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?

 

 

Prom Beauty and Makeup Tips

It's Prom Time! That time of year when young women's thoughts turn to special event dresses, the perfect up-do and how-am-I-going-to-wear-my-makeup?  I've got some suggestions on how to keep your sanity, get gorgeous and enjoy the experience (that includes you, too, mom!). 

The look you should try to achieve is you...only glammed up for the big night.  First, your skin.  Think of your face as a canvas.  You want it as clear and blemish free as possible.  If you do have a breakout, use a product like Origins Spot Remover to treat and then use a small amount of concealer. One of my favorites is Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage. Using a light hand, apply foundation or mineral makeup to even out skin tone and blend, blend, blend.  You might want to add Estee Lauder Face Glow to give your skin extra luminosity. 

Next, the makeup.  You want to emphasize one of your features, not all.  So make the focal point your eyes, cheeks or lips, not all of the above!  A good hint is to start with the feature that you get the most compliments on. If it's your eyes, a smoky eye is the way to go.  A good tutorial using MAC cosmetics can be found here.  Remember to use only a hint of blush; Nars Nico or Desire would be a good choice.  Definitely 2 coats of mascara. And because you don't want to have to worry about touchups, put a tube of new L'Oreal Never Fail Lip Gloss in your handbag.

If you're thinking about tanning in advance of the big night, skip the tanning bed and try new Jergens Natural Glow Express.  It's a sunless moisturizer that develops a natural tan in about 3 days.

Finally, don't forget fragrance.  You'll want something innocent, yet sexy and memorable.  I'd suggest Diesel Fuel for Life Pour Femme.  It's an interesting blend of jasmine, patchouli, blackcurrant and creme de cassis that dries down to a powdery, musky finish.  Definitely not forgettable. 

The best advice?  Smile, relax and have the time of your life!

photo credit: yourprom.com

Beauty tip: Primers

Do you ever look at fashion magazines and wonder how the models get that flawless finish to their makeup?  Having a professional makeup artist helps (a girl can wish!), but short of that, using a primer is a necessity.  Primers are available for lids, lips, face and lashes.  Do you need all of those?  It depends.  I use a foundation primer daily, and my favorite is the Photo Finish Foundation Primer by Smashbox.  It really help your foundation go on evenly so that you get the most out of it.  I also use a lash primer, this one by Estee Lauder, called Lash Primer Plus.  You apply this to lashes before mascara, and I really see a difference in lengthening and thickening with use.  What are your thoughts?  To prime or not?