Fragrances -Kenzo - Flower
circusnights 11/17/2012 5:00:00 PM
kenzo flower, how could I ever live without you? what a sad existence that would be. flower is one of my top three, if not THE top, fragrances...if for only one reason, it is so unique, I can't think of any scent similar. it is definitely a "floriental" and certainly what I'd classify as a powdery floral. saying that though, it is tempered by a muskiness that prevents it from being a high-pitched, screeching floral. I find it appropriate for both day (light hand) and night and consider it very classy, not either girly and demure OR austere and/or sexy. it's sweet but not gourmand. a good balance of various elements. has wonderful staying power. I personally adore the packaging and how the bottle emulates a red poppy placed in a tall thin vase. I would say this scent is appropriate for the 20s-30s...although once I turn 40 I will have a dilemma on my hands turning it down ;) overall just a gorgeous scent that makes me feel womanly, unique and self-assured. I can't wait to try Kenzo Amour Indian Holi, as I understand it to be another top-notch floriental
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Laura Mercier - Sheer lipstick in Sexy Lips
circusnights 3/27/2009 3:42:00 PM
this is the perfect red shade for me, and the feel of it is sooo satiny and smooth...not exactly sheer, as you'd expect, but it feels very light in comparison to your basic lipstick. it is like a muted rose red shade (i'm not sure i know what "sangria" color is, as sephora describes it) and i personally find it agreeable for daily wear -- not just for going out. i have deep brownish black hair, blue eyes and pale skin with rosy cheeks...and this complements my look very nicely. the packaging leaves a bit to be desired...very straightforward, a tad boring...but sometimes no-frills is best. i'm just worried about losing it in my purse because it's so nondescript!! regardless, i am sure i'll use this shade up quickly and will repurchase...and try a shade or two others, as well! P.S. - i don't get what the others are talking about with this lipstick's "gross taste"...i think it's just a basic lipstick taste with nothing particularly gnarly about it. so i wouldn't let those reviews deter any interested gals. maybe i'm just not picky enough, haha.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -NARS - Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
circusnights 3/27/2009 3:31:00 PM
wow! i am in heaven...i am a fan of the TRUE matte lip color, as the reviewer below is. i don't care for shine but when i want it, it's clear gloss. when i wear color on my lips, i want to feel nothing there, and i want no reflections on my lips. flat, one-dimensional, deeply pigmented and, most importantly, weightless. the velvet matte lip pencil delivers in all respects. its consistency and application are wonderfully smooth and, because this is a thick pencil, application is a no-brainer...you can fill in all the color effortlessly as well as get the outline of your lips easily. i love that while it's matte, it is not drying -- at least not on my lips. during application, it feels creamy -- but as it dries, it just becomes a sort of stain...a plush, soft stain. i bought my first pencil recently in Walkyrie. i'm still unsure how i feel about the color...on me, it's a bit too brown for my taste...but despite this, i can tell i will in the future become easily addicted to these pricey, lovely lip pencils. i can't wait until payday next week so i can pick up two more, probably in vibrant red shades! the discovery of this product is a revelation for me. i am quite thrilled. yes, they are costly, but i can honestly say that utilizing these pencils is an experience, not just an application and therefore, it's worth it for me. but, of course, you gotta like totally matte color as i do. if you're looking for creamy, frosty, glossy...move along!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Lumene - Moisture Dream Revitalizing Cream Cleanser
circusnights 1/15/2009 3:51:00 PM
i realized after i had already bought and used this product a few times that it indicates "for mature skin." well, my skin isn't mature quite yet...and i normally wouldn't buy any cleansing product that touts "moisture," as my skin is combination type leaning more toward oily. however, i decided to give it a try as it was on sale. i'm so glad i did! after a few weeks of usage, my skin has just not broken out as it usually does so frequently. my skin always feels so velvety soft to the touch after washing with moisture dream. overall, my skin is much clearer, softer and "even"-looking after using this product daily. yes, it is a cream cleanser, but it also indicates on the product description that it foams, so it's a foaming cream cleanser. it is thick in consistency so a little bit does the job to remove makeup and daily fuss. i love the packaging. i usually prefer flip-tops for cleansers, and this is a twist cap, but at least you only have to twist once to open/close the cap. i will keep buying this product and plan on trying other products from lumene!
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Nylon
circusnights 3/21/2007 3:21:00 PM
Can't say much more good about this shadow than the other reviewers already have. It's the perfect highlighter and I think probably is as neutral as you can get, meaning most people can wear it well. The only problem I have with MAC lately is shattering eyeshadows, especially when they're in a palette. Why, why?!?
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -BeneFit Cosmetics - Dr Feelgood
circusnights 3/20/2007 2:52:00 PM
Oh, the high hopes one will extend to such products. I'm pretty openminded when it comes to such adventures as trying new products on my body/face/hair. After all, I live right smack in the middle of Smog City, so I'm already assailed as it is by pollutants and other harsh unmentionables, so why not? When I got this, the reaction could've been recorded thus: aww, look at the cute tin! aww, that vintage picture, the name of the product! aww, it all seems so vintage and ladylike! aww...uhhh...ugh, why am I entering myself into the Wax Museum?! I ain't even dead/my star isn't ready to be celebrated quiiite yet. And this is its folly. I'm not quite sure what type of person would want to layer his/her face with this...substance. It seems you'd have to have very, very resistant, non-reactionary skin, because to me it seems a pushy, volatile little product. The first time I tried it, it did indeed seem to make my skin slightly "dewy" in appearance, but the velvety softness I was going for? No. And instinct told me that if I continued to "experiment" with this stuff, there would be trouble in river city, in the form of zits. Too expensive to be worth the hassle.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Japanese Rose Garden
circusnights 3/20/2007 2:41:00 PM
My #1 OPI shade. After donning vampire nails for years, I decided to go polar and wear barely-there shades, but when I realized they all but disappear with the backdrop of my pinkish pale, easily blushed skin, I began seeking out more opaque, purple-pink shades. Granted, Japanese Rose Garden isn't purple-pink, but it's not bubblegum, cheerleader pink, which I wanted to avoid. It's a wonderful, pearly mauve that is neither too peppy nor too subdued. It remains true to what it looks like in the bottle. Plus, it seems to go well with anything, makeup/clothes, etc. While I do often deviate and wear red on the weekends, this is my daily nail treat. I hope it never gets discontinued (if OPI shades ever DO get discontinued)...
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Polishes -OPI - Fireflies
circusnights 3/20/2007 2:36:00 PM
I really, truly wanted to love this shade. I admit it: as with many OPI shades, I bought it for the name *dork*. Actually, for the first stretch of the polish's life on nails - about a week or less - it's quite gorgeous, and I can pick out most of the spectrum's colors. But if you apply a couple or more coats during application, like I do, you're going to eventually end up with yellow/green, fungal-lookin' nails. The iridescence just goes kaput. Quite sad. As other reviewers suggest, however, it stays true to its beauty when layered over other colors, my favorite being over a nice, true red. I'll use up this bottle and then say avoir to Fireflies.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Lip Varnish in Autobody Red
circusnights 3/16/2007 4:03:00 PM
I am in love. I went to MAC in pursuit of Russian Red, which I have yet to try. I just wanted a pure, unadulterated red. Simple, straightforward, beautiful red. I asked for it, but my MAC expert refused to give it to me! She insisted upon the now mostly-unavailable Autobody Red. Maybe she thought RR would be wrong for my coloring (pale skin, medium auburn hair, blue-green eyes) but either way, I'm pleased with this blue-red shade. I'm not usually too fond of their Varnish or Lipglass, or any gloss, for that matter, just too sticky for me. But one quick blot after application, and it's no longer taffy-like on my lips. I like to call the look of it "just bitten"...sensual, blood red. I think that this red is probably agreeable with a wider range of skin/hair/eye tones than many other reds I've come across. I'm gonna use this up quick; too bad it apparently won't be as easy to get anymore.
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Conditioner -Sebastian - Slinky
circusnights 3/16/2007 3:37:00 PM
I admit it: I bought this conditioner solely because of its heavenly scent. Luckily it was on sale, half off. I can't say it's particularly changed the condition of my hair or made it greasy or whatever bad points others have mentioned, so I'm on the fence until it leans more one way than the other. For the time being, my experience with Slinky is purely for the senses ;)
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Treatments -Biosilk - Silk Therapy
circusnights 3/16/2007 2:06:00 PM
I notice that in reviews of Silk Therapy, people either love or hate the scent. I tend to be of the latter party. I think it reminds me of pet shampoo in that regard. But, I guess I can deal with smelling like a wet cat because what ST does for my hair is pretty darn amazing. Unlike many of the reviewers (but like a few), I have super-straight, fine hair. However, due to multiple processes launched upon my poor hair, it has become frizzy and frazzled. I wanted a product that I could use after it was dry, since I already have plenty of stuff to use in the shower. I can only use the most minute amount; this is key to not weighing down hair that's barely there. In small amounts, it helps immensely to increase shine and smoothness, frizz no more. When my hair starts reflecting objects, I know I'm in good shape. I'm fond of the small-sized bottle it comes in; I throw it in my purse for on-the-go emergencies.
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Treatments -Redken - Extreme Anti Snap [REFORMULATED]
circusnights 3/15/2007 5:45:00 PM
I decided to try this product on a whim after recently stripping the black from my naturally brownish hair to dye it red (phew). It was part of an accumulation of damage-control products I began to amass in fear of breakage of my baby-fine hair. I am pleased thus far. I like to put it on my ends and my bangs (where my hair feels crunchiest) before I blowdry, which I must, unfortunately, do every morning. The smell is one of my favorite things about the product, but what it does for my hair is the best. Whether it's going to the core of the problem or just smoothing it out for appearance only, I don't know...but I won't question it. I've tried more amazing hair treatments, but this one is just fine. I'm not too wild about the consistency (reminds me of something boy-ish, if you know what I mean), but I deal :)
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Moisturizers -Jason Natural Cosmetics - Aqua Moist Balancing SPF Lotion
circusnights 3/14/2007 5:15:00 PM
For oily/troubled skin, this is about the best moisturizer with a sunscreen out there, in my opinion. In the past, I've shunned moisturizer, for fear of a new breakout and added, unwanted shine factor, but I've come to realize that even the greasiest of us need a healthy skin drink now and again (or more frequently). This is the first one I've been able to use during the daytime that suits me. It absorbs quickly and doesn't leave any trails behind, and it doesn't smell too much of sunscreen. I'm always skeptical about exclusive, exotic natural additives (clays, algaes, sacred water, etc.) but this "biologically active blue green algae" seems to do its purported job. Only complaint is the twist-off cap and having to squeeze it out. A pump would be preferred.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No