Tinted Moisturizer -Laura Mercier - Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
Wendy_S 3/3/2006 3:35:00 PM
Ehhh...I am not thrilled with this. You just may see it on my swap list soon. It isn't BAD - I just don't get the point. I'm not exactly sure why I bought this. I guess I just couldn't resist the great reviews. I mean, I don't really *need* any coverage, which is great since this didn't give me any coverage. So, basically, why bother? I use sunscreen and I use moisturizer...so I don't need another $40 product to ummm, do nothing. Despite the lack of coverage, I found this is very hard to blend unless I actually mix it with my regular moisturizer. Again, not a bad product, but I can't tell I have it on. Not in a "my skin looks fabulous in a makeup free kind of way", but in a "my skin looks just like it did 10 seconds before I applied this" kind of way.
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Other -Dr. Brandt - Anti-Oxidant Water Booster - all flavors
Wendy_S 2/24/2006 4:59:00 PM
I haven't had a chance to see what this stuff really does - I'd like to use it for a month or so before I really review the quality. Apparently one dropper-full contains the anti-oxidant power of 15 cups of green tea. It's good for ridding the body of toxins, fighting free radical damage, improving skin, and just overall umm...being healthy. I'm posting this review now because I'd like to see this item in Productville. I purchased the original flavor, which tastes vaguely of lemon. It's actually (surprisingly) not bad at all. The directions are to add one dropper full to 8 oz. of water and drink twice a day. At $35 for 2 oz. I think I'm going to stick to one glass a day unless it actually seems to be working:) I'll post a follow-up soon.
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Fragrances -Antica Farmacista - Terra Le Parfum
Wendy_S 2/10/2006 9:51:00 AM
I do believe I am qualified to write this review, as I spilled the entire 1 mL sample on myself this morning;) It smelled horrid in the vial, but then again, that astringent lavender always does until it warms on my skin. I was expecting something, well...earthier. Is that a word? More earthy? Anyway, I wanted woodsy and soothing with maybe a hint of dirt. Instead, this was very green for about 10 minutes and then morphed into a boring straight vanilla. Don't get me wrong - it's a *nice* boring straight vanilla. Not too sweet; it's reminiscent of vanilla extract. However, it doesn't justify the price tag. This is a decent scent and I may wear it again if I happen to get another sample. I won't seek it out or consider a full bottle purchase.
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Fragrances -Keiko Mecheri - Oliban
Wendy_S 1/20/2006 5:26:00 PM
I'm long-winded and I like to write long reviews, but I'm not even going to bother with this one. What a complete and utter disappointment. The notes are gorgeous and it goes on smelling like perfection and starts to dry down into something better. Then - poof! It's gone. I own four KM bottles and have decants or samples of almost everything else. Oliban is possibly the best concept yet, but it just literally lasts 20 minutes. I could cry. If this lasted like Loukhoum does, it would be in my top 5.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Satellite Padparadscha
Wendy_S 1/19/2006 2:44:00 PM
It is very true to the notes listed. Starts off with a blast of pepper that oddly reminded me of Poivre Piquant tempered by the requisite amber. The other notes are listed as cedar, sandalwood, musk, and juniper. I was disappointed in that I am a cedar lover and I didn't pick that note out. The juniper was apparent, but admittedly only after I searched it out. It's MOSTLY a musky, sandalwoody amber with a peppery blast that lasts quite through. Unfortunately, I would only rate the staying power at about 4 hours, but...this is coming from someone who has an awfully hard time finding ANYTHING that lasts. If it sounds like a familiar fragrance, it is. Nothing overly unique, but divine in its own little way. At $65 for 100 mL it is definitely worth a purchase IMO - that is cheaper than most department store fragrances and the bottle...is perfection. If you look at the Luckyscent site, it doesn't come across...the square on the front is a beautiful goldleaf and the cap is actually a bronzey carved beauty. Overall impression: I have too much like it. But, I'm a heavy, ambery, woodsy freak. If you'd like to add something similar to your collection this is not a bad choice at all. Price is fabulous and it's warm and feels luxurious. Not much sillage for this type of frgarance - it wears surprisingly close to my skin which is almost a nice surprise.
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Fragrances -Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - Antique Lace
Wendy_S 1/12/2006 2:13:00 PM
Talco Delicato and Teinte de Neige, my...well, excuse my language. But see I tend to do this thing. I color my hair red and it's a super deep burgundy with fire-engine highlights. Wella color works wonders and my stylist is a genius, but at the price I sure as hell am not going to wash a quick-fading red (because they all are) every day. Sooo...I put baby powder in my hair to soak up the oil. And it works. And CVS Baby Powder smells like Talco Delicato. But THIS...this is baby powder mixed with - and bear with me now - that smell you get from a 2 week olds head...mind you, not after it indulges in a bodily function, but just when it's sweet baby goodness and one can see oneself buying diapers and cute onesies before the reality of uhhh...vomit sets in. WAIT!! Don't stop reading. Because I'm getting it wrong; I'm getting it all wrong. I'm trying to tell you about a hope chest. That baby will grow up and it'll be filled with memories...with lace doilies and baby clothes and old photos and maybe your wedding bouquet and there's a touch of old paper and that sticky glue that is holding on that precious photo of the last time your grandmother smiled at the camera. And she smelled like roses and lace and just a little bit of...memory. For the record I am wearing a slutty mini-skirt, black tights, and 3" boots...and I'm toning it down with a little cream colored cardigan that has these diamonique buttons and my delicate necklace that matches those buttons and a pair of clip-ons that are way too much but they are so 1950 and I wanna overdo it with my CZ fakes. They make me feel 75 and not 25. And I get nostalgic. I hurt because this is what my poor Nana would have worn 50 years ago. She would have been a saucy foul-mouthed bitch who smelled like home. I can't figure out if the number thing will work out to a five, but this deserves it...because despite the time you wasted reading this, this fragrance means more than I can explain to my generation and the one before it. This is Nana and not in a L'air du Temps way, but it a Fwench-fwies-and-strawberraber-milkshake way which means no sense, but it should. 'Cause she exuded class while I stained her blazer and broke her brooch and she forgave me for it. And she still smelled like roses and glue and old lace. If you get it, you've got it. Buy this now.
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Fragrances -Les Nereides - Oriental Lumpur
Wendy_S 1/9/2006 10:53:00 AM
Saffron, curry, sandalwood, a tiny little hint of vanilla, and just a touch of that peppery goodness others have mentioned. I just wrote my PdN Mahajarah review and this is what I wanted it to be. Similar? Yes. In the same vein and an adequate substitute? Not quite...but this is better. It captures the essence of an Indian market without going too foul and foody - this is a scent that you want on your skin. It wears close, it lasts forever, and at risk of repeating myself for the third time, Les Nereides packaging is vintage-inspired perfection. No fussiness, just a gorgeous label that will always be near the front of my collection. I am in love with LN Imperial Opoponax, Patchouli Antique, and Oriental Lumpur. At this moment I can't say the others come so close to capturing my fancy, but...this line is superb. As far as I know, these are only available at Luckyscent.com and they are worth every penny. Beautifully blended and packaged, reasonably priced (these are 100 mL bottles), and they last forever.
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Fragrances -Parfums De Nicolai - Maharadjah
Wendy_S 1/9/2006 10:45:00 AM
Cinnamon, clove, patch, sandalwood...maybe a hint of lavender, but I'm not getting too much. This should be perfection, but it isn't. It smells nice enough in the bottle, but it just isn't what I was looking for. I'm not sure where the foul B.O. odor is coming from (I swear - I showered!), but it's there. I like raw body odor sometimes (admit it, because I know I'm not the only one), but this was just a little too much. At risk of sounding racist or something...I used to live in NYC and I'd get into a cab with an Indian driver who just had this...saffron, curry, onion odor eminating from his skin. It stuck to me. So does Maharadjah. This scent is overpriced, it lasts not-so-long (a good thing), and the bottle is classically gorgeous but lacking. Overall, a big fat no. Please read my review of Les Nereides Oriental Lumpur for what this should not have been but still conjured up and did so a million times better...and cheaper...and longer lasting.
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Fragrances -Les Nereides - Impérial Opoponax
Wendy_S 1/8/2006 12:25:00 PM
Now, this is one that snuck up on me. Opoponax, amber, and sandalwood are prominent on me, with maybe a hint of vanilla. Which would explain why I ordered this unsniffed:) God, I'm guilty of that bigtime, but in Imperial Opoponax I've found yet another winner. I've been wearing this often and I don't get the slightest hint of citrus - not exactly tragic. The first time I wore this scent, I was pleased, yet I wanted a little MORE. I'm not one for frantically inhaling my arm - I like my fragrances heavy with a ton of sillage and 8+ hours of lasting power. The more I wear it, the more I realize that IS that fragrance. It's just so perfectly blended, so comforting, so warm, and above all so darn beautiful that it took me a while to appreciate it. As usual, Les Nereides gets points from me for the packaging. Simple shape with a beautifully designed label - a vintage feel without the fuss. I must admit I was shocked to see some reviewers call this masculine, but you know? It probably is. I own quite a few mens scents and while I wouldn't go that far with this one, it's definitely unisex.
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Fragrances -Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Perfumes - Ambre Precieux
Wendy_S 1/6/2006 1:24:00 PM
This is rich, yet dry. Amber with a touch of sandalwood and vanilla. It's so spicy at first that it almost makes me want to cry. Add a little smokiness and MPG Ambre Precieux would be perfection...as it stands, it's about as close as it comes. This is a masculine amber - it takes no prisoners and it manages to be deep and pure without overwhelming. Go ahead and read my other reviews - I may have and just might will call another amber perfection, but rest assured I'll be lying. BUY THIS. Price tag and not so amazing packaging notwithstanding, this is the amber to beat them all. Absolutely sublime.
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Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Les Epices de la Passion - White Philtre
Wendy_S 1/6/2006 1:16:00 PM
Milk, honey, white pepper...and pear. Could this be more perfect? Yeah, as a matter of fact it could. The lasting power sucks. L'artisan why, oh why, must you create such fleeting perfection? I purchased this before it was available on it's own - which made it $25 for 15 mL. What a shame. This is a gorgeous fragrance and it should last all day.
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Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - La Haie Fleurie
Wendy_S 1/6/2006 1:10:00 PM
Jasmine, honeysuckle, LOTV, and uhhh....some other white floral crap. Good God, this is floral times a million. I will say one thing - FINALLY a L'artisan that lasts. Yes, it lasts all day. Ironic as it's the complete opposite of what I adore. I think my ratings probably worked out to a one or two, but I would suggest this for anyone who loves a good cloying floral. Otherwise, you will be overwhelmed. La Haie Fleurie could be amazingly gorgeous on another girl, but on me it's just putrid.
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Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Passage d-Enfer
Wendy_S 1/6/2006 10:33:00 AM
So...it means passage through Hell? I guess my 5+ years of french failed me. A passage through hell should smell of booze, cigarettes, illegal substances, sex without a shower afterwards, and various other illicit activities - because Hell is for sinners, no? Uh uh. This one smells like a Catholic church. And not in a "you must repent" way - more like a quiet moment sitting on a pew feeling all contemplative and close to God. I'm not even religious, but this makes me feel that way. Incense-y perfection. So why didn't I give it 5 lipsticks? Because L'artisan, despite their amazing following, sucks. Yes, you read that right. It's expensive and while the staying power on this is better than most, it still disappoints me. If they would bottle the oils and cut out the alcohol I would consider this my absolute Holy Grail. As it stands, it's just a fleeting moment of perfection.
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Fragrances -Guerlain - Shalimar Eau Légère - Light
Wendy_S 1/5/2006 11:56:00 AM
I don't care what anyone says, Guerlain is it. Ok, Serge, Lorenzo, SMN, Keiko and my other buddies deserve props...but Shalimar Light is oriental perfection. Unlike the original, it's pefect for any season AND it lasts like nobody's business. The lemony accord is not immediately apparent on me - in fact I get almost a spicy bergamot, but I'm the Queen of Odd Chemistry, so ignore that. The drydown is a vanilla-y, spicy, oriental that lasts and lasts. It manages to be spicy without overpowering; sexy without desperation. I really wouldn't call this Shalimars little sister. Despite my love for Shalimar, I'm going to *runandhide* and call this Shalimars fashionable best friend who is young beyond her years and unbelievably stylish and classy. MAY I ADD, I resisted this $19.99 bottle at Marshalls for well near a year before the fragrance board finally prompted an unsniffed purchase. Why is it all over discount stores? Because they're reformulating it - don't buy one, buy two. Or ten.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Aftelier Parfum de Maroc
Wendy_S 1/5/2006 11:44:00 AM
I am an idiot. I just ordered this on sale from Beautyhabit. No, it was not an unsniffed purchase, but still. I get the nutmeg, I get the myrrh, I get the peppery rose, and perhaps a touch of orange...however, paschat is right about the jasmine in the opening. A little floral that soon makes way to spicy goodness. It's fabulously delicious and I can't stop smelling my wrist for a good 30 minutes - until this goes away. Uhhh...I can't resist a sale, so $87.50 (regularly $125) for a 1/4 ounce is good, right? Even though this makes this my official most expensive purchase per ounce. And even though my pleasure-per-wear will not amount to much. And even though...oh, shut the hell up, Wendy. Look at all the reviews for Comptoir Sud Pacifique. Those people were ripped off also and they paid this much for a huge bottle of something with 2 seconds of staying power. I feel slightly better now. I'll keep Maroc for those days when I want to curl up in my PJ's, inhale my unnatural sweetness, and be lifted away to paradise. Yes, it's that good (but unless you're as impulsive as I am, for the love of God, don't buy a full bottle). I think I'll hoard it and encourage my VooDoo doll to increase its lasting power.
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