Polishes -OPI - Crepes Suzi-ette
sayde 6/16/2012 2:32:00 PM
This really is a beautiful classic color and works with my warm skin tone. I love brown-reds like this. But it just seems a little dated, not current, not edgy. I do like the color so much that I might decide that it looks just retro enough to be perfect.
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Fragrances -Ava Luxe - No. 23
sayde 6/15/2012 5:20:00 PM
Purchased this blind based on reviews that said it was a lot like Ormonde Jayne Woman. It's very nice but it is not much like Woman. The top notes have a bit of hawthorn but that disappears fast. What you're left with is essentially amber. Others have said it is like Tam Dao -- well, may-be faintly but much more amber that woody or incense. It does seem to last pretty well. Amber does have good staying power.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Sally Hansen - Peachy Keen #140
sayde 6/4/2012 9:25:00 AM
This is a great color for my skin -- fair to light/yellow undertones. So many of the pale colors are too cool and too pink. Peachy keen is just a bit warmer without being strenuously apricot or yellow. I like the way it looks applied over one or two coats of one of the paler colors such as Pink Slip or Sheer Me Now. Have not found any other very light warm pink peach colors like this. Just bought back up bottles for $1.50 apiece.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Wet 'n' Wild - Megalast 2% Milk
sayde 5/26/2012 9:39:00 AM
Have long been looking for a replacement for the original OPI Passion -- the white/creamy peach pink one, not the new cooler pinker one. Was in CVS and happened to see the WW display. Had remembered another review saying the Sugar color was a good dupe for the old OPI Bubblebath and was going to buy that, then spotted the 2% Milk color right next to it. This is a little lighter and has more of a peach/less of a pink cast than the Sugar color. The 2% Milk is as close as I have found to the old Passion, my favorite light neutral. They were having a buy one get the other 50% off so got two bottles for $3. Did not have high expectations but am pleased. Love the color on my skin as I don't like polishes that are cool pink. Two coats are not completely opaque but that is alright with me -- it is semi-sheer. (Applied over Essie Protein base and used one coat of Seche Vite on top). I was reluctant to buy such inexpensive polish thinking it could not be nearly as good as OPI. I think it is a bit more sheer, but I also think it has more shine. My bias about inexpensive nail polish has been contradicted by this experience!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Can You Tapas This?
sayde 5/18/2012 7:08:00 AM
I selected this when I went for a pedi yesterday. In the bottle it looked like a raisin brown with maybe a little bit of flashing. As t dried on my toes, it looked pretty true to what I was expecting. But when I went out into the bright sunlight -- what a shock! My toe nails were grape purple! Not raisin, not brown -- but -- true purple. I couldn't believe it. Went inside again and they look raisin brown. What is is with this polish, and am I the only one this happened to? The pedicure applied two coats of this. I'm looking at my toes right now (inside) and they are reddish brown -- not even a clue that they have any grape undertones. Are other people getting this? Ws there something wrong with the polish? I cannot figure this out. Not sure if I will keep this on for a little while or run to get an immediate polish change.
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Treatments (Eye) -Kiehls - Imperiale Repairateur Moisturizing Eye Balm
sayde 5/7/2012 6:54:00 AM
Just found out that Kiehls has discontinued this -- after how many years??????? why???????? I have been buying this, over and over again, for so many years I cannot remember when I first started. It lasts for months and months, does a really good job of moisturizing, doesn't migrate, doesn't sting or burn. I use this at night -- it is too rich for daytime use and in all these years have not yet found anything that I like for daytime use-- but this is perfect for night and I am really disappointed that I cannot get this anymore.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Styling Tools -Sedu - Revolution Tourmaline Ionic TGR 4000i Hair Dryer
sayde 4/30/2012 9:35:00 AM
Bought this from Folica where they rated it number 1 (naturally, it is the most expensive). Over-researched hair dryers, and, fatigued, finally just caved for the Sedu. Previously had been using the Hot Tools hair dryers supplied by my health club -- holding one in each hand, using both at the same time (!) -- quite a spectacle --in an effort to reduce the time to dry my chin length fine but thick hair. The new Sedu (just one) dries more hair more quickly than the two simultaneous Hot Tools. The Sedu does not blow as hot-- may-be even as hot -- but emits a much stronger rush of air. And the ions or the tourmaline must really do something -- my hair seems smoother and straighter. This thing is expensive-- about $120 with a $40 coupon. That's why I am giving it 4 rather than 5 lip pies. I cannot tell whether it is "real" better than its nearest competitors, not having tried them and so rather suspect it is not good "value for money". But it is good. I really do like it. It makes it so much less of an effort to wash and dry my hair every day. It really is so much better than the cheap dryers. Defies belief, really.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - I'm Suzi & I'm A Chocoholic
sayde 3/25/2012 7:54:00 AM
This is so good I may have to break the long standing moratorium on buying more polish. Tried this when getting a pedicure. Looks lighter in the bottle than applied. I love cream(no sparkle) burgundies and red browns and have many but this one is different from all of them and really nice. Not as orange as London Bridge is Falling Down, darker and warmer/less mauve than French Cognac. This fits into a color niche unlike any of the other OPI polishes I have seen. It is a subtle color - may-be it seems that way because it is compatible with my medium-light warm skin tone. Prior to this my favorite was Oh to be 25 again, which is more rose-burgundy, also lovely. If you like that but would like something a little more warm and red you may like this.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Passion
sayde 12/2/2011 8:01:00 AM
I loved the old Passion. Decided to get a new bottle and was really disappointed upon seeing the new color. Then having researched it learned that OPI changed the formula on several of their light colors. I guess they were responding to comments saying the old colors were too sheer. But the new Passion is a much more blue pink (at least in the bottle. I didn't even open it. Just returned it). The old color was more peachy pink. I wish I could get my hands on some of the old Passion.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Cover Girl - Cover Girl CG Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15
sayde 11/4/2011 7:19:00 AM
Very sheer but provides just enough to even out skin a little bit. A tiny bit oilier in feeling than I would like, but for the money a really great value. The lightest color -- fair/light -- is a bit too pink but the moisturizer is so sheer that it barely matters. The next color -- light/medium -- is more yellow/tan. I sometimes mix these two together, which takes just an extra moment or two. Would be nice if there were a ready-mixed color between these two but for the price of this I will just mix it myself.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Shu Uemura - P Brown 860
sayde 12/20/2009 4:55:00 PM
Best eyeshadow have ever used. Am finishing one (first time I have ever used up an entire pan) and have several in reserve. The pearl is a subtle shimmer -- quieter than the metallic. The PBrown 860 is a great every day color and can also be used under the eye like a soft kohl eyeliner. Others have complained about the plastic hinged case -- this is the first plastic hinged eyeshadow case I have had that has not cracked at the hinge. This is HG for me and I hope will always be available. Use this every day. The shadow does crumble as you get down to the last bits -- but is still useable.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - All A-Bordeaux The Sled!
sayde 12/20/2009 4:45:00 PM
Beautiful deep deep wine color. One of those that looks nearly black in low light but clearly wine in bright light. It is a bit more on the red side than "Oh to be 25 again," which is a bit more on the brown side and which I think I prefer to this because it works better with my warm coloring, but this looks a bit more festive. This looks much darker than Oh ... 25 and Suzi says Da in the bottle but I believe that they are all very close with respect to darkness once on your nails. Like all OPI cream shades, goes on smoothly but definitely requires two coats plus a top coat for the most gloss and longer wear. Have found that putting on a fresh coat of top coat after about three days helps to preserve the manicure for a full week, and I use my hands for cooking, painting and all kinds of things.
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Scrubs -Dermalogica - Daily Microfoliant
sayde 12/20/2009 4:36:00 PM
My son suggested I try a bit of his and I was hooked. This really does improve the texture and evenness of your skin. But I have found that it works best if you use it every day, consistently. I had been trying to conserve it because it is so expensive but have now been using it every day and can see cumulative improvement. I massage it into my skin and let it dry like a masque while I make the bed in the morning, and then rinse it off. Just bought a second bottle as well as a bottle for my son for Christmas! There are a couple of sites on eBay where you can get this for a bit less and there is a larger professional size which will probably last for years and costs a bit less per ounce.
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Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Safran Troublant
sayde 12/14/2009 10:56:00 PM
Like others below, I find myself surprised to like this so much. I nearly didn't order a sample because-- saffron? But the reviews intrigued me. I didn't test it right away. Initial reaction was, yep, it's saffron. But then . . . I just couldn't stop sniffing it. Perhaps I should not be this surprised -- previously into florals I've lately come to love Chergui, Tabac Blond, and L'Air du Desert Marocain. They are all quite different but if you like these you might like ST. Other than the saffron, I don't really "get" the notes -- my nose is still much too naive or undeveloped. I can however attest, as others have said, that though it is light and seems to fade quickly, you pick up the scent again and again hours later. I cannot deny the simple and strong appeal of this and have decided to just believe my experience. Safran Troublant has pushed its way to the head of my FBW queue and I just ordered a bottle, my first L'Artisan.
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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Tubéreuse Criminelle
sayde 12/9/2009 5:01:00 PM
Nauseating huge camphorous/menthol opening gradually recedes to strong but boring tuberose. Have tried a couple of times now and keep thinking, it must be me, I just have to keep trying to my powers of discernment and appreciation. But I am just on the point of giving up on this one --wish I had gotten an even tinier vial and oh so glad I didn't spring for a larger decant. I just cannot understand how my reaction to this could be so negative -- it's all I can do to resist washing it off. How can the same genius who made Chergui make this? How can tuberose, which smells so compelling and delicious in Cepes and Tuberose smell so relentless and suffocating in this? I can only repeat what others have said: try before you buy.
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