Category Archives: Fragrance Reviews

The Best of 2011: Nail Polish, Nail Art, Makeup, Skincare & Fragrance

Swatch And Learn The Best of 2011 It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it?

I’ve tried all sorts of new beauty products including nail polishes. And I’ve had tons of fun coming up with nail-art designs!

Now that it’s the last day in 2011, it’s time to reflect upon the year.

I’d like to share with you my Best of 2011 list! I still have a ton of favourites from last year, so these picks are strictly new ones that I’ve blogged about in 2011.

You’ll see it broken down into the following categories: nail polish (duh), nail art (double duh), fragrance, makeup, and skincare. All lists are in no particular order. (It was difficult enough to whittle down my picks for the nail polishes!)

Feel free to click on the links – they’ll take you to the blog post with the swatches, reviews, and tutorial (where appropriate).

Now I’m so curious about what you think!

Is there a lacquer that you feel I sorely missed including? Have you found your Holy Grail facial cleanser? What nail-art design have you worn in 2011 that you would consider wearing again in 2012?

Please weigh in with your picks! We’re all different, but our love for beauty products brings us together. 🙂 Continue reading →

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm Lemon & Chamomile Review & Pictures

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Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm Lemon & Chamomile SPF 25 Review & Pictures For those of you who follow Swatch And Learn, you’ll know that I’m a huge fan of the Jack Black lip balms not only because they have SPF 25, but mainly because they work miracles.

Even if your lips are incredibly chapped and sore, the Jack Black lip balms heal them and make them feel supple and healthy again.

I’ve previously reviewed the Jack Black Natural Mint Intense Therapy Lip Balm as well as went into great detail about how well it works.

For this post, instead of rehashing it all again in terms of efficacy (they work exactly the same), packaging, and animal-friendliness, I’m just going to tell you about the scent of the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm Lemon & Chamomile SPF 25!

Continue reading →

Katy Perry Purr Shower Gel Review & Pictures

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Katy Perry Purr Shower Gel Review & Pictures You may remember that earlier this year, I received the Katy Perry Purr Bath Collection Gift Set as a belated birthday present.

Back then, I reviewed the perfume, but now it’s time for me to tell you about the Katy Perry Purr Shower Gel.

As far as I know, you can only get the shower gel as part of the gift set. So, since receiving it, I’ve been rationing it.

Whenever I wear the Katy Perry Purr perfume, I use this in the shower so that I can layer the fragrance.

So what do I think of the Purr by Katy Perry shower gel? Does it smell like the perfume? Does it leave behind a film on your skin?

The answers are just a click away! Continue reading →

Slatkin & Co. Winter Candle Review & Pictures

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Slatkin & Co. Winter Candle Review & Pictures smaller Dear Winter,

Sorry, but I have a soft spot for Fall and Summer.

I give you major kudos for hosting big holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Eve, though. They’re always huge hits! (People keep talking about them around the water cooler.)

I know that it’s really stressful and that you’re always so accommodating.

You make having snowball fights possible. Children thank you for school snow days. And I can’t ignore how artistic you are at painting a magical scene where the ground twinkles. (You really have a gift!)

But people feel that you often give them the cold shoulder when they try to warm up to you. We try to be your friend, but, sometimes it’s hard…like ice.

Now, I’m not asking you to change. You have so much going for you! All I’m asking is that you don’t blow snow in my face and that you don’t send a cold gust of wind up my jacket as I’m waiting for the streetcar. Once I’m inside and toasty, feel free to have a fiesta!

Your friend always,

Mary

P.S. No, I wasn’t talking to my Slatkin & Co. Winter Candle. I was talking to the season. That doesn’t make it any better, does it? 😉 Continue reading →

Slatkin & Co. Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Candle Review & Pictures

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Slatkin & Co. Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Candle Review & Pictures Bath & Body Works With all the candles in my stash, I’m a little embarrassed. They’re literally hidden away from judgemental eyes in my closet!

If there’s ever a wax shortage, it’ll probably be my fault. 😉

The Slatkin & Co. Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Candle is my favourite pumpkin-cinnamon candle. I tried it last year for the first time, and this year, I stocked up on it again during a sale.

I’d recommend this one to those who are fond of pumpkin pie! Continue reading →

Slatkin & Co. Gingerbread Candle Review & Pictures

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Slatkin & Co. Gingerbread Candle Review & Pictures Bath & Body Works smaller I think you can tell by now that I love Slatkin & Co. candles! 😉 And I’m pretty big on food fragrances. The more realistic the scent, the more I burn it.

Quite some time ago, I purchased the Slatkin & Co. Gingerbread Candle from Bath & Body Works during one of their awesome sales. (Their candles always go on sale, so I can never justify ever paying the retail price.)

Some people may have been disappointed with this because it’s not strong like fresh gingerbread, but I absolutely love it! It smells more like a ginger cookie to me, so it gets the thumbs up from me.

Plus the packaging is extra special, but I’ll get into that in my review. Continue reading →

Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy Review & Pictures

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Britney Spears Fragrance Midnight Fantasy Review & Pictures To date, I’ve reviewed several Britney Spears fragrances: Fantasy, Hidden Fantasy, Circus Fantasy, and In Control.

Haha, you probably think that I’m a huge fan of hers when I’m really not. Well, I’m a fan of some of her perfumes! (Her original Fantasy has been my signature scent since it first came out.)

Shoppers Drug Mart always gets me with their $19.99 CAD fragrance sales for 100 mL bottles! Honestly, I think I read the flyer, see the sale, and all will-power goes out the window like one of the flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz.

I’ve tried the Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy eau de parfum years ago in the store and wasn’t impressed with it. Back then, it smelled like sour candy on me. But I think that was because their tester bottle was left in direct sunlight for months and it caused the juice to turn.

So, I gave it another chance, and I’m glad I did! This is a cute (but very simple) sweet and fruity scent that I’ll definitely add to my rotation on those days when I need a pick-me-up.

(Just in case you’re wondering: the original Fantasy perfume is still my favourite.) Continue reading →