Fragrances -Demeter - Thunderstorm
fabulyss 5/23/2013 2:18:00 PM
I sampled this at a store just for the hell of it. If you sniffed this without any indication of the fragrance's name, the word thunderstorm would never come to mind. There is nothing wet, earthy or humid about it. It smells like a generic men's cologne (though not too masculine that a woman couldn't wear it), and it did last quite a while. Unfortunately, this just doesn't live up to its name.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Wet 'n' Wild - Mega Last in Cherry Bomb 918D
fabulyss 5/22/2013 4:56:00 PM
Best name for a lipstick EVER! I wanted a 90s grunge lipstick and was originally going to purchase Revlon's Blackberry (also has great reviews but I couldn't find it anywhere); then I thought I'd try Revlon's Black Cherry (also highly recommended but always sold out and it seemed too purple-toned for me). While googling "Frances Cobain Lipstick" for more ideas, I accidentally came across Wet n Wild's Cherry Bomb (which is apparently a dupe for MAC's Diva, which Cobain wears). I was sold! I had to visit 3 drugstore just to find this shade but it's so worth it. I would describe it as an opaque bloody-wine color - halfway between goth and grunge - without the rust/brown/raisin tones of genuine 90s lipsticks. This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. The heavier you apply it the more plummy wine it appears, but I prefer just one thorough coat. It really does last a long time and doesn't look sloppy after eating/drinking. I absolutely love that it doesn't have a smell like so many cheap lipsticks do. The only downfall really is the shape of the bullet (round), but at only $2.99 I can deal with it. If you're super pale with blue eyes like me, I demand that you go out and buy this!
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Telescopic Shocking Extensions Mascara
fabulyss 2/14/2013 8:33:00 PM
You know what cracks me up? The European version of this (exact same formula, wand, packaging) is L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic, which as of right now has a rating of 4.4 on MUA. That just goes to show you the completely different needs and expectations of the American market as opposed to Europe... This is a fantastic mascara, especially for the price point. It's a deep dark black, it lengthens beautifully, and gives a lovely "winged" effect to the outer corners. After 3 months of use, it still isn't flaking on me. I happen to think it separates quite nicely as long as you don't apply more than 2 coats (I must share the more European aesthetic of natural looking, long lashes because it seems as though American women love heavy volume, which this mascara -admittedly- does not provide). Personally, I think it should be mandatory for ALL mascaras to have fiber extensions (why the hell not?!), but of the few drugstore mascaras that have them this one is definitely the best.
8 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Butter London - Knackered
fabulyss 1/7/2013 7:38:00 PM
I tested this out at Nordstrom today and though it looked lovely in the store lighting, as soon as I stepped outside it appeared dusty lavender (frosty in a bad 90s way). Something about indoor fluorescent lighting really brings out the duochrome in this and something about natural lighting seems to diminish it. Duochromes are so last year anyway, Butter should be releasing the truly holographic polishes that are all the rage right now.
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Eyes -Ardell - 305 False Eyelashes
fabulyss 12/26/2012 10:55:00 PM
Love these! They are natural enough to be worn during the day, but dramatic enough to make a big difference to your overall look. They add that extra oomph without being obvious. They are super flattering and easy to apply. I actually bought them for a 60s eye look (thinking they would be super thick and mod) but when worn they're more like a natural cat-eye (very feminine & romantic). I would recommend these for a special occasion (day or night), or if you know you're going to be photographed a lot.
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Other -Unlisted Brand - Colgate Optic White
fabulyss 11/12/2012 10:19:00 PM
This toothpaste seriously whitens faster and more effective than any other drugstore toothpaste on the market. It is essentially like using white strips, without having to actually use white strips. I actually think it's lightening the color of my lips just from using it (I have naturally pigmented lips so I don't even mind). Negatives include sensitivity of the teeth and gums and chapped lips. This stuff is potent, so if you're after bright white teeth without the strips this is totally worth it (consistency is key, you must use twice daily!). If you're after more of a gentle and gradual whitening, I recommend Crest 3D White.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Unlisted Brand - indigo wild zum bar cedar
fabulyss 11/2/2012 11:32:00 AM
Love it! This is one of the more pungent Zum bars, which I appreciate because I try not to wear toxic perfumes too often. I didn't get a hamster cage cedar out of this at all! I think it smells very woodsy and completely unisex. The scent envelops my entire bathroom when this is used. It's also absolutely gorgeous: swirls of black and ivory!! It's the prettiest of the Zum bars in my opinion. The Cedar and Dragon's Blood are my favorite Zum Bars.
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Fragrances -Balenciaga - Florabotanica
fabulyss 10/9/2012 6:08:00 PM
I had been waiting to try this for weeks! It still isn't at my Nordstrom or Saks, but I finally tracked it down at Neiman's. There were no ads or promotional materials, it was just tucked away in a corner. The bottle was less impressive in person than I was hoping; it came off very 80s to me. The scent itself immediately reminded me of ivory soap. Not even an expensive soap, just plain ol' Ivory. To call this perfume green or verdant is a joke. I didn't detect the faintest whiff of pepper or mint (the ingredients I was most excited about). I might recommend this to someone who loves soapy clean fragrances, it certainly is subtle and wearable; however, it's way too overpriced considering it's lack of originality. Perhaps this reflects the minimalism seen in Balenciaga's latest collections, but without the intellect and complexity behind it.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Unite Eurotherapy 7 Seconds Leave In Detangler
fabulyss 9/16/2012 12:24:00 AM
Eh, I don't really get it. I was recommended this product by a stylist because my hair tangles so easily (it's dry and damaged most of the time). It does help with tangles, but the fragrance is extremely strong and I end up coughing/sneezing every time I use it. Maybe I got a bad batch but the formula thickened very quickly making it both difficult to spray out of the nozzle and difficult to comb through in my hair. I've actually found coagulated chunks of it while brushing through my hair. For what it's worth I never noticed any improvement in my hair's damage with this product either. I've since switched to pure oils and Acure's detangler (lower EWG score, plus it detangles like a dream), which has dramatically improved the texture and appearance of my hair.
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Polishes -American Apparel - Factory Grey
fabulyss 9/11/2012 10:50:00 AM
This is a lavender with hints of grey and a jelly finish. It's a lot different than the majority of lavenders out there which are chalky and opaque and very 90s teenager IMO. This color is very wearable and doesn't jump out at you and clash with your clothing. It's been 3 days so far and no chipping yet!
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Treatments -Acure Organics - 100% USDA Moroccan Argan Oil
fabulyss 9/4/2012 8:23:00 PM
The bottle is very pretty, especially for the price point. I'm so glad it's packaged in a glass bottle with a dropper. I know it's cliche to say this on MUA, but you only need a very small amount of this product (appx. 2 drops for your entire face). I've previously used Josie Maran's argan oil, but Acure's version somehow feels much more potent and higher quality. I absolutely adore this brand (I recommend their body butter, shampoo, and conditioner); I can't wait to try more of their products!!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Lady Gaga - Fame
fabulyss 8/25/2012 6:27:00 PM
I am not a Lady Gaga fan at all, but my Vogue magazine had a sample of this so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Honestly, Fame smells like the general fragrance that hair company's put in hairspray. It's spectacularly unremarkable and underwhelming (though it is rather long-lasting). For whatever reason, I was expecting Gaga's fragrance to be something similar to Frederic Malle: strong, complex, a little avant garde and expensive-smelling. I would bet my entire life's savings that she doesn't wear this perfume herself. Of course, who cares what it smells like right? She has a legion of fans that will buy this perfume regardless. *sigh*
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Lancome - La Vie Est Belle
fabulyss 8/21/2012 5:46:00 PM
If you like Flowerbomb or Coco Mademoiselle, you'll like this. It's sweet, girly and romantic. It's a lovely introduction to perfumes for a teenage girl. Not so perfect for an adult woman (I'm 28).
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -NARS - Orgasm Illuminator
fabulyss 8/15/2012 5:52:00 PM
Eew! I received a sample of this from a gift with purchase. It's pure gold glitter against a tacky peach color (not a flattering peach). I put this on the apples of my cheeks because it has far too much color to be used as an actual highlighter but I can see the gold glitter from 5 feet away. It's not very flattering on the pores either.
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Mascara -Physicians Formula - Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara
fabulyss 8/8/2012 5:16:00 PM
I must applaud Physician's Formula for their effort and for the fact that they're pretty much the only truly "green" mascara that is available in mass retailers. The PROS: Fantastic separation (way better than all of CG and L'Oreal's mascaras IMO), a deep black color; and decent lengthening (considering it's all natural). Even the funky metallic green packaging was starting to grow on me. The CONS: Very little volume, but more importantly this mascara will smudge at the drop of a hat. Even the slightest bit of rubbing or touching or raindrops will smudge the hell out of this. It's quite a shame because it ends up trumping all of the good things about this mascara. A side note: I've also tried 100% Pure's mascara which has a similar look to this one but gives a bit more volume; it's better than Organic Wear but it does still smudge a little. I've also tried HoneyBee Gardens which I'm currently using daily because I think it's the best of the three.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No