Fragrance

Flirt Flowerific Fragrance: A Light Floral for Spring

January 7th, 2009 by Karen 54 Comments

Doesn’t Flirt’s new perfume, Flowerific ($35, available at Kohls in February), look totally trippy? Look at those colorful posies! The whole thing makes me feel like I’m in some brightly lit, pyschedelic flower fantasy, LOL!

I was really expecting the scent to reflect the packaging, but Flowerific’s a surprisingly simple perfume — a light floral that starts off with a burst of honeysuckle and freesia before settling into a light water lily. Despite its lack of dimension, I think it’s a lovely fragrance that reminds me of sandals and floral dresses.

Each of the notes in the scent reveal themselves quickly, and, like early spring blossoms, Flowerific doesn’t last very long. I spritzed it on my wrist at breakfast, and by lunch it was mostly gone.

No problemo, though, because sometimes I prefer lighter scents, and I think Flowerific will totes work for me in the spring.

Flirt Flowerific Perfume Spray

Price: $35 for a 1.7-fl oz. bottle
Use: A simple and light floral fragrance
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+

If heavy perfumes tend to give you a headache and you’re sniffing around for something light and feminine, you might really like Flowerific. I’m guessing it would also wear well with most scented lotions and body washes, particularly those with similar notes, like Bath & Body Works Freesia and Dove Go Fresh in Water Lily. If you like those scents, you might enjoy Flowerific, too.

Still lovin’ ya, Big Red!

I’m a little bummed today because El Hub and I had to say g’bye to our little pickup truck, Big Red. Her engine conked out (210,000 miles), and we’re donating her to the American Cancer Foundation. Today we said our last goodbyes…

She was one of the reasons I fell in love with El Hub. There’s something hot about boys in trucks. On our very first date he dropped me off at home in Big Red, and as I was getting out everything in my purse spilled onto the seat.

El Hub just smiled kindly (he was trying to be smooth) while I picked up all 20 tubes of lipgloss (LOL!). That’s when El Hub oh-so-slyly said, “Don’t worry… if I find anything else I’ll just give it back to you the next time I see you.”

I know it’s a little silly to be pining over a car, but I have so many good memories connected to her. She will be missed! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The $300 Vera Wang LOOK Perfume Giveaway!

November 19th, 2008 by Karen 165 Comments

UPDATE: Contest is closed. Congrats, Josephine!

Can I just say that Vera Wang rocks? She does. And with her newest scent, Vera Wang LOOK ($70 for a 1.7-oz bottle of eau de parfum), she gives us a much-appreciated break from all the fruity florals that dominated fragrance counters this summer and fall (*ahem,* Harajuku Lovers), huzzah!

Let me just come out and say it: I love Vera Wang LOOK.

First, I’ll start by saying what it’s not. LOOK is not the kind of celebrity, sugary-food-fruit-combo fragrance you might find on teenage girls at the mall. It smells all grown up — sexy and mature — but isn’t stuffy or matronly at all. It’s a light scent with a sparkling mix of citrus and freesia, and wearing it makes me feel like a young, sharp woman who finally has her sh*t together.

I can’t stop sniffing my wrists! On my skin, LOOK opens with a burst of mandarin orange and green, grassy notes. As the day wears on, strong freesia (with just a touch of jasmine) emerges. When LOOK finally winds down at the end of the day, it becomes a soft mix of musky vanilla.

Picture yourself making your entrance at a formal cocktail party. All eyes turn to you, the elegant woman wearing Vera Wang LOOK. You’re dressed to the nines in black with some killer Louboutin heels, but you’re also friendly, welcoming and intriguing to talk to!

Now’s Your Chance to Win Vera Wang LOOK

I’m giving away one $300 bottle (yup, this stuff is pricey). Enter by signing up to receive Makeup and Beauty Blog daily e-mail updates if you haven’t already.

If you have already signed up for the updates, you don’t have to do anything to be entered to win — you’re already entered — but you can double your odds of winning by also leaving a comment on this post (a comment about anything at all).

The Prize

The winner receives a 1 oz bottle of Vera Wang LOOK parfum elixir, personally signed by Vera Wang. Unlike a watered-down eau de toilette, a parfum elixir is highly concentrated, expensive and coveted for its purity of scent. Straight up: for a premier fragrance, you want the elixir. ‘Nuff said.

It’s limited edition and comes in an elegant flacon bottle with a cut crystal stopper.

How to Enter

There are two ways to enter the Vera Wang LOOK Perfume Giveaway, and you can do both to double your chances of winning.

If you haven’t already signed up to receive Makeup and Beauty Blog daily e-mail updates, then enter your e-mail in the pink box below (or click this link).

If you have already subscribed to the e-mail updates but want to double your chances of winning, add a brief comment at the bottom of this post (be sure to use a valid e-mail address).

I’ll choose the winners at random from among the people who enter by 11 PM PST on Saturday, November 22. GOOD LUCK!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

5 More Makeup and Beauty Tips from Paris Hilton

November 10th, 2008 by Karen 44 Comments

Every successful celebutante has a few secret beauty tips up her sleeve, and Paris Hilton’s no exception. She was in SF today at the Macy’s in Union Square to promote Fairy Dust, her latest fragrance, and dished about her new perfume, her TV show and, of course, makeup.

New Lipgloss Love: Laura Mercier Liquid Crystal Lipgloss in Citrine

When it comes to makeup, Paris loves lipgloss. This time last year she was all about Chanel Glossimer in Astral. Before that, it was MAC Lipglass in Prrr, but lately she’s been lovin’ on Laura Mercier Liquid Crystal Lipgloss in Citrine, a bright golden coral.

Homegirl actually busted out a tube from her silver Fendi purse while we talked.

“It’s funky,” she said, turning the tube in the light to show me how the colors changed, and then applied a layer with the doe foot applicator. “It’s like all different colors … green and gold and orange.”

Sounds pretty, right? So I went straight to the Laura Mercier counter after the interview only to find out that the Liquid Crystal glosses had been retired six months ago. SHOOT!

But I did some digging and found a slightly softer alternative to Citrine, Bellini Lip Glace ($22), a shimmery coral-gold.

5 of Paris Hilton’s Favorite Makeup and Beauty Products

1. MAC Studio Fix
She can’t live without it!

2. Cle de Peau Concealer

3. CoverGirl LashBlast
Okay, that settles it. Paris and I don’t have the same taste in mascara. Last year she mentioned Maybelline Great Lash (I never understood the hype), and this year it’s CoverGirl’s LashBlast. Seriously?

I almost gave her my tube of Chanel Exceptionnel mascara … but who gives away Chanel??

4. Wet ‘n’ Wild Nail Polish
LOL, I wonder if she tries on polish while she’s standing in front of the display in the store. I know you do this too, ladies. Don’t lie!

5. Kate Somerville products
Paris highly recommends Kate’s cleanser, eye cream and toner.

Some of Her Favorite Makeup Looks

She’s photographed wearing a lot of smokey eyes and nude lips, but today she wore a shimmery silver and green-gray eye, pink cheeks and coral lips, which nicely complimented her seafoam green and silver Alexander Wang dress, L.A.M.B cardigan and white Dior sunglasses.

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Not So Secretly Obsessed with Calvin Klein Secret Obsession Perfume

September 24th, 2008 by Karen 26 Comments

Remember how in the 90s you couldn’t escape Beavis and Butthead? For the better part of a decade those two animated idiots were everywhere — MTV, late-night talk shows, t-shirts, TV commercials and Superbowl halftime shows. Well, somewhere along the path of my life I learned how to talk like Butthead, with his trademark lisp and laugh (“UH-huh-huh-huh”). Lucky me!

Now, whenever I say Secret Obsession, the name of Calvin Klein’s latest perfume, outside forces compel me to speak in Butthead’s voice: “Thee-cret ob-theshon.”

Alas, I fear I’m the only person alive who does this (please tell me I’m not).

But even if I am, I’m pretty sure I’m *not* the only person who likes this scent.

I was never a fan of old school Obsession for Her (too strong for me), but I ended up really liking Secret Obsession.

Like the name implies, the fragrance hides a secret. I detect several interesting and tasteful (tasty?), food-scented layers (WARNING: Avoid trying Secret Obsession on an empty stomach).

Warm and Spicy

On me, Secret Obsession starts off with a huge burst of cinnamon and clove. It hits like a ton of bricks but soon settles into a lovely baked amber that reminds me of a Parisian boulangerie. I feel like cocooning myself in a room with women baking bread early on a cold morning.

Hungry for More

Before long the top notes mellow, and a strong brown sugar emerges — not sickeningly sweet, though, because the spice keeps it in check. Later still, an unexpected twist as the brown sugar morphs into a scent that I can only describe as root beer hard candy — root beer in a good way, not like a walking can of Barq’s.

Flowers for the Lady

The food layers aren’t the only surprises Secret Obsession hides. Over the course of a few hours, the scent opens to reveal notes of rose, like my beloved Givenchy Very Irresistible.
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Inspire, by Christina Aguilera: Attack of the Fruity Floral Celebrity Perfumes Part 12

September 9th, 2008 by Karen 18 Comments

As sure as the sun rises, we can count on celebrities to release self-branded fragrances. When I first heard that singer Christina Aguilera was coming out with a fruity floral called Inspire, I couldn’t help but shrug. I’m a fan of Christina’s, but seeing Inspire’s pretty pink bottle triggered flashbacks of my trip to the fragrance counter when I first sniffed Gwen Stefani’s syrupy sweet Harajuku Lovers. Would Inspire smell dirrrrty … or would I want to put this genie back in its bottle?

The scent itself might actually be what a girl wants; what a girl needs. Like so many other celebrity fragrances, Inspire fits into the fruity floral category, with notes of freesia, mango, rose and gardenia, but on my skin it smells a little more floral than fruity, with the rose and freesia dominating the other notes.

Not to take anything away from Xtina, but both the bottle and the scent bear resemblances to one of my standby fragrances, J’adore by Dior.

That said, I like Inspire. It may not be the most original fragrance in town, but there are worse things in life than smelling like J’adore.

Inspire, by Christina Aguilera

Top notes: mango, citrus and freesia
Middle notes: tuberose, rose and gardenia
Base notes: orange flower, sandal wood, musk

The 1.7 oz. bottle pictured above will run ya $49. There’s also a shower gel ($20) and body lotion ($25).

I really like that Christina and her marketing people are making samples available online. While supplies last, you can order a sample from the Inspire website by filling out this form.

Christina Aguilera Inspire Eau de Parfum Spray

Price: $49 for a 1.7 fl oz. bottle
Use: A light fruity floral
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B-

I actually don’t hate this. The mango is kept to a minimum, and the white florals are fresh — not stuffy or old lady at all. I can see myself wearing Inspire to work or on the weekends.

Ode to Inspire

You are beautiful, no matter what they say,
Words can’t bring you down,
You are beautiful, in every single way,
Yes, words can’t bring you down,
Don’t you bring me down today…

How was your Tuesday? Mine wasn’t bad. I had to work a little later than usual at the office, but when I got home El Hub had burritos waiting from the Mexican place down the street. Right now I’m getting ready to watch a little TV before bed. Tabs is here on the floor beside me, but he’s upset because I’m not paying him enough attention.

Onward to Wednesday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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Harajuku Lovers by Gwen Stefani

August 23rd, 2008 by Karen 23 Comments

Hey, girlies! I’m here at the mall killing some time before heading over to the movies to watch Pineapple Express. At Nordstrom I spied Gwen Stefani’s new Harajuku Lovers fragrances. The bottles are just as cute as I thought they’d be, and each scent comes in two sizes. The large 1.0-fl oz bottles cost $45, and the small 0.33-fl oz are $25.

Unfortunately, none of these lil’ cuties will be coming home with mama. I sniffed all five fragrances and found them too fruity and sweet. “G,” the Gwen doll’s scent, smelled exactly like the bag of Hawaiian coconut candy I finished off the other night. Good for my tummy, yes, but not so good as a fragrance.

Turns out I’m not the only person who wasn’t thrilled by these; bellasugar didn’t think too highly of them, either. Le sigh… I really wanted to like these, too.

Oh, snap! I just looked at the clock, and I need to head to the theater (gotta get my popcorn before the show).

Hope you’re having a good evening!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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Bath and Body Works Black Amethyst Fragrance: Oranges and Amber for Fall

August 14th, 2008 by Karen 23 Comments

Hi, fellow fragrance fiends! I’m sitting here at my desk, rockin’ out to Duran Duran (hungry like the wolf!) and sniffing the new Bath & Body Works lotion in Black Amethyst.

The scent is a big departure from Bath & Body Works’ last fragrance, Rainkissed Leaves. Leaves was light, but notes of amber, citrus and vanilla make Black Amethyst a richer, thicker scent for fall.

I assumed that since this also has amber base notes it would smell something like Bath & Body Works’ Sensual Amber (which I *love* wearing in the winter), but the citrus takes Black Amethyst in a completely different direction.

Black Amethyst is the first chypre fragrance by Bath & Body Works. Chypre describes a family of perfumes with citrus top notes and woody base notes of oak moss or amber. Famous chypre scents include Chanel No. 5, Aromatics Elixir by Clinique and YSL Y by Yves Saint Laurent.

On my skin, Black Amethyst smells strongly of oranges, vanilla, cloves and amber. I think the orange and amber dominate the other notes. While I like the way it smells, it’s not really my style. It’s a more unisex scent (think *totally hawt* dude), but I’m partial to more feminine fragrances, ya know?

If you like unisex citrus and amber scents, give Black Amethyst a try. Wee travel-sized samples of the lotion are currently available at Bath & Body Stores for $3.50, but the full-sized lotions ($10), body splashes ($11), shower gels ($10) and other formulations won’t be available in store until September.

If you don’t live near a Bath & Body Works store, you can order Black Amethyst and the other 46 Bath & Body Works fragrances online.

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Annick Goutal Petite Cherie Body Cream: You and I Make Quite a Pear

August 12th, 2008 by Karen 26 Comments

After the MAC Studio Talk class on Saturday, I wandered around the Bloomingdale’s fragrance department, and this very cute jar of Annick Goutal Petite Cherie body cream ($95 for a 6.7 oz jar) caught my eye.

Cute, yah? I love the etched leaves and flower, the font (LOL, I’m a font nerd) and the lil’ angels at the top.

Petite Cherie body cream smells like a just-bitten, fresh ripe pear. It has notes of fresh cut grass, which complement the pear and keep its sweetness in check.
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