Now that I'm done with these reviews, I'm gazing at the lower-rated tubes, asking myself "What in the world do I do with these now??" However, the top four of the list are in constant rotation now, and I've been ecstatically happy that I took a random chance on some of these.
Without further ado!
*drumroll*
#1:
Rimmel Lash Maxxx
My review
ELFF: 36.5
Runner up:
Maybelline Define-A-Lash
My review
ELFF: 36
Third place:
Yves St. Laurent Faux Cils
My review
ELFF: 32
The rest -
Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender
My review
ELFF: 30
Smashbox Bionic
My review
ELFF: 29
MAC Pro LongLash
My review
ELFF: 29
DuWop Lash Lacquer
My review
ELFF: 27
Maybelline Lash Expansion
My review
ELFF: 21
Thanks to everyone who has given me feedback, suggestions, and tips!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
dessert at 7 - Pink Room UK's Pour Toi
Okay, so I lied. Instead of the promised phase 3, I'm going to talk about an actual perfume.
While this perfume is specifically meant to elicit an association with Colette and her most well-known book, Gigi, I don't think it quite suits the scent. Pour Toi, wrapped in dark purple, comes with a little vignette about Gigi and what it might have been like to be her – but to be honest, even throughout the drydown this scent stays a bit too adorable to truly evoke the latter-end decadence and naughtiness of Gigi. This is Gigi with a Minnie Mouse voice. If I may be so bold, it's a bit like the Pink Room owner herself: a woman who looks like the modern epitome of elegance and British reserve until she opens her mouth – then all her lovely, infectious, bubbly delight spills out.
It's a soft, innocent gourmand fragrance from start to finish, and I get no smokiness from it whether I sniff it (paper or skin) from one hour in to four hours in to ten. The smell of currant and custard, combined with the muguet lotion smell of lily of the valley, dominate through the entire life of the fragrance for me. In the beginning I get the lemon and grapefruit; in the end I get the vanilla and rose. I wish I knew what fleur de melati smelled like, because there's this piquant powder smell which I find terribly enticing, but it's a delightful enticing rather than a romantic or seductive enticing. The musk and sandalwood never show up for me, but to be quite honest I don't care. It would be a wee bit perturbing to sniff my arm expecting currant custard and instead get something akin to a Mona Di Orio scent. I like the idea that I can carry a wonderful dessert with me, and enjoy the spirit of it for hours afterwards.
Notes as listed are: Lemon, Blackcurrant, Grapefruit, Rose, Fleur de Melati, Lily of the Valley, Sandalwood, Vanilla, White musk.
While this perfume is specifically meant to elicit an association with Colette and her most well-known book, Gigi, I don't think it quite suits the scent. Pour Toi, wrapped in dark purple, comes with a little vignette about Gigi and what it might have been like to be her – but to be honest, even throughout the drydown this scent stays a bit too adorable to truly evoke the latter-end decadence and naughtiness of Gigi. This is Gigi with a Minnie Mouse voice. If I may be so bold, it's a bit like the Pink Room owner herself: a woman who looks like the modern epitome of elegance and British reserve until she opens her mouth – then all her lovely, infectious, bubbly delight spills out.
It's a soft, innocent gourmand fragrance from start to finish, and I get no smokiness from it whether I sniff it (paper or skin) from one hour in to four hours in to ten. The smell of currant and custard, combined with the muguet lotion smell of lily of the valley, dominate through the entire life of the fragrance for me. In the beginning I get the lemon and grapefruit; in the end I get the vanilla and rose. I wish I knew what fleur de melati smelled like, because there's this piquant powder smell which I find terribly enticing, but it's a delightful enticing rather than a romantic or seductive enticing. The musk and sandalwood never show up for me, but to be quite honest I don't care. It would be a wee bit perturbing to sniff my arm expecting currant custard and instead get something akin to a Mona Di Orio scent. I like the idea that I can carry a wonderful dessert with me, and enjoy the spirit of it for hours afterwards.
Notes as listed are: Lemon, Blackcurrant, Grapefruit, Rose, Fleur de Melati, Lily of the Valley, Sandalwood, Vanilla, White musk.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
the flutter wars, phase 2 - Rimmel Lash Maxxx
I swear to you all - I tried to review more mascaras before posting this. Seriously, I did try.
Rimmel Lash Maxxx
This was a spur of the moment purchase, while buying a desperation can of Red Bull. My attention was caught first by the tube, accented in deep metallic pink, and then was kept by the comb. The comb is unique: it's a row of three staggered rubber bristles, so unlike haircomb-style mascara wands, this applicator is perfectly capable of putting quite a bit of product on your lashes. Like Lycra Lash, this is a no-fuss, lightweight formula of which you can use multiple coats without worrying about smudging. The ingredients of Lycra Lash and Lash Maxxx are nearly identical, but there has to be some change in the percentages because this stuff feels even lighter than the Lycra Lash. That said, the main benefit of this product is that the comb provides nearly unparalleled definition, and because the comb is smaller than normal mascara brushes, with a tilt of the wrist I can control the angle of the sweep at any time in application.
This product has been a LOT of fun. Being able to change the look at a moment's notice provided me with many opportunities to play. I don't think this would be a voluminizing formula if your lashes are sparse, but if your lashes are anything like mine, with three strokes it can go from subtle to dramatic. The endurance isn't superb – at the very end of the day, there's a noticeable reduction in the look, but it looks totally stunning for at least 10 hours, so I can't take too many points off. It's no Define-A-Lash, but then again, what would be? ;) The feel is so light and airy, I can't help but think that gaining extra endurance would result in a lesser Feel score.
Of all things, the only thing I can really pick on is the fact that the pink of the cap doesn't match the accent pink on the tube ;) Since I'm not grading for packaging, that doesn't count!
So its ELFF score is:
Endurance – 8
Look – 9.5
Feel – 9
Flutter Factor – 10
The highest score yet!
In the next post I'll finally phase 3 this project, listing all the reviewed mascaras along with their ELFF scores. If I feel particularly motivated, I'll post some pics as well!
Rimmel Lash Maxxx
This was a spur of the moment purchase, while buying a desperation can of Red Bull. My attention was caught first by the tube, accented in deep metallic pink, and then was kept by the comb. The comb is unique: it's a row of three staggered rubber bristles, so unlike haircomb-style mascara wands, this applicator is perfectly capable of putting quite a bit of product on your lashes. Like Lycra Lash, this is a no-fuss, lightweight formula of which you can use multiple coats without worrying about smudging. The ingredients of Lycra Lash and Lash Maxxx are nearly identical, but there has to be some change in the percentages because this stuff feels even lighter than the Lycra Lash. That said, the main benefit of this product is that the comb provides nearly unparalleled definition, and because the comb is smaller than normal mascara brushes, with a tilt of the wrist I can control the angle of the sweep at any time in application.
This product has been a LOT of fun. Being able to change the look at a moment's notice provided me with many opportunities to play. I don't think this would be a voluminizing formula if your lashes are sparse, but if your lashes are anything like mine, with three strokes it can go from subtle to dramatic. The endurance isn't superb – at the very end of the day, there's a noticeable reduction in the look, but it looks totally stunning for at least 10 hours, so I can't take too many points off. It's no Define-A-Lash, but then again, what would be? ;) The feel is so light and airy, I can't help but think that gaining extra endurance would result in a lesser Feel score.
Of all things, the only thing I can really pick on is the fact that the pink of the cap doesn't match the accent pink on the tube ;) Since I'm not grading for packaging, that doesn't count!
So its ELFF score is:
Endurance – 8
Look – 9.5
Feel – 9
Flutter Factor – 10
The highest score yet!
In the next post I'll finally phase 3 this project, listing all the reviewed mascaras along with their ELFF scores. If I feel particularly motivated, I'll post some pics as well!
correcting previous notes
Quite a while ago, I went to the L'Artisan boutique uptown at their Madison Avenue boutique, and I was informed that the new October scent will not be named Eau de Liane, but Fleur de Liane. The scent is slightly different now - more rainy and crisp, less deep green - but still stunningly gorgeous.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
mediterranean light - Diptyque's L'Eau des Hesperides
It is beautiful when a house that normally doesn't work on you releases something you adore. Diptyque scents normally exhibit a headiness that turns into headachiness on me, even though I can tell that the fragrance is well-crafted. I really loved Tam Dao for the first hour, but a repeated sinus headache meant I couldn't wear it again. Therefore, the fact that the three scents in this collection are all eau fraiche concentration led me to try them the way I normally try fragrances, with very happy results.
This scent carries a lovely sweet greenness, like stripes of seagrass on the coast of an orchard of mixed fruits. Mandarin, lemon and rosemary carry well together, and none of them get overwhelming. Normally citrus notes are OH SO DECIDEDLY CITRUS, but a bit of mint brightens and freshens the whole thing, with petitgrain anchoring it in coolness. Red thyme, which I've used in skin preparations in its essential oil form, along with white musk and the smallest hint of cedar add a bit of warmth to balance out the concoction. It sounds as though it would be heavier than it is; all in all it's a nice refreshing bit of olfactory joy, and I'm happy to wear it.
As a side note concerning the name:
Anyone who knows a decent amount about Greek mythology knows that the Hesperides are garden-nymphs, in a garden that carries echoes of Eden. The fruit of that garden is scattered throughout several legends, as the Hesperides' garden was supposed to live in the distant west, and held the irresistible golden fruit of immortality. (Hesperis, in Greek, is defined as the avatar of evening.) The Latinized version of the tale held the golden fruit to be apples - considering the Greek weather and palate, that isn't likely. Apples were so rare in Greece before the 7th century BC, and wild apples so bitter, that I have a hard time accepting that it was originally an apple. It has further problems when you consider that early Northern Europeans called nearly any foreign fruit an apple. To Chandler Burr, the fruit of the Hesperides is an orange. Bitter orange, maybe... I'm not a scholar of ancient Greece (anymore), but according to "The Meaning of Trees: Botany - History - Healing - Love" by Fred Hageneder (pg 81), the quince is the golden apple: the quince tree itself was named chrysomelon, which translates almost directly. Considering any in-depth research into Greek history will provide the quince as a preliminary symbolic fruit before the apple reached wide cultivation, I'm willing to accept Mr. Hageneder's assertion that the quince is, indeed, what the Hesperides' garden contained.
To me and on me, there is nothing dark or moody about this scent - the citrus aqnd herb combination does elicit the fruity freshness of quince, brilliantly executed by Olivier Pecheux, along with having the late-light coolness of a Mediterranean sunset. Smooth, vacation-y, and lovely, all at once.
This scent carries a lovely sweet greenness, like stripes of seagrass on the coast of an orchard of mixed fruits. Mandarin, lemon and rosemary carry well together, and none of them get overwhelming. Normally citrus notes are OH SO DECIDEDLY CITRUS, but a bit of mint brightens and freshens the whole thing, with petitgrain anchoring it in coolness. Red thyme, which I've used in skin preparations in its essential oil form, along with white musk and the smallest hint of cedar add a bit of warmth to balance out the concoction. It sounds as though it would be heavier than it is; all in all it's a nice refreshing bit of olfactory joy, and I'm happy to wear it.
As a side note concerning the name:
Anyone who knows a decent amount about Greek mythology knows that the Hesperides are garden-nymphs, in a garden that carries echoes of Eden. The fruit of that garden is scattered throughout several legends, as the Hesperides' garden was supposed to live in the distant west, and held the irresistible golden fruit of immortality. (Hesperis, in Greek, is defined as the avatar of evening.) The Latinized version of the tale held the golden fruit to be apples - considering the Greek weather and palate, that isn't likely. Apples were so rare in Greece before the 7th century BC, and wild apples so bitter, that I have a hard time accepting that it was originally an apple. It has further problems when you consider that early Northern Europeans called nearly any foreign fruit an apple. To Chandler Burr, the fruit of the Hesperides is an orange. Bitter orange, maybe... I'm not a scholar of ancient Greece (anymore), but according to "The Meaning of Trees: Botany - History - Healing - Love" by Fred Hageneder (pg 81), the quince is the golden apple: the quince tree itself was named chrysomelon, which translates almost directly. Considering any in-depth research into Greek history will provide the quince as a preliminary symbolic fruit before the apple reached wide cultivation, I'm willing to accept Mr. Hageneder's assertion that the quince is, indeed, what the Hesperides' garden contained.
To me and on me, there is nothing dark or moody about this scent - the citrus aqnd herb combination does elicit the fruity freshness of quince, brilliantly executed by Olivier Pecheux, along with having the late-light coolness of a Mediterranean sunset. Smooth, vacation-y, and lovely, all at once.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
the flutter wars, phase 2 - Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender
It has been a long time, my friends, in which this perfumista has embarked on many adventures. I've seen people kayaking in cardboard scullers; I've photographed people painting themselves blue; I've watched half-naked women who had bejeweled their shaved heads; and I've received numerous job offers that make my heart pound in gratitude.
But I still need to finish the flutter wars, so let me move on:
Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender
This is a very interesting product – Lycra Lash has a lot to recommend it. It's an easy-on product, with very little smudge. I can put on multiple coats and clumping isn't usually a problem; oddly enough, due to its lengthening properties this is the only product I tried that had the potential to make my eyelashes look spidery. But if you use a medium amount, it's a very pretty look with very little fuss, and it's so lightweight you never feel it after application.
There was only one problem I encountered with it, and I have to admit it's a serious one. This is the only product I tried that flaked and got in my eyes. Now, I'm fairly sure that if you have dry or combination skin, this wouldn't occur. However, I have very oily skin, and so my eye makeup always tends to wander. Most of the time mascara is heavy enough that its migration isn't something that gets in my actual eyes, but with Lycra Lash, three quarters of the way through the day I'd feel grit in my eyes and need to go fish it out. Because of this, I also couldn't do the dreaded sleep test – after about fifteen minutes of lying down I could feel it in my eyes and had to go remove it. I tested it with some pressed powder dabbed on my lids, which did help significantly, but I don't like putting a great deal of effort into makeup so this isn't a solution I will use or recommend. Several endurance points were taken off for this, but I'll bet that if you use a lash primer, you'd never experience the flaking problem.
So its ELFF score is:
Endurance – 6
Look – 8
Feel – 7
Flutter Factor – 9
All told, I've worn this on numerous occasions where I need to look pretty in a hurry, but I wouldn't buy the tube again.
Next up: Rimmel Lash Maxx!
But I still need to finish the flutter wars, so let me move on:
Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender
This is a very interesting product – Lycra Lash has a lot to recommend it. It's an easy-on product, with very little smudge. I can put on multiple coats and clumping isn't usually a problem; oddly enough, due to its lengthening properties this is the only product I tried that had the potential to make my eyelashes look spidery. But if you use a medium amount, it's a very pretty look with very little fuss, and it's so lightweight you never feel it after application.
There was only one problem I encountered with it, and I have to admit it's a serious one. This is the only product I tried that flaked and got in my eyes. Now, I'm fairly sure that if you have dry or combination skin, this wouldn't occur. However, I have very oily skin, and so my eye makeup always tends to wander. Most of the time mascara is heavy enough that its migration isn't something that gets in my actual eyes, but with Lycra Lash, three quarters of the way through the day I'd feel grit in my eyes and need to go fish it out. Because of this, I also couldn't do the dreaded sleep test – after about fifteen minutes of lying down I could feel it in my eyes and had to go remove it. I tested it with some pressed powder dabbed on my lids, which did help significantly, but I don't like putting a great deal of effort into makeup so this isn't a solution I will use or recommend. Several endurance points were taken off for this, but I'll bet that if you use a lash primer, you'd never experience the flaking problem.
So its ELFF score is:
Endurance – 6
Look – 8
Feel – 7
Flutter Factor – 9
All told, I've worn this on numerous occasions where I need to look pretty in a hurry, but I wouldn't buy the tube again.
Next up: Rimmel Lash Maxx!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
sorry to post and run, but...
I have three more mascaras to review and I cannot wait until I'm done with them to say it. I can't wait to shout to the stars:
Lash Maxxx!
More when time allows. I have a bunch of reviews of fragrance and makeup stewing.
Lash Maxxx!
More when time allows. I have a bunch of reviews of fragrance and makeup stewing.
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