Sixteen92 You Who Swallowed A Falling Star perfume oil - Review

It's been a looooong time since I reviewed any indie perfume oils, and I have a backlog of them. I'm going to start with something from one of my favorite brands - Sixteen92! This was a limited edition scent, but bottles are always floating around on destash lists - hopefully this helps anyone who is undecided on if they want to try it!

Sixteen92 Anniversary 2016 Collection - Review

I have been so, so behind on reviewing perfumes. I figured I'd get a start on my backlog with something that was recent - Sixteen92's anniversary collection! I reviewed the collection that was released last year, and I repurchased another set of samples for this year. The collection has two repeat scents from last year - The Tea Party and The Princess Party. I actually bought a full size of The Tea Party last year, since I'm a lover of everything tea related. I'm a big fan of Sixteen92 scents, and I'm excited to review these!

The Tea Party - I'm not going to review this here, since I already did so last year. This year's batch smells exactly like my bottle from last year, which is awesome! Definitely going to keep this as a backup!

The Princess Party - Another repeat. Smells just like last year - orange cake!

The Luau Party - Reminiscent of last year's The Pool Party, the notes for this are white sponge cake soaked in cold coconut milk, topped with rum-infused whipped cream and toasted coconut shavings. From the vial, the scent is all coconut cream. Wet on the skin, the coconut takes a bit of a backseat for a more vanilla leaning note with a hint of rum. As it dries, the scent becomes a little artificial, much to my disappointment. The coconut turns plasticky, sort of like cheap drugstore coconut shampoo. If only the initial notes didn't morph on me! I could seriously huff the vial scent all day long. This scent lasted around 3 hours on me before fading and needing the notorious super huff of the wrist.

Review - 3/5

The Garden Party - I love lemon desserts, so I was super pumped to read the notes for this one - Meyer lemon honey cake soaked in rosewater and jasmine simple syrup, topped with a citrus glaze and candied rose petals. Opening the vial, there's definitely lemon, but more of a chemical cleaner like lemon. On the skin, the lemon opens up more and brings with it a floral note. I don't get much cake out of it, which is a bit of a letdown. As it dries, the scent turns more and more towards a white floral with a bit of an herby background. I was really hoping to get more honey cake from this, so it's a bit of a disappointment for me. This one had a very strong throw and lasted longer than the others, over four hours.

Review 3.5/5

The Cocktail Party - Another new scent! The notes are listed as dark chocolate Devil’s Food cake with caramelized fig compote and whiskey ganache. In the vial, the scent is heavy dark chocolate. On the skin, the dark chocolate melds with cake and comes together as a fantastic chocolate cake note. As it dries, the scent turns to dark chocolate and coffee. The entire scent is super rich, so it's a perfume better suited for colder months. The scent lasted 2.5-3 hours on my skin before starting to noticeably fade.

Review - 4/5

The sample set was $20, and was sent within the advertised 14 day turnaround time. I also got a mini vial of another scent with my order, which is always appreciated! This collection isn't one of my favorites, I liked last year's Anniversary set more (MASQUERADE PARTY!!!) but perfume is such a personal thing, they won't all be winners.

Perfume oils work differently for different people due to skin chemistry. This is my experience with these perfume oils, which may differ for you!

May 2016 Favorites!

Another month, another set of favorites! Late, as usual, because I really am the worst.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray - I picked up the travel size bottle when I went to Texas in April to try and combat the heat and humidity. Now that's also hot and humid at home, I've been using this over De-Slick pretty much daily. My makeup isn't melting off my face halfway through the day (or rather, as soon as I get into my sunbaked car...) so I think this stuff really works! I'm not an all night partier, so I don't know how true the all nighter claim is, but the setting claim certainly is true!

Urban Decay Naked Skin One and Done  - Two months in a row! This sits so light on the skin, making it perfect for summer weather. I've found that it applies best on its own (it has SPF but not enough for sun protection since you aren't loading it on) or over sunscreen that has had 15 minutes to sink into the skin. I've applied this with my fingers and with a beauty blender, and I like the finish for both. I don't always pair this with a primer, since it's supposed to be an all in one product, but I do need a concealer with it for anything needing more coverage.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone - Another travel size! To be honest, the regular size is such a massive bottle of highlighter that is seems unnecessary, so I was happy Becca released Moonstone in this smaller size. (I have a full size of Pearl, going strong for over a year...) This liquid highlighter goes on sheer and can be built up to fulfill your disco ball dreams. It sinks into the skin making it look more natural than a powder highlight, and it also doesn't emphasize my skin texture as much. I've worn this with no base products, just a few taps onto the high points of my face for a natural glow.

Givenchy Mister Mat Primer - I liked this when I initially bought it, then I fell out of love, and recently I've picked it up again! I found that the key to using this primer is to really wait at least 15 minutes after my sunscreen has been applied to make sure there's no pilling of product when I apply. That, and doing more patting than rubbing into the face makes this work really well. I definitely notice that my face looks less greasy over the course of the day when I use this. Unfortunately, it's a little expensive for a primer ($38!) so it may have to wait for a sale should I decide to repurchase.

Sixteen92 Lolita EdP - (Full review here!) I'm one of those people who takes too long on their eyeliner or false lashes in the morning, so when it comes time to select a scent, I get overwhelmed. I've been grabbing Lolita lately, because it's so easy to just spritz on as well as being super fruity and summery! I really do love my EdP Lolita over the perfume oil, it lasts so much longer and seems much brighter over the course of the day.

If you haven't noticed, waiting 15 minutes after you apply your sunscreen before applying your makeup is a real game changer! Even something as fast absorbing as the Biore Watery Essence that I use can really benefit from some time to sink in. What have you been loving lately?

Sixteen92 Merry and Bright Perfume Oil - Review

This scent was a Black Friday exclusive from Sixteen92. Of course, I'm reviewing it late, but the hope is that it will pop up in destashes from time to time.

Merry and Bright has a description of "a plate of freshly-baked frosted sugar cookies set out on Christmas Eve night, dusted with snowy powdered sugar; roasted chestnuts drizzled with caramel; mini marshmallows toasted by the fire; twinkling lights and stuffed stockings." From the vial, the first notes are of caramel and vanilla. The scent is very, very sweet, bordering on sickly. Wet on the skin, the caramel is most prominent. As it dries down, the chestnut note is more noticeable. The scent of cookies and sugar is present in the background after the oil dries. This scent definitely evokes the holiday spirit for me, and I've been wearing it for weeks after Christmas has ended. (I like Christmas...)

Unfortunately, this scent fades on me after three to four hours. On a more positive note, the throw is great - I feel like I'm walking into a house with freshly made cookies every time I wear it. Overall I'm happy with this one. I wish it lasted a bit longer, but sometimes having something this heavy and sweet can be too much after a period of time.

Pros:

• Very sweet
• Christmas cookie-esque
• High sillage

Cons:

• Lasts for only about four hours
• Limited edition :(

Sixteen92 Merry and Bright Perfume Oil (Limited Edition) - $14.00 for 6mL

Review - 3/5

December 2015 Favorites

Now that the whirlwind holiday season is over - it's time to get back to business! Here are my favorites from the month of December.

1. Sixteen92 Detangling Hair Mist in Maple Pecan Shortbread - This is my second bottle of detangling spray from Sixteen92. I haven't finished the first, I just wanted a fall/winter scent. This spray is light, and is able to ease the job of combing out my very fine hair. I have to use more spray than I'd like to get the job done, but the product does not weigh my hair down. The scent isn't overly strong, and fades pretty quickly (especially as I blow dry my hair.) I really like this spray, and seeing as I already have two, I'll probably purchase more!
2. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Moonstone - I have a ton of highlighters, I won't deny it. However, I've been reaching for this one most often. It's a mini size, which is perfect, as I have too many highlighters to begin with. Also, a little bit of this product goes a long way! It's very shimmery, but can be blended out easily. I also have Moonstone in the liquid formula (also in the smaller size!) and I feel it's a perfect highlight shade for my skin tone.
3. Burberry Light Glow Natural Blush in Cameo Blush No. 2 - I received this for Christmas, and have been using it almost daily since! In the pan, it seems like a bright almost baby pink, but sheered out on the skin it's a much more natural, flushed shade. It's buildable, but I haven't built it up to the pan shade yet, which is not exactly what I'm looking for. It applies and blends like a dream, and I love the heavy, luxe packaging. I don't really need more blush in my collection, but I have my eye on the Earthy shade in this collection next.
4. Stila eyeshadow in Kitten - I'm a big fan of champagne eyeshadow shades...almost as much as I love rose gold. Kitten is great built up on the lid for a shimmery pop, or for an all over wash of color. It also looks wonderful when foiled with a spritz of water and then applied to the lid. A little goes a long way, so if you have this in a palette, even better!
5. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sugar Frost - This is my go to inner corner highlight shade. You can just swipe it on and go. Unfortunately, I have had some issues with this formula creasing when applied all over the lid, which is why my new default shadow sticks are the By Terry Ombre Blackstars. I'm intent on finishing this one though, since it's so perfect for the inner corner!

Sixteen92 Spellbound and Last Exit for the Lost perfume oils - Review

I decided that I was not going to purchase the entire fall collection from Sixteen92, and only pick up samples of the scents that really stood out to me. I liked the sound of Spellbound and Last Exit for the Lost the most, and ordered those.The fall collection has a theme of 1980s goth rock, which isn't really up my alley, but themed collections are cool! These two are songs from Siouxie and the Banshees and Fields of the Nephilim.

Spellbound is described as having notes of creamed pumpkin, spiced bourbon & Tahitian vanillas, sticky marshmallow fluff. Opening the vial, the initial notes are cream and vanilla, with a tiny hint of spice. Upon applying to the skin, the pumpkin comes out and mixes with the spice, a hint of pumpkin pie. As it dries, the vanilla becomes more prominent - the fluffy marshmallow can be found here, too. The full impression is that of a pumpkin pie, paired with a chai tea latte - spice and cream. This scent lasted about five hours on me before sinking in close to the skin. The spiciness of the scent permeates the air more than the cream, but it is never overbearing. The throw overall won't fill a room, but doesn't exactly hug close. I love pumpkin scents, and I really enjoyed this one.
Review - 4/5

Last Exit for the Lost is listed with notes of orchard apples, woven wood baskets, dried hay, distant chimney smoke on cool air. From the vial, the first whiff is apples with a woodsy backing. I was drawn to this scent because I love fall apples, and the initial sniff did not disappoint! On the skin, the apple note remains, though the hay and smoke become more apparent. As the oil dries, the smoke overtakes the apple and hay. The smoke remains the main note after the drydown, which was disappointing for me, especially after the initial burst of apples. I got about five hours of wear of this scent before it began to fade. Since I wasn't a big fan of the scent, of course it seemed to be bigger than it probably was, so I would say the throw is moderate.
Review - 2.5/5 (though I wasn't a fan, it did stick around for a while!)

Last Exit probably won't stay in my collection, but I know Sixteen92 has a wonderful apple note to keep an eye out for! Spellbound was the definite winner for me - I can't say no to a good pumpkin scent!

Perfume oils work differently for different people due to skin chemistry. This is my experience with this perfume oil, which may differ for you!

September 2015 Favorites

I've been MIA for a while! I'm back to pick up where I left off - I have a ton of stuff to play with and review. Here are the things I found myself reaching for the most in the month of September:

1. Kat von D Shade and Light Eye palette - When this came out, I told myself I didn't need it. I have so many neutral shadows, so many matte shadows, so many matte neutral palettes...but I caved and bought it. Since I picked it up, I've been using it near daily. The shadows are extremely blendable and smooth, and there are shadows for every occasion, whether you want dark or light eyes. I'm really happy I picked this one up!
2. ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in I Heart This - A basic shimmery champagne color, I've been using this on the lid constantly with my KvD palette looks! I like applying this with the finger, and then blending out the edges with a synthetic hair brush.
3. Sixteen92 The Masquerade Party - I have a full review of this Birthday Collection scent from a few months ago. Now that the weather has cooled off, I have been reaching for this pumpkin scent at least two to three times a week. I purchased a full size, and kept my sample as well so I'll be well stocked. I'm all about pumpkin everything during autumn, and this scent fits the bill.
4. Hakuhodo J5522 - This is my new favorite crease brush. My eyes are small, so the shape of this brush is a little bit too big. I find that although it's big, the end is able to deposit color in my crease and blow it out just the right amount. It makes putting transition shades down that much faster, since I'm depositing color and blending out the edges in one fell swoop. Also, it's super soft and fluffy - what's not to love?
5. Tom Ford lipstick in Richard - This shade is a limited edition shade from the Lips and Boys collection - but it is also an exact dupe for another LE shade, Negligee. I've started wearing this more often since the collection is rumored to be making a comeback - I can pick up a backup! This shade is a great My Lips But Better shade on me, perfect to go with more bold eye looks. The formula is also extremely comfortable, another plus. Hopefully the collection is back soon, before I run out of this one!

Sixteen92 General Catalogue Perfume Oils - Review

As you may or may not know, I pick up a lot of Sixteen92 collections in the form of samples. So this review focuses on some scents from the general catalogue. I picked up Black Sugar, Mellifera, and Southern Gothic, and Claire (the owner) was kind enough to include two mini samples of Rei and Shadow Show with my order! I've had these in my perfume cellar for a bit, so they've had time to rest. (Also known as: I have too much stuff to review!)

Black Sugar is listed on the Sixteen92 site as "A dark counterpart to Aquolina’s Pink Sugar. Spun brown sugar, red berries, vanilla and tonka bean absolute dance with a sprinkle of dirt, a swirl of cauldron smoke, and a drop of bittersweet cocao absolute." In the vial, the perfume smells exactly like Pink Sugar. If you haven't come across it, it smells like bright pink cotton candy. On the skin, it smells like Pink Sugar. I'm going to be honest, I only smelled Pink Sugar all day. This scent lasted ALL DAY on me! After 9 hours I could still distinctly smell cotton candy on my skin. The throw was very good - I got in the car and smelled cotton candy. It faded after about 5-6 hours, but the scent never left my skin. Personally, Pink Sugar was not a scent for me, and neither is Black Sugar. If any of the "dark" notes had come out to play, maybe. But on me, this was fluffy cotton candy all the way.
Review - 2.5/5

Mellifera has notes of "Wildflower Honey Accord (not vegan), Violet, Jasmine Sambac, Vanilla Infused Sugar, Sandalwood."  From the vial, the scent is rich honey. Claire has a great honey note, it's so realistic. There's some vanilla in the background, but it's mostly honey. Wet on the skin, the honey is there but the floral notes come out to play, as well as a bit more of the vanilla. Dry on the skin, the perfume keeps the strong honey scent. There is a light and sweet floral background - the vanilla sugar mixing with jasmine. I did not detect any violet, which usually goes a little powdery on me, so that was nice. This lasted on the skin for over eight hours, though the throw fell away after around six hours.
Review - 4/5

Rei was included as a free sample, and I decided to give it a shot even though the notes aren't something I'd normally go for. The notes are listed as "Aldehydes, Ozone, Rose Oxide, Bergamot, Yuzu, Gardenia, Labdanum, Vetiver, Fossilized Amber, Opium." Opening the vial, a bright white floral is the first scent. Wet on the skin, the white florals remain, mixed with rose and hint of yuzu. Dry on the skin, the scent is a very sharp white floral. In the back the citrusy scent of yuzu is lingering, but gardenia is the most prominent note here. A tiny dab of bergamot finishes off the scent. The throw was somewhat big, I sat in a cloud of gardenias. But it wasn't too big to be offensive. The scent was still detectable on my skin after eight hours - and not the crazy sniffing my wrist to see if it's still there sort of detectable.
Review - 3/5

Shadow Show is not a scent I would have picked for myself as a perfume. The notes of "Kettle corn, spun sugar, apple, machine oil, rusty metal, dirt," are a far throw away from my usual fruits, tea,  and cake like gourmand scents. But because I am always looking to go out of my comfort zone concerning perfumes, and it was included with my order - here we are. The initial scent upon opening is of apple cider. Wet on the skin, the apple note remains, with a background of dirt and something metallic. As it dries, the initial apple note fades, and leaves behind the dirty metallic scent. I didn't really get any kettle corn out of this at all, which is a little disappointing. Definitely not a scent for me! My partner got a whiff of this and said it smelled earthy and herbal. He wasn't a fan either. I will honestly say I didn't wear it around for the day since I wasn't thrilled with my initial test, but I wore it to bed after trying to wash off the wrist I applied it on and it was still around.
Review - 2/5 (not for me, but it did have those machine like notes and the apple, so credit where credit is due...)

Southern Gothic excited me due to the fruit notes it contained - "Mandarin Orange, Apple, Coconut Pulp, Southern Magnolia, Jasmine Sambac, Balsam, White Sandalwood." From the vial, the scent is light coconut, white florals, and sandalwood. Wet on the skin, the oil is all white floral and sandalwood. After drying, it smells a lot like sunscreen. There's a touch of white florals and coconut in the background, so it's like a tropical sunscreen. So if you're looking for a Coppertone like scent, something to remind you of the beach and summer, this might be it. The throw filled my car after applying it 20 minutes earlier, but quickly faded to hold close to the skin. The scent lasted about 4 hours on me before needing the strained sniff.
Review - 3.5/5

Sixteen92 Birthday Collection - Review

To celebrate their first anniversary, Sixteen92 put together a wonderful cake themed collection. I managed to get my hands on one of the coveted sample sets, which sold out lightning fast when first stocked! The Birthday Collection was structured a bit differently than other releases - samples were only available until July 31st, after which full sizes would only be available until August 15th. Lotions in all five scents were also available, but those sold out quickly as well. I normally try to wear scents around three times before reviewing, but in an earnest effort to try and get a review out before full sizes are gone, I've only worn each of these once or so before reviewing.

The Masquerade Party is one of the scents from this collection I was super excited for, and I'm sure you can see why: spiced pumpkin cake filled with toasted pecans and topped with maple buttercream. From the vial, the first sniff is maple syrup and rich buttercream. In the background is a touch of cinnamon and other pumpkin pie spices. Wet on the skin, the maple takes prominence and becomes sweeter. The buttercream is still heavy in the background. As the oil dries, the pumpkin note emerges, mixing with cinnamon and cloves. As the pumpkin starts to eclipse the maple buttercream, the full cake scent manifests. This scent is a very full sweet gourmand, not for those who don't love rich cake scents! Wearing this makes me think of those pumpkin scones that Starbucks has. 

The throw on this is moderate - you won't clear a room but you may be told you smell like autumn. As for wear time, I got more than three hours out of it - I applied after a shower and wore it to bed, but it was gone in the morning.

Review - 4.5/5

The Princess Party is described as orange petit fours with fluffy whipped vanilla cream filling and a caramelized brown butter glaze covered with pink fondant. Upon opening, the scent is just like the Blood Orange & Vanilla lotion from Sixteen92. Orange creamsicle. Wet on the skin, the scent warms up a little, bringing forth the notes of browned butter and fondant. Vanilla cream sits back, but you can sense that it's there. As the oil dries, the orange becomes a little more prominent, but it's not a juicy orange, still leaning more creamy. After drying, the sweet brown butter fades off, leaving just the orange creamsicle notes to remain. Unfortunately for this one, it starts out somewhat layered and complex, but then fizzles out. 

This one has a moderate throw, and since it's a softer citrus scent, it wasn't overpowering. I got about 3.5-4 hours out of this one.

Review - 2.5/5

The Tea Party is another scent I was looking forward to, because, well, I love tea scents! The description for this tea cake concoction is vanilla almond birthday cake topped with Earl Grey buttercream. I was hesitant about this, because Claire (the wizard behind the curtain) had mentioned that this was like Almond Tea Cakes with a very top note of Earl Grey tea. I reviewed the lotion not too long ago, and I was worried that the scent would go all almond extract on me. In the vial, the scent is a light, sugared almonds. A sigh of relief from me. Wet on the skin, the note of sweet almonds remains, but it's graced with the bergamot of Earl Grey tea. The buttercream is in the background, not nearly as strong as The Masquerade Party's note - this cake is much lighter, more sophisticated, meant for high tea, not coffee after dinner. As the oil dries, the almond eases back and the scent is all Earl Grey with a light touch of buttercream. There's a slight hint of vanilla, but black tea with milk is what remains after the drydown. Perfect.

The throw on this scent wasn't terribly impressive, it hugged close to the skin mostly. The wear time was about three and a half hours before it got to the weird sniffing the wrist to see if it hung around stage. I still loved this scent, Earl Grey is one of my favorite teas (don't judge me!) and I love tea scents all around.

Review - 4/5

The Pool Party has some wonderful summer notes to it: fluffy white cake with a pineapple-citrus compote filling sprinkled with toasted coconut. From the vial, the scent is cake and pineapple. The pineapple note is very juicy, like when you cut open a very ripe pineapple. Wet on the skin, the pineapple note remains but is mixed with coconut. The sweetness of the cake is still evident, though, though as the oil dries, the coconut begins to take over the scent. After everything has settled, the end result is basically a piña colada. There's a faint cake scent in the background, but it's mostly tropical drink goodness.

The wear time on this was about two and a half hours, not the longest wear time in the book, but noticeably better than earlier Sixteen92 perfume oils. The throw was moderate, I could catch whiffs when I gesticulated, but I don't think I was knocking anyone out with pineapple outside of my immediate vicinity.

Review - 3/5

The Afterparty has a rich coloring to it, just like the rich cake it is supposed to embody. Chocolate espresso truffle cake with marshmallow filling topped with dark chocolate ganache. The first sniff is rich mocha.  Behind that, there's a distinct marshmallow note, very fluffy. While it's wet on the skin, the perfume holds its rich mocha topped with marshmallow scent. The chocolate here isn't overly sweet, embodying the dark chocolate note that was offered in the description. As it dries, the initial richness wears off, leaving behind a more cake like scent, akin to fresh devil's food cake. In the background the espresso note remains, to complete cake and coffee for dessert.

This didn't have too great of a throw, which is good because its a very rich scent that doesn't have much to give it a 'lift,' so to speak. Unfortunately after about three hours, I couldn't detect it on my skin anymore. This is a bit too rich of a gourmand for me (omg!) Maybe I will revisit it when it is less hot outside and I'll change my mind!

Review - 2.5/5

My personal favorites were the Tea Party and the Masquerade Party, and I ordered full sizes of each! All of the scents did a wonderful job embodying the luscious desserts presented in the description. If you're a fan of gourmands, you'll probably find something to like in this collection!

Perfume oils work differently for different people due to skin chemistry. This is my experience with these perfume oils, which may differ for you!

Sixteen92 Summer Collection - Review

I realize the Sixteen92 Summer Collection came out a while ago. I bought a sample set right off the bat, since so many of the scents sounded promising. It took a while to go through these, and wear them enough times to feel confident in reviewing them. But now that we are ready...let's go!

As a general note, I wanted to state that the wear time for these was MUCH better than perfume oils I have had from here in the past. The shop has recently changed up the carrier oil blend after complaints of short wear time, and that has certainly done the trick! 

Blood and Honey - The notes for this scent are listed as blood orange, wildflower honey (vegan), pale amber, honeysuckle.  I was so excited for this scent after the great letdown of Haus of Gloi Honeybelle. In the vial, the scent is straight up honey. Thick, resinous honey. Wet on the skin, the thick honey note is still there, with a very pale floral note on top. There is a small backing of citrus to it, but nothing that screams blood orange, which is what I was sort of hoping for. After the oil dries, the honey backs off ever so slightly to allow the floral honeysuckle to shine through. I don't really pick up on any in your face amber, thankfully, which I was wary about. Unfortunately, not a big blood orange note came through, which was disappointing. But it is an AMAZING true honey note if you are looking for honey. (Unlike Honeybelle.) This one has a nice, big throw that fades throughout the day but didn't disappear completely.

Review - 4/5

Eternal Return - I'm not going to lie, this was the scent I was least excited about. The notes are peat moss and damp garden soil, tomato leaf, beetroot, grass, herbs, lavender spikes, galbanum, sun-warmed oak bark.  From the vial, the scent is dirt and leaves. I won't lie, it smells like dirt and leaves. Did I mention I wasn't excited? This isn't really my type of scent, but I'm trying to branch out. (Heh.) There's a small amount of lavender to be picked up on as well. Wet on the skin, it's all tomato leaf. After the oil dries, the scent is like a leafy garden, plus the lavender comes back as well. It really isn't my type of scent, but it does live up to the notes promised - those of tomato leaves and grass and dirt. The throw on this wasn't super impressive. 

Review - 2.5/5 (not my cup of tea, but it as a very realistic earthy garden scent!)

Paper Moon - This scent is listed with notes of soft vanilla musk, benzoin, oakmoss, trailing ivy, peach blossom, rose.  Opening the vial, the scent is flowery musk. Gentle, not cheap, which is always a concern. Wet on the skin, the scent is of light rose. After drying, the musk comes back, blending with the rose. The throw faded after about three and a half hours, and was barely clinging to the skin after six. I was a little disappointed with this scent, I was hoping for more vanilla.

Review - 3/5

The Beautiful and the Damned - Here's another scent I was excited for, you can just tell by the notes - sparkling pink grapefruit, strawberry, raspberry and currant with soft violet, gardenia and vanilla absolute.  From the vial, it's all effervescent fruit. Wet on the skin, the mix of berries and grapefruit continued to fizz while joined with soft florals. As it dried, the fizz peaked while the florals came forward, especially the gardenia. The floral notes never got too flowery, the fruit and fizz kept them from getting overwhelming. I didn't pick up on any vanilla, which was a tad disappointing. The scent feels like a champagne garden party, and I for one enjoy it. The throw isn't anything over the top, which I personally find nice when it comes to white floral scents - they can sometimes choke out the air.

Review - 4/5

Theda - Here we go, the big one. The scent I bought the collection for! The notes are tart sangria infused with ripe summer fruits (white peach, nectarine, berries, citrus), dark vanilla, wild vines, rose absolute. In the vial, the scent is peach and nectarine, warm summer fruits. Wet on the skin, its all fruit - the peach and nectarine spilling from the vial, joined with berries and grapefruit and orange. After the oil dries, the fruit settles and a deep green pulls it back and grounds it. There's a sparkle of fizz on top to finish it off. Thankfully, the rose doesn't make itself super present, which could have ruined this scent for me. I also didn't get a giant dose of vanilla. The throw is enough to get a whiff as you walk past, but not enough to clear out a room.

Review - 5/5

My favorite scent from the collection was Theda, which I may pick up a full size of. I had a lot of hope for this collection, but I was a little let down - I think there was too much floral and not enough fruit for me. Blood and Honey stood out with just how amazingly authentic the honey note is, I just wish there had been more citrus with it.

Anyone else pick up the summer collection? Thoughts?

Perfume oils work differently for different people due to skin chemistry. This is my experience with this perfume oil, which may differ for you!

June 2015 Favorites!

Happy July! It's time to go over my favorite products from the past month. It's a lot less colorful than one would expect for June...but the scents are summery!

1. Darling Clandestine perfume oil in Morderteile Kelah - I have a full review of this here, but I really just can't stop putting this on! It's deliciously fruity and just a touch spicy, and has been making my June.
2. Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer - I will let you in on a secret - this is the only bronzer I own. I'm not a big bronzer person, at all. However, I've been breaking this out to add a touch of glow to my face now that it's summer. It's matte, which is great for adding a bit of warmth and not a load of shimmer. Milk Chocolate is the lightest shade Too Faced offers, and I find that it doesn't look super orange or unnatural on me. Also, it smells like chocolate.
3. Etude House I Need You Mask Sheet in Snail  - Because I live under a rock, I am just getting into snail products now. I love Etude House sheet masks, and I am really liking the snail ones I picked up a century ago and am just now getting around to using. I may or may not have ordered more snail products. Oops. If you can get around putting snail slime on your face (just do it!) these feel really nice on the skin. I'm wearing one as I type this up! I find sheet mask essences to be delightfully cooling on the face during the summer.
4. Sixteen92 Detangling Hair Mist in White Grapefruit & Peach - I picked this up with my mondo Sixteen92 summer order. I am really digging the scent - the peach is the same peach note as I pick up in Lolita! I've been spritzing this on my hair just to get the scent after I shower. It also does a pretty decent job of detangling. I look forward to either reordering this scent or trying another!
5. Make Up For Ever Artist Eyeshadow in M-548 (Pink Gray)  - I have hardcore fallen in love with the MUFE Artist shadows. Pink Gray is my newest obsession, it's a great cool toned crease shade! It blends beautifully, and can be blown out or layered and deepened. I just love it!

I am shocked (haha so shocked I picked these!) that there was no lip product on here - maybe next month!

Sixteen92 Lolita EdP - Review

When I placed my first Sixteen92 order, I made sure I ordered Lolita, their best selling fragrance. Unfortunately, with the old oil blend, the fragrance was short lived on my skin. However, Sixteen92 has revamped their carrier oil blend to ensure longer lasting power (and with my new order I've definitely experienced that, but that will come at a later time!) but also, the shop has introduced more traditional perfume sprays. I knew that I would pick up Lolita with my next order.

The Lolita EdP has the same notes as the perfume oil - Crisp Apple Skins, Tart Peach Candies, Rose Absolute, Sugared Violet. When using the EdP, I don't notice a difference in the scent blend on my skin. I get a lot of fruity peach and apple, and not much rose at all. The main difference with the EdP that I noticed is the throw - it is much more powerful. The throw weakens after about four hours, but the scent still clings to clothing, which is something you don't get with perfume oils (because you know...oil and clothing don't get along.) The scent lasted on my skin for the entire workday, without the disappointing fade to nothingness of before, or the need to desperately sniff my wrist to detect it. A definite improvement!

I picked up the 15mL size, because of my growing perfume collection, but there are larger sizes available, plus a 2mL mini size. The bottle is glass, with a sticker label. The cap is black plastic, and the atomizer is also black plastic. It would have been nice to have a metal atomizer, but what can you do. The glass bottle appears to be pretty sturdy. It isn't the fanciest bottle on the vanity, but it has a clean look.

Sixteen92 has also provided a secondary EdP blend available for international shipping,  since perfumer's alcohol cannot be shipped internationally. 

Pros:

• Scent lasts much longer than previous oil blend
• Can be sprayed on clothing
• International EdP blend available
• Sample size EdPs available

Cons:

• Sample size EdPs not available internationally
• Plastic cap and spray atomizer
• Throw fades after about four hours

Sixteen92 Lolita Eau de Parfum - $24.00 for 15mL

Review - 5/5

Sixteen92 Hand Lotion (and Wicked Perfume Oil!) Review

After my first review of Sixteen 92 after I ordered for the first time, I was really happy with all my products. I received a couple of the hand lotions in a swap in some scents I was interested in, along with a mini of Wicked, a general catalog scent. The mini lotions get a spot on my desk at work, as they're really easy to apply after washing your hands. (And I pee a lot and my job has the world's most drying soap for some reason.) The lotion is not my most favorite formula, but it absorbs easily and gets the job done. The mini 1 oz jars are great for places like your desk!

Almond Tea Cakes - Sweet vanilla cakes with fluffy almond icing. The almond in this scent smells very much like almond extract more than a subtle almond note. Thankfully, to balance out the extract portion of the almond scent, there's a heavy dose of vanilla! The two scents blend together to create a sugary cake like scent that sticks to the skin after the lotion has been absorbed. The scent doesn't last all day, and it is not overpowering. After the lotion has been absorbed, it leaves a gentle reminder of cake behind.

Review - 4/5

Sucre Vanille -  Raw sugar, vanilla and a light floral musk with a splash of sweetened coconut milk. The scent for this lotion is initially a light floral sweetness. The coconut and vanilla balance the sugar and floral scent nicely. It reminds me slightly of Warm Vanilla Sugar from Bath and Body Works, but less manufactured, if you get what I mean. The scent is very light and non overwhelming. I'm a big vanilla and coconut fan, so I really liked this combo.

Review - 4/5

Wicked - Three vanillas, dark aged patchouli, almond buttercream. Straight from the vial, the scent is an airy almond extract, reminiscent of the almond from Almond Tea Cakes. Wet on the skin, the almond remains, with the same airy back note that I can't put my finger on. (Is it buttercream? I'm lactose intolerant, so I wouldn't know.) As it dries, the scent picks up a bit of vanilla. I detected no patchouli, thankfully, which I was afraid of. I'm not patchouli's biggest fan. This is a popular scent from Sixteen92, but it did not wow me. It wasn't bad at all, just nothing I need to own.

Review - 2.5/5

Perfume oils work differently for different people due to skin chemistry. This is my experience with these perfume oils and scents, which may differ for you!

Sixteen92 Haul

So after reading tons about the brand Sixteen92 on the IndieMakeupAndMore subreddit, I decided to place my first order! I have been using the products for a bit, and it's finally time I got off my butt and wrote about what I purchased! Of course, since I waited for a while, some of the winter scents are no longer available. But I managed to get some spring scents as well!

Sixteen92 Hand & Body lotion and perfume oil samples

I picked up the following items:

• Blood Orange & Vanilla hand & body lotion
• Wintering perfume oil
• Toasted Marshmallow perfume oil
• The Orchard Keeper perfume oil
• Lolita perfume oil
• The Sound and The Fury perfume oil (a free sample!)

Blood Orange & Vanilla lotion - I picked up the hand and body lotion because I love blood orange as a scent. The scent description is "creamy vanilla swirled with tart blood orange - a lovely warm-weather gourmand, reminiscent of orange creamsicles or gourmet orange sherbet." I really get more of a creamsicle scent than anything of the tart blood orange variety. Not bad at all, but not the blood orange scent I was looking for, as the vanilla half of the mix overpowered the citrus I wanted. As for the lotion formula, it is moisturizing, but it takes a little bit longer to absorb than I'd have liked. It leaves behind a bit of a lotion-y feeling, not greasy or bad - just that feeling of lotion that is going to need a few more minutes to sink in. I keep it at my desk to moisturize my hands after using the bathroom as the soap at work is the world's cheapest possible soap for whatever reason, and the scent is definitely noticeable for a while after as I tap away at my keyboard.

Wintering - "The crunch of Fall’s last leaves underfoot, fragile and frost-blanketed. Dry hay bales, chilled earth, and thick honey warmed with gingerbread-spiced vanilla bean. Absolutes of hay, tobacco and beeswax (not vegan), patchouli, vanilla bean, spices (ginger, cinnamon, clove, etc)" I picked this up overlooking the patchouli note. I am not a fan of patchouli at all. Opening the vial and the first sniff, it's patchouli and a recoil and a scowl and regret. But it is my duty as a blogger to test things I may hate, so I apply the perfume and let it dry down - and I wait. And I sniff...gingerbread. Gentle vanilla. Fall air with a hint of woodsmoke. Goddammit why did I wait to apply this?!! Will I still avoid patchouli perfumes? Probably. But I'm glad I misread the notes on this. This smells like fall to me, including a hint of pumpkin pie spice. It definitely isn't a feminine scent, which is how I usually lean, but I can definitely see myself huffing this come July and going soooooooon.

Toasted Marshmallow - "Everyone’s favorite hot chocolate topping, gooey marshmallows lightly toasted over a campfire." This scent was the reason I placed my order - everyone RAVES about it! Or they hate it. Opening the vial the immediate scent is mallowy sugar. I can't really describe the scent other than "mallowy," I hope you get what I mean. Applying to the skin allows a very sweet sugary vanilla to escape, it hits right at the back of the nose, at the top of the palate. After the perfume dries, the marshmallow scent evens out. I don't really get anything toasted out of this, but I do get a strong marshmallow scent. When I first received this, It was very strong. After sitting for a while, it has mellowed out and is quite pleasant.

The Orchard Keeper - "Night blooming jasmine, peach, apricot, pink pepper, sandalwood." I picked this up because I am all about peaches and jasmine. Opening the vial, it's all peaches and apricots and wonderful fruitiness. When applied to the skin and after drying down, the fruits fade down to let the floral jasmine and sandalwood come through. The blend is lovely and summery, although the scent is a spring feature. The scent itself is light, and I've been reaching for it often. 

Lolita - "Crisp Apple Skins, Tart Peach Candies, Rose Absolute, Sugared Violet." Lolita is the other fragrance that drew me into ordering from Sixteen92. Reading the description, I knew I would love it. I am all about super fruity, girly fragrances. The first whiff after opening the vial is of the tart peach and crisp apple, just like the notes promised. As it dries down, it becomes even sweeter. The throw on this is great, I feel like a cloud of ripe summer peaches and strawberries. However, I find that although the initial scent is wonderfully encompassing, it fades quickly. I do love the scent, though. Lolita reminds me of an adult version of Victoria's Secret Love Spell body spray - that addicting scent without all of the horrible high school locker room memories.

The Sound and the Fury - "Southern sweet tea, Carolina jessamine, balsam, fern, warm skin musk, loam"  I received this as a free sample. Opening, it smells floral yet woodsy, definitely the balsam. No sweet tea, which I was looking forward to. On the skin, it dries down to the scent of a pine forest and greenery. Also loam! (I had to google what that was. It's apparently a fancy word for fancy dirt. So yup - more woodsy.) I was really sniffing for the tea, which was not coming out for me. Not a scent for me, as I prefer something with fruits and flowers or sugar. Or tea. 

I really enjoyed my first order from Sixteen92, and will probably be picking up a full size of Lolita when my sample runs out! I look forward to trying other scents from their catalog when I get the chance. 

Perfume oils work differently for different people due to skin chemistry. This is my experience with these perfume oils, which may differ for you!