Yves Saint Laurent Beauty Parisienne Eau de Parfum Spray

Definitely Not a Powerhouse

I'm soooo disappointed in this fragrance. It is very common smelling. There is nothing that stands out, and there actually is something about it that I dislike...I just can't put my finger on it. It almost smells cheap, and like they just slapped it together in ten minutes. Definitely not original, and definitely forgettable. I must admit, I love spicy fragrances, and this definitely is NOT spicy or oriental. It's very floral, almost to a fault. One of my all time fragrances is by YSL: Opium. That perfume is brilliant. Sexy, mysterious, classy, yet very subtle. It has some unknown notes that leave you guessing, "what is that?" It smells like a rich woman. This pales in comparison. It is simply average, okay smelling, and definitely not sexy like the picture of Kate Moss insinuates. Packaging was ok. Again, it didn't blow me away. It looks like a jewel. Big deal. So does the new Britney Spears fragrance. The dry down was a little better than the top notes. But, for me, it was still way too sweet and floral. It needed a good dose of sensual notes to round off the fragrance. Ho hum, maybe next time, YSL

October 21, 2009

Q-tips Cotton Swabs

Love it

So much better than the blue box...and cute!!! I love taking these on photo shoots...everyone loves them

July 30, 2009

L'Oreal Paris HiP Studio Secrets Professional Kohl Eyeliner

BIG thumbs down

When I saw the word 'Kohl', I was really excited. I LOVE traditional Kohl liners. They are amazing. This is nothing like a traditional Kohl liner. There is so much wrong witht this product I don't know where to start. I really wanted to like this. I honestly did. this is absolutely nothing like a traditional Kohl liner. Nothing. I tested it with my friend, Aymee. I'm a guy, so I couldn't wear it around outside, so she did. First, the packaging looks cool. But that's where the good ends......the applicator is awkward, the jar is way too big for the small amount of product, and it is INCREDIBLY MESSY. I am a professional makeup artist, and the powder was falling all over the place. I wonder how a non-professional would apply it. It fell all over the place. It also didn't adhere well. I found myself having to take it out apply it to my hand, then take a brush to properly apply it. This is a huge tactical error for L'Oreal. I mean, come on...didn't you guys try this out before you approved it for sales? I can't believe how horrible the applicator is. The colors are okay. Nothing to write home about, and nothing I haven't seen before. The gold was not that pretty, and the black was nice, but it's kind of hard to go wrong with black. My friend wore it all day in New York, and her email said that "it was horrible. I looked like a raccoon. It didn't stay on, and kept falling off all day long!!!!" She was not impressed at all. I've never been a big fan of powder eyeliners, and these are the exact reasons why. L'Oreal just confirmed it all for me. honestly, I wouldn't even buy this to play around with. There's really nothing worthwhile about the packaging or the product to buy it. BIG thumbs down

June 26, 2009

L'Oreal Paris HiP Studio Secrets Professional Color Presso

It's lip gloss....nothing new

I'm not going to write a long-winded review on lip gloss. I can just say this is okay. There is nothing that sticks out as amazing and different. The colors are average (definitely not 'HIP'), the scent is very artificial and girly smelling, and the packaging is downright annoying. It seems like they just threw this together to say they could have a lip gloss collection. Not that this is expensive, but I say save some money and go with a cheaper brand--you'll get the same results: glossy lips that smell like vanilla frosting

June 26, 2009

Chapstick True Shimmer

The new Chapstick: Far From 'Natural'

First, let me say, Chapstick is trying to reinvent the wheel. They have simply added a little flash and flavor to a time-tested product, and they do it with mixed reviews from me. First, as a male, I found the shimmer to be too much for me to use in public. You can really see it. I think it would be great for a woman who wants a little extra zip to her lips. However for a guy or someone who doesn't like flash, it may be a little too glittery. That being said, I also am not a 'flavor' type of person. I don't like my lip products to taste and smell like artificial fruit. I don't know why, I just don't. So, this is more of a personal thing. If you like fruity scents and flavors, you'll love this. It's just too teeny-boppy for me. Not very adult. The texture is really nice. Not like the old Chapstick, which is like trying to rub a cold candle on your lips. It does seem to absorb into the lips much better than the old formulations, and it doesn't feel as waxy. On the other hand, I will say that for the price, what the heck, go ahead and buy it. I must admit, If I had a choice between dry lips and this product, I'd definitely wear it. So it's a good 'fall back' to have, just in case. My main issue is the ingredients. I prefer all natural ingredients (or as much as possible). There are literally no natural-based ingredients in the list for this new Chapstick product. Literally. It's full of chemicals, waxes, preservatives and artificial colors and flavors. It has parabens, red 40, mineral oil, petroleum, etc.....not exactly 'healthy' like they state on the package. I muchly prefer Burt's Bees. Summary: For the price, what the heck. Go ahead and get a few as backup. However, it has strong artificial fruit scent, lots of non-natural ingredients, and the shimmer is pretty 'glittery' looking.

June 26, 2009