Brows -Mary Kay - Brow Pencil - Blonde
missemily 5/19/2010 3:52:00 PM
I can't say enough good things about this pencil! I've used this product in Classic Blonde for a few years, and after experimenting with some other products (more under My Reviews), I'm soooo happy to be reunited with it! To me there are two things that make a great eyebrow pencil: the color and the texture. Classic Blonde is a great color. It's not red at all, and the tone flatters anyone from blondes to brunettes. It has a firm consistency but still deposits color, and is very easy to work with. I have dark hair, but fair brows, and it's really challenging to find brow products that look right. This is by far the best I've found. I don't purchase a lot of things from Mary Kay, but I will buy this again and again as long as they carry it. If you you get a chance, definitely give this a try!
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Brows -Anastasia Of Beverly Hills - Perfect Brow Pencil-Ash Blonde
missemily 5/18/2010 2:05:00 PM
I've heard nice things about the Anastasia line, so I was a little surprised by how poor this pencil is. When I went to Ulta to pick out a color, some of the testers had lost their caps, so I chalked up the poor color payoff to air exposure. Unfortunately, the pencil I bought was just as bad at home. I feel like I'm scribbling on my skin and nothing's happening. *lol* The color itself is strange to me. In the fluorescent lights at the store it looks cool toned, but outdoor lighting brings out a lot of yellow and red. (This probably isn't as bad as it sounds, but something about it just looks "off" when I'm outside.) I saw that other reviewers had the same texture issues I did, so feel more confident that my pencil wasn't a weird fluke. I hope I don't sound like a hater, but I really feel like you can get a much better pencil for far less than this one costs.
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Brows -Lancome - Le Crayon Poudre in Taupe
missemily 5/18/2010 1:37:00 PM
I was so excited to try this pencil, but sadly, it left me disappointed. Probably the most trying aspect of the pencil is its texture. I have fair, but thicker brows. Because of the powdery consistency, the color kind of "sits" in my brow hairs and doesn't look natural. It also catches in some spots, so some areas have more color than others. I do like that it comes with a spoolie - and it's been getting a lot of use while I've been wrestling with the pencil. *lol* It is a little stiff, but for thicker brows like mine, it's nice for really getting in there to brush them out so they look neat. The taupe color itself is okay. I have ashy, dark brown hair, and this was a little on the warm side for me. It's not really red, but I wish it was a tad cooler/ashier. Overall, I think this is a nice pencil, but not for people with more dense brows. If you're like me, go for something with a firmer texture.
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Treatments (Eye) -Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Eye Cream
missemily 6/25/2009 8:32:00 PM
At 24, it sounds kind of silly for me to be using an eye cream, but I actually have a couple minor eye area concerns I want to address. Around my eyes can get dry, so I can get little flaky spots on my eyelids, and I can get crepey-looking around the corners of my eyes. I also have one big wrinkle under my right eye because I often sleep on my stomach. (I know! Bad MissEmily! *lol* I'm trying to stop, I swear!) I thought the price for this was reasonable, given how much places can charge for an eye cream, and I liked how it comes in a squeeze tube for the hygiene factor. I didn't have any adverse reactions such as irritation/redness/clogged pores/etc. After about two weeks of regular usage, I decided to return this product. It wasn't moisturizing enough for me - the little crinkles around my eyes seemed to be getting more noticeable, so that was it for me! On a side note, I put my exchange of this towards an eye gel, and after the first use, my eyes plumped back up and my future crow's feet (Waah!) looked much better. Review pending until I've had a while longer to wear it. :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Ponds - Deep Cleanser and Makeup Remover With Cucumber Extract
missemily 6/20/2009 10:34:00 AM
For a few years now I've been using the Ponds Clean Sweep towelettes, which I still really like, but have found to be slightly drying now that I'm a little older. I gave this a try after a friend's suggestion and I'm very happy with it! The first tub I purchased was the original cold cream, which I didn't have any issues with, but I thought that this one's cucumber scent sounded fresher. (The original cold cream is rose scented I believe...) Comparatively, this one has a runnier consistency, but it doesn't leave an oily film on my face, so I'll take the trade! I use this strictly as a makeup remover, but especially with this not being as heavy as the cold cream, I would feel comfortable trying it as a daily cleanser. I haven't had problems with breakouts from either formulation. After experimenting with various methods, I use and recommend this process to remove makeup: 1 - Use a Q-tip to shovel out product onto CLEAN hands. This prevents cross-contamination in the tub! The cucumber type is thinner, so I can kind of "pour" a little into my hand. 2 - Apply product with fingers and gently rub to emulsify makeup. 3 - REMOVE WITH A DAMP FACIAL SPONGE. This is the trick I figured out! The little holes in the sponge catch the cream so it doesn't stay on your face, and it gently exfoliates. It leaves my skin feeling a lot cleaner than when I would just tissue it off, and it's gentler than using a wash cloth. I got a pack of 3 round, thin sponges at Sephora. They weren't the cheapest, but I like them a lot. Sponges are great because they're reusable and easy to clean. I use some antibacterial soap to wash the cream out and let air dry upright. I don't recommend cosmetic wedges or rounds designed for makeup application. Their texture is too fine and they'll only slide the cream around. I hope this helps anyone who's not sure how to use this awesome product! It really is the best way to get off stubborn makeup without feeling dry or tight.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Parfumerie Generale - Musc Maori
missemily 6/14/2009 11:10:00 PM
Hmm, I'm still pondering this one... The second it hit my skin, all I could think was "Chocolate oranges!" You know, the ones you can get at Christmas? The beginning is very milk-chocolate with a sweet orange mixed in. I know orange isn't listed as a note, but I'm not the only one who smells it. :) I liked this had more of a milk-chocolate quality rather than a coco scent. I think it makes it a bit more wearable... Smoother somehow. The orange faded quickly, but the chocolate stuck around longer than I figured it would. Around an hour or two, which I think is decent. The drydown is a pretty, powdery smell; I think it's flowery (in a nice way) but my boyfriend says he can smell vanilla in it. I honestly can't, but I'll take his word on it. :P With the exception of the beginning, I didn't really think this was super gourmand. To my nose anyhow, it carried a floral quality throughout that tempered even the choco-orange top notes. Don't get me wrong, I thought this was nice, and definitely interesting. I don't think I'll be getting a bottle of it just yet. But who knows, with a few more tries I might fall in love!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -La Maison de la Vanille - Vanille Fleurie de Tahiti
missemily 6/13/2009 11:40:00 PM
I thought this sounded so good - fruit and flowers mixed with vanilla... Yes please! It seemed ideal for summer, but I have to admit I was a little let down. This starts out more floral than I thought it would be, and I had hoped there would be more of a fruity quality. I really wasn't able to pick apart the individual notes, but I wouldn't say it smelled particularly incense-y to me. I think the biggest disappointment for me was how long it took before I could smell any vanilla. It's not until this is good and dry (around 4 hours) that vanilla made an appearance. However, I will say that once it does, it's really pretty. Very soft and sweet! This doesn't have much sillage, but it sticks around well enough. I've had it on for about 7 hours and I can still smell it a little bit. I really enjoyed the drydown of this one, but I the top and middle weren't good enough for me to want a bottle. I think people who like "florals with a hint of vanilla" would like this more than somebody wanting "vanilla with a hint of florals".
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Fragrances -Molinard - Les Senteurs Vanille
missemily 6/9/2009 10:49:00 PM
(Edited for brevity on 06/23/09!) I have to say, I think this might be one of my favorite perfumes! Les Senteurs Vanille is an extremely pretty, light and sweet vanilla. This is how I wish vanilla extract smelled if worn straight from the bottle. This has excellent lasting power for an EDT. My mileage seems to be around 6 hours. It stays about the same throughout, perhaps getting mildly warmer/creamier towards the end. I don't feel it has a lot of sillage, but I can catch scent of it here and there during the day. If you're looking for anything besides a straight vanilla you may want to pass on this one. It's not smoky/boozy/spicy in the least. It's not even foody. (If you'd LIKE a foody/smoky vanilla in a similar price bracket, L'Aromarine's Vanille EDT is nice.) It is what it is: a pure unapologetic vanilla. I personally adore it, but others wanting more layers or depth might be disappointed. You've been warned! :) (PS, if you've tried and liked this scent, but wish it had a little more "oomph" to it, I recommend Montale's Vanille Absolu. The top of it is SO much like Molinard's Vanille, but it has a clove-y, slightly smoky base. Luv!)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Jo Malone - Red Roses
missemily 6/7/2009 12:15:00 PM
On my continuing rose perfume quest, I grabbed a sample of this thinking a fresh, green-ish rose sounded like a good bet for summer. I was on my way to work when the mail came, so after giving this a quick sniff, I dabbed some on and was out the door. In the vial, this seemed pretty promising - it was roses with a little kick to brighten them up. (Was this the lemon? I'm not sure... It didn't smell specifically like lemon to me, but let's just go with that.) I have to say that I'm impressed with the tenacity of this fragrance, given it's a cologne. For the first couple of hours it had a lot of sillage, to the point I was a little worried I'd offend someone. Even once that died down, I'd still get little wiffs of rose here and there, but by this point, the green parts had left and it was smelling... I don't know... Heavier? It didn't seem as fresh I suppose. Flash forward to about 5 hours after application. I gave my wrist and sniff, and the scent had made a turn for the worst. The best thing I can liken it to was an incident where I had to leave a rose bouquet in my car during the summer for 3 hours. Needless to say, it stunk. A foul, dying roses funk invaded every corner of my car. I had to throw the flowers out and I drove home with all the windows down. And that's what this smelled like. I thought the beginning of this was interesting, but the middle wasn't so hot, and the end was abysmal. I'm going to chalk that up to body chemistry, so it gets the benefit of the doubt, and 2 lippies as opposed to 1. Take this as a cautionary tale - don't wear a tester perfume out in public the 1st day! I spent the rest of my shift praying no one could smell me. *lol*
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Fragrances -Creed - Fleur de The Rose Bulgare
missemily 6/6/2009 12:44:00 PM
I've been on a hunt to find a rose-scented perfume to wear, and during my research this perfume kept being mentioned. After reading so many raves about how it was such a pure/true rose scent, I had to give it a try. When I purchased, I got four other samples, but this was the one I eagerly opened first. And the verdict is... It's nice. Those were my exact words when it hit my nose. It's a straight, uncomplicated rose scent beginning to end and actually pretty pleasant. But I also think it's unremarkable. To me, it's exactly like any other rose scented bath product I've ever had growing up. Memories of Christmases past came flooding back when my Grandma would get me rose bath fizzies. (Not a bad thing! The experience brought a grin out of me. Love you Grandma!) In a way, I felt a little disappointed. I kind of wanted to be blown away by this scent. I had hoped it would live up to the hype, but I have to honestly say, I find it generic. Which brings me to my rating. On its own, this is a 3. The scent is very wearable. I don't think it has a musty or old-lady smell, which (sadly) rose scents tend to get tagged as. It's not bad, not amazing... Yep, a solid 3. However, after much internal deliberation, I had to knock a point off for cost. Good grief! This stuff only comes in an 8.4 oz flask and you can't find it for less than about $270 USD online. I will thoroughly enjoy my sample, but I wouldn't pay for a bottle given the average juice inside. If you love rose scents but haven't tried this one, I highly encourage sampling it. I've heard that it's difficult to find in stores; I got mine through The Perfumed Court, who has various sample sizes starting at 1ml. (I like this feature, should I ever need another fix, I might buy a larger decant. It's more per ml, but I can't imagine using eight ounces of this - or any - perfume.)
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Renee Snow Peach
missemily 5/30/2009 1:40:00 PM
I hate to sound redundant about this fragrance, but I really do like it a lot, so I had to give my two cents! Yes - this starts out quite green. I like that aspect of it because I think it helps the scent be sweet without becoming childish. To me, it smells like a peach still on the tree, or perhaps a peach that's juuuust short of being ripe. Yes - this stays pretty darn linear. While it starts as that green peach, it transitions to a softer, sweeter peach as time goes on. And that's about it! But like others have said, this has a really natural quality. It never comes off as artificial or too saccharine, which I think makes it wearable for about any age group. Yes - this doesn't have great staying power. (I would estimate somewhere in the 5 hour range, give or take...) It also wears very close to the skin. Yes - it's not the cheapest in the world. But the packaging is SO cute! (Not that it justifies the price at all, but I had to throw that in there.) All in all though, to me, this one's a winner. I think it's going to get a lot of wear during summer because it's sweet, yet light and inoffensive. The kind of scent I can wear to work without bothering anyone. It's enjoyable to wear from beginning to end, and I really recommend you give it a try if you can!
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Fragrances -Serendipity 3 - Serendipitous
missemily 5/28/2009 11:09:00 AM
When I first applied this, all I got was a really "sweet" note. I'm not even sure how to describe it... Maybe like a sugar syrup smell mixed with the slightest scent of vanilla. I had my boyfriend smell me and he said it smelled like a cookie with chocolate - he was obviously picking up a chocolate bit I missed! After maybe ten minutes, I was starting to pick up the chocolate myself. It kind of mixed in with the aforementioned sweetness and became a milk chocolate. Later on it dries down more and smells like hot chocolate mix before you add anything to it. This morning (I applied this last night) I can smell the "marshmallow" I've read other reviews mention. It's a faint chocolate-marshmallow that lays really close to the skin. I never did catch any of the citrus that's supposed to be in here... Not that it's a bad thing. I don't necessarily feel like it's missing something because of that. Overall, I'm not even sure what to think of this scent. I had a lot of fun smelling it throughout the evening and seeing how it became new incarnations of chocolate, but it's so sweet! I don't know if I can pull it off honestly. I was happy with the staying power. Admittedly, it has zero sillage, but it does seem to softly cling to the skin. After all, I can still smell it 9+ hours later, albeit faintly. Will I commit and buy a full bottle? I'm not sure yet! But I recommend it to people who love a sweet gourmand that isn't overwhelming. No one will be able to smell you a foot away, but people who you let up close should enjoy it. :) The price is right (Currently $38 USD on Luckyscent) and you can sample before you buy ($3 USD for a .7ml vial - also from Luckyscent).
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Exact Eyelights
missemily 5/26/2009 8:26:00 PM
It's been a while since I've used the original Lashexact product, but I thought the Exact Eyelights line sounded neat, so I picked up a tube of Black Sapphire color for blue eyes. I didn't have a problem with clumps, and I think it gives nice separation. However, I didn't see a dramatic difference in length, and certainly not volume. I also don't think it did much to "brighten" my eyes or enhance my eye color, but I did think the subtle sparkle was nice. I gave this a 3 because I think it makes a nice, subtle daytime mascara. If you're bored of using brown, give this one a try.
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