Skincare - Body -The Body Shop - Exfoliating Gloves
syltetyta 9/27/2012 2:26:00 PM
I totally forgot about making a review about my all time staple for several years - these gloves. So here goes: I use them, whenever I'm showering and always get compliments on my skin (I'm 41). Soft, smooth, clear, radiant skin - is what I get. Since I use them almost daily, I tend to forget what worth they have in my beauty regime. However, not bringing them along a 2 week vacation makes me miss them alot more than anticipated, and I see my skin getting a bit rougher and dryer. I've tried several kinds of Exfoliating remedies from lofas to brushes, but I've ended up repurchasing these gloves as they do the best for my sensitive skin. Will never stop repurchasing, even though they last a long time and are really inexpensive. What they do to skin is magic.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Paint Pot - All
syltetyta 10/31/2011 7:59:00 AM
My UD primer potion was sold out and I needed a primer asap, and an SA advised me to go for the Paint Pot in soft ochre as a primer instead. I'm really sad I did because I can't use it after finally figuring out that this is the one product I've ever tried that gives me an itchy and red reaction on my eye lids and tear ducts that lasts for days, making me crazy. Overall, the product is not a perfect solution for one with oily eyelids, but balancing the right amount needed and topping it off with powder makes it work almost a whole workday. I don't find it difficult to apply after figuring out how much I need of it, and since my lids are oily it never looks chalky - but it will crease eventually, and hence it is not WP on me. I dab it on with my fingertip, as a brush is useless for this. I find soft ochre a bit too light and yellow for my liking, it is like using a concealer all over my eyes, and it need an eyeshadow on top to mute the brightness of this paint pot. I must say I hate the glass pot which will break if I loose it on the bathroom floor tiles, and would much prefer a plastic pot instead. But this also applies to all containers for beauty products for the exact same reason. 5g/0.17oz would have lasted me a life time, but experiencing this itching and redness caused by this product I don't believe I will ever finish it as it itches for days even when I don't use it. If it wasn't for this, it would have been only mediochre for me anyway, and not my first choise for a primer.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Yves Rocher - VANILLE NOIRE
syltetyta 11/17/2010 2:55:00 PM
Similarities to Dio Hypnotic Poison - yes. Sillage - none Lasting power - no Scent - something softly vanillaish, very faint. Even I can't smell it on me. I hoped on something similar to Vanilla bourbon edt, with an even darker twist. Instead I received a faint fragrance - the faintest in my colllection. I happily sprayed 3-4-spritzes the second I got it out of the box, waited five minutes for it to evolve and develop and wrap me in a cozy, smoked vanillabrandyish cream - but nothing happened. The scent had vanished on my skin, so I sprayed some more on. And then some. But as soon as it hits my skin, I can't smell it. Only vagely can I smell the similarity to Hypnotic Poison (which btw also vanishes on my skin to some point) and something very artificial. The artificial note disappears, but so does the scent. I have an impression that this could have been a gem, but for me it is difficult to pick out any notes since I can't smell much of it, and that's a pity. I really want to return it and get my money back, as it doesn't do its job as a perfume. Not on me, anyway. But I guess I have to check how full my bottle is now after spraying and spritzing heavily, and maybe I still can give it away as a Christmas gift instead. If I can find someone that prefers scents that are so discrete that they are almost undetectable.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Clinique - Aromatics Elixir
syltetyta 11/16/2010 10:14:00 AM
For a woody oriental gal like me, Aromatics Elixir was a disapointment. The SA promised woody, earthy non-sweet and urged me to try this on, but forgot to mention chypre. In the true old chypre way. Just what Aromatics Elixir is. Chypres doesn't work on me at all. And unfortunately, this is one of my skrubbers. If I was only able to pull out some of the flowers at least - but no - only repulsive patchouli and a decaying vetiver on the base of bitter, bitter, bitter oakmoss. It smells horrific on me, and brings out images of old ladies, their old medicin cabinets, and my fathers old travel bag. Right now I'm not able to imagine that this will smell great on anybody else, so hopefully someone will prove me wrong one day and show me how delightful it may be on them. By all means, go ahead and try it - please try before you buy! But for me: Thanks, but no thanks.
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Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Timbuktu EDT
syltetyta 11/10/2010 5:01:00 PM
A lot of people refer to the dirt in this one. Frankly, i don't get the dirt. I don't get any burnt wood, choal, tobacco, citrus or patchouli. What I personally get is pepper and spices, myrrh, some pine and also a tad of the mango sweetness, benzoin resins, and vetiver. All blended perfectly and balanced. I love it. However, after the first spritzes on my wrist I wrote it off 5 minutes after because of some heavy old leather smell that arized - I suppose it's the dirt that people are talking about? - and stayed put for around 45 minutes. But after those 45 minutes I got a whiff of the fragrance without the heavy leather note - and I was hooked! It's a winter fragrance for me, and thank god for that - 7 months with cold weather will make it easy to empty the bottle - when I get one! But first off i will start with getting a small decant, as it is an unusual fragrance, supposedly to be worn by men. I don't find this scent especially masculine, though. It is one of those scents that you wear for yourself, and not for everybody else IMO. I love it on me, but I'm not so sure people near by will love it as much as I do. As I mentioned, it is an unusual fragrance, and not for everyone. This is definately a try-before-you-by fragrance, but please do try if you like unusual scents with woods and spices like ceder, myrrh, cardamom, pepper, mango, and a touch of inscence.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Diptyque - L eau Lente
syltetyta 11/10/2010 4:00:00 PM
Eau Lente from 1986 is such a beautiful scent. It has a presence not many mainstream fragrances exhibits today, designed to suit most people whatever the difference. Eau Lente however, is not for everyone. My first encounter with Eau Lente, a fragrance to be worn by both sexes, took place after relizing that I was quite fed up with sweet flowery fragrances and more a spicy, woody, oriental gal. The SA gave me several blotters after telling her my story, and one of the scents I ended up with on my arm was this. First of all, One spritz is enough. Only one. Usually I wear my fragrances on both wrists and arms, as i tend to absorb them. Sillage? Usually not much. With Eau Lente there is sillage - GREAT sillage - I will have to find another place for the one spritz of this potent juice I can wear, but that's another story. This scent bursts and blooms heavy on cinnamon, citrus, clove and carnation simultaniously with bourbon vanilla in the base. After 3 minutes I'm scared as hell over all the different notes trying to take the spotlight - as teen girls trying to get the attention of a sexy celebrity like Justin Timberlake in the front of the stage - and I feel embarrased on behalf of all the notes fighting and want to hide somewhere until it's over. 15 minutes after the initial spritz, it turns to bug spray and carnation. Period. But I've learned to be patient, and after 30 minutes it's starting to settle down. A soft carnation on the base of oppoponax is there, and indian spices grounds the scent. While it develops, these notes linger but get softer and softer over the hours. Sometimes I get a faint image of an Oscar De la Renta oldie, but no Old Spice as some reviewers have mentioned. Hours, yes. I'm so happy there is a fragrance that lasts and lasts - just with one spritz. I rarely find anything that I don't absorb until it's gone two hour later, lately. And it is an Eau de Toilette! I believe it says something about the quality of the ingredients in it, especially considering the price. It is supposed to be a unisex fragrance. Though i find it a little hard to imagine Eau Lente on a man, this is a little too dark to be a typical feminine scent. It's not for everyone. I received a 2ml sample to take home with me, and I will test drive it several times before I consider it to be FBW instead of just setteling with a decant. As for now, Eau Lente is absolutely 5ml decant spending worthy for sure, and that is why it receives a great rating from me for now. However, if this is the perfect fragrance for me I cannot decide just yet without wearing it a couple of times more, as I'm not quite sure I'm comfortable with all the carnation/opoponax I get. Otherwise I love it, and I would really much appreciate smelling this on another person. By all means - go ahead and try it! With the 2 ml I received it will last me quite some time, considering the one-spritz-is-enough feature. And I'm so glad Christmas season is near, as it's the perfect time to wear it!
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Eye Primer -Clinique - Touch Base For Eyes in Silver Lighting [discontinued]
syltetyta 11/3/2010 6:32:00 AM
Used as an eyeshadow on my oily eyelids? No. Used as an eyelid base under cool toned greys, lilacs, pinks and blues? Yes. Does it work well as an eyeshadow base? When I'm out for just a couple of hours, yes. But I have to get home before it creases. All in all: Almost sparkly silver base - a bit too whiteish to look good on its on on a cool medium toned, blue-green eyed dark reddish brunette like me. Could be great as a base for eyeshadows, however this will not be the best option for a girl with oily eyelids worn throughout a whole day. It will crease. I've had mine for years, and it has not dried. But I will not purchase this or other touch bases again. I just WISH I could get that drying effect that some reviewers mentioned, because then I would use it more frequently....
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Eye Primer -Kanebo - Lunasol Eyelid Base
syltetyta 11/3/2010 6:10:00 AM
Superb cream-to-powder texture with an illuminating effect that is great for balancing out dark eyelids and corners. Also great to use without an eyeshadow on top for a natural and bright look. However, it doesn't wear well on oily eyelids like mine. It has creased two hours after I have applied it, and the eyelids feel wet. I never get that wet feeling with other eyelid bases, and I know how to apply a base successfully. Unfortunately this is not for me. I'll stick to my Urban Decay and ArtDeco under all eyeshadows. The ratings are for the texture, colour, and packaging only.
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Fragrances -Versace - Versus Versace
syltetyta 5/11/2010 6:40:00 PM
Strange little scent - truly fruity, not artificial fruity but ripe and fruity. Picture this: A table in front of a window and the sun is shining in. As you pass the table you catch the whiff of ripe fruits from a bowl (plums, cherries, kumquat, and starfruit) in the sun, a plate with a half eaten juicy pear, a tiny bottle of musk, a somewhat withered stem of a rose and some other flower, a drop of spilled patchouli oil, a forgotten spot of dust, and a can of bugspray. Now remove all pictured items and replace with a bottle of this scent, and there you have it. At least, this is how it smells on me. Finally. Donatella stated: “Versus is pure energy. I wanted a perfume which would express the strong contrast of a romantic yet tough femininity. This intense fragrance is dedicated to a woman who loves to dare.” I was given this fragrance early, it wasn't even on sale at that time. And good it was, because I really couldn't figure out if I liked the scent or not so I needed three quiet months with it. Everytime I tried it on, it smelled different - all the way from a men's heavy cologne to a full can of insect repellent. Sometimes quite nice for ten minutes but mostly disasterous. For the longest time I couldn't even figure out which gender it was targeted at! The only thing I was quite sure about was that this is not a breezy, light, and teenagerish scent that smelled similar to anything else. But now, after a difficult season change, we understand eachother - this fragrance and I. Now I might try it out in public and get some compliments. Now it smells fruity, juicy, ripe, dusty, and quite different from other scents on the market. It's feminime, rapture, not at all citrusy or fresh. And it takes time to get there. And really deep down, I f you smell carefully, you might catch a smidge of the patchouli from Lancomes' Magnifique. It's dark. And it smells like I'm always standing in the sun. Ingredients: kumquat, star apple, rose, patchouli, lemon, orange blossom, stephanotis, musk, ambrette seeds.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dolce & Gabbana - Rose The One
syltetyta 4/14/2010 10:49:00 AM
I was looking for a rose perfume with delicious creamy notes, and ended up with this one on a whim, a little too soon. I believe I should have given it a series of sniffing before I shelled out the money on it - but not remembering the exact scent mixed with my joy with "The One" ended up in a purchase while I was in the mood for splurging on something. It's new in my rotation, and I'm still not sure it fits my personality. But it's spring, and I imagine that Rose will be a good trainee before applying for the position of first-choise perfume and I also think that warm weather and warm skin will give it a softer drydown than right now, with our spring weather still quite crisp. First of all, it is a pretty, aquatic rose-peony-lychee floral - however, not unique. Second, the rose note is quite synthetic and sharp, and the creaminess from "The One" I thought was lying underneath the rose here is not creamy enough to compensate for the sharpness of the rose. Maybe it will warm up during the next months with the weather getting warmer. Third, the staying power is almost non-existing, and I have the EdP version. Or, maybe it's my nose that too easily gets used to this fragrance? Anyway, Rose should not be oversprayed, because it will overwhelm people around you for as long as it stays on. I believe that this fragrance is ment to be a whiff caught while walking by people and not a fragrance lingering around you with every step, or entering a room before one self appear in the doorway. If you overspray like a teenager with this one, people will back away from you. To sum up: I'm not sure I bought a good one here, I believe that there are several rose compositions that has more of the creaminess I'm looking for underneath than Rose The One. But we'll see. I'll give it a chance for now. Composition: Blackcurrant, pink grapefruit, mandarin, muguet, bulgarian rose, lychee, peony, madonna lily, ambrette seed, sandalwood, musk, vanilla, and amber.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -LaLique - Nilang
syltetyta 3/15/2010 5:48:00 PM
I finally found one of those hard to find bottles, and grabbed it unsniffed. LaLique fragrances is one of the few lines where most of them falls into my liking anyhow. This fragrance is beautiful sniffed from the bottle only, but while on the skin I can't stop sniffing myself... The previous reviewers have listed the ingredients so well, that i don't feel it's necessary to copy them. Someone mentioned that if you could find one, it would smell like something you have smelled before - and in a way she's right. But in my opinion - if this was created in 1995 this has to be the original scent and all the other ones are copies or interpretations of Nilang! Yep, we have Angel... We have Liberté... We have Lola... who all met L'eau d'Issey on the corner.... But only Angel and Issey smells terrible on me. Though Nilang, she's a rare beauty with a certain note that I cannot put my finger on, but that tells me that she's from a different world and utterly divine. If I could find more bottles, I would have repurchased - and that's rare for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Gucci - Flora by Gucci EDT
syltetyta 10/8/2009 3:34:00 PM
The first time I smelled Flora was on my colleague. The sillage about her smelled absolutely right-out-of-the-shower-and-sparkly-clean-due-to-a-magical-homemade-shampoo-with-peonies-and-red currant-from-the-garden. I love the scent of peonies. But I could swear this was a shampoo that my colleague had borrowed from her daughter, and not a perfume. Some time later I was given a bag of sample vials through work, and there was a lot of Flora among others. I tested one, and instantly was reminded of “the magical shampoo.” I've now tested it several times, and I must say it is as magical on me as on my colleague. On me it gives whiffs of peonies and the way red currants “smell” in my mouth (crisp yet candied) – I think the vanilla that other reviewers refer to together with the citrus switches to red currant on me, making it less sweet and fruity. The patchouli is not noticable, and the rose is in the background together with the sandalwood. I find Flora very linear – which is great for this fragrance, I think. Flora with a scent that evolved while wearing would have been a certain disappointment for me, instead the scent only deepens. Flora behaves just the same way that Gucci II does on me – stays put. And lasts. But the result is sometimes spraying obsessively while considering drinking it to smell this good from the inside and out. It's easy to stay away from Flora, but when she's allready on it's impossible not to obsess about it. My colleague feels the same way and has gone through several bottles already. It's targeted towards young girls, but I'm 38. And I love peonies. My colleague is 46. She loves Flora. Her 18 year old daughter doesn't. But WE're not too old for florals (peony, rose), sweetness (osmanthus), freshness (citrus), sensuality (sandalwood, patchouli), and looking young (we do) with great smelling hair! I'm a fl/oriental-woody girl, but I quite like this fruity floral.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Hermes - Eau de Pamplemousse Rose
syltetyta 8/29/2009 12:19:00 PM
I had allready made up my mind to purchse Un jardin apres la mousson, when I spotted a newbie on the duty free shelves while travelling. Of course I could'nt resist to try it on, and on my way home I was considerably poorer than expected because this dirty little rose had suckered me in. The mousson was totally forgotten and I was totally happy. I had found the perfect blend of my interpretation of a dirty (update: by dirty I mean dried up clay-dirtyish) rose for a hot and sunny day. Initially it starts off with a grapefruity blast - with a tiny step into the realms of the much loathed scent usually called bug spray, and after 15 minutes it calms down to a simple but very elegant and sophisticated rosy citrus vith a vetiver twist and stays that way on my skin. I can pick up all the notes in one whiff, perfectly balancing and complementing eachother. I don't find it "fruity" unless you take the citrus and rhubofix into consideration, and it is definately not berry-smelling (which is what I consider a fruity fragrance to be). A sophisticated unisex fragrance like this would not be considered "fruity" anyhow. It's a classic and gorgeous fragrance, and wearing it makes me feel classy and sophisticated too. You can definately smell why it is expensive and you will never find something like this at your local drugstore. Jean-Claude Ellena has created a masterpiece to celebrate the birth of Eau d’Orange Verte thirty years ago, and the only thing unfortunately lacking is the lasting power. It IS HG material, but I'm taking off a lippie for not lasting as long as it deserves on the skin. Spraying on clothes does help, though.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Prada - Infusion de Fleur d'Oranger Eau de Pafum Spray
syltetyta 4/16/2009 3:40:00 PM
As an orange blossom lover, I will make this my shortest review ever: This should be taken off the market as soon as possible, IMO. One does not mix Infusions d'Iris like this without getting a cloyingly powdery and soapy, and terribly flat scent. There are soooo many wonderful fragrances with orange blossom out there - I recommend them all over this.
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Fragrances -Versace - Versense EdT
syltetyta 4/16/2009 3:16:00 PM
I have to admit that Donatella Versace and I are two completely different looking creatures, with one similar passion: Fragrances. And whatever Donatella wears or looks (terrible or not) - she knows how to make a lovely and feminine floral fragrance that would smell great on most women. Versace is not my personal favourite brand when it comes to fragrances though, I own only Crystal Noir - but when I read that white florals and Mediterranean fruits would be the inspiration for Versense and finally saw the simplisticly clear crystal bottle containing spring green liquid - I simply couldn't keep my hands off it. I sampled it in a shop a week ago, and now the world of tax free shopping has helped me become the owner of 100ml fresh sensuality. I've been wearing it day and night this week, and gotten compliments from both males and females. Versense is in my opinion suitable day and night for spring and summer, and I'm looking forward to wearing it the next coming months. The fragrance opens with a fresh and citrusy burst of bergamot and green mandarine, the blend of pear and citruses heightens the feeling of sparkly luminousity. The heart notes are sea daffodil and fig, lingering with white flowers like jasmin, and hints of cardamom. Versense elegantly continues with woody notes of cedar, olive wood, sandalwood, and musk. To be an EdT it has good sillage and also lasts at least 4 hours or more depending on skintype. Usually I don't fall for fresh fragrances or white florals, or even purchase immediately, so this one is an exception, even though it IS sensual in all its freshness - and a good choise for me and my woody/fl/oriental garden. The reason is the sparkly Mediterranean and citrusy notes: Last year I fell for Escale a Portofino, Via Camerelle, and also cedery L'eau de Mediterranée, so I guess I had no opportunity to escape Versense this year. The beauty of it is that they all make me feel both energetically elegant and feminine at the same time, and perfectly "dressed" for any occasion. I preferred Versense over DKNY Be Delicious Blossom (nothing new) , Ferragamo F for Fascinating (unfortunately turned on me), and Guerlain Tiaré Mimosa (too sweet and cloying). The only reason I ticked "no" in the repurchase box, is because I got the 100ml bottle, and allready own too many perfumes. UPDATE: This is allready becoming an HG candidate for me this spring, with its elegantly fresh notes. A well done clean fragrance, not sweet or fruity on me, and with the touch of citrus that I like.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No