tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74252192399561933702024-03-19T03:00:31.068-07:00All Your Base Notes Are Belong To UsPerfume. Cosmetics. Life.Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-6927303094341902212014-06-30T11:47:00.001-07:002014-06-30T11:48:08.977-07:00Taking Note of Single NotesA calamity has befallen the perfume-obsessive community. I speak, of
course, of the prolonged outage of the BPAL Madness forum, where Black
Phoenix Alchemy Lab fans meet to chat about life and perfumes. In the
interim, Facebook has been a home away from home, and a nice forum
member organized a traveling box of single note scents to circulate so
that we could train our noses to identify individual notes.<br />
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Due
to my upcoming moving plans, I got to go first so the box would not be
caught in some horrible limbo between the U.S. Postal Service and Canada
Post. The box arrived the other day, jam packed with sniffable samples
of a gazillion scents. I decided to use this moribund blog to catalog my
impressions.<br />
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I decided to begin with my favorite, a <b>Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean</b>
CO2 extract. I love it, a very pure rich vanilla, with a hint of
booziness but nothing too buttery or too perfumey about it. If I had to
live with only one perfume note for the rest of my life, this would be
it.<br />
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Next in the package: <b>BPAL's Neutral</b> from the
RPG line, which is described as "a perfect skin musk." This isn't how I
usually think of skin musk, which I tend to find sort of rotten and
cloying. This is a little more of a clean laundry floral, or what skin
smells like after a bath with a perfumed soap.<br />
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<b>BPAL Dragon's Blood</b>
may or may not be a single note of dragon's blood resin. It's not a
note I usually care for, which smells to me like a too-sweet mothball,
but this has more honey to it than camphor, so maybe I should give the
Lab's blends containing this note another try.<br />
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<b>BPAL Bliss</b> is described as "pure milk chocolate" and I've always found it very true to that description. It smells a lot like a pan of brownies just out of the oven.<br />
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And now onto the hardcore single notes!<br />
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<b>Frankincense (Somalia)</b>
this is a piney resin that takes me directly back to my grandfather's
studio, so it must smell like some kind of solvent or oil paint from
deep in my memory. It also reminds me of when my friends and I would
attack an old pine tree in our elementary school playground and scrap
the oozing sap with rocks. I don't really like to wear piney scents on
my skin, but I could sniff this little tube all day to bring back those
memories.<br />
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<b>Bergamot</b> is an empty tube, so it's
hard to get a good sniff, but what I can get is a bitter orange skin,
very much the bitter oils on the skin, not anything juicy from
underneath.<br />
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<b>BPAL Golgothan Myrrh</b> I find it very
hard to describe myrrh. It's a sort of honeyed herbal note, I guess.
There is something I don't love about it in blends, and this single note
isn't disabusing me of that notion. I can't pin down why, but it just
doesn't hit my nose right.<br />
<br />
<b>Sandalwood (Australian)</b>
This is different from many other sandalwoods I've tried. I find
sandalwood fascinating in its varieties. Some I love and find warm and
spicy, while others repel me with a sharp perfuminess. This one combines
a warm woodiness that reminds me of a cedar closet with an overlying
sweet, almost paste-like note. I like that woodiness but don't like that
other note.<br />
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<b>Elemi</b> is something I've heard of
but never knew what it was. It's a resin often used in varnishes, and I
get that same artist studio vibe I got from the frankincense, only this
has a top note that is almost lemony. Another note I don't think I'd
like on my skin, but I enjoy smelling it on its own.<br />
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<b>Frankincense (India)</b> This is sharper and stronger than the Somalian version, with a bright note that is similar to the elemi.<br />
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<b>Carrot Seed</b>
This smells so odd, yet strangely familiar. It smells like gardening,
like the inside of the shed where we keep the gardening tools and it
gets damp and musty but with a pleasant smell of dirt. There is a hint
of the mellow dirt sweetness of a carrot, but I wouldn't call it
carroty, either. I like this when a drop is blended into a perfume, but
on its own it is really strange and compelling at the same time it's
fairly offputting.<br />
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<b>BPAL Siberian Musk</b> The one
that got away. When this came out, I was convinced I didn't like musk
and didn't buy it, until I realized that the deeper, warmer varieties
did great things on my skin. When I finally got to try this, I realized it is the key note in BPAL's Snake Oil. It's both sharp and sweet, and very animal-like. It's rich.<br />
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<b>BPAL Ambergris Accord</b>
Such an interesting scent, and one I love when it pops up in blends.
It's both sweet and salty, floral and musky. There is something animal
and marine about it, and even in accord form, you get an understanding
of why it was so prized. It really adds something undefinable to a
scent.<br />
<br />
<b>Violet Leaf Absolute</b> I haven't been
commenting on the oil colors, which range from clear to yellow to deep
brown, but violet leaf is BRIGHT GREEN! And it smells like.....mashed up
green leaves. I don't detect much of a relation to violet flowers in
this, but there is something that makes me think of strong tea and maybe
some rotting wood on the forest floor. I don't like it, but it smells
like scary essence of the outdoors and I respect that.<br />
<br />
<b>BPAL Caraway</b>
At first whiff there is something piney and resinous about this that
reminds me of frankincense, but behind that is the family smell of
caraway seeds and rye bread. It's more aromatic and less foodie than I'd
imagined and I can see liking this in a perfume.<br />
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<b>Green Cognac</b>
really is faintly green. It smells like the strong, boozy slightly
sweet center of a filled chocolate that I would have wrinkled my nose at
as a kid but eaten anyway, or the illicit enjoyment I used to get out
of smelling the bottles in my father's liqueur collection. I inherited
my grandmother's liquor cabinet, along with an old bottle of cognac, and
the wood interior has absorbed the smell of the booze after all these
years. This is what it smells like, and I love it. No wonder I love
perfumes that have this note.<br />
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<b>BPAL White Sage</b> I
don't really love sage, either in perfumes or even as a flavoring for
food. Even the smell of it in the garden puts me off. I'm not sure what
about it bugs me, but there is something sharpish but also dusty about
it. This note doesn't smell all that kitcheny to me, but I get both the
sharpness and the dust, but also something else that smells a little
like a freshly painted room.<br />
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<b>BPAL Oakmoss</b> I
never like to wear perfumes with oakmoss in them because it turns to
instant powder on my skin. It's a very distinctive scent, and I actually
like it in the vial, but I don't enjoy what it does on my skin. The
woody dustiness reminds me of some places I have spent the summer, and
it's a very pleasant evocation, but I'd like it more as a room scent
than a scent to wear.<br />
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<b>Neroli</b> This is soapier and
more bitter than I expected. I love neroli in perfumes, the sweet warm
blossoms are so perfect. But in its essential form, it's much more like
the skin of the bitter orange than the pure smooth sweetness, mixed with
something a little soapy.<br />
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<b>Labdanum</b> This is a sweet, slightly spicy resin that, unfortunately for me, kind of smells like B.O. Oh well.<br />
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<b>Tonka Bean</b>
Sort of a pasty, musky vanilla scent. It smells like library paste in
the best way. I think it's sort of to vanilla as carob is to chocolate
-- nice enough on its own merits, but nowhere as good if you want to
think of it as an equivalent substitute.<br />
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<b>BPAL Black Patchouli</b>
This is my favorite patchouli, which smells to me like very nice fresh
newly turned earth. It's not a dirt scent that has any moldiness in it,
just like damp earth after a rainfall or when you're gardening. It's
very rich.<br />
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<b>Pink Peppercorn</b> This shows up in a
lot of perfumes I love, where it tends to add a kick to whatever spice
is there. By itself in the vial it smells more like peppercorns in a
pepper mill than any way I've smelled it in a blend, and I perceive the
"pink" mildness of it, vs how I would expect black peppercorns to smell.<br />
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<b>Cacao</b>
This looks like someone squirted some Hershey's syrup into a vial, it's
that dark and thick. Smells recognizably like chocolate, but back in
there is something slightly earthy.<br />
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<b>Vetiver (Haiti)</b>
I supremely hate vetiver on my skin, but I actually sort of like this
in the vial. It smells like a spicy grass and definitely makes me think
of cologne. Whatever it is that goes awful on my skin is lurking in the
back there, but I like its more immediate notes.<br />
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<b>Cistus</b>
I don't know what I was expecting, I guess something floral because
this is from the rockrose family, but it smells like lemon pine sol
disinfectant.<br />
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<b>Sandalwood (New Caledonia) </b>This is
my favorite kind of sandalwood, very rich, warm and spicy. In college I
had a little vial of sandalwood paste a friend had given me, and I've
been trying to find that smell again ever since. This is pretty close.<br />
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<b>Agarwood</b>
Such a deep woody smell. It smells both natural, as if I am sticking my
nose into a half-rotten log, and processed, as if it has been worked
and then oiled. There is something slightly musty about it I don't like,
but that goes away and reveals the nice wood underneath.<br />
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<b>Vanilla Bourbon</b>
Not sure if this comes from the same bottle I tested earlier, but it
also has a liquor smell, like the bottle of vanilla extract in the
kitchen. I love that vanilla can come on strong like this, when we often
tend to think of it as bland.<br />
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<b>BPAL Red Patchouli</b> Earthy like the black patchouli, but a little lighter and spicier.<br />
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<b>Bitter Almond</b>
I love this smell. The bitterness is in the first whiff, when it seems
almost alcoholic, but once that is gone, it's a bright rich almond, like
marzipan or a maraschino cherry.<br />
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<b>Vetiver (Sri Lanka)</b>
A totally different creature vs the Haitian vetiver. This is the smoky
one -- however it ends up in the same awful place no matter what type on
my skin. I can detect a hint of the spicy grassiness, but it's mostly
smoky.<br />
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<b>Lavender</b> This is a gorgeous lavender,
which puts me immediately in a purple field in Provence. Some lavender
perfumes smell artificial or sharp, but this absolute is the real deal.
It's totally fresh.<br />
<br />
<b>Fossilized Amber Oil</b> I don't
care for golden, rich ambers, because they tend to smell sweaty to me.
This is close to that, but I can really smell the stone here. There is a
mineral quality I just love.<br />
<br />
And that's all! I hope
this can happen again, because there are so many left to try. Various
ambers, florals, interesting accords.Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-3012515864952671802013-09-17T12:20:00.004-07:002013-09-17T12:20:58.359-07:00Turn, Turn, Turn<div class="mobile-photo">
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There is a season, and the season is FALL! Won't be official, I guess, for a few days, but you could feel it in the 50 degree air this morning. <br />
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I did, in fact, wear clothes and perfume and makeup during the summer, but nothing felt terribly inspiring to post about, I guess. But pulling out the tights and faux-leather jacket today put a spring in my step. Also put on a new Boden dress, which is always a cause for celebration.<br />
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For the makeup, I reached for some items I haven't used in a while -- my Urban Decay Naked I palette and a strong red lipstick.<br />
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Face -- Urban Decay Naked Skin liquid makeup, Make-Up Forever Primer (under the eyes) and MAC concealer. NYX Pinched blush.<br />
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Eyes -- MAC Paint Pot in Painterly (as base), Urban Decay Half Baked (on lid), Urban Decay Smog (in crease), Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Liner in Perversion, Urban Decay Super Curl Mascara.<br />
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Lips -- MAC Cremesheen lipstick in Dare You and Lustreglass in Ornamental. Revlon Colorstay liner in Natural.<br />
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Perfume -- Black Phoenix Trading Post Hair Gloss in Implacable Beautiful Tyrant (Golden amber, frankincense, white ginger, and oudh) and Nocturne Alchemy Bastet Amber perfume (Royal Amber blend with guiacwood, benzoin, and frankincense).</div>
Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-34211442402961197472013-03-25T13:02:00.000-07:002013-03-25T13:02:03.803-07:00Where's the lamb?<div class="mobile-photo">
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Posting here from the unending winter of 2012-13 -- apparently we have even more snow coming this evening. March's lion nature seems to be hanging on as long as it can.</div>
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I was sitting outside yesterday, though, keeping an eye on the kids playing in the yard and enjoying some sunshine and the tiny little signs that the garden is coming back to life. In addition to some crocus clusters, a few intrepid daffodils, and some little buds on the hydrangeas, there was a smell in the still-chilly air hinting at good things to come. And thus I tried to imagine Fantasy Perfume #4 (I think 4, who knows).</div>
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Dried grass, dried leaves, warming dry earth, cool air, crocus, and crushed rosemary and bay leaf.</div>
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Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-76539663903573185332013-02-13T07:27:00.003-08:002013-02-13T07:27:40.767-08:00Love, Sydney <div class="mobile-photo">
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A little girl in our town suffered a serious brain injury over the weekend, sustained while out enjoying sledding in the snow. The whole community has rallied to her family's request to keep Sydney in our thoughts and prayers, and we were asked today to wear her favorite colors of light blue and purple as a show of solidarity. Facebook has been lighting up with photos of children and adults dressed in blue and purple in her honor. So I decided to wear this sweater set and some purple eyeliner for her. Even my perfume picks up the theme -- BPAL Two-Barred Flasher, which has a strong blueberry note and lilac, along with orris root, galbanum, white tea, and bergamot.</div>
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Thinking about Sydney and her family and sending tons of love.</div>
Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-46405355799209794812013-01-19T14:52:00.003-08:002013-01-19T14:52:36.879-08:00Hair Today<div class="mobile-photo">
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Finally got myself to the salon today after a way-too-long absence. As always, the wonderful stylists and staff at <a href="http://zingforhair.com/">Zing</a>! did absolute wonders. Thank you! I feel like a million bucks.Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-33031350857453885812013-01-04T10:24:00.002-08:002013-01-04T10:24:49.403-08:00Cream of the Crop<div class="mobile-photo">
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Greetings, Earthlings! I managed to get through the holiday season without too much disruption/overeating/family feuding. Have started off 2013 with a new affection for Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliners, and I look forward to getting ever more bold and beautiful with them.</div>
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As a little holiday gift to myself (of the one for you, one for me variety), I ordered the <a href="http://www.temptalia.com/urban-decay-ocho-loco-247-glide-on-eye-pencil-set-review-photos-swatches">Ocho Loco eyeliner set</a> from UD. Although I already owned two of the eight, it was still a good deal. I also decided to treat myself to a little "mystery bag" that promised extravagant goodies for $14. I think my decision to avoid subscription box services has been a good one, since my few months of Birchbox were ultimately a let-down, but it's still fun to get the occasional assortment of samples. It was a very good gamble, because among the items were a good-size sample of their new Beauty Balm, a full-size Naked lip gloss, and a 24/7 eyeshadow pencil. I've been messing around with this stuff nearly daily since, and really enjoying adding a little fun to my look with a non-neutral eyeliner on days I can get away with it. A separate post waxing about the awesomeness of the black matte Perversion liner will be forthcoming.</div>
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Today I used the <a href="http://www.urbandecay.com/24-7-glide-on-shadow-pencil/278,default,pd.html?start=28&cgid=1">eyeshadow pencil</a> for the first time, which came in Rehab, a brown-taupe. I love the color and was amazed by the long, immovable wear when I swatched it (I did all the pencils at once, and then gave the baby a bath, marveling at how the stuff DID NOT BUDGE and had to remove it in the morning). Now I must say that I'm not the biggest fan of eyeshadow pencils. First of all, cream eyeshadows generally don't work well on me and tend to crease or fade. Second, I find the fat pencil format hard to work with. It's neither thin enough to use for precision application, nor blunt enough to get a good wash over the lid. I managed to dab it around and use my fingers for adequate blending, but it seemed like a lot of work. I think I'd rather it came in a pot or pan format. This is easy to transport, though.</div>
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I also busted out one of the Maybelline Color Tattoo shadows in Barely Beige, which I'd bought a few months ago and found a little too frosty. But <a href="http://www.temptalia.com/maybelline-inked-in-pink-color-tattoo-metal-eyeshadow-review-photos-swatches">Temptalia had reviewed some of this line positively recently</a>, so I thought I'd give it another try today. I applied with a flat brush and blended with my fingers.</div>
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Results: it's 4 hours into it, and nary a crease and no fading, so perhaps I finally have gotten the application correct. I think it's important to use a base or primer of some kind and to apply the product in sheer layers and build it up as needed. Will play around with the creams and pencils I have some more, and see if I can get them to perform this well. I have a few NYX eyeshadow pencils too that I've never been able get to work well so I'll experiment and post my results.</div>
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Face: CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation in #319 Flax and CoverGirl concealer. NYX Blush in Pinched.</div>
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Eyes: MAC Paint Pot in Painterly as base, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eyeshadow Pencil in Rehab on outer lid, Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow in Barely Beige on inner lid, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eyeliner in Hustle, NYX Propel My Eyes mascara.</div>
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Lips: MAC Viva Glam VI.</div>
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Scent of the Day: BPAL Pussy (from the moths and butterflies collection, you deeves) which is <em>Orange blossom honey, brown sugar, saffron, tonka absolute, and tobacco leaf. </em>I've always thought of this as a summer scent, but it's working beautifully on this cold and sunny day, warm and cosy.<!-- bpal scent end --></div>
Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-74481031044310124072012-11-08T06:33:00.002-08:002012-11-08T06:33:34.119-08:0090 Second Makeup<div class="mobile-photo">
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So you may have heard about this little storm we had called Sandy. We were very fortunate not to sustain damage, and we got our power back after 6 days. Many of our neighbors were not so lucky, but we're coming together, helping one another out, and looking forward to this all being over.</div>
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A group of coworkers who all live in my town have been carpooling, which turns out to be more fun than sitting morosely in traffic by yourself. I've never been very good at dragging myself out of the house on the early side, so I tend to roll into work later and stay later. But my fellow carpoolers like to meet earlier, so I have been improving my land speed performance in the morning, and have developed a decent face that takes me 90 seconds to do. It involves a lot of quick smearing on of neutral-toned stuff that doesn't require precise application. I used a cream stick blush, which I can dab on and blend in as I run from the bathroom to my bedroom to grab my last items, and I applied my lipstick in the car on my way to the meeting point (my husband drove, safety fiends!). I snapped this photo in the car on the way to work today, and I think it shows a little natural polish that will get me through a day at work.</div>
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Face: CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation in #319 Flax and CoverGirl concealer. NYX Stick Blush in Pink Poppy.</div>
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Eyes: MAC Paint Pot in Painterly as base, NYX Dallas eyeshadow on lid, MAC eyeliner in Ebony, NYX Les Amoureux Mascara.</div>
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Lips: MAC Viva Glam VI.</div>
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Scent of the Day: Nocturne Alchemy Eternal Ankh, which is a vanilla-sheer amber.</div>
Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-27663895081002291292012-09-13T10:33:00.002-07:002012-09-13T10:33:20.498-07:00Basic Red<div class="mobile-photo">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gBSs9U2Pg8Khf43I6IMqCB-Yr3IaqT6s_B1qVqshoRP8QWk9CDv3bvZS0_RG9C8ePfKCljJxnGDmsrcHGPuScyDc-H0LodLa_vwXwdOS4HVSvWjpIvwQ2tFbP5y-IHuhz209F8088Xk/s1600/photo-776049.JPG" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787711856813254354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gBSs9U2Pg8Khf43I6IMqCB-Yr3IaqT6s_B1qVqshoRP8QWk9CDv3bvZS0_RG9C8ePfKCljJxnGDmsrcHGPuScyDc-H0LodLa_vwXwdOS4HVSvWjpIvwQ2tFbP5y-IHuhz209F8088Xk/s320/photo-776049.JPG" /></a>I don't know of many makeup fans who aren't perpetually in pursuit of the perfect red lipstick, whatever that means to her. me, I have in my mind's eye something that is as clear, deep red with a satin finish that pulls neither too brick nor too berry on me. many "true" reds come out looking a little light and chalky for my taste, so I keep pressing on, looking for something with real depth.</div>
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Last year I'd bought this one, MAC Dare You, on a whim, and then wore it once or twice before sort of forgetting about it. Today felt like a red lipstick day, so initially I'd put on the second color in the Yagolicious palette, but that wasn't quite doing it. Then I remembered I had Dare You in my makeup case and popped it on after lunch.</div>
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I like it! It's still not free of the berry tone so many of these take on when I wear them, but I like the depth of color and the finish. </div>
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Face: Cover Girl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation in #310 Flax, Cover Girl concealer, NYX Pinched blush.<br />
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Eyes: MAC Paint Pot in Painterly as base, NYX Dallas eyeshadow, Inglot gel eyeliner in black, NYX Les Amoureux mascara.<br />
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Lips: MAC Dare You.<br />
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Scent of the Day: BPAL Halloween: Las Vegas, surprising nobody.<br />
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Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-30704618041378920842012-08-01T07:13:00.002-07:002012-08-01T07:13:37.302-07:00"It Smells Like A Candy Store In Here"<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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That was what my colleague said when she walked into my office while I was testing a big, juicy envelope full of decants from the <a href="http://www.violettemarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3_59&zenid=bc261859b66b9158cdc8c9114da0f62e">Violette Market State Fair collection</a>, my first time checking out this annual release from an indie perfume oil maker I've come to like a lot. Seems like every perfume oil company has a blend called "Midway" that tries to capture the smell of an old-school fair, with the funnel cakes and the dirt and the grass and the melting cherry ice pops and the candy apples. Lori from Violette Market goes the whole hog and puts out a full line of over 60 scents, covering everything from the Cold Confections Cart to Sugared Incense Cotton Candy (one of 8 cotton candy scents), multiple flavors of Taffy Pull, Penny Candy scents, local honey scents, even an Old Wooden Coaster and Fun House. As if that weren't enough, she has two categories of custom scent options -- Cold Confections Cart Scoops and Sundaes or Tiki Hut Mixed Drinks and Tropical Delights. It's enough to make your head spin.<br />
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I couldn't try them all, more's the pity, so I picked my top 16 and got some decants from a very giving Livejournal member who cheerfully puts large decant circles together. Naturally, when the package arrived I had a massive headcold and couldn't smell a thing. So it's taking me a while to work through the bundle, but I've gotten to the bulk of them now. Sadly, it hasn't worked out all that well for me.<br />
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<u>After Dark</u> (<em>A sinister yet playful combination of pink spun sugar, bubble gum melted into gritty asphalt, sweet fruity musk, smokey vanilla, and a lingering menace of dark resins</em>.) This was the one I wanted to try most of all. I think the fabulous <a href="http://hottiemcnaughty.wordpress.com/">Hottie McNaughty</a> nailed this one when she said (of the 2010 version) "Say you have a very proper pink and girly perfume; well After Dark is like her hot, slutty older sister." <br />
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In vial--Smells like a sweet, fruity, slightly smoky light musk. There is a slight burnt sugar tinge, which I guess in the spun sugar.<br />
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Wet--Blast of fruity, juicy bubble gum and cotton candy. The bubble gum smells like a real true wad of it.<br />
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Drydown--Getting the asphalt now, which is a smell I love. It's sharpish, but still familiar. I can really grasp that image of the wad of bubble gum melting into the asphalt.<br />
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Dry--Definitely a naughty girl kind of scent. The dark resins and asphalt blend with the pink sugar and bubble gum to give a darkly shaded but still sweet, very sexy smell. Definitely NSFW. Sadly, it stays sharp on me, to a point it is too cologney for my taste.<br />
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<u>Coconut Rum Cotton Candy</u> (<em>Clouds of ivory cotton candy infused with dark rum, sugared coconut, black musk, warm spices, and coconut cream.</em>) I'm on a big coconut kick lately, so I definitely wanted to try this one. <br />
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In vial--Coconut candy.<br />
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Wet--Strong blast of coconut cream and that slightly caramelized sugar of cotton candy. <br />
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Dry--This stays all about the coconut and the cotton candy. I don't pick up much in the way of rum, black musk, or spices. It's a pity, because I think it could use a little more of that depth to keep it from smelling more like a coconut-scented air freshener from the car wash. That makes it sound like I hate it -- I don't -- but it's not the deep, spiced coconut I was looking for.<br />
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<u>Taffy Pull</u> (<em>An array of colorful taffy swirling through the taffy pull in the sweet flavors of: Bourbon vanilla, vanilla cream, pink sugar cane, lemon blossom, orange cream, raspberry truffle, blueberry, and caramel</em>.) I wasn't craving to try this one, but it's such a perennial favorite and constitutes the base for six other taffy scents that I wanted to try it just to get a sense of it.<br />
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In vial--Sweet and slightly sour, kind of like old-fashioned library paste.<br />
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Wet--Still getting that library paste smell, it's not as sugary sweet as I expected.<br />
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Dry--Smells uncannily like vanilla taffy, with a slightly plastic or gluey edge. I don't pick up any specific fruity notes, just the overall sense of vanilla taffy. Not for me.<br />
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<u>Pineapple Taffy Pull</u> (<em>An array of colorful taffy swirling through the taffy pull in the sweet flavor of: sugared pineapple with hints of Bourbon vanilla, vanilla cream, pink sugar cane, lemon blossom, orange cream, raspberry truffle, blueberry, and caramel.</em>)<br />
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In vial--Pineapple candy.<br />
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Wet--Sugared dried pineapple (oh I love that stuff!) layered over vanilla taffy.<br />
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Dry--The pineapple all but disappears, leaving me with the same vanilla taffy scent from regular Taffy Pull, with the same plastic or paste note. Pass.<br />
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<u>Sugared Incense Cotton Candy</u> (<em>Clouds of pale blue cotton candy infused with incense smoke, white sugar cane, floral musk, and vanilla cream.</em>) This is one I really wanted to try, because I'm liking incense scents more and more, especially since I took a chance on two bottles of the BPAL special event Great Vampire Bat, which is "incense-touched orchid." This oil is a very pretty pale pink, which is unusual in my experience with perfume oils, which tend to range from clear to dark amber, with a lot of yellows in between.<br />
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In vial--Sweet, headshoppy incense.<br />
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Wet--Something very fruity, maybe strawberry, with the incense. Smells sort of like certain cabs in New York City where the driver uses incense.<br />
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Dry--Ugh, do not like. Smells like cheap, sweet incense, like stuff that was constantly burning in college dorm rooms and summer stock. I like incense, but the expensive kind.<br />
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<u>Midway</u> (<em>A sweet, nostalgia-inducing array of sugared elephant ears, funnel cake, pink cotton candy, candied apples, black cherry tartlets, the heat of August, and laughter carried into the night sky</em>.) This is the first of the many Midway scents out there I've sampled. I didn't have very high hopes, but wanted to try it because it's such a centerpiece of the whole concept.<br />
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In vial--Cherry medicine.<br />
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Wet--Strong cherry medicinal scent, like Robitussen, with a cakey scent coming up shortly afterwards.<br />
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Dry--I get a mixture of artificial cherry and a lot of doughy cake scent with a hint of plastic. There isn't anything very specific about it, and I don't pick up any apple. Not for me.<br />
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A few hours later--This has morphed and now I'm picking up a little more candy apple with dough in the background. It's better, but still not something I want to wear.<br />
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<u>Clementine Petit Cakes (</u><em>Sweet and nostalgic confections of clementine frosting covering petit vanilla cakes sprinkled with a delicate dusting of citrus powdered sugar.</em>) I've been wanting a very orangy scent lately, and nothing I have is really cutting it, so thought this might be nice.<br />
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In vial--Cakey, citrusy.<br />
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Wet--I can almost taste this, I really do smell clementine-flavored frosting over a vanilla cake.<br />
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Dry--This is probably the most realistic frosted cake scent I've ever tried. It's delicious, and is making me hungry for orange-vanilla cupcakes (not good, as I've been low-carbing it). Not sure how much I'd wear something like this, but I'm impressed.<br />
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<u>Sugared Lavender & Black Amber</u>. (<em>Sweet and nostalgic confections of black amber and lavender covered in a delicate dusting of powdered sugar.</em>) I am a fiend for a good lavender, and have been using BPAL's TKO to help me sleep, which is a lavender-vanilla with, I think, a good bit of sweet dragon's blood resin. It's expensive, and at the rate I go through it, I keep thinking it would be nice to find an alternative.<br />
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In vial--Nice herby lavender.<br />
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Wet--Heavy on the lavender, with sweetness.<br />
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Dry--This morphs in a direction I don't care for. I don't make out the amber, per se, but it does something to the lavender that makes it too sweet and it loses the herbal freshness. Not what I was looking for.<br />
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<u>Caramel Sugar Kettle Corn</u>. (<em>Sweet popped corn covered in a thick layer of dark caramel with subtle hints of vanilla, pecan clusters, white sugar cane, and machinery smoke.</em>) I was attracted to the idea of sweet and smoky.<br />
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Wet--Salty sweet caramel corn, with a heavy dose of smoke. Actually, it smells like I rubbed my arm with a slice of bacon. Believe it or not, this isn't appealing to me. <br />
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Dry--It's a close approximation of kettle corn, buttery, slightly salty, and caramelized, with a touch of smoke, not that heavy initial smoke scent, but it's not a good one for me. I really have trouble with any dairy notes.<br />
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<u>Milk Maid</u>. (<em>Creamy milk, pale strawberry musk, gardenia cream, light amber specks, home-grown yellow roses, sweet grass, and golden farm hay</em>.) Went back and forth on this one. I love grass, hay, and natural roses, have more trouble with milk, cream, and strawberry. The concept sounds very appealing, though.<br />
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Wet--The initial blast contains a note that smells very off to me, probably the strawberry musk, which has the potential to be both sharp and plastic/artificial on me.<br />
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Dry--This morphs nicely. Lots of strawberry musk and roses, plus the gardenia. I don't really pick up the grass and hay, other than to detect a sort of natural outdoorsy sweetness. Too bad the creamy note makes it a bit too rich for me. It's a nice strawberry-rose, very summery and candy-like.<br />
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<u>Fried Funnel Cakes</u>. (<em>Vanilla funnel cakes fried until golden brown, covered in coconut powdered sugar and light amber glaze.</em>)<br />
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Wet--This does smell like sweet fried dough.<br />
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Dry--I can make out the coconut powdered sugar, and the overall impression is in the ballpark of the inspiration, but it hits my nose primarily as an artificially flavored caramel.Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-84519477671138537882012-07-31T11:13:00.002-07:002012-07-31T11:13:54.080-07:00Kiss Me, You Fool<div class="mobile-photo">
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Let me start by saying that I've been mildly annoyed by dumb product names for as long as I've been wearing makeup, starting with Maybelline Kissing Potion back in the 70s. As if the sugary, strawberry scent wasn't embarrassing enough. I've weathered having to confess that my golden, peachy glow comes from a product called "NARS Orgasm." Seemingly half of Urban Decay's product names are things I don't really care to discuss in the office. Oh, the humanity.</div>
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My latest product enthusiasm also comes with a name I try to avoid saying out loud, but the product is so good that I find I have to with frequency. It's <a href="http://www.revlon.com/Revlon-Home/Products/Lips/Lipstain/Just-Bitten-Kissable-Balm-Stain.aspx">the new balm stain from Revlon</a>, delightfully (and somewhat awkwardly) named Just Bitten Kissable (about $10). The color names follow the theme, with unhelpful non-descriptors such as Romantic.</div>
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<a href="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i349/gateau1/photo-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="320" src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i349/gateau1/photo-40.jpg" width="236" /></a>But. They're great! They truly are both a balm (moisturizing, comfortable, sheer) and a stain (pigmented, exceptionally long-lasting). They come in a chunky plastic twist-up tube (apparently a dupe for Clinique Chubby Sticks, which I've never used) and go on with a minty scent but no flavor. The real treat is in the performance, which is exceptionally comfortable to wear, and extremely long-lasting. How long? Well, I applied right after breakfast, and after eating lunch (not particularly gracefully, I might add, with lots of lip-wiping) I still had a very respectable wash of color and moist feeling. I touched up, but could have easily gone about my day without doing so.</div>
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<a href="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i349/gateau1/photo-41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="320" src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i349/gateau1/photo-41.jpg" width="238" /></a>I have two colors so far, Romantic (L) and Rendezvous (R). Romantic is a perfect sheer red (I was a little nervous because it looks a touch blue-red based on the plastic tube) that I like even better than my NARS Flamenco, which I find doesn't wear very well. Rendezvous is that very-on-trend shade of tangerine that's hot this summer. I find it a little bright, but when I'm looking for something in that family it's lots of fun to wear.</div>
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Add here the usual complaints about drugstores lacking testers and product packaging that makes you guess at what's inside, but really, these are worth taking a chance on.</div>
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Today's look:</div>
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Face--CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation in #310 Flax, MUFE HD Concealer </div>
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Eyes--MAC Paint Pot in Painterly, peachy shimmer eyeshadow from Inglot, MUFE Aqua Liner in Black, NYX Les Amoureux mascara</div>
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Cheeks--MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty</div>
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Lips--Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic</div>
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Scent of the Day--BPAL Celeste </div>Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-10363196062377517712012-07-19T12:03:00.000-07:002012-07-19T12:03:31.544-07:00Taupe TattooYes, that little-known play by Tennessee Williams, The Taupe Tattoo, was the inspiration for one of my new favorite eye looks.<br />
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<a href="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i349/gateau1/photo-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rca="true" src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i349/gateau1/photo-36.jpg" width="150" /></a>This was my first look using the amazing <a href="http://www.maybelline.com/products/164/eyes/eye-shadow/eye-studio-color-tattoo-24hr-cream-gel-shadow/tough-as-taupe/35?shadeId=922&view=shades&position=457">Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Cream Gel Shadow</a> in Tough as Taupe, one of the best products coming out of the drugstore these days. I simply applied it all over the lid (I found that a brush did a more precise job than my fingers, though I do love to use my fingers to apply creams) and the topped that with a layer of <a href="http://www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com/eyes-to-kill-intense-eyeshadow/A418,default,pd.html?dwvar_A418_color=1%20Blast%20of%20Blue&start=2&cgid=eyeshadow">Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow</a> in Pulp Fiction. I have previously found Pulp Fiction a little harder to work with than my other eyeshadows from that line, due to a little more sparkle and fallout, but this gave it a lot of depth and controlled the sparkle very well.</div>
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Do check out this Color Tattoo stuff. It's a little expensive for the drugstore (in the $10 range) but it's super pigmented and while it may not live up to the 24 hour claim it makes, it definitely gives superlative wear.</div>Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-39142788084247552242012-06-19T14:07:00.002-07:002012-06-19T14:07:36.627-07:00In the Pink<div class="mobile-photo">
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Today's look is centered around the bright pink in the <a href="http://yagolicious.com/lips.html">Yagolicious Smooches Lipstick Palette</a> I reviewed <a href="http://allyourbasenotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/off-to-date-night.html">here</a>. The more I use it, the more I like it. I'm not wild about having to carry around the whole palette and a brush to apply it (the little doe foot applicators it came with are good, but they get gunked up fast), but it wears so well, without bleeding or feathering, that I'm willing to put up with a little inconvenience. This is the first time I've worn this color, and it's really a lot of fun.</div>
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I've also tried out a new foundation, <a href="http://www.covergirl.com/natureluxesilkfoundation">CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation</a>, in #310 Flax. This stuff is getting plenty of love on the blogs, and for good reason. At about $12, it's much cheaper than the MAC and Armani foundations I usually use, but I find the performance is much higher than the price would suggest. It's not too thin or too thick, not drying or greasy. While color matching at the drugstore is always a challenge, I managed to find my way to a reasonable color selection (while it's gross to find a drugstore cosmetic that has been sampled, if they're not sealed, well, what do you expect?). It's a little cooler/pinker than my usual MAC N20 or Armani #5, but it blended in perfectly and leaves a beautiful dewy but not shiny finish. It has a pleasant light floral scent, which reminds me a lot of a Lancome lightweight foundation I used to use, so if you don't like scented skin products, I'd steer clear.</div>
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So the face today is:<br />
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Skin--CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation in #310 Flax, MUFE HD Concealer (with MUFE primer and translucent powder to set).<br />
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Eyes--MAC Paint Pot in Painterly as a base, with Urban Decay Naked in the crease and Sin in the inner lid. <a href="http://inglotcosmetics.com/matte.collection..............amc.eyeliner.gel/products/146/346">Inglot Matte Collection AMC Eyeliner Gel</a> in #77. NYX Les Amoureux mascara.<br />
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Blush--<a href="http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/products/cheeks/blusher/powder-blush">NYX Powder Blush</a> in Red.<br />
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Lips--Hot Pink lipstick from Yagolicious Smooches Lipstick Palette.<br />
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Perfume--The deliciously fresh Boober from the new <a href="http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/fragglerock.html">BPAL Fraggle Rock</a> collection <span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>(A fretfully clean scent: freshly-washed laundry, linden blossom, soap suds, and a sprinkle of vanilla.)</em></span></div>Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-88196612489193230702012-06-09T11:14:00.002-07:002012-06-09T11:14:41.882-07:00Lavender Blues<div class="mobile-photo">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfO1vtRegcefX6kkRZz4qLI1GPzDJqgvmf9jBBPUs7E3VTwlZBrithEwTwhVvRY0L4UlR7B8-nIURFfU1q-WI6owsrIF9Ysl7VO8aB-dpxgRkcHM2F1CgeHCEBngUtsPyDNJ3i2lWstA/s1600/Lavender-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfO1vtRegcefX6kkRZz4qLI1GPzDJqgvmf9jBBPUs7E3VTwlZBrithEwTwhVvRY0L4UlR7B8-nIURFfU1q-WI6owsrIF9Ysl7VO8aB-dpxgRkcHM2F1CgeHCEBngUtsPyDNJ3i2lWstA/s400/Lavender-.jpg" width="400" /></a>I have always been extremely fond of lavender, and have enjoyed it in various bath products for most of my life, even before I was officially old enough to wear perfume. As a junior Francophile as a kid, I associated it with France and loved it even more. The summer my family spent a month in the south of France is completely lavender-scented in my memory. I also associate it with Yardley's English Lavender Soap, which my mother bought me.</div>
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However, I hadn't been that wild about it as a note in perfumes until I came across BPAL's TKO, which is a sleep blend. It doesn't have listed notes, but it's clearly got a heavy vanilla base and there is sweetness that I suspect comes from dragon's blood resin, which is a scent I generally don't like in any other blend. TKO goes on sharply lavender with a strong sweetness that leads many people to describe it as lavender-marshmallow, but which smells to me more like lavender-flavored frosting. I have trained myself to feel intensely sleepy within minutes of applying it, and tend to sleep like a log thereafter. I use it every night even though my husband isn't wild about it. By morning, it has faded to delicious rich vanilla, especially where it clings to silk or cotton, so I apply it not just to my skin but to the inside of my nightgown too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9_7KO-6gUfWS2rSR_SxIb4_itCnGpRkkU9imXy7DGI_ebHNpxEwhjMQqe3lDOydMWTiekpFmHyLJboAF0bZH1RLdjc4UZ-rg-Zv5X5-MoA_iEi4XApM83B2iIXeZKffTE0kigzTWm4M/s1600/photo-772212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5752098396437288098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9_7KO-6gUfWS2rSR_SxIb4_itCnGpRkkU9imXy7DGI_ebHNpxEwhjMQqe3lDOydMWTiekpFmHyLJboAF0bZH1RLdjc4UZ-rg-Zv5X5-MoA_iEi4XApM83B2iIXeZKffTE0kigzTWm4M/s320/photo-772212.JPG" /></a>I have been growing lavender in my garden for years, but only this year did it really finally take hold and start producing much volume of flowers. Today I thought it would be fun to make one of those lavender wands they sell at craft fairs, so I found <a href="http://fairegarden.wordpress.com/2010/06/04/how-to-make-lavender-wands/">this excellent blog post</a> on how to do it.</div>
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Despite the crystal-clear instructions and beautiful pictures, my attempt was an unmitigated disaster. Maybe my ribbon was too wide, maybe my lavender stalks were too bunchy, or maybe I'm just completely inept, but the results (left) were piss-poor. It does smell good, though, and I have a little dish of all the blossoms and leaves that fell off that I'll use as a little fresh potpourri, perish the thought.</div>
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I do think I'll try again with a different plant that might be more svelte and some narrower ribbon, but I don't hold out a lot of hope.</div>
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Oh, and in honor of unofficial Lavender Day, today I am wearing emerald green cropped jeans and a violet tank top. I look like a lavender stalk!</div>Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-17121925953214037532012-05-22T11:36:00.004-07:002012-05-22T11:36:40.057-07:00Great Eyeliner DisastersI am completely inept when it comes to applying liquid eyeliner, which is why I have fallen in love with Make Up For Ever's Aqua Liner. It has a tiny pointy sponge applicator instead of a brush and I find I can control it well, plus the formula is highly pigmented and waterproof. But I discovered an important aspect of the product this morning--the liner in the tube is so fluid that when I accidentally tipped the tube while applying it, it dripped all over the floor. I had imagined more of a cream consistency in there, but it really is liquid. I am traveling on business, so it was a hotel bathroom floor I sullied with my klutziness.
So a word to the wise--don't tip your MUFE Aqua Liner upside down.
On the plus side, this means I will run out of liner a litter sooner, which means a trip to Sephora sooner. Which means another Aqua Liner in another color (gold? silver?) may jump into my basket.Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-7339859605185686962012-04-30T13:07:00.000-07:002012-04-30T13:07:03.816-07:00Off to date night!<div class="mobile-photo">
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I snapped this while riding in the car on the way to meet friends for tapas on Friday night. I wanted something sexy and dramatic, but that I could have some hope of keeping on my lips throughout dinner. I realized this was the perfect time to test the <a href="http://yagolicious.com/lips.html">Yagolicious Smooches Lipstick Palette</a>. </div>
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I'd learned about this product at the <a href="http://www.pinksith.com/2012/04/yagolicious-smooches-lipstick-palette.html">Pink Sith blog</a>, which offered a very positive review and some superb swatches, which I suggest you check out. I'm happy to say that my experience with this product is positive too.</div>
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For this look, I applied my Revlon Colorstay Lip Liner in Natural, then used the first color in the palette (pictured at top). And that was it! No layering, no additional gloss. At dinner, I noticed very little transfer to my wineglass, and by the end of dinner I could use a little bit of touch-up to make it look freshly applied, but that wasn't even necessary. </div>
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The rest of the products used allowed me to keep it simple -- with a touch of foundation and concealer I used Armani Eyes to Kill eyeshadow in Rock Sand all over the lid, MUFE Aqualiner in Black, NYX Les Amoureux mascara, and NYX blush in Pinched. Simple, classic.</div>
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Perfume of the Night: BPAL Black Lace (<em>A delicate sugar-spun vanilla cream cotton, stained by tobacco and incense smoke, Indian musk, and drops of cognac</em>)<!-- bpal scent end --><br /></div>Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-50000038454705400382012-04-24T07:15:00.001-07:002012-04-24T07:15:18.468-07:00Warming Trend<div class="mobile-photo">
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It's a chilly spring morning, and I felt compelled to be somewhat defiant. If you pay attention to seasonal launches and magazine spreads, apparently you're supposed to want to wear delicate pastels and pinks in the spring, while reserving richer colors for fall. Well, too bad. I found myself pulling out this deep green dress with deco-style poppies on it, brown t-strap pumps, and my fall makeup colors, and so be it. This is a look that fits in with the style aspiration crib note I like to keep in mind when I'm buying things -- "Sally Bowles Gets a Day Job."</div>
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Foundation--Teeny touch of Armani Designer foundation just to even out some blotchy areas. MUFE HD concealer under eyes, with a dab of Smashbox primer underneath and MUFE translucent powder to set it.</div>
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Eyes--MAC Paint Pot in Painterly as a base, with Armani Eyes to Kill in Bronze-Gray on the lid. Liner is MAC Eye Kohl in teddy. NYX Les Amoureux mascara. Oh, and I use clear Maybelline Great Lash for brow grooming.</div>
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Cheeks--NYX Pinched.</div>
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Lips--MAC Dark Side lipstick with a touch of MAC Lustreglass in Ornamental. Revlon Colorstay lipliner in Natural to try to keep it all contained in the lipline.</div>
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Perfume--BPAL Mourning Lace. I can't seem to stop wearing this one.</div>Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-77338877786181917332012-04-21T15:53:00.001-07:002012-04-21T16:03:12.252-07:00Spring Thing<div class="mobile-photo">
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733990930539756258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-ikAZVwta5Si94cjs2XPvuHJj3i3xini9BqE3M6d6iEnCQpEJ_k9oivgThh3Gz5LZ4noXi4xZcICObRkIoK5vkYQKJae0LRTipQZVH8DjEaBRtdSbFBGmdImTXDx4IZXu9oK3OC_YRY/s320/photo-798851.JPG" /> We need not have feared the dreary weather report, at least not today, because it turned out to be a stunningly beautiful day. After playing outside with the kids and doing some yard work, we decided to take everyone to lunch at a nice place by the water. I wanted a little color, but nothing too heavy, and I didn't want to get all matchy-matchy with my purple top or look too costume 80s. A touch of sheer green on the eyes did it, plus a nice bright pink on the lips and a glowy blush.</div>
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Foundation--None! Just used a bit of MUFE HD concealer under the eyes, with my usual teeny drop of Smashbox primer and a little MUFE translucent powder.</div>
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Blush--Urban Decay Afterglow in Score.</div>
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Eyes--MAC Paint Pot in Painterly as a base with NARS Nomad cream eyeshadow on the lid and MAC Rosemary & Thyme eye pencil on the lower lid. Touch of Almay One Coat mascara.</div>
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Lips--NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Bonfire.</div>
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Perfume of the Day--BPAL The Fairies (<i><strong class="bbc">apple blossom, white clover, huckleberry wine,
dandelion sap, milkweed, primrose, thyme, pink moss, thorny thistles,
and opium pod)</strong></i></div>Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-39576428773002003222012-04-20T10:12:00.001-07:002012-04-20T10:37:16.425-07:00Face of the Day<div class="mobile-photo">
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I recently ordered a palette of red lip colors from a company called <a href="http://yagolicious.com/">Yagolicious</a>, which I'd read about on the <a href="http://www.pinksith.com/">Pink Sith</a> blog. When I hadn't gotten an order confirmation or shipping notice after about a week and a half, I sent a quick email to the company asking for an update. They got right back to me, and let me know that in addition to getting my order right out the door, they were including at no charge a "Starlet" lip gloss. I'll post more about my adventures with these products, which are promising, but I really wanted to try out the gloss today (it has a mirror on the case! and it LIGHTS UP!) so I created this look to allow me to get away with a strong red mouth at the office.</div>
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Foundation--Just a touch of the Armani Designer foundation, Smashbox primer, and MUFE HD concealer.</div>
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Cheeks--A teeny dusting of NYX Powder Blusher in Red.</div>
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Eyes--MAC Paint Pot in Painterly, with a little Wet 'n' Wild Brulee over that. MUFE Aqua Liner in Black, NYX Les Amoureux mascara.</div>
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Lips--Yagolicious Starlet Gloss in Barcelona.</div>
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Scent of the Day--<a href="http://www.violettemarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=74_75&zenid=c4b13776ffaa10ada646964ddabc8ae5">Violette Market's A Merry Life</a> (Sweet and comforting vanilla beans infused with cream, star anise, pink pepperberry, and tarnished ever-so-slightly by worn leather boots, chimney smoke, and tobacco tar).</div>Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-62665507706954342172012-04-17T13:07:00.000-07:002012-04-17T13:12:59.206-07:00Today's Face<div class="mobile-photo">
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This morning I reached for a favorite warm-weather dress, a purchase from last summer, and decided to pair it with some favorite cosmetics to get a natural-but-polished, rosy look.</div>
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Foundation: Armani Designer, very lightly applied. Concealer is MUFE HD over a tiny dab of Smashbox primer.</div>
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Cheeks: NYX Pinched blush.</div>
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Eyes: MAC Paint Pot in Painterly all over lid, with Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow in Bronze-Gray on the lid. Liner is MUFE Aqua Liner in black, with NYX Les Amoreux mascara.</div>
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Lips: MAC Viva Glam VI.</div>
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Perfume of the Day: BPAL Geisha in Orange Kimono Admiring a Samurai (<em>King mandarin, tuberose, white sandalwood, white moss, yerba mate, tangerine, and styrax.)</em><!-- bpal scent end --></div>Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-43673856740296881562012-04-06T12:36:00.001-07:002012-04-07T08:29:16.254-07:00Dream Perfume, Passover/Easter Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Readying the table to kick off the holiday weekend, so I went out to the garden to cut a centerpiece. The scents are just overwhelming and gorgeous. Hyacinths, sure, but even the other flowers are sending out beautiful wafts of scent. So here it is:<br />
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Purple hyacinth, full-blown tulips, daffodils, and forsythia, with a hint of sun-warmed soil.Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-75233193227342904242012-04-03T12:15:00.001-07:002012-04-03T12:34:30.118-07:00Black and White and Red All Over<div class="mobile-photo">
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I know the lighting stinks, but wanted to share today's look. I'm going to a benefit this evening, so chose my favorite work-to-evening black dress with a twist in the front and my classic black Manolo Blahnik pumps. I bought them 15 years ago, during my first year as a practicing lawyer, and at the time thought I might have gone insane spending $400 on a pair of shoes. If only you could get them for that price now! It turns out to have been an excellent investment, because I've taken good care of them and they're going strong so many years later.</div>
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Face: Armani Designer foundation (over Armani primer) in 5 with a little MAC concealer and MUFE translucent powder to set it.</div>
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Cheeks: NYX blush in Pinched (NARS Orgasm dupe).</div>
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Eyes: Armani Eyes to Kill in Rock Sand over MAC Paint Pot in Painterly base with MUFE Aqua Liner in black and NYX Les Amoureux mascara.</div>
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Lips: NARS Flamenco.</div>
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Nails: Sample size from the OPI Burlesque collection, sadly does not have color name on it.</div>
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Perfume of the day is BPAL Black Lace (<em>A delicate sugar-spun vanilla cream cotton, stained by tobacco and incense, Indian musk, and drops of cognac.</em>) If only I'd been around when this was on sale, I would have hoarded tons of it.<!-- bpal scent end --><br /></div>Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-87152876443067784402012-03-22T08:57:00.002-07:002012-03-22T08:57:48.554-07:00In a Lather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's a very short leap from perfume obsession to a deep love affair with other scented body products, and I've been a soap junkie for decades. I can't think of the last time I used a standard drugstore/supermarket bar of soap, though there are some that are perfectly acceptable, of course. I never feel quite secure unless I have a good stash of indie/crafty/natural/fancy bars of scented soap in my bathroom cabinet, and right now I am really digging the wares produced by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/paintboxsoapworks">Paintbox Soapworks</a>, an Etsy seller specializing in "Luxury Glycerin Soap" and coordinating lotions and scrubs. As you can see, the Paintbox soaps are charming even before you crack open the cheerful and sleekly designed wrappings. The scents are rich and inventive, and many are unisex. Just a few examples of what's available:<br />
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The Queen is Dead - Blackened honey, glossy leather & a glittering swirl of smoke rising from the earth...<br /><br />Sweet Cheeks - Fuzzy ripe apricot cuddles up with sweet vanilla & amber & a touch of white freesia<br /><br />The Olive Tree - An unusual, botanical blend of white olive blossoms, osmanthus & fresh air, grounded by blond woods & a touch of musk<br /><br />White Cotton Sheets - Sometimes the simplest things are the best. Breezy white florals, dry musk, hawthorn & a touch of ozone<br />
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Glycerin soaps lather well and rinse off easily, which is great with sensitive skin like mine. One drawback is that they disappear relatively quickly as a result, but that's just a good reason to stock up. I actually like being able to swtich scents a little more frequently -- sometimes I'll have a large bar of something more solid that I enjoy but can't wait to see the end of so I can try something else.<br />
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I'm currently quite enamored of Paintbox's Lavender Truffle scent -- rich dark chocolate, scented with lavender. I just received my order of a trio of products scented with this -- a full size bar ($6), a bottle of body lotion "Slip" ($8), and a tub of "Sorbetto" sugar scrub ($10) which does indeed look good enough to eat. You can order the trio for $24, choosing whatever scents you wish.<br />
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I'm also very taken with the $6 soap sampler, pictured above. You get to choose any five general catalog soaps, presented adorably in a long box, nestled into cushioning as if they're jewels (or, OK, watercolors). It's such a great way to try out the variety of scents and a fabulous bargain.<br />
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While I'm at it, I'll also note that customer service is fantastic -- automatic refunds for combined shipping, a handwritten thank you note, a cute colorful plastic spoon for scooping Sorbettos, and a couple of free sample-size soaps are presented in a white shipping box stuffed with colorful tissue paper. It's lovely opening up for yourself, or for giving as a gift.<br />
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So three cheers for Paintbox Soapworks!Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-57841641513258173852012-03-21T11:07:00.001-07:002012-03-21T11:07:09.817-07:00Makeup I Have DreamedLast night I had a dream I needed to buy a new concealer. [Note: this is actually true, I do need a new concealer, and I never buy the same one twice as I've never found anything like an HG concealer so need help.] So in my dream I headed off to the MAC counter and explained that while my current MAC concealer was OK, it wasn't quite doing the trick. The nice man told me what I really needed was a slightly darker color than I usually use (and in the dream I was aware of not telling him if I wanted cooler or warmer, because I'm still really confused about that and wanted to see what he would suggest) and -- here's the surreal part -- that it should have a <em><strong>dark pink duochrome shimmer in it</strong></em>. Now, if you think about it, this is exactly what you DON'T want in your undereye area, something dark and pink and sparkly, but in the dream it was a miracle substance and made me look (a) like a dewy young thing and (b) like I'd slept for several days straight.<br />
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Maybe I will experiment, just to make sure my sleeping self didn't have a revolutionary makeup idea.Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-40001538704843142752012-03-21T07:52:00.001-07:002012-03-21T08:18:40.818-07:00The Greening Spring<div class="mobile-photo">
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April is the cruellest month, seriously. When the spring palettes come out I always sigh and turn away, because no matter how pretty the Easter egg pastels look in the packaging and in the ads, they're more or less useless on my skin -- chalky, clashing, just not right for me (never mind that my very first makeup included a pink and baby blue eyeshadow duo my mother bought me at the Almay counter when I was hosting my first boy-girl party in 1980). But I did feel a hankering today for a touch of spring green, so I found a way, adding a touch of shimmery, mossy light green to the outer lid. Here's the breakdown:</div>
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Skin--Neutrogena Healthy Skin Glow Sheers in Fair to Light; MAC Select Moisturecover</div>
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Eyes--MAC Painterly Paint Pot base; Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow in Rock Sand on lid into crease; Sweet Libertine Treehouse of Horrors on outer lid; Armani Smooth Silk Eye Pencil in Emerald on upper lid; NYX La Amoureux mascara</div>
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Cheeks--NYX Pinched blush</div>
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Lips--MAC Viva Glam VI</div>Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425219239956193370.post-59772296426100887662012-03-05T14:21:00.002-08:002012-03-05T14:21:57.943-08:00By the Book<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXv8Bp1c6y4MrLUSMsRM2Zb0bpcwHfpVRKivoIB1Jdtxi7xzExwlT1jOIWehKEC_de0e0hw42w59mHwYv84NMRPW94H4mCpUC4XcDkJvk65b_a-BWwtOI8STDDWdWFSWXU4yxutV5v0Y/s1600/stardust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXv8Bp1c6y4MrLUSMsRM2Zb0bpcwHfpVRKivoIB1Jdtxi7xzExwlT1jOIWehKEC_de0e0hw42w59mHwYv84NMRPW94H4mCpUC4XcDkJvk65b_a-BWwtOI8STDDWdWFSWXU4yxutV5v0Y/s200/stardust.jpg" uda="true" width="131" /></a>I have finally gotten around to reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stardust-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0061689246/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330985347&sr=8-1">Neil Gaiman's Stardust</a>, a beautiful book. I am enjoying it very much. I probably would not have gotten to it had I not been prodded by the extensive collection of <a href="http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/neilgaiman.html">Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab perfumes inspired by Neil Gaiman stories</a>, and if one from the Stardust collection hadn't vaulted into my Top 10 list from the moment I first tried it. The scent is Lady Una, based on a very sexy fairy character who has stunning violet eyes and smells like blackberries. The notes are <strong><em>"Honey musk, green tea leaf, blackberry leaf, vanilla bean, and fae spices"</em></strong> and while I was initially interested in it for its vanilla note, the honey musk is what has really grown on me. Musk can be hard for me to wear, with even the lightest, more shimmering varieties turning either cloying or skanky on my skin. I often notice it unlisted but present in scents that are supposed to smell like cake -- perfumers must rely on it to create that warm, yeasty scent of baked goods. After the initial drydown I often can smell the musk throwing off the rest of the impression of deliciousness. But in Lady Una, the honey musk and vanilla leave me with a warm, deliciously sweet and tangy scent that clings to my skin, with a slightly fruity leafiness. It perfectly captures that captivating kind of innocent sexiness and a romantic evening in the warm outdoors.<!-- bpal scent end --><br /></div>Mlle Gateauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984778888641902058noreply@blogger.com0