Beauty411

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives: MAC, Bobbi Brown, Chanel and More!

Christmas comes twice a year at my house....in December and in July, when Nordstrom has their Anniversary Sale.  On July 18^th the race to the cosmetic department will begin, as devoted beauty junkies can seize the opportunity to get a hold of these fabulous items, many exclusive to Nordstrom. 

On July 18th through August 3rd, shoppers nationwide will rise with the sun and rush to their nearest Nordstrom.  This ritual signifies the beginning of the two week period where the limited supply of coveted Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusive items become available.  So, what is the best way to guarantee a successful shopping mission?  The answer is easy: PRE-ORDER!

This year, over 100 beauty brands are participating.  Some highlights include MAC, Chanel, Juicy Couture, NARS, Kiehl’s, Laura Mercier, Marc Jacobs, Dior, Bobbi Brown and Philosophy.

You can bet I'll be making my list and checking it more than twice and getting my pre-order in early.  Here are some of the best in beauty: 

Bobbi Brown – Cocoa Mauve Collection, Fall's most-wanted shades for eyes, cheeks and lips in a sleek black nylon cosmetic case.  Colors include Berry Mauve Creamy Lip Color, Iced Mauve Metallic Eye Shadow, Cocoa Mauve Ink Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner and Sand Pink Blush. Price: $65.00.  I'm so ordering this!

MAC

– Colour Forms Anniversary Collection

• Colour Forms Basic Brush set (red).  Price: $49.50
• Colour Forms Advanced Brush set (purple and green).  Price: $49.50
• Beauty Powder.  Price: $22.00
• Powder Blush.  Price: $17.50
• Lipstick.  4 colors Price: $14.00
• Green: Mac Colour Forms Eye Palette Warm:  $38.00
• Purple: Mac Colour Forms Eye Palette Cool:  $38.00
• Red: Mac Colour Forms Lip Palette Warm: $24.50
• Blue: Mac Colour Forms Lip Palette Cool: $24.50
• Yellow: Mac Colour Forms Lip Palette Neutral: $24.50

Laura Mercier - Twilight gift set - Set includes a mini eye mosaic, double ended brush (angled eye and smudge), Lip Glace in Cinnamon, mini eye pencil in purple sapphire, full size black mascara and a 2 oz tube of French Vanilla Souffle body cream, all in a chic brown patent makeup bag.  Price: $55.00.

Trish McEvoy - Micro Mini Makeup Planner.  Price: $68.00 

Chanel

• Nail Lacquer exclusive Rose Tourbillon.  Price: $20.00
• So Chanel Illuminating Powder.  Price: $65.00
• Quatuor Levres De Chanel Satin and Shine Lip Palette  in 10 Les Roses.  Price: $60.00

Philosophy

• Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion

- Giant -size 32 oz jug of Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion.  Price: $40.00

Purity Made Simple - Giant size 32 oz.  Price: $36.50

Amazing Grace Shower Gel - Giant size 32 oz.  Price: $29.50 

Lancome

• Anniversary Eye & Face Palette - Available in two color ways (warm or cool), the metallic patent leather Anniversary palette includes 2 cheek colors and 4 eye colors, with a convenient shadow brush tucked inside.  Price: $52.50
• Anniversary Gift with Purchase – 7 piece collection
• Juicy Tube Set - Available in two color ways (warm or cool), this gift set includes 4 mini Juicy Tubes in a chic patent leather case.  Price: $39.50 

Bare Escentuals

• In Fashion set

- 8 Piece set has everything needed to celebrate style: bareMinerals Flawless Radiance All-Over Face Color, bareMinerals Eye Color in Bahamas, bareMinerals Liner Shadow in Caviar, bareMinerals Blush in Escape, bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipcolor in Bavarian Crème, Flawless Radiance Blush, Double Ended Precision Eye Brush, all in a black clutch.  Price: $75.00

For the complete list of offerings and pictures, you need to head over to Nordstrom and browse, plot, drool and start making your list.  Pre-orders start TODAY with shipping on July 18th.  While the rest of the world fights the crowds that day, you'll feel all smug that your pre-order beauty haul will be on it's way to you.  So what are you ordering?

 

 

Saks Fifth Avenue, Havaianas & our favorite makeup artists partner for charity

Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier and Trish McEvoy, makeup artists extraordinnaire, have teamed up with Saks Fifth Avenue and Havaianas for a "Beauty Splash" benefitting charity: water.  Each woman was invited to design a pair of signature Havainanas reflecting the spirit of summer. 

Trish McEvoy wanted to bring to her sandal the feel of a walk on the beach.  Laura Mercier designed her sandal with a lip print showcasing the new lipstick shades in her summer collection.  Bobbi Brown created a pair of sandals, true to form...keeping it simple.

For the entire month of June, Saks Fifth Avenue will be offering it's customers these special edition Havaianas on saks.com, and from June 8 - 22 at all store locations for a retail price of $15 with any two cosmetic or fragrance purchases (while supplies last).  $1 from each purchase, up to $200,000 will be donated to charity: water - a non-profit initiative bringing clean water and basic sanitation into impoverished communities.

Bobbi Brown: New Bronzed Pink Collection

Bobbi Brown has released the new Bronzed Pink Collection, perfect shades for the warm, sunny days of summer.  The collection includes 2 new limited-edition Metallic Eye Shadows in Bronzed Pink and Penny, a new clear Lip Balm, Yogi Bare, named after her good friend Yogi Berra.  I love the Tinted Lip Balm and there are three new permanent shades in this collection: Bronzed Pink, Desert Bronze and Golden Pink.

Also new is the Oil Control Lotion SPF 15.  Perfect for those with normal-to-oily and combination skins, this lightweight formula features Seaweed and Lavender extract to help soothe skin and reduce visible irritation. Its soft matte finish ensures smooth makeup application.

You can shop the new Bronzed Pink Collection on the Bobbi Brown website or buy the Bronzed Pink Collection set, which includes a Bronzed Pink Metallic Eye Shadow, Desert Pink Tinted Lip Balm, Crystal Lip Gloss, Black No Smudge Mascara, and your choice of Bronzing Powder.  The Bronzed Pink Collection is also available in department stores.

 

Bobbi Brown Custom Palettes Up Close and Personal

Bobbi Brown has just introduced new custom palettes to her already incredible cosmetics line.  There are two different palette pans available--a three or four-pan palette.  Each palette pan costs $10.  Once you've picked your pan, then you can fill it with the new sleek squares (love!) of eyeshadow or blush.  The idea of customizable makeup is popular and economical.  Buy what you need; no wasted shades or colors that never get used.

So are you dying to know what is in Beauty411's 4-pan palette?  First let me just say that there are new shades of shadow and blush, including shimmers, to accomodate the palettes.  I actually get weak when I think of new Bobbi Brown shadow colors, so you can imagine the angst and drama that ensued when I was at my local BB counter trying to decide *which* colors would go into the palette.  I went with Flesh, Rock and Heather Mauve eyeshadow, along with a Sandstone blush.  Gorgeous colors, all.  It's fun to be able to mix and match colors, group favorites by look; the possibilities are endless.  The shadow and blush colors are also available in new flip-top compacts should you not want to customize a palette.

The new Bobbi Brown custom palettes are available and on-counter now in department stores including Nordstrom.  You can also order online through the Bobbi Brown website.  What colors are going in your palette?

Neiman Marcus Beauty Event

Ladies....start your engines, clear those credit cards and let your fingers do the shopping at the Neiman Marcus Beauty Event!  The Beauty Event, which runs February 21 - March 2nd, offers a springtime pink tote filled with 6 samples, with your $100 beauty or fragrance purchase.  In addition, many of the cosmetic lines offer their own beauty offers (gift with purchase).  Here's what you get:

• FRESH Sugar Acai Body Cream, 10 ml.
• ORLANE Repairing Night Cream, 3.5 ml.
• LANCOME Courbe Virtouse Mascara in Black, .07 oz.
• PRADA Scented Towelette
• CHANTECAILLE Rice & Geranium Foaming Cleanser, 5 ml.
• YVES SAINT LAURENT elle Fragrance

Don't miss it!  Quantities are limited.  It's a great opportunity to shop for that new spring makeup and get a little something in return.  Need a little inspiration to start?  How about the brand spankin' new Bobbi Brown Nude Lip & Eye Palette?  Four nude eyeshadows, four lipglosses, 2 brushes and a new look!

Cosmetics ~ Weekend Roundup

A weekly roundup of cosmetics news from this week:

• Spring has sprung at the cosmetic counters!  Have you checked out the new spring collections from MAC (the N Collection -- if you like neutrals, you'll love this!), NARS Shanghai Lily Collection and of course, Chanel.  At this point, the Chanel collection has won my heart, although I am waiting anxiously for the lines--especially Dior.  And don't forget the new Bobbi Brown Pink Raspberry collection.
• We bemoaned the lack of the swag bags due to the cancelling of the Golden Globes earlier this week and now it seems we're in good company, as the NY Times points out today. 
• Take time this weekend to do something nice for yourself!  An in-home spa treatment, a long bath, read a book or discover a new beauty blog (see some of my favorites to your right).  We can all use some "me" time. 

Beauty 411: Best of Beauty 2007

Annie from Blogdorf Goodman is pulling together a bunch of beauty bloggers to discuss their Best of Beauty 2007.  These are the products (some new, some not-so-new) that I discovered in 2007 that changed the way I thought about my beauty routine, simplified my life or just rocked my world.  Here are ten of my highlights:

1. My new favorite mascara is Rimmel Eye Magnifier.  This drugstore find lengthens your lashes out to there!  I love the brush, which separates and most importantly, doesn't cause the mascara to clump.  If you're looking for a volume and thickening mascara, I wouldn't recommend Eye Magnifier, as it is truly a lenghthening formula.
2. Boots No.7 Quick Thinking 4 in 1 Wipes.  Another routine changer. I have given up removing makeup any other way.  My original product review can be found here.
3. Smashbox Creme Eyeliner.  I didn't used to be a huge eyelining fan until I bought this Try Me kit, which is a great deal, BTW.  For $29, you get a credit-card sized sampler of 6 creme eyeliners, the Brow Tech powders & wax, Photo Finish primer, Photo Op Under Eye Brightener, sheer lip gloss, double ended brush and a DVD. 
4. MAC Ablaze blush.  Part of the MAC Smoke Signals collection, I love this blush for it's rich color.  I can wear it with anything.  A light hand is needed for this color, though.
5. Coach lipstick.  With it's fabulous packaging and good coverage, Coach has made it cool to pull a lipstick out of your purse!
6. Fresh Sugar Lemon Parfum.  There is nothing in the Fresh line that I don't love.  Spraying on the Sugar Lemon parfum is an instant mood lifter.  I'm so glad I impulse-bought this.
7. Ojon Revitalizing Mist.  What a great discovery!  Using a flat iron daily and having color-treated hair could spell disaster.  Using the Ojon Revitalizing Mist protects my hair from heat damage, adds crazy shine, controls frizz and doesn't weigh my hair down.  Love this!
8. Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion.  Another I-can't-live-without hair product.  A few shakes of the Pure Abundance Hair Potion will transform your flat, mousey hair into hair with volume and loads of texture.  Skip the Pure Abundance Volumizing Hair Spray, however.
9. Staying with a hair theme, props to the Conair Infiniti Nano Silver Hair Straightener.  Before:  I couldn't work a hair straightener to save my life.  After:  Using the Conair Infiniti Nano Silver hair straightener with it's longer blades, I can master the art of the sleek, straight bob.  Check out my previous review here.
10. Whish Shave Crave and Shave Savour.  These products went from the box to the shower to my Holy Grail list! 

Honorable mention goes out to the Bobbi Bown Stonewashed Nudes collection.  I think this was one of Bobbi Brown's most versatile eyeshadow collection building on the Chocolate collection and surpassing all my expectations.  I pull this palette out at least once a week.

That's it!  My Top 10 Best of Beauty 2007 lineup.  What were your best beauty finds?  Make sure to bookmark or subscribe to Beauty411, as I've got a jam-packed January lineup of product reviews and other surprises for you!

Please check out some of the other Beauty Blogger's Beauty Bests of 2007:

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic

Afrobella

All About The Pretty

All Lacquered Up

Beauty 411

Beauty Blogging Junkie

Beauty Talk

Beautiful Makeup Search

Beauty Hatchery

Beauty Jones

Blogdorf Goodman

Canadian Beauty

C'est Chic

Coquette

eBeautyDaily

For The Love of Beauty

Give Me Your Eyes I Need Sunshine

Getting Amped

Grayburn

HauteMommaStuff

Koneko's Beauty Diary

Makeup Bag

The Makeup Girl

Miss Whoever You Are

My Life,My Words,My Mind

Legerdenez

Perfumista

Periodic Style

Platinum Blonde Life

Product Girl

Shop Diary

Slap of the Day

Steeping Beauty

The Beauty Alchemist

The Daily Obsession

The Life Of A Ladybug

The Non-Blonde

Urbane Girl

Victoria's Own

We Love Beauty

Bobbi Brown Pink Raspberry Collection

Bobbi Brown Spring 2008 has sprung with the arrival of the Pink Raspberry Collection and it is stunning!  I must confess that there is rarely a Bobbi Brown eyeshadow palette that I don't love and have to have, but this collection should be a huge hit.  The limited edition Pink Raspberry Collection palette includes two eyeshadows (Navajo and Fog), Pink Raspberry blush and two lip sheers (Raspberry and Blue Raspberry).  With a mixture of warm and cool tones, this palette should work on nearly everyone.  In addition to the palette, there are standalone products, including limited edition lip crayons in Pink Raspberry and Wild Raspberry; Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks in Pink Raspberry and Raspberry; a Black Raspberry lip sheer; limited edition glosses in Pink Popsicle and a Pink Raspberry Glitter gloss.  To top it off, a Pink Raspberry Mini Brush set, perfect for travel.  The Bobbi Brown Pink Raspberry Collection is available at Nordstrom online now and has been seen on counter in department stores.  This should help ease the pain of the post-holiday blahs!

Dear Santa...This Christmas Think Pink!

Dear Santa:

It's Beauty 411 checking in with my Christmas List and I've really simplified it for you.  I've been mostly a good girl this year.  All I'm asking for is this fabulous Bobbi Brown Pink Quartz Deluxe Trunk.  It's got just about every product a beauty junkie could want, including eye shadows, lip glosses, foundation -- even treatment products and brushes! All packaged in a pink leather case that will keep everything together, organized and look chic in my bathroom.  So how about it Santa?  Hopefully the mortgage meltdown hasn't really affected real estate at the North Pole and you can squeeze this little beauty on your sleigh for me.  I promise to leave you some milk and cookies, maybe even a little calming aromatherapy for the trip. Merry Christmas!