Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Joya - Ames Soeurs
milktoast24 3/30/2013 4:04:00 PM
Fruity candy musk. Sounds cheap at first, but it's tempered into a more benign creature b/c it's about 50% fruitiness and 50% musk, which sedates the potential to veer into teenybopper territory. And since it's in oil form, there isn't any obnoxious sillage--instead it stays close to the skin. The musk is that dirty, freesia-ish, cigarette smoke musk that's in Narciso Rodriguez, Byredo Gypsy Water, and Kiehl's Musk. You either love it or hate it. The fruitness is light and fresh like sweet orange blossom and tropical ginger candies. no berries of any sort. The Yin/Yang duality of "young" fruity candy and "sensual" musk gives an overall effect of sweet-yet-sexy, innocent-but-seductive, whimsical-yet-chic... youthful in spirit but all grown-up. Basically a Lolita complex. Overall, i like it b/c it's in oil form and thus more shy-yet-sensual. If it were in edp spray form, i'd run away. too much and it'd nearly be mistaken a Victoria's Secret Garden spray. In this case, the delivery system makes this scent palatable.
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Fragrances -By Kilian - Flower of Immortality
milktoast24 3/21/2013 4:27:00 PM
Japanese peach gummies + fuzzy floral. If you LOVE white peach, this scent is for you. Unlike yellow peaches, the white peach has a lighter, more delicate, lychee-like note. The topnote blast reminds me of those japanese peach confections. It can veer a little candyish, but never gets into Sanrio-scented-notepad territory. Yet it's young at heart, playful, sweet and juicy. The fuzzy green peachskin note keeps it interesting and it dries down to a innocent, subtly sweet, soft skin scent. It's similar to In the Mood For Love by Ferre (another white peach but not very long lasting). Its sweeter than Keiko Mecheri's Peau de Peche frag (which was all fuzz to me, and so fleeting). If you also love Fresh's Sake line, this is a perfect layering frag.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Huitieme Art - Sucre D'Ebene
milktoast24 3/13/2013 6:47:00 PM
Think: Big box of brown sugar, sprinkled with graham cracker crumbs soaked in a Madagascar-Vanilla-Bean-infused caramel syrup with a hint of maple rum. Gourmand lovers, you cannot live without this one. Unlike all the iterations of vanilla that you may currently own, Sucre D'Ebene truly captures the essence of brown sugar, caramelized syrup, and graham crackers, in that order. The brown sugar accord is so true-to-life you'd swear you were opening a fresh box and deeply inhaling the sticky-sweet crystals, caramel brown. This note is probably about 80-90% of the fragrance, it's strong and distinct. It's rounded out by a dark boozy vanilla, almost like a bourbon glazed maple syrup, and the effect is slightly smoky, caramelly. The graham cracker part is materialized and you even taste, smell, the mealy crumbs, the biscuit-like texture, the lightness. I LOVE graham crackers and this feeds my obsession. This scent lasts all day. Great staying power. I bet Fresh is kicking themselves for not coming up with this beauty. (Why does their "Brown Sugar" smell like Lemon Pledge, anyway?) Gourmands, you'll smell irresistible.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Laura Mercier - Ambre Vanille Souffle Body Creme
milktoast24 3/13/2013 6:33:00 PM
*throws head back in orgasmic-like bliss* A delectable, delicious, sexy-yet-sweet scent from Laura Mercier. It has a soft, powdery quality that is evenly tempered by equal hits of sensual amber and smoky vanilla. Not boozy at all, and not frostingly heavy either. For those who thought LM's other vanilla scents too were cloying and a diabetic sugar nightmare, (yeah, i'm looking at *you*, Creme Brulee) I highly recommend Ambre Vanille as a more grown-up substitute. It's a more chic, sophisticated fragrance that never veers to teeny bopper territory yet will leave suitors mouthwateringly longing for your sillage to return. It would be the perfect layering product for HdP's Ambre 114. If you loved LM's pistachio body souffle, you will love this as well. The best part about her souffles is that they last as long as an edp. i used it as a hand cream and i can't stop sniffing myself. I'm in love...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Unlisted Brand - Cecilia Wong Rejuvenating Toner Mist
milktoast24 3/1/2013 2:57:00 PM
This product is more than a basic toning mist - it's chock full of skin-loving ingredients. As a beauty junkie, I want my toner to be more than an overpriced water with some essential oils added (um, hello, Aesop?--guilty as charged). It's got to perform and do more. So when Cecilia Wong's not-cheap toning mist came my way, i was a little skeptical. But I was about to be surprised. The first ingredient is not plain water but floral water (i.e. hydrosol), with Glycerin to help bind water to it--a fabulous combo for attracting moisture to skin and trapping it. I definitely notice the difference. Even better, its laden with probiotics (think yogurt, kimchi) that helps eat up bacteria on skin and help build skin immunity. Add to that a synergistic blend of essential oils and other skin-loving ingredients that are specifically designed to "feed the skin", not just smell nice. This toner is my favorite brand of hydrating mist before moisturizer, which helps act as a reservoir to lock in the water after I seal it with an occlusive moisturizer (Dr. Leslie Baumann's technique). If you're going to add water to your skin, use only the best type of water --one that has lots of goodies in it, especially the probiotics. Love the glass bottle (nothing to react with the pure formula), and the fine mist it delivers. I found out that its one of Cecilia's bestselling items (aside from the cult-status blackcurrant serum). Cecilia formulates all her products fresh to order (nothing is sitting on a shelf for years) and her credibility as an NYC top facialist is well worth its weight.
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Eye Makeup Remover -Simple - Eye Makeup Remover Pads
milktoast24 3/1/2013 2:50:00 PM
It's love at first wipe. Surprisingly small but powerful. This pocket-tissue-sized pack contains relatively large, premoistened eye makeup remover pads (each slightly smaller than your palm) that can remove makeup from BOTH eyes-- using just one wipe! most remover pads are so dinky and small and oily (i.e. Almay)- not these. 2 wipes can remove your entire face makeup as well. Clean, effective, it took just seconds to swish off my face grime. Non greasy, no residue. it doesnt get much faster or better than this. My new fave.
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Cecilia Wong Replenishing Face Moisturizer - Oily/Overactive Skin
milktoast24 1/17/2013 5:03:00 PM
My acne-prone, dehydrated skin LOVES this. A dollop spread on my face -- soaks in, soothes, replenishes without greasy residue. Although my skin is dry and not oily, i thought it would be too light, like a gel. Wrong. it's actually quite emollient but not heavy. It's a plant-and-oil-extract-laden creamy moisturizer that must have a similar ph or high skin affinity factor, since my skin just drinks it up; craves it, especially in the winter. Parched skin becomes elasticized and dewy; redness and blemishes are soothed; calmed. I find it very similar to LUSH's 'Gorgeous' skin cream in terms of texture and ingredient composition : precious oils, herb infusions, pure, no chemicals, just a dreamy, creamy emulsion full of antioxidants and moisture--and it's much less pricey, to boot-- yeah! It has an addictive orange blossom scent that uplifts my spirits everytime i open the jar. I will be rebuying this when my jar runs out.
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Eye Makeup Remover -Earth Science - Eye Makeup Remover
milktoast24 12/18/2012 4:20:00 PM
I don't get the low reviews on this one. It's a gel cleanser that's crazily effective as an oil cleanser or creamy milky cleanser --but doesnt leave any residual. Rinses squeaky clean without tightness and nary a speck of makeup. No need for "double cleansing"! the secret? The powerful, yet naturally-derived "star ingredient" of Decyl Glucoside. The removal process is why i think people are rating this lower-- You have to do it THIS WAY: Emulsify gel all over wet face, massage, and you'll see your foundation, eye makeup, liquid liner, even mascara and oil-based lipstick break down into dirty brown rivulets (ewww). Rinse off, and that's it! Even my false lashes and lash glue come off with this product. No residual, no weird feeling of having to follow up with another cleanser. IF you are using this the "old fashioned way" i.e. cotton ball, swiping product all over face, etc" then you will not see the product breakdown. This is the worst way to use this product! You MUST use it like a traditional face cleanser - wet face, massage, and rinse. Remember - NO cotton balls! I have always used milky/creamy/oil-based cleansers to breakdown makeup, followed by a foaming cleanser to emulsify and "double clean". there is no need for that extra step with this Earth Science product. I'm duly impressed. ingredients: Water (Aqua), Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopherol, Allantoin (Comfrey Root), Vaccinium Myrtillus Extract (Bilberry), Euphrasia Officinalis (Eyebright) Extract (Eyebright), Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Fruit Extract (Fennel), Cameillia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract (Green Tea), Cameilia Oleifera (Green Tea)Extract (Green Tea), Saccharomyces Cerevisia Cell Extract, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Phenoxyethanol
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Diptyque - L'Ombre Dans L'Eau EDP (eau de parfum)
milktoast24 8/31/2012 5:25:00 PM
This is a review for recently launched Eau De Parfum version of L'Ombre Dans L'Eau. As a fan of the L'Ombre Dans L'eau Eau De Toilette (EDT), i was hoping for a more concentrated blend of stemmy green blackcurrant leaf and rose. I was wrong. The EDP version is actually composed differently than the EDT, with certain notes more pronounced. It's much more green, less sweet, and very sharp. Moreover, as it dries down, there is a heavy, resinous note of Myrrh which is not evident in the EDT. This myrrh can turn sour on me and "old fashioned" very quick. In fact, i was stunned b/c none of the rose beauty came shimmying off. I missed the tender sugar-snap of the EDT, the delicate floral sweetness. instead, the EDP is greenhouse-green, trimmed-down of roses, more unisex, and has a earthy edge. This doesn't make it more appealing to me. I love the Baies candle "as is", and wanted to replicate this same scent, exactly. Not a tweaked rendition. As someone looking for the sweetness of Baies, I'd have to say that the candle is most sweet/rose-y, then the EDT, and then the EDP.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -mark - On the Dot Eye Color Compact
milktoast24 7/2/2012 11:59:00 PM
I was blown away when this little brand by Avon, mark, came out with this pigment-packed palette. The formula of these nine little shadows is SUPER intense pearl, like MAC loose pigment pots in pressed form. How can you tell? don't use the applicator --in fact, toss it! -- The trick is to touch each shade with your finger and "break" the surface press till it starts to feel "broken in". Once this happens, you'll see the *true* texture of this velvety, frothy powder that feels almost "wet". You know how MAC pigment pots look, upon opening, "spongy" or "curdled"? Like large particle bunches, instead of individual fine particles? and when you press it into the skin the platelets form a metallic sheet that's like "foiling"? That's what this formula looks like and PERFORMS like - intense, metallic, and gleaming. Take the teal green and smear it across your lid. Wet a thin brush, dip it in the cobalt blue and draw a streak across your lashline. This is no delicate "shimmer". It's bold. Seems tailor-made for dark skins. I dare you to compare this to one of the most pigmented MAC loose pigments. it is makeup professional quality, which still stuns me. But i guess that's why the price is way higher than other mark. products and the pans are teeny tiny in comparison (!). But the pigment punch gives you bang for your buck and the colors are such accent pops! Even the neutrals get full use. Just remember -- toss that applicator and get the most payoff with your fingers.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Heeley L'Amandiere
milktoast24 6/24/2012 5:24:00 PM
As a bitter almond fanatic, i dropped everything and lunged when i saw the word "L'Amandiere" on a Heeley bottle at MiN NY. However, i was disappointed to find it a very green, very stemmy almond flower scent, vs. a gourmandish bitter almond that i was expecting. It's a clean cologne-splash type of scent, similar to the Acqua Di Parma mediterranian almond fragrance in the blue bottle, but even more green and fresh. Ozonic and unisex. If this is your type of thing, go for it. If you're looking for a true marzipan/bitter white almond fragrance, this isn't it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Heeley Bubblegum Chic
milktoast24 6/24/2012 5:08:00 PM
The name drew me in, as i love anything girly, feminine, gourmand, and niche. Grabbing the bottle like a giddy schoolgirl, i eagerly spritzed it all over my arms. The fragrance starts out naiive, promising and Lolita-like; a slightly spicy, sugary Dubble Bubble-ish pink bubblegum fragrance, layered over a soft, non-Fracas tuberose akin to Kilian's Beyond Love. BUT THEN, underneath is a nasty, metallic, rotting meat odor that gave me the same revulsion as when i smelled Secretions Magnifiques. It was so vile that i couldn't wait to scrub it off my arms. My nose was assaulted with this horrific note and shrank back in disgust. My boyfriend, now a "nose" thanks to my hobby, also reviled in distaste. This animalic note spoils the whole composition in my opinion. I get that Heeley is trying to "twerk" a fruity, pretty scent by adding a "dirty" element, but it's not well blended, doesn't complement the other notes, and overall isn't wearable, nor appreciable from a conceptual point of view.
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Fragrances -Bobbi Brown - Bobbi's Party
milktoast24 6/15/2012 3:10:00 PM
Surprisingly good. This limited edition edp is a fresh breath of a orris root/violet without being the candied sugar type, sparkling rose and hint of sandalwood. Despite these feminine components, it is refreshing, airy, yet not sweet at all --it smells almost like a unisex or men's cologne. Recalls Prada Infusion D'Iris but less powdery, more green and fresh, and a touch soapier. Besides the horrible name (oh, i'm wearing 'Bobbi's Party") and blah bottle, this fragrance is very sophisticated and near avant-garde, something i imagine Byredo, Diptyque, Martin Margiela would launch, or a "wearable" Comme des Garcons. It also reminds me of JAR's Jarling for that doll-headish note. The violet comes off as very youthful and modern without being sweet. What a hidden surprise. If you love violet and rose, yet don't want a heavy floral, this is a real find. Different enough to stand on its own --so much, that one day, i believe Estee Lauder will pull this delicious fragrance and relaunch it under another brand. Hopefully one with a better name.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -beautyblender - Blendercleanser
milktoast24 6/4/2012 3:23:00 PM
I don't get the low score on this one. I've been washing my brushes/sponges for YEARS with different shampoos, facial cleansers, & soaps, from mild to strong, and they only end up 80% clean at best (and that's after a lot of rubbing). Many times, there's a residue, especially if you use creams and foundations with your brushes. That's why i fell in love with Beautyblender's cleanser -- it works to dissolve all the gunk and goo - instantly. My brushes are sparkling. My dirty, sullied sponges become white -- SNOW WHITE! The thing is, only an oil-based cleanser truly breaks down makeup. Think about it --- would you use baby shampoo to remove your eye makeup, mascara, and foundation from your face? NO! Does Dr. Bronner's remove mascara? NO! Then why use it on our brushes and tools? That's fine if you are ok with a 75-80% level of clean, but i'm OCD about cleanliness, AND I'm a heavy duty makeup user -- and that means concealer, foundation, mineral powder, mascara, primer -- the works. To remove makeup, ppl like me use Shu's cleansing oils and Lancome Bi-Facils -- because they WORK to dissolve oil-based makeup instantly. BeautyBlender's cleanser does exactly this, yet also rinses clean so you don't need to "double wash". It's like a cleansing oil and surfactant based wash all in one. Despite the price, you are getting the most time efficacy out of this cleanser b/c you don't spend precious minutes rubbing your brushes and sponges like a fool. My brush cleaning time has been cut by over half! And you get sparkling clean, fluffy, snow-white brushes and sponges with nary a spot of residue. Ultimately, this results in better application and less bacteria on your tools. Better for you! I have never raved about a brush cleanser of all things, but this is legit.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Byredo BAL D'AFRIQUE
milktoast24 4/30/2012 2:39:00 PM
i want to love this so badly, as it's like an upscale fruit cocktail. Smells strongly of pina coladas to me, lush and tropical. However, as much as i love sweet fruitiness and i do love the fragrance, paying $200 to smell like a B&BW body splash gives me the shivers. On drydown it gets riper and more syrup-y, which sadly also makes it seem more cheap. On the street, it could be mistaken for a *wait for it*... VS SPRAY (the KISS OF DEATH for any perfume snob). I wish this fragrance was a touch more green and less sweet (<---and this is coming from someone who loves sweet gourmands!) instead, try the other Byredos like Gypsy Water-- a skin scent that is intoxicating (like the soft warmth of Diptyque Eau Duelle mixed with the clean musk of Narciso Rodriguez) For Her), or Pulp, which is still fruity & ripe, but more rich and unique, befitting of the hefty price tag.
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