Aren't You Supposed To NOT Sniff Paint?: Revlon Parfumerie Review

Last night, after putting together all of my music and altering most of my costume (that's another post, entirely), I had just enough time to do a quick and dirty manicure before bed. I had a producer's run on a show today, and needed vintage nails. Originally, I was going to use red, but it turns out, I don't own a red creme nail polish. Not one. I have red satin and red glitter, but no creme in all the gazillion bottles cluttering up my bathroom. Go figure.

 

Anyhoo, yellow was on the list of historically-accurate colors for the time period, and I'd just gotten my hands on one of the new Revlon Parfumerie scented polishes that I've seen advertised for so long, so I decided to take this opportunity to test it out. The color is Sunlit Grass, and the (freaking adorable) bottle was about six bucks at Walgreen's.



I told you it was quick and dirty. This ain't no pro job, that's for darn sure. In fact, there's still a little glitter left over from the last polish on my pinkie. Nice.

It is, indeed, scented. Whoo, boy, is it scented. I had actually used this before, but on my toes. I don't know about you, but I don't recall the last time I sniffed my own toes, so that wasn't exactly the most useful experience for review purposes. Now that I have the stuff on my hands...I kind of wish I didn't. It doesn't smell bad, but the scent is very strong, and my sinuses are very not happy with me right now. The fragrance is sort of a mix of floral and grass, and would probably be lovely as a spray or rollerball, where you develop a tolerance after wearing for a few minutes. In this case, every time I push my hair out of my face, the scent hits anew. Pretty as the color may be, it's coming off as soon as I can get to some polish remover.

As far as formula goes, I'm not crazy about it. It's streaky, patchy, and took forever to dry, even with a quick-dry topcoat. There are bubbles throughout. That said, the color is gorgeous, vibrant, and very true to what it looks like in the bottle.

Final Verdict: 4.44 out of 10. It's not the worst I've ever used, but it's not the best, and the gimmick is certainly not worth the price. Cute bottle, though.

Box Opening: Influenster Beauty Bloggers VoxBox

A month or so ago, I heard about a program called Influenster. It's sort of a cross between Birchbox and BzzAgent, in that you sign up for it, complete a profile and surveys, and if you're chosen, receive a box of full-sized and deluxe-sample goodies to test out and discuss on your social media outlets (blog, vlog, twitter, etc.). I thought it sounded interesting, so I signed up. This week, I received my first Beauty Blogger VoxBox, so this is my box opening, plus some reviews on the items I've been able to try. I'm going to be completely honest and impartial, despite the fact that I did receive all of these items for free. If you've been around this blog for any length of time, you know that I don't pull punches in any of my reviews, solicited or not. With that, let's get started!

Here's the box, straight off of the front porch.

The contents, just as they were. I didn't touch anything. There wasn't any packing material, but there was a coating of some sort of powder all over everything.

Here's the insert that explains the program and the box contents. It says: "Since you're a blogger extraordinaire,  you've been specially selected to receive this Beauty Blogger VoxBox! These are the products your followers want to hear about, so test, evaluate, and recommend, so they know what's what." Then it gives instructions on logging in the box online, and so forth.

Here's a rundown of all of the products, along with descriptions and prices. We'll get to those in a bit.

This is a product that I was actually really excited to find in the box. I've seen these, but always doubted they would work in my long, thick hair. I have a hard time getting even clips to hold. After trying them out for a couple of days, I'm happy to report that they do work, and I can now throw my hair into a messy bun in, literally, seconds. Would I recommend them to dancers who need buns for rehearsal or class? Not even slightly. They hold, but even with practically zero exhertion, my knot slid down the back of my head an inch or two over the course of the day. These are more for work, school, or bumming around on the weekends. Bonus: no itty bitty pins to keep up with! Goody SimpleStyles Spin Pins run $7.29, and come with instructions for three looks.



Messy, but off my neck. That's all that matters.



Next, I found a sweet little candle from Bath & Body Works. It smells woodsy, and I really like it. I think it's going to end up in my bathroom. Mini candles are $3.50, and definitely worth it. I've used these for years.

There was also a coupon for $10 off a 3-wick candle from Bath & Body Works. They're normally $20, so that's a super nice coupon. I used mine today to pick up one in Fresh Baguette, off the recommendation of a super-cute youtube blogger. It smells like baking bread, and I think it'll be a nice way to freshen up the house without sending anyone's allergies into a tizzy.

Another product I was already interested in trying out: false lashes with an applicator. I've used my fingers; I've used tweezer; I've even used that weird little pink clampy thingy (technical term), and they all kind of suck. This actually looks like it might work. I'm holding off on these until Halloween, but I'll keep you posted. The whole kit'll cost you $5.99, in case you were wondering.

This was an either/or item. Either you received Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves (Thomas has been cracking up over that name, by the way) Curl Defining Hair Cream, or you received Not Your Mother's Smooth Moves Frizz Control Hair Cream. Now, I don't have curly hair, so I'm not entirely sure how much use I'll get out of this, in that regard. It is supposed to smooth frizz and fly-aways, though, so I'll give that a shot. It's a really cute little package, and not super expensive ($6.00 for a much larger, full-sized bottle), so I hope it works out.

Alrighty! Remember how I told you there was a layer of powder over everything in the box? Well, this is where it came from. There's a little tear in the back of the package. It smells really good, and I've had luck with other suppplement powders in the past, but I had to toss this one before I could try it. I hated to do it, too, since they're kind of on the pricey side. A box of 20 will set you back $28.

Somehow, I managed to score one of two bonus products! According to Influenster, "Based on scores and demo info, select members may receive one of the following bonus products": either a two-step skincare system brom Boots No.7, or this Vitabath Fragrance Mist. My mist came in Green Tea and Sage, and smells wonderful. It reminds me of the sleep-enhancing aromatherapy linen spray from The Body Shop, actually, and retails for $9.99.

Okay, this one has me perplexed. Not because of the product--that's self-explanatory--but because of the availability. I can't find this particular shade variation anywhere other than Amazon! There are other shade variations all over the place (Walmart, Target, drugstores, etc.), but this "Dark Shadows" edition from NYC is a rare find. That's a shame, because it's actualy a really nice product, and would be lovely around the holidays. It's not a Holy Grail product, so don't kill yourself trying to find it, but if you happen to stumble across it somewhere, it's worth looking at.

The set comes with four coordinating shadows, a primer, and an illuminator. Here are the four shadows and the illuminator swatched. The primer is just a fleshy base, along the lines of the E.L.F. $1 primer, both in texture and slightly greasy feel. The shadows are okay. They're not powdery, and I experienced very little fallout, but the pigmentation isn't wonderful. I'd say poor-to-fair, with the silver and charcoal colors being the best, the white shadow as a middle ground, and the black glitter being the worst. It barely shows up, and the glitter doesn't transfer at all. Even with the primer, there is some fading and creasing, but not a ridiculous amount. The illuminator, surprisingly, is downright beautiful., and has pretty flecks of microglitter to boot. It's not a very versatile palette, but you can get a couple of all-over lid colors and a pretty silver smoky eye out of it. If you're looking to test out a silver look for the holidays, or just want to expand your collection on the cheap, you could do a whole lot worse for $4.99. I've used this twice and have been very happy with the outcome both times.

The finished eye, as instructed by NYC. I did add some black eyeliner to the top lashline.



That's it, folks! The entire Influenster VoxBox, along with first impressions and mini-reviews. I hope you enjoyed this, and I'll be back with more Halloween-y stuff tomorrow (God willing). Have a good one!

Pretty, Pretty Princess: Sephora's Cinderella Collection

What girl doesn't want her Cinderella moment? Whether it's your wedding day, a new job, or the day you're finally able to fit into your skinny jeans or manage to remember to line both eyes (hey! Some days, that's an accomplishment!), we all want to feel beautiful and special. Well, Sephora and Disney have teamed up to create a line of products that celebrate the princess that lives in each one of us...even us big, grown-up girls.

The collection consists of an eyeshadow palette, an eyeshadow quad, a set of four lipsticks, a set of six nail polishes, one perfume in three different bottle options, and a compact mirror. Prices begin at $19 for a rollerball and go up to $175 for a Swarovski crystal encrusted fragrance bottle.

Here's the kicker: right now, you can only get these online, and only if you're a Beauty Insider. Everyone else has to wait until October for these beauties to hit stores and become available online. Of course, October is almost here, so that's not too bad a wait time.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, I give you: The Cinderella Collection!

This set of twenty shadows features shades customized to the original Pantone colors from the Disney film. The palette runs $55, and is paraben-free.

If you're more into smoky looks, this pretty, paraben-free palette will only set you back $30.

This set of four paraben-free (loving that trend!) lipsticks come in glamorous silver packaging, and feature names such as Lady Tremaine and Pumpkin. At $25, this could make a wonderful Christmas gift, or even be broken down into luxe stocking stuffers.

If you like glitter, here's a set of six mini-polishes in pink, blue, silvers and golds. If you don't like glitter, you might want to skip out on this. $24.50, and easily broken up into smaller gifts for co-workers, classmates, or bosom buddies.

So This Is Love is a 1.7 oz fragrance that is housed in a gorgeous bottle, reminiscent of Cindy's pumpkin coach. According to Sephora, the perfume features notes of Fresh Aldehydes, Plumeria, Dewy Hyacinth, Tuberose, Sheer Jasmine, Solar Accord, Musks, Plum, and Creamy Woods. It retails for $58.

A roller ball version of the fragrance is available for $19, and while the packaging isn't quite as opulent, it's still very pretty and elegant.

Of course, if opulence is what you're going for, you can't get much more extravagant than a Swarovski crystal-embellished bottle. The fragrance is the same, but this version will cost you $175.

Photo Credit (This and All): Sephora

Lastly, a princess needs a magic mirror. This one may not have special powers, but it certainly is magical to look at! This $20 beauty mimics the iconic clock from the film. 

Overall, the collection is enchanting. The makeup doesn't really strike my fancy, but that mirror and rollerball are calling my name. Personally, I could never spend $175 on, essentially, a pretty bottle, but the price points, on the whole, seem reasonable. I know I'd be thrilled to find any of these items under the tree this Christmas, and hope this is a good omen of holiday sets to come this Winter. Look for the collection in stores in October.

Are You Man Enough, Cap'n?

Photo Credit (This and All): Fragrantica

Would you like to know today's excuse for not having Disney World pictures and stories? Would you really? Okay, I'll tell you. I washed a box of dryer sheets with a load of towels, and spent the morning trying to pick flakes of wet cardboard out of my washing machine. And how was your Tuesday?

As the realization of what I'd done dawned on me ("Why the heck are there dryer sheets in here? And why are there so many of them? It looks like a whole box just...oh"), strains of Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out For a Hero echoed through my head. 

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life

Now, I have a good man--one who, believe it or not, normally handles the laundry (he's also a dishwashing wizard)--but he was at work. Even if he had been home, I doubt he'd have been any better at removing itty bitty chunks of the lint formerly known as the Snuggle box. He's a man of many talents, but his inability to succumb to brain freeze--impressive as that may be--probably wouldn't do much good in this instance. No, I needed a superhero; someone with either alien or technologically advanced powers of...well, lint-rolling or vaporizing or time travel (to keep me from being stupid and washing the darn box in the first place). Something like that. 

How do I get bit by that radioactive spider? It would be ridiculously awesome to just stare really hard at my bathtub, and clean it with my Scrubbing Bubbles-Vision (TM). I'm sure Thomas would gladly trade the minor inconvenience of a super-secret underground medical procedure to be able to, I don't know, incinerate the garbage with a snap of his fingers. My point, is that I'm sure there are plenty of times in our everyday lives that we all wish we were superheroes. Where's that darn Easy button, Staples? Well, the folks at Diesel have decided to cash in--I mean, help us out with our wishes. If you can't be a superhero, at least you can smell like one. Sort of. 

Captain America cologne! Well, again, sort of. It's also Iron Man cologne. Well, as I said, sort of. Technically, it's Only the Brave, by Diesel, a blend of lemon, leather, violet, amber, styrax, labdanum, and cedar. I haven't sniffed it yet, but it sounds yummy (bold, masculine scents mixed with sparkling, playful notes--awesome), and reviews have been mostly favorable, so it seems to be a decent product, and not just a clever marketing ploy. Of course, it is a clever marketing ploy, but at least there's a chance of getting something quality along with the kitchsy exterior. That exterior, by the way, is a fist. The original Only the Brave comes bottled in a glass fist, adorned with a Diesel logo-as knuckle ring. The Iron Man bottle is still a fist, but a shiny, red metallic one. Captain America is metallic blue with the Star-Spangled Shield emblazoned on the side. 

It's cheesy. It's silly. It's clearly a movie tie-in, and I kind of love it. What's more, my husband would love it. Heck, it might even get my 13 year-old brother to wear something other than Axe (the angels haven't fallen, yet, but he keeps hoping). That would truly be heroic. $67.50, Macy's (not online at time of publication).

Sweet Temptations: Victoria's Secret Attractions Body Care

Spring is a cruel mistress. Down here in Hel--I mean, er, the Deep South--we're already experiencing temperatures in the 80s and humidity so high that you practically need a straw to breathe. It's hot. It's miserable, and it's time to show some skin.

Now, my skin is lily-white, and may cause blindness when looked upon in direct sunlight, but I'll save that rant for another day. Before I could even think about slathering on sunless tanner, I needed to get this parched, scaly mess I call "skin" (and I use that term loosely. "Leather" or "Reptile Hide" might be more appropriate) in tip-top condition. MOISTURIZE ME!!!!!

Just as I began to research all the different lotions and potions available (besides the Jergen's I'm currently using to try to reduce the appearance of cellulite--which is still working, by the way. Yay!), an advertisement for Victoria's Secret Attractions Body Care hit my inbox. For $25, I could pick up three products instore (it's 2/$24 and 3/$30 online, for some unknown reason), get a Secrets Reward Card, and walk away with yet another free tote bag that will collect dust on my closet shelf. Well, shoot, let's do that!

The line is broken down into four collections: Wild One, Sweet Cravings, Glam Goddess, and Love Bitten. Each collection consists of a Daily Body Wash, Indulgent Body Cream, Nourishing Body Lotion, and Fragrance Mist. I decided to get the body wash, mist, and the body lotion. I considered the body cream, but as hot as it gets down here, I worried that it might just end up sliding off of me by the end of the day.

Once I decided on my products, I needed to settle on a scent. Wild One is raspberry and lily, Sweet Cravings is vanilla and praline, Glam Goddess is freesia, and Love Bitten is "forbidden" apple. I can only assume that last one is for the Twi-hards. My gut reaction was to go with Sweet Cravings, but once I sampled it, I realized that was more of a Fall scent. I ended up with Wild One, since I love raspberry, and thought it would go nicely with my Givenchy Hot Couture perfume.

The packaging is precious. All products come in clear bottles, and the lotion boasts a wonderfully convenient pump. There's nothing like trying to squeeze lotion out of tube when your hands are greasy. Each product is labeled with a screenprint of a colorful leopard-print background, edged in black lace. Wild One is pink, Sweet Cravings is a golden cream, Glam Goddess is lavender, and Love Bitten is bright baby blue.

Before I go any further, I feel I should point out that all VS Attractions products contain something called EverTempt. This is basically a synthetic pheremone created from ingredients that, when tested, were found to be the most alluring to men. Out of 40 scents tested, the five that make up EverTempt were proven to create the most, ahem, excitement. This "pheremone" also reacts to your body chemistry for a custom scent that changes as your mood fluctuates. I'm a skeptic, myself, but that's the information. Do with it what you will.

Alrighty, back to the review.

Scent: It's a little chemical for my taste, but not so much that I can't wear it. I just can't wear my Givenchy with it because the raspberry scents will clash. Honestly, though, once you layer the mist over the lotion over the body wash, you don't need anything else. It's a lot of fragrance, but not so strong as to annoy your co-workers. I did find myself re-applying lotion or fragrance mist (not both!) during the day as the scent faded. On the plus side, Thomas said I smelled good. 7 out of 10.

Body Wash: I'm not a fan. I will not "like" this on Facebook. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I can not get this to lather, no matter what. I've used hot water, copious amounts of product, held my tongue just so...doesn't matter. All I can say is that it smells nice, and I think it's getting me clean. If nothing else, the pouf I'm using is helping to exfoliate my skin. 4 out of 10.

Body Lotion: Easily my favorite of the group. This is light, so it doesn't sweat off in the humidity, and incredibly moisturizing. I love the way my skin feels after I use it, and that it lasts all day. 9 out of 10.

Fragrance Mist: I really like this, too. It's an easy, quick way to refresh the scent as it fades. It also, as it turns out, makes a lovely air freshener if you happen to turn the nozzle the wrong direction. Not that I would ever do something so moronic. 8 out of 10.

EverTempt: I'm not scoring this. I just, out of curiosity, wondered if it would work. Not that I expected results similar to an Axe Body Spray commercial (in reverse, of course), but I was interested to see if men treated me any differently when I wore these products. Now, I'm a happily married woman with a husband who adores me (I'm a lucky girl), so I'm not, by any means, looking or flirting or anything else like that. I was on the look out for chivalry; common courtesy from the male gender.

I have no idea if this stuff works. Yeah, a couple of gentlemen held doors for me, but that's nothing unusual. I had pleasant conversations with some male friends, but again, that's not new. They're friends, for crying out loud. Most of our conversations are pleasant. What I will say is this product line makes me feel sexier. I feel more attractive, therefore I exude more confidence. If there is anything sexier than confidence, I haven't run across it, yet. Maybe there's something to this EverTempt. Maybe it's the most potent fragrance blend ever invented. Then again, maybe it's one really fantastic placebo effect. I'm banking on the latter, but I'm not complaining.

Final Verdict: 7 out of 10. It's flawed, but makes me happy. If you're a fan of normal VS lotions, give it a shot.

The 100th Post!!

That's right, folks!  We have hit the 100th post!  Cake for everyone!!  Well, that is, everyone who happens to already have cake with them, as I, quite unfortunately, do not have any cake at hand, nor any hopes of procuring or distributing said cake.  So, I suppose that should read, "Cake for everyone who already has cake!!"  Well, now I'm thoroughly depressed.  Thanks, 100th post.  Thanks a lot.

In other news, it looks like Google is trying to give us an early Christmas present by revamping the Shopping portion of the search engine.  You'll now be able to search for products in your immediate area (yay!).  Also, in addition to the brand and color options, you'll be able to search by "popular products" and "aisles".  "Popular products" will allow you to search for an item and see similar items that other online shoppers have viewed.  "Aisles" will allow you to search related sub-categories.  For instance, if you search for a television set, the sub-categories could divide the results into LCD or Plasma sets.  All in all, it's a welcome change for this online shopper. 

So, the magic bag o' samples has made a brief comeback.  While emptying out yet another box (I may never get fully unpacked), I ran across a sample of Dior Miss Dior Cherie Eau de Toilette ($62-$82, Sephora) and figured I'd give it a shot.  Here's what Sephora has to say about it:

A dazzling spring floral interpretation of the classic Miss Dior Chérie, this fragrance opens with a lilting fruity note for a fresh and joyful first impression. The heart's floral bouquet evokes the sense of a garden full of flowers. An elegant, signature base note completes the captivating essence. Notes:  Freesia, Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Popcorn, Vanilla, Caramel, Patchouli. 

I spritzed it on this morning, and was immediately hit with an overpowering sense of familiarity.  I had definitely smelled this fragrance before, but where?  It's lovely.  Very soft, with a creamy citrus feel.  Where had I smelled this?  It started to drive me a little batty.  Granted, it's a short drive, but still...

Suddenly, it dawned on me.  It's almost the exact same scent as my all-time favorite body wash!  Soap & Glory Clean On Me.  $9.99, Target.  Sadly--nay, tragically--this brand is no longer available at Target, which means that it's no longer available in the States at all.  Period.  You can't get it.  The company is planning to offer the products again in a more beauty-oriented shop, but that hasn't happened yet, and no store has been named. 

I'm distraught.  I mostly used mine as a shaving lotion, and it's the best I've ever used.  Zero nicks, tons of moisture, huge container, and it never clogged up the blade.  Plus, this amazing scent.  I even bought the body butter and body spray to go with it.  Heck, I gave the stuff away as bridesmaid's gifts when I got married!  (Travel sizes in cute frosted pink chinese take out boxes filled with pink shredded paper made for precious bachelorette party gifts.  I added in a Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush lipgloss, too.  Cute as pie.) 

Anyway, I have totally gotten off the subject.  Sorry about that.  The mind wanders on me occasionally (read:  constantly).  Basically, what I'm saying is that this Dior scent is gorgeous.  It's perfect for everyday, in that it's light and breezy, with tons of citrus.  It's also great for evening and special occasions because of the warm vanilla notes and the patchouli.  I'm also saying that a less expensive clone exists, and it comes in many forms.  If you can find Soap & Glory, or hear of where it might be re-released, grab what you can and please share with the rest of the class.  In the meantime, I guess I'll just have to settle for the Dior.  There are worse things, I suppose. 

Snuggling Suggestions

After five weeks of zero precipitation--not even a good fog, for crying out loud--a freaking tornado roared through my old neighborhood! Thank God we moved when we did! First off, this is not tornado country. It is hurricane, tropical storm, mosquito, and heatwave territory, but I don't think we've ever had a full-fledged tornado, that I can recall. Heck, I only remember one, maybe two tornado drills in school. Luckily, the area I live in now just had a bad storm. My tombstones are soggy, my cobwebs are ruined, and my shoe rack imploded (unrelated, but annoying and notably coincidental), but we're all okay.

Still in all, I'm a little shaken up. I think I might just stay in tonight, curl up on the couch with Thomas, watch some TV and recover. And put together my shoe rack. With duct tape. And Gorilla Glue.

Speaking of TV...Rachel Ray is going 3D. I'm afraid.

I kid you not. RR's Halloween episode will be televised in 3D on Friday, and glasses are available in the current TV Guide. The program will be viewable on 2D and 3D TV sets, through a special process from a company called 3-D Vision. Actually, this will be 3-D Vision's first run-through with a commerical program, so it should be interesting to see how it turns out. For more information, read this article. The company's website is still under construction.

If Rachel Ray isn't scary enough for you, ScreenCrave came up with a pretty good list of Ten Great Films for a Horror Movie Marathon. It's perfect for Fall's cuddling weather. If you don't feel like reading the article, here are their picks:

Night of the Living Dead (original)
Let the Right One In
The Fly
The Thing
Jacob's Ladder
The Host
The Vanishing (original)
The Exorcist
The Shining
Halloween (original)

Might I add:
The Fog (original): It's up to a late-night radio DJ to save her sleepy town from the Flying Dutchman. More or less, anyway. Ghost ships, townies, and 70s easy listening...can't go wrong.

Dance of the Dead: Goofy horror-comedy. Night of the Living Dead meets American Pie.

Shaun of the Dead: Even goofier horror-comedy. Slacker Shaun has to save his ex-girl from brain-eating hordes in this brilliant take on the zombie genre. Watch it, then go buy Hot Fuzz. Don't rent. Just buy it.

My Bloody Valentine (remake!): Supernatural fans, it's DEAN!!!! For everyone else, hunky Jensen Ackles tries to unravel the mystery behind a pick-axe wielding serial killer. Jamie King is excellent as his scream queen high school sweetheart. Please note: this is WORLDS better than the lackluster original.

Dracula (Frank Langella version): With the exception of one ridiculously psychadelic love scene, this is a surprisingly good version of the vampire tale. Yes, the names are horribly mixed up, and Drac has some seriously blown-dry hair, but Mr. Langella practically melts the screen with seductive charm.

And speaking of seductive charm...it's time for the magic bag o' samples!

Today's sample is Benefit's So Hooked On Carmella fragrance. $36, Sephora. According to Sephora:

So Hooked on Carmella is a floral vanilla that's exquisitely feminine. Notes: Lemon, Grapefruit, Rhubarb, Cyclamen, Peony, Tiare Flower, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Amber

This is gorgeous for Fall. The base scent is vanilla, but it's really more like a burnt caramel--a creme brulee, if you will. Ignore the lemon, grapefruit...well, pretty much the whole rest of the list, until you get to Sandalwood and Amber. Those are there to give the scent an earthy, sweet, sexy vibe. The rest are barely, if at all, present.

This scent is like snuggling under a fuzzy blanket. It just smells like Fall. I put it on, and immediately flashed on cookies, crunchy leaves, and bonfires. I highly recommend this if you're looking for something new for the season.

You Want Me To Put WHAT On My Face?

Wrinkles terrify me.  As I've mentioned, I just hit the big 3-0, and it's really affected me.  It's a little silly, since I don't have a single line, but I'd like to keep it that way.  I've started being really careful of the makeup I use;  I make sure that my face wash is exfoliating, and I moisturize like crazy.  Purifying masks are my new best friend, even though the green ones really confuse my parakeets.  I never cared before, but now, if it's anti-aging, it's by my sink.

This, however, may be going a bit too far:

Photo by Japantrendshop

These are the Mejikara Anti-Wrinkle Glasses Anti-Aging Goggles.  $48, japantrendshop.com.  I wish I were kidding, but you can't make this stuff up, folks. 

According to the site:

On the inside of the Mejikara there are specially-designed ridges which massage and help your skin. It puts gentle pressure on the skin and pushes those sagging eyes back up to where they once were!

Apparently, you wear this for five minutes a day, and wrinkles magically disappear (or, at least, improve)!  Yep, and I have some swamp land in Florida, if you're interested.

I don't know.  I haven't tried them, so they could work, I guess, but I'm not forking over $48 for what looks like a lens-less version of my little brothers swim goggles, which came from the dollar store, by the way.  Yes, my clay masks make me look like Elphaba, but most of the time Thomas wears one, too, so we look silly together.  I'm not sure I could keep a straight face with this thing on.  My opinion:  you're better off with a good skincare routine and a bottle of concealer. 

Alrighty, today's trip to the magic bag o' samples brought out Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum.  $22-$100, Sephora.com.  This is reader magnolia's fave, so I was really excited to get to try it out, and I have to say, it's delicious.

This is another sweet scent, so be ye warned.  According to Sephora:

This floral explosion releases a profusion of flowers that has the power to make everything seem more positive. Magically evocative notes immediately awaken your deepest senses, giving you the impression of living life in your own secret garden, away from reality. Sambac Jasmine, Centifolia Rose, Cattleya Orchid, and Ballerina Freesia bloom on a base of Patchouli.

Doesn't Ballerina Freesia just scream "girly"?!  This is a fresh, feminine scent, very reminiscent of baby powder.  I'm betting there's some amber or vanilla in there they're not telling us about.

Now, funny thing about this.  It's eerily similar to the perfume I wore on my wedding day.  I spent weeks, possibly months, agonizing over what scent I was going to wear when I got married.  Your sense of smell is so closely linked to memory, that I wanted just the perfect perfume to help me capture all the memories of that day, and something that would smell wonderful so that when it triggered those memories it would all be sweet and lovey-dovey, and not leave me connecting my wedding with, oh, say...dead fish, or something like that.  It seems silly, but every time I smell anything that's even remotely close to my wedding perfume, I think of that day and smile.

Anyway, I digress.  Before the wedding, I went to every store imaginable, and tried on every scent I could find.  I had spritzers and sample cards (and a hellacious headache), and finally settled on the. perfect. scent.  I didn't know what it was (I'd just grabbed a bottle and sprayed), and when I found the label, I cracked up.  Seriously.  I'm surprised the nice people at Kohl's didn't call security.  The scent:  With Love, Hilary Duff.

Now, here I am, 27 years old, about to get married, and what perfume do I pick?  Chanel?  Dior?  No.  Hilary freaking Duff.  What's worse, I'd worked for the Mouse's radio station during the golden age of her tv show, Lizzie Maguire.  There were pictures of Hilary Duff all over the office, frisbees with her face on them in the prize closet, and her voice on the radio almost 24/7 (she alternated with Lindsay Lohan.  I now know what my version of Hell will be, and I promise to be good).

The thing is, it smelled heavenly.  According to Kohl's, the fragrance is comprised of:

Top notes: succulent mangosteen fruit and exotic spices.

Middle notes: blossoms and cocobolo wood.
Base notes: deep amber milk and sultry amber musk.  

Obviously, they're not clones, but there are definite similarities to Flowerbomb.  It's also in the most adorable, faceted bottle that almost looks like a jewel, so it's not embarrassing to have out on my dresser.  It's sophisticated without being stuffy, and was just what I wanted for my big day:  innocence, youth, and girliness, but combined with a grown-up elegance.  Kind of funny, coming from a teeny-bopper pop star, but it did the trick.  One more thing--at $25 for 1oz (kohls.com), it's a budget-friendly alternative to the Viktor & Rolf, and who doesn't like saving money?  Then again, maybe that's just me showing my age.

Bicycles and Butterflies

I'm all for living green.  I try to conserve gas and water, reuse containers, and avoid styrofoam whenever possible.  I even got some of those little grocery bags for shopping, and one day, by gum, I'm going to remember to take them with me.  Green is a lifestyle change, and one that I'm trying to adopt, albeit slowly and clumsily.  Some people, however, have taken to it like ducks to water, and can make anything eco-friendly, it seems.  I'm in awe of these people.

Photo by Ecouterre

For example:  a fashion designer and a landscape architect (two great tastes that go great together?) were asked to create an eco-friendly cross-over work of art for the Amsterdam Center for Architecture.  What they came up with was a "living" dress created from wool and bicycle innertubes (read:  not a Summer dress).  The innertubes create a smocked effect which is, in actuality, a series of vases that can be filled with whatever type flower or plant you desire.  Change the flowers, and you change the entire look of the gown.  This is obviously not something the average fashionista is going to hang in her closet, but as a work of art, it's an astonishingly beautiful reminder that anything can be reused.  These bicycle innertubes could have gone into a landfill, but instead are helping to sustain life and bring beauty into the world.  Really makes you think.

Photo by Ecouterre

This next dress, were it not in the Science Museum in London, could make a coccoon in my closet any old day.  At first glance, this sweet little cobalt blue day dress looks like any ordinary dress...except, it's not cobalt blue.  It's not any shade of blue.  In fact, it's not any shade of anything.  This dress is completely colorless, and the fact that it looks blue is merely a trick of the light.  The fabric used to make the dress is called Morphotex, and was created to mimic the microscopic structure of the Morpho butterfly's wing.  Sixty different polyester and nylon fibers in alternating layers produce the color through light reflection.  It's nanotechnology at it's prettiest.

Now, in case you're new to Adorable Napalm, I'm in the middle of a self-inflicted mission to get through my ridiculous stash of samples.  Everyday, I try something new and review it here.  It's generally a one-shot trial, so all opinions are based on first reactions.  Today, I reached into the magic bag o' samples and pulled out Michael Kors Very Hollywood Eau de Parfum. 

It's what I would call understated elegance.  The fragrance is mostly floral with just a hint of citrus.  It's light, not too sweet, not too flowery, and not too "little old lady".  Best of all, it hasn't given me a headache.  I'm not rushing out to buy a bottle, but it's going on my short list for future reference.  $45 for 1oz. at Sephora.com.  There's also a rollerball option available for $18.

Now, I'm going to preach for a second.  This morning, when I grabbed the Michael Kors out of the bag, I noticed that I have a sample of Chanel.  My first thought was, "Oh!  I'll have to save that for a special occasion!"  Then, I thought about how I'd spent my morning cleaning out cabinets, getting ready to move into a new apartment, and how I'd thrown away a garbage bag full of expensive, beautiful products that I'd put up for special occasions.  They'd been "too pretty to use", and ended up turning rancid and going to waste.  Then, I thought about the fancy hand cream that I gave my grandmother for Mother's Day last year, and how it was still sitting on her dresser, unopened, when I went to pick up an outfit for her funeral a few months later.  It had been "too pretty to use".

Life is a special occasion.  Every day that we wake up and breathe in and out should be celebrated.  Break out the bath salts and aromatherapy candles you got for Christmas, or the way-too-expensive body lotion you got for your birthday.  Wear those awesome heels you bought on sale, even though you couldn't think of a reason to wear them (they'll probably look hot with jeans, right?).  Whatever it is you're hanging onto, enjoy it!  It's only going to go to waste if you don't, and what good does that do?  If you use it, the worst that will happen is that you'll use it up.  Big deal.  It's only a thing, and can always be replaced--maybe with something even better.  All I know is that tomorrow, I'm celebrating Tuesday, and maybe with Chanel.

 

McClane Vs. Kirk



Photo by Urban Collector

 My husband (who is by no means a girly girl) emailed me this afternoon to tell me that Bruce Willis has a new cologne coming out, with the oh-so creative name, Bruce Willis). I'm taking this as a not too subtle hint as to what to get the dear boy for his birthday. Supposedly, this is "the manliest scent in the world" (which, of course, only makes me think of the most interesting man in the world, but I digress).

I'm curious, though, as to whether the Die Hard star's cologne is "manlier" than, say, Captain Kirk's cologne. Which scent would win in a fight? I mean, Shirtless Kirk cologne says to "Set Phasers to Stunning", but Bruce Willis' says, "Smart Guys Live Forever".



Photo by Sephora

 I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Red Shirt is the manliest. Granted, I've never smelled any of these--okay, that's not completely true. I smelled all the Star Trek colognes at Comic-Con last year, but I can't remember any of them. Not a reflection on the scent, it was just a ridiculous week, and my mind was fried by that point. I'm basing this opinion strictly on the tag line: "Because Tomorrow May Never Come". This is a live for the moment, never say die fragrance for the man who wants to sieze the day. What could be manlier than that?

However, if you want a real recommendation for a men's fragrance, I have to go with Jean Paul Gualtier's Le Male. It's scented with wormwood, bergamont, cardamom, lavendar, orange blossom, cinnamon, cumin, wood, musk, amber, vanilla, and tonka bean. The only word I have to describe it is "yummy". The bottle's adorable, too--a blue, stylized sailor's shirt. It's priced from $42-$78 at Sephora.

Now, if Bruce Campbell ever comes out with a fragrance of his own (that isn't Old Spice), all bets are off.

Photo from Warming Glow