Fragrance Reviews for Spring 2013- Hits and Misses

Hey Guys!

One of the most fun things about being a girl, is collecting perfume and picking out a scent to wear each day. I remember even as a little girl, I would look at my grandma’s makeup vanity with perfume bottles and be so intrigued. I’ve always been obsessed with the unique and beautiful glass bottles that women display and use to make themselves smell nice. Now, I house my perfume in a beautiful curio cabinet.

There is one perfume to this day that will always have a special place in my heart, it’s AMOR AMOR by Cacharel. I started using it when I lived in New York, then I work it all the time when I was dating my husband. It’s an amazing scent to me because it brings back so many memories.

Fragrances are sort of magical in that way-they unlock many memories.

Here is my video of some recent perfumes I’ve been loving for the spring and my honest thoughts on each. Some are hits, some are misses.

Here’s a list of fragrances I showed in this video:

http://www.lavanila.com/

http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/

http://khloeandlamarfragrance.com/home.php

http://www.beyonceparfums.com/

http://www.nyyankeesfragrance.com/

Also check out my Minnesota Zoo Vlog that I filmed last week. 

 

Love,

Lauren

 

Valentine’s Day Fragrance Recommendations

Hey Guys!

If you don’t know already, I love fragrances. Everything about them, the beautiful decorative bottles, the way they remind you of a certain time if your life, or a particular place. I LOVE them. I chose some of my favorites in the spirit of Valentines day to show you guys.  Hope you enjoy this video I put together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, what do you think of Landon Austin’s music, isn’t he amazing. You can find him on Youtube. This was the music playing through my video.

Don’t forget to subscribe if you want to see more videos and posts! Love you guys!

Stay tuned for my next video- another Valentines Day inspired makeup tutorial!

xo,

Lauren

 

Women’s Fragrance Gifts -Lauren’s picks Part 1

Hey Everyone!

Today I wanted to share some of my top fragrance picks for gift ideas! I have recently loved collecting perfume bottles , they are so beautiful and you can keep them as a decorative piece even when it is all used up. Here are some of my top favorite perfume choices that I have been loving this year!

 

Tocca Fragrances. If you’re looking for a fragrance gift under $50, the Tocca sets may be the way to go. They include three small bottles of their regular size perfumes. All in the same beautiful bottles. The limited edition Viaggio is my favorite. Here are the three fragrances and their notes:

Giulietta: Green Apple, Pink Tulips, Vanilla Orchid, Amber

Graciella: Asian Pear, Casablanca Lily, Ylang Ylang, Cashmere Musk

Violette: Italian Bergamot, African Violet, Black Currants, Creamy Cedarwood

Tocca also has beautiful scented candles that are also a great gift if you are looking for something more universal.

Acca Kappa Fragrance Calycanthus. I LOVE this fragrance, it is so fresh and flowery. Lately, I have really been into scents that smell like flowers. This just smells so clean but really rich and beautiful. It is described on the website as “A fresh floral scent created with the unique essence of the Calycanthus Flower and blended with notes of Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Honey and Musk.”

Ralph Lauren Big Pony Collection Fragrances.   These fragrances are so cute! 1, 2, 3, and 4. A pink, yellow, blue and purple each with a different fragrance. You can buy one separately if you think you know what fragrance she would like, or buy the gift set with a mini size of all the fragrances.

For more fragrance ideas , stay tuned to tomorrows blog post! Make sure you subscribe to my blog to keep up with all the updates!

Love,

Lauren

(Note: Some products were provided by PR for consideration. I was not paid for this review. All my blogs reflect my honest opinions and ideas. )

 

Beauty for Men? Fragrance and Skincare Gifts for Guys…

Hey Guys!

My Husband is a lucky guy. He gets to try out beauty products sometimes also in attempts to help me with my reviews and thoughts about male beauty products.

Over the past couple of weeks he has tried several things out including fragrance, skin and hair care products. Here are all of my “husband approved products” for guy gifts if your man is into grooming. 

Turo Skin Starter Kit.   ” For the Active Lifestyle of Today’s Man” $80 This kit included a daily moisturizing lotion + sunscreen, a 3 in 1 shower cleanser and a multi-active shave product. All three products are full size and are hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested.

The name is product pomade for hair. This is an organic and plant derived pomade for hair that smells great and helps to condition, soften, texturize, defrizz and makes hair glisten. I have been using this on photoshoots for fly aways and minor fixes. This product is great for both men and women’s hair.

Jack Black Well-Stocked Bar.  $59 This is a fragrance set of 3. It’s perfect if you don’t know what kind of cologne your man likes. Comes with Blue Mark a clean crisp smelling scent, JB which is a very distinctive masculine scent, and Black Mark which is a warm earthy sensual scent.

Lacoste Eau De Lacoste L.12.12 Rouge. 3.3 0z $62  Red is meant to evoke energy, vitality and masculine power. The red edition is a triple blend of spices, ginger, black pepper and cardamom, contrasted with a sparkling iced red tea note. This is my husbands favorite fragrance of ALL he’s tried this holiday season!

Nautica Aqua Rush. 1.7 oz $49.  This light and airy fragrance opens with a brisk note of Sea Breeze accord and splashed with Yuzu and a twist of spicy-sweet Corlander. It’s infused with watermint, Clary Sage Absolute and Violet Leaves. This is my favorite men’s fragrance I have tried all year! It’s very cool and refreshing.

Hope you all enjoyed this! I will be doing part 2 of my men’s gift guide tomorrow. I hope you will subscribe to this blog to make sure you catch it! Also, check out my Facebook Page for even more updates! 

Love,

Lauren

 

 

(Note: Some products were provided by PR for consideration. I was not paid for this review. All my blogs reflect my honest opinions and ideas. )

Thymes Frasier Fir and Holiday Scents for Holiday 2012

Hey Guys,

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is always the time that it really starts to feel like the Holidays. We put up the Christmas tree, decorate the house, start seeing Christmas lights on houses, and now we even have snow.  One of my favorite scents around this time of year is that “christmas tree” smell. I always grew up with an artificial tree, so when I discovered that THYMES had a scent called “frasier fir” it was very exciting.

I have a candle, and bar soap that smell just like a Christmas tree. Frasier Fir is by far my favorite scent that Thymes creates. Thymes has all sorts of amazing home scented decor like soaps, lotions, candles, fragrance diffuser, cleaner, home fragrance mist and more. They are locally based in Minneapolis too, which makes me love them even more.

Another delicious scent that is limited time for holidays is Filigree. It includes notes of:   amber, juniper berry, cedarwood, neroli, spearment and lavender. Thymes gives FREE shipping on all orders over $50. They make great gifts because the packaging is beautiful and there is such a variety in scents.

 

Talk to you all soon with many more gift ideas all throughout the month of December leading up to Christmas!

Love,

Lauren

 

(FTC: Pictures taken from Thymes.com. Some products were provided by PR for consideration. I was not paid for this review or affiliated with the company. All my blogs reflect my honest opinions and ideas. )

 

 

My Top 5 Favorite Fragrances for Spring 2012

Hey Everyone!

I have never shared with you guys some of my favorite perfumes. I wanted to make a quick video showing you my top 5 fragrance choices for this spring. All of these fragrances are in my personal collection and are the best of the best. I cycle through these and have worn them over and over this spring. Most of them have a floral and sweet elements. 

Hope you enjoy watching some of my top fragrance picks for this spring. If you have a favorite scent that you love to wear right now, leave it in a comment below , I’d love to check out some of your favorites!

Love, Lauren

Eva Perfume and Pin Up Collection by Orly: Two Loves

Hey Guys!

I want to share two things I am loving right now in May. The first is a perfume. It is rare that I find a perfume that I’m really crazy about. My favorite scent for a long time now has been Amor Amor by Cacharel. But, that is more a fall/winter scent in my opinion. So, I’ve been trying out some new perfumes and there is one that I absolutely can’t get enough of.

It is actually the Eva by Eva Longoria Fragrance. I always find the “celebrity perfumes” to be questionably. I was never big into the Britney Spears Scents or Paris Hilton fragrances and it seems to be that almost every female celebrity now a days has her own perfume. But- celebrity aside, this scent is SOO good. And, I think it’s the perfect Spring/Summer scent.

I have gotten I don’t know how many compliments on it…and my husband even says it smells good. And Clean. (haha) which is a good thing.

This perfume was created with allergies in mind, Eva had said she is allergic to most perfumes, so this is very good for those sensitive to perfume-y scents.

It smells very light, clean and floraly and sweet. Here are the notes:

Opening notes: citrus, neroli, bergamot tea and aldehydes.

Sustained notes: sheer jasmine, muguet, violet and freesia.

Lingering notes: skin musk, amber and sandalwood

I have noticed, I love the smell of Violets. This has Violet listed as one of the notes which could be a reason I like it!

The other thing I’m loving is the super fun Pin Up Collection by Orly for Summer 2011. There are only 4 shades. But, they are awesome. There are 2 glittery shades and a hot pink and a coral.

The creamy coral shade called “coquette cutie” is my favorite from this collection. You can find these at orlybeauty.com or select Sally’s and Ulta stores. They are $7.50 each.

I can see myself wearing these all summer! They are so fun.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!!

Do any of you have a favorite perfume or nail polish right now?

Love-Lauren

Take You’re Favorite Fragrance With You: The Travalo

Hey Everyone!

It’s true. You can bring your favorite perfume with you wherever you go. We all know you can’t put your $70 perfume bottle in your purse and carry it with you for important moments…but you CAN bring the Travalo with you.

The Travalo is a pocket sized perfume bottle that you can refill from your favrite fragrance bottles.

This is the perfect way to bring your perfume with you in your purse for special moments or when you just need to re-fresh. The top cap opens up to a little spray bottle and the bottom fits on the top of your perfume pump so you can re-fill super easy.

Here is the video demonstrating how to use it! This is VERY helpful.

I love this!! It’s nice to have a little bit of my luxury fragrance along with me in my bag! Go check out the website to take a look. http://www.travalo.com/ It retails on the website for $15.99.

Do you guys have a favorite fragrance? What is it…

LOVE Lauren

Luxury Perfume and Candles~ Tocca Beauty

Hi Guys!

Tocca, the brand meaning “Touch” in Italian is a luxurious clothing, and beauty brand. I know it for its fragrances and candles. The first time I saw Tocca products I was in an Anthropology store and saw the beautiful perfume bottles.  

I think an important thing about fragrance is not only the smell itself but the bottle it comes in. Fragrance is something that always sparks the memory to feel something or remember something and the bottle adds to that feeling.  I just love the way these look!

Tocca’s candles and perfumes are named with female names. My favorite of all the names and scents is ”Bridgette”. These were even named after the famous french model and actress “Bridgette Bardot”.

I like these two because like I said a fragrance can often do..it reminds me of New York. When I was modeling and acting in New York, some of the makeup artists on set used to call me “baby Bridgette” after Bridgette Bardot. I did a photo shoot channeling Ms. Bardot…here is a special treat, some of those shots.

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If you’d like to find out more about Tocca , their beauty line and clothing go to : http://www.tocca.com/store/

FTC MAN: Tocca sent me products for possible review. I was not paid for this post and my thoughts and opinions expressed are honest .

LOVE LO

PACIFICA Fragrances

Hey Everyone!

Aren’t beauty products fun?? I have a fragrance “gift recommendation” for you guys. It is Pacifica fragrances. Pacifica makes fragrance, candles, body lotion, body wash, soap and body butters.

I think it was when I was in 8th or 9th grade , but I used to spend a long time scanning the shelves at Sephora. In the fragrance section I remember the PACIFICA fragrance bottles really drawing my attention. I’m a very visual person, and I always thought these bottles and boxes were so visually enticing! Look BELOW , Aren’t they so fun!??

When I first discovered Pacifica, I think my mom got me a fragrance for christmas or something. This was my first one, and I LOVED IT. It’s called WAIKIKI PIKAKE. The name means peacock and jasmine, it smells of delicious sandalwood and jasmine. It’s probably my favorite scent I have discovered from the line…but I have not smelled all of them! I also first tried this spray perfume, which is what I am most used to. These retail for $22. NOT BAD!

 

The other two scents I have tried are the newest one, California Star Jasmine and the Tuscan Blood Orange. Out of the two of these I’d have to say I like the tuscan blood orange better just because it smells so much of orange. It smells sweet and delicious and if you like oranges , you’d love this! The california star jasmine is a little too jasmine smelling for me. But, the Waikiki Pikaki is better! (In my opinion)

Also, I tried the roll on perfume and the solid perfume. The roll on is easier to apply then the solid but they both seem to stay on just as long. If I had to choose between spray, roll on and solid, I would choose the spray perfume.

Roll on retails for $12.00 and the solid retails for $9.00. I’m telling you they make a really cute little gift for someone who loves scents.

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You can find these at Sephora stores, or Whole Food Grocery Stores. Pacifica believes in recycling and making all there products from natural and essential oils. Here is the “pacifica manifesto” that is written on their website. I had to share it with you all!!

“The Pacifica Manifesto.  Love what you do and do what you love.  Great waves

make for great days. 
Don’t follow trends, follow your heart.  Invent a new world and keep ties to

 the old one. Be an environmentalist.  Fearlessness is our most valuable

natural resource.  Bring your family along.  Romance, travel and adventure

are all in a day’s work.”

  

Here is the pacifica website for you all to take a look: http://www.pacificaperfume.com/

  

FTC: I did receive 2 of these products for possible review. However, my opinions about

 these products are 100 % honest as always and I was not paid for this review.

 

Thank you all for reading. Stay tuned for my next post : My top 10 MAC eye

shadow picks for dark skin tones.

 

xoxo-LOVELO