Once in a while a product comes along that seems revolutionary. This is one of them.
I have a SA to thank for sharing this with me the other day. I could feel an immediate difference even with some other product likely still on my eyes.
It is pricey, but in this case you get what you pay for.
Eyelid lifter, wrinkle minimizer, anti-bags, anti-dark circles
What more could you want!
Most lifting products are drying — that’s what makes them work.
This is not drying, and it is not like other lifting eye creams I have ever used.
It can also be used as an eye mask, once or twice a week
I have not done this yet.
My take
The SA was turning 64 she said. Her eyes looked as if she could have had surgery, but she had not.
She and I both agree that the Orchidee eye cream didn’t seem to do much. (I have had a sample.) I preferred the lip and eye cream to the Orchidee. But I prefer this cream over anything else I own. That, of course, means I have others to use up and not replenish.
My eyes are hooded, always have been, but they feel more open — seriously! And they felt this way from the first application.
Do yourself a favor and find a counter that sells this. Let them put some on you. See if you don’t agree.
In a month we’ll have to see if we see a difference in my eyes. In the meantime, I feel a difference.
Do you use this?
Have you ever tried this? What do you think? It seems like magic to me.
Karin
5 for effectiveness
$$$ About $110 — on a par with some Shiseido, La Prairie, Cle de Peau
FOTD + Take 2 -- lasting power I decided to compare pictures to answer Phyrra's question. Now I don't remember what shadow base I used.* I'll check the name of what I think it was and add it later. But afterwards I...
FOTD Lancome Redux + Fyrinnae eyes I said yesterday that I wanted to go to the Lancome counter and see if I could apply the mineral foundation and have it turn out well. I didn't want to go sans all makeup,...
FOTD Lancome Redux + Fyrinnae eyes I said yesterday that I wanted to go to the Lancome counter and see if I could apply the mineral foundation and have it turn out well. I didn't want to go sans all makeup,...
FOTD Chanel Makeover Wow, I really loved the shape of this eye. I have never had it done like this, and the trick will be if I can copy it. Everything is Chanel unless noted. We used Sublimage...
Review: Tarte Bottoms Up Lower Lash Mascara This picture was taken late in the day after running around all day in 80 degree heat. As you can see the mascara, both top (Lancome Hypnose) and lower (Tarte) stayed put. There was no...
Reducing Allergies in Your Home Many folks I know are suffering from allergies right now. You know the culprits: itchy, stuffy, scratchy, teary, wheezy, sneezes, and phlegm - a parade...
Beauty Products - How To Save Money On Them Beauty products can be quite expensive. Have you seen the price of the specialty makeup or perfumes? Everyone wants to look their best all the...
Votre Vu Make Up Giveaway! The celebration continues today with a little talk of make up! That's right ladies....who doesn't love make up? Especially when it's being given away? I...
Check Engine Light is On This is not a good morning for me. I'm sick with this flu that's been going around and now my check engine light is on....
Sillage is how much fragrance follows you or is left in the room when or after you are in it — some fragrances can knock you out with it, especially if you don’t have a light hand…or if you can no longer smell it. as you once did because you wear it so often.
For some folks, adequate sillage actually increases their presence in a room. It gives a larger presence in another dimensional way, like an invisible radius around the one wearing it.
That can be either good or bad. It’s good to extend or increase our presence in some ways.
The trouble is, it’s not good to always assume others like a fragrance as well as you do, or necessarily think it even smells good on you, especially if they just plain don’t like it or have bad associations with it. OTOH, it might be a plus if there were someone you wanted to keep at arms length. If you knew they didn’t care for one of your fragrances, you could intentionally wear it when you knew they’d be around you, to keep them farther away…or just to keep them off balance a bit — a passive agressive (or aggressive, depending on how you look at it) way of dealing. It’s also not so good if it drowns out the fragrance you are wearing, because the only thing that can be smelled is the other fragrance — or if there are 10 competing fragrances all for the same space.
A fragrance with loads of sillage can be smelled farther away. One with little sillage is noticed only as you move closer. I think the latter can be even more interesting at times.
Most Estee Lauder fragrances have plenty of sillage — think of Knowing or Private Collection or Youth Dew.
Georgio has heavy sillage.
Some fragrances are fleeting, notably citrusy ones.
You always knew when my step-mother had been in a room. She wore a well known Estee Lauder scent that some love and others don’t. I’m not sure she had any concept how much she was wearing.
Here’s an article about someone being refused on a public bus in Canada for wearing her fragrance (Very Irresistable.) It’s actually not a bad fragrance, just one I don’t wear well. I can’t say I’ve ever smelled it on anyone. It makes me curious now why it would conjure up such a bad event.
I guess I prefer less sillage, though I sometimes appreciate it on others, depending on how much I like the fragrance, or like it on them. (I once spelled Knowing on a woman, and it was simply the best. She said it was her favorite. I could see why. It’s one I have to use on me in miniscule amounts, so I pretty much don’t wear it.)
Usually if I have a lot of sillage it is too strong for me, because I’m in the midst of it. There are, of course, a few exceptions and times of exception.
I also find that temperatures and climes affect a fragrance, so just because I wouldn’t wear it here, doesn’t mean it wouldn’t smell great on me in Michigan.
Review Guerlain 2009 Cherry Blossom Oh, this is a nice fragrance! And it's even better that it's priced at only $57, from the Aqua Allegoria line. Cherry Blossom is being billed as a floral green fragrance (Frangrantica). It also has...
Candles I love candles, but often forget to light them. People say my house smells wonderful, but I don't smell anything particularly most of the time, unless one is lit. OTOH, there is a candle I...
Hot hot hot: summer in the city, fragrances to stay cool with I keep getting refrains of songs in my head for this recap of summer scents. How about Joe Cocker! Ayala Sender of Ayala Moriel perfumes invited me to participate in today’s summer scent story. Ten...
Sensuous by Estee Lauder Over the past few weeks I've sampled small bits of Sensuous because one of the local store's SAs was sharing her own small purse size with customers. I liked it well enough to try a...
SOTD Review Guerlain L'Instant Magic Today I decided to begin the day with Guerlain L'Instant Magic. This is a very nice, soft fragrance, but long lasting. I can still smell it hours later, though I could layer up, if I...
How to Wear Cologne Perfume Have you ever stepped into an elevator with someone and suddenly got knocked out by her scent because it was so strong? Did you ever...
Review of Design Perfume by Paul Sebastian This is a review of Design perfume which is by Paul Sebastian. The Design perfume was created by the Paul Sebastian design house in the...
Guide to Fragrance House Offerings The more that you know about fragrance houses and fine fragrance and everything that encompasses the topic of perfumery, the better able you are going...
Review of Acqua di Gio Perfume When you think of men's perfume, what comes to mind? Maybe you are imagining sophisticated elegance and masculinity. Today, the perfume market is largely driven...
Best and Worst Projection What is the worst projections people do? Fear is very virulent and it isn’t instinctive. We warp our own natures for the sake of fear....
Remember the old adage: when life gets tough, the tough get going?
Well, even better than that is to have a plan in your arsenal to get you through the tough times. And if you’ve lived long enough, you’ve likely gone through tough times more than once, and you have some idea of what works for you.
Some things have to be out-waited — and maybe out-witted — just to get you through, and I don’t want to discount those times. Try to make it easier on yourself.
When the storms of life blow, whether actual or figurative, is there something that warms you up?
Once again, Ayala has included a group of us in listing what works for us.
What brings you comfort?
It’s likely different for everyone, but try to add to your life those things that bring you comfort, when life is especially rough. Take time for yourself, not only to process, but to be good to yourself.
A cup of tea, alone or with a friend … Starbucks! … a new book — or finish one you haven’t taken the time to get around to … fresh flowers … prayer and meditation … quietness … a spritz of your favorite comfort scent … write in a journal … add to your list of gratitude … do something to take your thought off it … do something nice for someone else … see a movie … listen to music … contact a friend … send an email … do some beading … take a walk … jog … ride your bike … do some yoga … a warm bath (and light some candles) … hot chocolate … your comfort food … window shop … spritz a fragrance in memory of a loved one …
Whatever works for you! It doesn’t really matter what works for someone else, if it doesn’t work for you.
I always feel close to my folks, who are gone now, if I window shop. My mother and I used to window shop each Christmas season, and our family business was in retail. I like to wander around by myself, just window shopping. I like seeing what is new, and it feels comforting to me.
But it might not be comforting to you.
Finding comfort in comforting scents
I have two ways of dealing with difficult moments: either I don’t wear perfume at all (I know, you can hardly believe it!) or I choose whatever scent is calling me at the moment and that I think would make me happy/happier. If I were going through an extended hard time, I would definitely rotate fragrances so I didn’t associate one fragrance with the difficulty.
I find that scents can wake me up enough that I think of the scent and not the problem, if that makes sense. So I might choose something I don’t normally wear, just to break through my thought process and give me a break.
I’d likely not wear a fragrance, or wear it lightly, if I were going to the dentist, for example, but I would spritz myself when I got out. Somehow that seems kinder to the hygienist too.
Here are some scents I am enjoying right now. They make me happy, and seem right for this in-between season when it is still cold here (for us) but I am ready for spring (but not the heat of summer):
Guerlain Moscou — this has just enough of a gourmand that it smells of chocolate on me, though it’s not listed as a note, but isn’t cloyingly sweet.
Notes: Musk, fruit, wood…vanilla, bergamot, red currants, absinthe, lemon, plum
Guerlain 68 — this one has a little more punch, must be all that citrus, than Moscou — I sometimes layer the two after one has dissipated.
Notes: green tangerine, lemon petit-grain, limette, star anise, coriandre, cardamom, pepper, immortelle, opoponax, and cedar.
or: bergamot, green mandarin, lemon, clementine, orange peel, blood orange, sweet lime, grapefruit, basil, fennel, star anise, lavender, bay leaf, cypress, elemi, thyme, myrthe, bigarade, mandarin, petit grain, lemon petit grain, pear, violet greens, lierre, gentiane, seve, blackcurrant, freesia, lily of the valley, hazel leaf, cyclamen, cardamom, coriander, black pepper, pink berry, nutmeg, ginger, jasmine, frangipane, magnolia blossom, orange blossom, peony, rose, carnation, ylang-ylang, lychee, fig, blackberry, immortelle, lentisque (mastic), opoponax, amber, benzoin, vanilla, cistus, heliotrope, iris, tonka bean, sage, musk, patchouli, agarwood, cedar, sandalwood, vetiver, vegetable musk, praline, myrrhe and lichen.
Guerlain Tonka Imperiale — this is a little headier, a little warmer, and leans me towards Kilian Back to Black, but less so.
notes of tonka bean, amber, vanilla, rose, orange blossom and rosemary.
Kilian Back to Black — this adds tobacco to the mix. It reminds me of a favorite uncle’s pipe.
Notes: bergamot, nutmeg, saffron, cardamom, coriander, raspberry, blue chamomile, honey, olibanum, cedar, oak, tobacco accord, patchouli, vanilla, almond and labdanum.
Yves Rocher Ispahan (1982) — it reminds me of a dear friend who brought it back from Germany for me, because I loved it on her, when YR wasn’t sold in the States. Sadly, sadly, no longer available. It always reminded me immediately, without having to wait for it to go through stages, of what YSL’s Opium smelled like after it had dried down on me, but it had more pizazz on me than Opium ever did. I’m wearing it and loving it today. And it was so inexpensive for how great it was. Some of the notes are no longer as good as they once were, but as soon as that burns off, it is just as great as it ever was.
Notes: Citrus, jasmine, patchouli and rose
Top: Lime, clove, sandalwood
Body: Rose, Amber
Base: Patchouli, jasmine
Soon I will break out my more floral and springtime fragrances — some lily of the valley; some green chypres; my Guerlain Chant d’Aromes and Chamade; my E. Coudray Nohiba; my citrus and sweet oranges … and celebrate the once-again newness of Spring!
How about you?
I want to hear what you find comforting. Please leave a message below.
Tom Ford Private Blend No one ever accused me of not having expensive tastes. I was able to sample these on my recent trip, and if I had a lot of money burning a hole in my pocket, I...
Review: Kilian Love don't be shy Love...don't be shy...was the fragrance I thought I preferred when I smelled it on each of my two previous trips to Vegas (the only access I have to Kilian fragrances.) It didn't surprise me that...
Hermes Caleche Fleurs de Méditerranée Inspired by Michelyn Camen's Mimosa Pour Vous: Hermes Reissues Calèche Fleurs de Méditerranée I am reissuing this review I did earlier. The good news: It looks like there will be a spring 2010 reissue. Yippee!...
E. Coudray Nohiba E. Coudray Nohiba is one of the most interesting fragrances I own. I bought it a year or so ago, unsniffed, on the strength of recommendations at POL, judging from the sounds of it, knowing...
Guerlain Vol de Nuit Evasion I must have been sleeping whenever this fragrance was discussed, because I only happened upon mention of it the other day when I was surfing for decants and samples. It seems to be one that...
Perfume Note Glossary pt 2 Balsam of Peru – This is a tree resin that hails from Central America. It is named because it was initially shipped out of Peru....
Independent Filmmaking We're back with a new interview, to Actress and Producer Glorinda Marie. We talk about independent filmmaking, filmmakers, actors and movies industry. Here are some...
weight gain behind a desk I am not a dietician, a nutritionist, a doctor, a trainer, etc. Please consult a doctor before beginning any diet program. photo credit: swruler9284 As...
Walk A Mile In My Shoes Do you remember your last shoe purchase? I do. It was a pair of New Balance trail shoes I found on sale marked down from...
Public service announcement. Yesterday Parfum1 notified me that they are now carrying Serge Lutens. Of course, I went right over to look!
Well, well, well…a lot of us are going to be happy!
They are 10% off. Not a lot, and of course, if you have to pay shipping… OTOH, you might have to pay shipping anyway and they would be full price.
Hey! every little bit helps!
They are carrying 19 of his fragrances. Whoo hooo!
Do you have a favorite Serge Lutens fragrance?
When I first found access to a lot of like-minded perfumistas, I was gifted with sample vials of nearly every one of his fragrances. At the time there wasn’t even one store in my state that carried them. I would have had to have been in NYC. I still don’t have access to any of them close to me.
That was such a nice thing for someone to do for a complete stranger, I felt, and she has a spot in my heart even now. [Waving!]
Does this encourage you to try a new one? or have a back-up for one you will be finishing soon?
Neil Morris Fragrances, Part 1 If you are lucky enough to meet Neil Morris or sample his fragrances, you can count yourself blessed. One day I hope to get to a Sniffa. I often think I live in the back...
Scent memories Some of my earliest memories are of my mother and how good she smelled. I remember asking her one time what she was wearing and if it was expensive. It smelled divine. It was not...
Neil Morris Fragrances, Part 3 Dark Season Perfume is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion. It heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure. Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel I think it is safe to say that perfume prolongs your enjoyment of moments too....
Falling In Love- Scents And Treats For Fall Credit for photo: Autumn in Sepia by Rick Lundh (via gallery.photo.net) Once again Elena from Perfume Shrine has gathered us together to celebrate fragrance, this time for fall, and Gaia came up with the title....
L'Instant Magic Perfume Review This is a review of the L'Instant Magic perfume, a perfume designed by Guerlain Paris' design house for use by women. The L'Instant Magic perfume...
Niki de Saint Phalle Fragrance Perfume Review If you are looking for a new fragrance perfume to try and you're looking for something that is unpredictable and insistent rather than innocent, then...
Fine Fragrance Glossary Hugo - This fine fragrance was released by the Hugo Boss fragrance house in the year 1997. The perfume scents and fragrance notes in this...
Fragrance Scent Primer pt 2 The more that you know about fragrance scent, fragrance notes, perfumes and how fragrances work, the better able you will be to choose the perfumes...
Chanel Les Quatre eye shadow Sublimes: Marine, Beige Rose, Granite, Clear Blue
I rarely use this set, but I should use it more often. I originally bought it because I didn’t have anything in this color family. All my blues were more of a normal blue.
This set leans toward teal. If you make an X, the upper right and lower left are both light shades, though I’ve never worn them alone, say, for day. Thinking about it, I wonder why, and want to do it sometime soon.
The opposite line, are two darks, very dark and extremely dark. One looks black-blue; the other looks black-black-blue. They would be very dramatic if used for evening — or even to achieve a goth look.
You can see where I laid the lines. I used the lighter of the two dark blues to dryline the bottom. The darkest to dryline the top.
Arbonne mascara, 2 step. La Prairie brow pencil. Dior skinflash concealer with a touch of Arbonne in the outer corners.
Chanel foundation; my sparkly powder mix, followed by BE mineral veil sort of like a bronzer.
Highlight: Benefit Georgia
Blush: YSL # 19, also used as a bronzer
Lips: NYX Aphrodite + rimmed with Beauté Paramour (and a touch in the center.)
What do you think?
To buy Arbonne from Bookgirl, if you don’t have a representative, go here.
Karin
FOTD Meow eyes, NYX lips I was happy with the way this turned out. I spread out my Meow samples and thought what did I want to try: Eyes: Base: Nude Frost (there is some question as to whether this...
FOTD AL eyes + MAC& lips + glitter lashes This was my idea from yesterday, to do orange and red. As I went along, I preferred orange and purple, but when I was finished, I was happy. Eyes: after my usual base Inner lids:...
Review: Arbonne Travel Palettes and shadows I wanted to show you how beautiful the sets are, but I'm having trouble photographing the true colors. I will show them in several lights. You need a container When you buy Arbonne colors, you...
FOTD Chanel Collection Essentielle Lumiere Tendresse Chanel palettes Chanel has brought out these collections several times now, and the colors are so close to each other that I think it took me a couple of years to realize they are actually...
FOTD AL eyes + Chanel NYX lips + I've spent the better part of most days since the kids are back in school re-doing the house, organizing and changing -- all things impossible to do when everyone is under foot. Consequently, I'm behind...
How to make a trick Fifties How to make a trick fifties? Pale skin and white as porcelain and beautiful red lips but also the look of a mermaid ... Mostly...
Bayonet Golf Course, Seaside, CA Bayonet Golf Course is located in Seaside, CA Phone: 831-899-7271 Website: http://www.bayonetblackhorse.com Course History: The Bayonet golf course is one of two courses at this...
Marilyn Monroe Pictures Collectibles -> Memorabilia -> Movie Memorabilia -> Autographs - Original: Autographs - Reprints If you are looking for a great collector’s item that is in...
{Beautirati} AVATAR: Get the Look of a Na'vi very informative and very creative video that is easy to do with the things you probably already have at home to achieve the look of...
I felt like bright turquoise today, and that made me think immediately of the colors that Aromaleigh has.
Eyes: all Aromaleigh, except where noted:
Crease: caribe, pure hue
Outer corners: aqua nightmare, gothic lolita
Inner corners: endless sea, rocks! sonic eyes
Drylined upper and lower: moonagedaydream, rocks! sonic eyes
Tight Lined upper and wet lined lower: Jordana Sterling Blue
Brows: Clinique soft blonde pencil
Mascara: Guerlain Le2 (double sided with small brush for lower lashes)
Foundation: Lancome minerals — still trying to figure out how — and how much — to use; see how funky my nose looks here? I saw it in sunlight and took care of it. Generally I leave everything off my nose for this reason.
Powder: Lancome minerals
Highlight: AL magnolia blossom
Blush: AL english rose (a powder, not a blush, that didn’t show up, so used it across my face, lightly)
Blush: Meow Masterpiece Water Lilies
Lips:
NYX Lips Hebe — this one doesn’t migrate. It’s got a lovely sheen to it, doesn’t feel slippery — and it doesn’t move into liplines around the mouth.
FOTD Arbonne Smoky eye + Clinique lip + I wanted to try applying the Arbonne colors in the manner shown in the catalog for the Smoky Eye look, so I decided to do the colors again today. Next time I will use a...
FOTD More AL matte eyes + NYX lips This look is from yesterday, Thursday. I haven't done my look for today yet. This was a quick summer look, using the NYX lippie that Miranda had reminded me of, when she commented the other...
FOTD Arbonne + AL Eyes + NYX lips Eyes: Arbonne colors the same as the first day I used them, just in different placement with different lids Base: Nude Frost Lids: AL sunny disposition, eye plush -- the eye plush colors are lovely...
Review NYX Lips Reds NYX Lips makes some glorious reds. The formula is moisturizing, but not migrating, which is good when it comes to reds. Interestingly enough, I like myself best in blue reds. But men are said to...
FOTD AL Red Blue Theme Vampira and Swank The muse hit early this morning and I wanted to be wild and crazy in response to the Primary Theme week at AL -- use red, blue, yellow. Why not! I could always wear sunglasses...
How to make a trick Fifties How to make a trick fifties? Pale skin and white as porcelain and beautiful red lips but also the look of a mermaid ... Mostly...
Collecting Antique Teddy Bears Are you wondering why you might want to go into collecting antique teddy bears? It really is a matter of taste when it comes to...
Anti Aging Makeup Tricks and Tips pt 2 There are makeup tricks and tips that you can apply to melt away the years and start feeling and looking young and beautiful again. Here...
By Kilian just launched Kilian Collection ($140) which is a set of smaller vials of all of By Kilian’s unisex scents –
* Prelude to Love, Invitation
* Love, Don’t Be Shy
* Beyond Love, Prohibited
* Liaisons Dangereuses, Typical Me
*Cruel Intentions, Tempt Me
* A Taste of Heaven, Absinthe Verte
* Straight to Heaven, White Cristal
* Back to Black, Aphrodisiac
If you love the Killian fragrances like I do, but hoped to have more of the scents without going broke for several full size bottles, this is your chance. The vials look to me, without actually have seen them yet, like the size that fits the travel set.
These are heady fragrances and a little goes a long ways, so these should last you a while, unless you find yourself wearing one more than the others, in which case that is the one you will buy full size (then refill your little bottle for travel or portability.)
This is what we’ve been asking for and what I was told was going to happen. I’m glad it did!
You can order from Sergio Gonzalez at SAKs in Las Vegas 702-967-1266. He will be happy to help you. Be sure to tell him you heard it from me.
Do you wear any of his fragrances?
Do you have a fave? Mine is probably Back to Black.
Overview of Kilian fragrances If you'd like to have a handy reference to all of Kilian [Hennessy] fragrances, here's an overview. As you can see, the focus of his Black Masterpiece line is what I call variations on Love,...
Review Guerlain Tonka Impériale Once in a while a really beautiful new perfume comes on the scene. Guerlain Tonka Impériale is one of them. It is destined to be a classic. Part of the L’Art et la Matière collection,...
Review Prada L'Eau Ambrée Prada L'Eau Ambrée is one of the nicest new fragrances to come along in a long time. It has a luminous quality to it and is very wearable, for either men or women. Nice hardly...
Falling In Love- Scents And Treats For Fall Credit for photo: Autumn in Sepia by Rick Lundh (via gallery.photo.net) Once again Elena from Perfume Shrine has gathered us together to celebrate fragrance, this time for fall, and Gaia came up with the title....
Review Vetyver Vanille by Le Jardin Retrouvé It's no secret that I like vetiver, so I was very happy to receive a bottle of Vetyver Vanille from Le Jardin Retrouvé. This is a scent for which they have no samples. I reviewed...
Blush Perfume by Marc Jacobs The Blush Perfume by Marc Jacobs is a lovely floral fragrance that was launched in the year 2004 and designed to suit women. The scent...
Midnight Poison Perfume by Christian Dior The Midnight Poison perfume by Christian Dior is the fifth fragrance in the Poison line by Christian Dior, which originally began with the now-iconic original...
Annick Goutal Perfume Grand Amour Review This is a review of Grand Amour, a Annick Goutal Perfume. When it comes to perfume fragrances, how can you exemplify the scent of love?...
Paris Hilton Perfume Set Review This is a review of the Paris Hilton perfume set, an Eau de Parfum spray intended for women that was designed by Parlux Fragrances. The...
It’s Not Your Father’s Fragrance Any Longer There is a debate among the young folks and the old folks regarding which scent might be the most traditional and best for attracting the...
Rêverie au jardin (Daydream in the garden) (it’s a little hard to give the nuance in the name as he uses ‘au’ which means ‘with’ instead of ‘dans le jardin’ which would usually be ‘in the garden’, properly it would be Daydream with the garden or Daydream with garden, which to me has a difference nuance which is hard to convey in English, almost side by side equally, rather than ‘in’) is Tauer’s newest fragrance. Thanks to a friend at POL who shared her sample with me, I was able to experience it. This is certainly a lovely fragrance. It joins his others that are equally compelling.
Rêverie au jardin
a classical fragrance, twinkling like a star, caresses your journey, through green lands.
Tangy galbanum and gentle fir circle a green mountain lavender.
Bulgarian rose softens an airy and mystical frankincense.
Abelmoschua seed embrace a woody vetiver and balmy tonka bean. Tauer perfumes
I would seriously have considered not trying this fragrance, as I have yet to meet a lavender that I really like. Usually lavender is used in men’s fragrances, and even a spritz is unwearable by me.
But this lavender reminds me of the lush sweet flowers planted by my son’s mother-in-law. Her garden has three different lavenders, each of which gives up its fragrance when the flower is pressed in one’s fingers. Tauer’s vision of lavender is imminently wearable.
Rêverie au jardin
I love lavender, in all its facets ranging from herbaceous, spicy green notes to sweet, clean flowers and woody, vibrant chords. I wanted to create a fragrance that captures this complexity and transform it into a perfume. A perfume that melts into the skin, and makes me dream of green lands and twinkling stars. Tauer perfumes
He has captured his vision perfectly.
I confess when I looked at the notes, I didn’t know what to make of them.
I love greens. I’m not so convinced of fresh. Fresh as in real life freshness, yes. Fresh as in some modern ‘fresh fragrances’ that are too sharp and artificial for my tastes, no. This freshness falls into the former category.
Fir? I didn’t think so…but these are blended exquisitely. The fir is definitely not a strong pine scent. It lingers on the edges, completing the memory, it does not take over the fragrance.
Lavender? Rose? Maybe not.
It just goes to show in the hands of a master parfumeur anything can happen.
But how to describe the differences in just a few words? The Hermès all have a strong opening and the notes are almost jarring in comparison to Tauer’s garden fragrance which opens lushly and moves more subtlely. Each take you on a journey.
Rêverie au jardin
The notes
The head notes are very green and fresh- lavender (high altitude mountain lavender from France, galbanum and fir balm with bergamot and rose absolute from Bulgaria softening the herbaceous lavender.
They lead over to a musky, fresh heart note (frankincense from India and ambrette seeds) with a woody and flowery orris line.
The body note is the most complex part of the scent, being a soft, and airy wood accord (vetiver, tonka beans, oakmoss). Hints of vanilla and ambergris, sandalwood and cedar wood play into a balsamic tone that seems to last for ever. Tauer Perfumes
All in all, on me, the fragrance comes down to a lovely floral, somewhat sweet but not like candy, somewhat vanilla-y, tempered by the green notes. I quite like it.
Neil Morris fragrances, part 5 Gotham (end) Neil Morris spoke to me about this lovely, dark, lush fragrance: I was walking one October in New York City, which is also called Gotham. It was a particularly warm evening, very dark, almost menacing...
Lily of the Valley Fragrances, for spring When I was in college, spring in Michigan was synonymous with breaking out my lily of the valley fragrances. I kind of got away from it with the heat of the deep south where spring...
Tom Ford Private Blend No one ever accused me of not having expensive tastes. I was able to sample these on my recent trip, and if I had a lot of money burning a hole in my pocket, I...
When only tea will do: the Bvlgari line of The There's something comforting about tea in the breadth of its types; its taste; its medicinal values; and its olfactory pleasures. Factored into this is the entire idea encompassing tea: a bit of a ceremony; setting...
What two fragrances was I comparing? One fragrance was Chamade. Which was the other one? Karin What two fragrances was I comparing? Thursday 21 June 2007 @ 1:25 pm Wednesday 6 June 2007 @ 8:50 am About two weeks ago, I...
Adding a Garden Pond Most people are looking for some way that they can add class and uniqueness to their garden landscape space. Some people are simply looking for...
212 Cologne Review by Carolina Herrera The 212 Cologne was originally introduced in the year 1999 as a cologne for men by Carolina Herrera. The 212 Cologne by Carolina Herrera is...
Pocket Fragrance Scent Guide Continued This is a pocket fragrance scent guide for women's fine fragrances. There are hundreds of high quality perfumes out there, and knowing a little about...
Clean Perfume Review Clean Perfume has been around since 2003. While there's an entire category of fragrances known as clean or fresh, Clean Perfume is an actual brand...
Hiris is one of my favorite hot weather fragrances. Introduced in 1999, I only heard about it a couple of years ago. It is considered a semi-oriental, suitable for a man or a woman. It is iris with an H for Hermes.
Top Notes: Orange blossom, rose, coriander seed
Heart Notes: White iris, black iris, cedarwood
Base Notes: Vanilla, ambrette seed, almond wood
There’s been a lot of iris hitting the market in later years, but Hiris stands the test of time. It is both sophisticated and modern. The scent of iris comes not from the flower, which as I remember has very little scent, but from the root or rhizome. Some iris is as cold as ice (notably Iris Silver Mist by Serge Lutens — which I cannot wear.)
Prada’s Infusion d’Iris brought out in 2007 was similar to Hiris, but it lacked any punch. It got tiresome after a while, because it was very light, with not much movement. I found myself overwhelmed (underwhelmed?) by its sameness.
Top Notes: mandarin, orange blossom,
Heart notes: iris
Base notes: galbanum, incense, benzoin, cedar, lentisc and vetiver.
By contrast, Hiris is greener and more earthy. Maybe it’s the vanilla that I like, though I don’t particularly smell it. Maybe it’s the woods in it, in contrast to Prada’s. Whatever — I know I like it better.
For a while I swore off Iris, thinking I had grown tired of it and could no longer wear it, but I find I’m enjoying Hiris again. And my kids think I smell good.
It’s a refreshing fragrance, good for this sticky heat we are having. It brings the temps down, if that is possible. Somehow it reminds me of the time I walked along a park in Innsbruck. The park was filled with tulips and smelled earthy and green, along with the scent coming off the water.
Just what I need for a super hot summer day.
Have you ever worn Hiris? do you love it too?
I know a man could wear this well, but it is not so unisex that it leans sharply masculine. I couldn’t wear it if it did. Do you prefer Prada’s? or not?
When only orange will do I got to thinking about the favorite summer fragrances I recently posted and realized I have a number of sweet orange fragrances which I have talked about in the past. I decided to update it....
L'air du desert marocain by Tauer Perfumes I've heard a lot of good things about Andy Tauer fragrances, originating in Switzerland, and I was excited to finally be able to try several of them thanks to a friend at POL. I will...
Burberry The Beat I was pleasantly surprised by Burberry The Beat when I sampled it last night. It was, on me, basically what I had hoped all the other Burberry incarnations would be. It is called a sparkling...
Review Avon Tahitian Holiday (2008) I wanted to wear a beachy scent yesterday, and I remembered this fragrance from Avon, but in the course of the day, I forgot to layer into it. So I decided to wear it today...
Comparing the latest Ayala's perfumes Ayala Moriel is a talented parfumer with a wide selection to choose from. If you are lucky enough to live in her area, you can be included in some of the wonderful things she offers...
Brit Sheer Perfume by Burberry Review This is a review of the Brit Sheer perfume which is designed for the Burberry collection to suit women. The Brit Sheer perfume by Burberry...
Fragrance and Fragrance House Glossary Forever - This fine fragrance was released by the Alfred Sung fragrance house in the year 1995. The perfume scents and fragrance notes in this...
Pocket Fragrance Guide Continued This is a pocket fragrance guide to women's fine fragrances. There are hundreds of high quality perfumes out there, and knowing a little about each...
If you are lucky enough to get Sephora’s catalogs, you know how much fun it is to see the colors they show for each season.
Spring 2010 is no exception.
Bright and vibrant
The colors are bright and vibrant, more bright and vibrant than they have been in a while — and they fit right in with the advertising and bottle of Sara Jessica Parker’s new NYC fragrance. The dress she wears in the print ads would fit right in with the Sephora catalog.
I suspect this will get fashionistas to open their wallets for new colors.
Splitting lid and under eye colors
One thing I find particularly interesting about the eye makeup is that they are splitting the colors from the lid to the under eye. This is throughout the catalog.
Some looks to try Grey and plum
One particularly pretty look is on a model with dark hair and light gray eyes. Her lids are deep gray, with a pink in the area under the brow. Her under eye is a deep purple/plum. She is wearing deep pink lipstick.
Warm pink or apricot with blue or purple
The model has dark hair and brown eyes. Her lid is warm pink. Her undereye is either periwinkle blue or purple. She is wearing a medium pink lip. I didn’t like this look as well. The contrast is too great in the shadow colors.
A couple of interesting eyes with vertical placement of colors
This is an interesting look, one that they perhaps copied from the gorgeous Shiseido print ad of a couple of seasons ago. You’d have to have the right eye and the right colors and the right place to wear this look for it to be successful. However, the Shiseido eye was magnificent. I’d like to have someone do that eye on me.
Bright pink shadow
This wasn’t particularly pretty on a couple of models. Not the right shade of pink for their skin tones.
Only one model that looks natural
She’s on page 12 and in her early 20’s, if that. Blond hair, blue eyes, pink nude lip, soft nude shadows.
Bright blue liner
The model is dark haired, brown eyed, medium tone skin, wearing nude pink lip. The only splash of color is the liner.
Bright turquoise shadow or liner
I use this a lot. It was vibrant on the model.
Important to get the balance right
For these looks to look right — and not just tacky (which some of these looked) (unless you are going for tacky) — the balance of tone, shades and colors has to be right. Sometimes a nude lip works; sometimes a bright lip works. They are pairing with brights in shadows either way.
It will be interesting to see if this color trend crosses all the major and indie cosmetic lines. Then, if people will embrace it.
I’m definitely going to try the gray and plum look.
Review Milani Crystal gloss for lips I have two Milani lip glosses, both in the same formula Crystal Gloss for lips, in the shorter wand. One is Baby Love (orchid with pink and gold glitter) and the other is a pale...
FOTD AL lips and eyes It's been a while since I've done a FOTD, just lazy I guess! This is one of my favorite color combinations. I keep the two shades together so I don't forget how nicely they go...
EOTD Smokey Sephora Eyes (Saturday) This picture was taken Sunday morning after sleeping. I couldn't take a picture Saturday night. Trust me, it was gorgeous when it was first done. I'm sorry not to offer you a better picture. I...
FOTD Lancome Redux + Fyrinnae eyes I said yesterday that I wanted to go to the Lancome counter and see if I could apply the mineral foundation and have it turn out well. I didn't want to go sans all makeup,...
FOTD Bright lips Blue eye shadow I was going for the look of the new Shiseido ad or the cover of Allure with Taylor Swift on it. Both feature bright red lips. For the sense of vibrancy, it reminded me of...
Anti Aging Makeup Tricks and Tips pt 2 There are makeup tricks and tips that you can apply to melt away the years and start feeling and looking young and beautiful again. Here...
Things I Love Thursday: Sephora When I was thinking about what to write for this weeks Things I Love Thursday Post, I kept thinking about this wonderful eye shadow set...
Installing LED Holiday Lights in Your Home The term "Holiday Lighting" once pertained just to Christmas lights, but now applies to what has become a year-round trend. The normal consumer is now...
Removing Red Eye On Your Digital Photographs You’ve seen the dreaded demon-eye effect that occurs when the camera flash bounces off the eye of a person or pet. An otherwise wonderful picture...
A couple of days ago I had the chance to test both Beyoncé Heat and SJP NYC. I didn’t put either one on my skin, instead I spritzed cards. Generally speaking, I don’t wear fruity florals, so I hesitated to skin try either of them. I’ll do that later.
My take
To me, both are very similar, but Beyoncé Heat has a little more depth. If you wanted both, I’d wear NYC for day and Heat for night or I’d switch them around depending on my mood. NYC is billed as a fruity floral, but Heat has a fruity floral thing going on too, with the addition of woods, tonka and amber. Neither one smells like a teen fragrance.
Beyoncé Heat:
Top notes of red vanilla orchid, magnolia, neroli and blush peach,
Heart notes: honeysuckle nectar, almond macaroon and crème de musk
Base notes: giant sequoia milkwood, tonka bean and amber.
SJP NYC notes: Italian mandarin, white osmanthus, wild red strawberries, gardenia and honeysuckle.
The print ads for Heat are so hot, they scorch the paper. And the commercial will raise your temperature!
Perfume Shrine caught the similarity to this:
SJP’s ads for NYC take a different tack. They have energy, from the bottles to her dress.
After I spritzed the cards, I carried them separated, but in my hand. At the next store, the SA raved about how good I smelled. I told her I had just sampled both fragrances, which one did she like better, and I let her smell both cards.
She picked SJP NYC, which she said smelled sweeter.
I also liked SJP NYC better for the same reason. But NYC is not girlie-weet, it is more grown up.
When I get a chance, I will skin try them both.
Have you tried either?
Do you prefer one over the other?
Perfume review: Divine l'être aimé femme Continuing through my samples of Divine fragrances, this one from a generous POL'er. You can find L’etre Aime - Femme (“the beloved woman”) at Lucky Scent $125 for 50 ml or $3 for .7 ml....
L'air du desert marocain by Tauer Perfumes I've heard a lot of good things about Andy Tauer fragrances, originating in Switzerland, and I was excited to finally be able to try several of them thanks to a friend at POL. I will...
Marc Jacobs, Orange If you are looking for a sweet orange fragrance, not an orange blossom, check out the new MARC JACOBS ORANGE . It is a hefty 10 oz in a spray bottle reminiscent in some ways...
Review Arbonne Men's skin line NutriMenC RE9 is the 4 step men's line from Arbonne. It is my understanding that the men's line is formulated similar to the RE9 for women, but tweaked for men. Of course, you knew I...
B Perfume by Boucheron Review The B perfume was created in order to celebrate the 150th anniversary for Boucheron, a luxe jeweler. The B perfume is a truly sumptuous composition...
Great Tips For Avoiding Credit Card Late Fees In recent years, the amount of profit that credit card companies are earning from the payment of credit card late fees has reached record levels. ...
Best Perfume for Women Are you wondering which is the best perfume for women? Here are more examples of the best perfume for women. If you need help choosing...
Escada Ocean Lounge Perfume Review by Escada This is a review of the Escada Ocean Lounge perfume fragrance, a perfume for women by Escada. The Escada Ocean Lounge perfume was originally introduced...
Pocket Designer Fragrances Guide Continued This is a pocket fragrance guide to designer fragrances. There are hundreds of high quality designer fragrances out there, and knowing a little about each...
Spurred on by hearing a description of this on another, I reached for my bottle of Delices de Cartier parfum last night and decided to give it another go.
Generally speaking, I do not like cherry in a fragrance. I bought a bottle of Guerlain’s cherry a number of years ago, because I fell in love with the bottle, but it keeps refilling itself, for the few times I reach for it, it doesn’t seem to go down. Each year Guerlain has tweaked it a little, but I’ve only bought it once.
I find I’m gradually moving into another price range of perfumes. This one I resisted buying because of the price point and because I don’t usually care for cherry. (edt is either $75 or $105 and parfum is $160 — and of course, wouldn’t you know, the only one I liked really was the parfum. I’m not surprised that I like the best. I usually don’t go for parfums as I prefer sprays and I don’t notice a lot of difference, but in this one, the parfum is a spray and there is a difference.) I ended up trading for a partial bottle, which works just fine for me, as it is rare for me to finish a bottle. I’d rather have variety until I know how much I will reach for it.
Cartier’s fragrance, which means Delights, is packaged in one of the most beautiful bottles ever designed — a red and clear, cut-glass bottle topped with a flower centered with a large square crystal. With this fragrance they moved successfully into another fragrance type, that of the fruity/floral gourmand.
It’s notes are Iced Cherry (Morello), Sicilian Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Violet, pink, white and yellow Jasmine, Freesia, Amber, Tonka Bean, Musk, Sandalwood.
Last night, I kept coming back to smell my arm, and it was Delight-ful. At the same time, because it is not something I usually wear, it was a bit jarring to me and didn’t seem like ‘me.’ But I liked it well enough to give it a go again today.
I spritzed a small spritz before heading to the movies, transferred it from one arm to the other, and this time, it was lovely, not jarring. Imagine, when I came home, that my house smelled wonderful. (People always tell me it does, but I’m not able to identify what it is particularly.) This time, what I smelled under it all, was the small spritz I had spritzed, then walked down the hallway carrying the sillage with me. (No one remarked about the fragrance on me. I really do wear fragrance for myself. If I wore enough that others would particularly notice, I’d overwhelm myself.)
Because I loved the way the house smelled, I re-spritzed once more for the day. One tiny spritz — remember this is parfum!
In this fragrance, there is a difference between the edt and the parfum (which is a spray) (there is no edp). I prefer the parfum, as it is richer and deeper. The edt seemed brighter and less ‘real’ if that makes sense.
I find the cherry neither tart nor sickeningly sweet. If you’ve ever eaten Rainier cherries, which I particularly love, that is the feeling I get from this fragrance. Rainier cherries are large with sweet flesh and are considered the best of the best. The skin is yellow to red. They sell for $1/each in Japan, but lucky for me, they are about $5 a pint here and are available only once a year. Considering that I don’t like cherries and I love these…I wait each year for the season, now that I’ve found them.
It’s no surprise that Cartier which is known for its opulence would choose an opulent cherry as well, for this is not a typical teen cherry…oh no, this is grown up, voluptuous, Delight-ful, complete with spirit and verve. This is a grown up woman, used to the best in life, who loves to experience life. Her gourmand fragrance is not chocolate. You better watch out for her — she’s a little bit saucy and unpredictable, but that only makes her interesting.
Sensuous by Estee Lauder Over the past few weeks I've sampled small bits of Sensuous because one of the local store's SAs was sharing her own small purse size with customers. I liked it well enough to try a...
Remembering and forgetting Learning is about more than simply acquiring new knowledge and insights; it is also crucial to unlearn old knowledge that has outlived its relevance. Thus, forgetting is probably at least as important as learning. Gary...
Scent impressions on a hot day The Different Company Part 3 Between L'artisan and Serge Lutens were testers from The Different Company. Since I love Bois d’Iris, I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to at least try one of them. Bois d'Iris notes iris...
Review Guerlain 2009 Cherry Blossom Oh, this is a nice fragrance! And it's even better that it's priced at only $57, from the Aqua Allegoria line. Cherry Blossom is being billed as a floral green fragrance (Frangrantica). It also has...
Layering that works (fragrance) I'm a day late in reporting what works when I wear fragrances, since the past two days I've reported what I wore the day before not the day of. I like to layer up my...
Bond No. 9 Chinatown Perfume by Bond No. 9 The Bond No. 9 Chinatown Perfume by Bond No. 9 is a unisex perfume fragrance, which means that it was designed specifically to suit both...
Tips For Fishing By Boat If you have been fishing on shore, and are ready to take it to the next level, or if you have been fishing by boat...
Fragrance Notes and Scents Femme de Rochas - This fine fragrance was released by the Rochas fragrance house in the year 1944. The perfume scents and fragrance notes in...
Popular Female Fragrance Diamonds & Emeralds - This perfume was introduced by Elizabeth Taylor in the year 1993. This is a fine fragrance that contains notes of green...
Memories of LJ inspired by robingoh to look through my past LJ entries, i stumbled upon this exchange in response to a photo of the both of us...
Thanks to a friend at POL, I finally have a bit of Borneo to sample.
I’ve been waiting a long time to catch a whiff of this one. Frankly, I wasn’t really eager because of how it has sometimes been presented: camphor and patchouli. Two highly possible negatives.
Camphor wouldn’t interest me, but patchouli is a favorite, provided it is the right presentation of it. Patchouli has many different manifestations, some of which are just too dark and bitter or 70’s for me to wear. But the patchouli in Borneo is my favorite kind — it’s heady on the sweetness, similar to that found in Prada By Prada For Women..
Wow! My sample is not a spray, but this is a love from the first blast. Loads of sweet patchouli…even when daubed on. There’s something sensual about applying a fragrance in drops, made doubly so, when the fragrance is sensual to begin with.
It reminds me a bit of Yves Rocher’s Cocoon, which is a much less expensive version. But whereas Borneo is deliciously smooth and holds close to my skin, Cocoon is brass and wild and stronger through all the layers of notes, including the chocolate. Another way I’d describe it would be that Cocoon feels a bit artificial, whereas Borneo has no feeling of artifice in it. For me, I find Borneo far more wearable — darn! (I expected it.)
Well, never say I don’t have expensive tastes. I generally like the best.
And because I liked it from simply smelling it, I wasn’t afraid to really give it a real try the first time I wore it. I was pretty sure it was not going to be a scrubber on me.
Both of them are sweet and hot and dry. Borneo settles quickly into more sweetness and a uniform nature. DM settles into sweet and dry and sensual, while still holding distinct notes that blend but are not lost in each other. Of the two, I can smell DM more strongly, but not so strong I would tire of it over the day. I think I’d have to reapply Borneo to keep pace. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Well, I will have to drag out my Prada again to compare that also a bit later in the day. If you are lucky enough to find a sample or a decant, definitely try Borneo, if you like sweet patchouli.
Borneo 1834, part of the non-export collection, is available only in Les Salons du Palais Royal in Paris, where it retails for 100 Euros for 75ml.
Karin
The notes of Borneo include Indonesian patchouli, white flowers, cardamom, camphor, cistus, galbanum, cannabis resin, cocoa accord.
Review: Patchouli by M. Micallef Back to testing the samples I received from a POLer. For the past couple of days I've compared Patchouli by M. Micallef $200 for 100 ml or $4 for .7 ml at Lucky Scent on...
Gucci by Gucci Gucci By Gucci edp is an interesting new fragrance. It took me a long time to decide on this one -- and I had bought it. I thought I was going to end up swapping...
Le Baiser du Dragon by Cartier Today's posting is a joint effort by Ida (Chaya), Elena (Helg), and me. Thanks to both perfumistas for writing! I asked them to speak to the perfume version of this, as I have not tried...
Scent impressions on a hot day The Different Company Part 3 Between L'artisan and Serge Lutens were testers from The Different Company. Since I love Bois d’Iris, I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to at least try one of them. Bois d'Iris notes iris...
Tauer Perfumes Rêverie au jardin Rêverie au jardin (Daydream in the garden) (it's a little hard to give the nuance in the name as he uses 'au' which means 'with' instead of 'dans le jardin' which would usually be 'in...
Perfume Notes Lexicon Continued Ozonic - In terms of perfume notes, this word is used in order to describe certain aroma chemicals that are specifically designed in order to...
Flora Perfume Review This is a review of the Flora perfume, a perfume intended by women that was designed by the Gucci design house. The Flora perfume comes...
Scrimping Child Support Harder For Family Budgets As a result of the tight economy some families are feeling and extra pinch because of child support payments. As income decreases, unfortunately, child support...
Angel Innocent Perfume Review This is a review of the Angel Innocent perfume by Thierry Mugler, as well as a comparison to the Angel perfume by Thierry Mugler. The...
Viva La Juicy Perfume Review This is a review of the Viva La Juicy perfume, a perfume by Juicy Couture that is designed to suit women. The Viva La Juicy...
Just when it seems like a bit of good news would be exceedingly welcomed, comes this true story (I’ve checked it with Snopes) about a woman hand feeding hummingbirds.
Isn’t it great that with the Internet we have a way to easily share these experiences that we might never hear about otherwise?!
Thanks to Cathy for sharing with me in the first place!
It’s a reminder to me that “God’s in his heaven; all’s right with the world.”
from “Pippa Passes”
The year’s at the spring
And day’s at the morn;
Morning’s at seven;
The hill-side’s dew-pearled
The lark’s on the wing;
The snail’s on the thorn;
God’s in his Heaven -
All’s right with the world!
Robert Browning (1812-1889)
Is it possible that in these difficult times we could trust more deeply that God will feed and clothe us, as he does the birds and the lilies? Whether we are literally in need of food, shelter, clothing, water, health, employment or any of a myriad of other needs, the most basic need is for the ideas that will lead us in the right direction and out of limitation.
Ideas are always limitless! (This goes along with the short movie I posted earlier.)
Not too long ago while pondering how I should schedule my day, though my first inclination the night before had been to get on down the road and back home, I felt it was all right to meander a bit. In doing so, I had a number of interesting conversations with strangers, some welcome time with a friend, and a bit of fashion enjoyment, including some time with perfumes.
After I’d been back on the highway for a while, an electronic sign informed me of an accident 26 miles down the road. One lane was closed. (I learned later that it had only cleared about an hour before I got there.) If I had hurried my way home, I would have been stuck for hours while they cleared the road. I was able to get past it without any lost time.
Sometimes we do not know what we or others are protected from, but this time it was apparent. And it could have been far worse, but thankfully wasn’t. On this busy stretch of road, many more could have been involved in this accident but were not.
That’s just a small example of how ideas will clear our day for us. Expect ideas today and always that will help you!
Review: The Blind Side (movie) If you haven't heard of this movie, hurry on over to your nearest theater and see it. Book Girl and I went this morning. I had heard via the grapevine that it is a wonderful...
Review Love Happens Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart star in the film Love Happens. It is not a romantic comedy, but a romantic drama. There are moments of humor breaking the seriousness. And a really cute bird. The...
Surprise! (Not) Your manager matters Anybody who's ever had a bad manager, knows it's true that your manager counts. Keeping up with ideas -- Do you? I like to keep up with ideas in the business world (ex-IBM'er) as well...
Review: Turn Coat by Jim Butcher, Dresden Files series Jim Butcher has another hit on his hands with his latest in the Dresden Files series, Turn Coat. Once again, Harry Dresden, the last wizard in Chicago is pitting his wits against the dark forces...
Ah, sweet licorice in tea and chocolate and perfumes I'm not one to eat a lot of black licorice, but I do like it. When our son was five, we had one of our most beloved exchange students from Finland. He came when he...
Sentimental Gifts Men There are many gifts one can give that have sentimental value. These gifts bring back memories from a special time and place. The following are...
Land and God Zionism is both political and spiritual. It has been going on for a long time, and it even translated into other cultures. In America it became...
PLM Not MLM - Product Launch Managar That's 'Product Launch Manager' you must may have gotten an email or six (like I have) about this new product, it's being launched by Jeff...
Interesting Facts: Volume 1 [/caption] WORLD FACTS Who Made The Marree Man? facts 60 km out of the town of Marree in South Australia, there is the figure of...
The Scrolls and the Grail DEAD SEA SCROLLS: - Dr Norman Golb is a top scholar who makes a plea for the de-politicization of the Dead Sea Scrolls. His plea...
There are a lot of tricks to the trade when you are talking about lips. Lip prep is a big part of it.
Lip Prep
Remove old lipstick staining from your lips with a gentle eye makeup remover or facial makeup remover. Dry Lips
Always use a balm under your lipstick and consider some form of lipgloss over the top, at least in the center.
Here are some common complaints and their solutions: Problem # 1 My lips are rough Remove all the dead skin.
Some people use a toothbrush, but I find that harsh.
I first used a 2 step program when Adrian Arpel had one that sold at Bloomies. It is possible to use a facial scrub on your lips, but the grains are larger, so I prefer to use one made especially for lips.
Here are some products I like that are gentle, but work. I like both of these equally. I prefer the Beauticontrol Balm, but both work equally well. I use whichever balm I feel like, but I always use the proper set together, if I am using the exfoliant from one brand, I use its balm.
Mary Kay Satin Lip Lip Mask, follow with MK Lip Balm — $9.50 each for .3 oz each
A friend said this set cleared up her lips after using countless other balms that did not work.
Problem #2 Lipstick migrates into the lines outside my lips
Be sure to moisturize well around your lips. This will make the lines less prominent.
Be careful with dark shades, as this shows up more.
Use a less gooey formula or be careful how heavily you apply.
I find some of the lipsticks made to last all day are too drying for my lips, so I work around it.
Line lips with a pencil to hold your lipstick inside the line better This works up to a certain point in age or appearance. After that, an invisible pencil works better.
You can use a pencil that matches your lipstick, one that contrasts (less modern look)(a dark visible line around a lighter lipstick), or one that matches your lip tone.
If you are using a color that is different than your lipstick color, you can actually change the shade — experiment with a favorite lipstick and a variety of pencils. You can do this on the back of your hand or just as you apply your lipstick for the day. This gives you almost an infinite number of shades with a combination of lippies and pencils.
If your lip pencil has a lipstick brush at one end, you can use that brush to feather or move the lip pencil color into your lip area or use it to apply your lipstick.
You can use the pencil first and line only the outside edges of your lips, or you can fill in the whole lip a bit (I prefer that method) or you can line after you apply your lipstick (I like this method too.)
Use one of the clear/invisible lip pencils that are on the market to line outside your lip line outside the color of lipstick you are using
At a certain point, this works better than using a colored lip pencil (or can be used in conjunction with a colored one.) It stops the lipstick from migrating.
You can find these in several brands. Avon used to make one.
DuWop reverse liner is great. One made by Too Faced is supposed to be very similar.
Guerlain Kiss Kiss Liplift is a magic product
This cleared up my lips in one application after I hurt them with stinging lip plumpers. Every other lip balm known to man did not work. (At the time I didn’t have Arbonne’s that might have worked.) It is slightly colored, like a concealer, so you can use it to mask your lip color to make other lipsticks true to their shade, or to bring your lips back to a natural color if they are stained from other lip colors.
It’s an expensive product, but one I will never be without.
Problem # 3 My top and bottom lip are not balanced; one is thinner than the other.
Use a lip pencil to draw at the top of the outside edge of your thinner lip. Experiment with drawing outside of your lip line to see if this looks natural or not. It depends on whether the outer edge of your lip has a distinct edge to it or not. You can often see on magazine pages that this has been done to many of the models. You might have to look closely, but they have done it. You want it to look natural in RL. Be sure to make sure that the points of your upper lip are centered under your nostrils. It looks strange if it is not.
You can use a slightly lighter shade of lipstick on your thinner lip. Or highlight only the center of that lip with gloss. Or use one of the techniques below for fuller lips.
Problem # 4 I want my lips to look fuller
Any of these ideas work, or a combination. It is possible to use one of these ideas on only one lip. Use a darker lip color at the outer edges of your lips than the center.
You can do this by using one lipstick and layering the other over it in the middle. Or you can simply use one shade on the other edges and another on the inner, blending a bit where they come together. It isn’t necessary to use a lip brush; you can work right with the tubes. Use a navy eye pencil on the outer edge of your lips. Carefully. This really works!
Be sure to blend this into your lip color. Use a shade of navy that isn’t too dark for your lip tone. Use lip gloss in the center of your lips
Concentrate it on your bottom lip, then smoosh your lips together. Use a lipstick made to enhance your lips.
Be careful what formula you use. I hurt my lips by using the same lipstick daily (wonderful color though!) by Cover Girl.
Buxom lip gloss by Bare Escentuals is very good and gentle. I love all the ones I have.
This is a beautiful set:
These are more neutral:
These are a little darker:
LipFusion is also good, perhaps a little less gentle. It comes in many colors.
Problem #5 My lip edge sometimes looks stained.
There are lip pencils that are skin toned. Use this carefully outside your lipstick color. You can also use a concealer for this purpose. The lip pencil will hold the line better than concealer, if lines outside the lip are a problem.
Rim your lips with a gloss. This really works and is a lovely look. You can choose a gloss that matches your lipstick, is lighter, a close shade or one that is different (say, a light apricot rim of gloss around a pink lipstick.) Experiment! I first saw this at the Beauté site. It really makes lips look both fuller and more youthful.
Problem # 6 I eat my lipstick off
Use a longer lasting formula or one that is less gooey when you know you are going to be eating.
I haven’t found that blotting lipstick or powdering makes the lipstick last any longer. And I do not care for the way powder makes my lipstick feel. I do, however, like using AL Rocks! glitter over lipstick to add color or sparkle. It seems silkier than powder. I don’t know if it adds any lasting power.
Try to be aware of working at your lips with your tongue or teeth.
Before you take a sip of a drink, lick your lips a bit. It forms a barrier between your lipstick and your cup or glass.
Use your fingers to wipe any lipstick off your cup or glass. It will make you more aware if you are losing more lipstick the next time you drink. Plus it looks nicer to those around you.
Use your teeth, barely your lips, to take food off silverware.
Break bread up into smaller pieces so you aren’t using your lips to bite into it. Who wants to literally eat lipstick!
Cut up large sandwiches, such as hamburgers, and eat with a fork. Or blot your lipstick before eating. You don’t want to get lipstick on your teeth or chin.
Problem # 7 I just feel like I look old
Update your look to follow one of the modern trends that work for you. Rim your lips with gloss — it’s surprising how well this works! Try it!
Try a stronger color in lipstick or try a lighter lipstick. Or both. Make sure you are wearing a tone and a shade that compliments your coloring.
If you change your hair coloring, you might have to change the depth of tone in your makeup, including lips, blush, and eyes.
Make use of the techniques above.
If you don’t have consultants for either MK or Beauticontrol, let me know and I will give you contact info for people I know who are consultants.
To buy Arbonne from Bookgirl, if you don’t have a representative, go here.
Making a new lippie out of 2 or more + more I want to know what happens to lost posts in the scheme of things. I wrote this up recently and it is now in Internet Never Neverland. Here's hoping this one is as good, if...
LOTD 3 NYX colors + Beauté (on one) This is the last of my 30 NYX colors for $24. Such a deal! I saved the more brown/apricot for last, because I don't wear them as well. These lip pix were all from Thursday....
LOTD Guerlain Lips: base: SCA hyaluronic pen Guerlain 08 lined with Guerlain Rose Indien pencil I find I'm really enjoying the SCA hyaluronic plumping pen. I should have been using it for months -- that's how long...
FOTD Meow eyes, NYX lips I was happy with the way this turned out. I spread out my Meow samples and thought what did I want to try: Eyes: Base: Nude Frost (there is some question as to whether this...
FOTD Chanel Collection Essentielle Lumiere Tendresse Chanel palettes Chanel has brought out these collections several times now, and the colors are so close to each other that I think it took me a couple of years to realize they are actually...
Jennifer Aniston: Lips & Nose Simple Beauty Secrets: I LOVE Jennifer Aniston's natural beauty secret for super-soft lips: She combines a small amount of granulated sugar and water in a teaspoon and gently massage her lips...
Anti Aging Makeup Tricks and Tips pt 2 There are makeup tricks and tips that you can apply to melt away the years and start feeling and looking young and beautiful again. Here...
Florida Gators Blanket When it comes to showing off your Florida Gators pride, why not opt for a piece of merchandise that is functional as well as visually...
How to Compete with the Alpha Male Throughout nature the female of the species is attracted to the alpha male in the hope that she will be able to bear his offspring-offspring...
Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more...
Related Posts 
FOTD + Take 2 -- lasting power I decided to compare pictures to answer Phyrra's question. Now I don't remember what shadow base I used.* I'll check the name of what I think it was and add it later. But afterwards I... 
FOTD Lancome Redux + Fyrinnae eyes I said yesterday that I wanted to go to the Lancome counter and see if I could apply the mineral foundation and have it turn out well. I didn't want to go sans all makeup,... 
FOTD Chanel Makeover Wow, I really loved the shape of this eye. I have never had it done like this, and the trick will be if I can copy it. Everything is Chanel unless noted. We used Sublimage... 
Review: Tarte Bottoms Up Lower Lash Mascara This picture was taken late in the day after running around all day in 80 degree heat. As you can see the mascara, both top (Lancome Hypnose) and lower (Tarte) stayed put. There was no... 
.) It’s actually not a bad fragrance, just one I don’t wear well. I can’t say I’ve ever smelled it on anyone. It makes me curious now why it would conjure up such a bad event.
. 
