Lip Gloss -MAC - Dazzleglass - Steppin' Out
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 5/17/2010 7:34:00 AM
Mac Dazzleglass glosses are a love/hate item for me - I love the dazzling finish as well as the pretty colours, but I hate the stickiness! However; I do still get sucked into buying some shades for their uber-pretty look. In order to try and reduce the stickiness I often wear over a lippie or balm.
Steppin' Out is an LE shade no longer being sold, unfortunately although you could probably find it on ebay and the likes. The base is a bright, glossy pink scattered with hot pink and gold glitters. GORGEOUS!! It works beautifully over a light pink lipstick or on bare lips.
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Lipstick -Revlon - ColorBurst Lipstick in Blush 035 [DISCONTINUED]
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 5/17/2010 7:32:00 AM
The lipstick itself is imprinted with 'Revlon' much in the style of the new Chanel Rouge Coco lippies. Blush is a slightly frosty rosy neutral shade that would work well on any skin tone. The texture is creamy but a little on the drying side, pigment is lovely but I do feel the frosty aspect highlights my lines just a little.
Overall it's an OK lipstick, nice quality and with better than usual packaging for a low end lip product; however I don't feel like rushing out an buying another one. I found the range of shades to be lacking in the lighter colour spectrum. Also aussie retail $23.95 is a little OTT for Revlon.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Estee Lauder - Radiant Rose - Love Your Lips Collection
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 5/17/2010 7:29:00 AM
This is a limited edition shade from the Love Your Lips Collection, the lipstick is their Signature Lipsick formula.
This colour is called Radiant Rose; which I find odd because it looks coral on me. It's a warm, ultra-flattering coral shade that I think would suit almost any skin tone.
I found these lipstick to be a little more drying than the Pure Colour ranges and with less shine. They're more like a satin finish with a very slight, subtle sheen. The intensity of the pigment is great and they do wear well on the lips.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Yves Saint Laurent - Baby Doll
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 1/24/2010 4:02:00 AM
Baby Doll originated as a flanker to YSL’s more widely-loved Paris fragrance, as they both share a prominent rose note over a powdery, vanilla base. Baby Doll’s opening is tart and fruity, I get a shock of pink grapefruit initially with a slight orange and pineapple scent behind it. It smells like a delicious fruit cocktail, the type that takes you by surprise with how sharp it is. However, this sharpness fades quickly and the rose bursts through. Baby Doll is a lot more floral than I anticipated when I first purchased it back in June this year (just as my perfume obsession was kicking off). The rose is beautiful and sweet, not sour as some roses can be. The peach note comes through early, keeping the rose light. In the dry-down there is a powdered softness over sheer vanilla. Overall it’s fresh and uplifting, not the cloying, candy mess that many believe it to be, at least it isn’t on my skin. I think it’s one of those perfumes that mature perfume enthusiasts love to hate – it’s the dreaded ‘pink juice’ as I’ve seen these fragrances called before. Plus it’s wrapped up in a faceted pink bottle that looks like it was made for young girl’s dresser. Inside, however, I think it’s a totally different story. Baby Doll is simply misunderstood. I find that Baby Doll works best in warm but not hot weather, hot weather can make the rose sour a little on the skin and in the cold months it just doesn’t shine – but on those days where it’s too warm for your favourite oriental Baby Doll is a pleasant surprise.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Van Cleef & Arpels - Murmure
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 1/24/2010 3:59:00 AM
Murmure smells modern to me, completely contrary to the old-world glamour of First. Like the sound of a murmur it hums quietly but powerfully through it’s stages. Upon first spray there is a strange herbal blast, slightly medicinal and my curiosity is piqued. I can’t say that I particularly like the opening, but it’s a little foreign and intriguing. Very quickly this fades into white. The top notes are listed as Freesia and White Rose, which I don’t get a lot of in the opening. The middle notes are Jasmine Sambac Absolute, Orange Blossom, Tuberose, Lily and Cassie Flower. The Jasmine is most prominent in middle of Murmure’s wear. Jasmine Sambac (also known as Arabian Jasmine) is a variation of the Jasmine flower family and is a night-blooming variation. It is headier and more intense than other forms of Jasmine, so be warned that too much Murmure could make your head spin. Jasmine Sambac is also less sweet than other varieties of Jasmine, which is why Murmure doesn’t have that sugary or cloying property that other white floral scents can have. As Murmure fades we smell the base notes Brazilian rosewood, cedar and vanilla. The base is soft, stays close to the skin and has a beautiful warmth. The vanilla is woven nicely with the cedar and rosewood to create a comforting scent without any food-like vanilla connotations. Overall Murmure is beautifully crafted and softly glamorous. I must also mention the bottle, which I think is stunning and perfectly representative of the scent. The top of the bottle looks very much like a sculptural interpretation of the opening of a lily flower, a strip of gold runs down the bottle and has the name embossed along it. It’s a picture of modern beauty, much life the fragrance itself.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Missoni Acqua
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 1/24/2010 3:58:00 AM
The opening is bright and fresh, with the Bergamot creating a slightly sharp herbaceous aroma. The grapefruit is actual very subtle, unusual since it often over powers the other notes in fragrance. In Acqua it provides balance and sweetness to an otherwise herbal opening. There is a faint whiff of melon, I smell something akin to Honeydew. Soon after the opening Acqua cools down to an oceanic floral where fresh freesia meets something green and blue. It might sound silly to compare a scent with colour but Acqua really does live up to it's name by transporting the wearer to a cool, Mediterranean resort. When I wear Acqua I can almost feel the coolness of mosaic tiles beneath my feet and smell the salty air breeze of the ocean at a distance. There is a mingling of soft flowers and water but all the time Acqua remains refreshing and relaxed. It is certainly a weekend perfume for me and a perfect choice for hot days. My issue with Acqua is the staying power, or complete lack thereof. It disappears faster than a glass of chilled water on a scorching day. If you want to dabble with Acqua you need to be prepared to re-spray several times throughout the day. I have to say that the bottle is so perfectly designed for this perfume. It has the same shape as the original Missoni fragrance but is the most beautiful turquoise blue. The lid is gold featuring a smooth, flat coral stone - the combination of these three colours just exudes luxury and summertime. Most special is the Missoni print embedded in the inside floor of the bottle. Like a little secret it sits there colourful but hidden, looking at the pattern inside the blue liquid is like staring into a luxurious swimming pool with amazing treasures below the surface.
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Fragrances -Chanel - Coco Mademoiselle
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 1/24/2010 3:57:00 AM
Coco Mlle's top notes are listed as Orange, Bergamot and Grapefruit. I mostly get a mixture of sweet orange and orange peel, with a nice dose of bergamot. The grapefruit is soft and subtle in this opening, it's just detectable and provides a very soft tartness. At this point Coco Mlle is slightly fruity but not venturing into the candy-sweet fruity floral category. As the citrus begins to fade Coco Mlle becomes floral and perfume-y. It's not the sort of fragrance one wears if you want to smell natural, it definitely has a perfume-y almost cosmetic-y scent. The middle notes are listed as Litchi, Rose and Italian Jasmine but I can't say that I smell any of this in particular. I do detect a faint rose quality but only if I'm trying hard to find it. Otherwise it smells like a mixture of different flowers with a slight powdery quality. The dry down in Coco Mlle is lovely, very soft and musky. The listed notes are Indonesian Patchouli, Haitian Vetiver, Bourbon Vanilla and White Musk. My skin really throws the vanilla and musk in this section of the fragrance, it's soft, powdery and gentle. I really like this part of Coco Mlle but I can't say that I find it highly unique. So I guess the golden question is 'do I like Coco Mlle?' Yes, but would I spring for a full size bottle? No. Coco Mlle does smell youthful and pretty, but it also smells to me like a young woman who has not quite come into her own sense of style. It's a little too 'pleasing' and dainty, it wants to be sophisticated but I think Coco Mlle is lacking in direction.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Lustre in Politely Pink
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 11/1/2009 2:19:00 AM
Politely Pink – Permanent shade. Mac describes this as a ‘well mannered dirty pink frost’ which is a very elaborate description for a frosty baby pink. Politely Pink is not really my cup of tea, on me it’s VERY frosty and has a real 80’s vibe. To be completely honest I always feel a little uncomfortable when I wear this shade.
It has the typical lustre quality, nice soft application, semi-sheer and moist finish. It's not enough to make me like this shade.
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Patisserie
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 11/1/2009 2:17:00 AM
Patisserie – permanent shade that was released with the recent Euristocrats II collection. Patisserie has already reached HG status in my eyes, it’s the perfect creamy pink-toned nude that adds enough colour to make my lips look full and rosy. Plus it’s permanent, which is a relief!
Great lustre formulation with a nice moist but not overly glossy finish. Creamy texture, would definitely repurchase!
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Lipstick -Estee Lauder - Pure Color- Crystal Nude
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 11/1/2009 2:14:00 AM
My love for Estee Lauder lipstick continues, with the most recent addition to my growing family of EL lippies - Pure Colour Crystal lipstick in Crystal Nude. My nude lippies have been getting somewhat of a work-out lately, so I felt happy to add another to the rotation.
The colour is perfect for me, it's quite sheer and is a nice neutral beige-nude shade. It has a moist finish, like all of the Pure Colour Crystal lipsticks.
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Juicy Couture - Fragrance
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 11/1/2009 2:07:00 AM
Juicy Couture’s first fragrance of the same name was launched back in 2006 and I remember smelling it for the first time on my annual Boxing Day shopping trip with my mum that same year. We both fell in love with it’s white floral, slightly gourmand scent – which I guess dispels this myth that Juicy Couture is only for young girls. Upon first spray Juicy Couture is fruity and bright, I get a strong melon and mandarin scent which quickly softens into a fresh aquatic floral. After a very quick dalliance with water and some very subtle greenery; Tuberose enters. It's ever so slightly heady, but just a touch adds some romance this fragrance. The Tuberose in Juicy Couture is light and sheer, not overwhelming, which is something that Tuberose is notorious for. Juicy Couture begins to warm on the skin in the later stages, caramalising and turning into a whispery gourmand. This is the point where I really enjoy Juicy Couture. The Crème Brulee and Vanilla notes are comforting and sweet, but they don’t cross the line into cloying. As the fragrance fades it leaves a lovely floral and powdered trail, overall it's quite delicate in the outbound stages. Sephora lists the notes as Watermelon, Mandarin, Pink Passion Fruit, Marigold, Green Apple, Water Hyacinth, Crushed Leaves, Tuberose Absolute, Wild Rose, Princess Lily, Tuberose, Caramel Creme Brulee, Vanilla, Precious Woods, Patchouli. Overall the thing to remember about Juicy Couture is that it’s not necessarily something that needs to be taken too seriously. If you’re looking for high glamour branding, ground breaking fragrance design or a sophisticated scent you’re barking up the wrong tree. If you’re looking for something fun, happy and easy to wear then Juicy Couture might be the one for you. Juicy Couture is the perfume I wear when I’m spending time with my boyfriend and I want something light and flirty or for those occasions when life is complicated and I want something simple and cheerful. This will not ever be my favourite fragrance but it is one that brings a smile to my face. I often recommend this perfume to people who love Miss Dior Cherie and Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb as I feel it is along the same lines as those two.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Demeter - Vanilla Cake Batter
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 11/1/2009 2:05:00 AM
Vanilla Cake Batter (VCB) goes on tooth-achingly sweet and artificial, it has a very plastic feel to it. I remember having a doll with a dress shaped like a cupcake that smelt very similar to this when I was young. There is no creamy or buttery scent to VCB and for the first 20 minutes or so I felt slightly ill, as though I had gorged myself on too many high sugar cupcakes. I also liken the smell to a vanilla Impulse spray (for those who don’t know what Impulse is, it’s a cheap body spray favored by girls in early high school, that generally like to apply it a can at a time. I know because I was one of those girls once!) Had Demeter marketed this as an air-freshener I may have liked it, however on my skin it smells cheap and almost harsh. After about half an hour it softens a little and some of that plastic-ness dissipates. However, by this stage the smell is so faint that I’m already wondering what perfume I should apply next. Not really a good sign for VCB and needless to say I will not be purchasing a full bottle. While it’s not the most hideous scent I have ever encountered it’s certainly nothing to write home about, especially with so many other vanilla options around.
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Fragrance -The Body Shop - White Musk For Men Eau De Toilette
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 11/1/2009 2:04:00 AM
The Body Shop White Musk for Men – this was launched two and a half decades after the original White Musk. It contains notes of lavender, geranium, crystal jasmine, vetiver, amber, sandalwood, musk and tonka bean. Frankly, this is so much better than the women’s version that I have confiscated the 100ml bottle from my boyfriend. The lavender sweetens the musk and adds an interesting, slightly herbaceous scent. The sandalwood and tonka bean add a richness to the base that is sadly lacking in the female version, giving WM for Men more personality and depth. I would purchase this over the femine version any day. My only gripe (and the reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5) is that WM for Men doesn't have the best staying power, it definitely requires reapplication every few hours. But I don't mind as I do love the scent. Would repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -The Body Shop - White Musk EDT
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 11/1/2009 2:02:00 AM
The Body Shop White Musk (feminine) EDT – this fragrance has been around for a long time, originally launching in 1981. It is one of The Body Shop’s best selling items and contains notes of velvety musk, floral lily, ylang ylang, oriental jasmine, rose, iris, sweet vanilla, fresh amber, patchouli, oakmoss, vetiver with hints of fruity peach. It’s a pretty scent that I have only started to enjoy recently. My love of musk has been a long time in the making, previously I found White Musk to smell a little stale and stuffy. Now I can appreciate it’s soft girlishness and subtlety. However, it does feel a little flat to me, after experiencing other musks such as SJP Lovely (which I mentioned above.) It’s ultra polite and probably a good choice for events such as meeting your partners parents for the first time. It wont draw attention and I really don’t find this sexy in the way that other’s musks can be. Overall, I like it but I certainly don’t love it.
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Fragrances -Marc Jacobs - Lola
StrawberryBlondeMakeup 11/1/2009 2:00:00 AM
I was very excited about Lola's release but sadly this perfume hasn't lived up to what I'd hoped it would. Lola starts out sweet and fruity, the opening is very much about the Ruby Red Graperuit and pear in the first few moments. At that point I think it smells like something else, it's very familiar but I can't quite place it. After the sweet burst of fruit begins to fade I get a big, powdery rose, I guess this is meant to be the 'vintage' or 'retro' development of the fragrance. Lastly the 'vanilla, tonka bean and creamy musk' section appears but is more like a weak, powdery musk that is quickly absorbed into my skin. Lola leaves me totally luke-warm, it comes across more polite than sexy and lacks personality. There isn't anything wrong with Lola but she's a little more boring than she first appears. I'm really surprised at my disinterest towards Lola, it was really anticipating this particular release and the notes were calling my name. I guess it's that Lola smells a little more generic than I'd hoped, and the staying power is awful on me! I know some people have said that fragrance is strong and has great staying power, but I actually found it really weak. My favourite part of this whole fragrance is the bottle, it's gorgeous. In true Marc Jacobs fashion he has created a totally memorable and lust-worthy bottle which would take pride of place of any girl's dresser. The large flower lid reminds me of a twirling flamenco dancer's skirt and the colour scheme is eye-catchingly vibrant.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No