Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2013
Sephora Favorites Bottled Dreams: Fragrance Impressions Sampler for Her – $50
This collection features six deluxe samples of Sephora’s most popular women’s scents, plus a full-size Sephora by OPI Nail Colour in What Aura Gonna Wear?. Your mom can choose her favorite scent, then take the enclosed certificate to any Sephora store in the U.S. to redeem it for a free full-size bottle of the fragrance of her choice (the voucher cannot be redeemed online).
The set includes:
- 0.25 oz BALENCIAGA Florabotanica
- 0.22 oz Coach Love
- 0.16 oz Gucci Guilty
- 0.17 oz Juicy Couture Couture La La
- 0.14 oz Lancôme La vie est belle
- 0.25 oz MARCHESA PARFUM D’EXTASE
- Bonus 0.5 oz Sephora By OPI Nail Colour in What Aura Gonna Wear?
Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden Facial In-a-Box – $39.99
Give mom the ultimate pampering with a relaxing, anti-aging facial she can do in the comfort of home. Designed by the UK’s #1 day spa, Sanctuary Spa, the professional-grade skin treatment takes just 30 minutes, perfect for the busy mom who doesn’t make time for herself.
Mother’s Day Mirrored Compact, $5.00
Your mom will love one of these stylish mirrored compacts, featuring mom-themed inscriptions.
Mommy to be pendants; $32.15
Give a special gift to an expecting mom. How could this cute pendant not make you smile?
New – Illamasqua’s Paranormal collection
On Tuesday, April 23rd, I attended a preview of Illamasqua’s new exciting collection, Paranormal, which features unexpected textures and formulas. US Nail Ambassador and Nail Artist Fleury Rose and Brand Ambassador and Makeup Artist Josh Heald, were on hand to introduce the innovative products set to launch at Sephora and Sephora.com on April 30th.
Never before have I experienced a makeup collection that ignites the physical senses, and provides the opportunity for play and experimentation. Below is a sampling of some of the otherworldly products that will be available.
New Paranormal UV Nail Varnish Ltd Edition $17.00
3 new nail varnishes (Paranormal Bright Green Ouija; Paranormal Bright Pink and Paranormal Bright Violet Geist) offer a vivid burst of color. When combined with Illamasqua’s new top coat, Paranormal Clear/Glow, the polishes glow under UV Black Light, serving as undercover nail art, invisible to the naked eye until the sun goes down and your nails begin to illuminate.
New Paranormal Palette $46.50
The unique eye shadow palette features four shades: Paranormal: Vivid Cerise Aura and Warm Coppe; Possession: Cool green Trance and Soft Violet. The texture of the shadows is unusual and surprising – it feels soft and rubbery, similar to play dough. The formula is water-resistant and can be applied to create a soft barely-there look, or layered for a bold pop of color.
New Gleam in Supernatural $26.00
This iridescent highlighter is available in one universal shade, Supernatural – Warm Bronze, and is faltering on all skin tones. Lighter skins can use it to fake a golden glow, and darker skin beauties can use it to highlight different areas of the face including under the eye brows and the cupid’s bow.
Learn more about the collection: www.Illamasqua.com/paranormal
Event Alert: Discover the Must-Have colors of the Seasons at Sephora
WHO: This Spring, Sephora offers everyone a variety of ways to feel, learn about, wear and love color, encouraging you to ignite your COLOR VISION.
WHAT: Open your eyes to the many ways the hottest colors of the season – Infrared Rouge, Lucid Lilac and Majestic Cobalt – can be incorporated into any look with help from Sephora. Stop into your nearest Sephora location to enjoy complimentary makeovers in these shades from brands like NARS, Laura Mercier, Make Up For Ever, Hourglass, Dior, Smashbox, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Buxom, Givenchy, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Urban Decay and Stila. Learn how to tune in – and stand out – with bold effects for eyes, lips, cheeks and nails this Spring.
WHEN: Every Friday – Sunday from March 29th – April 28th
12pm – 6pm
WHERE: All Sephora locations. For locations nearest you, please visit http://www.sephora.com.
WHY: There’s no better way to usher in the new season than with a new, bold look. Sephora COLOR VISION forecasts the must-have colors of the season so you can amplify your beauty look with multi-dimensional tones that bring color to a whole new wavelength.
Event Alert: Celebrate the Color of the Year with SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE
(Photo source: sephora.com)
When: Thursday, February 28th – Sunday, March 3rd
What Time: 12pm – 6pm
Where: At select Sephora locations. Check Sephora.com to see if the event is at a Sephora near you.
What: Celebrate the Color of the Year Embrace the beauty of EMERALD – the 2013 Color of the Year – with the new SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE Color of the Year Collection! Get a Color of the Year makeover with Sephora makeup artists and learn how to sparkle like this gemstone-inspired shade with a variety of looks to choose from. Be the first to try the new collection, enjoy a complimentary makeup application, and walk away with a free makeup bag with purchase of any color cosmetic.* *While supplies last. **Walk-ins welcome, appointments preferred, no purchase necessary.
Illamasqua Limited Edition Speckled Nail Varnish
A few weeks ago, I was introduced to Illamasqua’s limited edition Speckled Nail Varnish. The varnish was inspired by irregular markings on fragile bird eggs, and allows you to create professional multi-dimensional nail art with just a few swipes.
Price: $16
Where to buy: Sephora.com, Sephora stores and Sephora at JCPenny stores. The Freckle shade is available exclusively at JCPenny.
What I like: The creamy consistency of the polish glides on smoothly and is virtually mistake-proof. It only took one coat for me to achieve a high-fashion nail look. The color lasted about 3 days before one nail started to chip; but after a quick touch-up, my nails were back to looking fabulous.
The effect: Pastel and Neutral base colors are contrasted with black speckles of different sizes. Depending on how many coats you apply, some of the speckles appear more defined, as other seem muted behind the color, creating a multi-dimensional pattern.
I tested Speckled Nail Varnish in Scarce, a pastel pink with black speckles.
The limited editon colors are available in Freckle (brown), Scarce (pink), Mottle (green), Speckle (purple) and Fragile (blue).
Discourse: I received this product for free at a press event
MAKE UP FOREVER PRO FINISH REVIEW
FTC Disclosure: These products were provided by a pr firm for review.
What is it?: MAKE UP FOREVER Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation
Price: $36.00 at sephora.com
Pro Finish in #127 Golden Sand
What it does: This high-performance, versatile foundation creates a flawless complexion, and lets you customize your foundation result.
The Formula: An innovative formula that can be applied wet for a sheer, satin finish or dry for a full, matte finish.
The Effect: Take a look at the pictures below. The foundation evens out skin texture, covers imperfections and has a suprising natural finish.
What I like? A sleek compact makes carrying this foundation a no-mess solution for on-the-go touch-ups. During the day, I prefer a barely-there look, but at night I like heavier coverage, so it’s a great foundation to take you from day-to-night, without getting cakey in between applications.
MAKE UP FOR EVER dry application technique
MAKE UP FOREVER Pro Finish wet application technique. I like the wet application the best because it lets my skin show through and doesn’t look like I have on any makeup at all.
Bottom line: A 2013 beauty bag must-have for a perfect complexion.
Disney Reigning Beauties Cinderella Collection by SEPHORA
At some point in their life every little girl dreams about being a Disney princess. The beautiful castle, handsome prince charming and happily ever after, is all too enchanting to not believe all the magic will happen in the future. Then, you grow up, reality sets in, and you realize life is not a big fairytale; yet, you can still always dream. And, what better way to channel your childhood princess memories than by using makeup? SEPHORA and Disney Consumer Products have teamed up to create a series of beauty collections focused on the individual style, personality and story of a featured Disney Princess. This fall, they have chosen to focus on Cinderella with a collection of color cosmetics, fragrances and accessories inspired by the 1950 Disney classic animated film “Cinderella.” With names like Midnight Hour and Moonlit Kiss, the colors in the makeup palette evoke the wintry feel of the movie, while being whimsical and dreamy. A few of the products are shown below. This collection is limited. Collect them all before the clock strikes midnight!
Midnight Hour Eyeshadow Palette ($30). Shades include: Gray (grey pearl inspired by Cinderella’s hair ribbon at the ball), White (pearl shimmer inspired by Cinderella’s white gloves at the ball), Champagne (champagne nude inspired by Cinderella’s skin in the moonlight), and Sparkles (charcoal shimmer glitter inspired by the nighttime sky at the ball).
Moonlit Kiss Lipstick Set ($25) Shades include: Lady Tremaine (berry inspired by Lady Tremaine’s dress), Pumpkin (light pastel peach inspired by Cinderella’s dress when the fairy godmother is changing the pumpkin to her coach), Who Is She (warm rosy mauve inspired by Cinderella’s lips when in her work dress), My Moment (pink champagne inspired by Fairy Godmother’s fairy dust).
Sephora by OPI A Brush with Fate Nail Lacquer ($24.50). Shades include: So Totally Enchanted (pearl white), Step Off, Sister! (silver blue glitter), I Blue My Curfew (deep blue shimmer ), Bibbidi-Bobbidi Pink (rose gold shimmer), Self-Maid Millionaire (gold metallic), Rags to Rhinestones (gold glitter).
Limited-edition NARS Andy Warhol Collection Launch
When you see an Andy Warhol painting, there’s no mistaking it. Vivid illustrations scream off his canvases, and are absolutely impossible to miss. This fall, beauty brand NARS created a limited edition collection inspired by the iconic artist’s pop-art . Exclusively available at Sephora, the collection features bright, electric colors for eyes, lips and cheeks. In celebration of the launch of NARS Pop Goes Sephora, various fun events will be held at Sephora stores across the country during the month of October. These events include a private cocktail launch party in Pittsburgh, PA, and the opportunity to meet makeup legend François Nars in NYC. Click here to see the full list of events in your area.
In search of “The One” – Sephora + Pantone Color IQ Review
I’ve always had a difficult time finding a foundation to match my skin tone (read my foundation horror story here). My mixed ethnic background has produced a shade that’s darker than medium, but lighter than olive. Even when I tan, I still find it hard to find a foundation that matches, which is why I tend to stick to tinted moisturizers. My quest for a perfect match foundation may be drawing to and end with SEPHORA + PANTONE COLOR IQ, a new technology that uses a device to scan the surface of the skin and reveal a foundation shade within Sephora that matches the skin precisely.
The exclusive color matching technology launched at Sephora on June 26th.
I practically ran to Sephora in Time Square, giddy with anticipation at the thought of finally meeting “the one.” I dreamt of how it would feel to look in the mirror at my flawless complexion, while holding the smooth surface of a bottle that held my liquid skin. I arrived amongst the bright neon light of Times Square, dashed into the store, and bee-lined for the SEPHORA + PANTONE COLOR IQ counter.
A helpful consultant held the Pantone’s CAPSURE™ up to my forehead, cheek and neck, and produced my unique PANTONE® SkinTone™ number. He then punched in the number into a fancy iPad® that houses SEPHORA’s Universal SkinTone Library, which was to reveal all my foundation matches. It took about 30 seconds, and during that wait time he explained that some people had hundreds of matches in a variety of coverage and formulas. We both eagerly leaned in close to the screen as my matches began to appear one by…one? One. Literally. I knew my skin was hard to match, so I wasn’t surprised to see that out of thousands of foundations that are sold by Sephora, only one shade from one brand is my perfect long-awaited skin mate. It turned out to be Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Lasting Foundation with SPF 15 in 410 Bisque W. Unfortunately, this product was out of stock at the Times Square location, so I was not able to test the match. I was able, however, to e-mail myself the foundation so I can order it online.
Unable to be discouraged, the Sephora consultant showed me that the SkinTone Library gives you the option to select shades that are darker or lighter than your natural hue. I chose darker since I tan a lot in the summer, and it produced Sephora Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer Medium 28 Camel SPF 20. This choice matched me very well, so it looks like I’m back to wearing tinted moisturizers - at least until the Lancôme foundation arrives in the mail for testing.
Foundations can be narrowed down by searching by brand, desired coverage, finish, skin type, formulation, ingredients and spf.
*I should note that my sister went into the store the day after me, and her PANTONE® SkinTone™ number produced several different perfect matches, so I think my skin tone really is “special.” They told my sister to ask me to return, since they are constantly updating the system.
** The exclusive SEPHORA foundation service is only available at SEPHORA 5 Times Square in Manhattan and SEPHORA Powell Street in San Francisco.
***The service is free of charge, and no purchase is necessary.
Product Review: Caviar Manicure
Ciaté Caviar Manicure™
I simply adore the hot new caviar nails trend. Adding little beads reminiscent of caviar adds a 3-dimiessional look to your nails, and is able to be chic without making you look like you work for a circus. This week my sister purchased Ciaté Caviar Manicure™. There are three different head-turning color combos to choose from, and she selected the nail polish in Strawberry Milkshake (opaque pale pink) that comes with Caviar Pearls in Rainbow ($25 at sephora.com).
The nail kit comes with easy to follow instructions. Here are the steps:
1. Apply a base coat.
2. Paint over the base coat with the Strawberry Milkshake nail color.
3. While the nail polish is still wet, sprinkle the pearlescent beads on top of the nails (you need to work very quickly, before the polish dries). We found the best way to do this is to pour the beads directly onto the nails from the bottle, with a small tray underneath to catch the excess.
4. Apply a top coat over the manicure for a long-lasting finish.
What we liked:
- The charming little bow on the nail polish makes the bottle very attractive and stand out on our beauty table – I think it would make a cute gift.
Nail Polish in Strawberry Milkshake
- The kit comes with a small funnel, which allowed us to easily pour unused beads back into the bottle.
- The nails did look professionally done, and my sister received tons of compliments when she went to work the next day.
- There are a variety of different ways you can war the look. You can cover the entire nail with the beads, just apply to the tips, or come up with your own design.
What we didn’t like:
- The Strawberry Milkshake polish was as runny as an actual milkshake. It didn’t go on smoothly and has a very loose consistency.
- As soon as we applied the top-coat, the colors of the beads began to smear.
- Hours after the manicure, the beads began to fall off. By the end of day 2, it looked like a greedy little kid had picked all the sprinkles off of a cupcake and left behind the evidence of little colored stains.
Overall impression: The base polish seems very cheap and is too watery. I would recommend trying the look with a different polish. I think it’s a great option to use a few hours before going out, when you want to wow everyone with glamorous nails. Just be careful when you wave hello to your friends, a bead might dislodge and land in their eye.
Ready to Go Nude this Summer?
It’s official, nude nails (aka foundation nails), are hot in 2012. Flesh-tone nails were prevalent on the runways of Fall 2012 Fashion Week, but made an even stronger appearance on the runways of Spring 2012. It’s a very easy-to-wear tread, often seen on Kate Middleton, but, as much as I am a fan of this chic nail trend, I have my hesitations. Why? Because the right way to wear this new craze is to choose a color that most resembles your natural skin tone, which, in turn, makes you look like you have plastic doll hands. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Barbie, but I’ve never been a fan of her nails. Something about her corpse-like missing fingernails has always tormented me to the point that I started stealing my mom’s red nail polish to give every doll I owned the manicure they desperately needed. So, the best way to upgrade this trend is to do what Barbie would do (if she had nails) – add some sparkle.
Here’s what I used to get the look:
Konad Image Plate M57
Konad Double Sided Stamp Set
Sephora by OPI Base Coat
Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Nail Polish: Duchesse Lace*
Essie Nail polish in Licorice
Sally Hansen Hard as Nails, Clear
Small rhinestones
*This color has been discontinued. You can use OPI Did You ‘Ear About Van Gogh? as an alternative, or your favorite shade of nude nail polish.
Directions
Step 1: Begin by using a base coat to smooth out and protect nails.
Step 2: Apply 1-2 layers of nude nail polish and wait for nails to completely dry.
Step 3: With black nail polish, use the Konad Double Sided Stamp Set to imprint the basket weave design located on Konad’s Image Plate M57. The instructions on how to do this come with the kit and are very easy to follow. Basically, you put nail polish directly over the design, and use the scraper to rub of excess nail polish. Then, you roll the stamp over the design, and gently roll the stamp onto your nail. Trust me; it’s a lot easier than it sounds!
Step 4: After the black nail design dries, apply a top coat, which will also serve as your “glue” for the rhinestones. Quickly add the rhinestones individually on each nail.
Step 5: Finish with a coating of nail hardener for a long lasting manicure.
Nude nails are great because they go well with almost every outfit, and you don’t have to go see a professional manicurist if you want to update the look from bland to glam. All you need is a little bit of creativity and the right tools, and your nails will look amazing.
Floral Arrangements for your Nails
Sephora by OPI in Natural Environ-mint.
For my vacation, my sister decided send me off in style – with fabulous nails. Since I’m going to a tropical island, I wanted a light color that reminded me of the sky or the ocean, so we chose Sephora by OPI in Natural Environ-mint. This was the same color we used when we re-created the Sephora by OPI Cherry Blossom Nail Design a few months ago. Click here to read that post.
In addition to a tropical color, I also wanted flowers, so we used the Konad Image Plate M3 along with the Konad Stamping Nail Art kit to create a floral pattern. Here are the steps to get the look.
1. Apply a base coat. We used Sephora by OPI base coat nail polish.
2. Apply the nail color. Test out any color you like. Coral is this season’s hottest new color, so you can give that a try is you’re not crazy about the blue.
3. Use the Konad Stamping Nail Art kit along with the plate m3. The kit comes with instructions on how to use it. But, basically all you do is apply nail polish to the design, scrape of the excess, use the rubber stamp to pick up the design, and stamp it onto your nail.
After following Step 3, this is what your nails should look like.
4.Apply a top coat over the design for extra staying power. We used Konad’s Top Coat.
5. Just for a little extra jazz (i love anything that blings), we added silver nail polish in the center of each flower. We used Kiss Brush-on Nail Art in SPA10.
5. We finished it off with Sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails hardener, which can also be worn alone to protect nails from breakage.
Sephora by OPI Cherry Blossom Nail Design
This post was actually a family affair. My sister re-created the OPI Cherry Blossom Nail Design originally curated by nail-artist Sophy Robson, and my mom was our hand model.
Sephora recommends that you use the color Havana Dreams for this look, but we tried Natural Environ-Mint ($9.50), which is a very similar pale-blue color, and it worked perfectly! Havana Dreams is just slightly darker and is described as sheer pale sky blue. Natural Environ-Mint is a little lighter and is described as opaque celadon blue. You can use whichever one you want, or even your own favorite light blue nail polish.
My mom modeling Natural Environ-Mint.
This is Sephora’s version of the Cherry Blossom Nail design:
After following the steps, this is how ours turned out:
Below are the steps you have to follow in order to re-create the nail design, which turned out to be a fairly easy process that only took a few minutes.
Get the Look:
1. Apply two coats of SEPHORA by OPI Nail Colour in Havana Dreams, and let dry.
2. Layer on SEPHORA BY OPI Nail Treatment – 3 in 1 Base, Top, & Strengthener, and let dry.
3. Place SEPHORA by OPI Nail Art Gems on the nails, as in the picture. Cut some of the Nail Art Gems in half and place them along the edges if desired.
4. Use a fine-tipped synthetic-bristled brush (like SEPHORA COLLECTION Professionnel Pointed Liner/Eyeliner Brush #17) to draw lines for branches with SEPHORA by OPI Nail Colour in What’s a Tire Jack?.
5. Seal with another coat of SEPHORA by OPI Nail Treatment – 3 in 1 Base, Top & Strengthener.
This was so simple, so give it a try. You can view all the other nail art designs here»
Tis the season for Last-Minute Holiday Shopping
I love t
o shop……for myself. So, when the holidays come around, the idea of having to go shopping for other people can be unnerving. All sorts of questions race through my mind: Are they going to like what I get them? Will they re-gift what I got them? Should I give presents with receipts so that it can be exchanged for something else?
If you are looking for a last-minute gift idea that gives your gift recipients options, and relieves you of the stress of deciding on specific gifts, here are some ideas that don’t even require you to leave your house:
SpaFinder – Who doesn’t love a great spa? But, there are so many places and treatments available, it’s hard decide what kind of package to buy someone. SpaFinder.com solves this problem by allowing you to ship, e-mail or instantly print a general gift certificate in various amounts with a customized message to your gift recipient. Then he/she can browse the different spa offerings of over 5,000 spas on Spa Finder’s website, and book their own packages at the spa of their choice.
Sephora – Know a beauty junkie, but not sure what else she could possibly want to add to her already overflowing stash of products? Sephora.com has e-Gift Certificates that can be redeemed online. You just fill in the recipient’s name and e-mail address, select the dollar amount, and add your personal message. The certificates can only be redeemed online, not in stores.
DSW – No matter how many shoes I buy it never seems like I have enough. But, it’s hard to buy someone shoes as a present, because it may not fit them or be their style. Give a fellow footwear lover the gift of a DSW e-certificate to be redeemed online at dsw.com. Then, they can browse the thousands of shoes DSW had to offer and purchase whichever one they like.
An added bonus of choosing e-gifts is that you won’t have to wait on long lines, or use acrobatic skills to struggle through crowds of people as you maneuver your way through the shopping aisles. Besides, let’s face it, the best gift you can give someone this holiday season is the gift of options. And, while you’re at it, you may even want to buy one of these gift certificates for yourself.
You can’t take it with you…or can you?
You never know when you might need that extra little burst of scent, and usually the perfume you spray on in the AM will start to wear off by mid afternoon. But, carrying around liquid perfumes can be daunting and downright scary; one wrong move, and the entire thing can combust. Then, you also have to worry about finding the right place to give yourself a little spritz, and you will be the most hated person in a room full of people if you pull out a full bottle and start spraying away.
Portable perfumes are convenient for the busy girl on the go, because it allows you to slyly give yourself a fragrance touch-up, and also makes perfect stocking stuffer for the holidays. Here are some light, travel friendly fragrances that not only smell great, but won’t weigh your purse down:
Hello world! Happy Halloween!
Halloween is just around the corner and whether you decide to be a Fairy Princess or Sultry Vampire Sephora’s Beauty in a Box sets have got you covered, offering inexpensive makeup collections that will get you the best makeup look for your costume, without breaking the bank. I’ve never been the type to dress up on Halloween, so even though these sets are specific to each spooktacular look, I love that they can all still be used after the holiday to achieve multiple beauty trends. As a great bonus, all of the customized sets come with how-to instructions, so you don’t need to be a professional makeup artist to pull any of these looks off.
I decided to purchase the Sephora Beauty in a Box: Vampire collection ($26). The set contains everything you need to channel your inner Twlight, and includes the following products:
- False Lashes
- Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Rock n’ Roll Never Dies
- Retractable Waterproof Lip Liner in Red
- Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Red
- Nano Eyeliner in Midnight Black
With the instructions spread out over my sink, I easily applied the false eyelashes, eyeliner and eye shadow, all of which can also be used post-Halloween for a dramatic night-time look (think Kim Kardashian).
It took no more than ten minutes, and before I knew it, I was transformed into a seductive vampire (minus the fangs).
Image via Wikipedia. Kim Kardashian plays up her eyes with false lashes, dark eyesahow, and black eyeliner. All of which are included in the Vampire kit.
The eyelashes are quite long, so if you do wear them sans costume for a night out on the town, do t rim them and apply a few coats of mascara, so they blend in with your natural lashes.
And remember, red lips never go out of style. The red Ultra Shine lip gloss included in the Vampire kit is the perfect shade for all s kin tones.
After Halloween, wear it alone or over lipstick, but tone down the eye makeup and opt for neutral eye shadow tones instead.
The Sephora Beauty in a Box kits come in other frightful sets including Devil, Peackock, Get Sexy, Vegas Showgirl, and Make Up Tricks & Treats.
If you follow the simple instructions included with each kit, I guarantee your makeup will look scary…in a good way.
