A BEGINNER’s GUIDE TO BUYING USED PERFUME. I honestly wish people talked about this more so here is what I’ve learned in the short time I’ve been buying used. Let me know if I missed anything!Share your preferred place to buy used or new fragrances.
New Skin Proud at Walmart
Every single product in the Skin Proud lineup is under $20, and these formulas are actually more elegant than the brands they’re competing with.
Take the Skin Proud Detox Tonic, for example. It’s not hard to find a glycolic acid toner out there, but this one is about $17 and comes in a nice pump bottle. The finish isn’t sticky which is what I’ve hated about other toners. I’m using this in the AM as my only cleanse… There is 5% lactic acid in this toner which makes it more gentle than other acid toners.
I like both the Sorbet Skin and the Sleep Hero moisturizers. They’re both light but have a pleasing jelly texture, and really the only difference is that the Sorbet Skin is the lighter of the two. You could use Sleep Hero during the day… there’s nothing in it that makes it only suitable for the night time. But, they’re both light, so probably not great for very dry skin.
There’s even a gentle retinol in the lineup, called the Recharge Serum. Again, this is a super light formula even though it has rosehip oil in it. Honestly, the retinol is a bit confusing because the line seems more geared towards the younger demographic, and not EVERYONE has to use retinol all the time, but if you wanted a retinol in a light gentle formula, then this could be for you.
I think this line has a good balance of ingredient-focused skincare but without being too concerned with percentages. Recent trends have been to obsess over what percentage of retinol or glycolic you’re using without any regard to the elegance and usability of the formula. I know that we all want skincare that works, but what’s the point of an intense formula that irritates your skin?
Honestly, keep me stocked with the Detox Tonic and the Sleep Hero cream and I’m happy.
The whole line is at Walmart now.
Comme de Garcons Incense Jaiselmer
It’s under-the-radar week around some places, so submitting Comme de Garcons Incense Jaiselmer as my pick. I honestly think that this is such a spicy strange perfume that people don’t know what to make of it, let alone smell like it, but it’s almost so bad it’s good.
For me, it checks a few boxes: cardamom, Indian connection, woody. It definitely does not smell like Indian incense or Jaiselmer the city, but spicy and smoky wood? Check check check.
Maison Louis Marie No. 04 Bois de Balincourt Review
Once more, scents I’ve sampled but haven’t bought. Today, Bois de Balincourt No. 4 by Maison Louis Marie. I know many of you live this scent and it is lovely. Would I buy this? Maybe if I didn’t have Katy Perry Indi already? Maybe if someone was getting rid of their bottle and was selling it cheap? Maybe if I was on vacay and stepped into a Sephora and bought it for the heck of it?
This smells a bit like Santal 33, but not exactly. It’s fresher, and honestly, nicer, but I’ve had this sample for a while and haven’t been convinced that I can’t live without it.
I know that earlier this year when I posted that this was a pretty close dupe to Santal 33, some people were intrigued. Again, this is a nice mindless grab, and a sure way to get compliments, so I’d wear it to a party. I’ve heard no. 9 is great but I have yet to try it.
Do you have this? What do you think?
Chanel Paris-Venise Perfume Review
I was waiting for a good day to open this bottle, and today was that day.
Chanel Paris-Venise Les Eaux de Chanel. I had a sample of this for a while, and the fresh neroli paired with a warm ambery vanilla really appealed to me. I like to wear ambery perfumes at this time of year, but wearing them daily can feel too heavy. Paris-Venise has a freshness, but also a warmth. It’s a bit of a snuggle but not like when you’re in a blanket and over-heating. It’s more like wearing a cardigan with holes in it, but the holes are cool and you paid a lot of money for them to be strategically there.
This is perfect for your cool co-worker who wears those ripped cardigans, uses the expensive shampoo, never leaves her desk without lipstick on (yes, even under her mask). It’s casual but never messy or unkempt.
Posted in Perfumes
Tagged Amber Perfume, Chanel, Chanel Paris, Chanel Perfume, Fragrance, Les eaux de Chanel, Perfume, Review, Vanilla
Leave a comment
Diptyque Philosykos EDP Review
You say you want to travel with perfume? I do it everyday. Yesterday, it was Philosykos from Diptyque. Yes, this a cool fig, green, but also woody. The cedar in this is so realistic that I was instantly at my parents’ cottage where every morning the wooden cedar deck wafts it’s scent as the dew dries. It’s amazing how quickly this took me back to the summer.
I have the edp, which I prefer because I like the peppery-ness of it.Olivia Giacobetti is the perfumer behind this fragrance and she has also created Safran Troublant, which is one of my favourites. Her first fig perfume was actually for L’Artisan Parfumeur a couple of years before this.
Have you smelled this? It’s at the Diptyque counter and fairly accessible.
Perfumes of the Week: Juliette Has a Gun and Tom Ford
These all snuck into my purse this week and ended up being my end-of-day refresh perfumes. All rose-chypre type scent. To be honest, I’ve been spraying Café Rose on repeat at the end of the day. Sprayed lightly this is a skin scent, and 5 or 6 sprays really bring out the sweet intensity of the rose, although it stays quite earthy. For all the complaining that people do about longevity, I never hear people complain about Tom Ford although this one has pretty basic sillage and lasting power. Midnight Oud by Juliette Has a Gun is absolutely the strongest in my collection. One spray fills the room and it’s so intense. I wouldn’t wear this to dinner. It’s a bit much and kind of clashes with food smells.
Do you refresh your perfume at the end of your day?
Do you reapply what you were wearing or go for something new?
Cerave’s New Itch Relief Lotion
I had the chance to attend a zoom hosted by Cerave last year and the only reason I said yes to it was because there was a derm who would be talking about eczema and answering questions. It was so informative and way better than any Google search I’ve done on the topic. Did you know that eczema is a genetic condition? I didn’t! I have it but I’ve never seen it on a family member so I had no idea. Also, it seems that as much as we want to avoid using prescription creams on flare-ups, sometimes it’s best to use them to get things under control, and then pare back, using moisturizer religiously to avoid further flare-ups.Also – go for fragrance-free products especially if you have flare-ups.
The Cerave lineup has itch-relief cream and lotion which are formulated with a gentle anti-itch ingredient and after a few weeks of use, I can confirm that they actually do work as long as your flare-up isn’t too bad. And just a reminder that these are formulated for ages 2 and up.*gifted
Tarte Cosmetics Glow Powder
I like that glow. The Tarte Cosmetics Glow Powder is back in rotation. I use it on my cheeks after I set my face.
Fenty Gloss Bomb Cream in Mauve Wive$
Favorite lipgloss of the moment: Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Cream in Mauve Wive$. Got it during the last Sephora sale and finally opened it up. What’s your favourite lipgloss right now?
