Doin' the Dash

If some of you are like us, you may still be shopping for that "perfect gift" for your loved ones or yourself. Here's a run down of some "Deals & Steals" that may make your hunt a little easier:

What better way to find the perfect addition(s) to your make-up treasure chest than to hit up beauty wonderland Sephora! With gift sets galore, we are sure you'll find the perfect gift that's too fab to part with. Don't want to deal with the hordes of last minute shoppers? No problem, check out Sephora.com - orders placed TODAY will arrive to your door by 12/24! As if this deal could not get any sweeter, you get to pick 3 Free Samples with EVERY ORDER!


Giving with a Purpose? Check out the "WISH" collection over at Smashbox.com. $1 of each purchase of a "WISH" gift set will be donated to the Children's Miracle Network, "a non-profit that grants the wish of life to millions of sick or injured kids by providing care and investing in life-saving research." The good folks at Smashbox are also offering free Jumbo Samples and Free Shipping (if you don't mind getting your gift after Christmas).

In addition to DELICIOUS holiday pallets, NARS is offering Free FedEx Shipping on all purchases of $25 or more (sooo very easy to do once you see these pallets). Want more than make-up? Be sure to check-out the heavenly scented candles and Essential Oil-Infused Therapy Soak.

Rounding out our last minute holiday "Deals & Steals" are some great finds for "Under $55" over at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. We are sure you will find that perfect "stocking stuffer" (or cosmetic bag stuffer) in the array of gloss trios, pallets, and cream shadow sets available. You have to hurray though, because the Free 2 Day Shipping offer ENDS TODAY. Running out of wrapping paper? No problem - Bobbi offers complimentary Gift Wrapping & 2 Free Samples.

Credits: Sephora USA, Inc., NARS Cosmetics, Smashbox Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown Professional Cosmetics, Inc.

Think Pink 2.0

As we previously mentioned, we will be posting more "Pink" finds that support breast cancer research and awareness this month. The following are a few that we found at one of our "wonderlands" - Sephora!

Sephora will donate $1 from your purchase of this limited-edition Super Shimmer lip gloss in "Forever Pink" to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). This sheer gloss is ..."packed with holographic shimmer and mega-watt shine".

Looking for a gloss that moisturizes, is not too sticky, and gives lips a boost? Check out Balmshell's lip gloss in "1 in 8". This sheer "milky" pink gloss is perfect for all skin tones. Balmshell's "...unique formula creates a smooth high gloss finish" that gives the "...appearance of full supple lips". Slightly "fruity vanilla" in flavor, "1 in 8" comes in Balmshell's signature story line packaging. The "1 in 8" gloss shade name was chosen to help reinforce the fact that "approximately 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer." The clever packaging symbolically illustrates that breast cancer affects different types of women. As with the Super Shimmer lip gloss in "Forever Pink", Sephora will donate $1 from the purchase of this gloss to the BCRF.

Shiny lips = Sexy. Shiny Face = Not so sexy. Keep your "shine" in check with this refillable powder brush. Made with natural hairs, this brush provides a smooth finish and works especially well with mineral powders. As if it couldn't get any better, the brush is also retractable - so you can take it on-the-go and not worry about damaging the bristles! Sephora will donate $2 from your purchase of this brush to Breast Cancer Awareness.

Credits: Sephora USA, Inc. Balmshell Inc.

Beauty Beauty Everywhere

Hi Everyone -

We are back - we had to be away unexpectedly. In our travels, we came across a beauty wonderland in the most unlikeliest of places - CVS/pharmacy. Move over Sephora and Ulta, Beauty 360 is coming for you.

Packed with "...an edited selection of prestige and niche cosmetics, skincare and fragrance brands in a friendly environment that is simultaneously upscale and accessible." Since each store is staffed with licensed professionals, you can can also get "a unique suite of brand-specific signature services including mini-manicures, express facials, hand massages and make-up application."

Lashtastic

No look is ever complete without mascara. We use the following to make natural lashes look so fab that everyone wonders if they are a really good set of "falsies":

Sephora's Professional Heated Lash Curler is an absolute must have! While there is something to be said for sticking to the "tried, trusted, and true", traditional lash curlers are traditional lash destroyers. Over time, many a pair of lashes have fallen victim to the snapping and tugging out that comes with using a traditional curler. Sephora's Professional Heated Lash Curler is battery operated (comes with one) and heats up within seconds. For best results, we let ours warm up for 1-2 minutes before using it.

We recommend curling lashes before applying mascara. While many Sales Associates and curler instructions say to do so after applying mascara, doing so creates a hard to clean mess between the grooves of the heated curler. We also do not curl them afterwards because, over time, it can be damaging to lashes. The same is true for curling post-mascara with a traditional curler. If you prefer to stick with a traditional curler, we recommend using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler - lashes are safe with this curler because of its rounded rubber pad.


To further enhance lashes, we love to apply Shiseido The Makeup Mascara Base after curling them. This waterproof mascara primer not only conditions lashes, but enhances the effects of mascara (e.g., lengthens and thickens/volumizes) to the point it looks as if one is wearing false lashes. The only "negative" (if you can call it that) is it can be difficult to remove. We have no problems removing it with a waterproof makeup remover like Lancome's Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover.

If you don't want to curl your lashes, we recommend using a mascara that curls like Prescriptives' False Eyelashes Mascara. This mascara is truly the "total package" - it lenghtens, thickens, curls, and conditions lashes.

Our "Recessionista Pick" is any of the Max Factor, Maybelline, and Covergirl mascaras that lengthen and/or volumize lashes. We (and our clients) get great results from products in each of those cosmetic lines.

Credits: Sephora USA, Inc., Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, Shiseido Co., Ltd., Lancome-USA (L'Oreal USA S/D, Inc.), Prescriptives, Inc.