Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Nuit de Tubereuse
ylang 8/14/2010 2:40:00 PM
No tuberose detected. This smelled of dirt and aftershave, and unfortunately lasted until the next day on my arm. To me this was an insult to the gorgeous tuberose, coming off as a musty, masculine scent. Scrubber!
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Gels/Soaps -Alba Botanica - Alba Hawaiian Passion Fruit body wash
ylang 7/25/2010 12:31:00 PM
The smell of this is just incredible- natural, tropical and refreshing, not cloying. However, it takes a lot of product to shower with, so it turns out to be quite expensive. It is worth it, IMO.
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Masks -Alba Botanica - Hawaiian Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask
ylang 7/25/2010 12:21:00 PM
I compare this to Kate Somerville's "Exfolikate", which is ten times as expensive and doesn't do half as good a job of exfoliating your skin. This product smells great and truly is "active". It works well at cleaning the skin deeply, and it leaves you with a glow (not redness but a real glow!). Seek this product out and give it a try- it is incredible.
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Alba Botanica - Hawaiian Pineapple Enzyme Facial Cleanser
ylang 7/25/2010 12:16:00 PM
This is the best facial cleanser I have ever found, and I have tried them all, from the very top lines to drugstore varieties. The consistency and fragrance are unique, smells like fresh pineapple and is a refreshing gel texture. It cleans deeply without that stripped feeling. I highly recommend this for all skin types, as it seems well suited to acne-prone skin as well as mature, dry skin. Try it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Chanel - Ultra Correction Lift
ylang 4/27/2010 9:20:00 PM
At $85.00 for a micro-jar of this stuff, it turns out to be a nightmare. After first application I noticed a tightness in my lips, but ignored it. Next morning I applied the product again, with the same result, but by midday my lips were peeling. I decided to try one more day just to see if there was some chance it would work after time, but by then my lips were cracked and heavily peeling. This product goes on like a dry paste, which is weird when you think that it is supposed to moisturize. I took this one back to the store pronto! Save your money.
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Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Fleur de Narcisse
ylang 4/18/2010 5:51:00 PM
This series of Limited Edition fragrances are nothing short of astounding! This one seems to be the most nuanced, the most intrigueing, the most difficult to understand. I should have paid attention to the reviews that say one cannot sniff this directly on the wrist, because it has little floral presence when held close. But spray this on your legs, arms, hair, and you get a voluptuous white and lipstick floral wafting about you. It has a fair sillage, less than the Fleur de Oranger, but worth the re-application. What makes these frags so special is the complete "naturalness" they convey; there is no synthetic edge, only various hints of nature throughout the experience. They indeed are like fine wine, and worth every penny.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Fleur d'Oranger 2005
ylang 3/16/2010 8:37:00 PM
Not being able to find this frag in the 2005 edition, I bought the 2007 edition. It is beyond beautiful. It remains a fresh, true orange blossom from start to finish, with an added jasmine creaminess at the end. I am surprised at the excellent staying power and sillage, for such a delicate flower. I highly recommend you buy this perfume before the limited stock is gone.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Kate Somerville - Protect SPF 55 Serum Sunscreen
ylang 12/5/2009 11:43:00 PM
This sunscreen is my HG. After decades of trying every known sunscreen/block out there with no success, I have finally found one that delivers high SPF, melts into the skin leaving no residue, has little to no odor, and is the perfect base for applying makeup. And my skin does not get oily in the afternoon with this one. Every sunscreen I have ever tried is flawed in one way or another- strong odor, greasy, stingy, poor base for makeup, irritating or paste-y looking. This one avoids all those pitfalls. I can't say enough good things about this product. Highly recommend!
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Treatments (Eye) -Origins - GinZing
ylang 11/6/2009 9:27:00 PM
Superb product! Origins knocked it out of the park with this one. The cream does what it claims to do; it depuffs undereye bags and softens lines. The "optical brighteners" in this cream are a genius formula. They give the cream and incandescent glow upon application. Very sublte, but really brightens the whole eye area. I just hope Origins makes other products in this genre.
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Eyes -Molton Brown - molton brown eye rescue
ylang 1/15/2006 4:50:00 PM
I am intrigued by this brand. I have purchased various MB products when they show up at my local TJMAXX, and am thoroughly impressed with them. This eye treatment is wonderful, the pump dispenser is hygienic, and it does not sting my eyes like so many other brands. Highly recommend, especially when you can get it for $5.99US at TJMAXX.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Molton Brown - Wonder Lips Booster
ylang 1/15/2006 4:34:00 PM
An emphatic 1000 stars for this product! After a lifetime of chapped lips this is the first product to heal them. I have no idea why it is so particularly effective compared to other products, but it is truly a miracle worker for me. I plan to stock up on this even though it is expensive.
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Cleansers -Burt's Bees - Lemon Poppy Seed Facial Cleanser
ylang 1/14/2006 9:47:00 PM
In theory this is a nice product, but in actuality it is lacking. The poppy seeds are useless and messy, the lemon souffle texture suggests that it would be moisturizing, but in fact my face feels tight after using it. I love that these companies are at least trying to come up with natural products, so I will support their "experiments".
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Tinted Moisturizer -Bobbi Brown - Extra Spf 25 Tinted Moisturizing Balm
ylang 1/12/2006 10:28:00 AM
I am returning this to Bobbi Brown. I wear her lightest shade "Alabaster", which is a perfect color match, but the product just sits in my pores and does not apply evenly. I use a 5x magnifying mirror to apply my makeup, and this stuff looks ghastly on. No matter how much I try to blend using a cosmetic sponge or even my fingers, it just sits in my (small) pores. I much prefer Origins' version of this foundation.
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Lipstick -Chanel - Hydrabase - Barcelona Red
ylang 12/22/2005 8:38:00 PM
Sophisticated, glimmery "antiqued" red. Brownish background to the color, yet remains somehow a true old style red. The color is toned down, and the product itself has fabulous staying power. This color seems a bit drier than most Chanel lipsticks, but maybe it has to be in order to last on the lips as long as it does. I have almost paper white skin and platinum hair so most dramatic reds are garish on me, but not this one. Unusual.
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Lipstick -Stila - Lip Rouge- Smooch
ylang 11/10/2005 9:04:00 PM
A rip. The pen concept just doesn't work. Impossible to apply, very drying, streaky- plus the pen dries up quickly, like within a month. A waste of money.
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