Makeup and Beauty Blog: Makeup Reviews, Beauty Tips and Drugstore Beauty Finds

I am flat-out hooked on Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle perfume, but I’m afraid it might be too heavy for warmer spring weather, so I’ve been sniffing around for a lighter, fresher spring fragrance. I call my search Spring Fragrance Quest. I’m on a mission to find something either citrusy or floral, or maybe even a combo of both, and this morning I headed over to the mall to check out Enchanted Orchid, the new fragrance by Bath & Body Works.

Enchanted Orchid’s pretty purple-pink packaging immediately caught my eye (those are Phalaenopsis orchids on the labels!). For some reason, the words Enchanted Orchid make me think of a magical plant creature with the power to hypnotize passers by. I guess I’m just weird like that…

Bath & Body Works Body Lotions ($10) and Eau de Toilettes ($19) are usually my faves, so I gave the Enchanted Orchid versions of both of them a good sniff. Right off the bat, I caught the whiffs of violets and gardenias. Enchanted Orchid’s fragrance notes include:

• Top: Pink grapefruit, wet greens, waterlily and crisp apple
• Mid: Calypso orchid, gardenia, delicate iris and violet petals
• Base: Vanilla orchid, heliotrope, creamy amber and skin musk

I would characterize it as a combo citrus-floral blend. I slathered lotion on my left arm and sprayed the Eau de Toilette on my right. Then I wandered around the store to let the Enchanted Orchid creature work its magic on my body chemistry. After 10 minutes, I gave both arms another strong sniff… First thing that came to mind: Play-Doh! None of the initial fruit and floral notes came through. No more violets, apples, nothing — all I smelled was vanilla, which inevitably reminded me of good ole’ fashioned Play-Doh.

Now, I can appreciate a good can of Play-Doh as much as the next toddler or tyke, but I don’t exactly want to cruise around smelling like a kindergarten art class, so I’m going to have to pass on Enchanted Orchid.

Spring Fragrance Quest continues!

Next up — the fragrance counter at Nordstrom! Do you have any spring fragrance recommendations for me? What should I check out next?

Purchase Enchanted Orchid body products online at Bath & Body Works nationwide.

It’s Friday, ya’ll! To top it off it’s an extra day (Leap Year), which for some reason makes today seem even better, like a special bonus prize. I got home late last night from dancing and am totally exhausted. The DJ played old school hip hop from the ’80s and ’90s, and I danced my booty off on the dance floor!

At some point the DJ transitioned into playing Barry White. I was too into my dancing zone to really notice at the time, but when I finally figured out what had happened, it was like a disco fantasy. All that was missing were my roller skates and feathered hairdo. ‘Twas awesome.

Face it: Barry White couldn’t get enough of your luuurve, baby.

There’s a price to pay for all my boogie-ing down last night: today I’ve got dark circles from hell, LOL.

Happy Leap Year, cuties, and happy, happy Friday! What do you have lined up for this weekend?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Once inside the fantastical world of the Barneys New York department store in Las Vegas, I felt like I was trapped on an expensive planet. The native inhabitants were friendly and well groomed, yet there was something off about them. Maybe it was the scent of money in the air. I felt sweaty and nervous when the staff spoke to me, like they might be cyborgs. Expensive cyborgs.

I made my way toward the cosmetics department. I was looking for makeup and beauty brands I’d never seen before, and my research before the trip suggested that Barneys, located in the Palazzo Hotel on the Vegas strip, wouldn’t let me down.

My first reaction was disappointment. I was seeing all the same high end stuff also carried by Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s — YSL, Chantecaille, T. LeClerc. Yawn.

The street entrance to Barneys New York in Las Vegas

I’d almost given up, and then it was there, at the very heart of the store. They resembled two empty telephone booths, or perhaps teleportation chambers, standing beside a display with several scientific looking bottles and a sign that read, “Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle.” Holla!

I began at one end of the display and sniffed my way to the other. With each scent, I grew more intrigued. Raul, a Barney’s sales associate with the smoothest hands I’d ever seen on a man, noticed my eyes rolling back into my head (seriously, some of the scents were *that* good) and proceeded to fill me in on the line.

One of the perfumes, Carnal Flower

Nine famous perfumers (noses) developed their own individual perfumes for the Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle collection. These are some of the most famous noses of our time. Without limits or boundaries placed upon them by anyone, each perfumer received free reign over their creations, resulting in the 16 scents that make up the line. You won’t find watered down eau de toilettes or body splashes here; each of the scents is complex and interesting in its own way.

When you test perfumes sprayed onto paper strips at a perfume counter, the scent’s top notes grab you (the initial burst of fragrance). If your nose is hyper-sensitive like mine, you might even smell the paper.

But you could be missing the more subtle aspects of the fragrance — the middle notes (which occur after the top notes fade), and then the dry down (which is like the scent’s finale). To appreciate the fullness and complexity of the Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle scents, Raul suggested I ditch the paper strips and use one of the store’s special scent chambers to fully appreciate the line.

A little scurred of the chamber…

The two phone booth/teleportation chambers are actually scent chambers. I’m claustrophobic, but Raul assured me that I wouldn’t have to step into the chamber to get the full experience, just stick my head in.

Raul explaining how the chamber works

Raul flipped a switch to activate fans installed in the ceiling of each chamber and then sprayed a fragrance from the line into each one — En Passant (a light floral) on the left, and Noir Epices (a spicy Oriental) on the right.

I took a whiff of each and instantly fell in love with En Passant. Created by perfumer Olivia Giacobetti and described as an “impressionistic” fragrance on the Editions de Parfums Web site, En Passant combines the scent of white lilac flower with orange tree leaves, cucumber and wheat. I could detect all of the different layers and rich fullness in the scent chamber. I couldn’t help but picture fields of lilac flowers and freshly laundered cotton sheets. Heaven!

Sniffing En Passant perfume is heavenly

A few other fragrances that I smelled and liked were…

Iris Poudre by Pierre Bourdon - Tonka bean, musk, vanilla, sandal wood and vetiver.
Nose fun fact: In 1988 Pierre created one of my favorite men’s fragrances of all time, Davidoff Cool Water.

Carnal Flower by Dominique Ropion - Tuberose, coconut and musk.
Nose fun Fact: Dominique, along with perfumers Loc Dong and Carlos Benaim, created Calvin Klein Euphoria, winner of the 2006 Fragrance Foundation (Fifi) Award, the equivalent of the “Oscars” in the perfume world.

Lipstick Rose by Ralf Schwieger - Violet, musk, vanilla, vetiver and amber… and it really does smell like a tube of lipstick!
Nose fun fact: Ralf has created several famous perfumes, including Yves Saint Laurent’s Baby Doll and Marc Jacobs’ Men.

This refrigerator, located beneath the display, keeps the fragrances fresh

Prices range from $115-$330, depending on the scent (some are more expensive then others) and size (50-100ml). Here in the US, the Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle line is exclusive to Barneys New York stores. To find the one nearest you, check out their Web site. If you don’t live near a Barneys, you can also order the scents online or call a store and place your order over the phone using a credit card.

Aren’t you glad we’re done with Monday? I’m still tired from traveling so it’s early to bed for this girl tonight. I hope your day was good and that you’re feeling relaxed and happy.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Ah, the pre-date ritual… It’s one of the many perks of being in love on Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re on the low- or high-maintenance end of the beauty spectrum, the drill usually goes a lil’ something like this:

1. Crank up the music (a soundtrack helps when you’re getting sexified, yo)
2. Wash
3. Contemplate wearing your naughty or nice knickers
4. Do your makeup and hair
5. Pick your wardrobe (don’t forget the shoes!)

In a perfect world, I’d always have at least four leisurely hours to beautify myself for my Valentine’s date with El Hub, but with work and life the odds of having a solid block of four hours for anything are slim to none.

Still, a girl can dream, and if I had a world of time to prep for date night, this is how it would go:

Paint it Pink, Vol. 2…

1. Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Grapefruit ($13.50). First priority: getting the lips primed for a mega-makeout session. I’d definitely prepare early in the day to get my pucker in makeout-ready shape with a layer of Clinique’s Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss. It’s a pretty, light pink shade with lots of shine. Plus, it moisturizes the beejebus out of my dry lips and gets them soft and ready for lovin’.
2. Essie nail polish in Hard to Get ($8). This creamy pink polish is my favorite color from Essie’s spring line. It’s bubble-gum without being too Barbie — perfect for both finger and toes. Of course, in my fantasy I’m getting my nails done in a chair at San Francisco’s Bliss Spa. See, at Bliss they feed you brownies while you’re pampered. Yup.
3. Philosophy Amazing Grace Perfumed Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel ($22). Nothing is better than a long, indulgent bubble bath before (or during) a romantic date. With its light, floral scent, Amazing Grace Bath & Shower Gel relaxes me like no other and really gets me into a romantic state of mind. Bubble production is off the chart, and the suds have staying power, too. It leaves my skin feeling silky and soft, every time.
4. Borghese Fango Brillants Brightening Mud ($59.60). I like to wear a face mask when I do the bubble thing to turn the relaxometer up another notch and make my face extra glowy. Lately I’ve been digging Fango’s Brilliants Brightening Mud. Made from Italian mud (or so they say) and rich in Vitamin A, minerals and citrus peel, this seriously pink mask o’ mud removes dead skin cells, and gently smooths and refines skin. Note: the jar is absolutely ginormous!
   
   I apply a thick layer to a clean face, wait ten minutes for it to dry and then wash it off. You can also use it on your body, too. Imagine covering yourself in bright pink mud, ha!
5. Victoria’s Secret Beauty Ooh la la Shimmering Fragrance Mist ($22). My fave sexy scent is Chanel Mademoiselle, but I realize that floral oriental perfumes aren’t for everyone.
   
   For ladies who love lighter scents, one delicious option is Ooh la la Shimmering Fragrance Mist. It’s a very feminine mix of cherry blossom, vanilla and mandarin. If you like Victoria’s Secret Heavenly perfume, then I think you’ll dig this, too.
   
   While the product looks like disco inferno trapped in a bottle, it isn’t overly glittery on skin. I would definitely apply it before dressing, though, and not after (learn from my mistake!), to avoid the all-too-frequent glitter mishap.
6. Hillary Duff Wrapped with Love ($38). Every time I look at this bottle I think of Hillary Duff’s song, Come Clean (also the Laguna Beach theme song). “Let the rain fall down, and wake my dreams…” LOLOL. Anyway, I’ll fess up to being a Laguna Beach fan (Seasons 1 and 2, holla), but I am certainly NOT a Hillary Duff fan. That said, I gotta give the girl and her marketing people props for this fruity-floral perfume, and it’s even guy friendly. According to an informal poll of a handful of random guy friends, it was liked by 4 out of 5 of them.
   
   Wrapped with Love is Hillary’s second fragrance; it’s a playful, lighter, version of With Love, her first perfume. It’s not as spicy or heavy as its older sibling, with notes of honeydew, blood orange, and raspberry mixed in with white florals and musk.
   
   At first I was afraid… I was petrified (sing it, Gloria Gaynor!) it would smell too pre-teen, but the scent is surprisingly sophisticated, fun and sexy — definitely not as heavy as my fave, Coco Mademoiselle. If you prefer lighter, fruit-themed fragrances, you might want to check it out.

This morning I’ve been listening non-stop to this wonderful tune by Sara Bareilles called Love Song. Have you heard it? It’s one of those songs where I wish I wrote the lyrics — a wish usually reserved only for certain Beatles masterpieces like Blackbird and Here Comes the Sun.

Anyway, I’m glad we got through Monday together. To reward myself I’m going to drink another cup of coffee (WHEEE!) and peruse some shoes on Zappos.com. I really should get some practical work shoes that keep my feet warm and dry, but the siren call of impractical (but sexy) strappy high heels cannot be ignored.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Happy Boxing Day, cuties! I hope you’re recovering from your holiday festivities. El hub and I spent yesterday hanging out with my family; dysfunction was kept to a minimum, thank ye gods. Do you ever think your family, while adorable, is just plain weird? Well, you don’t know what weird is until your parents fire up the karaoke machine at midnight on Christmas Eve, get their drink on and start singing REALLY LOUDLY (and off key) to Abba’s Dancing Queen.

I guess I managed to score more nice points than naughty in the high court of Santa, ’cause he left your girl some kick-ass goodies, including this fantabulous Coco Mademoiselle fragrance gift set from Chanel.

I lose all self control when I see those interlocking C’s!

About the fragrance

In 2001, Coco Mademoiselle creator Jacques Polge envisioned the fragrance as something Coco would wear if she were turning 21 at the dawn of the 21st century. It’s a floral oriental with notes of bergamot (a sour citrus), orange, jasmine, rose and vetiver (like lemon grass). The gift set comes with a bottle of Coco Mademoiselle eau de parfum, Fresh Bath Gel, Fresh Body Lotion and a black carrying case accented with signature Chanel-tweed piping.

Oriental fragrances like Coco Madmoiselle and Guerlain’s Shalimar are rich and smell “perfume-y,” but Coco Madmoiselle is lighter and fresher than Shalimar. You won’t catch me rocking Coco Mademoiselle at the beach in July, though. Like most oriental perfumes, it’s a little heavy, so I would probably only wear it in winter.

Even though Coco Mademoiselle is in the oriental fragrance family, it doesn’t smell stuffy or old-lady at all. It’s youthful and sophisticated. You won’t smell like an old lady who lunches and totes small terrier dogs in Burberry outfits. You will smell like a confident young woman strutting down the street in a classic black suit.

Last night I used both the bath gel and the body lotion and then spritzed some eau de parfum just for fun. The bath gel is my least favorite product in the set. While it lathers nicely, it’s runny and not moisturizing enough for my dry winter skin. Even though it’s scented with Coco Mademoiselle, for some weird reason my basset hound-esque nose detects a strong synthetic, plastic scent that reminds me of new Tupperware. Bleh.

The Fresh Body Lotion, on the other hand, is another story. It smells fantastic! It has a fresher, more citrusy scent that complements the perfume.

If you have dry skin like I do, don’t count on using this lotion to moisturize. It’s watery and doesn’t moisturize well, so it’s not going to replace my Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream anytime soon. I like the smell and think it adds another layer of intensity to the perfume, but I don’t know if I’d buy it again.

The set’s crowning glory is the eau de parfum. I love, love, love it! The bottle is simple, yet classic. Wearing it makes me feel beautiful and sophisticated, like I’m walking down the streets of Paris in a beret, even though, really, I’m just walking across the street to Safeway to buy bananas. Not only does the eau de parfum smell amazing, but it also lasts a long time. Just one spritz in the morning, and I’m set for the entire day.

Where to get it

Unfortunately, the set is sold out on the Chanel site, but check out the Coco Mademoiselle Modern Interpretations set on the Nordstrom Web site. It’s a similar gift set (no black bag, though) for $105.

What lovely gifts did Santa bring you? I can’t wait to hear about ‘em!

I’m hungry — it’s time to eat some Christmas leftovers! Turkey, cake, pancit (a Filipino noodle dish), here I come!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen