Lipstick -Rimmel - Lasting Finish - Kate Moss 15
suzi2qs 7/15/2012 11:04:00 AM
A certain beauty magazine likens this gunmetal shade to "a motorcycle jacket, it's rock and roll but only a supermodel pull it off with nothing underneath." Don't challenge me people, I'm too old, too tired and too arrogent. I am by NO means a supermodel, even 30 years ago this rang true. That being said, this lipstick works great on me, nothing underneath. Yes, I think I will enjoy using this as a topper for other shades, but before I even left the parking lot of CVS I had it open doing the visor mirror application thinking "Ah-ha! They were wrong!" I just love that. On me, light to medium, warm skin tone, this looks fairly awesome. Maybe a light rosey plum, shines nice, no shimmer, not over the top. Don't look at it in the tube. It looks like a flat, greyish brown bullet that could never work on anyone. The price is right as opposed to anything one can pick up @ Neiman Marcus and its named after a really cool bitch. I dislike using celebrity named/endorsed products, but I can make an execption for Kate, a fellow smoker who can snort blow and still be on a first name basis with the Queen. Arrogent. My kind of girl, nice lipstick.
18 out of 22 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous False Fiber Lashes
suzi2qs 11/27/2011 10:05:00 PM
This mascara is a pain the the butt if you are rushing out to go to work in the morning, a bit of time must be taken in application to make it look stunning. I have used worse mascaras, but what got me about this one is that it really flaked on me big time, after only a few hours. The other problem was that when I was removing it, it felt crunchy, like I had glued sand to my lashes. I really don't like this, would not repurchase.
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Liquid -Maybelline - Instant Age Rewind foundation
suzi2qs 11/11/2011 7:14:00 PM
Chanel, Armani, YSL, Guerlain, yep, tried them all and never found one that really made me happy. Have been using Olay tinted moisturizer lately and on my last business trip forgot to pack it. Ran to CVS and bought this out of dire need. I cannot believe how good this is. I have normal skin with just a bit of uneveness and have always been seeking a foundation to give my a dewy glow. Nothing really fit the bill, but this one does. Price is so reasonable compared to high end foundations. Who knew? This will be my foundation from now on.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Le Labo - Rose 31
suzi2qs 7/2/2010 11:26:00 PM
Florals have never been big in my collection, yet I am always open to trying new things. Lately, I have become enamoured with dirty/spiced/woody rose scents and this one has left me starstruck! The notes per the Le Labo website are rose, cumin, olbanum, cedar, amber, gaïac wood, cistus and an animalic note. This is simply a woody, lightly spiced rose with alot of cedar. It reminds me of my Grandmother's room, with her sachets and cedar chest. In describing it the words clean and clear come to mind though somewhat contradictory to the stated notes. For me, the wood and spice notes do not at all detract from the simple pop of the rose. The usual B.O. associated with cumin in fragrance is simply not there and I don't find it animalic. This is not a sweet scent, which in my book is a good thing, my body interprets this scent as aromatic wood and dry, dusty rose. Perhaps this is the long forgotten first rose received from a suitor, pressed in the pages of a junior high school yearbook which you stored in a cedar chest, only to rediscover many a year later. Something about Le Labo Rose is heartbreaking, perhaps for me it is a subconscious reminiscence that I just can't quite identify. When I am not wearing this, I ache for it. This plays well with others too, I have layered it over several Montale Aoud offerings with intensely beautiful results. This is a perfect spring/summer scent, not that I wouldn't wear it all through the year, but the sultry weather finds me longing for Rose 31 above all in my collection Sample of course, but I hope you will love it as I do.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Montale - Chypré-Fruité
suzi2qs 6/25/2010 11:59:00 PM
This was my very first Montale, the fragrance that introduced me and my wallet to this house from which I now own many full bottles so yes, a winner in my book. This is a chypre, no mistake. Here are the stated notes: bergamot, rose, jasmine, musk, patchouli, oakmoss, fruit The musk provides a nice animalic touch and for me (thank goodness) the jasmine is a minor player. The result on my skin is a bright, slightly sharp combination of demure fruits, barely perceptible florals, oakmoss and animal. It is not heavy but the lasting power is fantastic. It stays closer to the skin than many of Montale's offerings but it projects enough to get compliments. The initial spritz is like a finger snapping before your face as if to get the attention of one dozing off. It falls into a beautiful drydown that lasts for several hours. For me, a must have for spring and summer, but I would really feel comfortable wearing it during any season. This one is not hard to wear. For some reason it smells very French to me which could never be a bad thing.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Etat Libre D'Orange - Secretions Magnifiques
suzi2qs 6/21/2010 6:49:00 PM
This fragrance did not gag or offend me, I did not find it shocking but I didn't like it. On me I got nothing that smelled much like blood or semen or skank. None of the stated notes stood out to me. What it reminded me of is the taste I used to get in my mouth after a night of drinking heavily, literally, to me, it smelled like a hangover. Maybe it is genius in a pretzel logic kind of way, but want to smell good, not hungover.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Montale - Aoud Velvet
suzi2qs 6/13/2010 7:24:00 PM
Montale is making me go broke, no lie! Their fragrances have the sillage and tenacity of the old school perfume bombs worn by my dear Grandmother and Great Aunts. I remember these scents fondly and find many of today's popular scents sincerely lacking, as if they were watered down intentionally. For me, Montale has recaptured the strength and projection of the perfumes of old, and built upon new, enticing notes. Aoud Velvet won my heart upon first dab. There is a peach note, although it is not officially a note. Tiare gives it a bit of floral sweetness and sandalwood is well represented. And there is aoud. That little devil of medicinal, woody goodness that carries this fragrance fully and unrelentingly from first spritz to last traces of basenotes hours later. Yes, this line is pricey, but I couldn't think of a better investment for the true fragrance lover. There is bound to be something for everyone in Montales diverse line up of scents. Bravo, Montale.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Montale - Orient Extréme
suzi2qs 6/8/2010 3:36:00 PM
The review below mine is dead-on. This is a classic Montale in sillage and fortitude. Montale has become my favorite perfume house, of course there are some fragrances of theirs that don't mesh well for me but the majority do. I love this fragrance, it is bold, spicey, slightly animalic and rather difficult to define. I too have purchased the 100ml bottle and can't wait until it arrives as my sample is bone dry. This is a woman's scent, but it would be befitting of a goddess as well.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Montale - Black Aoud
suzi2qs 6/7/2010 10:29:00 PM
Montale has created a beast and Black Aoud is thy name! Raw, unbridled sexuality in a little black bottle. This is as subtle as a catagory 5 hurricane with just about as much humanity. This fragrances rocks, like the bitch is back, strangle hold, rock you like a hurricane and the train kept a-rolling all night long. The simple list of notes: Cambodian oud, Indonesian patchouli leaves over a combination of mandarine, musk and rose. But as they say in AA, simple is not always easy. Nope. This one blew out my senses at first try. Never thinking I could wear this, I sprayed on my pulse points, slipped my little sample into a box and walked around in a state of confusion for 12+ hours. No, I couldn't possibly do this one. By the end of the day, I had, to my dismay and confusion, collected 7 compliments and 2 inquiries as to what I was wearing and wear it could be purchased. A waiter at least half my age asked me if I was married. Is this weird? No, this is Black Aoud. It opens with a blast of "what the hell is this?" bursting through strong, healthy roses ready to cross pollenate to preserve their kind, and yes, nice earthy patchouli. Ok, the sample came back out of the box. I have worn this alone, I have layered it with simple rose fragrances (wow) and with skanky musk oils (I'm a freight train, feeling no pain). Yes, I bought a full bottle. This is not a fragrance for shrinking violets, girly girls or prissy socialites. Lets put it on exotic dancers, tugboat captains, beautiful and larger than life drag queens and serious fragrance junkies. This is Angeline Jolie, Steven Tyler, Gordon Gecko, Joan Crawford, Satan's unscrupulous lawyer and some ridiculously handsome, filthy rich Sultan sprawled out and spent after an opulent orgy. Damn. Glad I can wear this. Hope you can too. Test before you invest. The beast is not for everyone.
36 out of 36 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Montale - Red Aoud
suzi2qs 6/7/2010 9:46:00 PM
This is an unusual, powerful and sexy fragrance from Montale's Aoud collection. Truly yummy for lack of a better word, although I would hardly classify this as gourmand. The notes are: aoud red pepper saffron cumin orris Haitian vetiver Mysore sandalwood I get the initial blast of medicinal aoud that starts off so many entries from this line. It changes rather quickly to a sweet, spicey and slightly powdery cloud with the aoud undulating like a dancer at the Moulin Rouge beneath. The spices are blended nicely. The saffron and pepper give a distinct sweetness and there is no B.O. accord often associated with cumin. This had epic lasting power and ample projection, defining characteristics of all of the Montale's I have sampled/purchased. I find this quite unique. It is not the roaring beast which is Black Aoud, which I also adore. This is more feminine but could easily be enjoyed by both sexes. I do not classify fragrances as seasonal or for specific occasions, so I would wear this out for dinner, to a formal event, for a day at home and even to work. No mistake, this stuff is sexy as hell but letting your inner sexbomb out is not a sin at the office if one does so tastefully; though I wouldn't recommend wearing this to a staff meeting with a short skirt and stilettos. Others may become too distracted to get to the matters at hand. That being said, for a day at my desk or in the field, it is appropriate in my opinion. Full bottle worthy for sure. It is on my list which grows ever longer and Montale is taking it over.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Clairol - Herbal Essences- Hydralicious Reconditioning shampoo
suzi2qs 5/30/2010 12:55:00 PM
Never before have I reviewed a shampoo but this is too good not to acknowledge. My hair is course, colored and kinky. This shampoo is very thick and only a little is needed to get a nice lather. It smells pleasant but does not linger which is good in my book. Most shampoos last me a week because I have to use so much, this lasts me at least 2. I love this and have now found a shampoo I can call my own. Before this, I just used whatever was on sale. The conditioner is nice for a light detangling as well. My hair is less wild since I started using this shampoo/conditioner combo. I still have to put oil in my hair, but not nearly as much.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Frederic Malle - Musc Ravageur
suzi2qs 5/27/2010 11:26:00 PM
Should have known better than to hope to love any fragrance with lavender listed in the notes. My bad. I love musk, the dirtier the better, MKK is a HG item for me. Based on the reviews, I hoped this would be a very sexy musk to add to my collection. I thought, how much lavender could there be?? Too much evidently. This note just slays me. In my yoga school, most students use the schools all natural lavender oil based mat cleaner after practice, needless to say, I am the first off the floor and out the door. Lavender tickles my nose and makes my throat feel like velcro. Maybe I am allergic, not severely, but to some extent. The citrus/lavender opening of MR sent me into a sneezing fit which of course passed, but the notes lingered on. Oh how I wanted to scrub, but since this fragrance is praised for being unique and sexual, I stuck it out like a trooper. Gratefully, in this case anyway, the sexy drydown never happened for me. As with all the Malles I have sampled, it was weak within 15 minutes, gone within the hour. Just can't understand why Malles have so little sillage and lasting power for me. I really liked Vetiver Extraordinaire but it was gone so quickly I couldn't justify buying it. MR is a no buy for me. I will stick with my beloved MKK. Was it worth the 10 bucks to sample before buying? You bet it was. Ha! As I conclude this review what is that scent wafting through my bedroom window? It appears that somebody really pissed off our neighborhood skunk. Ironic. Can't win tonight. Off gagging to shut windows and turn on the fan. This night shall pass.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Montale - Intense Tiare
suzi2qs 5/22/2010 8:02:00 PM
Well I am shocked that a true floral scent exists that does not give me an instant headache or make my stomach do flips. This is a true interpretation of the Tiare flower. Starting off intense, it soon softens to a pleasant floral blended well with the creamiest of coconut. The drydown is dead-on reminiscent of a tropical vacation and actually quite wonderful. I am still gun shy though. Florals are not, not, not my thing with the exception being rose blended to smell very, very dirty. When I first pulled the stopper from my little sample last week, I thought "Oh gag, funeral parlor". However, I am determined to finish all of my many samples, giving each one a full day of wear before I make my next FB purchase. This was in the rotation so I figured today/Saturday, should be a safe day as I planned on being mostly at home (close to my shower). A pleasant surprise, I must say. I may actually like this. Certainly, I don't think at this point I would buy a full bottle, even though this would be a super fragrance for summertime. As with all the Montale's I have tried, the sillage and lasting power are outstanding. Floral lovers will no doubt be enamoured with this. I think I am a little bit too. Imagine that.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Montale - Vetiver des Sables
suzi2qs 5/21/2010 6:56:00 PM
What a great, green, warm weather scent. It starts out with a blast which seems a bit medicinal, like a muscle rub, or Noxema. Somehow, both of these items are comfort scents for me. My dear Mother always used Noxema, and muscle rub, though strong, promises the relief of discomfort. It changes quickly to a sharp, green vetiver with a deep, brooding quality; but not so deep that it refrains from being a perfect summer scent. One of my favorite vetivers along with Serge Lutens' Vetiver Oriental which I can apprciate more in cooler weather. The sillage and lasting power of Vetiver Des Sables is epic, as with most Montales. I have proudly added this to my collection.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Montale - Ginger Musk
suzi2qs 5/21/2010 6:36:00 PM
Well this cetainly does not reflect its given name. What I expected was a sharp, rooty ginger blended with a bit of an animalic musk. What I got was a fruity (berries?), sparklingly, sweet scent. Not cloying, or headache inducing for me like most sweet fragrances are, but sweeter than I normally go for. The ginger note, what there is of it, seems like the crystallized ginger one gets on a sushi plate, ,mellow & sweetish. It it much lighter in terms of sillage than the other Montales I have tried. I do not find this scent unpleasant, not in the least. However I will not be adding it to my collection. Will finish my little sample simply because I have it. Thank you Perfumed Court for saving me $100+.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No