Savvy Thinker http://savvythinker.com thinking about life, playing with makeup Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:53:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Jay Chou – Qi Li Xiang (Orange Jasmine) http://savvythinker.com/jay-chou-qi-li-xiang-orange-jasmine/ http://savvythinker.com/jay-chou-qi-li-xiang-orange-jasmine/#comments Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:53:03 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2007/02/21/jay-chou-qi-li-xiang-orange-jasmine/

A lovely song from a young Taiwanese singer.

Jay Chou's musical style is similar to most singers in Asia, but it can be argued that he has created his own genre of music. His early work emphasizes R&B influences, but as his popularity skyrocketed and more albums came out, his style slowly changed into something that many people call "Jay style". Wikipedia

Karin

Originally posted 2007-02-21 10:33:46.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/jay-chou-qi-li-xiang-orange-jasmine/feed/ 0 Review: Comparing Guerlain Cologne du 68 and Guerlain Moscow http://savvythinker.com/review-comparing-guerlain-cologne-du-68-and-moscow/ http://savvythinker.com/review-comparing-guerlain-cologne-du-68-and-moscow/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:44:57 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=4137

In many ways Guerlain Moscow reminds me of 68, so I thought today I'd compare the two to see if my scent memory was on the beam or not. There is that certain Guerlain flavor to both of them which adds a particular sameness -- I wasn't wrong about that.

I hesitate to call it Guerlinade. I suppose I'd call it Fruit and Guerlinade because both of these have some fruit in them. At the same time this is not your usual teeny bopper fruit, this is grown up fruit. Both of these can easily be worn by a man or a woman (68 is marketed towards a man, but it is good on me.)

I put 68 on my left arm, and Moscow on my right arm at the same time. I was careful not to mix the two (very often I will apply to one arm, then transfer to the other by blotting my arms together.)

Guerlain 68
68 was sweeter from the get-go and the stronger of the two. As far down as vanilla is in the list of notes, you wouldn't think it would be so dominant.

Notes for 68, if you can believe it:

Notes for Guerlain Cologne du 68: 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.

Or a shorter version, again if it can be believed:

green tangerine, lemon petit-grain, limette, star anise, coriandre, cardamom, pepper, immortelle, opoponax, and cedar.

Guerlain Moscow
Moscow was spicier -- maybe it's the absinthe and the red currants. You definitely get red currants in the beginning -- and I like that note. (Kilian has an absinthe too -- perhaps I'll compare it to Moscow tomorrow, though as I remember it, the Kilian has lavender in it, so it is quite different.)

Notes: Musk, fruit, wood...vanilla, bergamot, red currants, absinthe, lemon, plum

It is now several hours later. Neither is strongly discernible to my nose, but putting my arm up to my nose, both smell pretty nearly alike. Perhaps having both is not a necessity, but they are quite different in the beginning.

Here are the verdicts from my scent testers (2 teens, 1 20 something, and a preteen):
Could they smell it when I walked past them two hours later?
Yes, they could smell it; it was light, not too strong. Then I let them smell each arm so they could tell me which one was still evident. I could smell 68 more.
20 something: She could smell the Moscow and likes it better.
Pre-teen: She could smell the 68, but likes the Moscow better.
Teen (10th grade): She could smell the Moscow. It's not too strong.
Teen (8th grade): She could smell both. She could smell it when I walked away, not when I walked toward her. She liked them.

Isn't that funny!

Re-spritzed: (I've never respritzed before today.)
Me: 68 smells reminiscent of Shalimar now, the original vintage. Between the two, I can't smell Moscow, though putting arm to nose, Moscow is spicier.
20 something: Still likes Moscow.
Pre-teen: Oh, that's fruity (the blend of the two.) I like it!
10th grader: I smell vanilla now. (Yes, there's vanilla in both.)
8th grader: I like it!

So there you have it! I still think it's funny.

Hey, Claire (Kyler and Jorganne), what do you think? from Guerlain at the Palazzo in LV.
Do they remind you of each other? Which lasts longer? Which do you prefer (not fair, I know, when you sell it!)

Don't forget that both of these are available at Guerlain at the Palazzo in Las Vegas. Stop in if you are there -- or phone (702) 732-7008 or email GuerlainPalazzo.STORE@lvmhuspc.com. Be sure to tell them you heard it from me. They will treat you right and take good care of you. I always have fun there.

Do you have either of these? Do you have both?
Do you have a preference one over the other?

My personal preference: I wish the bottles were smaller and cost less.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-07-22 14:04:17.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/review-comparing-guerlain-cologne-du-68-and-moscow/feed/ 0 Bride Wars http://savvythinker.com/bride-wars/ http://savvythinker.com/bride-wars/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:42:30 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=1197

I thought I was going to hate this movie, but I went along just because.

It turned out to be better than I had hoped.

I like both the actresses in it. Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway -- what's not to like!

Toss in Candice Bergen in the sort of roles she is getting as a mature woman. She brings some authority to the role.

Chris Pratt plays a character you wish were different. My companion picked up on his character's negatives right away.

All's well that end's well. I'm glad there was a denouement. And neither Kate nor Anne was too over the top in this one, to the point where I had feared before I went to see it.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-02-25 12:18:18.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/bride-wars/feed/ 0 FOTD Arbonne Smoky eyes + lips http://savvythinker.com/fotd-arbonne-smoky-eyes-lips/ http://savvythinker.com/fotd-arbonne-smoky-eyes-lips/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:35:37 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=4496

The Smoky Eye look is one of two eye sets that Arbonne has put together. Judging from how beautiful it looks on the model and how beautiful the Audrey Eye look is in the travel palette and on Shari, I wanted to try this sight unseen. Shari has a palette set up in it, but didn't think to bring it when Book Girl had her last party.

When my palettes arrive, I'll take photos of the sets in the palettes then post the pictures here, on yesterday's FOTD, and in a new post.

You can see the Smoky Eyes on a model here. Aren't they lush!

This set repeats the brown shade (matte) from the Audrey Eye look, but adds a bronzy shade (shimmery) to go with it. If I hadn't seen it on the model, I likely would not have ordered this shade because I wouldn't have thought it would work on me, but it does. It is very pretty combined with the brown, and will be beautiful alone also.

I applied this without looking at the recommended order of colors. Next time I will remember to do it the other way. One change: wetline, not tightline. The other: use the shimmery bronze (Charade) just over the pupil of the eye. Inkling is a beautiful color. It is not as black a navy as it appears; it is a true navy. I applied

Lids: linen, then smudge with inkling, adding Charade a bit over all
Drylined top and lower: Inkling I wanted to bring out the blue
Tight lined top and lower: Eclipse, smudged with smudger on the pencil
Inner corners: Illume. shimmery white
Mascara: Guerlain
Brows: La Prairie pencil

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Primer
Foundation: Revlon Age Defying (one side) Revlon Spa (other side)
Highlight:
Rouge under powder: MK stick
Powder: Guerlain meteorites
Blush: Arbonne Savvy, the soft apricot shade

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Lips:
Arbonne Illusion + Legend 1/2 and 1/2, 1 on each lip, smooshed; then blended well with a lip brush, because it looked like light lipstick with dark liner.

I loved the lip color on the model. I'm going to try this right now, just to see, since my earlier color is gone. Illusion looks quite brown in the tube, not the soft apricot on her lips. Stay tuned for a LOTD post.

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What do you think?

I think this will be very pretty for fall -- and I'm feeling like fall, even though the temps have not broken. It's still hot, hot, hot here.

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If you'd like to order any of these Arbonne products and do not have a consultant, Book Girl would be happy to help you.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com


Originally posted 2009-08-23 13:11:00.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/fotd-arbonne-smoky-eyes-lips/feed/ 0 Shellac Tulip Manicure with red tips and white nail art http://savvythinker.com/shellac-tulip-manicure-with-red-tips-and-white-nail-art/ http://savvythinker.com/shellac-tulip-manicure-with-red-tips-and-white-nail-art/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:47:54 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=8265

I am really enjoying getting my nails done. Just when I think Kim can't top what she did the time before, she does something equally beautiful.

This is called a tulip-French manicure, because of the shape of the color. Last week's shape was straighter and called a V-French. She could have done the tiny hearts on each nail, but we were running way behind schedule, so she chose not to. But I wouldn't hesitate to do the hearts on all nails. I thought it might be a bit much, but it wouldn't have been. Kim was right.

What is really interesting to me is that my nails are quite short. At most, they are 3/8 of an inch long, but this makes them look very long.

I told Kim I wanted this shade of red on the tips. She chose all other colors and the nail art. I wasn't sure about using just a sparkly clear as the base, but it looks great in RL. Way to go, Kim!

Base:Zillionaire (a sparkly clear)
Color: Red Baronness (one of my faves)
White: regular polish, dried a bit with a fan, then Shellac top coat applied and back under the light.

My friend Kathy W says this is her favorite, next to the one with teal tips (but she hadn't seen that in RL, and I had a hard time adjusting to it!)

I think this looks great for Valentine's Day. What do you think?

See more Shellac posts here: http://savvythinker.com/category/hands/shellac/

Karin
www.savvythinker.com


Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/shellac-tulip-manicure-with-red-tips-and-white-nail-art/feed/ 0 Review Lancome Visionnaire http://savvythinker.com/review-lancome-visionnaire/ http://savvythinker.com/review-lancome-visionnaire/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:06:17 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=8257

Once in a while a product comes along that purports to do everything you ever wanted a product to do for you, and then some. Such is Visionnaire by Lancome. If you can believe the hype from the company, women say they no longer want surgery after using the product.

Well, all right then! Whoo hooo! Who wouldn't prefer a product to surgery, given the choice!

I never know if the women who give testimonials are ones who have never taken care of their skin before, or if they are like me and always have. That makes a difference in results too.

So, I went for a sample, since a friend had told me that they had foil samples to give away. I used it up over a few days and it was OK, nothing to write home about. (I probably used more than a pump a day, just guessing, and the foil I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be one day only.)

Then I had a mini makeover by the Lancome rep at a local store. She had been using the product for 4 months, and her skin looked quite a bit better to me.

So I traded a product I had not liked toward the cost of Visionnaire ($84 for 1 oz) (more for 1.7 oz) and decided I would try it at night (and I am generally bad about night -- I will often use a night product in the day.)

After two days, I could see a difference. Then on day 3, maybe not (but I had used less night cream on top of it.) I've been careful to use the 'right' amount for my skin (the rep said ONE pump of Visionnaire -- it covers lightly, but if it were me, I'd likely use 1.5 pumps or even TWO) -- I'm using Lancome's Absolue night cream on top, then Genifique in the day time.

So far, I do see a difference. The fine lines are nearly eradicated at the top of my cheeks, after a few days. Here are some super closeups and no one sees you that close:

Not smiling:

Crinkling to a grin:

And now, the way I'm normally seen:

Have you tried it?
I rate it 4 out of 5 star, so far. But maybe the jury is still out. I figure you can always try a product and if you don't like it, return it. OTOH, it might work just super for you, so it is good to try.

Let me know how you like it and how you think it is working, if you have tried it or decide to try it.

I do find, for my skin, that changing products (and even changing back after a period of time) gives a jump start to my skin, and it will look better than ever. How much is this jump start effect, and how much is the superiority of the product, who knows!

Later today, I will try to write up a post about the skin products I will try NEVER to be without, even if I rotate them and don't use them daily. When I do, I will link to this post also, for you to find it easily.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/review-lancome-visionnaire/feed/ 0 FOTD Meow eyes, NYX lips http://savvythinker.com/fotd-meow-eyes-nyx-lips/ http://savvythinker.com/fotd-meow-eyes-nyx-lips/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:24:49 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=2172

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 irritates me, but so far, so good today -- I gave it a rest, then tried again today) then my sparkly eye mix
Lid and Crease: Meow VandalEyes Misdemeanor (lime)
Crease and drylined top and lower: Meow VandalEyes Shoplifting (deep vibrant purple)

The lime is a little lighter and brighter than it photographed. You can see the glitter liner on the eye to your right.

Photobucket

Lined: Estee Lauder Plum Grey pencil (which turned out to be more grey than I remembered, so I went over the line and past the line with Meow)
Glitter lined over the top of liners: GirlActik Lavender -- gorgeous color, this line was my first foray into glitters, before AL Rocks! glitter
Mascara: (top, to your left) Mark Scandalash Indigo (purple)
Mascara : (top, to your right and lower lashes) Estee Lauder MagnaScopic purple
The EL is a tad darker.
Brows: La Prairie pencil

Finished look:

Photobucket

Primer: Smashbox Purple Primer
I like the color lift that this gives.

Foundation: Revlon Age Defying Liquid Color 04
I like this foundation and use it often.
Rouge: Mary Kay stick from a limited line
Powder: Lustre Aromaleigh Twilight supernatural powder
Nice gleam. Used my normal powder brush, not a FO.
Blush: Meow Masterpiece Water Lilies Love this color!
Lips: NYX Round Gloss Apricot 19
This is gorgeous and vibrant when applied heavily. Later it softens to a delicious stain-y look, but it is still moist with product on the lip. You can see how it looks here.

I quite like Meow mineral shadows. I am sampling several types, but they all seem to be equally pigmented and equally easy to use.

VandalEyes are our newest, most highly pigmented collection of multi-purpose eye shadows. Silky smooth and designed to be extra long wearing, they're intense and powerful but they are *not* for the faint of heart...Can be applied dry for a bold look, or foiled (applied wet) for the most intense color and sheen.

I'd love to try more of their Masterpiece blush line.

Masterpiece Blush Gallery: Our newest blush collection, uniquely formulated and unlike any other blush you've ever tried. They're sumptuously sheer, and sweep on your cheeks invisibly, leaving only a pure wash of gorgeous colors behind!

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-23 13:32:53.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/fotd-meow-eyes-nyx-lips/feed/ 1 FOTD AL eyes + AL lips http://savvythinker.com/fotd-al-eyes-al-lips/ http://savvythinker.com/fotd-al-eyes-al-lips/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:21:19 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=3481

Finally! I'm current -- this is my FOTD today. I wanted to wear the same eye colors as yesterday.

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Comparing two lower lash mascaras one is Tarte; the other is Guerlain's Le2.
AL concealer.

Back to trying to use up the discontinued Chanel foundation. Primed with Laura Mercier. My usual sparkly mix of powder, then SCA Hyaluronic as a bronzer.

Blush: AL Dolly

I'm trying uploading directly vs. using Photobucket. The images are smaller. But it is a lot faster for me except for waiting for it to upload into wordpress.

img_1994

Lips: AL Gala + AL Pinafore (on each lip, then smooshed) + rimmed and topped in center with Beauté Paramour Love this color!

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Day 2 into Arbonne:
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And we finally have some rain around here -- all the ponds are low. I'm going to enjoy the rain!

To buy Arbonne from Bookgirl, if you don't have a representative, go here.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-05-18 11:27:19.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/fotd-al-eyes-al-lips/feed/ 0 Review Visions of Sugar Plums (a Stephanie Plum Holiday novel) by Janet Evanovich http://savvythinker.com/review-visions-of-sugar-plums-a-stephanie-plum-holiday-novel-by-janet-evanovich/ http://savvythinker.com/review-visions-of-sugar-plums-a-stephanie-plum-holiday-novel-by-janet-evanovich/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=8254

To honor the release of the movie, One for the Money, which I reviewed earlier, I decided to reread the Stephanie Plum novels. I forget the details, but not the laughter.

Different than the other books
I remember trying to read this book earlier, but for whatever reason, I wasn't in the mood, so it was one I skimmed so fast, it just went right out of my head. But Visions of Sugar Plums is a fun read, once you wrap your mind around the fact that it is not a normal Stephanie Plum novel.

It is different than the other Stephanie Plum novels because it has elements of fantasy in it, or rather different elements of fantasy, the supernatural. I mean, it is a fantasy to have both Ranger and Morelli in one's life. But this novel has Diesel, the guy who magically pops into Stephanie's kitchen one day. What is he, a guy or an angel? or something altogether different?

Whatever he is, he has the ability to appear at will, and he is here to help Stephanie who is, as usual, in over her head.

And don't you know that where Stephanie is involved, so is Grandma Mazur who has a studmuffin of her own.

And along the way there are a few family crises, both funny and touching. Morelli pops in and out occasionally, but no Ranger, alas.

The story
This time Stephanie is out to bring in Santy Claws who runs a toy shop and a toy factory and is in process of hiring little people (elves) to make his toys.

Meantime someone is out to get Santy Claws. And it turns out that Santy has supernatural abilities of his own to hold this crime in check. And Diesel is there to help him, because Santy's powers are waning as he ages, and so are the powers of his enemy.

And it turns out that perhaps one other of Stephanie's family members might also have some of the supernatural.

Have you read it?
I think I originally was looking for more of a regular Stephanie Plum book, but once I got into the idea of the supernatural, I liked it, the second go-round.

I give it 3 out of 4 stars.

It is also available for Kindle:

Karin
www.savvythinker.com


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Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/review-visions-of-sugar-plums-a-stephanie-plum-holiday-novel-by-janet-evanovich/feed/ 0 October Launch: Guerlain Boise Torride http://savvythinker.com/october-launch-guerlain-boise-torride/ http://savvythinker.com/october-launch-guerlain-boise-torride/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:14:48 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=3931

Boise Torride is coming October 15, 2009, unless the launch date changes as has happened with some. And Boise Torride is how the Guerlain paperwork spells it.

According to the paperwork, courtesy of Claire at the Palazzo Las Vegas location, here's the scoop.

Words associated with this fragrance are:

woody, rebellious, provocative, triumphant, bold and beautiful

Sounds good already!

And the notes:

top: bergamot, tangerine, pink berries
middle: marshmallow harmony, orange blossom, jasmine
base: patchouli, white musk, cedar

Marsh mellow makes me think of Mariah Carey's fragrance. Nothing wrong with marshmallow there.

It sounds like a good mix between old and new. Time will tell!

What do you think?
Does this sound like one you will try? I've never really met a Guerlain that wasn't better than others with similar notes. The trick for me will be the orange blossom, as that is something that I usually have difficulties with. I look forward to trying this one just the same.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-07-05 12:09:37.

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