Name: Armani Code For Women
Brand: Giorgio Armani
Size: 1.07oz
Price: $75.00

What I liked:
- nice and sweet floral fruity scent
- longlasting
- the bottle

What I didn’t like:
- the top notes can smell very sweet and sugary on some people
- if you like sexy, oriental or spicier scents, this is not for you.

Described as “a woman’s mysterious code of seduction revealed”, Armani Code for Women by Giorgio Armani is supposed to be a sexy fragrance, something worn for a dinner date with a special someone or by a femme fatale. The gorgeous and sleek, decorated bottle also suggests this is a fragrance that’s best worn after dark.

But I didn’t get that impression at all. To me, Armani Code is a very wearable and safe scent that can be worn during the day too and has nothing mysterious about it at all, save maybe the bottle. It may just be that this scent didn’t really agree with my body chemistry though. After all, fragrances are so personal and subjective, but I’ll do my best to describe what I smell as accurately as possible, as always.

Armani Code for Women opens with a fresh burst of orange mixed with spicy ginger. I think it’s an interesting combination, but one that sadly doesn’t work well on me. On my skin, this blend just smells overly sweet and sugary, like candy. And that’s so not what I want to smell like! Luckily that doesn’t last long and soon the fragrance transforms into a subtle and muted floral blend with fruity accents. The orange blossom is still there, pear makes its appearance (although I had to smell carefully to detect it) and the two intertwine with sambac jasmine and a touch of honey.

The drydown, because of the honey note that lingers on and vanilla, which now appears, has a slight gourmand touch. The pale musky woods, though, prevent it from smelling too sweet and foody but give it a balmy, warm and sensual feel. This was also my favourite part of the scent as the top and heart notes are too sweet and floral for my personal taste. However, no part of the fragrance is very original and this muted blend can feel quite indistinct at times with your nose straining to pick up all the notes. Staying power is good though, and the scent lasted almost all day on me, although it had become very subtle after about 6 hours of wear.

Available at: Amazon, Boots and Sephora

Summary
Giorgio Armani Armani Code For Women Fragrance is a sweet floral fruity scent that’s safe and wearable for any occasion. However, this muted blend is quite indistinct at times and you really have to smell carefully if you wanna detect the notes. It is quite subtle and longlasting, but not really very original nor sexy, like the bottle and ads imply.

Rating: 3/5

Aren’t these absolutely gorgeous? Me wants them all!

These beautiful eyeshadows, which retail for $32.00 each!, are said to have an innovative texture that’s neither a powder nor a cream but provides a smooth and lasting color film. In addition, binder elements are mixed with pearls to create an exceptional luminosity depth and intensity of the eye color.

They are available in three shades – Black, Copper/Black Grey and Silver/Black Grey – all of which look stunning in the pot and can be applied dry for a subtle wash of color on the lids or wet for a dramatic effect that will last all day without fading nor creasing. Available now at www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

Giorgio Armani Night Queen

The latest Armani makeup collection was inspired by the beautiful and dark night sky. The collection includes deep shades of blue, purple, berry balanced by soft pink shades to transform you into a stunning night queen. I think all the items are very appealing, but being a fan of pinks and purple shades, the one I’m most drawn to is the new Eyes To Kill Palette in Twilight Hues. At the center, it has a heart of satin-finish mauve, in the middle we find an ink black shade with a satin finish as well, while the outer circle is a beautiful metallic aubergine.

The other eyeshadow palette in this collection is beautiful too. It is called Night Queen Eyeshadow palette and features intense blue, dark cocoa, light brown and light silver shades perfect to create evening looks. I’m also lemming the Cheek Color Blush Duo, which contains two pretty pink shades, one lighter than the other. What can I say? I’m a sucker for pink blushes.

Time to focus on the lips. The Night Queen Lipgloss is available in 4 colors - black purple, lavish red, sharp pink and nude rose -, while the Night Queen Lipstick in 3 (deep ruby, soft pink and black purple). I’m gonna close with another favourite of mine, the nail polish. I’m not sure what the shade is called but it is a stunning dark and intense blue, just the kind of color I like for my nails.

Nars Fall 2010

Wow, isn’t Nars Fall collection gorgeous? I’ve always been a fan of Nars and liked their past offerings, but this time I’m truly impressed by everything. The collection features sexy, daring and decadent shades that capture the old-Hollywood meets futuristic look. That’s not an easy task but I think Nars has accomplished it beautifully.

My favourite item from the collection is undoubtedly the Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Palladium, ($24.00) a beautiful bright turquoise with silver glitter that reminds me of the ocean, followed by the Lip Gloss in Strawberry Fields ($24.00), a beautiful bright and pigmented strawberry pink. For the lips, there’s also a lipstick in Rouge Basque ($24.00), a creamy and deeply pigmented brick red shade.

In addition, the collection includes 3 new single eyeshadows ($23.00 each) and 2 duos ($32.00 each). The singles are available in Coconut Grove (deep taupe brown), Daphne (deep violet) and Mangrove (soft yellow-green, sheer and wearable). As for the duos, we have Rajasthan, featuring a metallic beige and a metallic black charcoal, and Tzarine, which includes a Platinum gold infused wit gold and silver reflections and steel grey. Finally, the cheeks. The Blush in Douceur ($26.00) is a soft pink-brown shade that imparts a honeyed brown flush to the face.

Do you see anything you like from these collections?

Giorgio Armani Beauty launches its Fall Collection, using subtle but distinct tones accentuating a deep smoky eye contrasted with a fresh luminous complexion and a muted, but intense lip color. Created by Giorgio Armani, the timeless color “Greige” has a new take on the smoky eye and is the new fall dress code for face.

MANTA RAY EYE DUO ($32.00)
n° 1: charcoal and greige
n° 2: deep ocean blue and intense ocean green
n° 3: pale lilac grey and luminous fuchsia
n° 4: light blue stone and sandy beige
n° 5: shimmering lilac pearl and pale green pearl

LIQUID SILK EYE LINER ($30.00)
n° 1: matte charcoal
n° 2: midnight metallic blue

SHEER BLUSH ($42.00)
n° 12: pale raspberry

ARMANI SILK LIPSTICK ($25.00)
N° 92: rose mauve

LIP SHIMMER LIP GLOSS ($26.00)
n°59: frozen beige

Giorgio Armani’s summer collection, called Bronze Mania, features sun-splashed, explosive mineral face colors and radiant Mediterranean eye shades.

SIENNA MINERALS PALETTE ($65.00)
Featuring sun-splashed, vivid earth tones, an all-over blush to bronze and sculpt the face for a golden bronze/deep reddish-brown glow.

MEDITERRANEAN PALETTE ($85.00)
Limited Edition eye palette, features 4 shades: shimmering turquoise, deep aquamarine, iridescent golden sand and copper mahogany. Also features Giorgio Armani’s most popular bronzer shade.

BODY TINTS BRONZER ($75.00)
A unique weightless pigment free formula blends onto skin. The universal natural bronze shade leaves your skin with a subtle sun-kissed effect. The water-soluble formula features a pleasant gel texture.

BRONZE SPARKLING TOP COAT MASCARA ($26.00)
Leaves your lashes with a subtle and luminous glow. A touch of sparkling bronze top coat adds golden hues to the tips of your lashes. Features a professional comb applicator that achieves perfect lash separation and definition.

SMOOTH SILK EYE PENCIL ($26.00)
Available in two new shades: #14 Deep Navy and #15 Muted Aqua.

LIP WAX ($26.00)
Available in one new shade #8 Sandy Brown.

LIP SHIMMER ($26.00)
Now available in #56 Bronzy Orange, #57 See Through Beige and #58 Reddish Brown.

What do you think of the collection? Like it? Leave it?

Name: Diamonds
Brand: Emporio Armani
Size: 1oz
Price: $39.50

What I liked:
- suitable for any occasion
- long-lasting
- the packaging

What I didn’t like:
- too sweet for my taste

Diamonds is a fruity, floral fragrance. It has notes of lychee, raspberry, rose, freesia, lily of the valley, vetiver, cedar wood, patchouli and vanilla.

When you first spray it on, it smells strongly like candy, at least on my skin, which I didn’t like at all, but luckily that didn’t last long. However, I didn’t really enjoy the drydown either: vanilla and fruits. I personally do not like the scent of vanilla, and mixed with the fruits, it just smelt weird on me. My boyfriend didn’t like this scent either. However, perfumes react differently to each person’s body, so what smell bad on me may smell gorgeous on you. Just ask for a sample so you can try and see how it blends with your skin. The fragrance is not very original, but it is suitable for both daytime (even work) and nighttime.

The staying power is great. It lasted all day long without needing to be reapplied and I could still smell it on me the next morning, albeit faintly.

The packaging is pretty too. The multi-faceted glass bottle looks just like a diamond and is sparkling too!

Summary:
Personally I didn’t like this scent at all, it just blended awfully with my skin. It’s not the most original fragrance on the market, but the staying power is great and the scent can be worn for any occasion. The packaging looks very nice as well.

Rating: 3/5

Pink Light Eye Palette ($58.00)
This limited edition palette includes shimmering silver, light lilac, light rose and light beige shades to create a fresh look for the season.

Armanisilk Lipstick ($25.00)
This long-lasting, creamy lipstick is now available in two new shades: #89 and #91.

Lip Wax ($26.00)
Now available in a new limited edition shade: #07 Raspberry Pink.

Blending Blush Duo ($60.00)
Available in two new shades: #03 Coral/Mocha and #04 Rosewood/Raspberry.

Micro-fill Loose Powder ($48.00)
Light and fine loose powder that reduces shine and evens out your skin tone. Now available in #03 Pink Light.

Light Master Primer ($55.00)
Available in one new shade.

Vanessa Hudgens shot to fame for her role as Gabriella in High School Musical. She has released two records, V and Identified, which is out now. The singer and actress is also a spokesperson for Neutrogena. Here are her fave beauty products:

RODIAL GLAM BALM ($95.00)
Rodial Glam Balm is a multi-tasking product can be used on face, lips, neck and hands. It contains soothing moisturizing ingredients and antioxidants to nourish skin, increase collagen production, reduces wrinkles and heals dry skin. It is great for a quick fix during the day or as an in-flight treatment.

GIORGIO ARMANI LUMINOUS SILK FOUNDATION in no.8 ($58.00)
An oil-free, luminous and weightless foundation that provides a natural finish and an all-day light to medium coverage.

CLARINS INSTANT LIGHT PERFECTING TOUCH in no.3 ($30.00)
It conceals dark circles, small imperfection and signs of fatìgue as well as highlighting cheekbones, browbones, forehead and chin.

BY TERRY LAQUE DE ROSE ($44.00)
This tinted lipcare product moisturizes and conditions lips. It also contains SPF 15 to provide protection from UV rays.

JOUER MOISTURIZING LIPGLOSS in Starfish ($20.00)
It contains Vitamins A, C & E, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Pomegranate Seed Oil to moisturize, soothe, nourish, rejuvenate and protect, keeping lips smooth and hydrated.

STILA GLAZE LIP LINER ($16.50)
Its lighter and lower pigmented formula is designed specifically to work with glosses, extending the life of any sheer, luscious lip. Vanessa uses this in Melon.

MAYBELLINE LASH DISCOVERY MASCARA ($6.94)
This mascara lenghtens and defines lashes. Its mini-brush allows you to get hard to reach lashes. Vanessa says: “No matter how much you layer, it refuses to clump.”

SHU UEMURA PRESSED EYESHADOW in ME Blue 600 ($20.00)
Long-lasting, intense color with light-capturing powders. Vanessa likes to use this with a black liner.

DIOR 5 COLOUR EYESHADOW PALETTE in Stylish Move ($54.00)
A selection of five pigmented and long lasting pinks and purple shades. Vanessa likes to create a purple smokey look with this palette.

THREE CUSTOM COLOR SPECIALISTS WATERCOLORS FOR CHEEKS ($22.50)
A sheer, faintly shimmering color wash that gives a fresh, natural glow to the cheeks. Vanessa uses this in Pink Hyacinth.