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June 24, 2005

Lisa gets a brand-spanking new Sephora

Sometimes, the powers that be really DO listen. A brand-spanking new Sephora store has opened in Columbus, OH right across the street from where I work! I have had such fun browsing (and buying, but a girl's debit card can only take so much) all the exciting goodies.

BeneFit Cosmetics has always been a favorite line of mine, so I decided to pick up a few new things, as well as some old favorites. I am a big fan of facial scrubs, and like to try all the new stuff, but a perennial favorite of mine is Benefit Honey Snap Out of It Scrub. First off, it is a great value - 5 ounces for $23. Second, it does great double duty as a mask - just leave it on for about 5 minutes before gently buffing in a circular motion. Third, it feels terrific and smells divine, a mixture of almond and honey. I keep coming back to this one over and over!

During the summer, I tend to use more gloss than lipstick so I was really excited to try BeneFit's three new Forever Prom Night gloss shades. Don't fret if you aren't prom-bound (that was many years ago, in my case) because the colors are wearable and pretty for any occasion. I tried Corsage (my favorite, a very sheer, non-shimmer, peachy-pink that adds just a lift of nude color), Chaperone (shimmering peach-beige), and Curfew (looks yellow in the tube, but is so sheer it leaves only a hint of iridescent pinkish-orange - very pretty!). Benefit glosses are moisturizing and smooth, and continue to be a favorite in the gloss category.

On days I want something other than gloss, Nars Lipstick in Tobago is the color I always reach for. This is a brownish shade with undertones of pink and mauve. I LOVE this color, and have already gone through a tube of it. It looks great with whatever I wear, and gives a visible lift to my complexion. Brilliant!

I also tried a few great products from Sue Devitt. This was my first encounter with this line, and I must say that I am fairly impressed. I tried her bronzing powder in a shade called The Gold Coast, which has just a trace of pinkish undertone, and a hint of golden shimmer. This is a fairly dark shade, but I tend to use self-tanner in the summer, so it looks very pretty and natural. In the winter, it definitely would be too dark for my very pale skin, but right now, I'm using it almost every day. It applies easily, and really lasts throughout the day. However, there are less expensive products out there, so I probably won't buy it again, but I'll enjoy this compact until it is gone.

I also tried her Automatic Camouflage Concealer in Bermuda Triangle, which is peachy shade designed especially for dark, undereye circles. Wow! I love this concealer! While it would also be too dark for me normally, it works well with my golden summer color. The formula is the real standout; it blends beautifully, and lasts all day without creasing or caking. If you fight discoloration in your eye area, and have light to medium skin, you should give this one a try. Also, remember this tip: dark circles tend to have some of the deepest color near your nose (not just under your eye) so be sure not to skip this area. It really does make a big difference!

Since I use a lot self-tanner in the summer, I am always looking for a good body scrub for the pre-application exfoliation. Sephora Indulgences - Coffee & Cream Morning Body Scrub is a delicious choice for any coffee addict (that would be me). This formula contains finely ground Hawaiian Kona Coffee, whipped milk, cocoa bean, cinnamon, and vanilla. It smells so amazing - a great morning pick-me-up. The caffeine it contains also boosts circulation, and gives a bit of temporary firming, which is always a plus when facing the mirror in the morning.

I did allow myself one spectacular splurge: a bottle of Z. Bigatti Re-Storation Skin Treatment Facial Lotion. This is a lighter formula than the cream, but contains the same host of extracts and exfoliation acids. I used it at night for about a month, and while it is a nice lotion, I just did not think it was worth the price (a whopping $155 for 2 ounces). Personally, I find Creme de la Mer to be the more potent lotion in that price range. You want to know a secret? For daily use, I much prefer Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer (which contains soy extracts, and 0.5% salicylic acid) for $13.99 for 4 ounces. It keeps the occasional breakout at bay, and makes my skin feel smooth and soft - without the bank-busting price tag!

Ah, Sephora has so many products to try! You'll be hearing more about them as my time (and pocketbook) permits.

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Posted by heather at 7:59 PM

June 23, 2005

Marissa learns there's no gym in a bottle

The Benefit Wonderbod collection is supposed to lift, mold, correct and hold your most important assets... hmmm... I'm still waiting for some of that to happen! Bum Deal is a great scrub for the body. Smells like grapefruit/citrus and isn't too rough on your skin that you don't ever want to use it again. I was very moisturized after using this scrub. The Jiggle Gel smells medicinal and dried to what should have been a firming bond, but just felt yucky and sticky. I still jiggled and on top of that I smelled! Jiffy Tan is not a self-tanner, but a tan tinted lotion (say that fast 5 times) that takes a bit of work to get it just right. The first time I used it, my hands were still tan after washing them about 8 times... A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY! That's the key to using this lotion. For those times that you just want a little glow on your legs or shoulders, this is the perfect lotion to use. It didn't get on my clothes and washed away the next day. It's two out of three for me - I am smooth and tan, but I still jiggle. Guess I'll just hit the gym. You can order Benefit products online at benefitcosmetics.com or on sephora.com.

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Posted by heather at 10:37 AM

June 20, 2005

Denise is primed and ready to go

This was my first experience with any sort of makeup primer, and I can't say that I was missing out on too much. I've always gone straight from moisturizer (with SPF, of course) to foundation or concealer, depending on the day. NARS Makeup Primer ($32) is an oil-free gel cream loaded with botanicals, which is meant to soothe the skin and make a smooth base for longer-lasting foundation wear. I really do like this cream - it leaves my face soft and matte - I'm just not a fan of the pre-step to foundation, especially for everyday use. What I have found myself doing is using NARS Makeup Primer instead of any foundation, and simply applying concealer and a light dusting of powder on top. I've enjoyed using this product, but I don't consider it a staple in my makeup bag. It is, however, a nice alternative to wearing heavy foundation and the soothing botanical ingredients make my skin happy. You can try NARS Makeup Primer and other fine NARS products for yourself at narscosmetics.com or at Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Posted by heather at 8:39 PM

Denise discovers something Amazing

One of the most important products in my makeup bag is my concealer. A good concealer can hide the inevitable effects of those times when I let my normally healthy lifestyle slip a little: late-night under-eye bags, nutrition-deficiency pallor, caffeine-induced dehydration, you name it. I've tried so many different concealers over the years, and have been only moderately pleased with a few. However, I'm now in a whole new concealer ballpark, so to speak, since I tried Amazing Concealer ($40) by Amazing Cosmetics.

This product lives up to its name: it really is amazing. Amazing Concealer is a highly concentrated and very emollient peach-based concealer that works wonders on everything from under-eye circles to birthmarks and rosacea. The company claims that a tube will last about a year, which at first was somewhat difficult to believe, but now I see that claim is probably true. I use just a tiny dab on my finger each day, and it completely camouflages my under-eye bags and the few broken capillaries on my cheeks that I would normally use both foundation and regular concealer to cover up. It lasts all day long without creasing, as long as it is applied correctly. I learned that lesson the first day - if the product isn't blended completely, or if it's applied too heavily, it will crease. It's even waterproof, which is a bonus during these hot Arizona summer days, when I have the tendency to jump into any swimming pool I come across in an effort to escape the heat!

I've been using Golden Light, which is for fair beige skin tones. There are seven shades to choose from, ranging from White to Dark - there is sure to be one to match any complexion. You can snatch up your own tube at amazingconcealer.com or at Beauty.com.

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Posted by heather at 7:20 PM

June 13, 2005

Marissa has some kick*s* friends

In the beauty business, it pays to have friends! Take my buddy Christopher. He works for Guerlain at Saks, but will help me with any line. The best thing about Christopher is that he looks out for me - if a funky color or limited run product comes in (think the Dior lipstick ring) he'll call me and let me know he put one aside for me. It's that little extra touch that makes him such a great sales person. And, he's great with samples too! I trust him to tell me when something looks fab and when something looks icky on me, and believe me, he has :) If you don't have a Christopher in your life, you should find one.

My friend Karen owns Salon Magazine's 2005 Salon of the Year, Moodz Day Spa and Salon. What I like the most about this spa is that Karen does extensive research to find the best product lines. I thought I knew most skin care lines, so when she started talking about Phytomer, I thought she was talking about Phyto the hair care line. It seems that Phytomer is a marine based skincare line sold in salons and spas. Since I love a new line, I had to buy a product or two! Karen sold me on the Hydra-Nourishing Serum, which provided a soft and moisturized feel to my dry and extremely dehydrated skin (this from testing a different skin care line that I'll tell you about in another review). It goes on velvety and leaves a nice glow on the skin. I put the Ogenage, Extended Youth Day Cream with Marine Spring Water on top and I was hydrated and radiant all day long. This daytime moisturizer didn't feel greasy at all and it absorbed quickly into my skin. It was GWP time, so with my purchase, I received a great turquoise train case with a mirror, a full size Ogenage, Toning Cleansing Emulsion, the sample of the Day Cream, a sample of their Vegetal Exfoliant and four travel containers with labels. All in all, it was a great buy! If you like marine-based products that won't break your bank account, give this line a try.

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Posted by heather at 9:49 PM

June 10, 2005

Woo hoo: new coupons from ULTA

Check out these great offers from ULTA.com

Coupon Code 34760
- Offer: Receive 20% Off Any One Item*
- No limit on the number of times the coupon can be used
- Valid Dates: 6/12/05 - 6/19/05

Coupon Code 36410
- Offer: Receive $3.50 off a $10.00 Purchase*
- No limit on the number of times the coupon can be used
- Valid Dates: 6/18/05 - 7/9/05

Python Bag Offer Code
- FREE 4 Piece Cosmetic kit ($30 Value) with your first order
- Receive Python Bag plus three beauty indulgences
- Limit one per customer
- Enter code "12366" in the space provided in your shopping bag and and click "add code"


*Coupon offer valid on all regular price, sale and clearance merchandise. Excludes fragrance, prestige cosmetics, prestige skincare, colonial candles. Cannot be redeemed for cash or gift cards. This offer may not be combined with any other coupon offer. Not valid on prior purchases. "Limit one per purchase".

Posted by heather at 10:32 AM

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