeus too in your face. A new twist on Acqua De Gio..reminds me a bit of Quorum too.
According to Sephora Angel Schlesser Homme is composed of: "Sicilian Bergamot, Shisu Leaves, Greens, Water, Cedar Vetyver, Sandalwood, Ginger, Herbal Accents, Lavender, Rice, Anise, Cardamom, Cinnamon, White Musk, Tree Moss, Noble Woods."
Angel Schlesser might be a "new arrival to Sephora" but its been, for a while now, very popular in Spain and Europe.I really like this one a lot and gave a bottle of it to my SO.(and have my own Schlesser Femme);-)
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Fragrances -Loewe - Angel Schlesser Femme
Mayra 1/21/2004 3:51:00 PM
Angel Schlesser in my opinion is the Spanish version of Jil Sander but at far more affordable prices. His discreet shades, simple lines and basic, femenine elegance (the looks absolutely stunning on what seems to be his muse, Eugenia Silva) seem to be an example of what these young designers
are achieving in the very traditional and for the most part conservative world of Spanish fashion. So it comes as no surprise that he would be named by the Spanish magazine "Arte De Vivir" as Designer of the Year.
Created in 2000 by Thierry Wasser for Angel Schlesser, Angel Schlesser Femme is light and fresh citrus based scent, with a bit of woody undertone. Sephora lists some of its notes as: "Bergamot, Mandarin, Neroli, Juniper Root, Woody Notes, Muguet, Hedione, Green Pepper, Red Pepper, Musk, Cardamom, Sage, Holm Oak Moss."
Very Spanish. More "Colonia" than Perfume. Perfect to wear to the office. Understated and fresh yet lasting on my skin. Will be my wearing this one a lot in the spring and summer.
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Makeup Brushes -Lancome - Pinceau No. 3 Brush
Mayra 1/21/2004 2:32:00 PM
PINCEAU LUSTRAGE Fiber Optic Brush #3
Love NARS Exhibit A and Crazed but think they are too intense for your PPP complexion? Thought of swapping these away because they do not work for you? The solution to the conundrum might be this brush. Originally intended as a powder blush to aid with the appplication of their Poudre Blanc Neige, this brush, with its super soft and fine optic fibers is perfect for applying highly pigmented blushes. ONE tap picks up just the right amount of color that you need to wear these blushes without looking like you have escaped the circus. $25 at Nordstrom.
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Fragrances -Guerlain - With Love
Mayra 1/12/2004 12:53:00 PM
I received a bottle of Guerlain With Love last summer as a gift from a friend. A fellow perfume lover, who, while on a trip to the Netherlands, found With Love at a Duty Free Shop. Back then, With Love was available exclusively at selected EU's Duty Fre Shops.
"Pink Pepper, Quince, Mandarin Flower, Wild Rose, Freesia, Wild Lily, Cedar, Sandalwood, Powdery Notes. Blond Amber."
Guerlain With Love is a peppery, slightly piquant, fruity floral. Watery. A fresher, lighter and younger cousin of Frederic Malle's
Le Parfum De Thérèse. However, it still has some of that dusty quality present in Malle's Thérèse. With Love is great for day/office wear. A perfect alternative for those of us who love Thérèse but can't see ourselves wearing it during the day.
Available at Sephora.com
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Fragrances -Cacharel - Amor Amor
Mayra 1/11/2004 3:57:00 PM
Another fruity floral in an already saturated market for this type of fragrance but I love fruity florals so here goes. Amor Amor is indeed a departure for Cacharel. A "philtre", "gourmandise" scent unlike any other Cacharel scent I've worn/sampled. But as a life long Cacharel enthusiast (their tiny floral print outfits were a favorite of my mother and I back in grade school) I HAD to try this. So when my friend Patricia sent me some Amour Amour I was happy to give it a go ASAP.
Mandarin, jasmine and vanilla. Not an original but it is indeed a very wearable and fun scent, appropriate for day/office wear. Lovely bell shaped red bottle (Simbolizes a red rose in bloom). Unlike the previous reviewer, I find it to be much much softer than Hugo Boss Deep Red (which works great at night as it is a far more sultry scent than Amor Amor).
***Gotta love Amor Amor's European tv advert. A couple staring at each other from across a party room. The girl picks out a bottle of Amor amor from her pocketbook. Throws the bottle in the air towards the boy. The bottle turns itself into a red rose that explodes in the manner of fireworks in the air. Couple kisses. Very sexy!
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Fragrances -Yves Saint Laurent - Vice Versa
Mayra 1/10/2004 6:45:00 PM
Created in 199 by Dubreuil Karine for the YSL label, Vice Versa came a year after In Love Again was launch as part of the Vice Versa makeup collection. Described by the company as "A composition rich in colours, fresh, fruity and flowery. Each colour is represented in a component of the fragrance, bringing together contrasting, yet harmonizing notes". (The three colors recalling YSL's 1966 Pop Art Couture Collection, no doubt favorite colors and recurrent themes in his creations. Perhaps inspired by his famous friend Andy Warhol).
"Red:
The tomato, with a touch of leaf green to balance its sweet red lushness.
Orange:
Mandarin orange from China. Fresh yet piquant, with a tart top note, it leaves a lingering essence that's pleasantly sweet.
Pink:
The delicate wild raspberry gathered from the mountainside brings a touch of whimsy."
Chinese Mandarin, Chery Tomato, Raspberry, Blueberry, Peony, Peach, Melon, Freesia, Indian Jasmine, Tuberose, Amber, Cedar, Iris, Vanilla & Musk.
Out of the two fruity-florals YSL launched within 98-99 In Love Again is the definite winner. Vice Versa is softer, a tad muskier than ILA. A lot of fun, albeit lacking in originality. A bit sweeter than its predecessor. Another colorful and creative bottle. And like In Love Again, a limited edition highly coveted by YSL fans ($58 USD Original price)
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Fragrances -Yves Saint Laurent - In Love Again
Mayra 1/10/2004 12:43:00 PM
In October 1998, Yves Saint Laurent showed his last ready-to-wear
collection for the Rive Gauche label he had founded more than 30 years
before (in 1962 YSL Pierre
Bergé, founded the house of Yves Saint Laurent) The next year "Saint Yves" sold the rights to his brand to the Gucci Group (Rive Gauche collection, perfumes, cosmetics and accessories)only holding on to his Haute Couture line.
That same year the house of Yves Saint Laurent released In Love Again as a Limited Edition of 50,000 bottles (Eau de Toilette Natural Spray 3.3 oz $52). A perfect match for Yves Saint Laurent's Spring limited edition makeup collection (the e/s cases had the same whimsical colorful orange heart over light and dark blue. The whole collection's packaging was designed around this heart theme).
A feast of fruits and flowers that showcased the freshest and most sparkling of grapefruits. Perfect for even the hottest of summer days. Blackberry, and sandalwood round up the edges. Brimbelle (wild blueberry), Tulip Tree (Magnolia'ish in quality) and Water Lily are evident upon dry down. Absolutely lasting on the skin and a joy to wear. Its happiness in a heart shaped, colorful heart capped bottle with Yves Saint Lautent's signature. Lovers of Jean F. LaPorte's Pamplemousse (another bottle/fragrance I safeguard and love)and Patou Hip would have loved/will love In Love Again. If you find it on ebay, g-e-t i-t!
***For 2004, the Yves Saint Laurent label celebrates 40 years of fragrance creation with the relaunch (re-designed bottle and box) of Love Again. HOPEFULLY, they won't reformulate the scent and leave it just as delicious as it was in 98. One can only hope!
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Fragrances -Guerlain - Chamade (Extrait)
Mayra 1/5/2004 9:03:00 PM
Stunning. Woody, loamy vanilla with a bit of currant. Just a couple dabs on my skin is all it takes to make me feel sophisticated. I HAD to have a bottle of it and now I do, albeit ultra small. Thanks Diane for introducing me to this gem. This one for sure, I shall repurchase in the future.
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Highlighters -Stephane Marais - Touche Eblouissante (Luminizer for Eyes, Cheeks and Lips)
Mayra 1/3/2004 12:49:00 PM
Fine particle fluid to make eyes, lips and cheeks radiant. This is the revew for #1. Althought described as white-gold to my eye it is more of silver pearl shade. The Luminizer comes in a tube with a very clever applicator brush. you can use it anywhere o nyour face where you want a touch of light or shimmer for an evening out. Inside corner of eyes, top of upper lip, cheek bone. Works great and looks fantastic when applied with a light hand. So practical and versatile. Highly recommend this little wonder.
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Mascara -Stephane Marais - Mascara Comb
Mayra 1/3/2004 12:43:00 PM
Mascara Peigne. Comes in 5 different shades. This is a review for the black mascara. Has a unique design comb paired with a flexible formula to achieve the ultimate in natural lashes. Coating each lash, combing each hair, untangling them as it applies itself effortlessly, separating without clumps giving volume and length with just about one coat. This is a long lasting product. You might need, as I did, a bit of added Eye Makeup Remover to get rid of all traces. I just used whichever brand was around (in my case Lancôme) but Stephane Marais also has his own Eye Makeup Remover, made specifically for the removal of this mascara.
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Lipstick -Stephane Marais - Baume Douceur Brillant pour les Lévres (Sheer Lipstick)
Mayra 1/3/2004 12:37:00 PM
Comes in three shades but this is the review for #1. A translucent and slightly mauve pink sheer shade. Very moisturizing. Perfect for no makeup days or when you need a little mositurizing on the go. Excellent alternative to tube lip balm.
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Fragrances -Worth - Je Reviens
Mayra 12/20/2003 1:18:00 PM
The second fragrance I ever wore, a gift from a dear aunt when I was six (L'Air du Temps and Cacharel's Anaïs Anaïs followed). Je Reviens parfum used to come in a lovely blue round and very flat bottle. So beautiful to look at and display. Its a shame in modernizing the packaging they stopped producing the wonderful classic bottle that I loved so much and I'll always regret not saving my bottle for posterity. The name means "I will return" and its indeed worth revisiting this one, especially now when its become a great find at local Marshall's and TJ Maxx shops. An aldehydic floral that includes, among its many ingredients notes of: lemon, orange blossom, bergamot, violet, clove, rose, jasmine, hyacinth, lilac, orris, ylang ylang resting on an ambery bed with incense, tonka beans, vetiver, musk, moss and sandalwood infusing its silky linens. Powdery and even with this incredibly mix of strong elements it comes off very soft, extrememly light, even in parfum strength.
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Eye Shadow -Tony & Tina - Color Frequency Eye Shadow Duo in "Being & being"
Mayra 12/13/2003 1:09:00 PM
Opalescent white and a golden pearl shimmer duo with the tiniest of mirrors to check your makeup with if pressed for a larger one. ;-) I had been looking for a pearly and opalescent white for just the brow bone or wet in the inner corner of the eye (using Molton Brown's slant eye brush) and this duo is perfect for me. According to Tony & Tina this "silky, luxurious formula contains Roman Chamomile to prevent tired eyes and ease puffiness, plus the soothing, rejuvenating and antioxidant properties of Vitamins A, C and E."
Being & being duo is my first Tony & Tina e/s ever and I am VERY pleased. Purchased at Nordstrom downtown Seattle for $16.
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Blush -Tony & Tina - Self Worth
Mayra 12/13/2003 12:49:00 PM
Similar in shade to my favorite blush of all time: Molton Brown Monaco. Its a medium pink mauve. Natural and so easy to wear. No shimmer. No glitter. Just powdered satin silk. Almost as good as my Molton Brown in texture and spreadability. All you need is a fab blush brush (have you tried Molton Brown's The Glow Blush Brush? http://www.moltonbrown.co.uk/shop/moreinfo.cfm?itemid=2&price=$68.00) and you'll have a flawless application. Very pigmented so it should last a while. No reactions, irritations or breakouts during the time I've ben wearing it.
I still can't beleive I never gave Tony & Tina a go before. I've purchased many of their products since a friend of mine told me about how much she loved them (mostly, their glitter pencils)about three months ago. I was at first a bit hesitant to try but now I can't believe I did not discover this line sooner. I love their Herbal liners, Char'Khols, Universal Dusts, Cosmic Lights and their blush is just divine. Thanks Ms. M! :-D
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