Perfume Lust

Here is It's a Small World, dressed up for the holidays.  It was literally an event when the lights came on at night.  If you haven't been to Disneyland for the holidays, I would recommend it.

And on to the post.  I have been sniffing various perfumes lately.  I am not a fragonerd by any means.  In fact, I'm just now struggling to pick out different notes in perfumes.  However, I have found some gorgeous perfumes in my journey.  I thought I would do a little post for you on what I have been liking.

1. Serge Lutens Bois Oriental-  Sadly, this is a Paris exclusive meaning you can only purchase at the Lutens boutique there.  However, I have been able to purchase decants from the Perfumed Court.  This is the only scent my boyfriend has ever genuinely liked (so far).  I smell it and I smile.  Its gourmand and a bit spicy.  It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.  I wish I could go to Paris.

2. Frederic Malle Une Rose-  It smells like walking through an actual rose garden, outside, in the dirt.  Unfortunately, a bottle of this is crazy expensive (sad face).

3. By Killian Love and Tears- I realized a loved jasmine with Oscar Blandi Jasmine Hair serum.  This is a gorgeous Jasmine soliflore.  Another crazy expensive one.  However, they offer a solid perfume, which is cheaper, and I may cave on.

4. Annick Goutal Rose Splendide- This is a kind of tart rose fragrance.  I like this alot for spring and summer.

5. L'Artisan La Haie Fleurie-  Another white floral.  Gorgeous blend.  My sample spilled in my makeup bag, which consequently smelled amazing.  My only qualm is that L'artisan scents don't last very long on me.

6. DSH Cimabue- Yummy spicy gourmand. Saffran and vanilla is what I smell.  This is a lovely fall scent.  It makes me want to try others from DSH. 

Well, I hope you liked my post.  What are some of your favorite scents?  Anything I should try?

Favorites of 2010

In the spirit of New Years Eve, I decided to post about my favorites from 2010.  I am not restricting myself to just items that were released in 2010 because, let's face it, there probably wouldn't be that much (I'm a sad college student :P ).  I will restrict myself to 10 things.

1. Chantecaille 

I have really gotten into this brand this year. I have fallen in love with the skincare line, which is probably one of the only lines that does not create the burning sensation on my skin that other skincare usually does (thank you retin A micro).  I have also discovered future skin foundation which is now my holy grail (HG).  I have started to kind of collect that palettes which are completely gorgeous.

2. Chanel Illusion D'or

This was released this year along with several other polishes and a cake eyeliner.  I love this as a layering polish.  It looks awesome over teal, pink and black. 


3. Clarisonic
I don't have a picture of this yet. (I know, I need to review my skincare routine for you guys) This has really helped my skin out alot.  I no longer get large cystic like pimples.  I use it every night with Clinique take the day off balm. 

4. Qtica Natural Nail Growth Stimulator
I have been using this for about 3 months now.  It has helped quite a bit with the peelies I have been suffering from for quite some time.  I use it as a base coat before using colored products.


5. YSL Parisienne 
This was a gift from the darling boyfriend. Its a really nice scent. I am loving it as my fall/winter scent.

6. DDF sulfer mask
I got this from a Hautlook sale earlier in the year.  I use this every once in a while as a spot treatment at night and it works quite well.  I like to use it as an overall mask as well.  I have started using masks alot more in 2010, and I have noticed a real difference in my skin. 

7. Shu Uemura Lollishines

I have acquired 3 (I think) of these in 2010.  I have very dry lips and these are quite moisturizing.  The ones I have are quite shimmery and glittery, which I like, but I know is not everyones forte.

8. Chanel Glossimers

Ok, so I discovered these way before 2010, but they are so amazing.  They deserve to be on my favorites list every year. I did get pleasing from the Holiday 2010 collection which has become a favorite gloss.

9. Neosporin
Yes, this one is way old, but, I am adding it here not for the intended purpose. It works great to prevent scars and help heal cuts on the body (my knee is evidence of that), so I decided, hey, why don't I try using it on popped pimples. Well, whadaya know, works great there too.  I just dab some of after I have popped. (I know I shouldn't be popping pimples but I cant stand looking at a nasty whitehead).

10. Laura Mercier Eye Kohls

I have acquired almost all of the colors in the past year.  Brown copper is still my end all be all favorite, but I have a soft spot for the others as well.

I really want to thank all the readers I acquired in 2010.  My blog is just about a year old, and even though I haven't given the blog as much attention in the past couple of months as I would have liked to, I really enjoyed all of it.  I think I have really found some great products in 2010, and I look forward to seeing what 2011 has in store (I am so eying that turtle palette that Chantecaille has coming soon).

February Favorites

Now that it is March, I decided to do my February favorites.  They are just items that got alot of love this month. I have a new add from January, I took a picture of all the items! So, hopefully this one will be more exciting :)

1. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion- Mine says dry, sensitive skin treatment.  I do not know for sure if all of them are this way as I took this one from my moms house, well, she gave it to me.  Its a really nice medium weight lotion.  It is fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, so I use it for both my face and my body.  I like it mostly for my face as I have psoriasis which makes my skin really dry.  This lotion is great for morning and night, though i would recommend using a sunscreen also during the day.

 

2. Idole d'Armani- I included this one in January's favorites so I wont bore you with any more words on it.  I did acquire a lovely roller ball size now from my friend Maegan! 

 

3. Guerlain Kiss Kiss lipstick in Reve D'or- I got this lipstick in a swap with a lovely Muaer.  Before any of my non muaer readers get grossed out, lipstick is really easy to sanitize.  You simply cut off the top and/or dip it in rubbing alcohol.  The case is so beautiful, a lovely shiny gold with a block-like shape.  It does have great staying power, so I dont have to reapply too often.  Even if I did, I would mind since its so lovely.  I'm such a sucker for pretty makeup packaging.  It is not the most moisturizing formula I own, but it isn't drying either.  The color is peachy-red with gold shimmer. As most guerlain products i've tried to date, this one has the signature lavendary scent.  I'm not really a fan as it reminds me of really old powder, but its gone within 15 minutes.  

 

 

4. Laura Mercier Eye Kohl in Brown Copper- This is another one that was in January, so here are the pictures. 

 

 

5. Becca Doeskin eye shadow-  This was from my softsurroundings.com haul that I posted about earlier.  It is such a great neutral light brown with just a hint of shimmer.  I intern at a hospital, so I find myself using this almost every time I go in.  I usually pair it with the laura mercier eye kohl from above.  The formula is really silky and goes on smooth.  It is quite soft though, so there is kind of alot of powder loss with each application.  

 

6. Guerlain meteorites in Beige chic-  I got these in a swap also.  They are the mini size which I figured was fine because it seems like they take forever to use up.  The container is plastic and it contains little powder balls in tones of peach, brown, beige, gold and white.  They blend to be the perfect color for me and impart just a little glow.  These, again, have the signature Guerlain scent.  I find the coverage to be fairly sheer and the finish to be not at all powdery.  

 

  

7. Too Faced bronzer in Snow Bunny-  I got this in a palette from sephora.  I decided the palette was a hastle, so I depotted it which left it a little cracked.  As you will see from the picture, this thing is well loved.  I use it if I want just a little bronze and shimmer on my cheeks.  Its too light to be an actual brozer for me, but I could see it working really well for fairer people(I'm about NC20 in mac for reference).  

 

8. Lavender Nail polish- I have 2: OPI done out in deco and Orly cashmere cardigan.  Both are creme meaning they contain no shimmer.  I prefer the formula of the OPI to the formula of the Orly(I described my qualms with Orly in an earlier post), but I have the OPI in a mini bottle making it a little harder to apply than it would be if it were full sized.  Cashmere cardigan is darker and more blue than Done out in deco which is dustier.  Both are really pretty and perfect for spring. (I bought the Orly and swapped for the OPI)

 

9. Crystal Nail File-  These things are the greatest nail files out there.  They file really well and don't tear up your nails like the old brown ones.  Some claim they stop nails from peeling, but my nails are genetically awful making it hard for me to speak to that. I got this one at the street fair in Palm desert, but Essie has one that people seem to like alot. 

 

10. Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara-  I like this stuff almost as much as I like Armani's eyes to kill.  It lengthens well and thickens nicely but can be a teensy bit clumpy.  I have only ever used the trial size.  I bought several off ebay for rather cheap.  At about $10 less than the Armani, I would recommend this as a cheaper alternative.  

In case anyone is wondering, I am wearing Color Club Wild Child nail polish in the pictures where I have polish on. 

 

Parisienne

Doesn't everyone wish somewhere that they were a little more french? Well maybe my dad doesn't, he kind of hates the french... but hes a dude so he doesnt count :P
Anyways, I have been in love with YSL's scent Parisienne since I first smelled it in one of those fold out things in a magazine.  I would rub it all over my wrists and smell it all day..ahhh.  Well, my boyfriend decided to be awesome and got me the big bottle of Parisienne for Valentines day. For the record, that is 3oz. of beautifully smelling perfume.

 

This photo is courtesy of yslbeautyus.com

The bottle is gorgeous and elegant with light purple fluid.  

From YSLbeautyus.com:

PARISIENNE, the fragrance of ultra femininity, ultra sensuality. A grand floral with a woody structure, luminous even in its mystery.

Its notes are blackberry, damask rose, and sandlewood.  I am quite suprised that I like it so much considering I am usually not a huge fan of rose but heck, its that good.

Disclaimer: this was a gift, from my bf, as stated above