Fragrances -Philosophy - Amazing Grace cologne
lattevaniglia 4/13/2013 1:18:00 PM
I don't personally own this product, but my friend wears it. It's a very light smell -- not too powdery or florally, just fresh-out-of-the-shower-skin clean with a hint of musk. Nothing remarkable, but far from boring. To me it says "I'm a nice girl and I feel nice today". If it had a colour, it would be pale peach. It also smells exactly like my L'Oreal Color Radiance detangling spray ;)
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Lips -Palladio - Tinted Lip Balm
lattevaniglia 3/23/2013 10:02:00 AM
I bought this product because I was looking for a nice tinted lip balm to use for work (lipstick is too much for me, but I have to have some colour on my fairly unpigmented lips or I'll end up looking like a zombie). I was hoping it would be a slip-into-your-pocket-and-not-have-to-look-into-a-mirror product, but I'm so disappointed! First of all, the price. I paid two arms and legs for this -- $5.50 CDN + tax at Sally's! I would normally never pay that much for a tiny tube of lip balm, but the Sally website listed it as $3.99. So deceiving! Second, this "balm" is not moisturizing AT ALL. It goes on waxy, does not absorb, and, like the reviewer below me mentioned, seems to leave my lips drier than before (they look scrunched up, if you know what I mean). If I had known this I wouldn't have paid so much for this crap! That being said, the colour payoff is nice -- I have mine in Rosey -- but it definitely does not go well with dry lips, which is what this "balm" leaves you with. The only reason I chose this over C.O. Bigelow's Rose Salve was because this is herbal and I liked the classy little packaging. But this does nothing for me whatsoever so I'm really regretting buying it, especially for the outrageous price. Will stick with a lip stain and good old' Blistex for work instead.
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Fragrances -Victoria's Secret - Love Spell
lattevaniglia 2/3/2013 11:49:00 PM
You know that scent you smell everywhere? The one where you go, "I know exactly what she's wearing?" This is it. I went to two different high schools in two different countries and the hallways all smelled like Victoria's Secret Love Spell. Must be a staple for girls aged 13-17, especially after gym class (full disclosure: Even I wore it.) Does the name have anything to do with it? Probably. Good memories though. I still have half a bottle of the body spray and half a bottle of the lotion left, but can't stand the smell now -- it's too cloyingly sweet and teenagery, like purple cotton candy mixed with fruit. However, it does smell great mixed with BBW's Rainkissed Leaves. That used to be my signature scent, but again, it's nothing more than a memory now.
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Fragrances -Yves Rocher - Comme Une Evidence
lattevaniglia 1/12/2013 2:04:00 PM
My story with Comme Une Evidence is long and complicated, so let me start from the beginning. I first smelled this about two months ago in an Yves Rocher store, where I sprayed it on my wrists and let it sit for the day. Unfortunately I was also sick and had to spend the rest of the afternoon in a library trying to write an essay, so I didn't get a first impression other than it smelled vaguely pretty and also sharp. As good body chemistry and positive memories of a scent are strong influences and I had neither at the time, I didn't give Comme Une Evidence further thought for another month or so. Fast forward to Boxing Day and I was back at Yves Rocher, where they were selling a box of four travel-size scents for $10. I wasn't able to resist and bought it. To my surprise, of all the perfumes I sampled, Comme Une Evidence was the one I fell truly, madly, deeply in love with. It was like magic this time around; it sat so warm and close to my skin while I was doing yoga that I couldn't stop smelling myself. The fragrance is clean and soapy, but at the same time slightly musky and therefore sexy. What I love about Comme Une Evidence is that it's inoffensive and has great sillage while also being a skin scent (how is that possible?). I can smell this on me the next morning and it stays on my clothes for days after I dab it on. Sometimes the smell even wafts around my room! As another reviewer mentioned, it does leave a trail of evidence around you, but it's not overpowering -- I think it actually makes people want to be closer to you, as it blooms into a soft, pretty skin scent. I get compliments whenever I wear it, most commonly "Who smells so good?". Even the guy I like sniffed around me after I'd dabbed it on one night. Pale pink is definitely the right colour for the bottle. On me Comme Une Evidence smells mostly of lily of the valley, but the drydown definitely has some musk, and a soft sort of green -- perhaps cedar? -- in it. This perfume is best worn everyday and in all seasons; I feel worldly, classy, feminine, and elegant whenever I wear it. Another major plus is that it can be bought for less than the usual price if you wait for one of many of Yves Rocher's sales. I'm delighted to say that Comme Une Evidence is my new signature scent. Has soapy ever been sexy? With this perfume, it definitely has! UPDATE: I got a BOGO card from Yves Rocher for my birthday, so I now own two full-sized bottles. Still my signature scent, although I've found it turns into a sharp green some hours after I first spray it on (I've read it must be the rhubarb). So I spray it on my clothes instead and the absolutely lovely lily-of-the-valley and rose stays on top. I still get tons of compliments :) L'Eau is simply a lighter version, but I wish I'd gotten it instead of another EDP!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -The Body Shop - Moroccan Rose
lattevaniglia 12/12/2012 11:38:00 AM
The Body Shop is discontinuing this fragrance and replacing it with Atlas Mountain Rose from their new line, Scents of the World. That one I found to be slightly sweeter than Moroccan Rose, but the difference is subtle. Anyway, I'd been looking for a nice everyday-wear floral perfume and at $12.50 a bottle, this was a steal! I sprayed it on last night and when I woke up this morning I thought, "What is that wonderful smell?" And I realized I was still wearing Moroccan Rose. My sister immediately commented "You smell good!" when she went in for a hug, so it is quite noticeable. On me the lemon is very much pronounced, since my body chemistry tends to bring out the sour note in most perfumes. That isn't a bad thing for Moroccan Rose, though -- it keeps the flower from being too powdery, so the scent is a delightful, youthful, doll-like rose. It smells almost exactly like the rose extract my other sister uses for baking. Many have commented that the scent doesn't last long, but I'm glad to report that it does! I'm currently wearing it in the winter although I imagine it'll sparkle more in the spring/summer. That being said, "Moroccan" doesn't really match the image I get from smelling this perfume on myself...but maybe that's just me! Highly recommend, especially because of the price! UPDATE: I have been wearing this fragrance for a week now, and I fall more and more in love with it as the days go by. The scent does last several hours on me, even through the night (I spray a lot as soon as I step out the shower, and also scent my clothes with it. Moroccan Rose is light enough that doing this doesn't make me gag. However, by then it develops into more of a skin scent.) And, since fragrance depends on body chemistry and weather, this smells a bit different on me every time. The "doll-like rose" I commented on before is now complimented by a fresh, earthy aroma -- it must be the cedar! I am reminded of forest flowers, and as a forestry major, all I can say is wow!!! Moroccan Rose is a really well-blended scent, and I love that it changes on me (the woodsy, clean, green, flowery smell is just so lovely in the winter!) I think this will be my new signature scent!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -LUSH - The Olive Branch
lattevaniglia 12/5/2012 9:43:00 PM
YUM!!! I just bought this for my secret Santa and it was my first time at a LUSH store so I was feeling overwhelmed by all the scents. I'd read about The Olive Branch on the website and was pretty excited about smelling it for myself, so I was quite surprised when the saleslady handed me a bottle of what looked like orange water and told me to give it a sniff and I could not for the life of me smell anything. (I bought it anyway.) Fast forward to a couple hours later and I'm in the comfort of my own neutral-smelling room, and I decide to investigate the bottle myself. Surprise! The gel wasn't as watery as it was in the store (though I assume this is because I didn't shake the bottle -- the olive oil was bunched up at the top) and the scent peeking out from under the plastic seal is magnificent! I almost consider buying it for myself; if it weren't for the price ($11 CDN for a tiny bottle), I probably would have! Mandarin and bergamot, what an amazing combination! I am immediately transported to the Mediterranean, surrounded by orange groves and warm, salty air and the scent of bergamot. This is southern Italy and Greece during the peak of summer! That being said, this is quite a unisex scent, I think I will immediately fall in love with a man who smells like The Olive Branch ;)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -St. Ives - St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Facial Moisturizer
lattevaniglia 12/1/2012 1:56:00 PM
Let me just say that I'm not one to use facial moisturizers, because they tend to make my combination skin greasy. However, come winter, my skin can get really dry and flaky, and we all know how terrible that looks with makeup. So last year I started looking around for a nice facial moisturizer, and being already a loyal St. Ives user,decided to give this one a shot. Nearly a year later I'm still on the same tube, and am loving it! This is exactly what I need when the cold air starts drying out my skin! It doesn't leave my face shiny, it absorbs really well, and it makes my cheeks really soft and smooth -- I'm talking velvety, buttery, baby-soft-and-smooth here. Timeless Skin is an AMAZING product. I use it on my face and neck -- it's really helped minimize my neck-lines -- and even on the tips of my hair after blowdrying. It leaves my hair soft and conditioned, it's that good. Plus the clean, leafy smell is inoffensive and calming. Definitely a winter HG product; I will keep repurchasing this!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Secret Wonderland Lotion (regular)
lattevaniglia 11/5/2012 10:50:00 PM
I have a love-hate relationship with Secret Wonderland. I first tried it at my aunt's because it was on the bathroom counter, thought it was too sweet, then forgot about it. That same night when I got home, I took off my cardigan and caught a whiff of something delicious. I then became determined to buy myself a bottle of the lotion. Now that I own a travel-sized one (and I'm glad I didn't buy a regular!), I continue to have that love-hate relationship with it. Secret Wonderland has all the elements that I like -- namely berries, vanilla, and amber -- but if you put on too much, it can be pretty cloying. When it lingers in your clothes and skin, however...it's another story. I don't know how to describe it, but it smells fresh, sweet, and sensual at the same time, which is probably what B&BW was aiming for. I can't stop smelling myself! As a lotion, it's not very moisturizing, but I think it works best if you layer it on with an unscented lotion anyways because, as I mentioned before, it can smell tooth-achingly sweet when used excessively. I would recommend this for spring nights, as that's what it reminds me of.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Moonlight Path Body Lotion
lattevaniglia 10/14/2012 11:24:00 PM
This scent is such a comfort. It reminds me of fleece pajamas and reading under the covers on a cold winter night (because I did that a lot when I first got the lotion two years ago). Moonlight Path is a musky floral, very powdery on the drydown, and does take some getting used to. However, given the right time and the right place (ie. under the covers on a cold winter night), it can prove to be a warm and comforting favourite. Highly recommended; it moisturizes well as long as you stay indoors. I will always come back to this, especially when it's snowing outside :)
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Hair Color -Garnier - Belle Color Permanent Haircolor
lattevaniglia 8/12/2012 9:09:00 PM
This was my first hair dye and the only one I'm brave enough to use (as yet). My hair is naturally black, so I was looking to lighten it only about one or two shades. The one I've stuck with is #50 Medium Brown, which doesn't really do anything to my hair except lighten it a little. Most of the time you can't even tell I've dyed it, unless you look really close in the sunlight. Fine by me. I don't want to be one of those people with hair lighter than their skin (a major faux pas, IMHO). I took a lippie off because this product does fade, although that doesn't bother me much as it's not really noticeable. Overall, I like this product. It's gentle on my hair, doesn't make me gag (at least, not as much as I'd imagined chemical-saturated hair dye would), and doesn't look fake or brassy. In fact, it looks natural, and now that it's summer, it's given my now dark-brown hair reddish highlights! I get compliments on it all the time. The conditioner is a bonus -- it smells so good (like peach, which masks most of that stinky dye smell), and leaves my hair unbelievably soft and shiny after washing. Plus, it's only about $6 at WalMart! My only complaint about this product is the packaging -- I can never nip the top off the applicator bottle. Has anyone had the same problem? Usually I just take the cap right off and apply the dye to my roots using a comb. Works well for me, but I'd like to know how to nip the top off for next time!
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Lips -New York Color - Smooch Proof Lip Stain
lattevaniglia 7/13/2012 11:00:00 PM
After reading the rave reviews on MUA, I finally bought NYC's Smooch Proof lipstain in Champagne Stain. Boy, am I in love (so far!) It is WAY better than my old Revlon Just Bitten (which got really gross and smelly, and wouldn't even stay on as long). For the record, I have also owned a CoverGirl lipstain, and it was pretty good. But NYC, for the low price of $4.99 CDN + tax, does the job best of them all! The staying power is awesome -- I went through three hours of intense Quidditch training at university, and my lips were still a bright healthy pink after! Amazing! Out of all three lipstains I've owned so far, this one was the least drying and stayed on the longest. And it's also very pigmented -- Champagne Stain goes on as a bright dark pink that can look dramatic, but much more natural than lipstick. Packaging is no-fuss and the tip is pointier than either Revlon or CoverGirl, which I like. Can't beat the quality for such a low price! Will definitely purchase again!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Revlon - Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm
lattevaniglia 3/10/2012 5:47:00 PM
I bought this product as an alternative to my CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain which had lasted me nearly two years, and Desire shade was similar enough to CoverGirl's Everbloom Kiss. That being said, I love the colour, it makes me look like I just ate a popsicle, and it's very fresh and natural-looking. I hate wearing lipstick, so this is just perfect. I've heard people say that lipstains can be very drying, so it's good that Revlon decided to make it a 2-in-1 and include a lipbalm. That being said, mine broke off a couple weeks in, which is why I took a lippie off. (It's stuck in the cap, and I'm using what's left on the end of the stick/poking my finger in the balm stuck to the cap, which is not hygienic at all because I can see the accumulated grime -- yuck!) The formula smells the same as CoverGirl's -- like cherry -- but unlike CoverGirl, it's also started to smell a bit funky. (Lipstains are obviously not the most hygienic products around as they're moist and you use them over and over again on what may be dirty lips!) Also, it's looking like it's not going to last me as long as my CoverGirl did -- I've only had this for a couple months and it's starting to dry out. Plus points for the colour and price, but if CoverGirl's on sale again I'm sticking to that one. 3/5
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Fragrances -Vera Wang - Glam Princess
lattevaniglia 12/27/2011 2:15:00 PM
I just got this for Christmas so it hasn't had time to grow on me yet but so far I'm disappointed. As a designer fragrance I'd expect Glam Princess to be a bit more elaborate but it really isn't - and I agree with the reviewer below who said the bottle looks tacky! I fall under the target age group (19 y/o) but I wouldn't wear this to prom like those teenage magazines suggest. Maybe it's just my body chemistry but this perfume really just smells sour (I can only pick out the guava.) Ick! UPDATE: I have upped the lippie rating to 3! It would be 3.5 if there were such a thing. I have been using this perfume for 8 months now, so it's had the chance to grow on me. Now I can pick out the marshmallow and a hint of cashmere, but only on the drydown. Staying power still isn't very good and it still smells primarily sour, but it's wearable. I would prefer this on cold days. Wouldn't pick it over my HG Miss Dior Cherie though!
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Fragrances -Burberry - The Beat [DISCONTINUED]
lattevaniglia 12/24/2011 12:13:00 AM
Love this scent in the winter. The price is steep for a broke university student like me, but in my opinion it's worth every penny. The EDP can smell a bit strong if you put on too much, but it dries down to a lovely powdery scent that is just so classy. I spray some on a tester strip that I keep in my bag, and the powder of the Burberry perfume combined with the leather of my bag smells AMAZING (and so do all my textbooks!)
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Liquid -Maybelline - Fit Me Foundation
lattevaniglia 6/4/2011 10:36:00 PM
I bought this after trying it on at Wal-Mart for $7.99. I don't normally use foundation because of a previous bad experience (I used Annabelle and it made me break out), but prom was coming up and I needed my face to be camera-ready. My shade is 315 Soft Honey and true to its name, Fit Me does blend in really well with my skin. I find that my pores look reduced and my face looks slightly dewy. The best thing about it is that it doesn't look cakey -- I think this is what a foundation should be. I have a little problem with the packaging though (hence the 3) because it's hard to get the right amount of foundation without spilling out too much. On the day of prom I was in a hurry and accidentally knocked the bottle off the counter in my friend's washroom, and a good 1/8 of foundation went down the drain. And I had to clean up the whole mess! However, as I already mentioned, nothing beats the content of the bottle -- it probably isn't as good as the more expensive brands, but it doesn't give me nightmares. EDIT: I hardly use foundation anymore; I found that this one causes my already oily skin to be oilier! And I think it also makes me break out. I just use concealer on blemishes for my everyday look.
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