Makeup Fashion Style

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

New Holiday Kits At Sephora

Sephora.com has just added its "Gifts" tab to their page. With it they have added even more limited edition holiday gift sets at unbelievable prices.

Fusion Beauty Perfect Pout. I love Lip Fusion XL, but the $50 price tag has made me rely on scoring free samples of the product in order to have it. Even I, a person who would give up her apartment to have the latest make-up or pair of shoes, think that $50 is way too much. This new kit on the other hand is perfectly priced. For $39 you get two double ended lip plumpers; one with LipFusion XL and Lip Plump (clear, high potency plumpers for immediate and overnight results) and the other with LipFusion Color Shine in Sexy (sheer soft red sheen) and Kiss (sheer golden pink cream). For those of you who have tried LipFusion products before, you know this is a great deal. For those of you who have wanted to, but shyed away due to the price tag, this is ideal.



Bare Escentuals Shake Your Tail Feather ($131 Value) Shake Your Tail Feather. I have never seen a Bare Escentuals kit that I have not loved. This one is no exception. Set includes: .03 oz All Over Face Color in Pure Radiance (barely pink), .02 oz bareMinerals Glimpse in Peacock (sheer emerald), .02 oz bareMinerals Eyeshadow in Pure Spice (sheer henna), .27 oz Big Tease Mascara in Blackest Black, .16 oz Beautifully Luminous Lashes (gold), and .15 oz Lips Lip Gloss in Dolly Buxom (dusty mauve) - all in a chic bronze clutch. The two brushes (one for face, one for eyes) are also included. Now, you know that make-up brushes can be expensive on their own. You get everything, a $131 value, for only $55! Can you believe that?



Smashbox Swingin' Scene Ultimate Beauty Collection ($140 Value) Swingin' Scene Ultimate Beauty Collection. Just like Bare Escentuals, you can never go wrong with a Smashbox kit. It's amazing how the price for a kit like this, suffed full of products is cheaper than what it would cost to buy two of the items separately. Set includes a .16 oz Layer Lash Primer - in white, .26 oz That's A Wrap Mascara in Black, .5 oz Photo Finish Foundation Primer, .27 oz Blush/Soft Lights Duo in Action/Shot (cool rose with gold flecks/golden peach), .16 oz Lip Gloss in Location (pink shimmer) and Illuminate- (pearlescent white), and a .10 oz EyeShadow Trio in Freeze Frame (matte cream, shimmering olive, and plum).



Philosophy Candy Cane Suitcase. I love Philosophy. Not only do I use their bath products exclusively, they have the best skincare items available. Every Christmas they release their Candy Cane collection. It is not Christmas is my aparment without Philosophy Candy Cane products in my bathroom. The scent is so invigorating that it makes me want to jump out of bed and actually brave the cold Chicago winter. Get the lip gloss, shower gel/bubble bath/shampoo, and lotion in this kit.



Benefit Best of Benefit ($73 Value) Best of Benefit. The first time I was introduced to Benefit Cosmetics at the cosmetic counter at Marshall Field's I spent $200. Among my purchases were the items featured in this kit. They truly are the best of Benefit. You get Dandelion (a ballerina-pink facial luminizer), Benetint (a fresh pink, rose petal-infused lip and cheek stain), and a BadGAL Lash Mascara (black - for the fattest, most voluminous lashes you've ever experienced) all for $42. Unbelievable.



Remember, use Coupon Code JACKPOT to receive an 11 piece deluxe sample red velvet gift bag with any $50 purchase. Offer good while supplies last so hurry! And as always, FREE SHIPPING with any order of $75 or more.

Sephora.com, Inc.

Monday, October 30, 2006

Coupon Alert

Now through October 31st, save an additional 15% on any clearance items at HSN.com with Coupon / Promo Code C53909. Coupon can be used on multiple clearance item purchases. I found a ton of great deals here...I'd post some ideas, but since these are clearance items there's a chance that they will sellout before you get to them.

HSN Clearance

Friday, October 27, 2006

Amazon.com Friday Sale

Happy Friday Everyone! You know what that means...today is Amazon.com's Friday Sale. There are a couple of great items available today including Ralph Lauren Sunglasses, Coach Wallet, and Burberry Sunglasses. Prices are only good today, hence the reason they call it the Friday Sale!

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Crease-Free Eyeshadow?!?! It Can Be Done!!!

One of the questions I get time and time again is how to get crease-free eyeshadow. Not to brag, but I honestly haven't had problems with creasey eyeshadow. So, I thought about what it was that I was doing differently than my friends who would ask me "how'd you get your eyes to look like that" and I had an epiphany. After looking at the products and techniques that my friends who had creases in their eyeshadows versus those who didn't I realized there were a few key differences.

1. Buy better brands of makeup. I know that some people are scared away from shopping at department stores and Sephora for make-up and beauty products because of the higher prices than say Wal-mart, but trust me when I say that the extra money is worth it. I can remember my first venture into Sephora and the faintness I felt when I realized that I had just spent $20 on eyeshadow, but once I saw the quality in the product it was then that I became an addict! Beauty products that cost more tend to have higher quality ingredients. These higher quality ingredients allow greater pigment and greater wear time. The great thing about that is the fact that you aren't constantly having to reapply your make-up, whereas your friends with the lower quality products do. That in turn means that they will run out of their product faster and will just have to cough up more money to get more. When you look at it this way you realize that you really aren't paying more.

2. Cream shadows and loose powders work the best for crease-free looks. There are also a number of solid powders that look fine as well, but cream shadows and loose powders take the cake. Both of these products are able to get into every nook and cranny of your eyelid, thus given you a more even coverage.

3. Always, ALWAYS, use a brush to apply eye shadow. I am the first to admit that I used to be very lazy when applying cream shadow that came in a tube. I would just put a little on my finger, dab and spread away, and be done. I eventually realized that the natural oils from my fingers were interfering with the coverage of my shadow. By using a brush you cut out this problem.

4. If these tips still don't help you, try a primer. Some primers even have pigment in them so if you wanted to you can wear them sans shadow.

Some of my favorite eye shadow products...

Any Bare Escentuals Eye Shadows. These loose powder shawdows over perfect, crease-free coverage everytime. What I really love about these shadows is that each one is essentially two shades because they are wet/dry shadows. Apply your shadow dry to have nice, sheer color. Add a little water to your brush to make the color more sheen and metallic. Bare Escentuals also helps you blend perfectly matched shades together by constantly releasing eye shadow collections like those below. If you have never tried Bare Escentuals but have wanted to, I suggest starting with the shadows. They are absolutely unbelievable.


Nars Cream Eye Shadow in Pearl Beach. I specify this shade because in my opinion this shade looks fabulous on everyone. It's a shimmering opal. Don't be shy about shimmer...it makes your eyes pop.

Any Stila Shadow Pots. Super creamy, flawless coverage, and high pigment. Each shade has subtle shimmer to it too. I kid you now when I say that I always get stopped by strangers who want to know what I am wearing when I wear this shadow. Fabulous!

Laura Mercier Mineral Eye Powder. Similar to the Bare Escentuals mineral powders, these LIMITED EDITION mineral eye powders are extremely bold and full of color. Get great coverage with one swoop of a brush.

Clinique Touch Tint. These come in both regular and shimmer shades. My absolute favorite shade is Nude Sparkle. I was persuaded by a seller at the Clinique counter to purchase the Nude Sparkle as a base and primer for the Strawberry Fudge eyeshadow duo I was purchasing and soon realized that I loved the Touch Tint on my eyes all by itself. The directions on their website tell you you only have to use your finger to put it on your eyelids, but remember what I said earlier about using a brush! Many shades to choose from.

Urban Decay Primer Potion. If you insist on using a primer, this is the best one I've seen. It's also a nude primer so it won't change the shade of your shadow.

Contest Alert

Smashbox.com is giving away a day with a chauffered Mercedes as well as a bunch of other goodies including the complete Smashbox Holiday Collection. Contest runs through November 6th.

Help Me Get Rid Of Dry, Chapped Skin!!!

So after months of wearing flip-flops, tongs, and sandals, our feet have taken a beating. And now we're heading full steam into the colder months where our skin is just going to get drier and flakier. One of the complaints I hear from both men and women is how to get rid of cracked, dry heels and elbows. I live and die by Rosebud Perfume Co. Smith's Rosebud Salve. This has been a celebrity stable for years. I have seen Eva Longoria applying it to her lips for a soft subtle kisser in many a papparazzi photo. And at only $5.50 a tin it is a steal! Trust me, apply some of the salve on your heels and elbows and in about a week your skin will be noticably smoother and softer. It's available at Beauty.com where their FREE SHIPPING promotion is still going on.

I Heart Rachael Ray

This isn't make-up, nor is it fashion, but it may fit under the style section since it will help you make a tasty and stylish meal. Rachael Ray has a new cookbook coming out. Rachael Ray 2, 4, 6, 8: Great Meals for Couples or Crowds is currently on pre-order at Amazon.com at the "Oh My Gravy" (to style a line from Rachael) price of $11.97. Rachael is becoming more popular than ever with her shows on Food Network and now her daytime talk show. Her books are just as great as her shows. If this one is anything like her old ones it is sure to become a favorite of mine. Makes a great Christmas gift.