June Favorites

This past month I found myself only reaching for the same handful of items.  None of them are too wild and out there.  For the eyes, I stuck mostly to neutral colors and for the lips and cheeks I did peachy pink colors.

This browbone shade from the 8 pan Wet n Wild Comfort Zone Palette I used a lot.  I would apply it all across the lid by itself for some brightness, yet simplicity, or I would sweep a bit in the inner corner.  I never actually use it on the brow bone.  I'm not a fan of shimmery shadows on my brow bone.

From the same palette, I used the other brow bone color.  It is more of a brown/taupe.   I really enjoyed this one for a slightly darker eye look without being too deep.  Even this one is quite lovely done simply.

Obviously, I reached for Wet n Wild a lot.  This is another.  This is a single pan shadow in the color Nutty.  It shows up with more brown and more warmth on my lids than it appears in the pan.

For my cheeks, I wore Sonia Kashuk Super Sheer Liquid Tint in Poppy.  It smells like amoxicillin.  HAHA, that sounds weird, but I always thought that smelled good.  I'm thinking this was their attempt at a bubble gum scent.  It isn't unpleasant, in my opinion.   But, this leaves a very nice pinky-coral flush to the cheeks. 

On my lips, I have been using another Sonia Kashuk product.  It is the Ultra Shine Sheer Lipgloss in Cheerful.  It doesn't deposit a lot of color because I have pigmented lips.  There is only a hint of color for me.  I think if you have paler lips this would show up better.  But, when I am being simple and minimal, this is amazing.  Plus, it isn't sticky and goopy on the lips.  Oh, and it has a brush applicator.  Not a doe foot.

A stand out polish this past month was Julep's Martha.  It is extremely pale pink.  I absolutely loved wearing it.  It is ultra feminine, delicate, and just all around lovely on the nails. 

This next item is going to seem strange.  I have ADORED using my aloe plants.  I will either snap off a tiny piece from the tip of the leaf, or remove the entire leaf, cut what I need, and refrigerate the rest.  I cut open the leaf and use the aloe inside on my face.  After showering and using my astringent (which I will discuss in a future natural skincare post), I will massage the aloe vera gel into my face.  It helps with redness and really soothes the skin.  It also leaves my face feeling amazingly soft.  I think everyone needs an aloe plant (or five).

I have been rotating around three different perfumes this month.  I've been loving Lolita Lempicka Coral Flower for the scorching hot days.  It is a balmy, sea air kind of perfume.  It reminds me of walking along a beach side.   The other is L De Lolita Lempicka.  I also wear this one when it is warmer.  I originally bought it to wear in the winter, but discovered it transforms to a perfect summer fragrance.  The final perfume is vera Wang Princess.  For days when I don't want anything too strong or something that could offend, I spritz this on.  It is my easy, go-to perfume. 

For a more thorough review of the perfumes, check out these previous posts:

• Lolita Lempicka Coral Flower
• L De Lolita Lempicka
• Vera Wang Princess

L De Lolita Lempicka

This isn't a review of L de Lolita Lempicka, simply because I have already done one.  You can see my thoughts on it here: L De Lolita Lempicka.   I did want to share some shots of the large bottle, though.  Previously, I just had a mini-sized bottle.  While the minis are designed after the large, there are minor differences.

The large bottles have all the charms danging from the nozzle area.  There is a starfish, a crystal, and their signature "L" with rhinestones in it.

The back of the bottle has the shape of starfish etched into it as well.

I have to say, this is probably one of my favorite perfume bottles.  I think it is absolutely, 100% beautiful!

I did get the tester bottle, so I didn't get the fancy box it would have otherwise come in.  Also, L De Lolita Lempicka bottles have a little golden net around the neck, just below the spritz nozzle.  Mine doesn't have that.  My mini bottle does, though.  I would have liked to have the bottle with the net, but I can't complain considering I saved quite a lot by going the route of a tester bottle.  Plus, I'm not buying the perfume for the visual appeal the bottle may or may not have....rather, the juice inside.  And even without the net, the bottle is eye-catching!

Here, you can see my large bottle and my mini bottle together.  You will notice that the juice of the mini has already started to darken.  This is normal for L.  Some people actually purchase it already turned amber.  The scent hasn't changed at all, it has just oxidized with use.  I imagine the mini bottle turned a lot faster than a bottle with a spritzer would because you have to pop off the lid each time you wear it, thus allowing more air into the bottle itself.  

While I linked to the post where I reviewed L De Lolita Lempicka, I wanted to add that my ideas on when this perfume is appropriate to wear have changed.  Initially, I said this was best suited to fall and winter because of the cinnamon in it, making it a very cozy scent.  I have worn this on quite hot days now as well, and love the result just as much.  It is a slightly different fragrance in the heat.  It becomes something relaxing and beachy. I think it can easily be worn year round for that reason.

Lolita Lempicka Coral Flower

Lolita Lempicka's Coral Flower was launched in July of 2008.  This is considered an oriental floral perfume.  You will notice the bottle is very, very similar to that of L De Lolita Lempicka.  However, Coral Flower has a frosted finish where as her sister, L, does not.  Also, Coral Flower has flower charms and no netting.  There will be no mistaking, though, that they are of the same family.

The opening of this is sharp and slightly bitter.  I don't see it listed, but I promise you, I get black licorice.  It doesn't last long, only the first couple of minutes, but I swear it is there. It isn't sweet, but rather spicy.

A few minutes later, after it has settled a bit, it becomes citrus-like.  I can pick up on the grapefruit and bergamont.  I think the bergamont was there in the opening, too, because there was something bitter about it.  I think the sharpness was coming from the bergamont note.  The more clean, bright, fresh citrus scent is the grapefruit that I am picking up on. Right along side that are clean, tropical flowers.  I also get jasmine, which isn't listed.  I think that is the frangipani.....which I don't believe I've ever smelled in nature (at least that I know of)....but upon research, it is in the plumeria family and takes on a jasmine scent.  It definitely smells like jasmine, as I am reminded of Thierry Mugler Alien, which is heavy on the jasmine note.

Around the 30 minute mark, the strangest thing happens.  On my wrists, it is an all jasmine smell.  however, on the crook of my elbows, it is soft and powdery.  It is lovely orchid! Isn't it odd how different areas of the body will allow perfumes to develop unlike one another?  I don't know that I'd have been able to place an actual name with the next thing I detect, but I read a review where someone said it smells faintly of calamine lotion. It's true!  I don't find it to be bad, though. I smell it when I am sniffing the elbow area that I sprayed.  I think it is something about the powderiness of the orchid that is creating it.

Around an hour and a half in, I am reminded of salted sea air at the beach.  There is a slight musk to it but also something that is a tiny bit woodsy.   If all the other fragrance developments didn't hint at summer and warm evenings, the dry down definitely does.  I just keep thinking "vacation", "beach", "sea air", and the like.

Maybe I am crazy, but the base is sweet and salty at the same time.  I'm still getting all the beachy references, but also something almost vanillic.  There are slight hints of the amber, but I really detect vanilla!  I don't know if it is the amber tricking me and taking on a, somehow, vanilla form, but I really find something sweet in the base.

This is different than a lot of the other Lolita Lempicka perfumes, yet tips its hat, recognizing they are still from the same family.  There are similarities to the others in the licorice at the opening as well as a spiciness that initially reminds me of L de lolita Lempicka.  However, it all stops there and Coral Flower makes a name all its own. It is from their family, but has created its own personality and is more vibrant and playful.

Perfume Package!

Yesterday was a very good mail day.  I have been waiting for a few perfumes to arrive and most of them did!  YAY!  I was only expecting one to arrive yesterday and others to arrive today, but luckily they all came together.  They were all in different boxes, but that is fine.

I won't be doing reviews just yet.  I will slowly start getting those out.  This is more of a heads-up of what to expect to start showing on the Vanity Table!  :-)

The first perfume is a 1.7 oz of Van Cleef & Arpels Oriens.  I'm madly in love with the bottle.  That lid is just stunning!  I have a fun little back story on it when I get to the review.

The second perfume is a 1 oz of Lolita Lempicka Coral Flower.  I've come to adore Lolita Lempicka and can pretty much blind buy any of them and fall in love.  I've yet to come across a bad Lolita Lempicka. Sad note: the "L" is missing some of its beads.  They fell out and into the box.  I can glue them back in, just haven't yet.

This next one is another Lolita Lempicka.  This is L de Lolita Lempicka and is in a 2.7 oz bottle. This is actually a tester. I was able to score a big bottle for a steal! If you aren't picky about not having the fancy aesthetics included, tester bottles are a fabulous way to go.  I have a mini of this perfume, but love it so much that I had to get a big bottle.  Now I've got a mama and baby bottle of L. 

The final perfume I got is Vera Wang Princess.  This is a 3.4 oz tester bottle.  As I mentioned with L, some of the knick-knacks aren't included with testers.  This tester bottle doesn't have the signature crown at the spritzer.  That doesn't bother me in the very least, though, because I got a giant bottle for next to nothing. Also keep in mind, there is nothing wrong with the tester bottles.  They're brand new, never used bottles of fragrance.  They just don't always come with the fancy-shmancy stuff. 

Now I just need the remainder to arrive!  EEKS!

November Favorites

This month, the family has been battling colds and allergies, so for the most part, I have been extremely simplistic with my makeup.   I have been wearing products that would erase discoloration and/or bring life to my face, but haven't messed too much with fun eye looks.  That is why you aren't seeing any eyeshadows.  I did wear them, just not enough to be included in a "favorites" post.

The products I used to create the illusion of a more alive and awake face were items by Maybelline, Coty, and Sonia Kashuk.  I started by covering any blemishes or red areas with the Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette.  I don't really mess with the deepest shade or the powder.  I stay in the lightest cream shade and the green. Then, I will use the product in the little pot.  That is actually one of the Maybelline Age rewind concealers.  It is the one in the Brightening shade.  My tube broke, though, so I had to depot it.  That is where it lives now. That goes under my eye area and a little bit down the center of my nose.  I think it actually works well to bring light down the center of the face that way. On a good day, I will stop there and just set it with the Coty Air Spun Loose powder.  Now, if I feel I need more coverage, I will have started with the Maybelline foundation at the very beginning.  I like this foundation when it gets colder.  I know these Maybelline concealers are supposed to be for under the eyes, but I have found that certain shades can work on blemishes too!  However, don't dab them directly on the blemish.  Dot some out onto your hand (or palette) and then use a finger to pick it up and onto that area (or with a brush).

The lip balm I have been using will come as no surprise.  It is the Jack Black Lemon & Chamomile lip balm. I love this one so much. I feel like it really hydrates and heals chapped lips better than other products. It has been in a lot of "favorites."  

The blush is Sonia Kashuk in the color Flamingo.  This may seem like an odd color choice since we are in the middle of fall.  I found that this particular pink gave the perfect "came-in-from-the-cold" kind of glow.  Plus, when I'm not wearing much else, it bring just a bit of life and color to my face without screaming that I am wearing a blush.  

The Mascara I have been reaching for is one that I had forgotten how much I enjoyed.  It is the Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara.  It is in the regular formulation because I don't care for waterproof mascaras. While this doesn't add thickness to my lashes, I love the length that it gives.  I don't have long lashes but when I put this on they look quite impressive!

Finally, is the perfume I have worn most often.  While I, probably, prefer one of the other Lolita Lempicka perfumes that I recently purchased over this one, this is the bottle that I have actually worn the most.  It is just the original Lolita Lempicka.   I do have a review on the scent of it.  It is one that I'd highly recommend checking out.

I wanted to get this post up a couple of days ago, but with not feeling my best, I am in a bit of a slump and haven't done much in the way of blogging or preparing/taking photos.  My nails are also in a rut, but I am trying to pump moisture into them so, hopefully, they'll get some length back on them.  I would like to get at least a couple of holiday designs up on the nail blog.

Lolita Lempicka Forbidden Flower Perfume

Please don't mind the watermark to my nail blog. I had put the photos together before this blog was up and running.  Originally, the review was going to be placed on the other blog. :-)

I wasn't going to review this one yet just because it isn't exactly the "right" season for it (according to majority).  However, I didn't want to end up forgetting about it, so I will just go ahead and get it out there now.  This one is Lolita Lempicka Forbidden Flower.  It was created in 2008 by Annick Menardo, who also created the original Lolita Lempicka, but not the L De Lolita Lempicka (both of which I have already done reviews on).  This is considered a fruity floral gourmand fragrance.

This one is a little bit reminiscent of Lolita Lempicka by Lolita Lempicka, I'm assuming because of its violet note.  It (the violet) doesn't seem as soft and powdery as it did in the original Lolita Lempicka.  It seemed more classic and vintage in that one and fresh in this one.  While this one opens pretty quickly with violet (more so than the original) it still isn't the first thing I pick up on.  The extreme first scent I get is fresh cut grass or leaves.  Not dry, dead leaves but fresh spring or summer leaves.  It seems like an usual smell but it works very, very well in a scent directed for that time of year.

I know there are peony notes in this perfume, but on me they seem pretty light.  They don't stand out very strong.  I know most of you will be familiar with, say, the peony scent from Bath & Body Works. While I enjoy that scent because I can recall my grandmother always wearing it, this isn't the same.  It is softer in this perfume.  It isn't as sharp. It melds and blends in better here.

After a little while, I pick up on hints of dark cherry.  It is the strangest thing because it isn't settled there.  I can take a whiff and smell it and think "yum, that smells really nice" and so I'll sniff again, but get NOTHING in the way of that cherry scent.  It comes and goes.   When it is there it is a pleasant surprise.  This is the start of the cherry rolling in, because give it about an hour after initial application and BAM!  Chocolate covered cherries!  I get the sensation of the deliciousness that is inside of a chocolate covered cherry, you know, the cherry syrup that surrounds the actual berry PLUS that cherry.  Yum!

What lingers, and is the last thing I detect, I can't figure out.  I can tell you it smells clean.  It has a soap kind of smell, but not at all in a bad way. It definitely smells like one of the bar soaps I have used at some point in my adult life, though. I want to say one of the Olay ones. And that might make sense because I think they may have had some kind of "Cherry Honey" or "Cherry Almond" scented one. It isn't offensive and I think most people would enjoy it.  If you were to go in for a hug/handshake with someone or sweep past a person, you'd just smell....clean.

While this perfume opens very crisp and a bit sharp, I think the dry down on it could work perfectly in the cooler months, too.  It has a cozy smell to it that I enjoy when it is chilly, but also that clean aroma that would be refreshing in scorching temperatures.  Let's just be fair and call this one a year round appropriate perfume.  I think most people will find this one easier to wear than the original Lolita Lempicka.

The official notes of this perfume are...
top: strawberry leaf, mimose, green notes
middle: peony, violet, anise
base: almond, cherry, musk

L De Lolita Lempicka Perfume

Please don't mind the watermark to my nail blog.  I had put the photos together before I had this blog up and going.  Originally, the reviews were going to be placed on that blog.

This is the second of three Lolita Lempica perfumes that I recently purchased.  This was the perfume that initially called my attention and started my purchase. As I researched Lolita Lempicka, I became intrigued and just kept adding more from that house to my cart.  While the original Lolita Lempicka was created by Annick Menardo, L De Lolita Lempicka was not.  This one was created by Maurice Roucel in 2006. He is known for other fragrances such as DKNY Be Delicious for women, Guess for women, Harajuku Lovers Wicked Style Love, etc.

Looking at the fun, blue bottle with gold netting on it you'd think this would have a very beachy, tropical smell.  Not even a little bit. That couldn't be further from the reality of what is inside.  The juice is the complete opposite of what you're anticipating.  For me, this is absolutely a fall/winter perfume that is more warm and cozy.  It isn't something I'd want to sport in hot weather.  While talking about the bottle and the juice inside...this is one that is notorious for being finicky and changing color.  It starts out as a beautiful blue, but because of the vanilla in it, it can change to a dark amber color if exposed to light over a period of time.  It won't change the scent at all, but will change the appearance.  Just a heads up that I felt I should mention.

This one opens in a very, very strong wall of black licorice.  I find this incredibly strange because no where is licorice or anise listed as one of the notes for top, middle, or base.  It is nowhere to be found.  However, I swear to you that is what it opens up to me as. Thank goodness this only lasts for about 2 minutes, though. If it lasted any longer I would give up on this perfume. They claim it is a bitter orange to open.

Once it starts to settle on the skin it starts to warm.  The licorice nearly completely goes away.  There is the very tiniest hint remaining...and from someone who doesn't care for licorice scents, it is nice.  Just the tiniest bit is actually nice.  It is so small that it works in the over-all picture of the fragrance.  I can smell cinnamon rolling in and warming up the whole fragrance.  It becomes a more cozy perfume.  I can pick up on hints of vanilla but it mixes with the cinnamon and keeps it from being a typical vanilla that you'd find in every fragrance store in the fall/winter.

The longer it sits the stronger the vanilla comes out.  It remains a warm vanilla, though.  A warm, musky vanilla is the only thing that comes to mind.  It isn't a cheap, artificial kind of vanilla.  It is delicious.  I watched a video by RedHeadPHD on YouTube, who described this as an orange glazed cinnamon roll scent...  I can kind of see that.  For me, that comes in to play once it has been on the skin for about an hour and some odd minutes, though.  It is once it has really settled down that it turns to a glazed cinnamon pastry.

While this has sweet, foodie notes, I don't think this is an overly young scent.  I don't think the teenage crowd would enjoy it overly much.  I think the women in their 20s and beyond who still enjoy a delicious gourmand but don't want to smell like the zillions of others wearing foodie smells are the ones who will most appreciate this perfume.

There are a lot of MEN who like to wear this perfume.  I don't know...  wearing it, myself, I can't imagine my husband wearing it.  I don't know that I'd enjoy smelling it on him. There are notes that make it so that I can understand men pulling it off, but I can say I don't want my husband wearing it.  Especially once it has fully reached its base notes, I don't think I'd like like it as much on a man.  But, to each their own, right?  If you are a man who enjoys scents marketed towards women, so be it! And the other way around.  This is just my two cents.

I already said in my review of Lolita Lempicka by Lolita Lempicka that I will be enjoying that one through the colder months.  The same goes for this one.  I will be alternating between the two and then an amber fragrance I have in my collection. This is the perfect time to fully enjoy L, I think. It has the coziness that meshes well with with the chill in the air and the layering of scarves, boots, and sweaters. Plus, I enjoy that it really clings.  When I say that, I mean it CLINGS!  This baby isn't going anywhere once you have spritzed it on. I can put some on at, say, noon and go about my day, shower at night, go to sleep, wake up the next morning and late in the morning I will still detect traces of it on my wrists.  I suppose it is a good thing that I absolutely adore this perfume, huh?

The official notes are:
top: bitter orange, bergamont
middle: immortelle, cinnamon, musk
base: tonka bean, vanilla, sandalwood

Lolita Lempicka Perfume

Don't mind the watermark to my nail blog. I put the photos together before I created this sub-blog and had thought the perfumes were amazing enough that they warranted a post (even on a nail blog!).

I am having a love affair with my new Lolita Lempicka perfumes.  This one is the original.  It is Lolita Lempicka by Lolita Lempicka.  It was created in 1997 by Annick Menardo, who is known for creating other perfumes like Hypnotic Poison, Armani Attitude for men, etc.  This perfume is a fun twist of changing scents.  They're kind of unexpected and don't seem like they'd belong together.  Somehow, though, they work and mesh perfectly with one another and play nice together.

When I first put this on I definitely picked up on a licorice note.  It wasn't a strong black licorice but perhaps a bit more soft like anise. That is not my favorite of smells. However, because that is the top note, it fades away rather quickly. Even with it not being a favorite smell of mine, it wasn't cringe-worthy.  It had a fresh, crisp quality to it.  It was almost refreshing in a way.

In a matter of a couple moments, it took on a slightly powdery quality.  I can see some saying that it is granny-ish, but I find it nice.  It does remind me of something I would find at my grandmother's dressing table.  I do get immediate images and flashbacks of playing at my grandma's mirrored vanity table, rummaging in her makeup and swiping on her little sample lipsticks that she kept for her dozens of grandchildren.

Hanging on heavily is violets.  I couldn't figure it out immediately, though it only took a few seconds for me to realize it was violets.  I don't know why I didn't remember hearing violets in the reviews I read/saw for it.  It is as plain as day in there. It isn't hiding in the slightest bit.  I love violets.  I don't mean to compare it in any way to this, but there was a 2005 limited edition Bath & Body Works spring fragrance that was put out which I adored.  I tried to buy as much of it as I could so that I wouldn't run out.  I loved it so much.  I still have one single body splash bottle left...but only half remains.  I would bathe in the stuff if I could get away with it.  Violets are such a beautiful scent, in my opinion.  In fact, I have recently been researching to find a new perfume or splash to replace it.  Well, the violet in Lolita Lempicka is clean and strong...yet soft and feminine.

After a couple of hours all the powder goes away and it takes on a candied kind of smell. Candied violets? Is that possible?  I don't know. Violet is still there but oh so faint. I definitely pick up on the vanilla more at this point, though. It is a sexy, musky vanilla with hints of violet.  The dry down is very pretty with this one.  Another note that seems to linger the longer it wears is tobacco.   Though I had known it was there from initially reading the list of ingredient notes, I didn't really pick it up the first time I wore the perfume.  However, the second time I had it on, I kept smelling something that I couldn't put my finger on.  I pulled up the listing of the notes again and there it was.  It hit me that what I was picking up was the tobacco.  It kind of takes me by surprise that I am smelling it, but it is there.  It is a creamy, almost vanilla-tobacco. It is very smooth.

All day I just keep smelling my wrists.  It is such an irresistible perfume. I was looking for something nice to wear this fall and winter and this one really fits the bill to perfection. I'm glad I didn't write this one off based on the top notes that are initially there.  If I had been sweeping through a department store, sprayed this on one of the paper sheets to test and smelled it, I'd have been turned off.  Rarely do I allow a perfume to set longer than a moment...just enough for me to determine if I like the opening of it... and that is a shame.  If I had done that, I'd have missed out on this glorious fragrance. The opening of it only lasts for a couple of minutes, at most, and then it is violet bouquets that later roll into light vanilla musk.

The official listing for the notes are....
top: mahogany,pineapple, violet, ivy, anise, lemon
middle: iris, amaryllis, jasmine, vetiver, lily,licorice, orris root
base: tonka bean, almond, vanilla, vetiver, heliotrope, white musk, tobacco, praline