Fragrances -Tokyo Milk - Dead Sexy
dana 8/14/2011 10:46:00 AM
Dead Sexy is a dead ringer for Dior's Addict on me. It's a warm, deep, musky vanilla with just an ever so slight woodsy note to it. It doesn't last anywhere near as long as Addict, but it's also not as pricey. My only real complaint is the packaging. While the bottle is pretty, one needs to be careful removing the top, as the screw top sprayer comes loose very easily. It's super easy to have it fall off.
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Fragrances -Lavanila - Pure Vanilla
dana 5/17/2010 4:17:00 PM
I really enjoy pretty much all of the Lavanila fragrances, and this one is not exception. I would say it falls into the Floral Oriental category of fragrance. The scent is warm, and vanilla is the most pronounced note, but there is an undercurrent of patchouli that's very subtle. I know patchouli and subtly are not exactly synonymous, but somehow this fragrance manages to exploit all of patchouli's good qualities. The scent has a bit of sweetness, but is done tastefully. It reminds me of a toned down, grown up version of Aqualina Pink Sugar. It lasts forever on me too. It's a bit pricey at $56, but it's a natural scent that's supposedly good for you (antioxidants and all that) and the bottle lasts a good while. I highly recommend this!
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Crème -MAC - Mineralize Foundation
dana 5/17/2010 4:11:00 PM
I was really excited when I first heard about this product. I have never had much luck with Mac foundation in the past, but this one sounded like it would be a perfect fit for me. My skin is usually on the oilier side, but sometimes I can have some flakes on my forehead. The MA applied this on me and I thought it looked great, that is until she put a finishing powder on top. Then I thought it looked unnatural and powdery, but I chalked it up to her heavy hand and bought it. I put it on the next day with their 130 brush, and it just never really blended into my skin. It wasn't awful, but it did not look natural how I like foundation to be. It creased on my face within a matter of hours.
The next day, I decided to try it with a setting powder. I used MAC Yoga Mode beauty powder. Unfortunately, even with only a little bit on my face, it looked how it did back at the Mac counter. Powdery and unnatural! And what's worse, it didn't make the foundation last any longer on my face.
The next day I used a primer. There was virtually no difference in how the foundation worse, and it still looked unsettled on my face.
Within a week, I tried most every powder I own, primers, setting sprays (Fix +) and still, I could not get this foundation to look natural or stay put. I have decided it's the foundation and not my application, so back to Mac it went. I also think the compact is not airtight and the product will eventually evaporate over time.
I now use Hourglass's foundation which lasts all day and night, looks completely natural and does not smudge! It's a little more pricey, but to be able to put it on and go is worth the extra dough to me.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Hourglass - Veil Fluid Makeup SPF 15
dana 5/6/2010 6:10:00 AM
Thanks to productville, I found this foundation and I love it. I have combo skin that can be a little flaky and oily at the same time. This foundation provides a really nice, even coverage without emphasizing the flakes, and without turning my face into a massive oil slick. The coverage looks really natural and blends effortlessly into the skin. It's finish is more dewy, but not oily. I love that it is oil free, paraben free, and fragrance free. I have only been using it a month, and have fairly young skin, so I can't say if it is having anti-aging effects or not.
It's the closest I have come to a dupe of GA's LSF (which breaks me out terribly.) I have had no such reaction to this foundation, luckily!
I find this works better with their matching primer, which creates a waterproof seal. It also ups the lasting power, which is pretty impressive to start with.
My only complaints are the price ($60 for a small tube! But one only needs a little bit.) And that the product tends to separate and water comes out when you squirt it.
Color matches: I am a MAC NW25, LSF 4.5, LM TM in Nude, and use the 1.5. I started out with the 2, but it was slightly too tan for me. The 1.5 is perfect, which leads me to believe the 1 might be too dark for some of you paler ladies out there. But sample it, who knows?
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Lavanila - Vanilla Passion Fruit
dana 2/12/2010 7:30:00 PM
I just can't get enough of this fragrance. It smells completely delicious, edible even, but it doesn't make people think someone brought cookies out with them. It's not too sweet, rather it's a really round, robust, creamy sort of passionfruit, with the tartness rounded out by smooth vanilla. It's like a creamsicle with chocolate, only less foody than the description implies. I spray this on and it immediately lifts my mood. It's a shame it's limited edition! I may have to stock up on it. It's a must try.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Lavanila - Vanilla Coconut - Healthy Fragrance
dana 2/12/2010 7:26:00 PM
I initially was not thrilled with the scent upon first application. The first whiff definitely had a plastic sort of smell to it, but that dissipated after only several minutes and left in its wake, a warm, creamy vanilla and coconut aroma. It's not the typical suntan lotion smell. It manages to not seem cheap or run-of-the-mill. I have it in the rollerball form and will purchase the spray. I love that the fragrance also contains antioxidants. I am not sure how much it actual does for ones health in the long run, but it's nice to know that you're not putting crazy chemicals into your body.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Nanette by Nanette Lepore
dana 2/12/2010 7:22:00 PM
I received a sample of this from Sephora, and after exhausting the tiny little vial, I broke down and bought it. I love it. I tend to lean towards two types of fragrance, orientals and fresh, clean, bright scents. This is definitely a floral oriental. This fragrance is warm and sensual. It hugs the skin very close, kind of like an aura around the body. It's sexy, without being overt. There are definite notes of amber, incense, and cedar without being too heavy handed. Mellow rose peaks through. It reminds me of Agent Provocateur, only maybe it's younger, a little more sophisticated sister. It's simply delicious!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -100 Percent Pure - Organic Fuji Apple Nourishing Body Cream
dana 2/3/2010 5:01:00 AM
I love the smell of this product. It's a rather soft apple, and doesn't smell artificial like some apple scents can. The lotion is def very white when applied, but it sinks in very easily without a hint of color. It leaves my skin feeling silky and smooth, never oily. It's one of the best lotions I have tried! I simply love this line. My other favorite scent is honey pear. It's delicious! The scent lasts a good while too.
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Moisturizers -100 Percent Pure - Organic Pomegranate Antioxidant Hydration SPF 20
dana 2/3/2010 4:57:00 AM
I use this and love this, and I have to laugh at the other reviewer who is using a 1/4 teaspoon (6 pumps) and complaining that it is greasy. Of course it is at that volume. I need 1 and 1/2 pumps, and it's the perfect amount. Perhaps one won't reap the full benefits of a sunscreen at that amount, but I personally use an actual sunscreen when I want full sunscreen coverage. And about bacteria, even products with preservatives have bacteria. There are certain types of bacteria that grow in antibacterial soap! This lotion is extremely light, and doesn't irritate my fickle, acne-prone, oily skin. I don't find that I get greasy at all from this (and I live in one of the most humid places on earth) It has not clogged my pores at all! I will definitely keep using this. My only complaint is that the writing is rubbing off the label. (they use some type of soy to print it)
4 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -100 Percent Pure - Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream
dana 2/3/2010 4:48:00 AM
I just love the divine scent of this eye cream. It's a light coffee smell, that is not too sweet. It's the perfect scent to get your day going. I wish they had more products in this line this scent! This eyecream depuffs my tired looking eyes, and firms up the skin underneath. I notice a pretty immediate difference when I use it. My only complaint is that the squirting mechanism releases way more product than one needs for their eye area. I use a very gentle hand when trying to dispense the product.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Ted Gibson - clarity color conditioner
dana 7/30/2009 6:31:00 AM
I bought this product mainly based on the yummy candy-like smell and the fun, bold packaging, but also on the promise that it would protect my hair from the sun, which here in Hawaii, is brutal. The first time I used it, I applied just a dollop and rinsed it right away. My hair did not feel conditioned in the least, and actually felt quite dirty. I thought perhaps I didn't use enough, so on the next washing, I used more conditioner, left it on for longer, and then thoroughly rinsed. This time my hair was even worse. My hair felt awful and looked dull and grimy! The texture is simply unforgiveable. My hair needs very little in the way of conditioning which makes it even more perplexing! My hair gets oily very quickly, and even without conditioner is shiny. That really says a lot about the quality of this product. I'm sorry to say, this product was a failure on many different levels and is going back to where it came from!
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Palettes -LORAC - Color Me Couture Eye Shadow Palette
dana 3/15/2009 8:59:00 PM
This Palette is a Sephora exclusive. I debated and debated about whether or not I should get this. In the end, I am glad I did. The palette is beautiful and the packaging is fun (although it is OTT. It's very blingy) The packaging is also substantial feeling, so I have no fear of it breaking apart in my makeup bag. Sephora says the palette is a $100 value, but sells it for $37. It is a good value, I think considering you get a double-sided eyeshadow brush with it. The brush is very useful and quite nice! Usually I find the brushes that come with palettes to be poor quality, but not so in this case. The colors in the palette all work very well together to create either a smoky eye or a subtle neutral eye. I like that there are different tones included, so one could do a bronzey eye, smokey green eye, or deep black. There are a lot of different possibilites with this palette. The lighter colors are nice, though the first color to the left is a wee bit too light to use as anything other than a highlighter on me. The second gold shadow is nice, and though it is shimmery, it is subtle and can be quickly applied to brighten up the eye in a hurry. If you have a million shadows, this palette probably won't give you any colors you don't already own. If you are looking for an easy, portable palette that can manufacture a lot of looks, this may be the one for you. The shadows don't last all that long on my eyes without a primer. I do have oily lids, so I suppose that is to be expected. All in all, this is a beautiful palette. 2 thumbs up!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Fresh - Appleseed Brightening Exfoliant
dana 3/15/2009 8:32:00 PM
I went through a phase with Fresh products about seven years ago, and while I liked some of the products well enough, the price point put me off. If Sephora hadn't sent me this as a GWP I would have never tried it, though the description sounded lovely.
Scent: Scent can really make or break a product for me, especially if it smells chemical-esque or plastic-like. The smell of the scrub is really pleasant and subtle, with an essence of apple.
The scrub can be used either like a mask, a strong scrub, or a gentle scrub. To use like a mask, apply it to clean skin and leave it on for several minutes (if it is your first time using this product, you might want to work up to using this as a mask. To use a strong scrub, you can use it in place of a cleanser. I very lightly wet my face just so it is easier to spread. To use as a mild scrub, dilute product with water. (This is also a good method if you want to use it every day.)
Results: My skin was left looking very bright and rosy. It did a wonderful job of exfoliating, and my skin did not get dried out at all. In fact, it felt wonderful smooth. It didn't do very much to help with acne, but it has helped fade scars and even out my skin tone. It's especially nice as a brightener (as the name implies.) If your skin is looking ruddy, spend about 5 minutes with this scrub and you'll be good to go!
Price- Of course, it's expensive, as with most Fresh products. Ebay sometimes has some good deals on this particular scrub, but for the effort, you may as well just order it from Sephora or Beauty.com. Both retailers participate with ebates, so you can get some cash back. Beauty.com has a GWP for Fresh right now (As of 3/13/09) where you get a packet of sugar scrub with a $45 Fresh purchase. They also have a $10 off $60 promotion too. Check retailmenot.com for more details.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Fresh - Umbrian Clay Face Treatment
dana 3/15/2009 8:19:00 PM
I almost wish that I didn't like the Fresh range of skincare products as much as I do, as it would save me lots of money. At the same time, the several products I have tried have been fantastic, and really helped my skin. The Umbrian Clay treatment came as a GWP with a Sephora order. My skin has been breaking out lately due to hormones and I decided to try the mask out to see if it could help calm it down. The mask is a little bit hard to spread, and also, it separated a bit in the tube, so a bit of clear liquid came out prior to the actual mask. I left the mask on for about 7 minutes. It washed off easily enough and my skin was left feeling really clean, soft, and not at all dry. My skin tone looked more even and it definitely helped clear my skin up within a day or two. My SO commented on how good it was looking (which nearly made me cry with joy considering how horrible I felt about my breakouts.) While the product is expensive ($48 for 3.4oz) I bought the full size. I would rather purchase something I know to work than spend time trying to find something else that is cheaper. I often wind up spending the same amount on the trial and error as the expensive product!
As of March 13, 2009 beauty.com is giving away a packet of Fresh sugar scrub with a $45 Fresh purchase, so it softens the blow. Couple that with the ebates refund (if you go through ebates, one can get 6% cash back) and the drugstore.com reward points, and it isn't the worst deal out there.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Napoleon Perdis - Auto Pilot lip service
dana 2/15/2009 4:51:00 PM
I have mixed feelings about this lip balm, but I gave it a four as I really do like it excluding a few different elements. What I like? I love the subtle nude tone of the balm. It enhances my natural lip color to a shade that looks healthy and luscious. I love the texture of it. It's neither gummy nor runny- it is just the right amount of moisturizing. It lasts surprisingly long! I like its simple slanted applicator, which makes applying it a breeze. The taste and smell of the product, however, is gag worthy. It reminds me of the numbing gel the dentists put in peoples mouths. It fades very quickly, but that initial burst is quite unpleasant. Also, I bought mine on sale at Sephora, but $25 for this is unreal. I got it on deep discount for about $6. I would pay around $15 for this.
Bottom line, swap for it or find it on sale. It's worth trying, but not bankrupting yourself over.
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