Mascara -Giorgio Armani - Eyes to Kill 
Ninsun 1/28/2012 12:36:00 PM
Best mascara out there. Gives great definition, holds curl very well, no flaking what so ever. A great, sturdy brush (no rubber brush) which coats every lash. A second layer adds beautifully, without the slightest clumping. Two layers is enough for me to really get the falsies effect (I have short, thin and straight lashes). I sometimes work nights, and it holds through the night and looks fab until the morning, even after those nights I manage to get a little sleep. Two cons: first, it does not go off with soap and water, you'll need a good remover. Second: If you are a fan of very natural looking and feeling mascara, you might not love this. The feeling sometimes could be slightly stiff. All in all, an expensive mascara that's worth the price since it totally delivers on definition, curl, staying power, no flaking/clumping and is very easily buildable.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Yves Rocher - Yria Cils Souplesse Mascara
Ninsun 10/6/2009 8:59:00 AM
I'm on my third Yria Cils Souplesse, my first HG mascara since they discontinued Dior Long Optic. This is even better! The making of a great mascara must be a tricky thing for the cosmetic industry (so it seems anyway). This mascara however, fulfills all my wishes for the perfect mascara: it lengthens very well, it never clumps, lashes are beautifully separated, it's easily buildable (although one application is enough for me), it never clumps or flakes (and i regularly work nights and then mix work with a little sleep when possible - no flaking even in the morning!!), it's a beautiful black colour and last, but not least, it's easy to remove with my regular face wash yet it have in fact never smeared when it's been humid outside. I'm on my third mascara now, and I have not experienced the drying problem that some other reviewer found a problem. I screw the tube tight though. For ref., I have, among others, used the following mascaras before:Clinique High Impact, Maybelline Express, Mirenesse, Imju Fiberwig, All of the Chanel mascaras, Clarins Lengthening, all Kanebo mascaras, Too Faced, ModelCo.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Ren - Grapeseed Jojoba and Shea Butter Body Cream
Ninsun 8/26/2009 4:49:00 AM
Great smell (citrus/sweet fruit), great hygienic airtight packaging, great ingredients (I use it on my baby daughter), great consistency (throughly moisturising yet easy to spread if your in a hurry), great effect (skin moisturised but not oily). Simply great! I will and have repurchased.
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Skincare - Face -Ren - Phyto-Dynamic Instant Lifting Gel
Ninsun 8/26/2009 4:42:00 AM
I don't know how this works as a mask, the reason I bought it was from recommendation from a blogger (Rocketqueen?) who suggested using it as a make up primer. As such, it works absolutely excellent! I can't tolerate silicone based primers, breaks me out almost instantly. This is silicone free. It is a thick see-through gel w/a very discreet scent. Makes skin fresh and glowing and the saggy morning face disappears. I apply it after moisturizer and let it sink in well. Then I use Youngblood or Tval's mineral makeup powder. It seems to make a great job as an extra moisturizer, too. I sometimes cheat with moisturising, as I have oily skin, but this gives me dry flakes around the nose which you all know looks awful with mineral makeup. With this gel, and Rens products, I have never had better skin! I will and have repurchased! Ingredients:Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Glycerin (Source Coconut Oil), Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate (Source Coconut), Xanthan Gum (Source Corn), Zostera Marina Pectin (Source Sea Grass), Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans (Source Corn), Gynostemma Pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan) Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Parfum (100% Natural Fragrance), Linalool, Faex (Yeast) Extract, Phenoxyethanol (Source Aromatic Ether), Sodium Carbomer (Source Polymer), Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate (Source Amino Acids).
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Ren - No. 1 Purity Cleansing Balm
Ninsun 8/26/2009 4:29:00 AM
This creamy yellowish cleanser is a pleasure to use; the rosey scent is lovely but not overpowering, the consistency of the product is thick and luxurious yet easy to massage into the skin. It does a good job of taking make up away (even the eyes). However, it does leave an oily film after rinsing with water. I was not really prepared for this, as the name "Purity" I somehow associated with a more harsh cleansing. I'm not sure this is the right product for my slightly oily and acne prone complexion. I definitly have to use an alcohol based toner afterwards to get rid of the residue. On the other hand, it haven't made me break out so far (a week). For the right type of skin, dry and irritated, this must be a dream. I will use this more regularly in the colder months. I'll give this four lippies just because i'm not used to oily cleansers, but quality-wise it is a clear 5, as with almost every REN-product I've tried. Ingredients:Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Glycerin (Source Coconut Oil), Cetearyl Ethyhexanoate (Source Coconut Oil), Glyceryl Stearate (Source Coconut Oil), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Source Coconut Oil), Glyceryl Dibehenate (Source Rape Seed Oil), Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Tribehenin (Source Rape Seed Oil), Glyceryl Behenate (Source Rape Seed Oil), Coco Glucoside (Source Corn), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Nut Butter, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Martini (Palmarosa) Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Extract, Viola Odorata (Violet) Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil, Citronellol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Linalool, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Oil, Oryzanol (Source Rice), Lecithin (Source Soybean), Benzyl Alcohol (Source Essential Oil), Aqua (Water), Inulin (Source Wheat), Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide (Source Wheat), Tocopherol (Vitamin E).
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Heidi Klum In An Instant
Ninsun 6/3/2009 2:16:00 PM
I've been using this line for two weeks now, and will give my impressions of it. I have fair skin with an oily T-zone, though I tend to get dry in winter. I do generally not have breakouts, unless I use silicone based primers (Smashbox and Laura Mercier make me break out bad after 3-4 days of use). GENERAL +: All the products are scented w/ a very discreet somewhat sweet and fruity scent, reminding me of the scent of Cliniques Turnaround cream. The sizes of the tubes are good (see below) and the price is a real bargain IMO. Apart from the silicones, the products seem well made when looking at the ingredient list (please see link below for ingredients of all the products). The Serum, the Tinted moisturiser and the Scrub are winners! GENERAL - : There's no toner or night cream in the series. The products contain silicones, which I am not fond of. All the products are sold in a program with automatic shipping. The Wrinkle Smoother really isn't that fantastic. INGREDIENT LIST: http://www.inaninstant.se/ingredienser.aspx 1. GENTLE FOAMING CLEANSER 125ml: This cleanser comes out as a white mousse which easily lathers and is rinsed away quite easily, it takes 3-4 splashes of water before it is removed which is ok. It doesn't strip the skin at all, but yet makes it completely clean. It resolves most of my water resistant mascara, but if you wear heavy eye make up, you'll prob. need a separate remover. 2. INTENSIVE FIRMING SERUM 55ml: This serum is one of the stars of this show. It is a slightly see through serum with gel-like consistency which spreads very easily on the skin as is easy to blend. It sinks right in, leaving your skin matte yet throughly moisturised. I have been using this alone, without the tinted moisturiser, and have had no dry patches at all. It will prob. not be sufficient on it's own in winter, though. I find my skin more even toned, and the biggest difference is my skin looks glowing and rested. It has definitly helped a little bit with my oily t-zone, too. It contains hexapeptides which are used in other, much more expensive products (Medik8 for example) which are supposed to stimulate collagen production. I was sure this serum would make me break out, because of the silicones, but not at all. Haven't had a pimple since I started using it. I'm very pleased. 3.INSTANT WRINKLE SMOOTHER 4ml: This is a dense white cream most resembling a creamy and slightly dry eye base primer. It's supposed to take the wrinkles away. Hrmm... Well, I didn't really expect this miracle product to help (I may be vain, but am not stupid!), and it doesn't. I don't really know how to use it. it is impossible to use under concealer or foundation, cause then it'll rub off instantly and you'll have to do the procedure over again after washing off your make up. If applied on top, it is difficult to spread and will often leave white streaks. I have been using it on my t-zone instead, cause it does make my skin matte almost all the day, and the pores appear smaller. I could, however, live without this product. 4.INSTANT DAILY TINTED MOISTURISER SPF 15, 50ml: This is another winner: A light white cream with small granules of colours in it (Estee Lauder have an identical one, where they prob. got the idea). The colour will show up when you put it on. For a very lightly tanned blonde, this is perfect. Maybe it will be too dark on me in winter, but the colour is a very discreet golden beige and gives more impression of a healthy glow than colour. It moistures well w/o leaving skin feeling oily. I find this a very well made, high quality tinted moisturiser which compares well with products much more expensive. The SPF 15 is a great thing, too. 5. INSTANT WARMING SCRUB 50 ml: This is a scrub with quite small sized granules, smaller than most face scrubs although not quite as small as those scrubs of micro dermabrasion type. It gets hot - and I mean hot!- up on application, but this only lasts half a minute. I love it! The scrub itself feels really effective, but not harsh. I can imagine this scrub not working so well on very sensitive skin, though. I thought I was going to peel a bit, as I usually do a few days after scrubbing, but I didn't, so maybe it is gentle though it feels so effective. The skin is unbeliveably fresh and glowing afterwards. 6. INTENSIVE EYE TREATMENT 7.5 ml: This was included as a bonus. Haven't used it much enough to give a fair review, really, but it seems a medium-thick peachy cream that moisturises well. I do not use special eye creams normally, though. I easily get sweaty lids during the day (doesn't that sound really nice!) and don't generally like the fact that most eye creams are leaving a residue on the skin. This cream seems to do that too, and I will not use this in summer. Might try it in winter though. I plan to UPDATE when I have been using the products fore some more weeks! 4/8 UPDATE: Well, have not been using the products regularly during the hot & humid summer months. I do find the serum seems to cause a few little bumps on my cheeks and forehead, on the other hand my skin is usually troublesome this time of year, so I'm still not sure it's the serum. I find it a bit heavy right now as my skin is more oily now and I normally don't use much moisturiser in the summer. The coloured moisturiser is still fab though, gives just the right amount of moisture and feels much more fresh to use than regular fundation. It gives just the right, fresh natural & glowing summer look. The scrub is still great. I uset it two times a week. It leaves a somewhat oily residue though, so I use a toner afterwards. I will update later this autumn when I have been using the other products a little more in chillier weather. Update Aug 13: Cancelled my order. Got a terrible rash on my cheeks after scrubbing, which took a week to heal. Also suspect the serum to give me pimples. Removing one lippie.Still love the tinted moisturizer though.
14 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Ormonde Jayne - Champaca
Ninsun 3/6/2009 2:12:00 AM
An excellent, smooth, well blended floral. On me it starts out with a blast of fairly true champaca flower, after a few minutes the basmati rice notes become more prominent. A strange sort of fresh and green light gourmand with a warm milky base. Perhaps not that exciting, yet different and so well made it's impossible to get bored. I have alredy stocked up on several bottles. (The bath oil is a delight as well btw, although expensive and in to small bottles, 100ml)
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Bois 1920 Classic 1920
Ninsun 3/3/2009 2:45:00 AM
After sampling this several times, I just ordered a FB. This is a really classy scent, a slightly sweet and warm citrus with herbal notes. Very fresh and very feminine throughout the journey, and the green and soft vetiver freshness remains as it develops to a warmer tone, but it's not at all a vetiver fragrance to me. Maybe there is the faintest hint of sandalwood deep down but this scent is so excellently well blended, it's hard to pick out individual notes. Very wearable.
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Fragrances -Ormonde Jayne - Frangipani Absolute parfum
Ninsun 2/12/2009 5:36:00 AM
Well, this is hard to resist! A creamy white floral with top note of linden blossom, which my nose translates as a fresh green apple. As it dries down, it keeps the freshness in a remarkable way and out of this green floral, fruity freshness comes a buttery note with hints of coconut (it's not listed as a note as far as I know - maybe it's the vanilla that plays with me?) Sillage is nice and staying power is excellent - I put this on at 7am and at 4pm a colleague asked what smelled so good! (I just assumed it was me;-) And this is the EdP...
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Parfums MDCI Invasion Barbare
Ninsun 1/29/2009 9:26:00 AM
I have nothing to add to the both terrific and spot-on reviews below, except that I totally agree!!
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Profumum Dulcis in Fundo
Ninsun 1/28/2009 2:04:00 PM
Cointreau + vanilla. Yummy!
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chanel - Beige
Ninsun 1/28/2009 6:19:00 AM
Very beautiful floral with a slightly fruity touch. Reminds me of Paul & Joe Blanc, but is slightly cooler and instead of Blanc's freshly baked bread note it makes a discreet aromatic and a little perfumey floral impression. I detect honeysuckle and what in Sweden is called fläder (a white flower which is used to make soft drinks). Also reminds me of FM L'Eau d'Hiver, but whereas this to me is cold and bloodless (acc to LT in Perfume Guide, on the spot!), Beige is warmer. Love it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Byredo - Pulp
Ninsun 1/28/2009 5:15:00 AM
A raw figgy fruity scent. Many find this sweet, I don't find it very sweet. It accentuates the greenness of the fig, instead of the creaminess, and pairs it with grapefruit and a hint of apple. Think the fruity variant of green tomatoes, or fig + green tomatoes + Be Delicious. Very strong at application, good sillage and long lasting. To strong for hot summer wear for me, but perfect spring/autumn. Odd enough to fit the niche concept. The green note makes it more grown up than girly, yet maybe to cheerful & crazy for the strict office?
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Profumum Neroli
Ninsun 1/19/2009 5:14:00 PM
This Neroli is here to kick your a*s! He bow for no one! When he gets older, he gets a little more modest and know how to behave in furnished rooms, but dont get fooled! He is still MC Neroli and can kick back anytime!
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Profumum Alba
Ninsun 1/19/2009 5:02:00 PM
Guess what! (Schhh!) Mr Cologne Blanche and Miss Cadjmere have met, found each other the perfect match, and now they've had a baby! And it's soo cuute!!! - Oh, says miss Cadjmere, oh can you see! She has your topnotes! Look! -Ah, dunno bout that darling, she definitly has your cozy drydown , mmm yummy! Mr Cologne Blanche says. -Oh, you're so sweet darling but I'm certain she even has your middle notes! -Well little mom, at least she's got your beautiful bottle! -But what shall we call her, now that we're french and she....italian?? .....and off they wander, happily chatting, kissing and pushing the pram... -
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No