Polishes -China Glaze - Fortune Teller
mephitine 9/29/2009 5:40:00 PM
Gorgeous color, black with coppery glitter. Looks like the embers of a dying fire. I kept looking at my nails and thinking, "wow, that is just amazing!" Got some chipping at day 3, but I'm very hard on my nails and almost never get past the three-day mark without some damage. Definitely looks better with the Seche Vite topcoat, deepens the whole effect. Nails look black until you catch the glimmer. This is a color that can definitely be worn throughout the fall season, and longer if you're looking for something goth-glam yet elegant. Intriguing and fun, get a backup since this is surely going to be an LE.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -LUSH - Black Magic Massage Bar
mephitine 11/28/2008 3:34:00 PM
I really wanted to like this. I declined to buy it when it was first available, as the scent didn't do anything for me (though the description sounded divine). When it was reintroduced in the Long Lost Loves box, I thought that I'd give it another chance, as surely I'd just been wrong about it before, hadn't I? Nope. It was icky. Not cat-pee icky, but bitter and astringent-smelling icky. The kind of icky where you're seriously asking yourself if you should get back in the shower and wash off the stink, or just tolerate it and never use the darn thing again. I don't even know of any cleaners that smell like this. Surely it's the geranium, because since I've tried this, I've tried other products that LUSH makes that contain this geranium scent, and they're all bitter & bad. Sure, if you can stand the scent, it's fairly moisturizing. But the smell does not get better with body heat. I don't even know what to do with this. I tried putting it on my feet, since they're far from my nose, but the smell is still just so unpleasant. It's not stinky-cheese bad, nor is it skunky or sewage-y. It just smells like some kind of harsh medicine or cleaner. But hey, some people love it, so you'll have to sniff it yourself to make a proper determination.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Yummy yummy yummy
mephitine 9/15/2008 7:08:00 AM
I *really* wanted to like this. I was hoping it would be the delicious strawberry scent I'd wanted from the Snow Fairy shower gel (but didn't get--Snow Fairy is kinda sickly-sweet, almost heave-inducingly so). Alas, it was not to be. This stuff smells like cheap 70's-era strawberry incense, and not in any kind of good way. I really don't like the scent, it smells very fake, even if it does have real strawberries in it. Plus it's as thin as water. I've never seen a shower gel this thin. I'm going to try putting it in the fridge to see if that helps, but I don't want to keep it there; I like keeping my shower stuff in the shower where it belongs. The lather isn't great (to be expected with something so thin, you do have to use loads of it to get up a small lather), and it's drying. Really. It's supposed to give you soft skin, but that didn't happen for me. The only good thing I can say about it is that it leaves a tolerable strawberry-ish fragrance on the skin afterward. Not as unpleasant as the gel itself, almost likeable. I hate to give LUSH stuff a bad review, but they really missed the boat on this one. Maybe they've reformulated prior to the wide release (this one is from the UK, made in May 2008), so the scent and thickness could be improved. I hope so.
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Gels/Soaps -LUSH - tramp shower gel
mephitine 9/1/2008 9:08:00 AM
When Tramp was first around in the mid-90s, I wasn't too keen on the scent. I gave Tramp a wide berth. But I love giving things a second chance (especially when it comes to LUSH), and when they brought this back out I was excited. The store near me had a tramp dress-up event, and we dressed our little baby up like Charlie Chaplin with a suit, moustache, hat, and cane. They gave us a freebie small Tramp gel, and I love free stuff. I took it home and gave it a whirl. So glad I did! It smells fresh, green, earthy, and a bit masculine. Not a scent I would have died for in my 20's, but now I love it. It's refreshing and comforting, both clean-smelling and inviting. I adore the deep green color, it matches the scent perfectly. Now I keep stocked with the huge size bottles, and though I have specific LUSH shampoos I prefer for my hair, I will always use Tramp on both hair and body when traveling. It's absolutely fine for my hair, better than most store-bought shampoos (if I didn't love LUSH Big so much I'd use this for my hair, the lingering scent is fantastic!). It definitely smells of patchouli and leaves, so if that's not your thing, you wouldn't enjoy this. But kudos to LUSH, making a scent that smells like patchouli and also manages to smell clean and fresh. This is a staple for me from now on, my HG body wash. It leaves my skin clean, lightly scented, with no sticky residue. I could not ask for better.
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Fragrances -Guerlain - Shalimar
mephitine 8/2/2007 3:32:00 PM
This is my grandmother's signature scent, and it's always evoked happy memories for me. Deep in my subconscious, this is what perfume is supposed to smell like at its most beautiful. Unfortunately, I was unable to wear this for most of my life. I'd spray it on and it would turn ugly on my skin, arguing with my body chemistry. I bought other scents that reminded me of Shalimar, trying to achieve that perfection in my roundabout way, but never succeeding. However, after going through childbirth my body changed; my signature scents didn't work so well anymore. I got brave and gave Shalimar another chance, and this time was sure to go with the EdP rather than a EdC or EdT. What a difference! The initial burst is a perfect, intoxicating oriental, and the drydown is pure sweet comfort and joy. There is no other scent like Shalimar; it's truly unique. And while it tends to be a love-it-or-hate it scent, I'm glad that I finally get to love it on ME, rather than just admiring it on others. No more body chemistry disputes, this scent is mine at last.
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Moisturizers -LUSH - Gorgeous
mephitine 4/17/2007 12:19:00 AM
Okay, so I've only used this for a few days now, but my horrendously sensitive skin will act up within hours if I put on something it doesn't like. This stuff is amazing. I got the little 4-pack sampler because I could never afford the full bottle untested. I bought a tiny tub of Celestial to alternate out. I'd taken a stressful job and was aging fast, years within the last few months, so I needed something wonderful ASAP. LUSH was the only one I'd trust to try, as I react to most everything known to mankind. Neither Gorgeous nor Celestial had the evil Aloe that causes me to develop cellulitis, so I made the leap of faith. Wow! I can put this stuff all over, even on my eyelids, and my face is getting softer and smoother by the day. No breakouts, my color is evening out (no more garish red splotchies), and I really do look a bit younger. Not decades, but it's helping alleviate the job stress damage. My weirdo combination skin feels all-over good, with the dry flaky cheeks and shiny-oily-flaky-spotty T-zone both glowing like new. A big improvement so far...let's hope it keeps on this same path, or gets even better! The scent is fine by me, far better than some of the other LUSH moisturizers. I've had horrible experiences with so many supposedly wonderful facial moisturizers and serums out there, it's hard to communicate how scared I was to slather anything on my face outside of antibiotic ointment. My skin is just that sensitive. To be able to put this on without worries is a dream come true. Thank you, LUSH!
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Fragrances -Avon - Shine
mephitine 2/1/2007 1:53:00 PM
Not bad. I got a sample from a rep, tried it, and it smells fresh and lemony without smelling too much like cleanser, furniture polish, air freshener, or candy. Quite a feat to accomplish when it comes to lemon scents! I immediately thought it smelled VERY familiar, and thought at first it must remind me of the only citrus scent I regularly wear--Tocca Stella lotion (not the perfume, the Tocca Stella perfume was such a disappointment when compared to the gorgeous lotion I've loved for years). Tocca Stella lotion is probably my favorite citrus scent in the world. But then I realized I was wrong--Shine was not reminding me of Tocca Stella lotion, but rather of the lemon and other citrus scented oils I use when making bath bombs. That's why it seemed so familiar! I've been up to my elbows in this stuff! But that means that the scent is very much the same as what can be easily found in a craft store, mixed with ordinary orange essential oil and maybe a hint of vanilla (at least that's my recipe). So it doesn't exactly smell super-luxe...but it's enjoyable and wearable. It does have a tiny hint of that odd note underneath it all, like someone else mentioned here, that fairly all of Avon's fragrances have. It's almost like a signature, a mark that says, "hey, I'm inexpensive!"...not that inexpensive is a bad thing (I'll take cheap and fabulous over pricey and fabulous any day!), but this particular note really takes away from the sensory experience. There are definitely perfumes made by Avon that lack that irritating note, but many of their modern ones have it. I hope that the Avon folks recognize this problem and are working to fix it. In the meantime, their perfumes aren't that bad, and this one is fairly nice. I'd recommend it to someone who loves citrus scents but doesn't want the sickly-sweetness of some citrus scents that are out there. It's more reminiscent of dryer sheets than lemon Pledge, so it's worth a try! Be aware that there is a floral component to this, it's not purely lemon, but it's not overpowering either. A good mix.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Candles -Tocca - Candle in Stella
mephitine 2/19/2005 9:18:00 PM
This scent has truly spoiled me. I can't ever enjoy any other orange scent again because they simply make me wish they smelled more like Tocca Stella. The candle has excellent throw, even cold, and smells just as beautiful as the crema de corpa and bagno profumato. True, it's an expensive candle, but why bother buying a lot of candles that smell just "so-so" when you can buy one that smells fabulous? Etailers, I need a dupe of this one ASAP. Tocca Stella smells exactly like real blood oranges, with a hint of the flower that bore the fruit. Perfect. Can't wait for Tocca to come out with the perfume version of this! Hope they don't change it or mix it up in the process, because I want an *EXACT* match. This scent is too beautiful to alter.
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Fragrances -Comme des Garcons - Incense Series 'Jaisalmer'
mephitine 2/10/2005 10:03:00 PM
Gorgeous! Like so many other Comme des Garcons fragarances, this one shines with originality. If Avignon is too churchy-incense for you, and Zagorsk is *almost* perfect but just a teensy bit feminine, then Jaisalmer is the happy medium. This one is definitely full-bottle worthy! Incense, made perfect by the elimination of the smoke that causes me to have respiratory problems. Just the scent and idea of the smoke, without the nasty floating burned particles. The only thing that I would wish for this fragrance is better lasting power. When I wear an incense scent, I want it to last all day and then some! Alas, this was gone in minutes, almost like a Demeter. Well, I guess a full bottle is necessary, because I'm going to have to re-apply this one a lot!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Un Bois Vanille
mephitine 2/10/2005 7:52:00 PM
Really wanted to like this. At first spritz, it's a nice, woody vanilla. Not too overwhelmingly sweet or cloying. But then there's something weird about it. It has a twist of cheap aerosol hairspray in the middle of it! Bleah. Sure, if you used a lot of Aqua Net back in the day, you might get nostalgic about this one. But not me. It's not a bad scent...really it's not. It's just not what I was hoping it would be. *Sigh* Why does my nose always have to pick up the less-than-desirable notes in a fragrance?
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Fragrances -Susanne Lang - Vanilla Champagne LE
mephitine 2/10/2005 7:42:00 PM
A great vanilla champagne note on first whiff, dries to a sweet and slightly cloying vanilla. No chocolate or rose notes as the luckyscent site says, at least not that I smelled. Loved at first sniff, then disliked upon drydown. Like so many other vanilla perfumes...they just don't end up working for me! But my friend/co-worker said she liked it a lot.
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Fragrances -Pilar & Lucy - Tiptoeing thru Chambers of the Moon
mephitine 2/10/2005 7:10:00 PM
This is a light, sweet, vanilla-y floral, which really does make me think of tiptoeing in a cool, open place. A very good name for the scent. It's too floral for me, since I have SUCH a hard time with florals, but it's got enough vanilla in it that the B&B foody gals would probably really like it. It's a sweet, fresh, girlish gardenia kind of scent. (Yes, I know it's supposed to be tuberose and not gardenia, but I've smelled plenty of real tuberose and gardenia blossoms in my life, and this leans more towards gardenia). Not too heavy of a gardenia, but light and airy. I wish I could pick up more of the amber...could barely tell it was there. And amber is really my favorite of all perfume notes, so its absence saddens me. I like this new Pilar & Lucy concoction, better than the two previous ones, but it's not for me. Plus a co-worker said it smelled like old-lady perfume. Never a good sign. Not that I agreed with her, but I figured if she thought it, then other people might think it as well.
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Fragrances -Escada - Collection [DISCONTINUED]
mephitine 2/10/2005 7:03:00 PM
Was really hyped up to try this, after all the great reviews. Sadly, this does nothing for me. It's sweet, yes...but dull. I was completely underwhelmed. Wish it had more "oomph," some kind of hook to entice me to keep sniffing it. It's just an ordinary kind of sweet scent that left me wondering what all the fuss was about. A little fruity...but nothing worth a swoon. Sorry, ladies...can't join you in your adulation of this one!
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Fragrances -Clive Christian - No. 1 for women
mephitine 2/10/2005 6:57:00 PM
Why in the world would anyone buy this? I sniffed all three Clive Christian fragrances at the Neiman-Marcus, and had to go back for a second sniff, I simply could not believe how atrocious they were. And advertising themselves as "the most expensive perfume in the world" ???...how gaudy! This fragrance, along with the other two Clive Christian fragrances, smelled like old ladies wearing entirely too much rank, stale, and ANCIENT perfume that they received back in the 50's. Fragrances *do* go bad after a time, they don't age like fine wine. I really can't imagine what Clive Christian was thinking, and who would want to fork over any amount of money for these monstrosities. If I'm ever wearing one of these, you can bet I'll be doing it for Fear Factor. Peee-eww! Gives new meaning to the term "filthy stinking rich."
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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Ambre Sultan
mephitine 2/10/2005 5:53:00 PM
Helloooo, dear Sultan! So nice to finally meet you. Wow, you are pushy, aren't you? What a strong, dark, resinous amber scent you're wearing! But what else is that I smell? Sultan, did you forget to brush your teeth? I believe you have neglected a chunk of meat between your molars, and it has begun to rot. Yes, that's it exactly! Sultan, you should be ashamed of yourself--ruining a rich amber perfume with the stench of rotting meat! Disgusting! And now the odor is stuck to me. It won't wash off...I keep trying, but it's still there. Goodbye, foul Sultan, I want no more of you!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No