Tag: youtube review

beauty · life curation · style

Perfume Review – Calvin Klein CK In2U Eau de Toilette

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Three years ago, I finally reviewed a scent that I’d had in my collection for a while. As a longtime fan of Calvin Klein scents and fashions, I added CK In2U Eau de Toilette into my collection without much thought. This was a regift from my mom, who didn’t enjoy the scent profile but figured I would probably like it. I spent a lot of years enjoying CK One – it was an extremely popular unisex scent, worn and loved by both men and women – though I’ve never worn it myself. So exploring another Calvin Klein scent seemed like a fun, nostalgic nod. As mentioned, CK In2U is an eau de toilette, so it’s a less concentrated scent that doesn’t have the wear time of an eau de parfum, but lasts longer than a cologne. I went into this review knowing that this fragrance is here for a good time, not necessarily a long time.

The top notes are pink grapefruit, Sicilian bergamot and red currant leaves. This gives it a bright, citrusy opener that has a slightly fruity spiced and herbaceous undercurrent. As a general rule, I don’t prefer the sour and bitter citrus top notes (think lemon, lime and grapefruit), but I thought that the bergamot note (which is much sweeter to the nose) would balance it. Unfortunately, the bergamot balanced the grapefruit to the point of neutralization, rendering the two citrus top notes somewhat nondescript in this fragrance. The currant leaves were a pleasant contrast to the citruses, and gave the scent a little more personality in the opener.

The mid notes are sugar orchid and white cactus. Similar to the grapefruit and bergamot, I found these notes underwhelming, though I’m sure that they serve to give the fragrance a bit more complexity and body. I could detect the orchid note, but the white cactus was not identifiable to me: I’m guessing that’s because I don’t have any other fragrances with cactus notes, therefore I had no basis for scent comparison. Overall, my impression of the mid notes was pleasant but not impactful.

The base notes are vanilla, red cedar and amber. Now these three notes are very familiar to me. I love amber scents, and I enjoy the opulence and sweetness that comes from this note. Red cedar is normally one of my favorite notes, and it happens to be VERY prominent in this fragrance. If you don’t like woody notes, then you should just go ahead and bypass this one. The vanilla is timid in this scent, but it’s there, and it adds a little extra sweetness to the base. It isn’t doing any heavy lifting, but it’s a good addition.

Despite having amber and red cedar in the base, this scent is listed as being crisp and clean. I actually agree with this scent description: the citrusy top notes and floral mid notes significantly softens the woody base. I liked the scent overall: it’s a fantastic summer option that works really well for indoor/outdoor events (I think it would be really delightful for a day on the yacht or brunching with friends). It’s easy to wear, has an uncomplicated profile, and allows the wearer to shine. I think what I like best about this scent is how it’s crisp without being acidic: it’s fresh and outdoorsy without being rustic. That same fresh profile is why, even though I think of this as a summer fragrance, it could easily transition into the fall (particularly, the base notes work well with cooler weather). Fresh scents work all year round, since they are usually pretty inoffensive and smack of cleanliness.

It’s worth noting that this scent has the CK signature: something about the formulation is tremendously reminiscent of several other popular Calvin Klein fragrances (like CK One). If you don’t usually like CK scents, then this one should be avoided. Something about it definitely reminded me of CK One and Eternity. This isn’t unusual for perfumers: many of them will have a basically template that they use, adding different top and mid notes until they come up with something new but not completely original. So if you enjoy the signature, you may like this scent. I also want to note that the scent can be found several different vendors, though I recommend Amazon, FragranceNet or Walmart for the best prices. It retails for around $20 per bottle.

Here’s my review of CK In2U on YouTube:

Room Spray Review – Velvet Nights by George Foster the Lifestyle Market
beauty · life curation · luxury

Room Spray Review – Velvet Nights by George Foster the Lifestyle Market

MstldelanoLeave a comment

During my trip to Temecula at the beginning of the year, I got a chance to relax, connect, and enjoy some much needed time away from the East Coast. While I was there, I enjoyed tea time at Corbeaux, checked out the glorious Mission Inn, and I also visited one of my friend’s favorite shops. She was emphatic that we must check out this shop, praising both the owner and the products offered. She knows how I feel about anything elegant, scent-related, and unique. So off we went to George Foster the Lifestyle Market, an exceedingly elegant space that features custom fragrances and skin care supplies, among other things.

We got there on New Year’s Eve, and they were closed. However, the owner’s son recognized my friend and let us in. That right there spoke volumes about the kindness and community that the shop prioritizes. I met George a few moments after his son let us in, and they were both so incredibly warm and welcoming. And the space? Absolutely beautiful: it was well-curated, intentional and elevated. George has a background as an interior designer, so it should not be surprising that his space is perfectly appointed. You can tell that he is someone that understands layers of beauty, and that the environment is just as important as the products presented within it.

So I’m in the shop, smelling everything, figuring out what unique item I must buy. Then I come across a scent, and it stops me in my tracks. I know THIS is the one. It was, of course, Velvet Nights. And yup, I bought it. But as I purchased, I found out that it was the last one in the collection: it was a limited edition item, only available for the winter season. And if there’s anything I love, it’s exclusivity, so naturally, I knew I’d made the right choice. It smelled too good, AND it wasn’t mass produced: I knew it had to come home with me.

So while I love the fragrance, I was hesitant to do a review, because it was limited edition, no longer available, and so good that I kind of want to keep it to myself. But, George’s shop deserves a spotlight, so here I am. Even though Velvet Nights isn’t available, I have another recommendation that may work for you, so keep reading to find out about that.

Let’s talk about Velvet Night’s scent profile. It’s a lush amber, with notes of incense, subtle evergreen notes (either pine or cypress, perhaps juniper). If you know anything about ambers, you know they can be . . . a lot. They can come across heavy, syrupy, and overwhelming, depending on the formulation. In older fragrance profiles, amber scents were very dense and intense. However, this scent has none of those cloying notes. It’s clean, crisp, and effervescent, giving you the warmth of an amber without the weight.

This scent is beautifully balanced. It has the warmth of amber, the light smokiness of incense, and the crispness of evergreen notes. And nothing is too dominant in the formulation; each note dances beautifully, creating a harmonious blend that captures the duality of the winter season. If I could describe it, it would be, a walk in the woods on a snowy evening. Yes, I had to borrow from Robert Frost for this one, but that’s exactly what Velvet Nights brought to mind, but with a twist. Yes, you have the chilled air, the quiet around you, and the beauty of nature at rest. But also, you have the warmth of a velvet lined cape, the the gentle crackle of a fireplace, and the lush flavor of a steaming mug of your favorite winter beverage.

Now, aside from the scent’s exquisite profile, I found another reason to love it. It performs spectacularly. After coming home, I had the bottle sitting on my dresser, with the cap on. I hadn’t sprayed it yet. I left the house for a bit, and came back, and as I was settling in, I wondered, “What is that beautiful smell?” I knew I hadn’t lit a candle, so I wasn’t sure what I was smelling. Then I realized: it was the spray. THAT’s how potent it is! As a result, I’ve used it a number of times, but sparingly, because once it’s gone, it’s GONE. And I won’t be able to get it again until next winter (assuming George brings it back). I’m pacing myself, but I also can give it a little break, as the seasons are changing and I start rotating my lighter room sprays.

Now, just because this scent is currently unavailable doesn’t mean that all is lost. Here’s what I suggest:

  • If you’re near Temecula, go visit George Foster the Lifestyle Market
  • Ask George about similar scents
  • Explore the other room sprays (I recommend The Market room spray, which has a scent profile of bergamot, Persian lime, other citrus, and musk).
  • Order online if you’re unable to get to the shop in person

I loved it and had to review it on my YouTube. Here’s the video:

This scent was a 10 out of 10 for me, and I cannot recommend it enough! Even more impressive was the entire experience: the space, the intentional curation, and the people connected to it. I know for sure that I will be back!

Candle Review: The Gooch Gardener Orchid & Teakwood Candle
beauty · life curation · luxury

Candle Review: The Gooch Gardener Orchid & Teakwood Candle

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As someone who absolutely adores home fragrance, I’m always on the hunt for a candle or room spray that feels elevated and memorable. I love putting my personal touches into my space, and that means making sure that the aroma of my rooms match the mood I’m trying to invoke. Something about scent – how it decorates a space without visuals or sound – is practically magical to me!

I recently had the pleasure of being contacted by The Gooch Gardener Candle Company, and they kindly sent over two of their candles for review. The first candle that I tried is the one that I’m sharing today, the Orchid and Teakwood scent. Let me tell you, this one made quite the impression on me!

Let me start with the basics of the company. The Gooch Gardener Candle Company is a business that’s local to Virginia (Goochland County) and they participate in farmer’s markets, however, the candles are also available on the website. The scents range between $29 and $37 per candle, depending on the size selected. The scents reflect the beauty of nature, through floral, citrus, woody and fresh notes. Before I lit the candle, I was struck by the care in presentation. The packaging was secure and clearly designed to protect the product well during shipping. Inside, I found a handwritten note from the owners and, as you all know, I love those sorts of details. The note shared that the Orchid and Teakwood scent is one of their bestsellers, which I’m happy to share has been restocked since I got my candle. After experiencing the fragrance, I can see why it’s a fan favorite.

The candle itself is substantial: it’s 16 ounces and features a 3-wick design, a hefty glass container and a perfectly fitting wooden lid to preserve the fragrance when unlit. It has a grounded and understated elegance that works well in a variety of home decor themes.

When I opened the candle, I was met by a lush and layered fragrance. It’s a beautiful blend of floral notes and woody tones: it’s a great dance between soft and structured elements. But what really struck me was the subtle watery notes that came through: I wasn’t expecting that, especially since marine notes weren’t listed in the candle fragrance description. I loved this unexpected touch, which makes the geranium, orchid and lavender transition seamlessly into mahogany and teakwood notes. In fact, I’d argue that the marine notes are what actually tie together the floral and woody notes, eliminating the jarring experience that can happen when two distinctly different fragrance families are combined. There’s a compelling duality in this fragrance: it’s very yin and yang, which makes it so broadly appealing. This balance between delicate and rich notes is a key factor in what takes a fragrance from simply pleasant to truly unforgettable.

Funny enough, I accidentally tested this candle in ways that I usually avoid. Normally, I don’t let my scented candles burn beyond two or three hours at a time. However, I lit this candle and forgot to extinguish it before I left my home to run errands. I returned home – 12 hours later – and was met at my front door with the most luscious scent I’ve had in quite a long while. Please, don’t leave your candles burning that long. And also, please know that I enjoyed the scent lingering in the air for the next 36 or so hours.

Even with my mishandling, the candle performed beautifully. It burned clean and evenly, and there is still a lot of product left in the container, even after my extended burn time. The scent remained extremely smooth and filled the space without overwhelming it.

I love that this candle is versatile, working for a variety of different seasons and occasions. It’s light enough to enjoy during the warmer months, and rich enough to be suitable for cooler weather. It’s effortlessly adaptable, making it a great investment as a home fragrance.

This candle was an absolute pleasure. It’s beautifully designed, thoughtfully crafted, and performs well. If you’re searching for a luxury candle that has a strong scent throw, balanced floral and wood fragrance, and high quality soy wax, then this candle is one that you must check out. I love it so much that I did a video review of it, too. You may view that video here:

If you’ve enjoyed The Gooch Gardener Candle Company, please let me know! I’d love to hear which fragrances you recommend that I try next!

Perfume Review: Skin Musk Parfum de Coeur
beauty · relaxation

Perfume Review: Skin Musk Parfum de Coeur

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Fresh, clean, easy to wear: of course it was only a matter of time before I bought and reviewed Skin Musk by Parfum de Coeur. As someone that LOVES musk fragrances (like Musk Rose by Al Rehab and Diptyque Fleur De Peau [review coming soon!]), I was compelled to buy this classic perfume. I remember seeing this scent in drugstores and Kmart when I was young, and, as it turns out, it had been around for a long time before I was born (it launched in 1975). Nearly 50 years into its existence, it finally made its way into my review rotation!

I expected this oil to have a straightforward history, but as it turns out, the fragrance’s backstory is a bit muddled. Skin Musk was originally released by Bonne Bell, and at some point the scent was made by Prince Matchabelli (the company that I remember from my youth). At this point, I’m not clear on whether Prince Matchabelli still makes this scent, or if the company that currently makes Skin Musk – Parfums de Coeur – is the sole producer. Aside from the manufacturing history, the formulation itself has changed, and there are plenty of dissatisfied users that have commented on the thicker consistency and slightly more complex notes present in the original version. While there are plenty of discussions online that debate the current iteration of the scent and how true it is to the original version, I decided to just stick with and review the recent version.

I ordered the fragrance on Amazon, and I eagerly tried it when I got my bottle. I took off the cap and I was immediately hit by the familiarity of the scent: I couldn’t place it at first, but then it occurred to me. This scent was quite popular when I was younger (definitely ubiquitous) and I’m sure I was often in the presence of people wearing it. More impressive, however, was how much this scent reminded me of my mother. That’s when it occurred to me: Skin Musk was just like Egyptian Musk (the popular oil available at many incense seller stands and beauty supply stores) but without the light spiciness.

I wore this all day and it lasted beautifully. It wasn’t overwhelming: it remained soft and powdery, but with just a touch of base to it (the sandalwood in this formula is elegant and not too woody). The sillage is lovely, and this is the perfect scent to wear when you want something tasteful, pretty and not too aggressive. It’s a perfectly polite fragrance. I love it!

Here’s my review of Skin Musk on YouTube:

Have you tried this lovely fragrance before? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!

(This post has affiliate links.)

Style Chat – How I’m Using The Four Essence System, Pt 1
beauty · style

Style Chat – How I’m Using The Four Essence System, Pt 1

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It’s been a while since I discussed the Four Essence System developed by Rita (of Style Thoughts by Rita). To date, my post about the Four Essence System has been one of the most popular posts on this blog (which is really surprising, considering how this was never intended to be a blog about fashion!) A recent video posted by Rita discussed the four tools of the Four Essence System, and I thought it would be fun and beneficial to muse over what she mentioned in the video, and how it applies to me and my essence (Right Up). Here is the video discussing the tools:

The first tool Rita mentions is keywords. Keywords allow us to laser focus on the elements of the essence, without getting lost in minutia. These also function as a compass of sorts, constantly guiding users to the heart of the effect they are trying to create through style. The keywords for my essence are as follows:

For Right women: Dreamy, Radiant, Inspiring, Luminous, Refined, The Sun, The Ice Queen

For Up women: Intimidating, Effort, Extravagant, Persona, Glamorous, Mysterious

The words that resonate with me were Luminous, Refined, The Sun, Effort, Persona and (in my mind) Glamorous. I started comparing these words against some of the things that I own, and whatever doesn’t make the cut, was placed into a giveaway (charity) bag. It was a simple metric for seeing which items suited me, and which ones are not harmonious with my style vision.

There are a lot of great keywords mentioned in the video that can help calibrate your style approach, so you can make choices that resonate with your core style ID. I loved experimenting with the many ways that keywords show up in my style. It also exposed ways that I’m falling short of my style vision, too.

That’s all my friends! What keywords from the video suit your style?

Fibro Friday – How I’m Getting Better Sleep
health · life curation

Fibro Friday – How I’m Getting Better Sleep

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Happy Fibro Friday, friends! I hope you all are having a great week and, if not, I hope your weekend is full of whatever you need to feel better.

This is a brief post, because I’ve already discussed the three biggest things I’ve been using to improve my sleep over on my Youtube channel. Anyone that has fibromyalgia, or any other chronic illness or chronic pain condition, knows that sleep is necessary to restore ourselves and to feel as good as possible. We also know that being in pain often means that sleep rarely makes us feel refreshed. So, anything that can improve the quality of our sleep can make the difference between feeling amazing and feeling awful.

The three things I’ve used that have helped me get deeper, more restorative sleep are weighted eye masks, magnesium supplements, and turmeric supplements. I’ve talked about magnesium and turmeric supplements (I’ve reviewed turmeric here and here) on this blog before, but I’ve never discussed eye masks. I’ll post my videos about each tool below, but if you’re short on time, here is the TLDW version:

  • Weighted eye masks help block out light (obviously), and the weight of it acts similar to weighted blankets: it provides a cozy feeling that helps with sleep. (I use the one by IMAK)
  • Magnesium is a muscle relaxer and a sedative, so it helps reduce pain while also giving you deeper sleep. (I use Nature’s Bounty magnesium supplement).
  • Turmeric supplements reduce inflammation and I take it at night, so it can do its work while I’m resting. For me, less pain means better sleep. (I use turmeric from Doctor’s Recipes and VitaBreeze: I alternate between the two).

More about weighted eye masks –

Why I use magnesium at night –

My daily turmeric and collagen supplements, and how the two I use measure up against each other –

These three things are the building blocks for improving my sleep, and I’m recommending these in hopes that they will help you, too! If you’ve tried any of these, or if you’re curious about any of them, please let me know in the comments below. Take care, and have a great weekend!

Saying Goodbye to Beem Box
beauty

Saying Goodbye to Beem Box

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Yes, you read that right: the Beem Box is no more. The owner of Beem Box decided to cease operations back in June, and I’ll be the first to say that I’m so sad to see them go. I hope that the owner eventually brings back the brand and starts doing subscription boxes again. Until then, I’ll just smile at the wonderful memories of learning about brands that I’ve never used, and trying products that I never knew existed. So long Beem Box: I hope to enjoy you again soon! Here are some of my previous Beem Box reviews from the past year:

Becoming Bilingual – 5 Free Language Resources That Aren’t YT, Duolingo or Podcasts
books · culture · international · life curation · travel

Becoming Bilingual – 5 Free Language Resources That Aren’t YT, Duolingo or Podcasts

MstldelanoLeave a comment

As an aspiring polyglot, I’m always reviewing language tools and resources that can help me fast track my mastery. Naturally, I dove first into Duolingo, YouTube and various podcasts. But, there are limitations with those resources, and sometimes you just want to try something different.

If you’ve been trying to learn a language but you want to go beyond YouTube videos, podcasts and Duolingo, then this is the post for you! I’ve located five other language learning resources that can help fast track your language learning, give you some much needed variety, and are all completely FREE! I discuss these options in a YouTube video (the link to the video below).

  • Amazon Kindle ebooks – This gives you a great source of free ebooks in various languages, as well as some free instruction books, too. To find them, search for books in a particular language, then filter by price (lowest to highest). Filtering by price shows the lowest priced books first, so you can quickly identify free publications.
  • MIT OpenCourseware – If you’re interested in college-level language instruction, this site is excellent. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) archives resources from courses taught during prior semesters. The courses include syllabi, worksheets, exercises, and links to other great resources. To find these courses, look under the Global Studies and Languages department.
  • Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Free online course material – This page speaks for itself: it’s the material developed by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) to instruct diplomats before assigning them to foreign posts. These classes are developed to quickly acquire mastery at the highest levels of language. The link has lots of languages available, especially some that are somewhat rarer and harder to study online.
  • Alison & FutureLearn – Both Alison and FutureLearn offer language classes that are paced and offer certificates of completion at the end of the course (the documentation of completion has a cost). This also gives you the advantage of participating in group discussion and other ways of interacting with other learners.
  • Internet Archive – There is a host of free archived materials on this website, including movies, music, books and newspapers. Find the kind of material you want and filter it by the language that interests you.

Here’s my video, discussing the ways to use these resources:

Those are the five free resources I can recommend for language learning, outside of the most popular recs. Do you have any language resources that work for you? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

Perfume Review – CLEAN Warm Cotton vs CLEAN Fresh Laundry
beauty · life curation · style

Perfume Review – CLEAN Warm Cotton vs CLEAN Fresh Laundry

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It’s a perfume review, my friends! As a huge fan of CLEAN perfumes, I had several bottles lying around that I hadn’t reviewed yet. So, I decided two review two at once!

In this review, I compared CLEAN Warm Cotton with CLEAN Fresh Laundry. I decided to compare these two because the names of these scents sound like they’d share some common traits (cotton, laundry, you get it). I figured that it would be fun to see what they share, and on which notes they diverge. There are some similarities but also some stark differences that I noted.

First, let’s start off with the notes. Warm Cotton opens up with bright citrus and lemon verbena, blooms into a combination of sea notes, orange blossom and fruit essence, then dries down to the scents of musk, fern and amber. On the other hand, Fresh Laundry hits you with notes of grass, Brazilian orange and Mexican lime, before blossoming into the essence of jasmine and rose otto, then finishing with the fragrance of musk, heliotrope and woody notes.

The shared notes of citrus on top and musk at the base means that these two fragrances are channeling the same brightness as the opener, and a fresh but earthy base. The difference shows up most with the mid notes and the differing base notes: Warm Cotton relies on the essence of brisk ocean notes and zesty orange blossom and fruits in the middle, while Fresh Laundry leans heavily on classic “soapy” notes, with jasmine and rose, as its middle. Finally, the base notes of fern and amber give the warmth to Warm Cotton, while heliotrope and woody notes add a powdery touch with some heft to Fresh Laundry.

Here’s the video where I discuss these scents a bit more:

Again, the notes are as follows:

Warm Cotton – Top notes: Citrus and Lemon verbena Mid notes: Sea notes, Orange blossom, Fruits (floral cotton) Base notes: Musk, Fern, Amber

Fresh Laundry – Top notes: Grass, Brazilian orange, Mexican lime Mid notes: Jasmine, Rose otto Base notes: Musk, Heliotrope, Woody notes

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Have you tried either of these, or any of the other fragrances from CLEAN? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

I Finally Reviewed My Favorite Exfoliating Product on YouTube
beauty · style

I Finally Reviewed My Favorite Exfoliating Product on YouTube

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I’ve praised Dr. Dennis Gross’s Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Peel Pads on this blog before. On my quest for glass skin (you all remember that, right?) I stumbled (head-first, naturally) upon this product. I’ve been using it since 2017(!) and I haven’t been disappointed at all.

After hearing me discuss the peel pads in multiple posts (like this one and this one), I figured it was high time that I did a video discussing the product, because, why not? I’ve posted pictures of my skin after the glass skin experiment, but this video is my most recent update/review, where you can see my skin as I discuss how well these peel pads have worked for me.

The great thing about this product is the gentleness of the peel pads: I tried other exfoliating brands but none have been as good on my skin as this one. I appreciate a good “bargain” as much as the next person, but this is one of those items I’m always sure to splurge on a few times during the year. The other products I’ve tried just don’t come close to the gentle effectiveness of this one. I’m a forever fan!

Do you have a favorite exfoliating product? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

*this post contains affiliate links.