Mascara -Rimmel - Magnif'Eyes Eye Magnifier Eye Opening
desiree_e 1/16/2007 9:23:00 PM
At 26 years old, mascara has finally become a regular thing for me. Clearly I've been hesitant! Before trying this one, I'd been convinced that mascara made my almond-shape eyes appear smaller. I also worried about it flaking or running. Eye Magnifier truly does make my eyes look bigger... I definitely notice the vertical lift action mentioned on the package. It clumps more than I would like, but it's worth it for the fact that I can wear this over night while crashing at a friend's place, and not wake up to raccoon eyes! It will not come off my eyes for anything until I wet it. Love that.
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Crème -BeneFit Cosmetics - Some Kind-A Gorgeous
desiree_e 1/7/2007 3:06:00 PM
This is a total miracle product! I tend to think some of the Benefit product concepts are a bit hokey and don't go for them, but I was first drawn to this by the adorable packaging (I'm a record collector)! When I tried it on my skin, I was amazed. I'm pretty pale with yellow undertones. It disappears into my skin. I have dry patches, too, so usually foundations are very noticeable on me. Not the case with this one! I apply with my fingers and it goes on super smooth, almost liquifies upon contact, but it dries to a powdery finish and cannot be seen in even the most harsh light! Go to the counter and give it a try... I'm sure you'll be amazed. I am always disappointed, though, in Benefit's lack of consideration for those with other skintones.
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Lotions/ Creams -LUSH - Lemony Flutter
desiree_e 8/27/2006 4:35:00 PM
This stuff is awesome! If you like La Perla's Eclix, you will like the scent of this--lemon and a little vanilla. I think it's pretty yummy, and I only use it at night so it wouldn't really bother me either way. It has a thick, kind of hard texture in the package, but totally melts on application. You only need a little bit of this. I use it on my hands and elbows at night. You could definitely use it all over, whereever you want. Love it.
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Pressed Powders -Cover Girl - Outlast Pressed Powder [DISCONTINUED]
desiree_e 8/27/2006 4:28:00 PM
I was flabbergasted by the quality of this stuff! I rarely use face powders because I hate looking matte and covering my skin, but I bought this on my way to work on a day I thought I was looking particularly horrible and could use a little something. I bought translucent medium. It went on sooooo smooth, sheer and light and totally gave my face a glow. It is not entirely matte, it brings a little radiance to your face. There is no glitter but there is a fine, barely perceptible sheen to this powder once it is applied. I was not crazy about the packaging (it's dark blue and silver, yuck), but it's worth it for the contents. When I recently dropped my bag and my powder cracked, I bought a new one at Duane Reade. They were out of Outlast, so I tried Trublend in the same color. It was much more obvious on my skin. The color even seemed paler than the Outlast in the same shade. And I felt covered. Outlast reminds me a bit of Stila's Illuminating Powder Foundation, but even better!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Cover Girl - TruBlend Pressed Powder
desiree_e 8/27/2006 4:11:00 PM
I should give this a 4, because it is good, certainly better than decent, but I tried it after finishing up a compact of Outlast, and it doesn't even compare to it! The color (translucent medium) was paler in Trublend, and the finish was more obviously matte. Outlast has a way of somehow giving you a little radiance. I wouldn't buy this again. Try Outlast!
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Fragrances -Annick Goutal - Quel Amour!
desiree_e 3/17/2006 11:12:00 AM
For lovers of fruity-florals or sweet rose-dominated scents, Quel Amour leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. The EDT is sharp and spicy upon application, peony and rose dominating. As it dries down, the rose seems to disappear on me, and I'm left with peonies, berries and a little bit of mint. This is the quintessential spring fragrance, but it can be worn year-round. EDT lasts well and has great sillage. Gets compliments. EDP is much more rose-heavy. Almost musty. It takes about an hour for the berries and peony to come through. Not worth the wait, the EDT lasts fine on me. Can't wait for spring!
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Fragrances -Etro - New Tradition
desiree_e 2/17/2006 12:46:00 AM
I totally agree with the user below, who wondered whether anyone else thought this similar to Agent Provocateur. That is precisely what I thought when I tried this! It is very similar to AP, but less dense/heavy and slightly less complex...lighter and easier to wear. An herbal, musky scent with rose that smells very Victorian to me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Jo Malone - Nectarine Blossom and Honey
desiree_e 2/17/2006 12:04:00 AM
This is my favorite Jo Malone so far! It smells so real and juicy-- a little bit tangy, even. It is definitely mouth-watering without being sweet, and definitely NOT "syrupy" as most peach/apricot scents tend to be. Yet it is very rich. Smells just like peach nectar. Maybe there is some citrus and green notes thrown in. A mint leaf, perhaps?? The honey is not very noticable to my nose--and my nose is very sensitive to honey. Beautiful for summer!
FYI, this is more "real" and less sweet-smelling than i Profumi di Firenze's Florentia 22 (peach and flowers), which is beautiful, if not a little bit watery and flat in comparison.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Fresh - Sandalwood Vert
desiree_e 2/12/2006 7:31:00 PM
Now that I work across from a Fresh store, I am finally getting into their fragrances. Last time I was there, they gave me a sample of sandalwood vert. I am pretty disappointed! I love sandalwood, and I think it lends such beautiful qualities to a fragrance. In this composition, all the lovely qualities of sandalwood are completely obscured. It is not smooth, but rough and abrasive. It gets VERY sweet on me, along with a spiciness that almost could classify this scent as "gourmand". It sickens me a little bit. I detect no green leaf, verbena or cypress that is supposed to comprise the middle notes. No juniper berries, either! It is very ambery on me. If I didn't know better, I'd believe anise, patchouli and cedar were also in it. Too sweet and heavy. In the drydown, it smells of donuts.
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Fragrances -Nanadebary - Green
desiree_e 2/11/2006 7:02:00 PM
This scent goes through so many changes on my skin! At the start, smells like green tea, grass, and herbs. Very light and airy. Then it gets sweeter, like cool green tea with lemon and honey. Later, it actually becomes warmer: sweet, spicy and peppery, while still being light and fresh and possibly a little soapy. Great spring and summer scent, but a little bit average, to me. I would repurchase if the beginning stages lasted, but they don't. It gets sweeter than I typically like. If you like this you might also like Hermes' Amazone Eau Fraiche, Bond's Gramercy Park, Carriere, L'Ombre dans L'Eau, and vice versa.
Update--My boy friend LOVED this. I"m not sure exactly why, since I didnt think it especially unique, but there you have it. A keeper (I'm a sucker for compliments). He especially liked the stages later in the drydown.
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Fragrances -Annick Goutal - Songes
desiree_e 2/10/2006 7:00:00 PM
I have a soft spot for Annick Goutal fragrances, I don't know why, but I find them hard to dislike. There aren't many I actually LOVE, though (especially the more recent ones). This one is love... I just wish it were available to me this winter. It's sweet and floral at first, later the frangipane and vanilla are most prominent, almost yummy but with a bitter spiciness. It reminds me of a gourmet pastry or dessert with vanilla beans and cinnamon and ginger. It lasts and lasts and lasts, too... But I see this as more of a winter scent for me.
UPDATE: My boyfriend told me this smelled like curry. In a bad way. I still love it.
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Polishes -Essie - Clam Bake
desiree_e 2/10/2006 6:36:00 PM
Clam Bake is a bright orangey-red creme. User below definitely describes the shade well as "Poppy". This is one of my favorite Essie shades... It goes on so bright and SO SMOOTH--Smoother than any other Essie I've tried! Consistency is a little watery but coverage is solid, which is great. Will definitely re-purchase... this is a staple.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Fresh - Pink Jasmine Body Cream
desiree_e 2/3/2006 5:10:00 PM
The cream itself is great, I love Fresh stuff. The scent is not similar enough to the Pink Jasmine EDP to make me ever consider it. I find this to be almost straight-up jasmine. So if you wished that Pink Jasmine fragrance had a little more jasmine, try layering it with this cream.
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Fragrances -Fresh - Pink Jasmine
desiree_e 2/3/2006 5:07:00 PM
This is a really light and refreshing, not-too-floral fruity-floral. Notes I can definitely detect are bergamot, blood orange, jasmine, peach skin and tiare. Something is very refined about this scent, and I think it's the combo of the citrus and tiare that make it smell almost like a scented powder or soap. The tiare isn't very obvious but definitely lends its dry, deep powdery accord to tone down the jasmine, which kind of hangs as a backdrop for a lot of the other lovely notes. That, I can appreciate--I don't usually like jasmine scents at all, but I was really surprised to find myself loving this! I work across from the Fresh store on Bleecker St, and one of the SAs gave me a 7.5ml mini of this scent with a mini of the cream as well. The cream is definitely heavier on the jasmine. The fragrance, though, is something I definitely will buy, since on my sampling day I've already received several compliments! Words I would use to describe this scent are refined, juicy, versatile and easy to wear. I could see this on a 50-something as well as I could see it on a 20-something. But I think it's more sophisticated than casual.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Dazzle Me
desiree_e 2/3/2006 2:10:00 AM
I own a lot of this type of shade: Hardly perceptible but super shiny with a fine glimmer. The metallic aspect of this is very subtle. Someone complimented me on this polish today and told me my nails look like glass. In certain light, the glimmer looks a little blue/silverish, but it's mainly clear/silverish. Not nearly as blue as it looks in the bottle. I love this one. Another polish that strikes me as a counterpart to YSL Touche Brillance Lip Gloss! A glimmer for polish, not at all glittery or "festive", but certainly Dazzling.
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