Lotions/ Creams -Palmers - Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula For Dry, Ashy Skin Lotion 
fenestra 6/7/2010 8:05:00 AM
I bought this quite cheaply after my beloved Aveeno Daily Moisture stopped working on my eczema. Less than 24 hours later and only three applications, the scaly patches on my legs are nearly gone. The scent is somewhat more "barky" than the original (which I adore but does nothing for my eczema) but, to be honest, this could smell like feta cheese left in the car on a hot summer day and I'd still slather it on my legs with fervor. ♥
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Unlisted Brand - Massini Studio M - Energy Star
fenestra 5/6/2010 10:19:00 AM
I found this gem at Meijer in their Massini line. This is one of the new spring/summer colors, a vibrant kelley green cream. Application is even and smooth. The color also has a translucency about it, allowing light to shine through without showing streaks. A favorite color for sure!
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Polishes -L.A. Colors - Art Deco Nail Art Lacquer
fenestra 5/6/2010 10:14:00 AM
Outstanding quality in a very unlikely place. Just as others have said, I found this at Dollar General for a little over $2. At first I hated the thin brush but then realized that it makes for easy application on nail edges. I got the bright green, a vibrant primary green cream, and it went on smoothly and evenly and dried to a very shiny, vinyl-like setting. Wear was a week with absolutely no chipping (very slight wear on tips) even with frequent hand washing and activity. This one blew me away!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Maybelline - Express Finish - Pie in the Sky
fenestra 5/6/2010 10:10:00 AM
Looks like I'm the lone dissenter yet again. This color is gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but that does not make up for the thick and gummy formula. I also find that fast-drying polishes take far longer to set. This dried to the touch in about five minutes (not the 50 seconds as advertised) but, even hours later, the polish was still soft. Finish is dull and uneven. Painting my nails four hours before bed left me with extensive "waffling" from my sheets in the morning. Too bad because this is a lovely color.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - CJ Scents Egyptian Summer
fenestra 9/23/2009 11:00:00 AM
Oh, I am delighted by this! Bright, sunny orange blossom blooms over the lightest musk and Egyptian sandalwood. This has some powder to it and an almost vintage quality. It is so wonderfully classic and gorgeous. This may be the replacement for my beloved Ava Luxe Orange Blossom. Love it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - CJ Scents Soft Dragon
fenestra 9/23/2009 10:52:00 AM
This is a new offering from the much beloved CJ Scents. Starting out as dragonsblood, this is a bit head-shoppy but that dries down quickly to a very soft vanilla and musk. This has an almost dusty quality that I am finding most enchanting. It's warm and just lovely. Another winner!
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Fragrances -Ava Luxe - Johri
fenestra 4/28/2009 9:48:00 AM
I'm not quite sure why I have withheld a review for so long, but I happen to be wearing this today and felt a strong desire to finally do so. This is one of only two perfumes I have ever repurchased (the other being Ava Luxe's Sweet Absinthe.) This batch is even more glorious than the first. I detect an almost lanolin quality; slightly oily with hints of ash, wool and woodsmoke. The closest thing I can compare it to would be the fragrance one might encounter while visiting a historic pioneer village (I have often been tempted to drop to the floor and place my nose to the wooden planks of an centeries-old farmhouse and inhale but I'm odd like that.) As strange as that sounds, that is exactly what I get from this. The cedar and bergamot are the major players in this with the strong support from a dry, green fig. The vanilla and coconut milk are understated but provide enough of a sweet creaminess which prevents this from ending too sharply. The dry down is a uniquely warm skin scent. This is unlike any other I have encountered and I always feel honored to wear it. It is grounding and bright but quietly and reflectively so.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Removal -Unlisted Brand - Smooth Away hair removing pads
fenestra 12/21/2008 9:30:00 AM
Wow! This product is truly amazing. I am floored by the total lack of actual hair removal this does; it is quite outstanding. After I saw the testimonials by "real life" Europeans on TV singing its praises, did I think that it would remove *my* unwanted body hair? Hell no, I'm not some kind of a rube. I've been around the block more than a few times, did my time shaving it up old school and had been very happy doing so. But, I figured, at the very least, this Smooth Away would perform as an exfoliator to use pre-shaving (or to buff the hard-to-reach spots on our hardwood floors.) Boy, is my face red (and still containing massive amounts of peach fuzz!) This did positively, absolutely and conclusively NOTHING. This is probably due to its 3000 grit sandpaper which wouldn't even polish my jewelry much less the stubble off of my "tender areas." I am tempted to write a congratulatory letter to the company praising it for developing the most ineffective hair removal product in all of recorded history even under-performing fire, witchcraft and the "cordless" Epilady - the latter of which is nothing more than a spring with a handle and, at least, managed to rip out 3 leg hairs with the same amount of force and pain of a charging rhino. Well done!
24 out of 31 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - CJ Scents - Amber Coffee
fenestra 10/14/2008 8:53:00 AM
I was hesitant to try this, fearing it may have the likeness of a scented candle but I am pleased to say that this is beautifully crafted. The amber sits atop, mouthwatering and buttery. Underneath is a deep, bitter coffee that plays off the creamy amber. I immediately bought a full bottle so I may savor this during the cooler months.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - CJ Scents--Honeywood
fenestra 10/14/2008 8:44:00 AM
This is what I wanted AL Honey to be. Woodsy, natural and sticky sweet without being nauseating. Her new formulation hits the spot but CJs is much longer lasting and has far more sillage. And there is a "crispness" to it that makes this so much more wearable. Love it!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment
fenestra 10/9/2008 2:04:00 PM
I'm actually surprised at all the glowing reviews. I probably should have looked a little more carefully at the label before purchasing because this is pretty much petroleum jelly. 41% petrolatum with some mineral oil (which is actually drying in the long run,) panthenol and glycerin added to the mix. This is no where near worth $6 for a small tube when you can buy a tub of Vaseline for less than $3. And this is far too greasy to use on my hands. I have to wait forever for it to sink in before I can touch anything. As far as using it on one's lips, just buy a $.50 Chapstick and be done with it.
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Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Chai Anise EDT
fenestra 8/2/2008 6:38:00 PM
Description: "Created by master perfumers, exotic spices are given mysterious depth with distinctive notes of Masala chai tea, davanna flower and cardamom." This is from the signature collection from BBW but I cannot seem to locate any information online. There were several other from this same line that were very intriguing including Lemon Watermint, Indian Vetyver, Wildflower Tea, Creamy Fig Nectar, Vanilla Woods, an Orchid scent and a Neroli scent. This one won out as my favorite. This is a unique yet familiar spicy, creamy scent. The humid heat of summer seems to work very well with it but doesn't create something too heady. In the beginning, there is cool anise followed by sharp cardamom. A half hour later, this melts into the skin to become a warm, almost musky skin scent while the scent on my clothes and in my hair retains a fair amount of spice not unlike Opium. The cardamom remains throughout. It is melancholly and warm. I am very pleased BBW is veering away from the typical foodie/floral, overplayed and tiresome notes of their original signature collection and creating scents that are more refined and unusual. I think I may have to go back to purchase more from this line.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Ava Luxe - Sin EDP
fenestra 6/25/2008 8:09:00 PM
"A decadent fragrance of black opium tinged with amber and musks. The fragrance evokes imagery of silver screen sirens, flappers and international women of beauty and mystery. Key notes Black opium, amber, musk and vanilla." To me, Sin is a knockout. Not unlike AL's Ingenue with an very green topnote drying down to a deep, ambery musk. The sillage is fantastic. A mere drop can be detected from across a room and makes men swoon. I love this in the humid heat of summer, the bitting cold of winter, anytime. It's naughty, tawdry, animalistic and sultry. Like sex in a bottle.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Ava Luxe - Tao
fenestra 6/25/2008 7:58:00 PM
Whereas I agree with Wyrmiax's comment about being antiseptic, I find this anything but harsh. This is a subdued, light, musky incense very similar to Passage d'Enfer. The medicinal quality reminds me of Lolita Lempicka and make this very melancholy and cool. The lasting power is superb, lasting through not only a workout but a shower. This transforms from the likeness of an apothocary into a mellow skin musk. Very unique and well blended.
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Conditioner -John Frieda - Frizz-Ease Weather Works Weather-Proofing [DISCONTINUED]
fenestra 5/8/2008 8:57:00 AM
Wow! I have used this conditioner for only two days and I have noticed a vast improvement. My hair is very bouncy even though it has been raining for two days. The frizz is down a bit (though not as much as I would have liked) and the color has appeared to deepen. The only negative I found so far is that it takes a lot longer to blow dry my hair. I've never had that problem with any other conditioner. It's certainly worth it, however. Great product!
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