Candles -Archipelago Botanicals - All Candle Scents
oxfordgrrl 3/4/2009 9:41:00 PM
The best scents I have tried! I love Positano the best - white nectarine & pomegranate - mmmmmmm. Makes my entire apartment smell amazing even when not lit. I prefer the glass jar over the stand alone pilars - less waste.
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Brows -Anastasia Of Beverly Hills - Brow Wiz
oxfordgrrl 3/25/2008 7:34:00 PM
Even though I have light brown hair, I bought this in Ash Blonde to just give a little definition to my brows -- and it makes such a big difference! I have very sparse brows and cannot remember the last time I plucked them (8 years ago??) so this is a great tool to "anchor" my face. I love the retractible pencil that never needs sharpening and the little brush at the end is fantastic. I actually pencil in my brows from the outside in, and then use the brush to comb my brows back in the right direction. A great little product that I use everyday along with mascara and face powder.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Ole Henriksen - Visual Truth Wrinkle Resistance Eye Cream
oxfordgrrl 3/25/2008 7:24:00 PM
My HG eye cream is Shisheado Benefiance eye cream but it is much too heavy for daytime use. This is a great alternative for daytime - I love the texture - it is rich and sinks into the fine lines very well to form a good base for concealer. Doesn't make my mascara run, either. Can't comment on how "effective" it is at lines because I don't believe that a cream can take them away -- but the skin around my eyes looks plumper and smoother when I use this - so I'm satisfied.
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Moisturizers -Ole Henriksen - Express The Truth wrinkle resistance creme
oxfordgrrl 3/25/2008 7:17:00 PM
I generally like Ole Henriksen products very much and needed a new day cream so tried this one -- so far, so good. It doesn't have an SPF which is fine becuase I like to use a mexoryl-based sunscreen anyway. It sinks in increadibly quickly but is still a substantial cream that leaves my skin a bit rosier and plumper with a great matte feel (even if only I notice this!). In general, I don't think there are huge differences between high end face creams - so I pick them based on a pleasant consistency & smell and if I notice small differences in the feel and texture of my skin. So far, this meets all those requirements and I really enjoy putting it on in the morning and night. I have no idea if the small amounts of red tea and other antioxidants will have an effect but it's a good marketing angle, I guess. I took off one mark because I think it is pricey (I bought the trio with the eye cream and fact mist).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Shu Uemura - Fiber Xtension [DISCONTINUED]
oxfordgrrl 3/25/2008 7:04:00 PM
I don't understand why this mascara is so popular at Sephora because it does absolutely nothing for my lashes - adds a tiny bit of color and that is it. No lengthening. Absolutely no thickening or curl. I used to be able to do two coats with Max Factor Lash Perfection without a curling iron and be done with it -- but with Fiber Xtension, I need to curl and then apply 5 coats, wait a bit for them to dry, then apply some more. It is probably the most useless mascara I have ever used. The only plus is the nice silver packaging.
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Crème -Vincent Longo - Water Canvas
oxfordgrrl 3/17/2007 11:29:00 AM
I bought this on ebay for $13 after looking at it at Sephora for a while - couldn't pay full retail price of $53 + for it. I really wanted to like this but unfortunately it has no redeamable qualities - the coverage is less than with a tinted moisturizer with no SPF, it breaks apart even with the lightest touch (mine was in good shape for only a week before splitting) and the price is completely unjustifiable. I'm sure the finish is lovely on the right person, but that same finish can be achieved with other products that cost less and are more user-friendly in my opinion.
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Palettes -Chantecaille - Tango in Argentina
oxfordgrrl 10/1/2006 7:12:00 PM
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/products/mh/NMC06GE_mh.jpg I held out for a long time for this as it is $75 but the 2 eye shadows are surprisingly unique (much more interesting than the photos) - a shimmery wheat and a shimmery shear purple/brown (that looks greyish-purple on me). They are not a simple brown and cream set as appear in the photos. The aqua blush is a very pretty sheer bright pink - a healthy winter flush. These can be applied lightly for day or layered for night. The eye brush is great, too. Once these colors are done, the tins can be popped out and replaced so the palette can be used again which I like.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Catherine Deneuve -- Mauro
oxfordgrrl 3/4/2006 10:14:00 PM
This is my first MAC lip gloss (honestly!) but I love Catherine Deneuve and had to look at the whole collection - this is the most wearable color IMHO - I have fair skin, brown hair and blue eyes and this color can be applied lightly or more strongly. I would describe it as a plummy neutral without shimmer but plenty of shine and long lasting.
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Pressed Powders -MAC - Tahitian Sand Hello Kitty
oxfordgrrl 3/4/2006 10:03:00 PM
I was very skeptical about this at first and was *sure* I would return it after a few days -- but it has become my favorite mu item for winter - I reach for it again and again throughout the day. It's not as matte as a regular powder - just covers any oil, evens out my skin tone a bit and provides a little lift to my complexion. The powder is very soft and very finely milled. I think the packaging is ok - the gold looks really cheap but it doesn't bother me. I would def. repurchase.
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Fragrances -Annick Goutal - Folavril
oxfordgrrl 3/1/2006 4:08:00 PM
I love reading reviews of perfumes on here - for the most part, one either loves or loathes a particular scent. For me, this one is a love. I bought it in 1999, wore it for a while and started wearing it again yesterday. It still smells as lovely and really brings me back to that period of my life. This scent on me, like many have said, is a warm, spicy, fruity soap - very fresh, clean, light and vibrant. It has an energy about it. I wouldn't compare it to Charlotte as I smell only blueberries in that one but they are both very warm and comforting. I think perfumes are so personal and individual on each skin that it is difficult to rate them, however I think most people will find this to be a sophisticated light floral and not plastic like many other florals.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Chanel - Barely Fig
oxfordgrrl 9/25/2005 12:54:00 PM
I like this for the same reason other reviews do not -- it is sheer and not as sticky as the regular glossimers. The SA put a lot on (more than I like actually) and it lasted on me for over an hour and then left a nice stain. I am fair-skined and work in a conservative job and this is about as dark a shade as I like for my lips. I can compare this to Kiehl's #2 tinted lip balms for consistency. The second ingredient is jojoba oil.
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Fragrances -Chanel - Allure Sensuelle
oxfordgrrl 9/25/2005 12:49:00 PM
I was really excited to try this as I love the original Allure but it is (to me) nothing like it! I have no idea why this is not its own name (probably because Allure is so popular and well-known) and bottle. It is much too spicey and amber-based. All I can think of is "Big Red" gum.
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Fragrances -Chantecaille - Frangipane EDP
oxfordgrrl 9/9/2005 9:02:00 PM
I'm glad I asked for a sample before buying because I liked it the first day but all I can smell from day 2 onwards is cheap vanilla & jasmine. Both of these scents remind me of those car air freshners shaped like fir trees. There are cheaper versions out there - this is not worth $95 imho.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Jean Desprez Bal a Versailles
oxfordgrrl 8/5/2005 3:53:00 PM
I really wanted to like this perfume and can appreciate all the work and notes and layers that went into it. It must be my chemistry because the only thing I can smell is incense. I am reminded of all the nick-nacky shops on Portobello Road in London among other places. It's very warm and spicy but I smell like I am trying to cover up something else...
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Sunscreen -La Roche Posay - Anthelios W Gel Ultra Protection UVA SPF 40 (IPD 34 PPD 19)
oxfordgrrl 7/29/2005 5:57:00 PM
I got this at a drugstore in NYC for $46. Very expensive however I am on retinoids and cannot risk getting brown spots when my skin peels. I give this 4 because it is the lightest of the mexoryl sunscreens but is not a gel by any means. It does easily rub off and I don't wear it everyday -- just the days I know I will have a lot of sun exposure. Even so, it is the best of what is out there sublock-wise.
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