Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Vivite Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30
dancingoutlaw 1/8/2009 5:58:00 PM
I have been on an endless search for the perfect moisturizer since my teens. Everything was too thick, or not thick enough, too drying or didn't sink in well enough, etc. for my moody skin. I was the same way with facialists; I could never find one I felt was right for me. I finally found a great facialist who urged me to try Vivite Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30, which I have now been using for a little over a year. The packaging is excellent. Vivite Daily comes in a durable, frosty/clear plastic bottle with a pump. The pump never sticks, the clear bottle lets you see how much is left, and I've dropped bottles of this stuff with no breaks or spills. You don't need that much, so it lasts awhile. As for the product itself, I love it. Vivite moisturizer takes care of the oily, sensitive and dry areas of my face. Just as the packaging says, it exfoliates (exfoliation is key) and hydrates, and protects me from the sun. I use this in all seasons and it works very well, but a warning: you definitely have to get used to it. Though I have discovered my holy grail, YMMV and it may be too abrasive for some. $42.95 for 1.7 oz
INGREDIENTS: Purified water, glycolic acid and ammonium glycolate, glycerin, pentylene glycol, silica, PPG-3 benzyl ether myristate, glyceral stearate, PEG-100 stearate, cetearyl alcohol, bis-hydroxyethoxypropyl dimethicone, olea europa (olive) leaf extract, tocopherol, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, superoxide dismutase, camellia oleifera (green tea) leaf extract, punica granatum (pomegranate) extract, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, butylene glycol, steareth-10, steareth-20, cetearyl alcohol, coco-glucoside, xanthan gum, magnesium aluminum silicate, disodium EDTA, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Chanel - Mat Lumiere Long Lasting Luminous Matte Fluid Makeup SPF 15 
dancingoutlaw 2/11/2008 2:29:00 PM
I reluctantly purchased Mat Lumiere when I was told DPF was no more. It's about $52 for 1 oz (ten bucks more than DPF, I believe). Seeing the word "lumiere" on foundation scares me, plus they didn't even have limpide as a color anymore--I went with porcelaine. I gave it a trial run, at home, in natural light. I agree that it's a little thick, but it isn't too thick (too thick for me is Laura Mercier's oil free liquid foundation). The color looks good--a touch better than limpide, in fact. With a little T LeClerc loose powder (chair ocree) over it, I'm fine. Looks okay, feels okay. However, I don't want my makeup to just be "okay." I used up my bottle and switched to Laura Mercier mineral powder. I really like the LM mineral makeup, but I have yet to find any makeup I love more than Jane Iredale. Period.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Ormonde Jayne - Tolu
dancingoutlaw 10/18/2007 7:50:00 PM
If Ambra del Nepal married Bois Blond and had a child, nurturing it and providing it with love and the best childhood money could buy, their child would grow up to be this fragrance. It's sensual, cozy, refined. It's aware of its own perfection, yet humbled by it. Woodsy, ambery, soft. It's a romantic retreat in a small cabin in the middle of nowhere--a silk nightie with wool socks; sitting in front of a fire enjoying doing nothing, together, with someone you love. On a similar note...I dont know how it happens, but I swear OJ fragrances are the most perfectly blended scents. On my skin, at least. I keep wearing them and wearing them so I can think of and write reviews that will do them justice. Alas, I believe it's impossible. I'll leave it to the professionals and to those mua members graced with the talents I lack. I will definitely repurchase.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Jour de Fete (new)
dancingoutlaw 10/18/2007 3:21:00 PM
This fragrance is one of my favorites; a dry, bittersweet scent that calms and soothes me. It sits in a bottle I lovingly retrieve from my dressing table on any given day and sniff...wishing I had worn it instead of whatever I happen to be wearing at the time. I've mentioned Jour de Fete in other fragrance reviews about almond and/or hay scents, because it deserves to be mentioned. There are many I love, but ultimately this one quietly and consistently remains close to the top of the list. Indeed, it was a day of celebration when I recieved my bottle. Now I've heard it's being discontinued (after hearing another favorite, Dzing!, is going as well), and I'm extremely disappointed. I'll have to purchase yet another backup bottle of a fragrance from L'artisan. I cannot continue to afford the moodiness and whims of the decision-makers of this company!
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Fragrances -Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Perfumes - Ambre Precieux
dancingoutlaw 10/9/2007 8:41:00 PM
Amber heaven. Gorgeous, seductive amber perfection. And this comes from a gal who kisses her Ambra del Nepal and Ambre Narguile goodnight every night. Okay, not really...but I do love them. Now I must have a full bottle of this dangerous beauty. I think if I were to wear it to work one day I'd probably get a raise. Um...I'm talking finances....anyway, I might be the last amber lover to try this one, but if I'm not I urge those of you who haven't to order it immediately.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Parfumerie Generale - Musc Maori
dancingoutlaw 10/9/2007 8:31:00 PM
As others have stated, this scent went from milky chocolate to buttery, creamy, milky chocolate. No complaints here. I smell like a decadent dessert. It sort of reminds me of MicksWicks Swoon (the similar but not quite dead on replica of Un Bois Vanille) only with a little cocoa for good measure. There's no undercurrent of orange of any sort on my skin; I'm neither delighted nor disappointed with the absence of orange in this. I don't know that I'd need a full bottle of Musc Maori, but I thoroughly enjoyed my sample.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Mechant Loup
dancingoutlaw 10/9/2007 8:25:00 PM
I think this scent is wonderful. I get a soft nutty, honey, almost smoky scent. First of all, honey nevernevernever works with me. It always smells terrible on my skin. But it's prominent here and it smells great! Second, Mechant Loup is unisex--and I always mentally place even unisex scents with a particular gender regardless of their label. However, I must say that this would smell amazing on a man or woman. I'd wear it and sniff my wrist all day and I'd also cuddle up to a man wearing it. I'm giving this four lippies because I never thought I'd find a honey scent that works for me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Montale - White Aoud
dancingoutlaw 10/9/2007 8:14:00 PM
After a full-on medicinal blast (aoud), White Aoud becomes a woodsy, vanilla rose (un bois vanille meets fleur de rose..). I have a tendency to like dirty roses on my skin, but to be honest I rarely wear rose scents of any kind. Rose fragrances smell lovely, but I never feel like myself when I'm wearing them. That said, I think this is rich and refined but at the same time soft and unbelievably feminine. It's very smooth and probably fbw for any rose wearer.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Lancaster - Covet by Sarah Jessica Parker ] [DISCONTINUED]
dancingoutlaw 10/2/2007 10:25:00 PM
When I heard SJP would be releasing a new fragrance, I was so excited. When I saw the ad, I got it...but I was a little less excited. The fragrance itself falls somewhere inbetween. It starts off lavender-y and then morphs pretty consistently (on my skin, at least) for about an hour. I guess I was hoping for something more dirty and sexy, while Covet is this close to being a basic department store scent. The Boyfriend loved it and wanted to go back to the store and purchase a bottle for me. I declined. I would certainly use up a decant or mini, but a full bottle? Probably not.
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Fragrances -Elizabeth Arden - With Love by Hilary Duff
dancingoutlaw 10/2/2007 10:18:00 PM
I tried this at Ulta the week it came out--just spritzed a little as I entered the store and continued to sniff my wrist as I looked around. I'm not opposed to celebrity scents, nor do I seek them out. In my unbiased opinion this smells very pretty...like a woodsy, vanilla musk without falling into the Generic line with some other scents. A crowd pleaser with personality. Though I didn't buy it at the time, I'll probably pick it up now that I've seen it at Marshall's.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - People of the Labyrinths A MAZE
dancingoutlaw 7/2/2007 2:17:00 PM
A sweet, almost fruity and juicy rose. Nothing special, and certainly not the best rose around. It reminds me of Quel Amour, which I prefer. I'm giving it a two instead of a three because my expectations were so high. I desire nothing more from this--no decant, no bottle. The sample was plenty for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Parfumerie Generale - Bois Blond
dancingoutlaw 7/2/2007 2:02:00 PM
Sweet tobacco and hay layered over dry amber and smoky woods. Gorgeous. Complex. Sensual, but in a very subtle manner. The sillage is near perfection; lasting all day but lingering and hovering in a polite manner rather than bombarding you and those around you with its notes. I agree with the first reviewer’s thought that Chergui lovers would love this as well. I also think those who love Dzing! (I do) would enjoy this one. It really does become slightly addictive, if there is such a thing as that. And fortunately this is a fragrance that can be worn year round if you're like me and tend to mentally divide them by seasons.
I bought this unsniffed on a whim (a little less than $100 for 50ml), and it’s extremely rare that I purchase full bottles without first testing the fragrance inside. Needless to say I was hoping for the best, and I got it. I'm smitten. I immediately loved Bois Blond and wanted to hug myself--because I had made the right choice and because I smelled so good. I wear it often and am happy to say that it does, in fact, solicit compliments. Even The Boyfriend, who isn’t particularly fond of smoky scents, really likes it (he wants to hug my self, too!). I'm considering a backup purchase ahead of several other full bottles I currently do not own but have been planning to buy. It's that good.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Ormonde Jayne - Ormonde
dancingoutlaw 7/2/2007 1:58:00 PM
Update: It's well over a year later, and this remains my all-time favorite. Many say there isn't much of a difference between the edp and the parfum. On me, they differ. I much prefer the parfum, but I also enjoy the edp. Original review: I am currently obsessed with this and Bois Blond. My credit card is mad at me, but had it a nose it would understand. Ormonde begins as a smooth, sweet, luscious violet and a little cardamom. It ends as an even smoother woodsy violet-amberish scent and I assume black hemlock, as there's another wonderful element to the fragrance with which I am unfamiliar. Dark, mysterious, violets, forests, magic...I agree with many of the previous reviewers. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. It is unbelievably well-blended--not at all surprising because all Ormonde Jayne fragrances are. When you add its tenacity to the equation, this equals a violet holy grail for this gal. My favorite of all violet scents, and I've tried so many.I absolutely will buy this again...and again...and again....
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - LT Piver - Heliotrope Blanc
dancingoutlaw 7/2/2007 1:51:00 PM
A “bright” heliotrope is an excellent way to put it. This is soft and very pretty. I actually think this one is worth tracking down. I've worn this around my house and to both a small bridal shower and to a couple of baby showers. I think it's nice for any event where lots of warm hugs are exchanged between dear friends. It’s definitely one of those, “Mmm, you smell so nice!“ kind of fragrances to be worn lightly within small spaces. I understand and agree with most of the comparison to Jour de Fete, though this is sweeter. If you don’t care for the bitter, but you like the wheat in JdF; try this one. I prefer JdF and use my bottle of that one sparingly, but I believe this beats out Etro's lovely version of heliotrope.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Estee Lauder - Azuree Soleil Skinscent Atomizer
dancingoutlaw 7/2/2007 1:39:00 PM
I’m not one to swoon over beachy fragrances. I think many are perfectly lovely, but you’ll rarely find me smelling beachy if I'm not on a beach. That said, I felt I had to try it since it’s all the rage and I happened to be at Le Mall. They were out of the oil--completely sold out of both the first and second shipments, according to the salesperson. They supposedly had only one bottle of the spray, which may or may not have been the truth (we all know the ABC of sales). I'm disappointed that I couldn’t try the oil. Based on the descriptions I think I may have ended up buying it. Still, I decided to try the spray and see what all the fuss was about. It’s beachy. And pretty. It really does smell like tanning lotion on warm, tanned skin…frolicking on the beach. Really nice. I decided not to purchase (though the oil might end up being an unsniffed buy if that tells you anything), and the next night I was glad I hadn’t. The Boyfriend and I were bar-hopping and that scent was everywhere. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I like wearing scents that are different from what everyone else wears. I can understand all the hype, because it's very pretty and very "now" but it's one I'll have to think about for a bit before purchasing.
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