NYX cosmetics; Eyeshadows Sunday, Jan 20 2008

 Pro; If you love bold colors and/or metallics, but don’t want to pay the high prices of most make up lines that offer these types of shadows, this is an inexpensive alternative!

Con; NYX did recently raise their prices per item, as I found when going into the store recently to purchase more shadows… however, they still remain the less expensive alternative to big cosmetics lines.

Since I am hoping to pursue a career in professional make up artistry, I really love experimenting with new make up techniques and I’m always trying new bold colors and metallics on my eyes. My absolute favorite eye shadow line is MAC. MAC makes the BEST eye shadows, in my opinion, they’re the epitome of hot, new looks in the beauty industry and I have nothing but WONDERFUL things to say about their products. I simply adore them.. however, keeping up with the higher prices can sometimes be an unrealistic goal for me when my budget is low. :* (

 This is why I have taken to finding more reasonably priced alternatives to my favorite cosmetics. And in my search, I found NYX eye shadows to be a wonderful alternative. They recently hiked their prices per item, I found when shopping for new shadows, however even at $2.99 to $3.50 per color, or averaging about $4.99 for a three/four color palette (depending on what store you shop at), I still think they’re a great buy for a great product! Don’t let the low price fool you, though, these eye shadows are amazing if you’re looking for that high fashion, bold look.

The colors come out bold and beautiful, with a hint of sparkle, and they last throughout the majority of the day or evening. I have some of the ‘chrome’ colors, which are loose powder eye shadows, in yellow, green and pink just to start off. I was very happy with all of the colors, and found they were everything I’d hoped when I got them. They went on easily, the powder didn’t end up all over my face during the application (of course consider that I was careful as well), and they blended easily together with great ease! I also purchased a flat pan shadow of metallic gold from NYX and was equally impressed with how beautiful this shadow went on and looked throughout the day! All I can say is wow! : )

 NYX also offers lipsticks, glosses, blush, eye pencils, glitters, false eyelashes (they even have ones with rhinestones if you’re looking for ultra-glam!), brushes, foundations and concealers from what I saw. They also have a website (nyxcosmetics.com) where you can find store locations that carry their products. If you’re looking for hot, beautiful, bold eye shadow shades that are a good alternative to those popular shades made by companys such as MAC make up, then look into NYX eye shadows!

 1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) packaging; 5, product performance; 10+

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Victoria’s Secret Vanilla Lace fragrance products Tuesday, Jan 1 2008

Pro; Beautiful scent, usually good deals on multiples of this fragrance at Victoria’s Secret

Con; For me it’s a little *too* light, but I still love it!

Victoria’s Secret Vanilla Lace scent is yet another fragrance that I fell in love with back in the early/mid 90’s, right along with their stronger fragrances, Rapture and Encounter. Having always been a vanilla fragrance lover, “Vanilla Lace” drew me right in, and I was sold from the moment I first tried it!

Back in the day, the EDP fragrance came in an awkward shaped glass bottle with an arched top and a flat bottom, kind of like a ‘half-circle’ shape. Nowadays, the EDP comes in a small, simple palm sized 1 oz. spray bottle.

The Vanilla Lace fragrance contains vanilla and orchid with hints of amber and musk. The scent is light but beautiful! As Victoria’s Secret describes it, the scent really *is* sensual, not too sweet smelling for those of you who don’t prefer the ‘sweetness’ some vanilla fragrances tend to be dominated by.

Personally, this feminine scent has been perfect for me for everyday use, as well as at night, though this scent is pretty light and I like my perfume to have a little more kick than that, however I love this scent so much that I still use it anyway! There is nothing else like it, in my opinion. If you want a little stronger scent, I suggest layering the Vanilla lace lotion, body mist, and the perfume for a longer lasting effect. I keep the 1 oz. EDP in my purse for re applications whenever I think necessary.

The old body mist, which came in an 8 oz bottle, was perfect for everyday, practical use. Of course you have to remember that *usually* body sprays, for the most part, are lighter by default. I’ve always associated the body mists with “subtle, light and airy”. I never considered the EDP to be too powerful, either.

As for the newer Vanilla Lace body mist VS. the older, the ONLY difference I found was the bottle style, design, and the old 8 oz. is now the 8.4 oz! I was VERY pleased to find that the only thing that changed about my favorite Vanilla Lace fragrance was the bottle/packaging! The fragrance has remained the same; beautiful, classic, and sexy! For me, that’s the perfect combination! For anyone who is too sensitive to many perfumes and stronger scents, body mists are the best way to go, and Victoria’s Secret has MANY different fragrances to choose from, depending on your taste in scents. For me, as long as Victoria’s Secret makes “Vanilla Lace”, I’ll be a loyal and adoring customer. ❤

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) Packaging; 8++, Performance; 10+++

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Victoria’s Secret Encounter perfume Tuesday, Dec 25 2007

Pro; This is a beautiful fragrance, excellent for vanilla lovers

Con; Victoria’s Secret discontinued it : (

Encounter is another perfume that I fell inlove with in the 90’s, following my newfound affair with “Rapture”.  I first purchased this scent in a tiny purse-size bottle that came in a velvet ‘boot’ for gift giving, and fell in love with this fragrance so much that I went back a while later for the larger 1.7 oz.

To this day, I still have a small bottle that came in a set, unused, which I set aside for some special occasions, and eventually I will be trying to find a good deal on a larger bottle again somewhere online. The only CON of this perfume is that is no longer available for purchase in the stores. I MISS having this fragrance for everyday use!!

Encounter is now listed as a rare, discontinued fragrance from VS. This perfume has base notes of vanilla, which are strong but, much like “Rapture,” it is not at all overpowering to me. This scent is not sweet, but it is beautiful. It’s hard to explain it, as this is one you’d have to truly test to experience. To me, it is pure heaven. It is a very unique and beautiful scent that lasts all day or night with no need to re apply. This perfume, in my opinion, can also go for day or night wear.

Unfortunately, because of it’s inavailability in stores now, many sellers are trying to profit *bigtime* by charging absolutely outrageous prices for a single bottle. What was once a bottle of perfume that went for under $50 is now being sold by many for over $100.. Be sure and check around for the best deal if you’re looking to buy this fragrance.

I absolutely loved this fragrance and am sad that for whatever reason VS discontinued it, I certainly can’t understand why! That perfume was prettier than many I come across in the department stores today, to be honest.

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) packaging; 9++, performance; 10+++++

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Victorias Secret Rapture perfume Tuesday, Dec 25 2007

pro; It’s a beautiful, long lasting, sexy scent

Con;  N/A

Rapture perfume was first perfume I fell in love with and began wearing, way back in the 90’s. Since then I have fallen in love with sweeter, lighter scents as my favorites, but you can bet your bottom dollar there is always a bottle of rapture on my dresser for those extra special evenings.

Rapture contains a blend of exotic florals mixed with amber and wood. The scent is warm and sensual, deep and has a lot of lasting power. One or two sprays is all you need to get you through a night. It is a scent that packs a nice kick, I wouldn’t consider it light, but it is not TOO strong, either, in my opinion.

At last check, the purse size spray was about $20 and the 1.7 oz. bottle was about $35 at Victoria’s Secret. A bit pricey if you’re on a budget, but I have to admit it’s a great buy if you’re looking for something sensual and warm for a sexy evening out or something of that nature. I have always seen this as a night/night out type of perfume, but to each their own. Some will or do love it for day! Either way, it’s absolutely beautiful and has been one of my favorites for over a decade, was in fact my first favorite ever.

It comes in the same signature heart-shaped gold bottle with burgandy cap that it was in when I first bought it so long ago, held in a pretty gold and burgandy trimmed box.

I highly recommend this perfume, despite it’s price range at Victoria’s Secret, you can surely find a better deal online if you check around.. This is one of the sexiest perfumes I have ever smelled!

 1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) packaging; 10+++++, performance; 10++++++++

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Baby Phat Golden Goddess perfume Saturday, Dec 22 2007

Pro; ?

Con; (In my opinion) it smells cheap

Tonight while roaming through the mall in search of something new, fragrance-wise, I tried Baby Phat’s newest fragrance, EDP “Golden Goddess” on both arms and wrists. At first smell I wasn’t sure *what* to think of it. It smelled kind of strong and musky during the dry down.

Once it had been on a while I noticed a flat, slightly sweet smell that lingered. And after some time all I smelled was what reminded me of cheap champagne. That would be the best way I could describe how it lingered on me. The bottle is pretty but to me that’s about it for appeal, the presentation. The fragrance itself fell flat for me and on me.

This fragrance is noted as being “a mixture of bubbling champagne and an intoxicating floral boquet.” Nothing about this EDP intoxicated me, however. As I always say, though, to each their own! From what I’ve read, many people absolutely love this perfume, and in favor of those who DO prefer “golden goddess”, I can say that I did *not* notice the fragrance wearing down and disappearing after hours, as I’ve read many others complain about. I sprayed a little on hours ago at the mall, and I can still smell it on me as I am sitting here typing this now. In my opinion, it seems to have lasting power.

All I smell, though, is champagne. And not in a good way for me, either… My boyfriend also wasn’t particular to it. Though he smelled the original pink Baby Phat EDP on a card and liked that scent much better. I thought it was Ok, though can’t have a real opoinion of the original Baby Phat perfume unless or until I’ve worn it for myself, really.

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) packaging; 10, performance; 1 (I’ll give it some credit for it’s staying power, which I hadn’t been expecting)

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Curious by Britney Spears- Perfume stick Friday, Dec 21 2007

Pro; Pretty packaging and it was on clearance..

Con; The stick fragrance is kind of strong.. a little too sweet smelling for me.

I tried Britney Spears “Curious” perfume while in a department store, and while I wasn’t revolted, I wasn’t entirely impressed enough, either, to go find it at Wal Mart or Target for cheaper.. Honestly, I was more impressed with “Fantasy”, which is more my speed, and even with that, I did not go searching for the best deal on it in order to purchase it (not to say that I don’t want it, it just didn’t rate up there with me with some of my current favorites, so I haven’t gotten it yet).

The fragrance itslelf  (Eau de parfum) includes notes of magnolia, golden Anjou pear, white florals, pink cyclamen, and undertones of vanilla infused musk and sandalwood.  

I found two of the “Curious” perfume sticks in cute little boxes for a couple of dollars each on a clearance shelf earlier this year and I got them for the heck of it. I figured since I thought the scent was  OK, it would be worth the couple of dollars. I still don’t entirely regret getting them, they’re in super cute packaging and the pearlescent shimmer is nice, as well. The strength of the dominating sweetness in the fragrance on the sticks, however, don’t fit well with me.

With the EDP fragrance I tested in the dept. store, it seemed to lighten up quickly and not be too overpowering over time, but the sticks just seem to be a strong, very sweet aroma. When left on, the stick fragrance lightens up just a bit after it’s applied, but if you get close enough you can still smell how dominatingly sweet it is. The pearlescent shimmer holds up, though it does ‘fade’ just a little bit, that I noticed, after a little while. To me, though, it’s not something I would ever call my signature fragrance (EDP or otherwise), it’s just not really my style. But it’s not an unattractive scent as a matter of personal opinion! And also since everyone’s body chemistry is different, this fragrance would of course react differently on different people. My advice is always to test scents first and see what works best for *you*. : )

If you’re a collecter of Britey’s products, this is definitely a cute collectible item, and if you love “Curious”, maybe you’ll actually love the shimmer fragrance stick, too! For those out there who like and prefer the fragrance, the pearlescent glow this stick offers is great for highlighting skin in areas where clothing is not covering, for instance if you’re going out for a night on the town, it’s a pretty irridescence and would look exceptionally pretty on the chest if you’re wearing a dress.

Personally, I found the eau de parfum “Curious” fragrance would be a better option to actually wear than the stick, if I had to choose, the perfume is lighter and doesn’t seem as *unbearably* sweet (though to some it will, everyone is different, of course!)..

You can most likely find this stick fragrance on Ebay or any other related site(s) selling these types of products that might not be as easily found in stores nowadays.. Shop around for the best deals!

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) Product packaging; 9, Product performance; 2 (for the stick fragrance)

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“MAXIglide” by Maxius- hair straightener Friday, Dec 21 2007

Pro; Makes hair look *amazing* and glossy, hair feels instantly smooth and looks extremely healty after use.

Con; Expensive as hell (over $100 unless you find a deal somewhere), In case you experience dryness, it’s wise to use a leave-in conditioner and spray designed for use with a flat iron when using the Maxiglide.

I just received my Maxiglide today, and used it on my hair. It took me about 20-25 minutes for me to complete, mainly because my hair is layered and almost to my waist, and it’s a bit thick. My hair is naturally straight but always tends to frizz and look less than silky once it’s washed and blow-dried. My hair is also color treated (blonde) and highlighted on the top, crown area, so that hair is exceptionally fragile to anything very harsh.

My advice to ANYONE who colors, perms, or treats their hair with ANY type of chemical (in other words, you do not have virgin hair), do not turn that dial all the way up to the hottest settings I used were settings 4 and then 5 (the dial goes up to 10), and even touching my hair after it came out of the maxiglide, I nearly scalded my fingers on my hair. If your hair is not extremely course, unruly, terribly curly, etc., you really don’t need to have the heat up that high unless you want to fry your hair. This flattening iron is THAT intense.

I know in the infomercials they boast how you can’t burn your fingers because the outside stays cool, and yes the outside DOES stay cool, but if you’re planning on doing shorter hair, such as bangs that frame your face (like I have), be careful. When I was trying to clamp the device over my bangs to style them, the hot plates were able to touch my knuckles/fingers as I tried to hold the hair in place. The MINIglide (smaller/thinner version of the MAXIglide) might be a better bet for shorter hair or bangs, if that’s all you’re planning on using it for.

The MAXI glide, I have to admit, IS a very cool hair product. I love the way it made my hair look, but it was just a bit awkward to handle, it’s kind of big and bulky/heavy, and it’s not extremely easy to manage 100% of the time. Plus it’s difficult to get the hang of having to remove your hand from holding the ends of the device in order to spray the steam (to prevent burning yourself). It’s pretty heavy so trying to glide that thing one-handed through your hair is a bit tricky. 

For some reason, also, on a few occasions my hair seemed to “catch” in the clamps, maybe tangling in the pins (?), and I couldn’t move the iron down any further. As a result I ended up with a ‘pleat’ in that spot on my hair and had to try that section all over again. I also figure every time it got stuck like that, that part of my hair got a good dose of heat damage as well. : ( I combed my hair out before each use, so I can’t really explain why it happened each time. It just did. Maybe it was the flat ironing spray I had to use prior to each go at the iron, and the dampness caused the ‘sticking’. So if that’s the case, its probably best to have completely DRY hair and apply products a bit earlier in the process.

Also, I wouldn’t recommend using the MAXIglide on damp hair at all if you have damaged/weak hair, because wet hair is WEAKER hair, and the chances of severely screwing your hair up just go through the roof. Words to live by; stick with dry hair.

As I said, the device is a bit bulky and ‘awkward’ at first but I suspect with time I will get used to using it and it will become easier for me, as it would undoubtedly be for anyone else getting one.  I love how it makes my hair look and feel, my hair is pin straight with an ultra, ultra smooth texture and a  sheen/gloss that it normally doesn’t take on without the aid of shine agents or glossing polishes (which after a day or two, glossing agents make the hair greasy looking). So I am very happy with the MAXIglide overall. I was even surprised to find how utterly smooth the iron made the coarser, highlighted hair around the top of my head, as well.

The iron comes with a cool black travel/carrying bagto hold/store the iron in, and an additional plate (flat with no pins or holes) as well for touch up’s. Also included is the short instructional DVD which wasn’t confusing at all. I did not get the kit with “The end” or the other Maxius products that are sold to work with the iron, but I used my own products instead. I used a basic leave in “protein” conditioner and a flat-ironing conditioning spray, and my hair came out beautiful.

In a nutshell, use caution when you’re still getting used to the iron, condition your hair with a leave-in conditioner to ensure you maintain moisture in your hair if you’re using the MAXIglide on a weekly basis, and find a good flat-ironing spray or balm that is made for use with irons (you can find them in the shampoo and conditioning isle of any drug or grocery store, or a beauty supply store). If you have fine or even normal textured hair or hair that has been treated with any sort of chemical process (coloring, highlights, perming), do not turn the dial beyond 5. I stuck with 4/5 throughout my whole first use, and it was intense enough.

I will probably update this in the near future with how my hair is doing and such since using the MAXIglide on a weekly basis, since I fully intend to, I am very happy with it!

 >>>PRODUCT UPDATE; A day after using my MAXIglide for the first time, after sleeping overnight I figured I would have to wake up to some pleats or ‘waves’ in my hair, but nothing! My hair is still silky, smooth and as pin straight as when I did it 24 hours ago! Normally I have to struggle through my hair and put all kinds of smoothing products in it and then the old ‘wet to straight’ flattening iron I was using,  just to walk out the door feeling decent.. It’s time consuming and annoying when I’ve got a schedule to keep, and I find especially problematic the hair that frames my face, which gets a little more ‘frizzy’ looking than anywhere else, and of course that’s what people see first and foremost! I found that even that hair was still smooth and managable! Before leaving the house, all I really had to do was brush my hair really quick and it took like 20 seconds, leaving me so much more time to concentrate on cosmetics and clothes. Needless to say, this makes me ecstatic! I will definitely be posting more updats on this in the near future. I can’t tell you how happy I am with this product!

>>Second update; After my first wash and dry, I am happy to say that my hairs condition hasn’t been affected in a bad way at all. I had been concerned prior to using the Maxiglide, as to whether or not such an intense iron would harm my hair in any way.. In my experience, there was absolutely no damage, no signs of weakness or breakage, or even any excessive dryness.  I dried my hair as usual with a blow dryer and checked my hair over again, my hair was fine : ) I used the maxiglide again and this time, having a better hang of it, I was done in half the time it took me last time (so about -13 minutes), and my hair is once again glossy, smooth and beautiful! I am no longer sure you have to abide by the ‘once a week’ use, any longer. I’m not saying do it every day and crank it up to a high setting. My average is every 4 days and no higher than 5 (an average of 3 this time). I touched up my hair once after the first use, and that was 2 days later. I didn’t even really *need* to, rather I did it because I was going out and felt like doing a quick touch up. All in all, I recommend this product- it’s WORTH the money and it’s a life-saver to me!! : )

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) Product packaging; 10++, product performance; 10+++++++++++

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“Wet n Wild” Fresh Face Skincare Acne line Thursday, Dec 20 2007

Pro; ??

Con; Pretty much, it doesn’t work.

I found a set of ‘Wet n Wild’ acne prone skin cleanser, acne toner, and spot treatment for next to nothing in some clearance bin and thought, “what have I got to lose?” I hoped it would at least help when my skin got those annoying breakouts, to at least help them clear up faster, if nothing else.

Not only did I find that it didn’t help prevent acne breakouts, but it also didn’t seem to speed up the clearing up of breakouts, either. : ( Overall it was a big disappointment. I’m still using the cleanser because, well, it at least cleans your face! But as far as the “acne treatment” part of it, for me that was a joke. All I can say is no wonder it was in a clearance bin. The “acne toner” doesn’t seem to do a thing for my skin, whether or not there are pimples coming out, and the “spot treatment” is a joke as well. I could use this spot treatment on my acne on one side of my face and an EXPIRED tube of some other brand of acne treatment on the other side of my face, and wake up in the morning with the EXPIRED brand side beginning to clear up, while the “Wet n Wild” spot treatment side did absolutely nothing.

Aside from it being completely useless as an acne skin care product (which is no doubt why it ended up in the bargain bins in the first place) it does smell pretty good and the cleanser is atleast worth using until it’s gone.

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) Product packaging; 0, Product performance;0—

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Victoria’s Secret “Dream Angels- Divine” perfume Thursday, Dec 20 2007

Pro; It’s a GREAT and LONG lasting scent! A little goes a long way!

Con; It’s pricey, averaging $40 to $50 a bottle (1 oz.) for the eau de parfum

I first tried Victoria’s Secret Dream Angels Divine perfume while passing by the store in the mall waaayyy back in 2001. I was instantly impressed with the scent the moment I put it on, and even hours later as I could still smell it on my skin, and it smelled JUST as good! I never had a single complaint from anyone of the opposite sex, either, when wearing this scent, and I wouldn’t exactly consider it an extremely light or ‘weak’ scent. It holds some pretty strong notes, just not at all overpowering. This fragrance has never, ever given me a headache.

It also does not require numerous re sprays throughout a day or evening, to keep the scent alive. One or two sprays and I’m good to go for an entire day/evening.

Not only does it come in a beautiful bottle with impressive packaging, but there’s a gorgeous heart shaped cap that tops it off, and it looks so pretty on any dresser or vanity as an added little perk. : )

The only real drawback to this perfume is the price, which ranges from about $38 to well over $50 depending on size and what comes with it, if anything. But the body mist, which is a lighter spray version of the same fragrance, is much more reasonable, in the $20+ dollar range.

This perfume is worth the price, however. It has top notes of lotus blossom, rose followed by milder notes of lilly of the valley and waterlilly, with undertones of warmer sandalwood and amber that create a lasting ‘warmth’ to the fragrance. This is truly a beautiful fragrance, which is why I still use it on many occasions almost 7 years later! And yes, this means it doesn’t get “bug spray-ish” after it’s been sitting for a while, either!

I also recommend trying other scents in the VS “Dream Angels” line, as I tested “Heavenly” once before and was also just as impressed with it!

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) Product packaging; 10+++, Product performance; 10+++

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Victorias Secret “Beauty Rush” lip glosses Thursday, Dec 20 2007

Pro; long lasting and pretty, a little will go a long way

Con; Pricey per tube ($7 ea.) unless you get them on sale! (*however*, for those spending $20+ on lip glosses in dept. stores, this price may actually be a PRO)

Victorias Secret “beauty rush” lip gloss line is two thumbs up in my opinion. I bought four when they were on sale last Christmas, and still have and use them now. I chose three with a sparkly shimmer, and one a sheer, pale pink tone with no shimmer. I am equally happy with all of them!

The colors are mostly, that I have seen, sheer/nearly transparent, and with a subtle sparkle/shimmer, with the exception of a few that offer no shimmer. The darker toned pinks are richer in color, but remain sheer. The corals offer a more peachy/flesh toned hint of color, and the lighter pink is nearly transparent except for the shimmery sparkle. The plain gloss with a hint of pink is just that, it deepens the color of natural lips and has a beautiful shine.

All of the glosses I own and have been using have great lasting power and there doesn’t seem to be a need to touch up too frequently, unless of course I was eating or drinking. A little goes a long way so they also will last you a while if you’re mindful of how much you’re putting on. There’s no need to pack these glosses on, they go on a bit heavy anyway. The sparkly ones aren’t too over the top, either, in my opinion. And did I mention the scent/tastes that accompany these glosses? YUM. All of them have a yummy name which is pretty much the light scent you smell once you put them on, you will also taste for example a very sweet and yummy taste of “cupcake” if you buy the “cupquake” gloss from VS “Beauty Rush”.

They go on heavier and last longer than the “Dessert beauty/Sweet Kisses” line by Jessica Simpson, so if you’re a fan of her scent/taste stuff but wanted something that would last, this is the way to go. These glosses also look great over lipsticks if you prefer. I’ve tried wearing the glosses over nude lips and over lipsticks, and think both ways are just beautiful.

The only con of these glosses is that they’re something like $7 a tube, so look for VS sales and specials, and then stock up, or try ebay!

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) Product packaging; 9, Product performance; 10++

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