New from NYX Cosmetics-Summer

NYX cosmetics is coming out with a new bronzer for that summer tan without the sun.

According to the company "This bronzer provides a "just tanned" look with a touch of rose which warms the skin and adds a spark of shimmer. You can also use NYX Cosmetics Body Bronzer as an eye shadow or blush."

NYX has not been sold anywhere near where I live until very recently, so I had never been able to try the line, but had heard some good things.

First , this bronzer is huge. The case is 4 1/2 inches . It is also really nice. You need a big enough brush, but it definitely gave me a sunkissed look.

At first I got a little too much on my pale skin and it was muddy, but once I applied more carefully, and let it set, it looked great. I loved having some color in the cold.

There is just a bit of shimmer in it, enough to give some glow, but not enough to be too much. This can be worn day or night, and I did try it as a blush also, and was really happy with it .

This compares well with any of the other bronzers I have tried. I haven't had great luck with powders, preferring gel/creams. This is a powder that works.

The retail is 14.99

To complement the bronzer, a beautiful peachy gold nail polish called Aurora, and a gold pink ( which leans to a medium pink) mega-gloss joins the line.

PS-a plus , no animal testing from this line

sp.thanks to MaryAm Z

Parfums MDCI Part 2

Continuing my testing of Parfums MDCI.

I am really liking these so far. The picture at left is a of the new Limoges figure toppers that will be coming out shortly. For more info , please see the previous post.

FK1: Promesse De L'Aube

This is a true floral -oriental to me, as you truly get a mix, almost half and half of both. It begins with ylang ylang, evolving into amber and sandlewood. As the drydown comes on white flowers seem to emerge, and I get a smell of a mimosa-like note. Very Nice. The mix of notes is done very well, and blend seamlessly into a purely elegant fragrance.

While the notes list bergamot, mandarin and lemon, I did not get distinct impressions of those. However, their presence, could be part of the reason why as a whole I like this so much.

Promesse De L'Aube is a very long lasting fragrance, which I love. I like to apply a scent and know that it will be there much later . It also has excellent sillage, but is never overwhelming.

It is my favorite of the 3 women's fragrances.

FK 3: Enlévement au Sérail

Notes here include bergamot, mandarin,ylang ylang, sambac jasmine,tuberose,rose, sandlewood ,vanilla, patchouli, vetyver.

This fragrance begins on me with rose and spices. Midway through the tuberose comes out, and I love that part, but unfortunately the tuberose is a somewhat fleeting. The vanilla begins then to emerge along with the sandelwood and more spices. As the drydown continues I also get some powder notes, but only slightly. This is very much a spicy floral, and as one who does not like spice too much in her perfume, was my least favorite. It is still a beautiful fragrance, as well done as the other two. Top quality ingredients were used in making these, and it shows.

The sillage here is medium, lighter than FK 1, with less lasting( medium) power as well.

I really like this line of perfumes, for their wonderful scents as well as their bottles. FK1 was love at first sniff of the sample. Immediately.

They are worth trying, most definitley, especially when the new Limoges Flacons arrive.

Parfums MDCI is available for pre-order at www. luckyscent.com

Parfums MDCI Review

I have had the opportunity to test the new fragrances from Parfums MDCI. There are 3 for women, and 2 for men. First I am reviewing one of the womens scents: FK2. The reviews of the other 2 womens's scent will follow in a day or 2. I need more time with them.

Parfums MDCI is headed by Claude Marchal. Depsite having a very high priced product, he seems very accessible and truly pleased that there is such interest in his fragrances, and wants very much for people to enjoy them.

The fragrances currently come with a crystal topper made by the lost wax method. For the crystal flacon ,plus 2 refills it's approx. 600.00.

However, the company is coming out with a more affordable, but still beautiful, Limoges flacon topper to make the fragrances more accessible to all. These will retail at around 200.00 I believe.

The original crystal toppers look amazing, a work of art, inspired by images from the French and Italian Renaissance. Making anything in the lost wax method is a laborious and time consuming process, but well worth the effort. Many sculptures are done this way. I know some on various boards and blogs did not find the toppers to their tastes, but I absolutely love them. However, I know I have mentioned before how much I love art and objet's d'art. Parfums MDCI totally fit that bill. They are very old world classical. I would love to see one sitting on a table at my home, just being decorative, let alone containing the beautiful fragrances.

All 3 women's fragrances were created by esteemed perfumer Frances Kurkdjian.

FK 2, now named Rose Di Siwa:

This is most definitley a rose fragrance but a soft rose. There is also a touch of sweeteness to it, but not in a fruity way. Rose Di Siwa is light, and a more modern rose. As it dries down, a violet note emerges, that eventually becomes a faint, almost candied violet. The drydown finds the violet less prominent and the rose becoming even softer. I also get a slight touch of musk. This is not an overwhelming, in your face fragrance.

Rose Di Siwa seems to have light to medium sillage. That may be different with a spray, as opposed to dabbing. I am very much of the mind that a spray gives you much better idea of the scent.

I could see myself wearing this a lot, it is simply pretty.

The official notes are : Litchee, peony, hawthorne, turkish and moroccan roses, violet, cedar, musk and vetiver.

The full fragrance list is as follows
FK1: "Promesse de l'Aube"

FK 2: Rose de Siwa"

FK 3:" Enlévement au Sérail"

SB1:." Invasion Barbare"

PB1: "Ambre Topkapi"

http://parfumsmdci.free.fr/

Lancome Color Ideal Foundation Review

I was able to get a couple samples to test of the new, and heavily promoted Lancome foundation, Color Ideal.

I have worn it for 2 days now, and am pretty pleased with it. It has a matte finish and stays that way for the whole day . Few touch ups , if any, were needed for me, and I have oily skin.

It's light to medium coverage, I do like a little more coverage, but with 1 full coat and a light going over it works well. The one problem to me was that I do need concealer on any areas that need more coverage. Most foundations I use eliminate that need. I hardly use it. I do have good skin, and am not in the mature skin category either.

It does blend incredibly well, and looks quite good. I was very happy with how nice my skin looked, even after much of the day . It does not settle into any lines and does not " creep ". It also stays very color true. It does give a bit of a glow as well, not a lot, but it's there.( Lancome website says there are pearly particles.)

If this were more straight medium coverage it would be a total winner.

I think Magique Matte Mousse is still the fav from Lancome, but I am thinking about purchasing this.

I would give Color Ideal 4 out of 5 stars.

Macys - Lancome is currently having get a 10 day supply of this foundation, so a great time to get it and try it.