Fragrances -Chanel - Coco Mademoiselle
strix 11/10/2012 3:41:00 PM
I had tried this perfume when I was younger, and wasn't a fan but I recently tried it again and fell in love with it. I'm 26 now, and I feel like that's an appropriate age for this perfume. It's grown up, but not stuffy or heady. Feminine but also confident, sexy, and polished. It reminds me a lot of Miss Dior Cherie, but spicier and better for year-round wear. I am getting married next summer and plan to wear Coco Mademoiselle on my wedding day. It helps that the bottle is so beautiful-- I love looking at it on my vanity.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Origins - Pinch Your Cheeks Powder Blush - Sugar Cookie
strix 9/10/2012 7:40:00 PM
Origins has recently improved their packaging for powder blush. I'm really liking the new look and feel of the compact. Sugar Cookie is a great fall color. It is a natural flush, almost like a bronzer color. It's hard to find a color that doesn't emphasize the redness of my skin, but also doesn't look orange. This one is very flattering on me. It is quite pigmented. It's my new favorite for fall and winter.
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Eye Shadow -NARS - Ramatuelle Trio
strix 5/6/2012 12:05:00 AM
Love this trio. I haven't bought an eyeshadow palette in an entire year, and I was holding out for something that I thought would be flattering and perfect for this summer. I found exactly what I was looking for in Ramatuelle. It has a cool pale silver, a neutral gold, and a matte coral peach. I think these colors would look good on a lot of different skintones because of the mix of cool and warm colors. I use the silver on the inner corner for a brightening effect, gold on the lid, and the coral in the crease, which really pulls together the entire look (the blue of the Marie Galante duo also from summer '12 line is a great eyeliner to go with this). I was skeptical about using a coral on my eyes, but it's actually very pretty and blends well with the gold shade. My new favorite look.
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Deodorants -Weleda - Wild Rose Deodorant
strix 4/14/2012 11:39:00 PM
I stumbled upon this product by accident, but boy am I glad I did. I had given up a long time ago on finding a natural deodorant that works, but on a recent trip to Whole Foods I was in the mood to buy something rose-scented and decided to give it a try. It really does smell like wild roses, and it doesn't make me sneeze like many other rose-scented products (i.e. Chloe perfume). A feminine, clean floral scent. Surprisingly, the product actually works all day long. They only time I need something stronger is when I go to the gym. I like the scent so much that I have actually stopped wearing perfume most of the time. Note: if you do wear another perfume that isn't floral, this could compete with it because the scent is rather strong and lingering for a deodorant. Cons: it's a spray so the bottle doesn't last as long as a stick, it's expensive, and the alcohol irritates your skin if you put it on directly after shaving.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Amala Rose Concentrate
strix 4/14/2012 11:32:00 PM
I purchased the Amala rose rollerball because I like organic and natural fragrances, and I'm on a rose kick this spring. It does smell like roses and something else-- maybe bergamot since that's on the ingredient list. The packaging is sturdier than most rollerballs, which makes it nice for travel. I had hoped that this could be an alternative to a regular chemical-formulated perfume. However, I wouldn't call this a perfume exactly because it fades within an hour. More like just a nice pick-me-up for your desk drawer or lingerie chest when you feel like a dab of something floral. Amala doesn't really claim that it is an actual perfume, but my Weleda rose deodorant lasts longer than this stuff, so it's a little disappointing.
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Lipstick -ILIA - Lip Conditioner - In Paradise
strix 4/13/2012 9:00:00 PM
I absolutely love Ilia's tinted lip treatments. They are just as pigmented as a lipstick, but are moisturizing too. In Paradise is their latest addition, and is limited edition. The formula of this lip conditioner is the same as the other two that I have (Blossom Lady and Shell Shock). However, I am actually quite unhappy with the color. It is a neutral dark brownish peach. I thought from the pictures on the Ilia website that it was going to be a sheer pinky peach nude, but it is in fact quite dark. I would recommend trying before you buy if at all possible. I can't exactly fault what is otherwise a good product just because the color doesn't look good on my fair pink skin tone, but I am a little ticked off that I just spent $24 on a lipstick that isn't what I expected.
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Blush -Unlisted Brand - Mineral Fusion Blush - Pale
strix 4/6/2012 10:47:00 PM
I can't believe this product doesn't have any reviews yet! The Mineral Fusion blushes have excellent pigmentation and texture-- not too packed and not too powdery, which allows brushes to easily pick up just the right amount of pigment. In my opinion, those two factors are the key to a quality product. Pale is a lovely neutral blush color for light skin. I don't like pink blushes because my skin is naturally rosy, so I gave this a try. Foundation + Pale blush make my skin look glowy, natural, and radiant rather than pink. A perfect sexy summer look. Pale could definitely pass as a bronzer for the very pale skinned. Sometimes I put a little bit of pink blush on the apples of my cheek, and apply Pale where I would normally wear bronzer. I wish MFs packaging was more visually appealing, but at least it is sturdy enough.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Unlisted Brand - RMS Lip Shine - Bloom
strix 1/15/2012 9:30:00 PM
I don't know whether to categorize this as a lip treatment, a lipstick in pot form, or a gloss. I think the best description is a tinted lip conditioner with stronger-than-usual pigment. It's a moisturizing and non-sticky. The color is a nude-coral-pink, a "my lips but better" color. Especially perfect for spring and summer. I love that it's organic, so I can wear it every day and feel good that I'm putting nontoxic ingredients on my lips. The only thing about it that's a little inconvenient is that it's in a pot, so you have to dip your finger in or use a lip brush. I always use a lip brush when I apply it, and it looks so good! Perfectly shaped lips, but natural looking and flattering. This is a holy grail product for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -John Masters - Citrus & Neroli Detangler
strix 1/15/2012 1:14:00 PM
Simply the best conditioner. It makes my hair feel soft and "conditioned," as it should! I pair it with JM Rosemary shampoo, and it always produces great results. My favorite of all of the everyday hair conditioners I've tried, both normal and organic. If you want a deep conditioning treatment, try something stronger. But for everyday use, this is exactly what I need. (I have normal, uncolored hair)
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Treatments (Eye) -Dr. Alkaitis - Organic Eye Cream
strix 1/15/2012 1:09:00 PM
I ended up trying this product because it came in a sample pack from Spirit Beauty Lounge. At the time, I was not looking for an eye cream, but I tried it out and LOVED it. Before then, I used Kiehl's avocado eye cream, but this is so much more soothing on my skin. The texture is very light, which I imagine some people wouldn't like, but since I'm in my mid-20s, the lightweight consistency works extremely well for me. I love the smell-- slightly spicy floral but quite subtle (hard to describe!). Especially in the winter, this makes my eye area feel so refreshed and moisturized. A+
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Pai Organic Geranium and Thistle Combination Skin Cream
strix 1/15/2012 1:04:00 PM
I have finicky skin. Hormonal adult acne on my cheeks, dryness in other areas. This product is advertised as being for oily or combination skin, so when I received it I was surprised because it is a thicker cream. I was expecting a lightweight lotion. However, once I used it, I was pleasantly surprised. It's winter, and I have some quite dry areas. This really helps with the flaky skin, and makes it feel soothed and healthy. My friend is an aesthetician, and she told me that geranium is very good for acne-prone skin, which is why I ordered it I haven't had any breakouts from this, so it has become my go-to winter moisturizer. I also love the bottle design and that it has a pump to keep it fresh and hygienic.
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Liquid -Vapour Organic Beauty - Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation
strix 1/15/2012 12:56:00 PM
I have tried a ton of foundations looking for a holy grail product. I've tried just about every brand from the department stores, and had finally found one I love (Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua). However, I recently became interested in using a product that is more natural and organic for everyday wear. I used this foundation in both S100 and S110. They actually both seemed to work for me, which is odd. The S100 is lighter and pinker, while 110 is more yellow and slightly darker. I have tan freckles, but pale rosy skin, so I would say my complexion is pretty neutral. (In the Chanel foundation, I wear BR10, if that's helpful to you). My skin has rosy patches that need balancing out, and the Vapour works quite well for that. The consistency is very hydrating when you put it on. Great for winter, though not greasy. I don't have any trouble spreading it to make it look even like I do with many others I've tried. It has light coverage, but I find it works surprisingly well to cover up my undereye circles. For a pimple though, it requires a little more concealer. I like that the packaging has a pump for hygienic reasons, and it's also convenient that you can apply it with your fingers. It works really well overall.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -ILIA - Pure Lip Care - Shell Shock
strix 1/15/2012 12:42:00 PM
This is meant to be a lipstick and a conditioner, but it is more of just a sheer lipstick, which is fine with me. The formula is creamy, but not glossy. It actually looks sort of matte. A good lip product for people who want to wear matte lipstick but can't because it looks too flaky. If you want to moisturize, I'd just put on a lip balm instead or underneath for better hydration. The ingredients are organic and natural, which is important to me because when I put something on my lips every day, I'm bound to ingest it. However, it's equally important to me that the product looks good. Shell Shock is a gorgeous coral. A true coral, not too pink, orange, or red. It reminds me of Korres Pomegranate, but I like the Ilia better. It is absolutely perfect for the summer months, May - August. I like to make it the focus of my look, and just pair it with foundation, neutral blush, and mascara. I have hit the jackpot with Ilia lip products-- organic, effective, beautiful color. I want to order every color.
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Lipstick -ILIA - Lip Conditioner - Blossom Lady
strix 1/15/2012 12:36:00 PM
I thought this was a lipstick, not a lip conditioner, but I think it's meant to be both. The ingredients are organic and natural, which is important to me because when I put something on my lips every day, I'm bound to ingest it. However, it's equally important to me that the product works. The formula is creamy, but not glossy. It actually looks sort of matte. A good lip product for people who want to wear matte lipstick but can't because it looks too flaky. I wouldn't call it a lip treatment, mostly just a sheer, buildable lipstick. If you want to moisturize, I'd just put on a lip balm instead for better hydration. I absolutely love Blossom Lady. It's a pink rose color. A great everyday color for year round, but especially spring. It reminds me of Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy, but a tad more pink. I have hit the jackpot with Ilia lip products-- organic, effective, beautiful color. I want to order every color.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Bumble & Bumble - Spray De Mode
strix 12/23/2011 6:49:00 PM
This is the best hair spray I have ever used. It's flexible and it doesn't feel like I'm wearing anything in my hair, but it keeps flyaways completely tamed. At first I thought it didn't do anything because I couldn't feel it in my hair, and then I looked in the mirror and realized that it was doing everything I have always wanted in a hair spray. Unlike other hair sprays, it's not crunchy, stiff, or flaky. Also, it lasts all day long through my work day-- my hair still looks great at 5 PM.
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