Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Sweet on Paris
spiderleenie 9/11/2012 4:35:00 PM
I have the original Paris Amore, and I like it ... But it's not anything special, in my opinion. I'll gladly use up the products I own in this fragrance, but I definitely won't repurchase.
I was overall underwhelmed by the Paris in Love line. None of the three fragrances smell bad, but I thought that Paris in Bloom was a really standard (but soft and not unpleasant) floral that didn't have much personality, and I thought that Paris Nights was too much like the original Paris Amore to justify buying it. Sweet on Paris is by far my favorite of the three!
Sweet on Paris is probably the best gourmand that Bath and Body Works has released in quite a while. It's definitely sweet and dessert-like, but it's not overpowering at all. It's a very feminine gourmand. If I had to describe it, I would honestly say that it's a dessert version of Country Chic. BBW's website doesn't have any floral notes listed for this, but I definitely smell a hint of some, because there's a slight powdery softness in this. That softness mixed with the lemon meringue makes me think of Country Chic! It's a nice blend!
I'd say that Sweet on Paris is good for almost the entire year. I think it's warm and sweet enough for Fall and Winter, and I think it's soft and delicate enough for Spring. It might be too much for the Summer, but I think it can be pulled off if you don't spray yourself liberally with it.
Overall, I'd really like for this to become a part of the permanent line, but BBW usually discontinues everything *I* like. Haha. I guess I have to stock up!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Matte Blush - Bite Of An Apple (Venomous Villains)
spiderleenie 10/23/2010 11:46:00 AM
I am extremely fair-skinned, and this blush is really bright, so I took a big risk by buying it. The color is a strong coral-red, so it's not exactly the most wearable color on the market, but it certainly does stand out. I find this blush to be quite pigmented, and it's very easy to overdo it (especially for pale individuals, like myself). Because of this, I like to apply this blush with a stippling brush. When I apply it sheer, I love how it looks on me. Speaking of the blush's application, I think it's relatively easy to blend, which kind of surprises me because it is a matte color. I find mattes to be a little more difficult to work with, but I didn't have a problem with this product. I think that because it's blendable, it's easy to build the pigmentation up (which is good for those who want more color). This is just my personal preference, but I think that this blush is aptly named, because it looks good only on the apples of my cheeks. When I apply it this way, I think it gives a classic pinch of color. Because of this, I think that this blush is perfect for classic "pin-up" looks. Also, I love to wear the Viva Glam Cyndi lipstick when I'm sporting this blush. They pair extremely well together, in my opinion! The packaging of this product is OK for me. I think this particular one is nice. I think that the packaging for the Venomous Villains collection is a hit or miss. When a flattering picture of the villain is used, then I think the packaging looks nice. I think that this product is one of the better ones in the collection. That's just my preference though. Overall, if you're after unique colors with good quality, then I highly recommend it! I think it stands out in my blush collection and I enjoy wearing it tremendously.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Veluxe - Kid [DISCONTINUED]
spiderleenie 10/4/2010 1:11:00 AM
This has recently become one of my most favorite eyeshadows of all time, which is weird for me, because MAC isn't my favorite brand to turn to for eyeshadows. For me, MAC shadows are hit or miss. This one is a home run. :) I had asked a sales associate at a counter to recommend a crease color for me. The SA recommended this for any makeup look, especially for smokey eyes. She said that it's great for diffusing really bright colors which makes them easier to blend and easier to smoke out. When I first tried it out, I used it for a green smokey eye look, and it worked amazingly well. This color is also great for me when doing a natural eye look: I just put it in my crease, and it looks great. The texture of the shadow is Veluxe; it's a matte color, yet it's super-easy to blend and has good pigmentation. The texture reminds me of Too Faced's matte shadows, and that's a good thing. Too Faced's matte shadows blend like butter and are very easy to work with; they're among my favorites in my collection. In short, this is one of my favorite MAC products, and has actually become a staple in my makeup routine. I've been using this eyeshadow constantly for all kinds of looks, and I'm very happy with it.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Viva Glam Cyndi Lipglass
spiderleenie 9/2/2010 7:04:00 PM
Viva Glam Cyndi, how I love you so. Both the lipstick and the lipglass are gorgeous, though I find them to be very different from each other (in a good way). The color of both products are described as a reddish coral. On my lips, the lipstick had a touch of pink in it, and that's probably because the lustre lipsticks are a bit sheer. The lipglass, however, is much brighter and much more opaque. It definitely looks more red and more coral on my lips. I even found it to be borderline orangey, but a wearable orangey! I think it's too bad that this came out in September instead of May, because I would have worn this a lot during the Summer. I like the lipstick more than the gloss, but the gloss is still amazing. I think the lipglass is better suited for nighttime wear, since it's more dramatic than the lipstick. Actually, I think this color is comparable to MAC's Perennial High Style lipglass (from the Liberty of London Collection). I'd like to think of Viva Glam Cyndi as the "Night Time Version" of Perennial High Style. The tube/packaging is really cute. There's a shiny red Cyndi Lauper "autograph" on it, so I think this will be a good collector's item, for those who are interested in that. This lipglass has the same quality as all of the other MAC lipglasses. It's a bit on the tacky side, which you will either like or dislike. I personally like it, because tackier glosses last longer, which means I won't have to be bothered with reapplying gloss as often. If you loved the Viva Glam Cyndi lipstick, then I recommend checking out the lipglass, though I personally don't think it's as wearable. I think it's still a wonderful product though!
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass
spiderleenie 9/2/2010 6:45:00 PM
I personally find this lipglass to be much more wearable than the Viva Glam Gaga lipstick. It's pretty opaque for a lip gloss, but I don't think it's quite as pigmented or as milky as the lipstick (which works in favor with my particular skin tone). The color of the gloss is the same as the lipstick: A beautiful cool baby pink. I think the color looks and works better as a lip gloss though. I think the glossy finish makes the color look more wearable, whereas I think the lipstick looks like Pepto Bismol on me. MAC's lustre lipsticks tend to have a shinier finish in comparison to other lipsticks, but it still isn't a gloss, and I thought the color looked atrocious when the lipstick showed any signs of fading. I also found it easier to apply the color evenly as a gloss in comparison the lipstick. In short, I think that Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass is a major improvement over its lipstick counterpart! The quality of this lipglass is the same as all of the others. I think they tend to be a little bit on the sticky side, but I actually prefer somewhat sticky glosses. They tend to last a much longer time, which is convenient for me because I don't like to be bothered with reapplying my makeup constantly. The tube is really cute. There's a red and shiny Lady Gaga "autograph" on it, which would probably be of interest for the collectors out there. In conclusion, Viva Glam Gaga as a lipglass just works better for me. It still isn't the most wearable color (especially in comparison to Viva Glam Cyndi), but I think it looks a thousand times better on me in gloss form. It's one of the very few blue-based pinks I can pull off, actually. I recommend trying out this product in person before buying, since I think the color has different effects on different skin tones. Even if the lipstick didn't work for you, give the gloss a chance!
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Polishes -OPI - Cozu-melted in the Sun
spiderleenie 7/9/2010 2:31:00 PM
For some reason, this particular color makes me feel that this is a nail polish version of MAC's Nymphette lipglass. Cozu-melted in the Sun is a shimmery and warm peachy pink color. I think the color is lovely and glamorous, but still subtle and wearable. In the bottle, it may look a bit too glittery, but it looks much more subtle on my nails, which I like a lot. I don't find the formula to be streaky or difficult to apply. It went on my nails very smoothly. Since applying the polish is easy for me, it makes the whole process of painting my nails much quicker. The formula also dries quite quickly, which really works in this polish's favor. This polish is a bit on the sheer side, so two coats isn't going to cut it. Adding more coats is very easy since the polish dries so quickly. With a good top coat, this polish tends to last a few days (about 3-4, depending on what activities you do). I don't find it to be any better or worse than most of the OPI polishes I've purchased. Overall, I really like this polish, though I may go through it quickly, since I need more coats for this to be opaque. The color is lovely and super-wearable for my skintone and it's great for the Summer. I would purchase this again!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Stila - Convertible Color Lillium
spiderleenie 6/19/2010 9:58:00 AM
Lillium is a lovely subdued shade of pink. This color, on me, is probably the most natural-looking blush I have in my makeup collection. I use it for very light, daytime looks (especially for when I don't feel like wearing a full face of makeup, which happens often). I really like how this blush gives me a dewy, glowy look on my cheeks. The color is visible, but it helps me achieve that natural glow so flawlessly, which is a big reason as to why I like this blush. I think that blending this blush isn't difficult, but I think you need to use a very light hand when applying it. If you use a lot of product at once, then I think you'll have a very difficult time blending it out evenly. It's quite a pigmented blush, so it can be easy to overdo it. The lasting power of this blush is good. I would say that on my cheeks, it lasts a good 8 hours. I usually don't wear my makeup for that long, so I'm content with that. If you're the type of person who wears makeup for a very long time throughout the day, then you may need to reapply it. This is where the pretty and petite packaging comes in handy. It's small enough to fit in your purse, and there's a mirror inside. Also, every Stila Convertible Color has their own unique packaging: the color of the case is the exact color of that particular blush, which is great for when you need to store your blushes and need to pick out something without having to check labels and whatnot. Much less hassle, if you ask me. This blush gets one lippy off because I only use it a blush, and this particular product is advertised as a cheek AND lip product. As a lip product, I dislike it. The color looks strange on my lips, and it's extremely drying. I find it to be significantly more drying than most matte lipsticks I've tried, which is really saying something. Overall, good blush, bad lip color. I'd buy it again because it works wonderfully as a cream blush.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Orly - Nail Lacquer in Kiss the Bride
spiderleenie 6/17/2010 8:01:00 PM
This is the only nail polish that I've purchased several times. It is, without a doubt, my HG pedicure polish. I discovered this shade a few years ago when I was looking for a polish to match with the color of a bridesmaid dress I was going to wear. This color matched perfectly. I ended up loving the color so much that I've just stuck with it over the years. As another reviewer said, this color is a very light pink that almost looks white sometimes. The reason why I love to wear this on my toenails is because it's a very CLEAN color. It makes my toes look clean and pretty. Also, this polish goes with pretty much any other color, so I don't feel like I have to limit myself to certain colors on my fingernails in order to match with my toenails. If I were to rate the polish based on the color alone, it would easily get a 5 lippie rating, but I have to take 1 lippie off for the overall. This nail polish can become goopy at times, so I think that having a polish thinner can come in handy. Also, this polish seems to take a long time to dry, which can be annoying. Overall, I am in love with the color, but the performance of the polish needs a little patience to work with. I wish the formula was a bit better, but I love the color so much that I'm willing to overlook it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Boi-ing
spiderleenie 6/5/2010 1:17:00 PM
I actually like this concealer quite a bit! When applied correctly, it works like a dream. I tend to apply this with a wet cosmetic sponge. Whenever I do this, I get a fresh, airbrushed look. Also, I believe the makeup lasts longer when I do this. When doing this method, I don't experience drying, caking, or the product settling into fine lines. When it comes to coverage, I think that this concealer works best with covering dark circles under my eyes. It covers the circles, but it doesn't cover it to the point where I look unnatural. As for blemishes, I think it works all right, but it leaves a little left to be desired. I don't tend to have huge problems with acne, so I don't need that much coverage. If you do need more coverage, though, then maybe you should try a thicker concealer. The container can be a little annoying, in my opinion. I prefer containers that just pop open, but the Boi-ing container requires you to screw it open. It's not a terrible enough container for me to say that I don't ever want to buy the product again, but sometimes when your hands are full, it's just easier to pop something open. Overall, this is a very good concealer. The fact that it doesn't cake on me under my eyes makes me love it. If you want a lighter-feeling concealer that had a decent amount of coverage and a good staying power, then give this a shot.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Kat Von D - Sinner
spiderleenie 5/28/2010 4:33:00 PM
To be honest, I wasn't much of a "Sinner" when I first smelled this at Sephora. I preferred Saint because it had that wonderful mix of sandalwood and sugary sweetness that wasn't overpowering on my skin. Sinner, on the other hand, originally smelled too spicy (and borderline powdery) for my liking. Eventually, my nose warmed up to it, and now I like it quite a bit! From the bottle, Sinner smelled like a whole mess of fragrance notes splashed together. When it comes to perfume, if it doesn't catch my attention from the bottle, then I don't want to try it on my skin. Well, I decided to test it out at Sephora despite that, because people kept raving about this scent more than its counterpart Eau de Parfum. Well, it turns out that Sinner dries down on my skin very nicely. It's a lot sweeter on my skin than it is in the bottle. On my skin, the notes that stand out the most are musk, jasmine, and vanilla. I couldn't smell the vanilla at all from the bottle, but luckily I can on my skin. The blend of these top 3 notes is very nice and very sexy. Sinner isn't a day fragrance; it's most definitely a "hot night on the town" fragrance. Overall, I still believe that I'm more of a "Saint," but Sinner has finally warmed up to me. I think that this is a great transition perfume for young women who are ready to try more complex and mature scents, but also don't want to smell like a granny.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Fusion
spiderleenie 5/28/2010 12:04:00 AM
The original Cover Girl Lash Blast (now known as Lash Blast Volume) is one of my favorite mascaras of all time. It gives AND holds a curl all day long, it defines my lashes, and it barely smudges at all (and not at all with the waterproof formula). It's pretty much one of the most perfect mascaras I've ever used. Lash Blast Length isn't a terrible mascara, but it isn't particularly good. It didn't lengthen my lashes that well, and the pigmentation of the mascara was awful. It was just a decent mascara to wear for when I didn't want to wear any other makeup. I used up the tube I had, but I never plan to buy it again. Lash Blast Fusion should just replace Lash Blast Length. For me, Fusion provides much more length and the mascara is much more pigmented. Another thing that I like about this mascara is how nice it makes my lashes feel. It's so lightweight that I don't feel like I'm wearing any mascara at all. No crunchy lashes here, folks! I think that the lightweight nature of this mascara keeps smudging at a minimum, too. Now, with all that said, I'm not gaga over Lash Blast Fusion, and that's because I don't need length with my lashes; I think my lashes are long enough naturally. What I need is volume. Unfortunately, I don't think that Fusion provides the volume it promises, which is why I think that this formula should just replace Lash Blast Length. Overall, this is a good mascara, but it's no Lash Blast Volume in my book. If you want curl, then just stick to the original. If you want length, then check out Fusion.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Nymphette lipglass
spiderleenie 5/21/2010 6:33:00 PM
Nymphette is what I would like to call a "glamorous neutral pink." It's a simple warm pink, but there's some pink and gold shimmer in it that really adds an extra kick. I really love the color, and I can see this color working on most skin tones. In short, I love this color. I've found that MAC's lipglasses can be a bit on the sticky side (but not to the point where it bothers me). Because they're kind of sticky, the lasting power is much longer than that of non-sticky glosses. The gloss has no taste, but it smells like that typical vanilla scent that all MAC lip products have. Also, the packaging is standard for a MAC lipglass (which isn't a bad thing at all). Overall, I love this particular color. I feel like I can use it for both daytime and nighttime looks without feeling overdone or underdone.
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Lipstick -MAC - Please Me
spiderleenie 5/20/2010 6:54:00 PM
Please Me is quickly becoming my favorite pink lipstick. The color is very gorgeous: A bright rosy pink. It's a perfect color to use to soften a makeup look and to really brighten up my complexion. It's one of the bolder colors I own, yet it's a soft color as well. I like to pair this up with a neutral eye since the lip color seems to pop nicely with that look without being overdone. This is the first MAC matte lipstick I've ever tried, and I'm not disappointed. Most matte lipsticks feel a drying on the lips. MAC is no exception to this, so I recommend using a lip balm prior to applying the lipstick. Also, exfoliation will help smooth out the lips and prevent the lipstick from exposing rough spots. There are two huge things that separate MAC's matte lipsticks over the rest I've tried though: It's smooth application and it's duration. These two qualities make me adore MAC's matte lippies. The scent of the lipstick is the same vanilla scent that we've all come to expect. It's a very pleasant smell. Also, there is not disgusting taste, which is always a good thing. Overall, I think that this particular color works really well with my pale complexion. I'm also very pleased with the performance of this matte lipstick. Once again, MAC gets a thumbs-up for their lip products.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Coty - Princess
spiderleenie 5/12/2010 5:00:00 PM
Very disappointed in this product, and I believe it has everything to do with my body chemistry. My body chemistry just doesn't mesh with this fragrance, and that's a shame. Moments after spritzing it on my wrists, I got this wonderful, warm, sweet, light, and feminine scent. The sweetness was a bit sugary, but nothing like the notorious Pink Sugar fragrance. There were also nice touches of floral and musk, which complimented the sugary notes very nicely. Unfortunately, by the time I left the store I tested Princess in, all I could smell was a chemical baby powder scent that you could purchase for a dirt-cheap price at a drugstore. The formula did not dry well on me whatsoever, which is such a disappointment. This perfume is proof that you should always test the fragrances in the stores before giving into the hype and purchasing them. I'm glad I did that, because Vera Wang Princess did NOT smell good on me at all once it dried completely.
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Lipstick -MAC - Viva Glam Cyndi ] [DISCONTINUED]
spiderleenie 5/3/2010 1:51:00 AM
This is one of the most unique lipsticks I've ever owned, and that's a really good thing! When I first saw the advertisement for the Cyndi and Gaga Viva Glam lipsticks, I thought that Gaga's would look good on me and Cyndi's would look scary. The exact opposite happened! The color is often described as a soft coral red. It definitely looks like that in the tube, but it comes out much pinker on my lips (which is a good thing in my case). I think that's because my lips are moderately pigmented and MAC's lustre lipsticks are a bit more sheer (but still nicely pigmented). This is one of the most gorgeous colors I've ever worn, and it really compliments my pale skin and red hair so nicely. I imagine that because the MAC lustres are more sheer, that the colors will look different on different skin tone. Because of this, I recommend swatching the product at the counter before buying. The duration of this lipstick is pretty decent if you don't eat or drink anything for a couple hours. A good thing about the MAC lustre lipsticks is that they glide on so smoothly that I feel like I don't need a mirror to apply lipstick, which comes in handy for when I'm on the go. I really like the packaging; very sleek and cute. It's the type of packaging that one would come to expect from a MAC Viva Glam lipstick (which isn't a bad thing at all!), but I love how Cyndi Lauper's signature is on the tube. It makes the tube look even fancier. In conclusion, I adore this lipstick. It's one of my favorite MAC lipsticks ever! It's also a great thing that the money spent on this lipstick goes to a good cause.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No